J- Did you work w/George Lynch too?
M- George had a band called Stonehouse.. and it was a little too weird and eclectic for George.. haha truthfully... it started out being really good.. and when he kinda looked at me like I was Oni ..and said we can do this.. and you can me my Robert Plant.. and I can be the Jimmy Page.. and I said George I don't think this project is calling for that.. maybe we can talk about that project.. but the Stonehouse stuff was very machine oriented.. really different stuff.. we had a programmer instead of a drummer, just completely different stuff then you would expect from me and George Lynch.. and by the time I put the vocals on the stuff.. I think it just took a left field.. and brought it into the stands.. haha.. I loved it.. but he just didn't get it.. he's a little more straight forward rock..
J- Was it released...
M- Umm.. yes George released it..
J- Ya I thought I saw it on his website..
ok.. where do you get your ideas for your songs?
M- Life.. I'd say. Life and my reflection.. that's it..its as simple as that...and my sarcasm.. everything else it filters through..I try and keep it that simple..
J- How would you describe this new cd to someone who hasn't heard it.. or compared to Saigon Kick.
M- I'd say its really really early 70's ...T-Rexish,
Bowie.. influenced .. Cure influenced ..hard rock.. cause I'm going out there
with
those bands, but then I bring it back in and make it allot heavier.. and I
didn't
for verbatim go out and rip off Bowie. or rip off T-rex.. I want the essence of
it.. and I wanted the essence of "All the Young Dudes".. and the Cure... all these great bands that were rock.. with a little
more of a unique style.. growing up in Miami is quiet the melting pot.. so we
really get exposed to some wacky shit here.. and it comes out, and its really
obvious in my writing.. that I really pull from many different influences, and I
try and make them work with me.
J- Where can you get the c.d..?
M- www.Mattkramer.net only...as of now, I'm really holding the reins on this one.. trying not to get any bad releases.. or half pushes, it will be slow.. it will be hard, but at least I know nobody will drop the ball on me this time.. its such an important record for me this time.. this is my first record in 10 years.. I came back financing it.. engineering it.. producing it.. and I just really want to hold the reins till I get the right manager, for once in my life who knows what to do with me, and if the right record company comes along.. great. But my site has been getting quiet a bit of hits lately.. unfortunately I'm not getting the sales that I'm looking for now...
J- Well to tell you the truth I do allot of internet stuff all day, this is all I do.. and I see allot of sites..etc, and I really haven't seen your c.d. out there till lately... so I think this will help allot and hopefully sell more, cause my site is basically a "where are they now".. so now people will know what your up to..
M- Great site by the way...
J- Thank you! .. well now people will come and see where Matt Kramer is.. and what he has been up to.. cause I really don't see much exposure of the c.d. yet.. but it should start growing.. cause its a great album..
M- Well thank you.. ya it just came out September. 11.. so it's been out since then.. but in January.. I got my first review.. so now its just catching on.. and Australia is really hitting on the site for some reason.. and your one of the first reviews on the record.. you were really early on it.. but the good thing about the websites is they are really up to date.. even the magazines go there.. cause they are so far behind.. but its strange l've never hit the press on this level, and been able to give the real organic foundation fan base enough of my time... and understood it.. so its really a blessing in disguise, that it happened like this.. cause ya know when your doing the cappuccino thing on the 25th floor.. and ordering breakfast up.. and your a little brat. and your peeing out the windows... just trying to raise an eyebrow.. you really loose track. especially in the Saigon days.. as soon as we hit Atlantic Records we forgot that a month before we were in a crack town, warehouse.. rehearsing 7 days a week, trying to not get our gear ripped off.. and get mugged on our way out of rehearsal.. I think its the best thing that could have happened.. its been tough, but its all good...
J- How about any touring plans..
M- I'm hoping to go out in March.. I'm really trying to bug
Skid Row to take me right now actually..
J- Wow..that would be really cool.
M- Ya Phil is in Skid Row.. and I've been friends w/the guys for soo long .. and they linked me up to there site.. and it doubled my hits. its unbelievable.. I forgot how big that band is.. so I'm gonna try to do at least a couple weeks w/these guys.. and the whole Saigon thing.. at least helps me get my foot in the door.. I'm not much of a pull right now.. and unfortunately I've got myself into a situation.. that my band... has to be the band that played on my record... I don't always think ill get Jonathan Mover.. but I know he wants to do a few weeks.. its just gonna be pretty expensive...
J- How do you feel about music downloading..and MP3's?
M- Ummm.. I have mixed feelings on that.. to tell you the truth, on a big level.. I think you have to deal with it.. uum on an immediate level it kinda sucks people are not paying for your stuff..but, I've been ripped off from record companies to the point... believe it or not.. want to hear something about our wonderful music industry that it crying broke.. I sold 1 million records... some the Lizard.. some the first record we sold over half a million singles.. do you know how much I got in record realties? ok.. look at 12 bucks a cd.. you sell 1 million records.. 12 million went in somewhere.. I got nothing.
J- Nothing....?
M- Nothing... I got nothing... not even an I.O.U... nothing.. not a dime... not anything ever.. ever...so why would I be worried.. generating 12 million dollars in revenue.. and not making a dime, when some kid on Kazza is downloading the record.. cause in all honesty.. if he likes the record.. he'll come to the show.. and buy a shirt and ill make money that way.. hahaha.. that's how I feel about it, I think it hit corporate America in the groin and I'm fuckin happy..hahaha....
J-
What's your plans for the rest of 2003?
M- I hope to just get everywhere.. get on the road..and get this record heard.. I have allot of ground to make up.. no doubt about that.. and live its a powerhouse.. we brought it all out for the record release party.. and it was great. the band was a bunch of monsters.. we rehearsed for 3 days.. and bam it was done. so if we got 2 weeks out there it would be devastating.. but that's pretty much it for 2003.. War and Peas..
J- Ok..what would you like to say to your fans reading this?
M- Go to the website..and pick up a copy...
J- Ya..so you can start making some of the 12 million dollars back..hahah..
M- Right... haha.. that's true.. that's not making exaggerations.. its amazing.. you think all that stopped in the 50's it didn't.. I love hearing people say.. I'm not getting my money.. while I'm saying.. your not gonna get your money..so shut up.. sell 20 million records..then you'll get your money.. but that's cause they need you.. and that's it.. and how many bands actually sell 1 million records. so nobody is making record royalties.. your making t-shirts.. and this and that.. so when it comes down to it.. as long as you have fans out there..thats what makes you strong. and I think you know that...
J- Yep... I do.. Thanks allot Matt..
M-Thank you....
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