This isn't going to be one of the "Where the Hell You Been" interviews...cause Roxx
Gang never broke up....
they may have changed members a few times..
but all in
all..the master mind of the band,
Kevin,is the same. So I'm adding this interview
as a bonus this month...cause I can..
Kevin Steele....the singer and songwriter
for the band...
and one of the hardest working guys in rock...
Enjoy...
J-First off how long was the band together before you got signed to Virgin records
back in the 80's?
K-That line up that got signed was together for about two years,but actually
Roxx Gang went back before that, I formed it with a guy named Eric Caroll, he
and I wrote half the songs that were on the first record before any one
of those guys were even in the band.
J-How did you come up with the name Roxx Gang?
K-I don't really have a cool story, like everyone else does…Alice Cooper was
on the Oija board..etc., but actually its stupid, but my favorite band is T-Rex,
and I used to always love the band, and you knew how when you're a kid you
write rock bands names on your folder and notebooks..I would write T-Rex , and
I was dreaming in those days,I had no idea,I had never written a song…I was a kid..but
I was already fantasizing about being in a rock band. Once I saw the Monkee's
.I even remember this one particular episode stands out in my mind, it made
such an impression on me,They were getting chased around the Eiffel Tower by
fans and they caught them and ripped there shirts off.I said right then..I wanna
do that..and ride around in a Monkee mobile.
J-Ha,Ha, Ha..most people say Kiss or the Beatles, I've never heard the Monkee's….
K-Ya this is when I was little, this was before I ever had any musical… that
I had a clue that I had any musical ability. The Beatles came later when I started
to appreciate the music. But anyways..I forgot what the original question
was…..hahaha..
J-Hahahahaha..how you got the name..
K-Oh ya…so I was like T-Rex..T-Rex..I want a cool name like that..and
I wrote R-Gang..and some how it mutated through the years..I had all these stupid
names.I was always in bands w/guys older then me..and I never had the nerve
when we would sit down and try and pick names,that I had this name R-Gang or some
thing..Id never voice up.Finally got to the point where I was in charge..and
I laid it on them..Roxx Gang!
J-Do you still talk to the original members? Or know what they are dong now?…Well
I shouldn't say original members..but the guys on the "Things You've Never Done
Before" album..
K-I haven't talked to a single one of them in years…I don't like any of them,
I feel like they really cheated me out of what should have been some of the
happiest years of my life.Like any rocker..I worked…and dreamed,but when my dream
was finally coming true..I got a record deal,I was going to Los Angeles to make
a record, and my brother is the manager of the band,which put me in a little
bit of a tough spot,like between a rock and a hard place.those guys were the
biggest bunch of irresponsible,immature, babies..and they would trash everything..and
ya know a certain amount of rockstar stuff is ok..but you have to pay for
it in the morning…and when my brother is the manager, and hes the one getting
presented the bill,and those guys…they just had everything handed to them…they
were only in the band for like 2 years..they were all playing my equipment..even
my guitars..and drums…half the songs were even written before they were even
in the band..and boom they get a record deal. They were just kids…we were so young..my
drummer was like 18 years old..he was an obnoxious brat. They werent ready
for it..J-Well that kinda leads to my next question…who writes the songs?
K-I write all the lyrics never been a song I didn't write the lyrics to and
in most cases I have the music for it.,sometimes the guys come to me if they have
a riff, idea, or a melody…or whatever..and I write to it..but it would be fair
to say im the major song writer.
J-How do you get the ideas for your songs..?
K-That could be anything.
J-Well I mean do you sit down and try to write a song?
K-There is a million ways..there is no set way, and ya I have sat down and
tried to write a song, but it's a pain..my best songs just come to me..within like
5 min. and I feel totally guilty..cause I didn't even work on the song..and
that's my best songs..
J-Whats your favorite song you have recorded..
K-God..its hard to pick a favorite..they are all like your little kids..
J-Ok…what if you had to pick one song to let people listen to that is really important..?
K-Well I really like the title track on Mojo Guru's…"Mojo Guru". (more on them later)
