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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.
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