Rob: How did Dead Meadow start? and what other bands have you guys been in?
Mark: They asked me to jam... I haven`t really been in any other bands .
Steve: Yeah, myself and Jason had been playing together in bunch of different bands and side projects over the years eventually after a couple of "failed attempts" with other drummers we sort of found Mark.. we jammed and it totally fit well.. Other bands that me and Jason were in include the Impossible Five that came together when we were just out of highschool and Colour, a project we did before this band that included John Dugan from Chisel. I also have played a bunch with our friend and producer of our two records Shelby Cinca.
Rob: I don`t even know where you are from, where is that? And what are some of the clubs and bands that kick arse in your part of the world?
Mark: We`re from Washington, DC.
Steve: hmm.. being from DC there is a lot of music going on.. like all of the time! It is the city of Spirit Caravan, Fugazi, "go go", and many national/world famous acts.. Lots to learn from the musicians in this town as well as a lot of spirit to be inspired by. As for clubs it is also home of the Black Cat, 9:30 Club, the Velvet Lounge, great places with very different vibes, always a part of the DC spirit too!!
Rob: Any plans for upcoming tours?
Steve: Yes, we are currently working on tours of the West Cost and Europe.... at this point is looking like it will happen in early 2002???
Rob: I heard a while back that you guys did some John Peel sessions...how did that come about"?
Steve: That is a good question, I think what happened was that Mr. Peel received a promo copy of our recorded which excited him enough to get his producers to make some exceptions to have us on his show. Since we weren`t heading over to the UK anytime soon they went against tradition and allowed us to record in the states and then we mailed it to them. A little weird, but still a great honor. Actually listened to show live through the Internet.. ha!
Rob: What kind of influences do you share with the other members of the band?
Mark: Jason and I used share joints and bongs, but we got in some trouble. He is still on probation.
Rob: Alot of people hate the term StonerRock, even though I think hate is such a harsh word for a term. How do you feel about the term StonerRock and how do you think Dead Meadow fits in to the "Genre"?
Mark: Stoner rock is a weird term. I`d never even heard it before I was in this band, maybe I did in relation to Sleep. We weren`t like "lets play Stoner Rock" one day. I think we were just trying to rock out like Zeppelin or Sabbath. The term "Stoner Rock" is kind of comedic like "Grunge Rock".. It doesn`t really mean anything, but I guess that I don`t mind it. People have come up to me and been like "you guys aren`t stoner rock" and I`m like "check it, I never said I was."
Rob: What is the songwriting style, like how is it done and what is the whole idea behind the "Dead Meadow sound"?
Mark: I don`t know.
Steve: Well I think at this point, especially after playing together as long as we have, myself and Jason tend to work in parts. Like I may have a riff and he will have a song on acoustic we get together and develop the parts together and then it will become it`s own creature.. It takes us a long time developing ideas, sort of like giving birth 8 times for a record... Of course there are a few songs that begin their life as jams and experiments when the magic begins. As for the whole idea of the Dead Meadow sound was always to create a hard rock band with maybe few mellow songs for touches, sort of to make something that at least as inspiring to others as a host of creative "classic rock" albums were for us.. sort of attempting to keep up the tradition.
Rob: What are some of your favorite classic rock influences?
Mark: Sly and the Family Stone.
Steve: everything I guess, Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Sabbath, Hendrix, Neil Young but I think we are also heavily influenced by old reggae, electronic music, country, punk, soul, anything that can color moods in the mind.
Rob: When is the new album coming out (for the record) and how does it differ from the Self titled release?
Mark: It comes out at the end of October. It`s a little more esoteric than the first, but very similar in a lot of ways..
Steve: definitely a little more darker and more open sounding.. bigger drums, more of a production then a live recording. It is best on vinyl!
Rob: Any kind words of wisdom to the community at www.StonerRockcom ?
Steve: creativity should never be inspired by only a small realm of art. There is a whole world of great ideas out there for music that should always be explored.
Rob: Here is the portion of the interview that we here at stonerrock.com call 13 stupid questions...you don`t have to go into detail about these questions, just have fun! Here we go...
If you weren`t a rocker, what would you most like to be?
Mark: If I wasn`t a rocker, I guess that I`d try to be involved with something creative like interior decorating.
Steve: "interior decorating"??? weird
Rob: What was your worst gig and why? What was your best gig and why?
Mark: Worst gig? I got arrested at a show once and that was pretty bad. For the most part, I don`t remember the bad ones like I remember the good ones. The last show we played at the Black Cat was pretty tight.
Steve: hmm.. I am afraid to say
Rob: Top 3 movies, books and albums of all time?
Mark: movies.. Rockers, Dracula (1977 with Frank Langella) an the Breaks Albums: Sly and the Family Stone, "Fresh", Beatles "Revolver", Led Zeppelin "Physical Graffitti"
Rob: How often do you surf the net and what do you mostly do while online?
Mark: I surf the net every day and buy records on Ebay.
Steve: I surf the nest way too much and own way too much from it!
Rob: What is your favourite city and venue to play, and why?
Mark: I don`t know???
Steve: New York, but Detroit will always be one of the best shows I have ever played!!!
Rob: What is the most Rock `n` Roll thing you`ve ever done? What`s the most Rock `n` Roll thing you`ve seen someone else do?
Mark: We played at this club once and the sound guy pissed me off so I went upstairs and kicked like 4 or 5 hole in the wall becuase Steve told me to..
Rob: What`s your worst "bad trip" story?
Steve: Mark should answer this, but I don`t think he is going too???
Rob: What`s the most painful thing you have ever witnessed at a rock show?
Mark: the boring zombie kids in DC that sit down at shows and stare at you and show no emotion, not even hatred.
Rob: How old were you when you first realize you wanted to rock?
Steve: 8 years old
Mark: I have always wanted to rock. Seriously.
Rob: What`s the most embrassing job you ever had?
Mark: I used to work on a farm and my job was to go around and clean up cow shit and pig shit with my tongue..
Steve: ha... I used to work for Papa Johns, I think that is all I have to say!
Rob: What`s your favourite ice cream flavor?
Mark: Ben & Jerry`s Phish Food.
Steve: homemade vanilla
Rob: If you could date any rock star Dead or Alive in the world, who would it be? Movie star?
Mark: Rock Star: Probably Grace Slick or Stevie Nicks back in the day. Movie star: Heather Graham seems like a wild girl, she`d probably be a lot of fun.
Rob: What would be the ultimate dream gig of all time line-up be, with your band opening? Limit to 3 bands please (including your own...) and where?
Mark: Sly, even though he wouldn`t show up and the Beatles and the Rolling Stones..
Steve: Rolling Stones
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