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Stephen
"Schteebag"
Drums, Vocals
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How do you
see the role of music in your life?
Music
has been a BIG part of my life for many years. I love every kind of
music. I'm the type of person that loses interest in things pretty
quickly. Playing the drums has been the biggest part of my life for so
long, and I have yet to lose interest in it after 25 years of playing.
Who
are the drummers who have influenced your style of playing?
Oh
man. Well, I have never had a drum lesson. I learned to play by
watching MTV and listening to Neil Peart with RUSH. Neil Peart's style
of playing is so versatile. He plays in a rock band, but adds a flair
of jazz, fusion, and everything else you can think of that is
mind-blowing. Another drummer would have to be Shannon Larkin from
Godsmack. A fellow drummer who never took a lesson, and also learned by
listening to Neil Peart. I also learned a lot from Steve Smith from
Journey, and Jeff Porcaro from Toto.
What
made you want to take up the drums in the first place?
I
loved beating on things! Although I almost gave it up when I bought my
first "professional" drum kit. It took everything I had to pay for it.
Man, drums are expensive.
Describe
your process of writing a song.
First,
I get an idea of what kind of story the lyrics will be telling. If it's
a love type song, I'll put music to it with feeling, and less energy.
If the lyrics speak of the power of God, then watch out, because it's
going to scream at you and have a lot of energy.
If
someone were to ask you advice about starting a band, what would you
tell him or her?
First
think about what you're wanting to get out of the band. If you're
wanting fame, and fortune, pick another career. If you're fulfilling a
passion and a dream, I'd say go for it, but be careful of the small
print. If you truly feel that God has called you to perform as a
musician, then it doesn't matter what I say, it's all in God's hands at
that point, and it will be done. Just make sure you give all the credit
to God, and make sure that God is glorified in all that you do. If you
do that, then the rest will come with time, in His time.
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Clinton
"Frady
Cat"
Electric
& Acoustic Guitar,
Vocals
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What's the role of music in your life?
As
far back as I can remember music has always been a big part of my life.
I started playing music when I was ten years old, playing in a Southern
Gospel band, traveling around from church to church. So it's not just music itself
but playing music has been important to me. I thank God for giving me the talent he has given me.
When did you begin your fascination with rock and roll?
Well,
I've always had a fascination with music and more so with Christian
Rock. What's really amazing to me is singing to people and delivering
that message as with rock music with a good meaning. Not to get too
carried away, but at the same time to put it in a good and cool
perspective.
You also play guitar. What's more fun for you, singing or playing?
I
really love to play AND sing. I really do. But I love to sing most.
Getting the crowd going, being able to talk and share with the fans. I
try to give them a different outlook on life to press on, know and
learn to talk it out without pushing anyone away. I really just love to
sing, but I'll pick up the guitar every now and then to keep the dust
off.
How have your religious beliefs tied in with your history of rockin' out?
Jesus
Christ is and always will be a part of the music I do, whether in a
hard rock band or whatever the style of music I play. It's a blessing
to have the talents to be able to rock out no matter what. Rock on!
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Sean
"Yoda"
Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Harmonica,
Vocals
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How do you
see the role of music in your life?
Music
has always been a huge part of my life, from the days of playing air
band with badminton racquets to old LPs by KISS and The Clique, all the
way up to now with my XM player blasting out Octane and Boneyard jams.
The difference is
that I now listen as a man of faith and look for those evidences of God
moving, using even Caesar so to speak, and try to find ways to see the
bridge in music between pop culture and the Christ-like life. I love to
hear bands like
Skillet and Flyleaf, who sing about God’s truth from the same airwaves
as other popular bands rather than becoming a part of the Christian
subculture and hiding away from the rest of the world.
Who
are the bass players and bands whose work has influenced you?
The
guys who really get me jazzed about the bass are folks like Tommy Sims,
Abraham Laboriel and Lee Sklar. They end up mostly doing session work,
and you’ll see their names all over CD liner notes. They’re solid and
they lay down a groove for the rest of the band to stomp all over with
solos and stuff. Other than that, I really dig the old Motown grooves.
Those guys really knew how to make the bass it’s own instrument and not
just something to play the guitar notes on in a lower octave.
What
made you want to take up the bass in the first place?
I
had originally been a lead singer in a high school metal band in South
Georgia. But when I moved to Atlanta, I met Stephen and a guy named
Wade, who were starting a band called Cornerstone. They needed a bass
player, and I knew enough about music and the guitar to fake it. Back
then it was all root notes and simple stuff. I later came clean about
it, but luckily by that time, I’d really learned how to play the thing
so they forgave me and it didn’t become a big issue.
Describe
your process of writing a song.
Often
the idea for a song comes from something I'm reading or studying.
Sometimes it comes from just
snippets of conversation with friends or from a stray remark I overhear
from the radio or TV. Regardless, I’ll hear
some
turn of a phrase or statement of truth and jot it down on whatever I
have handy, a scrap of paper or even the notes function on my cell
phone. Then I play around with it lyrically to see how to be true to
the idea without making it too trite or bouncy. That type of melody
comes off pretty fake to me. I guess it’s just a personal thing. Then I
either try to marry it up with a riff or chord structure I’m playing
with or write new music for it, but I like it best when we get together
as a band and put the puzzle together as a team. Those songs usually
become my favorites.
What
advice would give creative types trying to use their gifts to impact
the world?
Be
true to the gift God gave you and to the God who gave it. If you
neglect either you’re going to miss out on some amazing things. Listen
for guidance from other believers and from the church, but first and
foremost listen to God. He may call you to do and say some things other
believers may not like or understand. He has a history of that, all the
way from the prophets to the ministry of Jesus and beyond. Just be
thankful He hasn’t called you to marry a prostitute as an object lesson
or walk around and preach naked for three years. True story. It’s in
Isaiah 20. Who knows? He might even send you to eat meat sacrificed to
idols or foods the rest of the church considers unclean. He's not a
tame Lion after all.
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Lou
"Blue Man Lou"
Acoustic
and Electric Guitars,
Vocals
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How do you
see the role of music in your life?
Music
has always been a huge part of my life. Many times it has “calmed the
storm”, when I have been down, or when life was getting too hectic.
I
have many relatives who were involved in writing or performing music,
so I was raised in an environment that was melody friendly. My father
and uncles played guitar and would sing country songs and they were all
a big influence on me. I've always enjoyed music, even though it was
tough for me when my Dad used to grab his guitar and pull me over to
sing for my relatives. I guess doing that at such an early age helped
me to feel comfortable playing for people now.
Tell us about your love affair with the six-string.
Having
tried out a few different instruments in my life, including drums,
trumpet, banjo and sax, I ultimately reverted back to the first one I
ever picked up: the guitar. My mother liked the guitar very much and
purchased one for me when I was very young. I would sit and practice
playing chords that others had showed me, and I had eventually learned
many of the country songs that were continually being played in my
house on the radio or by my relatives. I got my hands on some chord
books and it felt fantastic to have the ability to play new songs that
I had heard, but had never been able to figure out.
Although I
had a few lessons when I was younger, I essentially learned to play the
guitar by hearing it and picking it out. By learning songs, I had to
practice fundamental things in order to play it convincingly. I have
also learned by working with other players and having them show me what
they were doing. Eventually my love for guitar playing lead me to learn
how music works and I started reading books on theory and I completed a
few classes in college. To me, playing in a band or a jam session is
the best classroom I can have. I learn new things all the time from
others or from just taking part and working out the different harmonies
and melodies of a song.
Who are some of the guitarists you have influenced your playing?
I
would have to say when I was a teenager and started listening to rock
music I had specific bands that I listened to more then others: The
Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull,
Aerosmith and Kansas, among others. It wasn’t until I met a good friend
of mine, Ric Toole, that I really started getting into southern rock
and blues. This is when I began to learn the fundamentals of playing
lead.
The players that have most influenced me from their
recordings are Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor,
Alan Collins, Ed King, Gary Rossington, Duane Allman, Angus Young and
Malcom Young. My good friends Ric Toole, of the Ric Toole Band, and
David Sisco, who I played with in a previous band, also had a huge
impact on my guitar playing. Both of their individual styles as well as
the styles of the above mentioned have been incorporated into my sound.
Any advice for folks wanting to take up the guitar?
If
it is your goal to play guitar, then I would suggest you become a very
critical listener of music. Your ear is your greatest ally to
understand what is happening with all the melodies of a song. Learn the
Major Scale first. It is the basis of all western music. All the other
scales are merely deviations from the Major. Learn its intervals and
tones, and then proceed to learn it on the fretboard of a guitar. Play
it anywhere and everywhere you can, horizontal and vertical. Then learn
to build chords from that scale. Learn what intervals make up a chord,
and then how to name the chord by the intervals you are playing. And my
last suggestion is to watch “The Sound of Music”. Julie Andrews had it
right. The Sound of Music is the Major Scale. Doe, Rey, Mi……
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Stacia
"Lil Shredder"
Electric Guitar, Vocals
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What's the role of music in your life?
I
have a cruddy day if I don't hear at least one song haha. I love music
and I want to share that joy with everyone around me! So I guess its
kinda like my caffeine, even though I drink tons of caffeine too lol.
Your
dad got you started on guitar, right? What was that like, growing up
playing rock and roll other kids your age probably didn't know?
Yup!
My dad let me try his guitar when I was 10 and I found that I liked
playing it. Then dad bought me a navy blue Squier and I tried to
learn as much as I could. It was hard to find kids with the same taste
in music. I'd ask them "Have you ever of this band?" and they
would give me a blank stare. I would be so excited about Styx and
Journey and I wouldn't have anyone to talk to about them. But I think I
was blessed to grow up with the music of the '50s through '80s because
music today hasn't got the same soul hehe.
Who are some of the guitarists you have influenced your playing?
Oh
goodness. Well first is Dad (Lou Riccio) and Dave Sisco. Dreamer's Edge
was a major influence as well! Then there is Bob Hartman, Eric Clapton,
Eric Johnson, Tommy Shaw, David Zaffiro, Joe Satriani, local guitarists
at open mics and many others! My number 1 influence on guitar (besides
Dad and Dave =D), is Petra's Bob Hartman. He writes and plays so many different
styles! Every riff of his is awesome!
What is your life-goal for your playing? What do you want people to remember about you?
My
goal is to uplift people with music, to get the message out that we are
never alone, and someone is always watching out for us. Petra's song
"Believer Indeed" made its mark on me as to how I want to be
remembered. Word for word that is how I want to be remembered, "She was
a believer indeed." I want to be remembered as being different, not
going with the flow of the world. Also standing my ground in my
convictions and showing kindness to others.
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Stacey
"The Boss"
Vocals, Keyboards
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What's the role of music in your life?
I usually listen to music on the way to and from work. It wakes me up and keeps me going.
Tell us about your history in music.
My
history in music entails playing "Sandy" from Grease in our High School
play. LOL Got to sing for a Jerry Lewis telethon, was in a band called
"Dreamer's Edge."
Who are some of the singers who get you excited about music? What is it about them that kicks it into high gear for you?
Scott
Stapp from Creed. He has such power behind his voice and the band has
great dynamics. Steve Perry from Journey projects so much emotion when
he sings. Sammy from Van Halen -- his excitement in his voice is
contagious.
You've been in bands with your husband Lou before. What's that like, rocking out together? Does it make it tougher or easier?
Rocking
out with Lou was great! We never had any issues (that's because
he knew I was closer to the drumsticks... LOL) It was definitely
smooth sailing being in a band together.
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