Jetboy
posted by High Voltage Staff | Monday, August 25, 2008 | 10:58 AM
Getting ready to stomp onto Houston, TX and shake up Rock The Bayou is the too often overlooked but highly loved rock band Jetboy. Maybe you remember this video on MTV's Headbangers Ball back in 1990...
... Yes? Well if not, get ready to be introduced to a band that's keeping rock alive as High Voltage got a few minutes with Mickey Finn and Billy Rowe. And if you're attending Rock The Bayou this weekend - make sure you get there early Friday, August 29th to catch Jetboy on the main stage at 11:30 am.
High Voltage: Hey guys! Thanks for taking a few minutes with us, lets start with a little introduction...
Billy Rowe: This is Billy Rowe, rhythm & slide guitar player in JETBOY!
Mickey Finn: Mickey Finn, vocalist.
HV: Sweet, so as musicians and music lovers, where do you feel music is headed
today?
Billy: It seems to be getting back to the basics, I see a lot of the new generation music lovers gravitating towards 70's and 80's Rock n' Roll, which is great! I always felt the 70's especially was the most innovative decade for music. As for the business end - it's getting more & more DIY [Do-It-Yourself] which is pretty cool. That part [the business end] has really gone through some major changes.
Mickey: If you truly live for music you find inspiration everywhere, and that for me will never change, as far as the music industry is concerned - it is once again at an age of forced transformation, and I don't think anyone can truly predict what will happen next.
HV: What do you like about today's music and what do you feel is missing in today's music?
Billy: I'm not such a big fan of a lot of current music, there are a few great bands/artists out there - just nothing like when I was growing up...
Mickey: I always get excited with new music and I soak up everything from almost all styles, what I see lacking is great ROCK!! What you would call "classic" style rock and showmanship...
Billy: The part that I feel is missing would be the whole rock star image/larger than life persona. For the last few years there has been so many bands that are just boring and look like they could be your neighbors kid...
Mickey: Where have all the "Rockstars" gone, its hard to find rock hero's anymore.
HV: So lets talk about Jetboy then and now, what do you see are your biggest differences between the 80s and now as Jetboy? Where is Jetboy currently headed?
Billy: One of the biggest differences is we are all better musicians/players for starters. The eighties were great and a helluva a lot of fun, but looking back now we were young and figuring things out as we moved along. I feel now we know exactly what we want & need to do. There's not as much pressure that's for sure. Having no big label telling us this & that. And if we did or do [have a label] again down the line we'll know when to say screw you.
Mickey: In the 80's everything was new and fresh and exciting, but now we are
wiser, more experienced and actually tighter and closer then ever! We are on a mission to get back what was taken from us, and we invite any challenge to prove ourselves. If you like ROCK and you see us once - you will be hooked and I fucking guarantee it!!!
Billy: Jetboy is as current as we were in the eighties which is not easy to do. It's kinda like time caught up with us, or better yet, the band is timeless like some of the great legendary bands out there who are still going strong. Good basic Rock N' Roll will never go out of style, it will live forever.
HV:I hear a new album could be in the works, will there be any old lost gems making an appearance on the new release? Or only new material? Is there currently a song you're anxious to get recorded and share?
Billy: Yup! A new album is the next step for Jetboy. We have one song written and recorded that we did about a year ago. And now we are in the midst of writing a slew of new songs as we speak.
Mickey:It is possible something old could be reworked as we do have around 60-80 songs from our back catalogs...
Billy: But re-recording them since they only made it to demo quality... They may just end up as b-sides or bonus tracks... not sure yet.
Mickey: However, you can be sure the new album will be drenched in heavy blues based rock, with plenty of harmonica, slide guitar, and our usual dose of punk attitude.
HV: How do you feel about the resurgence of hair-metal/glam rock festivals popping up across the country like Rock The Bayou?
Billy: All these festivals that have been happening the last year I think is great, its helped Jetboy get re-introduced to the public a lot quicker than if we just played club dates. It really tells me there's a large audience that still wants to hear good catchy Rock n' Roll. For me it's tough to say 'hair metal' or to even be associated with that. Jetboy was a 'glam' band in its early stages with a punk edge. Where this term 'Hair Metal' came from I don't know. What Jetboy really are is just a good fun Rock N' Roll band.
Mickey: I think that whole time period of music was cut short, people definitely want it that's why these festivals are so successful, but I don't like the label and stereotype it carries. Like anything there was a bunch of crap that came out then but the great bands still shine through. Truthfully I have always hated the term "Hair Metal."
HV: I've never really cared for the 'Hair Metal' term either, personally I like to use 'Big Rock.' What term would you rather see 'Hair Metal' labeled as?
Mickey: Well its always been a question of are you talking about the look or the music? Our look was classic Glam/Punk/Flashy Rock n Roll style, our sound, to sum it up in one word, ROCK! Fuck labels anyway!!
HV: Nice. OK, if you could any other member of Jetboy, who would you be and why?
Mickey: Why would I want to be anyone but Mickey Finn?!?!? I Fucking Rule!!
HV: Ha! Fair enough. Favorite tour memory?
Billy: For me it would be the tour we did with Cheap Trick in 1989. They are one of my all time favorite bands and to have shared a stage with them was a dream come true. On top of that, the last date we did with Cheap Trick we all joined them for the encore & did 'He's A Whore' which was just unreal!
Mickey: I agree. When we started the tour and meet the band they couldn't have been cooler. They treated us great and immediately took us under their wing. There were many times they went the extra yard to help us out. But they had this road manager who went by the name Wheel and looked like a big crazy biker; that guy was out to bust our balls just for fun since we were obviously greenhorn new kids.
We eventually earned some respect from him, but the best moment came on the first show night... Rick Neilson had invited us to watch the show from his side of the stage, which we were thrilled about, but as soon as they started playing along came Wheel to put down the hammer and tell us to get lost. As we turned to leave we see Rick reach behind his amp and grab a chicken bone from a plate of food left there at soundcheck and chuck's it right at Wheel!!! He motions Wheel to let us stay there and I could see Wheel turning red with the idea that he had to do what he was told!
*laughs*
Rick straight up told him 'fuck you, I want them to see the show from there!' Although I thought we'd be dead the first chance Wheel got - he eased up and we all had a great tour together. To this day Cheap Trick will forever be heroes to me.
HV: What are your Top 5 albums of all-time?
Billy: This is always super tough because I have more then 10 top favorites. But in no particular order:
1. AC/DC - Highway To Hell, 2. KISS - Destroyer, 3. Cheap Trick - Heaven Tonight, 4. The Stones - Exile On Main Street, 5. Aerosmith - Toys In The Attic
HV: Great choices Billy! Alright, finally the end, what's the one question you always wish you'd get asked in an interview and never have been? And then, answer it.
Billy: What kind of amp & guitar's do I play? I can't remember the last time someone put that as a question.
Answer. 1979 Marshall JMP Lead Master Mrk II, Marshall 4x12 straight cabinet with Celestions, 1978 Gretsch White Falcon, 1974 Travis Bean 'Standard', 1970's Greco Les Paul & a Gretsch 'Malcolm Young Model' and of course more will be added as time goes on.
Mickey: Why are you so awesome? Answer. It just comes easy for me!
HV: *laughs* Thank you guys for your time! See you at Rock The Bayou!
Interview Conducted By: Chelsea Schwartz
Myspace | Official Site
... Yes? Well if not, get ready to be introduced to a band that's keeping rock alive as High Voltage got a few minutes with Mickey Finn and Billy Rowe. And if you're attending Rock The Bayou this weekend - make sure you get there early Friday, August 29th to catch Jetboy on the main stage at 11:30 am.
High Voltage: Hey guys! Thanks for taking a few minutes with us, lets start with a little introduction...
Billy Rowe: This is Billy Rowe, rhythm & slide guitar player in JETBOY!
Mickey Finn: Mickey Finn, vocalist.
HV: Sweet, so as musicians and music lovers, where do you feel music is headed
today?
Billy: It seems to be getting back to the basics, I see a lot of the new generation music lovers gravitating towards 70's and 80's Rock n' Roll, which is great! I always felt the 70's especially was the most innovative decade for music. As for the business end - it's getting more & more DIY [Do-It-Yourself] which is pretty cool. That part [the business end] has really gone through some major changes.
Mickey: If you truly live for music you find inspiration everywhere, and that for me will never change, as far as the music industry is concerned - it is once again at an age of forced transformation, and I don't think anyone can truly predict what will happen next.
HV: What do you like about today's music and what do you feel is missing in today's music?
Billy: I'm not such a big fan of a lot of current music, there are a few great bands/artists out there - just nothing like when I was growing up...
Mickey: I always get excited with new music and I soak up everything from almost all styles, what I see lacking is great ROCK!! What you would call "classic" style rock and showmanship...
Billy: The part that I feel is missing would be the whole rock star image/larger than life persona. For the last few years there has been so many bands that are just boring and look like they could be your neighbors kid...
Mickey: Where have all the "Rockstars" gone, its hard to find rock hero's anymore.
HV: So lets talk about Jetboy then and now, what do you see are your biggest differences between the 80s and now as Jetboy? Where is Jetboy currently headed?
Billy: One of the biggest differences is we are all better musicians/players for starters. The eighties were great and a helluva a lot of fun, but looking back now we were young and figuring things out as we moved along. I feel now we know exactly what we want & need to do. There's not as much pressure that's for sure. Having no big label telling us this & that. And if we did or do [have a label] again down the line we'll know when to say screw you.
Mickey: In the 80's everything was new and fresh and exciting, but now we are
wiser, more experienced and actually tighter and closer then ever! We are on a mission to get back what was taken from us, and we invite any challenge to prove ourselves. If you like ROCK and you see us once - you will be hooked and I fucking guarantee it!!!
Billy: Jetboy is as current as we were in the eighties which is not easy to do. It's kinda like time caught up with us, or better yet, the band is timeless like some of the great legendary bands out there who are still going strong. Good basic Rock N' Roll will never go out of style, it will live forever.
HV:I hear a new album could be in the works, will there be any old lost gems making an appearance on the new release? Or only new material? Is there currently a song you're anxious to get recorded and share?
Billy: Yup! A new album is the next step for Jetboy. We have one song written and recorded that we did about a year ago. And now we are in the midst of writing a slew of new songs as we speak.
Mickey:It is possible something old could be reworked as we do have around 60-80 songs from our back catalogs...
Billy: But re-recording them since they only made it to demo quality... They may just end up as b-sides or bonus tracks... not sure yet.
Mickey: However, you can be sure the new album will be drenched in heavy blues based rock, with plenty of harmonica, slide guitar, and our usual dose of punk attitude.
HV: How do you feel about the resurgence of hair-metal/glam rock festivals popping up across the country like Rock The Bayou?
Billy: All these festivals that have been happening the last year I think is great, its helped Jetboy get re-introduced to the public a lot quicker than if we just played club dates. It really tells me there's a large audience that still wants to hear good catchy Rock n' Roll. For me it's tough to say 'hair metal' or to even be associated with that. Jetboy was a 'glam' band in its early stages with a punk edge. Where this term 'Hair Metal' came from I don't know. What Jetboy really are is just a good fun Rock N' Roll band.
Mickey: I think that whole time period of music was cut short, people definitely want it that's why these festivals are so successful, but I don't like the label and stereotype it carries. Like anything there was a bunch of crap that came out then but the great bands still shine through. Truthfully I have always hated the term "Hair Metal."
HV: I've never really cared for the 'Hair Metal' term either, personally I like to use 'Big Rock.' What term would you rather see 'Hair Metal' labeled as?
Mickey: Well its always been a question of are you talking about the look or the music? Our look was classic Glam/Punk/Flashy Rock n Roll style, our sound, to sum it up in one word, ROCK! Fuck labels anyway!!
HV: Nice. OK, if you could any other member of Jetboy, who would you be and why?
Mickey: Why would I want to be anyone but Mickey Finn?!?!? I Fucking Rule!!
HV: Ha! Fair enough. Favorite tour memory?
Billy: For me it would be the tour we did with Cheap Trick in 1989. They are one of my all time favorite bands and to have shared a stage with them was a dream come true. On top of that, the last date we did with Cheap Trick we all joined them for the encore & did 'He's A Whore' which was just unreal!
Mickey: I agree. When we started the tour and meet the band they couldn't have been cooler. They treated us great and immediately took us under their wing. There were many times they went the extra yard to help us out. But they had this road manager who went by the name Wheel and looked like a big crazy biker; that guy was out to bust our balls just for fun since we were obviously greenhorn new kids.
We eventually earned some respect from him, but the best moment came on the first show night... Rick Neilson had invited us to watch the show from his side of the stage, which we were thrilled about, but as soon as they started playing along came Wheel to put down the hammer and tell us to get lost. As we turned to leave we see Rick reach behind his amp and grab a chicken bone from a plate of food left there at soundcheck and chuck's it right at Wheel!!! He motions Wheel to let us stay there and I could see Wheel turning red with the idea that he had to do what he was told!
*laughs*
Rick straight up told him 'fuck you, I want them to see the show from there!' Although I thought we'd be dead the first chance Wheel got - he eased up and we all had a great tour together. To this day Cheap Trick will forever be heroes to me.
HV: What are your Top 5 albums of all-time?
Billy: This is always super tough because I have more then 10 top favorites. But in no particular order:
1. AC/DC - Highway To Hell, 2. KISS - Destroyer, 3. Cheap Trick - Heaven Tonight, 4. The Stones - Exile On Main Street, 5. Aerosmith - Toys In The Attic
HV: Great choices Billy! Alright, finally the end, what's the one question you always wish you'd get asked in an interview and never have been? And then, answer it.
Billy: What kind of amp & guitar's do I play? I can't remember the last time someone put that as a question.
Answer. 1979 Marshall JMP Lead Master Mrk II, Marshall 4x12 straight cabinet with Celestions, 1978 Gretsch White Falcon, 1974 Travis Bean 'Standard', 1970's Greco Les Paul & a Gretsch 'Malcolm Young Model' and of course more will be added as time goes on.
Mickey: Why are you so awesome? Answer. It just comes easy for me!
HV: *laughs* Thank you guys for your time! See you at Rock The Bayou!
Interview Conducted By: Chelsea Schwartz
Myspace | Official Site
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