Would Dana Strum Ever Work With Vinnie Again
DANA STRUM
INTERVIEW AND Live PICS BY MARKO SYRJALA
Slaughter is a hard rock/glam metallic band formed in belatedly 1988 in Las Vegas, Nevada, by former Vinnie Vincent Invasion members – vocalist Marking Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum. The original lineup was completed by guitarist Tim Kelly and drummer Blas Elias. The ring reached great success in 1990 with their first anthology, "Stick Information technology To Ya," which went to double platinum in the Us. The record included hitting singles "Up All Night," "Spend My Life," and "Fly to the Angels," which all received a lot of radio and MTV rotation. The second album, "The Wild Life," followed in 1992, and it was another successful release by the band. They released ii more albums, "Fear No Evil" (1995) and "Revolution" (1997), but the changes in the business and new musical trends in mid 90's caused Slaughter to lose its position. The big tragedy struck in 1998 when guitarist Kelly was killed in an auto accident in Arizona desert. Jeff Blando joined the band in 1999, and the album "Back To Reality" was released later on that same year. Although Slaughter has not been much in the headlines lately, they never officially disbanded the band. The group still tours, mostly in the Us. In June of 2012, they finally came over to Europe for the beginning time. The band performed at the Sweden Rock Festival. In Sweden, I met the ring's bassist Dana Strum, and we discussed the state of the band, the former days, working with Vince Neil, placing people in bands, and of grade, Strum's colorful past with Vinnie Vincent. Mark Slaughter and Jeff Blando were also nowadays, and they both also gave some comments on a few things.
THE Land OF SLAUGHTER
So guys, yous finally made information technology to Europe with Slaughter after all these years!
Dana Strum: We're finally here. It'south been a long time coming, y'all know, information technology has, it's been a long time coming, and nosotros were very, very happy to be able to come. And it's exactly what we hoped for, you know, but at to the lowest degree allow u.s.a. to play you lot know the music that we play the way that we play and if yous like it yous similar information technology and if y'all don't that'due south what we do.
I remember it was in the early '90s when Slaughter was going to tour in Europe with some other band, but it never happened?
Dana Strum: Information technology was with Cinderella, and the whole tour got canceled. We were just miserable. I was similar defeated, you lot know. That's terrible considering I wanted so badly, you know when I was a kid my favorite band was Black Sabbath but I saw Black Sabbath in 1972 for real, non Black Sabbath every bit alternative bands, I saw the real Blackness Sabbath when nobody knew who they were and peculiarly in America at that time. And I just loved, I thought to man these guys, they're onto something unlike, no one sounds similar these people. I love music. I love the Beatles. Nobody sounds similar them, you know. It's so different, so unique, and so interesting. At that time in America, people would near make fun of yous for liking Black Sabbath. I'm like are "You crazy, these guys are changing the earth" I was like, "These guys are changing the world of hard rock music forever, don't you sympathise that?" But people didn't, and it was actually weird. But for me, they were like heroes, and then you know Europe was of import for me and then when we didn't get our chance I was just devastated. I thought, just we play with a lot of passion because we believe in what we do and like, "Fuck, we're never going to take our chance, man." When that whole thing got canceled. I was really, and I was really devastated; I was simply miserable. I said, you know, "It's great that nosotros're large in America, it'due south great that we've done our thing in Canada, but in that location's a whole globe over there man, and those people are passionate, and they love the music," and information technology's but fucked and then. I was simply devastated.
You played 1 brand new song today, and so is it possible that the new Slaughter studio anthology could see the lite of twenty-four hour period sometime in the future?
Dana Strum: We did play one new runway, and in that location is a European label Frontiers that'south made us…
Oh, once once more, it'south Frontiers who wants to work with an American difficult rock band. I'grand not surprised. "Laughs"
Dana Strum: Yes, in one case over again. And nosotros accept a continuing offer now, and we're going to move forward with them, and that would exist the new music.
Well, exercise y'all have whatsoever plans or ideas when the new anthology could be set up to get released?
Dana Strum: Well, you audio like him now because every other week, you know?
Do I sound like Serafino? "Laughs". "When the album ready? When?" "Laughs"
Dana Strum: Yous're right. That'southward exactly what he does. He'south like, "When I'll run across it, I'll believe information technology," you know. But you lot're right. Only you know what? He'due south going to become the music that he believes in, that we believe in and that he deserves. He's made an honest and off-white offering, and nosotros're excited almost it, so yes, information technology's Serafino, yes. He is a great guy, and he believes and then much. I don't think he understands my method sometimes, like, "Wait; I just want to brand it correct, okay?" It doesn't have to be tomorrow at 04:00; let's practice information technology correct, let's do a practiced record for real. Not simply the money. He doesn't intendance; yeah, he wants it now.
Frontiers practise release a lot of albums every twelvemonth.
Dana Strum: That's correct, that's what I mean. And then you know you have to similar, "Look, we exercise intendance, permit'south practice it right."
Marking Slaughter: We're not going to do a demo.
Dana Strum: When you see united states of america out for the very first time playing here, that can grow, you know, that can grow. Let it grow properly. Yeah, information technology's an alligator wrestle "Laughs."
WORKING WITH RANDY RHOADS AND JAKE E. LEE
Besides playing, writing and producing, you've also helped many talented musicians to find great jobs in the business, and one of the best-known clients you had was Randy Rhoads. How did that thing get started, and what kind of memories exercise you have of that fourth dimension?
Dana Strum: I was a kid that loved music, and I was very lucky and very fortunate to be at the time a 20-year-old kid that met a guy named Randy Rhoads. And I sabbatum in a club where nobody cared, and I had the courage to say, "There'southward no way you know you lot belong in this identify. Something's got to happen to you". And I think at first he idea I was absolutely crazy, and I said "Y'all don't belong in this ring, and you're going to do big things, homo, I know it. Take my number" – at the time there was no cell phones, then all yous did was telephone call the home phone you know. Yeah, I called his mother, simply his female parent used to hang up on me, "Don't call hither anymore." And I was very lucky to follow my heart. And I remember when Randy talked to him, and he says "I actually don't like Black Sabbath." I'm like, "Y'all're kidding me?" Again, I was devastated. I'grand like, "How can you lot not like my favorite ring. You tin can't be saying that. Yous play simply like that". "No, I don't, I play like Mick Ronson," and he was "I'g going to bring you a tape," at the time cassette tape, and I said, "Okay, delight," you lot know. And he said, "You're going to see everything I do, all the stuff I practise is Mick Ronson," and then when I saw a film of Mick Ronson and I heard the tape, I'm like, "Oh my God, this guy is literally like Mick." He is the guy he loved. And so it'south interesting, you never know whose influences are whose. For example, if it weren't for Paul McCartney or Geezer Butler, I would have never played the bass. I think those guys are so skillful at what they do, and I beloved what they do. So I'chiliad still that kid, you know, I still love what I exercise.
It's a thing that keeps the all doing fresh.
Dana Strum: It does, it does. I'm still that kid yous know that was in my bedroom and simply hoped I could do this. So I'm lucky. I'thou thankful. You know I worked with a number of acts, equally you probably know. Sometimes I don't know that they think they're lucky and thankful, and I always think I do; you know I'm lucky and thankful.
Randy was one of your clients, but you likewise worked with many other talented people at the time, and one of those was Jake E. Lee.
Dana Strum: Jake was better; Jake honestly was a more talented guitar player than a lot of people thought he was. Jake – my favorite thing that Jake did on the audition tapes that I did with him; he did his classical thing that near brought tears to my eyes. Like yous know, "You looking like that, do that!" and he's like "What exercise you mean" and I'g like, "Dude, you're really gifted. You don't belong in Hollywood, you lot're similar actually a gifted musician," and he looked at me like he saw a ghost y'all know, I said, "Are yous kidding me, you lot're cute at what y'all practice. Don't you know that? You've been in Hollywood and then long you don't even know that anymore". And he was a challenging person, and he was a existent talent. And sadly, considering of personal issues, he never got to live what he should have.
I've read somewhere that you're no longer in touch with Jake. What happened between you in the past?
Dana Strum: Yeah, information technology's interesting because a girl worked at Atlantic Records when Badlands was happening, and I never really knew. He and I had a falling out over a car that rolled over that his girlfriend crashed, and I got stung for it for $12,000, and information technology was really sorry that office of the end of my human relationship with him is over his girlfriend and money and not over music. It happens though, information technology happens. And I merely let it become. I still retrieve he'south a talented person, and $12,000 doesn't mean anything to me at this point in my life. If that matters to me at this point in my life, I'thou in the wrong business.
Exercise y'all have any thought what Jake's up to these days? He'southward not seen much n public for a while.
Dana Strum: Yeah, he knows some people that nosotros know. Blando knows some people, and we did know each other when Blando started to run shows in Las Vegas. He came in and out. Blando, didn't you play with Jake at ane point, or did Jake come up and play with you at one betoken?
Jeff Blando: He did not, actually.
Dana Strum: But he was at that place, and I was just happy to hear that he may be interested in playing again and peradventure getting his spark back again. I hateful, when you lose your fire, it's a deplorable thing, whenever y'all see somebody y'all know had such fire and then you lot lose that fire, and he never deserved to lose his fire over personal issues.
Marker ST.JOHN AND LED ZEPPELIN
Didn't you also help Mark St. John aka Mark Norton to find his short-term job at Kiss in 1984?
Dana Strum: Yeah, yeah, I knew him besides. In the short term, though, very curt term, very short term. That was almost more of a concern bargain. Aye, that was a piddling more of a business concern matter. But I mean I loved yous know, I loved some of those songs. I like songs more than only somebody playing. I like songs, and so I liked "Heaven's On Fire," it's a good vocal. I similar songs, then you know, when yous say that proper noun, it reminds me of a good vocal. He didn't write the vocal, only information technology reminds me of a adept song. I like the people who invent the songs because sometimes it's interesting to think what they think when they do like a song. What did they think when they did that, was it going to be that lyric, or was information technology just going to be this absurd riff, you know. I'thou always interested in knowing that. We played Reno, Nevada and one of the most exciting days was Jimmy Page and David Coverdale came to the show. And all I wanted to do was ask questions virtually "Led Zeppelin Ii," my dream. And I'm like, "Look; I wouldn't play the bass if information technology wasn't for "Led Zeppelin 2," and like, I know I audio like a fucking stupid idiot, but I want to inquire you a lot of questions about these songs." Similar, "I don't think this song and that part were ever really the same song," he's like, "It wasn't." I'k like, "I knew it, oh my God," he's like, "They weren't even the same recording session." I'1000 like, "Wow, that'southward just and then fucking absurd" I'k so like, "Yous simply knew that jam would fit in this and this," and he goes, "Yes," I'm like, "Fuck", information technology'southward a track "Heartbreaker." I'1000 like, "I knew information technology, I fucking knew information technology" I didn't know information technology until he told me, you know, but I'm similar, "Y'all only actually, you made a decade of my life by proverb that because I always idea information technology doesn't even sound the same"
THE Early on YEARS WITH VINNIE VINCENT
The side by side obvious proper noun on my list is the ane, and simply Vinnie Vincent.
Dana Strum: Oh, Vinnie Vincent, a really interesting person. Needless to say, I haven't talked to him since 1988. I've never even said "Hi," but I don't harbor it anymore. I did for a long time. I simply didn't get information technology, but I don't harbor it anymore. I almost feel bad for him.
Well, who doesn't?
Dana Strum: To have that interesting talent but not know how to…
How to use that talent?
Dana Strum: Yes, in my opinion, very important, this is only my opinion, information technology'southward non a fact – in my opinion, he'south never been able to capitalize on what I do know is some really serious talent that he has. And I never talked to him again. The early days with him were interesting; those were interesting. Those days were really naive and young, and I only wanted to become a leg up. I'd been working in L.A. studios, and when I met him, I idea, "I know how to practice what you want to do," so we fabricated the kickoff record, the first Invasion record. "Oh, I know how to practice this? Exercise you lot really want to go for information technology? I know how to do this, and it volition sound fucking great," And information technology was a really unique sounding record. And I said, "It won't sound similar anything yous've always heard because we're going to practice this from our eye. I'one thousand going to sit here all dark long with no computers, I'one thousand going to make this happen". And I was really proud of information technology. So when the whole matter started to crumble, I was personally – once again, I was just devastated because I thought, "I put my eye into this man. I saturday every twenty-four hour period working on this affair," and so I was devastated. Merely things happen, you lot know, in life that devastates y'all, and it devastated me because I put my eye into information technology, and I lost. I lost because the person y'all invest in isn't what you thought they were, then I lost.
Wasn't you the one who recommended Vinnie to KISS in 1982?
Dana Strum: In the early twenty-four hours, I just thought it was a cool opportunity considering Factor and Paul had called me because Sharon talked about "Wait this guy, he knows all these guys, Randy Rhoads so on," and information technology was dissimilar. It wasn't like what yous'd recollect. With Randy, it's the same thing, and when he told me he didn't like Black Sabbath, I was devastated. I was like, "How? That's my favorite ring, and you're insulting my favorite band. How could you do this?" But it was the style information technology really was. And he gave me the Mick Ronson bootleg tape and said, "You see the fashion I expect," and all of sudden I looked at the pictures, I'g like "Oh my God!" I never got it, really. "Yous are literally that guy that you love." And he gave me that tape, and he says, "You lot know the strings in my band and my D-tuning, this is all Mick Ronson. Mind." Just when he gave me the record, I did. I got my stupid car and listened to the cassette.
I'm similar, "Oh my God, it's everything this guy does." And in that location was a certain innocent dazzler to that. I call back when nosotros saturday in the Le Parc Hotel, and he was like, well ", What exercise you recall we're going to do." I said, "I have no idea, but I know y'all need to do this." He's like, "Yeah, simply what's the music going to be?" I said:" I don't know?" He was very concerned, though, about the Black Sabbath part. He only did not want annihilation to do with it. I'm like, "How tin can you lot say that? Those are my favorite songs?"
THE STORY OF GÖRAN EDMAN AND THE ALICE COOPER TOUR
After Robert Fleischman had left the band, you were seeking a new vocalist. And 1 of the guys y'all tried out before Marker, was a Swedish guy Göran Edman, how then, afterward on, worked with Yngwie Malmsteen. What practise retrieve near his audience with the band, and why he didn't become the job?
Dana Strum: Oh Göran, yeah Göran. I was but talking to him (Blando) about information technology. He was going to be the vocalizer, you're right, and I called him. I spoke to him, and I was concerned that he couldn't say Vinnie'southward name. I said to Vinnie, "Wait, he can't say your proper name. He pronounces it in dialect, and he can't say your proper noun. What would information technology be like to tour and he says, "Winnie Wincent." That's non your proper noun." He said, "I don't know," and I felt odd because I would have had to fly all the style over. And in the meantime, I had met Marking, you know, a young kid that was so anxious, and I idea, "I'chiliad from Las Vegas, my money is on the kid," you lot know. And so Göran, Vinnie wanted him big fourth dimension, and Vinnie liked the style he sang, he really wanted him, and I guess I was the criminal that fucked that up. I went with Mark, and the record company was angry at me, Vinnie was aroused at me, Göran was probably angry at me, all of Sweden'south probably angry at me. But I went with what I thought was right, and I but didn't think information technology was right.
I met Göran similar 2 years ago when he was playing a show in Helsinki. We then discussed this subject field, and he said that he did altogether three studio sessions with Vinnie. The first session was the one yous just mentioned, another one was afterward Mark had left the band, and the third was 'effectually 1994.
Dana Strum: Yep, when Mark left, I remember what Vinnie was trying to practice whatever… you know – "I should have but washed this." He probably called him up, you lot know, and went, "Fuck these guys, I should take just done this right from the get-go with!" you know. And meanwhile, nosotros had sold millions with Slaughter. So he's similar, you lot know, "I'g just going to call everybody I wanted to call and say fuck these idiots." And I knew he hated us, y'all know, I think it's a fair bet to say, but with Göran, I didn't do anything bad to him. I but didn't think it wasn't the right thing to do and so.
Really, Göran didn't say anything negative nearly you when I met him, but however, he wasn't as well happy with how things worked with Vinnie in the end?
Dana Strum: Well, if he had dealt with him (Vinnie) afterward, I'1000 sure he did, you know. I'm like, "Good luck, you know if you can make it work, good luck, baby." "Laughs"
One other thing I would similar to ask about Invasion is your 1988 tour with Alice Cooper. It must take been an interesting tour.
Dana Strum: It was a really interesting tour. I hateful, we used to throw shit down; we broke shit every dark. It was a really interesting time. Information technology was really practiced memories. Marker had never sung a show as a vocaliser in his life. He never sang ever with a microphone in his paw before that. It was one of those on-the-fly things, and it was like, "All correct kid, get upwards there and requite it a go. Here's your shot". And information technology was interesting.
I've seen a lot of video clips from that tour, and it has to exist said that Alice Cooper had an amazing stage show on that tour.
Information technology was. The phase testify was nifty, his ring was great. Everything was peachy, and it was all expert fun. Everything nearly that bout other than the ring we were in was really good fun. If I were just tour managing the bout, I would take been actually happy considering I love the Alice Cooper songs. I just wish that I wasn't playing on that tour.
THE BREAKUP WITH VINNIE VINCENT AND THE Nascence OF SLAUGHTER
Tell me something about the final breakup with Vinnie.
Dana Strum: That was ugly, ugly.
I guess that the breakup didn't come as a surprise to you lot?
Dana Strum: No, I wasn't surprised it was ugly. At ane betoken, nosotros were in the dressing room, and I don't know what happened. At the time, I didn't beverage that much, but just this rage came over me. I'd only fucking had it, and I'chiliad like, "You know what, fuck you." And I remember I put the affair downward. I said, "Take 1 fucking swing; it will exist the terminal fucking swing you always take in your fucking life." And he looked at me, and I looked at him, and I knew it was over, and he knew it was over. Merely I said, "Await, I'll play until you supposedly observe a replacement, every city you want. Find a replacement". Well, it never happened, and then we played until the terminate in Anaheim; I took my shit, and when I slammed the door of the machine with my fucking shit in the car, I couldn't accept been happier. I saw that's the best fucking mean solar day of my life to drive away from this fucking stupidity. That'southward what I did.
In one case you lot and Mark decided to form a new ring together, at that place'southward a rumor saying that Chrysalis Records then simply took the $four million contract away from Vinnie Vincent and transferred the contract to you lot?
Dana Strum: Nosotros turned it downwards considering I merely didn't feel at the time that it was right. We went with a smaller visitor because we didn't have that opportunity, and they offered a bunch of money, and they tried to take united states out. They offered u.s.a. something that we didn't (want), and Mark and I talked almost information technology, and I said, "Hey wait, we've burned this bridge with these people at Chrysalis (Records), and if we were to make that move, if it doesn't work, we're fucked! If it does work, we're heroes." Simply we stayed with the pocket-sized guys and won that way, and believe me. That was a really weird meeting because nosotros left, and we were like, "wow, we'll accept to intermission out everything we've done and tell them similar, I dunno…" And then we met with the small-scale guys and said, "look, we're not going to crush you upward, but how do nosotros alter this crappy deal we are in?" Everything happened in 1 night over dinner. Even our lawyer didn't believe information technology.
Mark Slaughter: Our lawyer said, "He'southward not going to discuss that with you." So he was like, you go accept dinner, you kids go have a proficient time, and and so nosotros literally renegotiated the deal. It was just
Dana and I, merely the two of us. No manager, merely the two of united states of america, that'southward information technology.
Dana Strum: He told us in that location was no manner that's going to happen at dinner, and I'm like, "look, the whole bargain is not going to be what it was." We sat at this meeting, and information technology's like wait, "nosotros desire to driblet this and this and we'll give you a 1000000 dollars"…and I was similar, "we tin't practice that."
CHANGES IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS AND Hard TIMES
Slaughter did very well with the first two albums, only and so things started to change in the music business
Dana Strum: It changed completely. The whole music business changed.
How do you see that time and all those changes at present later?
Dana Strum: Times change. Things happen; times alter. I mean, some of those bands made actually good songs at the fourth dimension, and you know, corporate America was proverb "Let's practice this," and I believed in hard stone, and times inverse. It was very obvious nobody was seeing the best money in this kind of music anymore. And I was a realist, and I idea the finish is near, you know the end is fucking near.
Despite the prevailing circumstances, the band decided to continue. and released two great albums, "Fearfulness No Evil" and "Revolution."
Dana Strum: We still kept going, yeah, at a really bad fourth dimension. It was a terrible time. We might equally well have been done anyway. There was nothing there.
And it certainly didn't help that y'all lost your guitarist Tim Kelly in a auto accident in 1998?
Dana Strum: We went through a very bad time, and I didn't know if he was able to continue with the band anyway, and I didn't have an answer for that.
Right, I do remember that you had to replace him temporarily with Dave Marshall considering of legal bug he had at the fourth dimension?
Dana Strum: Very much so at one fourth dimension. And he was overcoming those problems, and and so he died. And so, in that location was an untold story you never actually knew. You never knew the score because the story ended earlier you knew the score. Was he a hero, and did he get it together and everything and come back, you know. Information technology's a mystery. I mean, I don't know.
In 1999, you recruited Blando as your new guitarist. How did he come into the picture?
Dana Strum: That guy, yes. Tim knew him, though. They knew each other. Tim was the one that originally used to talk about him and suggested him. And my gut was if the guy we know doesn't desire to do it, I think maybe we merely desire to phone call it and mess this whole thing up. And that's exactly what I thought. I thought if he doesn't want to do it and this doesn't piece of work out, perchance yous know fuck it upwards and permit it get.
In contempo years, it has been a trivial confusing that Slaughter has performed with a number of different lineups, and sometimes even yous accept been away. Do you want to explain that?
Dana Strum: It was a mistake to do, and possibly I'm the guilty political party of that error. I only thought nosotros could go along both bands working, and I idea, "Hey, everybody volition piece of work." And in hindsight, information technology was a huge error. I admit guilt, and information technology was a mistake.
Just information technology's stock-still now.
Dana Strum: Information technology'due south fixed. I would never denigrate a band like that once more because it was a bad argument, y'all know?
So, from at present on, there will never be a Slaughter bear witness without you lot?
Dana Strum: No, no. I wouldn't do information technology, no I wouldn't do it.
THE STUFF OUTSIDE SLAUGHTER
In general, how do you lot manage to share your time with Vince Neil'southward band and Slaughter?
Dana Strum: Information technology's non easy. "Laughs." I have a guy out here that's doing this tour. Then we relied on him this night to assist mix the band. Actually, Blando did the U.K with Vince, and he'south still alive. He's still here to talk about it. I don't know how but, he'due south still here! "Laughs"
Jeff, you're you working in Dana's company as well?
Jeff Blando: Yep
Marking Slaughter: Nosotros clothing a lot of hats effectually hither. "Laughs."
Mark, since Dana and Blando are sometimes busy with Vince Neil and other stuff, you lot've washed other stuff too. You have been e.g. on bout with the Nelson brothers?
Marker Slaughter: I did a couple of shows with Nelson. I did about five shows with them. We did shows in Nottingham, and we did China, nosotros did M3 –festival, then information technology was a good run of shows, and information technology was fun, you know. Information technology was kind of similar as long every bit we didn't have conflicting schedules. Only information technology was like, you know if they were doing band Vince shows, I was doing some Nelson shows. It was kind of like if it worked in the schedule, then we would just do that, you know.
You've been in business organization for over thirty years at present. Have you ever been thinking about putting out a solo album?
Marking Slaughter: No, I haven't. I don't want to degrade what nosotros practice, what Slaughter does. There have been some offers with some people, but if it's not Slaughter records, nosotros've done so well, and then meticulous…
It's been similar thirteen years since the last Slaughter anthology was released.
Mark Slaughter: Yep, it has been.
And then, I'one thousand sure that yous have at least a few songs written in your table box? "Laughs"
Dana Strum: That's why it volition exist interesting to hear the first matter, "Laughs."
Mark Slaughter: So when you hear it, it will sound like Slaughter.
Are you nevertheless doing those voiceover things as well?
Mark Slaughter: I do a lot of voiceover stuff, and I make music for television likewise. So, similar I make music, yeah. There yous become." Laughs"
All right, guys. I think that our time's upward at present. Thanks for your time, and see you later!
Slaughter: Thank y'all!
www.slaughterweb.com
MORE SLAUGHTER PHOTOS FROM SWEDEN Rock FESTIVAL!
Source: https://www.metal-rules.com/2012/08/01/slaughter-bassist-dana-strum/
0 Response to "Would Dana Strum Ever Work With Vinnie Again"
Post a Comment