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.

Worms Were Coming and Going

worms were coming and going
in and out of the heated ground
glowing white slimy worms
jetting in and out of pre-made holes
readymade holes just for them
there were hundreds of them too
and rather ghostly worms indeed
but silently lying low among
the burnt stumps of trees and bushes
was a copperhead waiting to leap
and strike his viperous tongue
into the next wandering victim
coming along his charred path
everyone takes the path daily
but not today not today no
because the hill is burnt black
with white ashes gathered like snow
blanketing the bare rattled land
even still the snake stayed coiled
and ready with tongue to pounce
but i take note and gingerly mosey
on along as though i do not see
his camouflage against the wasted land
so without any sign of fear or alarm
beneath my feet i quickly move on
and maybe he will consume himself
then evaporate into the smoke
that wafts about his dying
worms were coming and going
and i move on to live once again

Tracii Guns is best known as the guitarist for the metal group L.A Guns. He was also involved in the formation of the first lineup for Guns N’ Roses and was in the supergroups Brides of Destruction and Contraband. He can currently be found touring with the supergroup Devil City Angels alongside Rikki Rockett(Poison), Eric Brittingham(Cinderella), and Brandon Gibbs(Cheap Thrill).

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

I was a typical late 60’s kid. My parents were way too young but, they were hip. I spent a lot of time with my cousin Lannie who was 5 years older than me. We were adventure seekers and music lovers. He passed away when I was 17 and it was awful. My mom loved to travel so we went on lots of mini vacations and camping trips. By the time I was 7 I had been to France and Mexico and had been to sleep over camp. I was ready for the commune, traveling circus kind of lifestyle at that point.

When did you first discover music? Do you happen to remember what your first favorite song was?

Mostly my mom and AM radio. I liked The Rapper by the Jaggerz and Bang A Gong by T Rex.As far back as I can remember I’ve loved rock n roll.

Who were some of your first musical influences?

The only real musical influence when I started playing was Led Zeppelin. They were mysterious and spooky and I was very attracted to the textures.

When did you know you wanted to be a guitarist?

The first time I heard Whole Lotta Love. I heard the Theramin in the psychedelic section of the song and my mom told me it was electric guitar and that the guy playing it was Jimmy Page. A little while later she showed me a photo of him on the cover of Creem magazine wearing the Black Dragon suit and I was hypnotized by that sound and image ever since. I was 5 years old at that point.

What was running through your mind when you got your very first one?

I was thinking I could turn cocoons into butterflies and make magic happen. It had nothing to do with becoming a guitar player or a common musician. I just wanted to make big scary sound.

Do you have a dream model you’d most love to own?

I would love a fully functional 1952 Les Paul but, that’s a tall order

What do you love most about being a guitarist?

The ability to communicate my emotions to people.

What equipment do you use when touring? Is there any one thing you couldn’t do without besides the obvious?

I use an assortment of Budda Amplifiers. I also use Peavey Blues Classics sometimes with the single 15” speaker in them. They are very good sounding amplifiers. I prefer the sound of Combo amps and 2×12 cabinets. My sound has a lot more body to it these days than it did when I was younger. I also use a Blankenship Variplex 50 through a Budda 2×12 cab. I have my own Signature guitar with Dean guitars simply called the NASHVEGAS. Basically the sound and shape of a 51 no caster with an extra fret and a Floyd Rose tremolo. I also use a custom made Dean avalanche with two hot humbuckers and a Floyd along with Two Dean Thouroughbreds which are an amazing classic guitar. And last is my 73 Ibanez Doubleneck (nearly identical to the Gibson EDS1275) it’s the best playing and sounding double I have ever owned and was acquired from Ricky Mahler from the band Circus Of Power. Pedals come and go in my live setup. Generally A Wah,Delay,Treble Boost,Distortion and something that makes the sound wobble a bit every now and then.

What do you love most about touring? What do you hate most?

Touring is honestly an escape from reality where every day is a new adventure and I get to experiment every night I play. It’s clearly an addiction. I miss my boy Jagger who is about to turn 6 years old. He is the joy and love of my life.

Having worked with such a wide variety of musicians over the course of your career have you encountered a lot of over inflated egos in the business? Why do you think some people develop that along the way? Do you think it is best to just shrug that sort of thing off and go about your work?

Uhm, no one has an ego as large as mine(laughs). Ego is the fuel that makes the flame burn bright. I think you mean have I encountered a lot of Narcissistic people in the business and the answer is absolutely yes! Some on the music/performance side and some on the business side. It usually just means they think they are entitled to something they don’t actually deserve and didn’t work hard enough for so they let ya know how great they think they are without realizing they are just another bump on the earth and that none of this matters in the end any way(smiles).

What advice would you offer others just starting out who wish to learn guitar?

Do it because you love it and practice a lot. Practice!

Why do you think music has always been so well loved throughout time?

Music is what the emotions sound like.

What is it like to work with the guys in Devil City Angels? What projects do you have in the works next?

They are very humble nice people that just want to create and be recognized for the immense talents they own. It’s very easy to be this band. Ya never know what’s next and that’s what makes my lifestyle exciting to me.

Are there any particular moments throughout your career that stand out most in your mind?

All of the moments good or bad are deeply embedded in me and my memory of it all is incredible.

Any stories you are at liberty to share with our readers?

Without a specific area of storytelling nothing jumps out, basically Sex and Rock n Roll happen but, every human has their own story which is interesting to mostly themselves(smiles).

How do you think you as an individual have changed most since you first started your career?

I am much more enlightened in general as a human then I was even a year ago. The quest for truth and knowledge is very important to me and I am a father now which is a beautiful change.

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

I am a huge Enya fan.

What was the best advice anyone has ever gave you?

Alan Kovac told me that the music audience isn’t as cool as I think I am so, shut up and write a song that people will like!

What are your thoughts on death and what happens after? How would you like to be remembered when your time does come?

As far as what I have been able to put together using my own brain without someone else’s influence is that when you die whatever electrical energy you have been borrowing your whole life gets expelled and joins the rest of the electrical energy within the earth’s atmosphere. Your body decays and becomes soil. My afterlife I hope is that my creations touched people in a positive way and that I was maybe able to add something to the vocabulary of Rock N Roll music and that maybe someone picked up a guitar and wanted to play because something I played inspired them to do so. But most importantly I want my son to always remember until he dies how much I love him(smiles).

Anything you’d like to say in closing?

Stop reading this interview and go do something that makes you happy!

http://www.thedevilcityangels.com/

https://www.facebook.com/DevilCityAngels

Together in Love and Wonder

Joined Under A Fantastic Hope

Lake of the Fallen Moon

Forest Fellowship

A Placid Pause

Mother of the Lone Wolf

Together at the Threshold

http://www.andykehoe.net