Debra Christofferson is known for her work on such films as Changeling, Mousehunt, and Wild Wild West to name a few. Over the years she has also appeared on such television shows as Murder One, The Jamie Foxx Show, NYPD Blue, The X Files, Ally McBeal, Dharma & Greg, CSI, Grey’s Anatomy, Bones, NCIS, Southland and American Horror Story. She was also the ever impressive Lila on Carnivale.

Can you tell us a little about your childhood? What are some of your most fond memories from that time?

I was raised in a very small town in the Midwest. It was great growing up in a small town — it was safe, rather insulated, and quite beautiful. One of my favorite memories is that of Sundays when we would visit my Grandma’s farm, and my dad would take the back roads, which were gravel and curvy and hilly. Dad has a beautiful voice, and we’d all sing on the drive. It’s where I learned to harmonize.

Did you have an active imagination early on or was it something you acquired along the way?

I’ve always had quite an active imagination, and also have always loved to read, so that has enhanced my imagination in many ways. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be an actor, and imagination always played a big part in that dream.

When did you first discover your love of acting? What are some of your earliest influences?

There’s an old video of me when I was about a year and a half old and came tearing around a corner to see my dad with the camera. I looked up at him, then down at the floor as though I was looking for my mark (a piece of tape or something on the floor indicating where an actor is supposed to stand to be in the right place for camera), adjusted myself and then looked up at the camera again and smiled. It’s hysterical. I was always stealing focus in family videos and pictures. I’ve never wanted to do anything else but perform.

We only got one television channel in our little town, and fortunately it was CBS which aired The Carol Burnett Show. I loved that woman! I was just a kid, but I wanted to be her, and have my own variety show and get to sing and dance and play all the wonderful, different characters that she played. Still do, in fact! I also loved old movies, especially musicals, and idolized Gene Kelly and Danny Kaye. It’s kind of ironic that although my earliest influences were comedic, and that’s where my heart lies, I’m best known for my dramatic roles.

What do you love most about being an actress?

Being able to create. To create a character outside of myself, perhaps totally different, perhaps similar, that Debra then inhabits — living, breathing, thinking differently so as to create a completely new person, hopefully unrecognizable as Debra, and hopefully to move, to inspire, to touch an audience in some way as to make a difference in their lives.

As someone who has worked on television and in film is there one you prefer over the other? How do they differ most?

Actually, I prefer theatre! I love having a live audience for which to perform. There’s nothing like it – they’re right there with you, living and breathing the same air, eagerly awaiting what happens next, which keeps it fresh and gives you energy.

I really enjoy doing features, it’s wonderful to play different characters, and when you get to travel, that adds to the fun of it. However, it’s been my experience that there are better and more roles for women in television, and that’s where I work most.

Are there roles you have played you hold more dear than others?

Yes, I have played roles that are more dear to me than others, for a multitude of reasons. I played Kate in Taming of the Shrew at the California Renaissance Pleasure Faire for several seasons opposite Billy Campbell as Petruchio. That was my first Shakespearean lead and I was very scared when I started. Campbell and I had great chemistry though, and we had such a wonderful time on stage together, it’s probably my favorite stage role I’ve ever done.

I did a short film called Seraglio because I fell in love with the script where an unfulfilled housewife creatively found a way to be fulfilled. I won’t give away the ending, but it was such a lovely experience, and the film was nominated for an Oscar, which was yummy icing on a delicious cake.

There are two television roles I’ve done that are quite close to my heart, Holly Gerges on Murder One, and Geri Turner on NYPD Blue. Holly was the first time I saw a performance and couldn’t see myself in the character. It was a huge turning point for me in terms of confidence in my abilities. I was able to see how I had crafted a character outside of myself, like my dad had crafted a curved wooden staircase. He had done beautiful work, had created this piece of art and could be proud of the work he’d done without being egotistical. I finally saw that I was a craftsman and could do the same thing, be really proud of something I’d created without ego being involved. It was life changing for me. And then Geri came along courtesy (again) of Steven Bochco. I was welcomed into the “family” personally by Dennis Franz and Jimmy Smits, two of the kindest actors I’ve ever met, and spent several episodes with the warmest television family with which I have ever had the pleasure to work.

What was it like to play Lila on Carnivale?

Let me just say that Lila is dearest to my heart of all. I mean, come on, to play a sexy bearded lady in the 1930’s? Fabulous! I almost didn’t audition for the role. The casting breakdown was not very appealing – it referred to her as a behemoth and fat and used other off-putting adjectives. I told my agent I wasn’t interested in playing a “fat girl” part, which is what I call roles that make fun of being overweight or use that attribute to diminish people. Then I thought about what a friend had just told me about never turning down an audition, but to find a way to make a part my own. So I changed my mind. I decided that if I was going to audition to play the role, I was going to audition the only way I would play the role: sexy and assuredly. So I did. I strode into the room, read a scene between Lodz and Lila (who were merely friends at that point) and there was silence. Then the director, Rodrigo Garcia, asked me to do the scene again, only less sexy. I took a risk and did it exactly the same way. If I was gonna play Lila, this was what they were gonna get. And I did and they did.

Dan Knauf told me later that when I walked into the room he thought to himself, “If she can talk, she’s got the part.” Thanks, Dan!

Lila was so much fun to play. The first season, she was reliant on Lodz for her storylines, but season two she started to come into her own, culminating in her storming Management’s trailer. I loved playing her scheming and fretting and fuming, and was so fortunate to work with amazing actors, writers, directors and crew. Also, the 1930’s is my favorite time period for costumes, and I had a blast “living” in that decade. I even wore some of my own shoes, hats and jewelry during the series.

What did you love most about your time there? What was it like to work on a show that was so well made?

There isn’t really one thing. It was an amazing experience for many reasons, some of which I stated above. I feel very blessed to have been a part of such a unique, captivating, well-crafted series.

Why do you think that particular series seems so timeless?

Good vs. evil is always timeless, and being set in the past gives the audience an arm’s length perspective that helps.

Do you have any interesting stories from the sets that you have accumulated over the course of your career?

Far too many to tell, but I’ll share one favorite. I’m a big fan of The Princess Bride, and of sword fighting, and especially loved the swordplay in that movie. Mandy Patinkin played a Spaniard named Inigo Montoya, a character who repeats the phrase “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die!” throughout the film.

I worked with Mandy on Chicago Hope, playing a character named Gwen Taylor. He, Adam Arkin, Barbara Hershey, my “husband” and I were rehearsing a very intense scene and when it came to my line at the climax of the scene, Mandy rolled over it with a joke. After we finished rehearsing, he went to his set chair to read, head down, intent on his book – kind of unapproachable. I honestly couldn’t help myself, and slowly walked up to him, saying (with Inigo’s accent and fighting stance), “My name is Gwen Taylor. You killed my moment. Prepare to die!” He looked up at me blankly, there was a huge silence all around, then he broke out laughing. He invited me to sit next to him and we talked about The Princess Bride and the sword fighting scenes, which were so marvelous with him fighting ambidextrously, until we were called back to set. He was very personable and kind. At the end of the day my hair stylist, make-up artist and costumer all told me that everyone had held their breath when I’d approached Mandy because that was not the response they expected…but he couldn’t have been sweeter.

Are there any little known things about you that your fans might be surprised to learn?

That I used to sword fight and once wrote a script for a pirate movie.

What was the best advice anyone ever gave you? Who was it?

That would be the advice my dear friend, Dennis Adams, gave me to never say no to a part, but to find a way to make it my own and to make it work for me. Which coincides with something we’ve all probably heard at one time or another: Be yourself. There’s only one you, you are unique in the Universe. Celebrate that uniqueness!

What do you think is the key to a life well lived?

Being able to truly celebrate and embrace one’s uniqueness.

What are your own personal feelings on life and death and what comes after?

All we have is now – present moment. Live life to the fullest because no matter what religion you believe in, or don’t believe in, none of us really knows what comes next. How you live your life is ultimately between you and God, or if you don’t believe in a higher power, then between you and your conscience.

What direction would you like to see your career take in the years ahead?

I’d like to expand my career even further. I’d like to do more comedy, more films, and maybe squeeze some musicals in there somewhere, hopefully on Broadway.

Do you have a dream role you’d most like to play or project you’d most like to bring into being?

Regardless of the character, a dream role would be one that challenges me, moves me, entertains me, is entertaining, moving and fun to play. That being said, my dream job would be to do a great three-camera sitcom with a live audience. And let’s throw a little music in!

Do you have any upcoming projects that you are at liberty to speak of?

I worked on a couple of “confidential” projects last summer that I’m waiting for a green light so I can talk about them. Haven’t gotten it yet, though. But I’m very enthusiastic about both.

I have a film coming out next April called 1915 about the Armenian genocide. I play an American actress portraying an Armenian mother. It’s a passion project for its two directors, Garin Hovannisian and Alec Mouhibian, and we’re all very excited to see how it is received.

I’m also working with a couple of friends on a half hour comedy that is quite promising — surprisingly not a three-camera comedy! We’ve gotten some great feedback from people in the Industry, and are currently working on the script. Keep your fingers crossed!

Is there anything you’d like to say before you go?

To any budding artists out there: If there is anything else you want to do, have even the slightest desire or aptitude for, do it. But if there is nothing, absolutely nothing that makes your heart sing, that gets your blood pumping, that feeds your soul like your particular artistic passion does, then do IT. Fully, committedly, 150 percent. Most artists never achieve fame, but they can achieve personal greatness and fulfillment, inspire, and touch many lives along the way. What better reward is there than that?

  Gary is a professional artist who is self taught. He was born in 1966 and his work is collected worldwide., some highlights include being nominated for Eisner, Harvey, and Russ Manning Awards for the comic book series Pakkins’ Land. His comic work has been published through Caliber Press, Image Comics, Alias Comic and Zondervan. Gary has also worked on the development of several animated projects. And has been exploring different styles of art for more than 29 years with no formal art training. Gary has been married for 20 years to the love of his life, Rhoda. They have 3 lovely children. Gary is also available to do commission pieces of art, just E-mail him at Pakkins@comcast.net with any questions. You can see more of Gary’s work at: http://garyshipmanart.weebly.com/index.html https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gary-Shipman/106428306044930

Like countless others I have been a fan of his work since childhood. It isn’t every day you find an actor that can transport you into realms of fantasy as completely as Warwick Davis. Warwick is known for playing the title characters in Willow and the Leprechaun series of films; other prominent roles include Wicket W. Warrick in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Professor Filius Flitwick and the late Griphook in the Harry Potter movies, Marvin the Paranoid Android in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, as well as Nikabrik in the Walden Media version of Prince Caspian, Reepicheep in the BBC television versions of Prince Caspian and Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and Mr. Glimfeather the owl in The Silver Chair. Davis has his own sit-com directed by Ricky Gervais titled Life’s Too Short. A man of many talents his life story is told in pages of his autobiography, Size Matters Not, which gained him praise from Ron Howard.

What were you like as a child growing up?

I was just like any other child I suppose really. Although I didn’t grow up quiet as much as I might have done, which was an advantage in my case cause that was the reason I got into movies.

Do you think your career would have taken you all the places it has if not for your Grandmother? Were you close?

Well of course I was as close as anyone would be to their grandmother, but I really don’t think I would have the career I have without her having heard the commercial she did on the London radio station and then my mother put me forward for the part in Star Wars. It really was an opportunity although you know I was quiet the performer, being a small person you sort of make up for your lack of inches by being a bit larger than life so it did lend itself to the world of entertainment.

Being a fan of the films yourself what did it feel like to get the role of  Wicket in Star Wars?

Yea, I was a huge Star Wars fan so to actually be working on the set of a Star Wars movie was the most exciting, the most fun experience I could have ever had. And you know children nowadays play on a gaming console to battle with stormtroopers whereas I was able to do it in real life in the redwood forests dressed as an Ewok. It was terrific fun, a great opportunity, and one that will always stay with me.

You had the chance to play Wicket in the Ewok films as well. What are your feelings on the whole Ewok culture? Why do you think people responded to the characters as well as they did? Do you have a certain fondness for the Wicket character?

I mean I am very fond of the character Wicket of course; he is my first film role. He is the reason I am now an actor and have a wonderful career and have had all the opportunities that I’ve had. And he is still a character that is very popular wherever I go; people remember that character and have a fondness for him. Feelings for the Ewok culture, I mean there was a kind of whole merchandising culture surrounding the Ewoks and it divided fans, as a Star Wars fan you either loved them or you hated them. But of course I’m on the side of the lovers.

You also got to work with Ron Howard in Willow. What did you learn from that experience?

Willow was a great opportunity for me as well. Ron Howard is the most terrific director you could ask for. He taught me a lot. He comes at the role of directing really from an actor’s perspective. Because you know he himself used to be an actor. He was brilliant in getting me through that film. It was very tough experience for me it was six months of very hard work, traveling all over the world. It could have been quiet daunting but he was always very supportive and really helped me give the performance that I did so I do owe a lot to that guy.

You have appeared in some of the best fantasy films of all time. Do you consider yourself lucky to have had the chance to play characters to delight viewers of all ages? Do you enjoy hearing from people who have been fans of your work since childhood? 

Thank you very much. Yeah, I mean my films are generational, so I do get messages often from people who have grown up with the films that I’ve been involved with. Every day someone says I grew up with Willow or Star Wars was the movie of my childhood and what have you so that’s really nice. I do enjoy appearing in films that are suitable for people of all ages. You know grandparents can enjoy with grandchildren etc. I am very lucky if I look back there are so many great films that really will sort of stand the test of time and be passed on as they say to generation to generation.

Do you ever hear from children who are fans of your work?

As I said every day. People who write to me are from age five or six up to eighty six maybe older.

Did you enjoy the lead role in the Leprechaun films? Do you consider yourself a fan of horror flicks? Did you ever have a favorite movie monster?

I am not a fan of horror anymore. I used to be growing up, but as soon as I became a father myself you sort of start seeing the world through your children’s eyes and then horror movies become sort of rather unpleasant things to watch. So I wouldn’t say I watch horror movies anymore, but yeah as a kid I loved Halloween and Out Running on the Street they were the films that I grew up watching and dare I say enjoying. Playing the Leprechaun was fun. It was my first sort of villainous character and every actor will tell you they are by far the most fun characters to play. It is the one that is remembered and it’s the most enjoyable to actually portray as well and the Leprechaun was really a character that I was given free rein in developing. It was a real joy to play him in six movies and there is such demand for a seventh, but no plans to do that at the moment.

One of those films found you in space. Do you believe there could be other life forms in space? What are you feelings on aliens, UFOs and such?

I mean yeah there could be other stuff out there. I don’t see why not, there are so many stars and so many viable planets around stars that we don’t even know about. So the chances are pretty high I suppose. So I’m kind of open to that kind of thing.

Why do you think people like to believe impossible things possible?

I guess I think people want to think anything is possible because sometimes the world feels quiet restrictive and we are all quiet restrained in what we do in our everyday lives so it is nice to think for a minute that something impossible could be possible. It helps take us out of the monotony of our daily lives I suppose. And that is why movies are such great escapisms, especially fantasy and science fiction films, you can go into a movie theater and be transported somewhere else. You know you can at least for the time you are in there believe that the impossible is possible. It is the people that come out still believing the impossible is possible that I worry about. (laughs)

What are your feelings on leprechauns? Do you think such things are possible?

I mean these things come from myths and legends and they all have a source. Whether that was a little man wearing a little green hat, dancing, counting gold and what have you, I don’t know. It’s from very, very distance periods in history and I like all that sort of thing. But yea I mean I’m not going to say whether I believe in Leprechauns or but…

Is it true people come up to you and touching you for luck? Do you find that annoying and rude?

Yes people do. Different cultures have different beliefs and some cultures do believe it is indeed lucky to touch a little person. And I fit into that category by being a little person. I don’t think it is rude, it is just what they believe, it’s just kind of rather fun to try and avoid such touching, cause you know when you are touched as a little person the luck does drain away. So I have a certain level of luck and I lose some of that every time somebody touches me. Which you know if that was to be depleted completely my career would be over so I do try to avoid those touchings whenever possible.

Aside from the health issues what would you say is the most challenging thing in regards to your size? How do you cope with the joint pain and other things associated with it?

Oh my word. I mean it is challenging being short, but it is what I’ve grown up with. I’ve never known anything else so it’s a challenge but it’s one that you always overcome and then you just deal with stuff on a daily basis and it’s not really a problem. What do you think is the most important thing to remember when dealing with ailments at any age? Alright Dr. Davis says this: Just drink lots of water, eat sensibly and get plenty of sleep…and fresh air.

How do you think you have changed most as an individual since your early days?

My hair has gotten a little bit greyer, I’m a little bit taller, and I am wiser.

What advice would you offer people the world over who might be dealing with image issues of whatever sort? Do you think the world in general places far too much emphasis on looks?

Be who you are really, at the end of the day. You know I’m different; there are lots of people out who are different. Some people who aren’t different pierce their nose and spike up their hair to be different. So it’s kind of ok to be different. That’s what I say. It sets you apart and people remember you. I’ve just realized there are more questions. I thought I was at the end? This is madness but I’ll keep going…

What would you say is the craziest thing you have ever done?

This interview.

Are there any little known things about you that most people would be surprised to learn?

That I have indeed done this interview.

How did becoming a father change your life? What do you feel is the most important thing to pass on to your children? What do you love most about being a parent?

It’s brilliant. If you have kids it does change your life, you see the world in a different way. Watching them grow up and hearing the things they come out with. It is challenging but at the same time very rewarding and I think it is fantastic, I love it.

As a native to the UK, what do you think about the current state of the nation? What do you think is the most pressing matter at hand in today’s political environment?

I don’t care about politics. I don’t even know who the Prime Minister is. Absolutely doesn’t bother me.

What do you love most about living in England?

I love the seasons.

Do you consider yourself religious? What are you feelings on the afterlife? Do you believe it possible for the soul to live on in some fashion after death?

I’m not particularly religious but I would like to think that death isn’t death and we’re dead and that’s it. The End. Could be. But let’s just think about life while we’re doing it.

What has it been like to work with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant on Life Is Too Short?

It’s been an amazing experience. It has been hard work but we’re at this point when I talk to you almost finished filming the show. I’m very proud of what we’ve done and hope the world out there also is thrilled with it, enjoys it and embraces it, and gets it.

What other projects are you working on at the moment?

Nothing else at the moment.

How do you hope to be remembered when your life is done?

Now that’s depressing. That’s not even the last question either; there is still another one after that? How do you hope to be remembered when your life is done? Bloody hell. I’m speechless.

What would you like to say to all of your fans in closing?

Is that before I’m dead? Or have they got to come and read my headstone? (laughs)

Thanks for watching.

Editors note: This interview originally ran in Haunted Magazine in the UK. To explain the weirdness of the questions, Warwick’s assistant had said, “There is no way he is going to answer all of these. They are just too personal. Write down some at the end to fill in what he will likely skip.” And that is how we ended up with this oddly worded little gem of an interview. It is also the first interview I had to transcribe entirely by hand, the old fashioned way. I appreciate the chance to learn. I do sincerely thank both, Oliver and Warwick, for giving me the chance to do this very early interview. It has meant the world to me. ~Tina Ayres.

There is a Spot

after Silver Moon, artist Osnat Tzadok

on the moon, tonight. A glaring
drop of crimson, a blood-shot eye.
The man who lives there must be
tired of crying for absence, deficient companionship.
The sun is his other
half. They will never meet
beyond those sensual moments of almost
touching. Moments
of in between, where light
and night crawl over each other’s seams,
infuse each other with possibility
before alternating cowardice causes one to give
way to the other.

A.J. Huffman has published nine solo chapbooks and one joint chapbook through various small presses. She also has two new full-length poetry collections forthcoming, Another Blood Jet (Eldritch Press) and A Few Bullets Short of Home (mgv2>publishing). She is a Pushcart Prize nominee, and her poetry, fiction, and haiku have appeared in hundreds of national and international journals, including Labletter, The James Dickey Review, Bone Orchard, EgoPHobia, Kritya, and Offerta Speciale, in which her work appeared in both English and Italian translation. She is also the founding editor of Kind of a Hurricane Press.

Brandon Gibbs has been in love with music since an early age. By the age of 8 he had discovered guitar and by 14 he was performing at a national level. From his first band, The Gibbs Brothers Blues Band, to Cheap Thrill Brandon has worked tirelessly to pour his soul into the music he loves so well. Currently he can be found as the frontman for Devil City Angels alongside Rikki Rockett(Poison), Tracii Guns(L.A Guns), and Eric Brittingham(Cinderella).

Do you remember what it was like to start singing as a toddler? Was it more fun to have your brother at your side then? What is it like to be a twin?

Being a twin is such an amazing feeling! My brother and I were obsessed with music at such an early age…It’s all we wanted to do and we did at all together. Another part of being a twin was when we would play together, you could always tell what the other one was thinking. For instance, we could come out of a “mistake” and it would have sounded like we meant to do it. Although we don’t play music together anymore, in general I can usually tell what he is going to do with whatever circumstance we face. Usually it’s all in humor, at 29 we still laugh like we did when we were 10!

Aside from your love of music what were you like as a child? What are some of your most fond memories from that time?

As a child and even to our early 20’s we had a Grandpa who was active in our lives. We had so much fun with him and spent a lot of time learning from him. My brother and I would pull pranks on him all of the time and he would do the same with us! It was such a fun/funny environment to be around. He also taught us when it was time to be serious and have goals. Most kids on Friday nights were hanging out with their schoolmates which is perfectly normal, my brother and I wanted to see what he was doing first and then go from there!(laughs) I personally spent a ton of time on the golf course with him learning the game. Early into our teens we took a lot of road trips with him and our family because we were starting our career. There are lots of great memories with that man. The names and numbers tattooed on my hands are a memorial to him. I think Brent (my bro) would say the same thing. (smiles)

What was your very first favorite song?

My first song that I fell in love with was The Thrill Is Gone by B.B. King. My parents bought me B.B. King Live At The Ole Miss and I burned that CD into my head! Every time that track came up I always got goose bumps!

How did it feel to be performing at a national level by the age of 14?

Everything was sort of a test…For instance, promoters liked the concept of the Gibbs Brothers, but since we were so young we had to prove to them night after night that we could handle the job!! We gave up sports and other activities and learned how to perform and entertain…When show time came around we did exactly that! There was always a hug and a high five waiting for us as we walked down the ramp. Also how we handled mishaps, wireless units cutting out, amps breaking on stage, snare drums splitting…We had backup plans for these real problems and didn’t panic, they seen that and knew we weren’t as young mentally. After we would do these shows, much like American Idol, we advanced to the next level. Once again a test… “Dear Gibbs Bros, here’s your next assignment, don’t let me down.” (smiles)

You had the chance to open for bands such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Peter Frampton, Jeff Healey, and Kansas. What does that feel like?

I love these bands! They are timeless bands! Their crowds accepted us and always made us feel welcome. As a guitar player to receive a pat on the back and a great job from Peter Frampton is insane. In fact my Dad kind of had to shake me and say, “Do you realize what just happened!” Working with Jeff Healey blew my mind! Not only did we get to share the stage with him at a festival in Florida. But we were asked to come to an after party (at 17) and play jam with some of the other bands on the bill at a really small smoky bar. When I got done with my 3 song Jeff was standing right next to me and his manager said “Jeff would like to know if he can play your guitar for a few songs!’’ Jeff sat down in the chair and I gave him my guitar and took off the guitar strap and whammy bar for him and he played notes I’ve never heard of before! I’ll never get rid of that strat ever because of the magic of that night! These bands help me find my sound! I love them!

You also got to open for Bret Michaels, Poison, and Cinderella. What did you learn from those experiences?

I think when I first opened up for Poison I was 17 years old. It definitely changed my perspective on how a rock show should sound and look! The energy, the flare, the flames. (smiles) All of it made me want to up my game and change some things. It really made me take what I’ve learned in the blues world and apply that to a rock show. We also established friendships with the guys from Poison. From playing solo shows with Bret Michaels to going back out for a couple shows with Poison over 10 year span… Or to going to Rikki’s wedding and playing some music during his ceremonies, they’ve always been a phone call away with advice as well! Great guys! Glad to know them.

Opening for Cinderella also established some relationships as well! Watching their show being a blues guy at heart was awesome and hit all the right buttons for me! Blues/Rock for me personally how can you go wrong? My last band Cheap Thrill had Jeff and Eric in it as well We toured constantly and made a lot of memories.

Devil City Angels is made up of members of Poison, L.A. Guns, and Cinderella. Did you love those bands as much as I did growing up or have you developed a taste for them more as you went?

I actually was more of a 70’s guy growing up… Hendrix, The Doobie Brothers, Frampton, The Allman Brothers. As I got a little bit older our sound started to morph and we would be paired up with bands from their era, and then my research started! Loved learning about it and working with them. Some great songs came from these bands! Some great shows came from these bands!

What is it like being part of this particular band?

I love being the front man for Devil City Angels!We all appreciate where we came from, but we are loving creating our own new rock songs! At heart we all love Rock & Roll and that’s what’s up!

Is there an album in the works?

Yes we started working on one in August and immediately went on tour for a group of 6 weeks. I fly back out next Sunday to finish the first DCA record!

What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?

George Thorogood –“Here is the formula for success, MAKE IT HAPPEN” In other words, get off your ass, stop feeling sorry for yourself, and go and get your dream.

What advice would you offer others who wish to pursue a career in the music industry?

I’m a firm believer that you can do anything if you put your mind to it… Keep in mind there’s lots to do in the music business. Yes, being on stage seems to be the most popular, but people need wise council, good managers, agents, publicists, tour managers, techs, assistants, lawyers, you name it. Find what comes natural for you and work at it until it’s perfected and it truly excites you to be a part of. Also, the High Road is the best road… Be honest, continue to learn, treat the people who help you with respect and thank them every chance you can get, last but not least… Drugs aren’t cool…We don’t need to lose any more talent to substance abuse. Honestly, just say no (smiles)

Where do you think you would be right now if not for music? Do you think musicians ever stop to think about they’d like to do when they can’t make music any longer or is it something you strive to keep doing until your dying day?

If I wasn’t in the music business right now, I’d probably explore being a chef, I have always enjoyed cooking and grilling. Maybe some sort of social work with troubled kids. I day dream about lots of different things. I always enjoy asking people what they do for a living. It fascinates me! If someone says, construction, I usually have 10 questions for them because it’s not something I’m good at. If someone says auto mechanic I have 10 more questions because I love cars, but I’m not the best at working on them. If they say Law Enforcement, I want to shake their hands and thank them, that’s a job that fascinates me, and I know they don’t always have it good out there. Point being everyone has a talent! They just have to find out what makes them happy.

Do you think the public in general underestimates how much work goes into making the music happen from the roadies on up?

Hmmm, you know I can’t say they underestimate it.They don’t know what they don’t know. For instance when the bus pulls in early in the morning my guitar tech has his hands full with 3 full rigs of years of collecting the “perfect sound.” He’s the first one off and the last one on. Same with our tour manager. There is a business side to the madness of a rock show as well. Aside from that add sound guys, monitor guys, lighting guys, roadies, promoters, meet and greets, sound checks, security etc… All of these people in charge of making ONE night go smoothly so you can have the best experience ever! That’s the goal every night!

Are there any little know things about you that your fans might be surprised to learn?

Yep.I truly gave up my passion for playing Chess to learn how to play the guitar. There I said it!

Do you have a dream project you’d most like to bring into being before your time is through?

I’ve always thought it would be cool to make a record with no musical expectations. Don’t call it a rock record, don’t call it a blues record, don’t call it country, don’t call it anything. Maybe I’ll bring in special guests, maybe I’ll riff out for half of the record and then start singing half way through it with helium in my lungs(laughs). Maybe my brother comes in and plays latin percussion. Maybe my daughter Shelby is old enough to sing a verse. Point being, you could do whatever you want. Just like a musical dreamland. It might not sell, but it would be a piece of my imagination cataloged and I could say that I did it.

Is there anything you’d like to say before you go?

It’s a great day to be a Devil City Angel! Stay tuned for updates on our first ever record together! And tune in to ESPN’s Monday Night Football as Devil City is now on the program(smiles).I love my band and we will see you out there on the road!

Steps In Time

I don’t know if I am
northern German catholic or Jew.
Nor am I sure
if I’m traveling through the Milky Way
at frightful speed
or a tree rooted in marshland
and topped off by low-hanging cloud.

And then there’s you to contend with.
Without a reality to base myself in
is that a butterfly in my bed
or the shallow end of a swimming pool?

My eye and mind are voyagers.
One collects information
while the other transposes it.
And I’ve no idea which one does what.
So if I speak to you in terms of corridors,
air, sea, or roads., don’t be alarmed.
Or if I tell you the dead
are just too-contented housewifery
and over-full bellies,
then go elsewhere for the meaning you deserve.

On streets, winter is magic.
Earth slopes toward the sea.
Sun goes down into an empty cup
and the night is wild with black raining light.
These are images that outlive us.
And yet there, on a small white face,
your red lips burn with love,
and not the blue eternity favored by the dead.

In other words, I am certain of your flesh
as the stars are of their fire.
And we’re not old bottles on a January day,
like all else, ice-encrusted.
Forever, you are the mercury level
of my faith and sanctuary.
And there’s a band out there on the sidewalk,
playing toward the next battle cry.
All we need do
is make sure we’re present and accounted for
whenever the crescendo comes.
Another graveyard visit.

You’d think I’d know better by this.
But here I am again,
at the door of the great underground mansion,
discovering, as always,
that the knob is impervious to my grip.
No point knocking – with fists or tears.
The more I listen
the more it’s obvious
that no one is coming to answer.

Why do I ramble through
this patch of serene nothingness
as if those with knuckles clutched to breastbone
are even aware of my presence.
The fact is
that everybody’s home
but no one’s in.

I place roses at the foot of a stone.
Maybe they have need of a gardener.

John Grey is an Australian born poet. Recently published in Paterson Literary Review, Rockhurst Review, and Spindrift with work upcoming in New Plains Review, Leading Edge, and Louisiana Literature.

Peter Cornell has worked in the music industry in such bands as Inflatable Soule and Black Market Radio and as a solo artist. His latest release Champion features former Pearl Jam drummer Dave Abbruzzese on drums.

What were you like as a child? What are some of your most fond memories from that time?

I was a little hyper. Consequently I got in a bit of mischief. I was also fairly bright and did well in school when I could stay out of the head master’s office. I love being outside. I love playing football and basketball and when I got to be a teenager I learned how to sail and raced sailboats for years. Sailing, the sea, the water, boats of all kinds are still a huge love of mine.

What was it like growing up with Chris? What has been like getting to watch him succeed at doing something he loves? Do you ever get tired of people mentioning the connection there?

As adults, we have always been close. As kids we were kids and pulled each other’s hair and pinched each other’s arm. But I would crush anyone who ever threatened to lay a hand on him. Then and now I love the man dearly and have always taken a paternal pride in his success. Somewhere along the way I took an interest in music and honestly Chris has mentored me every step of the way and still does. If I hated him it would probably bother me that I get a lot of questions about him. But I love him so I don’t mind if people talk to me about him. But family is very private for us so my answers are limited.

When did you first discover your love of music? What was that experience like?

Our neighbors had older brothers and we used to sneak and listen to his Beatles records.  And we also discovered the Who, The Guess Who, and Zepplin. And Floyd. And Marijuana (a wicked combination of discoveries). I would never be the same.

Do you think music and other artistic talents can be inherited as well as learned?

Absolutely. I think anything can be learned. I had no latent musical talent. But I had desire to learn how to write a song. I was surrounded by the likes of Andy Wood, Chris Cornell, Layne Staley and Stone and Jeff from PJ. Amongst others. Me and my bro were roomies and these were the guys that were hanging out on a regular basis. I was fascinated by song writing and how it worked. Coincidentally, about that same time, my girlfriend gave me a guitar for Christmas, we broke up, and I took a job sailing around the South Pacific for a year. While I was at sea I learned how to play, I learned every Beatles song I could and I was inspired by the crazy shit that was going on in my world and low and behold, I learned how to craft a decent tune.

When did you first take an interest in guitar? What advice would you offer those just starting to learn?

As I said above. My girlfriend gave me a guitar for Christmas as a distraction (I was a troubled 20 something) and she thought I needed a hobby. I then went to sea, had a desire to be a song writer and I played that guitar until my fingers hurt. Even if it sounded awful. I just kept playing everyday. It scares me that kids today would rather play video games, or computers, or text than sit in a room and shred on their favorite instrument for hours even days at a time.

Since there isn’t a lot about you out there, yet, can you tell us a little about what has made you who you are today?

I am a product of the school of hard knocks. I have had many opportunities in my life yet I have sometimes followed the crooked path. I am not bitter, I hold myself accountable to and for myself. One of the amazing gifts the universe has given me is perseverance. I’ve always managed to land on my feet. I have made music now for a little over twenty years, and because of that drive to persevere, I am making the best music of my life.

How have your musical tastes evolved over the years?

My first concert was Billy Joel. My first vinyl was Johnny Cash Live at Folsom Prison (when I was in fourth grade). The record I wrote before Champion was called Black Market Radio. When I wrote BMR I listened to only three things; The Complete Zepp catalogue, the first Cars record, and Alice Cooper’s greatest hits. When I did Champion I listened to a ton of Curtis Mayfield (didn’t influence the sound of my record) Chris Cornell’s solo records, Alain Johannes, STP, and all things Zepp (I like guitar hooks and Page wrote ALL the good ones so I steal as much as I can from him).

What are your thoughts on the current state of the music industry in general?

For a rock musician, there is no more music industry. We rock musicians are here in the world of the interweb making our own rock industry. And in many ways I think it is far superior. I hate that reality TV has made being a musician sort of the same as being a contestant on the Price is Right. Not to say there aren’t great singers on The Voice, but where are the garage bands and the kids shredding on guitar and gritty, gut wrenching songs from guys pouring their guts out while they are trying to get a deal? The most visible music today is not necessarily the best or most organic or most legitimate. This is only my opinion of course. Do you think determination and dedication are a must these days if one is going to devote their life to a career in music?

Determination is a must in anything you wish to succeed at. I think. It also takes dedication and partial insanity.

Do you get nervous when you release your work to the public?

Always. These songs become your children. It took me over two years to get this done, because I built my own studio and wrote and played everything myself (except for drums which came later). But after you have lived with this material so privately for so long, you lose perspective and you second-guess and it becomes so safe just to keep it to yourself.

How did the album Champion come about?

My girlfriend dumped me (common theme I guess). I was going to quit music as part of my heartache but instead I hid out in the attic of an old house in Maine for six months writing and recording songs about my broken heart. After 6 months I moved back to NYC with the intention of quitting music again. I couldn’t do it. I had all these songs that wanted to come to life. I discovered Macbook Pro and Logic and software and home recording and I built a studio in my apartment in Brooklyn and I locked myself in the lab and I went to work to do the best work I have ever done.

Besides Dave, who else do you work with on it? What do you love most about this particular album?

It’s just me and Dave. I used drum software to write the record with the intention of replacing it with a real drummer when I found a real drummer who would do it. What I love most about this record is that I reconnected with Dave Abbruzzese after 15 years and he played on my record. He found me on Facebook a year ago, right when I was looking for a drummer. I knew him in Seattle years ago( he mixed some songs for me) but we never got to play. So having him on this record is nothing short of a miracle. I played all the bass, guitars and vocals.

How does solo work differ most from band work? Do you prefer one to the other?

I did a record with a great bass player named Keith Mannino in NYC in 2005-2007 called Black Market Radio. It is a true collaboration and it is a great record and great collection of songs. I enjoyed that as much as I enjoyed doing Champion on my own. The hardest part about dong it yourself is self-editing. Knowing when to say when. I re-wrote and re-recorded at least 5 songs completely on Champion, because when I did the first version my “self editor” was faulty. So if you can work with somebody whose ears you trust, you might be able to work a little faster. The coolest part about working alone is you can take as much time as you like and work when ever you want even if it’s the wee hours of the morning.

Are there any things about you that your fans might be surprised to know?

I have no children. I was only married once for two years. I’m older than I Iook. I’m a very bad dancer. I really want to get my license to fly small private jets.

Do you have a dream project you’d most like to accomplish?

A record top to bottom written/recorded with Chris Cornell, Dave Abbruzzese, Peter Cornell, Dave Mustaine on lead (most amazing lead player I have ever met) and produced by Rick Rubin because his records all sound so cool.

What do you think the key to a life well lived?

Love, sobriety, sex, children, puppies, take care of your body, find that thing that defines you and throw yourself into it with all you got. And go sailing once at least it will change your life.

What projects to you look forward to bringing into being next?

I’d like to do another solo record but invite other guys to play on it. I think I have the formula of how to craft it down to a science, but I would like other flavors on it. Especially guitar work from better lead players. I have a bunch of tunes ready to start working on.

Anything you’d like to say before you go?

Thanks to you, your readers, and everybody out in the virtual world who is devoted to any kind of art. Technology is eroding our creative juices. I think what you do is pivotal to keeping it from ever disappearing. Much Love.

Anne Rice is without a doubt one of the most iconic authors of modern day. Her works ranging from gothic fiction, erotica, and Christian literature have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. Her latest installment in The Vampire Chronicles, Prince Lestat, is slated for release October 28, 2014.

What was it like growing up in New Orleans? What are some of your most fond memories of those days?

I was born in 1941 and it was another world — before electric refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners or air conditioning in homes. And my fond memories revolve around seeing the great changes that shaped the later Twentieth Century. I remember the first television introduced into our home with its tiny 6 inch screen, and little black and white picture. I remember when the great screen porches on Southern houses were removed or glassed in as air conditioning took over. New Orleans is a city of 18th and 19th century architecture, and it has an extraordinary atmosphere for an American city, and feels in ways like a Caribbean port. All that filled me with delight.

Can you tell us a little about Alice Allen? Did she leave a lasting impression on you in regards to being strong when faced with the challenges of the world?

My grandmother Alice Allen was a great role model, a strong elderly lady who worked tirelessly in the home squeezing oranges, preparing vegetables, sweeping, cleaning, cooking the daily meals, ironing the sheets, and the clothes, and she was very refined and very proper. She wore only black, or black and white dresses, and usually a black straw hat with flowers when she went out. She was a staunch Catholic, and gentle and loving with children. She invited us to help with the chores, made it fun, and provided love and security. She was an anchor in the home, always there. Yes, her strength has influenced my entire life.

What was it like when you first met Stan in High School? What did you love about him most?

He was handsome and brilliant, uncommonly brilliant. Unusual. He had elfin features, and was very tall and had an athletic grace. He was a fine student. I found him enchanting. I think “unique” is the word that captures him perfectly. There simply was no one else like him, no one who spoke so fluidly and with such crisp articulation, who read interesting novels, who questioned traditional religious beliefs with such intellect. He was sixteen, you understand. He swept me off my feet.

As someone who has lived through the death of both their soul mate and their child, what advice would offer others when it comes to dealing with such deep loss? Do you think love is the one thing we both leave behind and take with us when we go?

Losses are part of life, and we learn this more truly with each one. Seeing someone die is perhaps the only really supernatural event we witness in our lives. When life goes out of the person, it is truly all over in some unfathomable way. We have to be strengthened by this experience, and we have to let the grief flow. Modern life is too hard on the grieving. Grief is important. Yes, love is essential to a well lived life, but I do believe in an afterlife, and that it is a place of understanding and answers.

Do you think love is a must when dealing with the hardness of the world today?

Without question. As W.H. Auden wrote in his poem, September 1st, 1939, “We must love one another or die.”  In the West we are now in an era where the dominant theme of life is love, and how to love effectively. Competition for resources, resolving political conflicts, all is now being tempered and tested by standards that involve love.

What do you enjoy most about the act of writing?

I love most creating fictional worlds in which I can feel vital and work out all the problems of my life without thinking about them consciously.

What does it take to bring worlds to life by using your words? Is that a difficult task to learn?

I never learned how to bring worlds to life with words. It’s always been natural to me. I have a good ear for speech, for stories being told, a good “ear” for the prose I read, the storytelling in books, and when I write, it just pours out naturally. I fall into storytelling as if I was born to do it.

Are there any little known things about yourself that your readers might be surprised hear?

Not sure. I tend to post about just about everything that interests me on Facebook. I think my readers are used to hearing me hold forth on my obsessions. They know I love hard rock music and TV shows like The Waltons. They accept me for who I am. My fiction is shocking. But they accept it too.

Your work touches on the occult and things that cannot be explained. Why do you think such things appeal to so many people?

We ourselves are “occult” mysteries. We feel immortal though we are not; we sense that we have souls though we cannot prove that we have souls; we are witnesses to the process of a vast universe, yet we ourselves are so tiny as to be less than a nano particle in the universe. So “occult” literature is about us in symbolic ways. We are all vampires, ghosts, monsters.

Are you excited to be releasing Prince Lestat onto the world? What can the reader expect from this one?

The reader can expect a book set right now in the present time, and a book of huge scope. It’s not just about my beloved hero, Lestat. It’s about all his fellow vampires in the Twenty-first Century and the challenges they face in the information age, an age of ubiquitous video surveillance, and internet investigatory power. It’s a novel of love and loss and also modern challenges for my romantic characters.

What was it like to have Universal acquire to movie rights for The Vampire Chronicles? Any chance we will ever get to see the Mayfair Witches on screen?

Any license of movie rights is exciting but involves risk. The readers are passionate and want any movie to be faithful to the books; they look to me to see that this is done; and that means I must not betray their trust. I must do my utmost to do what I can to see the films are faithful. I love film and I want to see great films made based on my work. There is interest in the Mayfair Witches. Perhaps something will happen soon.

Of all your series do you have one you hold most dear or do you like them all equally?

My two Christ the Lord novels contain the best writing I think I’ve ever done. But my Vampire Chronicles series is dear to my heart for its intensity, the long continuity of experience I’ve had with it, and my deep devotion to my hero Lestat.

How have you changed most as you have grown older? What words of wisdom would leave to others on the subject?

I hope I’ve learned to be more patient with others, not to be so angry and irritable with those I don’t understand. I am an optimist, and as I advance in age I really do feel ever more strongly that most people, as Anne Frank said, are basically good. We have to allow our opponents their good intentions. We have to love. We have to acknowledge that kindness, no matter how hard or how mundane it seems, can save this world.

What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My friend, novelist, Floyd Salas, told me as a writer to “Go where the pain is.” This was the best writer’s advice I ever received. As for life itself, my mother’s advice, that pain could make you callous to the suffering of others, or highly sensitive to the suffering of others….this was an excellent and helpful observation. I believe with my whole heart she wanted me to be highly sensitive to the pain of others. And though I fail at this, I keep trying.

What do you think is the key to a life well lived?

To love deeply and as Hemingway said, to know when you’re getting your money’s worth. Know how to be happy. Know how to recognize happiness when you are experiencing it. Know how to relax into love and into happiness. If you can’t do that, you may miss the greatest experiences and rewards of your life.

What are your personal feelings on ghosts and such? Do you believe the essence of a person lives on long after their body ceases to do so? What are your feelings on the afterlife?

I don’t know the truth on any of it. This is what I believe. Yes, there are ghosts. So many have seen them and reported on them throughout history, that we can conclude, yes, there are ghosts. My personal belief is that we are body and spirit; and when we die, our spirit ascends to another realm. However in some cases, the spirit may remain earthbound. It may remain earthbound as a ghost, and it may haunt or it may linger for any number of reasons, both positive and negative. But with most people, the spirit leaves the earthly realm. However it can at times still communicate with those on earth, and this sometimes happens. But what really happens after death? I have no idea.

The Near Death Experience research gives us very interesting clues into what may happen after death —- that we pass into a realm where we learn new things, reunite with those we loved on Earth, learn answers to questions that tormented us, and have new opportunities to develop. The most interesting thing about the Near Death Experience material worldwide is that it points to a “beyond” which is a place of change, and advancement. This is the opposite of the Christian Belief system which sees all learning and advancement as finished at death.

How do you hope to be remembered when your own time comes?

I hope I’m remembered for my novels, for writing books that had a strong impact on people, novels that transcended any genre and will live on in people’s minds and hearts.

Anything you’d like to say in closing?

Only that my appreciation of the Gift of Life increases every day. Once I heard a woman say on television, “Life is hard but life is worth it.” I never forgot that. She is so right. I’ve lived an extraordinary life and I continue to have extraordinary experiences. I’m grateful for all of it.

For more information on Prince Lestat please click photo below:

Becket is perhaps best known for his work as Anne Rice’s assistant and for his own tales in The Blood Vivicanti and the Children’s book Key the Steampunk Vampire Girl. Long before all of that he was a Benedictine monk with a master’s degree in theology. His love for music began around the age of 11 when he formed a band with Sam Rivers who is now the bassist for Limp Bizkit. With his first self-titled album now available, it is an honor to sit down with him and learn more about what led to its creation.

What was your very first favorite song?

Michael Jackson’s Beat It. My dad gave me a 45 record player, and his dad owned a jukebox. They were always giving me records. But that one I played over and over and over again. That and Phil Collins’ Sussudio.

Do you remember what it was like to meet Sam when you were 11?

I remember he transferred to my school. He and I started playing musical instruments together, he on guitar and I on bass. But then we switched one day, and now he’s a brilliant bass player.

Who are some of your earliest musical influences?

My biggest musical influence, which has remained with me ever since, was the first time I learned Metallica’s One. I was playing Hetfield’s opening bars. A friend, John Otto, had another guitar and he began playing Hammett’s solo. It was the first time I had ever heard real music harmony. The sound of our two instruments making music gave me chills. Still does.

Did being a monk change your taste in music a little?

It refined my taste. Before I was a monk my music was very intellectual and difficult for performers and the listeners. Being a monk helped me be more practical, which in many ways meant finding the beauty of writing a simple music. Now that is all I write.

Are people often surprised to learn that you used to be a dedicated monk given your current line of work?

Sometimes that happens. But I am an introvert and I do not share those details in conversations unless asked. I just write about them and put the monastic experience in the world.

Do you love all genres of music equally or are there some you prefer over others?

I like music that feels good and music that makes me think. The Dave Matthews Band is a perfect example. Under the Table and Dreaming is one of the best albums of the 90’s because it combines folk and funk peerlessly. Try singing and playing Satellite at the same time. It’s brilliant work. Some songs by a new band called Gungor does this too. But I also like instrumental composers like Arvo Part.

How do you balance your time as an assistant, an author, and a musician?

I am fortunate enough to have one of those jobs that provides a flexible schedule. But I also have the discipline of waking up at 4am and beginning my morning routine, which starts with prayer and then journaling, and then into a few hours of writing either books or music. The rest of the day is spent with Anne.

What was the most challenging thing you faced when creating this album?

The most challenging aspect of creating an album is that I am doing it on my own. I have friends like Raven Quinn, who has two albums out, and she has shared with me her experience with digital sales, CD manufacturing, and marketing. I prefer writing, and I would rather leave the cleverness of marketing etc. to other clever people.

What are you hoping your fans take away from this album?

Similar to my poetry, I hope that people can relate to the expression of thought and emotions in the songs. Each one is a reflection of how I like to listen to music while I think about other things. It’s background music for my brain.

What can we expect with this album?

Expect it to be mostly an instrumental album, utilizing cello, piano, and violin. But there are some rather large orchestral pieces too, and a soprano singing in elvish.

Is Anne a fan of your music? What do you think is the most important thing you have learned from working with her?

The most important thing that she has taught me is to create the art I want to experience. I wanted to hear every note I composed. So I composed an album that made me happy, but at the same time I considered how other people would react to it. I think it reflects my life so far. It is an album to evoke contemplation.

If you could work with anyone in the music industry who would it be and why?

Bryan Tyler. He composes brilliant movie scores.

Do you have a dream project you would most like to complete?

The fact that I am being productive in ways that make me happy fulfills my dreams.

What projects are you working on at the moment? Do you plan on releasing more albums in the future?

I have a symphony I’m working on. And I am also writing small tunes for larger works that I hope to put out in 2015.

For more information on the album please click the photo below:

All images copyright of Marina Cano and used with permission. For more information on her work please see Marina Cano Wild Photography.