One of my favorite
all time groups from the 90's had to be Spread Eagle.. I was lucky enough
to see them at Livestock in Florida which is a HUGE outdoor
concert...they were amazing.. along with some club shows around town, they
always gave 100%.. They had that raw in your face heavy grooves.. ahhh! I
have to go listen to them now... Anyway, they are also one of the most
requested bands here at MusicMayhem.com so I tracked down one that has
been out of the spotlight for sometime now..
I bring youlPaul
Dibartolo.... Now named Salvadore Poe!
J - Thanks for doing
this... Ive been a huge fan since the first time seeing "Scratch Like a
Cat" on Mtv.. Spread Eagle is one of the most requested bands on our site
for interviews...
So first off... back in the day.. How did you get started playing
guitar...? Were you self taught?
S - When I was 13 my father brought home a cheap Spanish guitar from
Mexico for my mother. I heard her playing a song and picked up the guitar
and played it. She put me in lessons after that but it only lasted a
couple of months. Then I got an electric guitar. I started a band with my
neighbors. We decided we wanted to play a Hendrix tune, Hey Joe. None of
us knew it so I said, ok, you guys go in the other room for five minutes
and I'll figure it out. So I learned it and then called them back in. We
were all amazed, including me. After that I spent years with my record
player and guitar after school learning from the masters.
J - Who are your influences?
S - Hendrix, Dylan, Beatles, The Band, The Who, Zeppelin...,ya know, all
the real shit.
J - How did you hook
up with the guys in Spread Eagle..?
S - I came to New York after leaving my previous band in Boston. I had no
money, change of clothes, guitar or place to live. Someone I knew told me
to go meet this manager who had a band. I met him. He let me sleep in his
basement with the rats. I heard his band and thought Ray had a cool voice.
The manager wanted me to join but I said I didn't want to be in a two
guitar band. But Ray decided to leave them and join with me. I called Rob
and Tommy in Boston and invited them down to join. Voila! Spread Eagle was
born.
J - How long were you together
when you got signed?
S - Two months, five songs.
J - You guys had more
of the rough/sleeze look compaired to alot of the hair bands out at the
time, how important was your look?
S - Of course it was important at the time. We hated all the faggy looking
hair bands, so we wanted to look cool. Or a least what we thought was cool
at the time...hahaha!
J - Who did the song
writing in the band?
S - I wrote all the music, but not many of the lyrics. Rob and Ray wrote
most of the lyrics. I wrote the lyrics for Preacher Man and Faith and some
parts of Switchblade Serenade.
J - How did everyone
get along in the band?
S - Fine.
J - What was your
favorite release.. or song?
S - Hmmm... I don't really remember to be honest. Maybe "Dead of Winter".
J - What was your
least favorite, or just didn't sound as well as planned..?
S - "Hot Sex" and "Spread Eagle"...garbage!
J - What led to the
break up of the band?
S - I was bored and realized we weren't really going anywhere. I was tired
of pushing. Grunge had come in and our music was over. We were too late. I
just left. Ray was ready too.
J - Do you still talk
to any of the guys or know what they are up to?
S - I still talk to Rob, who is a great guy. He's doing well. Touring with
Sebastian Bach opening for Guns and Roses. He also has his own projects
too. Of Earth and Ouji Pig.
J - Ray West is
touring with Spread Eagle with new players, how do you feel about that?
S - Rob asked me several times to go on tour but I was living in India at
the time and also not interested in a reunion tour. Many new and exiting
things happened since then and I am fully on to new things. I suggested
that they get a new guitarist.
J - Now moving on..
the band was over.. did you do any side projects or record anything?
S - I did a film score in Hollywood, The Basketball Diaries. I wrote a lot
of music for VH-1, CNN, etc. I wrote an album in Europe of bossanova and
jazz songs, all of the music and lyrics, which is a Gold album in France.
J - You changed your
name to Salvadore Poe, and play a different style of music completely...
how did that come about?
S - When I was living in Europe I changed my name. My new music comes from
the fact that I started singing a couple of years ago and writing lyrics
too. Now I do everything myself. Musically I'm influenced by the sixties
stuff, especially the Beatles. But lyrically I'm saying my own unique
thing. It has to do with a long spiritual inquiring I did for about 8
years. My lyrics now are born from the fruit of that search and the
answers I now know.
J - How would you
describe the music to someone who hasn't heard it yet?
S - The music of the sixties, the technology of the new millennium, the
wisdom of the ages.
J - Any releases?
S - I'm still working on my album, Weightless. I don't know when it will
be finished or what I will do with it. But it will certainly be available
for anyone who wants it. Mostly I want people to hear this music and get
it to the people who like it and are touched by something about it.
J - Do you write all
the music? lyrics?
S - Yes, both.
J - Touring plans?
S - No plans, but I would like to eventually.
J - What do you see in the future for you, in the next 5 years?
S - Too far for me to see. Now is good enough for me.
J
- Do you miss the old days or do you prefer the musical direction your
going now?
S - I don't miss the old days at all, I'm not very nostalgic or
sentimental. I like what I'm doing now, that's why I'm doing it.
J - How do you feel
the internet has changed the music business?
S - Both good and bad ways. It's easier than ever to let people hear your
music and you can even do it all yourself if you have the talent and
equipment. But people these days, especially kids, can't imaging that you
should pay for music. "What? Pay for music? That's crazy, I can get it for
free by downloading." So...
J - Is there any new
bands out that you like?
S - To be honest I don't listen much. I like the Beatles.
J - What would be in
your cd player right now?
S - African music from Cameroon because I'm composing the music for a
documentary about Africa.
J - Do you have
anything you would like to say to your fans reading this?
S - I've been amazed at how many people still remember and like Spread
Eagle. And there are many who truly loved that music. Not only that but a
whole new batch of young people are discovering it. So thanks a lot for
that, I'm flattered that you like.
J -Thanks Salvadore..
love the new stuff...Keep up the great work!
J - How long were you together
when you got signed?
J
- Do you miss the old days or do you prefer the musical direction your
going now?