After blowing us away with their performance at the Z Rocks festival 2002,
we had no other option but to track down the band for an interview.
Here we talk to bass guitarist Stevie Skreebs and life-long fan Derek
McGowan who was asked to step in for lead guitarist Greg Fraser when he
was unable to make it across for the festival.
MM - OK, Lets start with some basic stuff - who's
in the band at the moment and where do you all hail from?
Stevie: The current line-up is made up of all original Brighton Rock
members, that is what is so exciting at this time in our career. Mark
Cavarzan on drums, Gerry McGhee on vocals, John Rogers, Keyboards, Rhythm
Guitars and backing vocals all from Hamilton Ontario. Greg Fraser, lead
guitar, backing vocals, myself Stevie Skreebs, bass guitar and backing
vocals. Greg and I are the co-founders of the band and are both from
Niagara Falls Canada.
MM -The band have been around for quite a while
now, but for those readers who don't know much about you, can you bring us
up to speed with a short history lesson.
Stevie: It all began with a dream, back in 1982 when Greg and I joined
forces to form a new project called Heart Attack. After many various
personal changes, we finally found the frontman we had been searching for
in Gerry McGhee. Gerry had formerly been singing in a Hamilton based band
The Rockers and was looking for a new band. The three of us began working
together and received instant recognition from WEA records once their song
"Breaking Down The Barricade" was chosen for the Q107 Homegrown album in
1984.
It was when drummer Mark Cavarzan and keyboardist Martin Victor joined the
band that the band changed it's name to Brighton Rock. We released a self
titled EP on our own label, Flying Fist records, this was soon to be
followed by our debut album, Young Wild and Free. Which was released
worldwide through WEA Records. Just we were preparing for our first world
tour another personnel change was needed, Martin Victor left and was
replaced by John Rogers.
The band hit the road with the success of our first single "We Came to
Rock", which was soon to be followed by the ballad "Can't Wait for the
Night". After a successful debut tour we retreated back into the studio to
record our second album, Take A Deep Breath. The next tour began taking us
over to England, on the strength of the first two singles, "One More Try"
and "Hangin High and Dry", the album was soon to be certified gold in
Canada.
We toured for the next year and then prepared for their third album. As we
began writing tunes for the next album, John Rogers departed from the
band. Instead of hiring another keyboard player, we went for a heavier
guitar sounding album and Love Machine was born. The band co-produced with
Toby Wright, hired Greg Boileau as a rhythm guitarist and once again hit
the road. After a gruelling tour we decided to part ways and officially
break up.
Here we are ten years later and guess what, we're back with our original
line-up and things could not be better.
MM - Brighton Rocks sounds very English if you don't
mind me saying so, where does the name originally come from?
Stevie: The name came from a novel written by Graham Greene titled
Brighton Rock
MM - How would you best describe your music and who do you think it would
most appeal to?
Stevie: Our music is hard driving kick ass Rock n Roll. It appeals to
anybody and everybody that wants to Rock.
MM - We've recently seen the band perform live at
the Z Rocks 2002 festival in Manchester. What were your initial reactions
when you found out the band had been invited to appear on the bill and did
you enjoy it?
Stevie: Our initial reaction was one of excitement; we were thrilled and
honoured to get a chance to once again play for our friends and fans in
England. We are just as excited to go to Germany this October, we have
never played there before and I can’t wait to rock our German fans.
MM - How did you find the response from the fans
over here in the UK as opposed to that in Canada? Some bands find us a
little reserved, what were your impressions?
Stevie: Fans in England may appear reserved because they are not as
boisterous as North American fans, but I feel they are more passionate
about their music and in return they pay more attention to detail. They
are more focused on every move you make on stage, and are a little more
reserved, that just motivates me to kick their ass even more. I like the
challenge
MM - Are you aware of the crowd when you perform? What goes through your
mind when you're onstage doing your thing?
Stevie: I am more aware of the crowd than anything else. I look out into
the crowd before we even hit the stage. I try to get a feel for the crowd,
for the crowd is what drives me, without the crowd we are nothing, I
personally feed off of the crowd and my job is to entertain everyone out
there. I personally thank you all, I get an unbelievable feeling of
satisfaction when I see fans grooving to the rhythm and leaving with a
smile.
MM - You recently released your 'A Room For Five Live' album out on the
Z records label. A lot of fans thought this took a long time in coming.
Were you pleased with the finished product and what is your favourite
song off it?
Stevie: Yes it took 10 years to finally get the original band back
together to record this live CD, and it was well worth the wait. I feel
the band has finally been recorded in our most natural setting, for we are
a live Rock n Roll band.
MM - Have you made a start on your next album yet? If so can you tell us
anything about it or is it still in the early days?
Stevie: We haven’t started working on our next CD, but we have talked
about recording some songs that are already written but didn’t make it on
our previous CD’s. Some of these songs are some of my personal favourites,
we will have to wait and see.
MM - Given only one choice, which would you prefer - to hole up in the
studio or to tour till you drop?
Stevie: Personally I would like to tour all year for the rest of my life,
I live for the stage. I am not personally fond of the studio, I like
playing my parts and getting the hell out.
MM - How can people find out about what's going on
with the band? After you're recent performance in the UK I'm sure you've
won yourselves more than a few new fans who are eager to find out more
about you guys.
Stevie: Fans can keep updated by logging onto our website
www.brightonrocks.ca.
Fans can email send pictures and find out what is happening now and in
the future.
MM - What bands did you grow up with and how have
they helped in creating the style of music you perform now?
Derek: I grew up listening to Brighton Rock - that's what makes playing
with them so awesome! Also bands like Motley Crue, Aerosmith, Warrant and
heavier stuff like Machine Head and Metallica have all helped my playing
style.
MM - Have any of the band members been involved in
other bands prior to Brighton Rock?
Derek: I was in a band called HEXUS, we put out a couple independent
c.d.'s. I believe their are some mp3's at mp3.com...very Machine Head
style music. I am currently in a new band without a name so far, and
writing new songs.
MM - What's the most memorable concert you've been
to (other than your own) and why?
Derek: My first concert was AEROSMITH and SKID ROW when I was 11. I'll
never forget how awesome that show was.
MM - At what age did you decide you wanted to be a
musician/performer? Who did you want to be when you were younger? Who was
your idol?
Derek: When I was like 8 or so I started going on and on to my folks that
I wanted to be a "rock star". Basically I just wanted to play music and
that was it. Randy Rhoads has always been my musical idol, I still get
goosebumps when I listen to his music.
MM - Who in the world of rock have you always
wanted to meet, or perhaps perform with, but haven't had a chance to yet?
Derek: Well performing with Brighton Rock is a dream come true cause I've
loved this band for so long, I remember writing their logo all over my
school books.
MM - What's the craziest thing you've ever done in
the name of Rock N' Roll?
Derek: Craziest? Ummmm.....Skipped out on being best man at my friend's
wedding to play with Brighton Rock at ZROCK2002.
MM - Tell us one thing about yourself that not
many people know.
Derek: That I am in the process of taking singing lessons......
MM - Lastly, is there anything you would like to
say to all your fans out there both old and new?
Derek: Thanks to all the Brighton Rock fans in England for accepting me
and making our trip there so memorable. It was a pleasure to meet with all
of you and I hope to see you all again.
