SUTB Interviews: Steve Blaze of Lillian Axe Part 2

May 22, 2004

Steve Blaze of Lillian Axe Part 2

The second installement with our thrilling interview of Steve Blaze of Lillian Axe

Kathy: Exactly, there is just so much competition it's incredible...

Steve: Well and it doesn't take much to be in a band these days...

Kathy: You said you can do a lot of it sitting at the computer, getting some drum sounds and some guitar licks, some of it sounds pretty good but you still have to have some talent and style.

Steve: There is nothing at all that takes the place of a group of guys together having that unity and getting on that stage and tearing it up, you can't do that sitting behind a computer...

Kathy: Exactly, sometimes, as fans, we get an album and say well the truth will be at a show, really to see them play live, because sometimes they are just studio bands. They might sound good in the studio but you'd like to see that whole electricity, the chemistry going on between the members and seeing them perform, it's just exciting as opposed to just playing a CD.

Steve: That's the thing that lacks is there are no rock stars anymore, there are no groups - they all look the same, they sound and play the same. I know that when I was a kid and even now I want to go see a band that I think is cool, because when I listen to a song by somebody, if I have the visual in my head and it's not a visual that works for me and that I don't think is cool and works for the song it takes away something from the song. In other words the band having this aura or chemistry adds to my enjoyment of the song. It adds to my desire to want to go out and buy the next record or go see them play. I'll give you an example, like last night: We had some people that had never seen Lillian and have everyone of our records, so they were like "Oh my God, we've been waiting fifteen years to see you live." Well, we were playing in a small club, it was pouring down rain outside, we haven't been together in three or four months, it's the first show, I thought we were a little rusty - the crowd went nuts. I had people saying it was the best concert they had ever seen. I had these people who had never seen us saying "Oh my God, we were ten times better live," than they thought we would be from our records and we're their favorite band. So it's like; that's cool, the fact that they're so psyched up about seeing - it's almost like a super hero image they have of a band that they like, if you let them down playing live you can totally ruin their whole appreciation for what you're about when they listen to your music... and I think that's important too, that the bands got be it's energy, it's got to be a force that people are going to want to be a part of. That's why you have people "that's my favorite band man, their cool", the unity and the aura and the star quality that the band works with the material. Right now the music industry is so much into making the buck, you don't have labels that are out there finding great bands and supporting them; no if you want to sign to a major label you better sell 50,000 units on your own first and you better be this and that. It's not cool like it used to be...its not where you have labels going like "you know what, we believe in this band, we're going to take them under our wing, we're going to cultivate and develop them and work them until they become a great band."

Kathy: On the other hand some super groups have been created either by the label or record company using some formula ... You know what I'm referring to ... the making of a band ... Some can't write or play instruments ... For me the thing is when I go to a concert I'm going there to have fun, no matter the ticket costs I want to look at the band, and I want to see them having fun. I don't want them to be up there like "OK. This is our 20^th show - we're on the road." I still want to see them having fun, like it's the first time they're out on the road...That may be a lot to ask, but you want to see the group has a chemistry all their own and that they like each other and enjoy it as opposed to feuding.

Steve: I have more fun now playing now and traveling than I ever have, obviously I can't tell you how many years and concerts and countries that I have been too, I enjoy it now more than ever and I miss not being on the six month tours like we used to do. I am welcoming that happening again, because I have been around so I know how to handle things differently, I just settle in and enjoy being on the stage now more than I ever have.

Kathy: Speaking of touring, are you going to come to New York anytime soon?

Steve: You know, right now what we are trying to get taken care of is getting this record done. I am hoping in the summer time...we have only been doing Lillian shows and only 15 or 20 a year because I am involved with Near Life and we're trying to get the record done, because we realize for us to really tour extensively we are going to have to have new material. That's what we have really been busting our tail on.

Kathy: Lets talk about the live album, it's just incredible, I can't believe it's live, it's better than a lot of bands studio albums! It's a great collection of old and new, how has this album been received and are you pleased with the way it turned out?

Steve: We're more than happy with the way it came out and it was a great opportunity for us to summate everything. Especially with the packaging there's hundreds of pictures, everything from on stage shots to shots from Europe, backstage passes, fans, different people and it was a great for us to thank the fans. So we spent a lot of time and money on the packaging and as far as the sound quality, we were just friggin amazed! We brought in this guy Ernie Wells from Houston to set up a separate mobile studio in the back of the venue and before the show we let them know "Look, we're recording a live album today we want the fans, we want you to be a major part of it, we want to hear you on this," and we did. They were heard and we just did the show, there were minor adjustments you know like just trimming down a little bit of the talk between songs type of thing. Needless to say we were very cognizant of playing well that night - we knew what we were playing was going on tape. There's rawness on there, I mean it's tight, but you can hear the rawness of it you can hear the little things here and there that you would hear live. It's very much more difficult to record yourself and sound good live then it is - because when you're at the venue and you have that type of volume and it's that loud you can make some errors and nobody will ever hear it, but when it's on tape its heard. We recorded on multi track so everything was on different levels so we were able to mix it. Our sound engineer worked with us so we mixed it to sound like a live show, we had crowd mics and out in the room mics so that's what we sound like at a concert. We we're able to get a nice collection of the songs that were requested, we asked a lot of fans what do you want to hear in the live album and tried to do the ones that we thought were a nice cross section of each one of our albums.

Kathy: How is the progress on the new Lillian Axe coming along? Can you tell us about the sound and the feel of the music as compared to prior releases?

Steve: Actually, several of the songs were written years ago, right around the time when we split up which probably would have been on the next Lillian Axe album if we had done the next Lillian album four years ago. It is different but it is still Lillian, it's heavy -all the music is done except for a few things here and there, the next thing is to get the vocals done - that's the next task. There are a lot of different types of songs on this record; there are several long, epic songs on this record a lot of light and dark contrast. A song called Fields of Yesterday which is about nine minute long, which is kind of what life's about - of the growth and evolution of man, spiritual evolution of man, kind of in retrospect looking back at how man evolved, it's kind of unusual. It's hard to get to the topic so much because there is so much to expound on when you hear the song...

Kathy: Well you've definitely got my interest peaked!

Steve: There is a song called Deep in the Black which is a really heavy dark song about losing someone, I guess to put it in a real blunt terminology - losing a partner to the dark side basically...for example in my case, losing a girlfriend, somebody who is driven by not being a good person, lets put it that way and losing them to that. It wasn't something that had happened to me yet, I thought about it, I used to pass by this graveyard up in Ohio all the time and for some reason the sun would always shine through the trees over this one section and refract all the rays of light and I always get very contemplative and reflective when I get around graveyards, thinking about all the lives there and the different stories and this song in particular touches on losing somebody to being brainwashed by the effects of evil. When people lose somebody close to them, you hear about parents who lose their kids to cults and they die and you can't pull them away. So this whole concept kind of evolved into this strange, dark song about losing somebody to this dark side basically.

Kathy: Well when we listen to music, at least when I do, I think how does this relate to me, and how does it make me feel ... What message is it speaking to me ...

Steve: The concept can be changed and altered to fit, I've had songs that people have said "man, you know this song is about this to me..." and it's a completely different idea from what I had but when I start looking at in that light I go "you know what it; hell yeah! It sure could be, you're absolutely right." A song is there to be interpreted however it works for that individual.

Kathy: During the lifespan of Lillian Axe you as a group have spent an enormous amount of time touring, as you have mentioned already, how do you feel those experiences have helped shape and develop you as a band?

Steve: We don't even now because of the fact that we're doing other projects as well and we don't have the ability to tour heavily right now, we get together every few months and do some shows. So we don't get the chance to rehearse till we get together and we're still, relatively speaking compared to most bands, very, very tight but once we get together in two or three shows in to it, it's just like -totally innate, you don't even think about it anymore. The only problems we ever run into are mechanical problems, but it's amazing, I guess it's because we've been together so long and I've got good players and seasoned musicians that once it gets into the click we're fine. All I ever have to do is brush up on some of my solos and some of intricate parts, just to remember because being in three bands and recording new stuff all the time - it's a lot to store up there! We toured for months at a time.

Kathy: How do you feel about the recognition of having achieved cult status with your fans? and I mean that in a good way (laughs)

Steve: I think that's kinda cool, that's been a label put on us many times. I think the cool part about it is that any bands that have ever been cult heroes have dedicated fans. It basically means that you've got a hardcore dedicated group of fans that feel like their a part of your family...remember when Marilyn Manson was a cult favorite and then he became a huge commercial success, then all the cult favorite people started thinking that he was a sell out...hated all the people, like "where were you back then..." So, I kinda like that idea, it makes you feel special and select. I think "cult" when you're at that kind of level people are more, I guess maybe take you more to heart; you are more important to them than just what commercial on TV said about you. They find you and they go out and look for you. It's very easy to like something that's on TV 24 hours a day, if I see a commercial for something long enough, even if it's a pet rock, I'll probably go buy it. When you are at that status, I guess you would say that probably means you have a sizable group of people that have stayed with you over the years and are still with you when you haven't really had the commercial backing that you should have had, that's how I look at that. We're considered a cult favorite in Europe especially too, we do well there; but we won't be playing for the Queen - we would... (laughs)

Kathy: And like we said, I think people take your songs to heart and come away from them with something.

Steve: I can accept that one of the strong appeals of Lillian has been the truth about the lyrics, the truth about the songs, the fact that we're not pretentious, we've never tried to fit in any where; we've just done our thing. It's an honor to me that people would have taken to my lyrics as much as they have and I think that every one has a calling and maybe that's one of my callings in life is to be able to reach people. I keep all of my e-mails, I have boxes and boxes of fan letters from '88 on, and just to read them...one guy told me this story about me and Bob Dylan were the two people that kept him from killing himself, his girlfriend died in a car wreck, he'd been with her for several years, they were engaged to be married and she died' and he was going to commit suicide and he got the Poetic Justice album and read The Promised Land and See You Someday and it gave him light, and I get those things so much and I swear I start crying in front of the guy and I was torn up and I just realized that is the absolute low point of any ones life is losing someone close to them and to have the ability to help somebody get through it, to realize that there are other people on the planet that have gone and will got through and understand what you are going through. That's heavy and whether or not I ever become financially wealthy or whatever as a result of playing the guitar it's paid back in spiritual and emotional wealth, it's unbelievable. That's why I take a lot of things probably a lot more to heart more seriously when I see success falling in the wrong hands, to the wrong people when I watch MTV cribs and I watch these people and I watch - well you see I like beautiful houses - you can put a dead cat in a beautiful house, it's still a beautiful house. I like to watch it, but then you see these people in these incredible spreads and its like that's all they care about is what they own and what they have and I'm thinking to myself; there's nothing wrong with someone becoming financially wealthy, we all should all have the opportunity for that but there's something more to it.

Kathy: I think some of it begins to get a little obscene...

Steve: It is and it's obsessive and if that's what you live for - if you live your life doing what ever is necessary to make sure that you wear diamonds on all your fingers, you have a gold plated face, but what you're doing and the way you're treating other people and your responsibility in life is not there then there is something wrong with that picture. I have seen that so predominate now that in advertising and TV, I mean, it seems like all we are trying to do is portray to the youth; and every one actually, that all we need is - hey if you want the hottest chick, if you want to have the most money, if you want to have the biggest car, you want to this...you got to do this, and you know that's not the way it is. Why aren't we trying to teach people to become successful financially but live the right life and do something good? Cutting a record, cutting an album and going on tour does not mean you are necessarily doing anything for the good of the world. But, if you are doing that and trying to reach people and invoke some sort of positivity on them, I have always felt like that. A lot of people will say "I don't have any obligation to my fans" well, I think you do - if your selling a product, when you're asking them to give you money for something I think you have the responsibility to yourself first of all to be doing the right thing.

Kathy: With you all of the activities you are involved in professionally one wonders if you have time to pursue any other interests, so when you are not working, what do you do to "Strike A Balance"?

Steve: I'm actually really insanely, crazy busy; I really have a problem sitting down and just relaxing, my mother was like, you're going to have to get some rest, you need your rest, I can't. I'll rest when I'm dead... I work out in the gym three days a week, I play in two men's basketball leagues back in New Orleans, I go to movies constantly, I shop, I love going to the mall, I'm a mall rat. I have five lizards, two ferrets and a Bengal cat that I take care of and a large family, and plus I am constantly writing, playing touring - what ever. So, I keep very busy; I go to bed late and get up early, I don't get a lot sleep that's why when I'm on tour they all tease; my road manager and crew are all like if you're looking for Blaze he'll be in the back asleep.

Kathy: - That's when you get caught up!

Steve: That's when I get caught up; I sleep. But like I say I keep constantly busy because I wish there was 48 hours in the day, there's not enough time to do everything I want to do.

Kathy: During your years on the road you have had a chance to work with some fantastic artists and have had some incredible producers for your albums, what experiences do you feel personally have been your best?

Steve: I think that one of the greatest experiences was going and playing in Tokyo, if you've seen the movie Lost in Translation it's exactly like that. I think a lot of those places we went to when we were there. The first time I went to Europe it was such a culture shock, the food, the people, the buildings, just the overall atmosphere, I hated it. Then, the more times we went the more I started to enjoy it and learned how to like it. The first time I went to Tokyo it was like, as Americanized as it could be with a lot of little Japanese people running around; I guess the way that you evaluate an experience is that there are so many different factors at that moment that you get there, how you're feeling, what's going on in your life, what the weathers like, what's your first initial thoughts when you reach a certain place, and everything was in a positive light when we reached Tokyo. It was a great experience, we did a lot of site seeing, things like that and of all the touring places out side of the country that's my favorite place I've ever been. Maybe, seeing our video on MTV for the first time...to be honest with you there is no one amazing thing; we did so much.

Kathy: It sounds like you just enjoy performing and touring.

Steve: I really do, I love playing, I'm not as much of a worry wart as I used to be because I have always done the brunt of the business as well and as soon as we get in to town I have to go and do all of these interviews and I've got to make sure this is together, and make sure the crew is together and I used to work so much, like how are the ticket sales and what are we going to do - what's the next promotion, what are our song charts for today, what's going on, now I am able to take it more in stride,. I am able to enjoy it more than I used to.

Kathy: The last sixteen years have seen many changes in the music industry and things are definitely different now as opposed to then for new bands, what advice do you have for those individuals looking to follow in your foot steps as a musician?

Steve: It's such a struggle, the first thing that you need to do is find individuals that share the same goals, it's not always about finding the best guitarist, the best drummer...it's finding guys that can be a unit. I mean obviously you want to have talent, but you've got form the nucleolus of the unit and you've got to get together and have an understanding that you're all wanting the same thing. I suggest practice - perseverance is the key tool; work together on writing and developing your own sound. A band developing their own sound is not going to happen right away, it's going to be a culmination of many trials and errors, writing your own material. New bands coming out it's very difficult to get gigs as a brand new band doing all originals, so a lot of times bands are going to have to do covers. Do good covers, play tight and rehearse, be a unit and if you can't be a good cohesive unit as individuals together it will never work out. Leave your egos at home, there is no room for any of that, there is no room for egos anywhere in this business; I don't care if you're Led Zeppelin, there's no room for egos, because it will be the first thing to tear you up. Find a unit, practice, play as much as possible, work a day a gig because it doesn't pay (laughing)...to play in a band. And, that's another point, there's a lot of kids out there with bands that don't want to work in the day time, but they can't afford to buy equipment, they can't keep there bills paid, do not rely on starting out in a band to pay your bills for you. Stay dedicated, work as a unit, promote and play as much as possible, surround yourself with good, dedicated people and just keep fighting because every single band that you can imagine has gone through it. We have been through, Lillian Axe has been through every up and down and trial and tribulation that you can even possibly imagine and we're still doing it because we love what we do.

Kathy: You mentioned playing covers, and I am just curious, when a new album comes out and you're going to play, fans are looking to hear the songs that they love so do you play mostly the songs you think people want to hear and then try and put in one or two that are strong?

Steve: It's a combination; because as you go through you're always going to hear people saying "Ah I really like this song," "I really love that song" because we put out feelers to the fans, you know "Tell us your favorite twenty Lillian songs" and they all name like the same fifteen, they name Misery Loves Company, True Believer, Ghost of Winter, and so we know those have to be played. Every now and then you'll have some guy come in and want to hear some b-side from '92 or something...

Kathy: Well I think when you're a die hard fans you know every song, every word, every breath ...

Steve: We have songs we've never even played live once.

Kathy: OK, I'm getting to the last question, is there anything else that you would like to say to your fans while you have this chance?

Steve: I would like to say to that I - and Lillian Axe has always been very well documented for being like this but we really do appreciate the support, and that is the drive behind us, you know that's why we got back together, that's why we're continuing to do records. We've always had the best fans, the most courteous; die hard, devoted fans that I could ever imagine. I hope that everyone who is a Lillian fan gives my other band Near Life Experience the opportunity, if they like Lillian I'm sure they'll like Near Life. I still do the majority of the writing for that as well. The main thing I would like them to know is that I will continue with what ever band, Lillian, Near Life, solo stuff, other projects at all. I will continue to always try to create and make music that moves them and touch them in some unique way, I will be doing it 'til I drop so, that's my way of paying people back who have been there supporting me for so long.

Kathy: Thank you so much!

Steve: Well thank you!