The Deadlights – Interview

Sitting in New Orleans waiting for their new tour bus, we find Jerry Monano, the bassist for the Deadlights. Here we go on our one on one with him.

How is the road treating you?

Great. It’s been very cool. We’ve been out for about seven weeks now.

I was on the official site board and the people have loved your shows.

Yeah. The response has been cool. The people have really been digging it. You couldn’t ask for anything more. It’s getting cool now because we are hitting places we’ve already been to, and you see people singing along, so it’s pretty wild.

The one thing that stood out is that you guys actually go and hang out with the fans after the shows.

Yeah, totally. As soon as the show is over, we always go out to the crowd. We don’t come off the stage and act like we are the shit. As soon as we come off stage, we go out to the merch booth and sign stuff and hang out with the kids. All the bands on this tour (currently they are on tour with Coal Chamber and Type O Negative) are the same way.

I read one message where a fan thanked Bill for helping with their car.

I know. How funny is that? (laughs)

I know. I almost died when I read that. I was thinking, ‘How far will this band go?’

(laughs) I don’t know what the deal was with that exactly, but I read that and was like, ‘What?’ We’ll be like the AAA guys.

Have you guys forged good relationships with the bands you’ve been on the road with?

We totally make friends with all the bands we tour with.

And then you guys get back on the road with Static-X and others for the Ozzfest?

Yeah. We are like way excited about that. It’s an honor to be chosen for that thing, you know? I mean, it’s broke so many bands. Band after band after band has came off the Ozzfest and just got huge. It’s just going to be amazing, especially because so many of our friends have been on it, like Static-X, System [Of A Down], Coal Chamber, Snot, and Fear Factory.

You guys really have the knack for acquiring fans, city by city.

You know, that is really the only way to do it. It’s just really great to go out and meet people and build up fans, one person at a time.

That is the old fashion way of doing it. In my eyes, it’s the best way.

It isn’t like a big marketing thing where the label puts like ten million dollars and dumps us down everybody’s throat. We like the idea of the kids finding us first. It’s better to have them come out and decide whether they like us or not. It seems to work better that way.

Are you able to enjoy the fringe benefits of the road?

Well, yeah, but it’s kind of a job. It can’t be a party 24/7, but still it’s fun. We have a good time and make fun of each other.

What do you do on the bus when you travel from city to city?

I listen to a lot of music.

What are you listening to now?

Right now I’m listening to Def Leppard, High And Dry.

Going old school, huh?

Yeah. And I’ve been listening to Social Distortion and KISS. I listen to a lot of different stuff. Always it’s KISS. I listen to them about two hours a day. When I’m not listening to KISS and I’m holding an acoustic guitar, I’m playing a KISS song, or when I’m not listening to them, I’m thinking about a KISS song. (laughs) If I’m not thinking of a KISS song, I’m reciting KISS lyrics.

This is their last tour I guess.

Yeah, I know. I’m really bummed out about it, but I’m going to see it.

I saw them on the Psycho Circus tour .

Yeah? I saw that too.

That was pretty amazing.

They just go off live. They are the most incredible rock band ever. They are my favorite band of all time, ever.

Did you ever do the KISS thing for Halloween?

Oh, yeah. I was Gene Simmons for Halloween every year when I was a kid.

I went as Gene too. (both laugh)

That is totally why I’m doing what I do.

Well, we could probably talk about KISS all day, but I should find something out about the band. How did you guys get together?

Basically, I was in a local band in LA, and Jim and Duke were in a local band and they saw me play. We knew each other from previous bands, but they got my number from Shavo (Odadjian) from System Of A Down and they gave me a call and then asked if I’d join. That’s pretty much how it started. We were in a garage and we started jammin’. We really got everything together and started like that. Billy (Roan, guitarist) came about a month later. It just all came together.

How did you guys get signed?

We knew some guys who were into shopping bands and we got them some of our tapes and got them interested. Then, before you know it, you have the president of Elektra out and you’re playing for her. They pretty much signed us there on the spot.

That is amazing.

I know. It’s one of those weird things that never happens.

When you began working on the album, how were you writing?

We usually just fuck around with stuff and see what happens. Duke usually creates the lyrics later.

How was working with Sylvia Massey (producer)?

Sylvia Massey rules, man! (laughs) She is the coolest. She knew how to handle us right and she didn’t fuck with our music too much. A lot of producers will come in and try to overproduce and they fuck everything up. She believed in us enough to let it ride. She polished it really good and told us when we had to cut something off, but she didn’t come in and try to rewrite the fucking album. That was really cool of her.

How did you choose her?

We were totally into the first two Tool albums, and she did System Of A Down and Powerman 5000 too.

I was curious about the vocals. They seem to change and sometimes sound like a different person. How hard does Duke work on the vocals?

He was really working hard on his vocals the first year that we were together. By the time we got in the studio, he was right there with what he was doing.

What do you think the difference between the metal scene on the east and west coasts is?

Maybe the west is better as far as bands, but as far as fans go, nobody beats the east. That is where it’s at. That is why we come out and hang with you guys and do show after show. It’s just wild. People are really into it. The further you get west, the more people are too cool to get into it.

So good luck on Ozzfest.

Thanks.

Have you ever met Ozzy?

We met Ozzy through Coal Chamber. We’ve known Coal Chamber for like six years. I pretty much lived on Miguel’s (Rascon, guitarist) floor before they ever had a record deal. All of us have been tight for years and years. That is what made this tour cooler, because all of us have been friends. I remember when we used to hang out together and go, ‘One day we’re going to be in bands and stuff!’ (laughs) It’s fucked up that it actually happened.

Nobody ever thinks music can be a living.

I know, and that is what has made this tour that much more special.

It’s just so cool that fans are just so dedicated to you guys so quickly.

It’s amazing. I can’t believe it.

What is it like to be some kid’s KISS?

That’s insane.

+ charlie craine