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STARWOOD - INTERVIEW WITH LIZZY
- 8-17-04
By Rebelx.org
Rebel Extravaganza: So, how long
has the band been together?
Lizzy: Umm...since November of last year. Things luckily came
together really quick for us.
RX: The record seems to be doing really well.
Lizzy: Yeah! It's suprised us, actually. Back when we were first
rehearsing and putting the band together, we weren't sure any-
one was even gonna like it. There's been overwhelmingly positive
reviews and press on it so far, and we just have to keep that
momentum going, make the next one even better, and get out on
the road!
RX: So, are you hitting the road anytime soon?
Lizzy: Funny you should mention that! I can't really say
anything specific right now, but my road manager woke me up this
morning with a phone call, and there's alot of stuff we might be
involved in. Some of it looks like it's a strange pairing, but
it would work because of that, you know? There are options we
have, and we're gonna explore them. Anything we can do to get on
the road, because that's where we'll really come into our own, I
think. We really want to get out on a support slot first.
Opening for a more known band right now, and getting our name
and music out where people can see where we're coming from is a
priority. Our hearts are definitely in this!
RX: That's obvious from the album! Where I've heard Starwood
compared to The Darkness and LA Guns, Guns 'N' Roses, I you guys
as more influenced by the 70s rock scene...Cheap Trick, T-Rex,
and bands like that.
Lizzy: Totally! Bands like Cheap Trick, Kiss, and New York Dolls
are totally where we're coming from! All those bands had
incredible melodies, and songs that you knew by heart after you
heard them once! The musicians weren't bad musicians, but they
kept the music simple and catchy, and to this day when you hear
'Dream Police' or 'Sweet Emotion', you start humming the song
and singing along in your head. That's what we're reaching for.
RX: I think it's great that you kept If It Ain't Broke... short
in length. You came in, did what you came to do, and got the
fuck out. It's one of those albums that you can listen to while
you're driving with the windows down, going 80 mph.
Lizzy: That was one of the things I thought was important. We
have alot of songs written that we didn't use, and we're working
on new things every time we rehearse. Maybe the next one will be
longer, but maybe not. You look at all the really great albums
from the 70s, like the ones we were talking about before, and
there were 9 songs. KISS's Destroyer had 9 songs, most of the
Cheap Trick records, 9 songs. We even trimmed alot of the fat
off of the stuff that did make the album. There were parts where
songs were longer, more solos and such, and we cut alot of
things out that we could've left in probably. With this being
our first CD though, we wanted to be able to have it sold for a
cheaper price, as well. Most people are used to getting an
hour's-worth of music now for, like, $17. With that $17, you're
still only getting about 6 good songs, and 4 or 5 that are just
there to fill space and justify the price. We wanted to give you
our best half-hour of material, instead of spreading 30 great
minutes through another half-hour of music that maybe wasn't on
the level of what our best was.
RX: More bands should think that way. I'd rather have a short
album with every song jumping out at me than a 2CD-set with 1
1/2 CDs of throwaway, and 7 good songs interspersed.
Lizzy: We easily could've done a double-disc, but that would've
been pretty much suicide. Putting everything we'd done before
this point out would give us nothing to go back to. Besides, if
there's one thing I've learned in this business, it's that if a
song doesn't grab you in the first thirty seconds, you turn the
dial. That goes for me, and the fans, and anyone pretty much.
With Starwood, the thing is, there aren't really any bands doing
what we're doing right now, so we can build from the ground up,
and get a buzz going. The time is right for a band like
Starwood, I think!
RX: I'd agree. I need something to throw on between the Vader
and My Dying Bride (Laughs)! Actually, I've talked to a few
people who've said exactly that. It's time for something to come
along that's heavy, but catchy. "Garage-rock", or whatever
they're calling bands like Von Bondies, The Strokes, and shit
just isnt' doing it for me. I want something to escape into, not
car commercial music. Almost the only band that I could
justifiably compare you guys to, that's current, would be The
Darkness, but it's not even the same style, really, even then. I
see Starwood as more American-ized... meaning, more KISS, less
Queen, if you get that.
Lizzy: For sure! I've always loved the music from that era, and
this is kind of my way of reminding people where it all came
from. Those 70s bands were the musical architects of almost
everything that you hear today. I mean, listen to Slade, or
(again) Cheap Trick! The melodies were all there, but they were
great rock songs!
RX: Yeah! The first album I ever remember hearing all the way
through was KISS - Destroyer. I was in second grade, and this
kid brought the vinyl into music class. I guess the teacher
must've been cool, because she put it on the record player in
the classroom, and we all danced around like maniacs! It was
over for me from that point on!
Lizzy: (Laughs) Oh, totally! Hey, you know, the hardcore KISS
fans actually hated that album at first, because of Bob Ezrin's
production! I loved it though, and I'm a huge fan of Bob Ezrin.
He's able to pull things out of bands that either they hadn't
paid attention to before, or didn't realize they were capable
of. In the 70s, he was always making the bands he worked with
stretch themselves. In doing this album, Joe and I produced it
ourselves, but I'd love to work with Bob Ezrin someday!
RX: I loved the work he did on Billion Dollar Babies, also.
Lizzy: That was the first album, I think, where Alice Cooper
became a real band and stopped being Alice Cooper (the man) with
random musicians. I don't think Alice would've gone on much
longer past that album, were it not for Ezrin. I mean, the songs
'Generation Landslide' and 'Halo Of Flies' were so unlike
anything Alice Cooper had done before, but showed two different
sides of the band, and were great songs.
RX: Looks like that's about it for our time! It's really been
great talking to you, Lizzy! One thing, before we go. I wanted
you to have a chance to talk about your website. For such a
relatively new band, your site's pretty comprehensive. What do
you think about the internet as a marketing tool for new bands?
Lizzy: I'm glad you asked that question! Our website is a
priority for this band, in getting the word out. Also, we throw
as much content as we can up there all the time. We have someone
running the site for us, plus there's updates and news, and I'm
working on a diary on there. I think that internet marketing
works both in getting better exposure and in building a
relationship between a band and their fans. Our website is
shaping up to be a place to go and always find something new,
and that's how it's going to stay!
RX: Fantastic! Thanks for your time, and see you when you come
through Detroit!
Lizzy: Man, I cannot wait! I've always loved playin' in Detroit!
See ya then!
www.starwood-band.com
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