2014.11.23 - Backstage Axxess - Interview with Dizzy

Watch it here:



Transcript:

Dave "Gus" Griesinger: BackstageAxxess.com and we're here at the 2014 Kiss Cruise, the number four in the series of Kiss Cruises, with a Rock And Roll Hall of Famer, keyboardist for many a bands, the Dead Daises are the band we're gonna talk about primarily today because you guys are actually on this cruise, opening up, and Dizzy's very nice to talk to us here before he actually does some bowling. So when's the last time you went bowling?

Dizzy: Ah, you know, probably a couple of months ago.

Gus: Yeah?

Dizzy: I didn't do so good.

Gus: Are you a bowler back home?

Dizzy: I don't go as much as I'd like to. You know, just a couple friends and my my wife and I like to go bowling once in a while. You know, there's always more important things to do. Like golf.

Gus: And play with the Dead Daisies on the Kiss Cruise. And you guys really killed it last night.

Dizzy: Thank you very much.

Gus: If you ever seen these guys live, they just opened up the 2014 Kiss themed tour with Def Leppard and it was just a snippet of what these guys can do live. And, you know, we actually got their EP right here, Face I Love. You can check it out. And, but really, I mean, when you see this band live, you guys really take it to another level for sure.

Dizzy: Thanks. Yeah. It's, you know, it's a great group of musicians. We, you know-

Gus: Yeah, talk about the band, how you guys got together and whatnot.

Dizzy: Well, you know, I first heard about the Dead Daisies, I was down in Australia with Guns N' Roses, ZZ Top and Rose Tattoo and on the off days Richard was said he was doing this thing called the Dead Daisies with Charlie Drayton and Jon Stevens and David Lowy and Marco Mendoza. And I knew Marco, I had jammed with him before. I had met Jon and we talked about doing some rock together. Heard about Charlie Drayton. And so I said to Richard, I go, "You guys need a keyboard player?" Because that's just sounded pretty inviting.

Gus: Right.

Dizzy: So I guess a few months after that tour ended I got a call from Richard who said, "Hey, you know..." And also, I'm really good friends with the the production manager, the front of house guy, Tommy, he'd worked for Guns for years, you know, we know each other pretty well.

Gus: Right.

Dizzy: And so they needed a keyboard player, my name came up and I said, "Let's do it!" And yeah, it's been a blast. We've had a few different drummers, in and out of the band, it's sort of a revolving door. We've had Brian Tichy for for a while now.

Gus: Amazing, multi talented drummer.

Dizzy: And I've done, I don't know, almost 100 shows on different levels with Brian over the years, so I, you know, I love playing with him. It's a blast, it really is. We're having a really good time.

Gus: And they're going to be doing a couple more shows obviously on the cruise and out here in the middle of... I don't know where we are...

Dizzy: We're in the Bermuda Triangle, bro.

Gus: I think so, alright. If this gets out, yeah.

Dizzy: We get some rough seas right now, that's why it's going like this [swaying sideways].

Gus: We're going back and forth. So the formation obviously came in a little after that, but probably when people see the band and they get excited like myself and others yesterday, they were like "Oh, you know," what's the next phase? You know, obviously the EP is cool and, you know, seeing you guys live, what, you know, is this going to be like a formidable project? Obviously, in case anybody didn't know this out there, and I didn't really say this because I shouldn't have to, that your other little side band that you got going on, Guns N' Roses, obviously is your main priority.

Dizzy: Yes.

Gus: But besides that, really, the Dead Daisies, you know, going forward, you know, what's going to happen?

Dizzy: Well, we have four new songs that we recorded and those are wrapped up, we actually played some of them-

Gus: Yep, Mexico was one of those, great tune.

Dizzy: Mexico and Make the Best of It is the other one, and Critical and we've played that... Actually the sets a little fuzzy at this point.

Gus: They played it, yeah.

Dizzy: So yeah, we have those and and we're gonna write some more and that that seems to be a pretty cool smooth process with this group of guys. You know, we kind of get in there and hammer them out and then lay it down. So I think the next step would be to put out an LP.

Gus: Right.

Dizzy:Which, for people who don't know, that's full length record. And do this as much as we can. You know, I know there's similar things on the horizon for Guns N' Roses, you know, that's always gonna be my number one thing, but in the meantime, you know, the Dead Daisies are happening and I'm digging it and it seems like everyone else is digging it too. So why not keep doing it?

Gus: And any future touring after the Kiss Cruise with you guys or?

Dizzy: Actually, pretty shortly after this we had we head down to Australia and we we have a tour down there. We're doing several shows in Australia and New Zealand, and we'll do some more writing and recording while we're down there. And luckily it's summertime down there, so it's kind of cool that we have that connection, we can always miss winter every year.

Gus: Speak about new music, you're actually, I believe, working on new music with your daughter, Shade Reed, is that correct?

Dizzy: Yes, actually. Shade is, you know, she's getting into songwriting and I'm helping her. We're throwing some things together when we can. And you know, she's got a great voice and I'm just trying to nurture that but I'm always out on tour, so it's kind of hard to make that happen. I'm also in the process of mixing my record finally. I tracked 12 songs over about a two year period, but it's been about four years. I just kind of put it on the back burner because I couldn't get the mix right and I finally found the right guy to mix them. And so that should be done hopefully by the first part of next year.

Gus: And who is the mixer? Who did you settle on? Who's going to be doing?

Dizzy: He's a cat out of LA, his name is Jason Mozillas [?] he's in a band called Black Hole Karate [?] and a band called Al [?], also. And he's getting into mixing and he's fantastic musician, he's a great guy. And  I think he's jealous because he wants to be here on the Kiss Cruise.

Gus: You know, working on new music, you said obviously your solo record and it looks like a 2015 release, you were saying, possibly?

Dizzy: Yes, that's the plan, you know, in some form. And, you know, hopefully I will have time to between doing the Dead Daisies and Guns N' Roses and my other band Hookers & Blow.

Gus: And I was going to talk about Hookers & Blow, actually, how do you find a time between all these projects to really - and obviously, like, we keep on saying, Guns is the primary - but even on downtime, how do you balance everything?

Dizzy: You know, I got to keep working. I'm lucky to be able to do this for a living still, in this day and age, it's not easy. So the hardest part is just trying to get it all to work together. So eventually you have to pick and choose. But I've been fortunate this year. We've been working a lot. And Hookers & Blow, we celebrated our 10 year anniversary.

Gus: Yeah, you guys just did some dates actually, right?

Dizzy: Yes, we did the the Rock and Comedy Tour with Don Jamieson from That Metal Show, which was fantastic. So we're doing that again in January, back east, New York, New Jersey, taking it up to Toronto. And then at some point I'll, you know, have my record done and I'll be out with my band, The Chodes [?], supporting that.

Gus: Well, I would be amiss to not mention new music from your primary band, Guns N' Roses. What's going on there? Are we gonna see some new music, possibly soon? What's going on?

Dizzy: Last I heard... you know, there's a lot of music that has been recorded, a lot of stuff that's done, lots of stuff that's almost done and it's, I think, it's just a matter of picking out which songs are going to come out, you know, in the next phase. And last I heard that's what was happening.

Gus: Okay. I can't ask you on a date because we all know how that goes with certain people in the band, right? Well, certain person.

Dizzy: The main thing is when it's ready to come out it'll come out.

Gus: Right, but there is material there, though?

Dizzy: There's a lot.

Gus: Okay. And is it gonna be like new material or is it gonna be leftovers from Chinese Democracy.

Dizzy: Well, you know, I mean you can call it "leftovers" but since no one's heard it, it's new material.

Gus: Yeah, alright.

Dizzy: But there's stuff that's been recorded and conceived since then as well. But I think you know with everybody that's played on that stuff, it's fantastic music and I really hope it gets out because people need to hear it, it's great stuff.

Gus: So obviously you have a full plate going on, and if you haven't checked it out, like I said, Dead Daisies' Face I Love, one of the coolest new records released I believe in 2015, one of my favorites. Definitely check out Dead Daisies on the road. Go to Australia, New Zealand. Obviously that's the next time you see these guys. Check out your... you might wanna promote your site if you have one regarding your new music, just your Facebook or whatever?

Dizzy: Just, you know, Dizzy Reed, Facebook. And you will find everything you need to know there.

Gus: And Hookers & Blow. And I think the bowling alley's raised, they're starting to get the bowling going on. So we're gonna wrap this interview up. BackstageAxxess.com. Thanks for taking the time. And check out Dizzy Reed on the road.

Dizzy: Thank you.

Excerpts from Blabbermouth:
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David "Gus" Griesinger of BackstageAxxess.com recently conducted an interview with Guns N' Roses, The Dead Daisies and Hookers 'N' Blow keyboardist Dizzy Reed. You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by Blabbermouth.net).

On the status of the next Guns N' Roses studio album:

"Last I heard, there's a lot of music that has been recorded, a lot of stuff that's done, a lot of stuff that's almost done, and I think it's just a matter of picking out which songs are gonna come out in the next phase. And last I heard, that's what was happening. The main thing is, when it's ready to come out, it'll come out."

On whether the next Guns N' Roses album will consist of new songs or music that is left over from the "Chinese Democracy" sessions:

"There's a lot [of material]. You can call it leftovers, but since no one's heard it, technically it's new material. But there's stuff that's been recorded and conceived since then as well. But it's fantastic music, and I really hope it gets out, 'cause people need to hear it. It's great stuff."

On his long-awaited solo album:

"I'm still in the process of mixing my record finally. I tracked 12 songs over about a two-year period, but it's been about four years. I just kind of put it on the backburner, 'cause I couldn't get 'em mixed right, and I finally found the right guy to mix 'em, so that should be done hopefully by the first part of next year."

https://blabbermouth.net/news/dizzy-reed-says-there-is-a-lot-of-fantastic-new-guns-n-roses-music-that-needs-to-be-heard

Finished transcribing this.