Here's an interview with Jerry Vayne, lead guitarist of the Glamrock band FOXY ROXX...

Hello Jerry, how are you ?
"Doing very well, thank you."
Is the new record ready to be released?
"The packaging has to be finished still. It's taking longer than we wanted but we're very proud of the results.
The guy we were working with for the cover was picked up by a label to do their artwork so he couldn't do ours."
Tell our readers something about the new record?
"It's "Shake The Foundation II" in a sense. The CD starts with a blast and doesn't let up. There's no ballads on
this one. We got that out of our systems on the first CD. Maybe on the next one. There's 11 new tracks plus 2 covers. It's not that we didn't have enough new songs but we played these live and the covers kinda continued the feel of the CD. This is our first recording with our "new" bassist, Bobby Soxx (it's strange calling him new since he's been in the band for 2 years!!). Everyone played their asses off or in Tony's case, sang. This CD is definitely a band CD. Most of the material was brought in by Tony, who's always writing, usually a few chords and a rough melody. Then Tony will show it to me and Bobby and we'll build it from there. Tony, since he used to be a drummer, will have a rough drum pattern and show it to Robby who will put his input in. All the lyrics were written by Tony. I wrote one of the new songs "Anything For You" with Tony's lyrics but we all wrote this CD. They wouldn't sound like they do without all of our input. Lots of vocals, lots of fun. That's what the CD is all about. The track listing goes like this (not in order): "Mixed Up World", "Everybody Wants", "Hangin' Out", "Never Enough", "Whisky A GoGo", "Anything For You", "Good Time Rock'n'Roll", "Keep On (Brady Bunch tune)", "Who Killed MTV?", "Stay Thru The Night", "Bring It Back", "We Believe" and "We're Not Gonna Take It" (live)."
What's the current line-up, and what's the background of the members?
"Jerry Vayne - guitars, harmonies, Tony Starlin - lead vocals, Robby Tripp - drums, vocals, Bobby Soxx - bass, vocals. Tony and Robby are old friends who were in rivals bands. Bobby's from Colorado. I'm from a completely different style than the others. I was in a Grunge band when Robby & Tony "corrupted" me!!
They say converted, I say corrupted!!!"
Who came up with the idea, to cover a KISS song?
"We played at the KISS concert as a KISS cover band for a local rock station. Someone there saw us and approached us to play at a CD release party for "KAOL - Music from The Folder", a KISS fan-recorded tribute CD done by members on America Online's KISS Army folder. We were approached after the party by Drew Harris from Shock Records. Shock Records was putting together an ACE FREHLEY tribute CD and asked if we wanted to participate. They decided to make it 2 CD's due to so many artists submitting tracks. The first CD "Return Of The 
Comet" came out a few months ago with  members &  ex-members of KISS,  PANTERA, SOUNDGARDEN, CHEAP TRICK, FREHLEY'S COMET,PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES,POSIES on it. We recorded "Talk To Me" from KISS."
Which will be the first single from "Mixed Up World"?
"Probably "Hangin' Out". We sent a few promo tapes out and one ended up in Brazil. That track's in heavy rotation from what I've been told."
How many records have you sold from the first record?
"Over 4.000 worldwide. We didn't expect it to sell as well as it did. It took us completely by surprise. The home video is doing very well too."
Have you planned a tour in America?
"We'd like to after the CD is released. It's just a matter of finances and the weather. El Nino is here and
it's been ridiculous."
What are your main influences musically ?
"Mine? Not your average Glam influences. Guitar-wise: Ace Frehley, Neal Schon (JOURNEY), Dave Murray (IRON MAIDEN), Tommy Shaw (STYX), Gary Hoey, Dimebag Darrell (PANTERA). Musically I listen to everything. This is what's in my tape case: CRADLE OF FILTH- "Dusk And Her Embrace", BRUCE DICKINSON - "Accident Of Birth", Marty Friedman (MEGADETH) - "Scenes / True Obsessions", ICED EARTH - "Days Of Purgatory", KISS - "Alive III", KISS - "Greatest KISS", MACHINE HEAD - "The More Things Change...", MEGADETH - "Cryptic Writings", PAT METHANY (jazz guitarist)- "Secret Story", MÖTLEY CRÜE - "Mötley Crüe" (w / John Corabi), NIGHT RANGER - "Neverland", PANTERA - "Official Live:101 Proof", QUEENSRYCHE - "Hear In The Now Frontier", NEAL SCHON - "Late Nite", THE SCREAM (John Corabi's old band) - "Let It Scream", SEPULTURA - "Blood-Rooted", SLAUGHTER - "Mass Slaughter", STRYPER - "Can't Stop The Rock", MARK WOOD (heavy metal violinist) - "Voodoo Violince"." 
How did you get into the Glam-scene?
"Robby and I met thru his wife and my girlfriend (now fiance as of Christmas). I will admit that when he told me he was in a Glam band I told him "Glam sucks! Most of those guys can't play, all they care about is how pretty they look." Honest! Anyhow, they had just lost Dennis and Rochelle quit and joined HEART THROB MOB as bassist (that was very short-lived). They had a show at the Roxy on July 2nd and needed a guitarist to fill in. Robby knew my band was in limbo so he asked me if I could fill in. This was the same day O.J. Simpson went on his little car chase. So I got their demo and a video to learn the songs. I had to learn 14 songs in 4 days, leads, vocals, everything. I shaved off my goatee and they dressed me up. That night was quite shocking for me! The first person I met (in make-up) was Booger from CANDY CANE LANE. Ho-boy!! I met REVLON RED, HEART THROB MOB, THE ZEROS' all that night. I just sat there in the dressing room with my mouth hanging!! I couldn't believe what I was seeing!!! The guys kept laughing at me cause of it.
I honestly don't remember the gig. The only thing I remember was: 1) the amount of people! This was the bands' first gig with a different guitarist so everyone wanted to see them. And they were loud!! I remember them singing "Rock'n'Roll", "Outrageous" and "Do You Really Like It" and being louder than the band!! 2)
Everyone being really cool and friendly. They made me feel accepted immediately, especially Traci Michaels from HEART THROB MOB. We have one of the photos of me from that gig blown up in our studio. The next day we had a barbecue at the beach back in San Diego. They called me a few days later and asked if I wanted to play on the CD. I've been here ever since."
I've heard that the famous Cathouse has re-opened, do you think that Glam comes back?
"It's hard to say. I think fun music in general is desperately needed but as far as glam? That's up to the public.
I would hope so."
Tell our readers something about the Glam and Glitter festivals in Hollywood?
"These are put together by Timothy Jay from SPIDERS & SNAKES. They are basically shows that aren't pay to play and gives bands a chance to show their stuff to crowds that might not know of them. A lot of new bands are thankful for these shows to give them a chance to play out for the first time or get people reacquainted with bands that haven't played in a while."
Do the Glam bands in Hollywood stick together, and are FOXY ROXX in contact with other bands?
"Some bands, yes. Others, no way. The major problem with most of the bands in Hollywood, in my opinion, are the moment they get a decent gig and a somewhat favorable review they become insufferable assholes. A lot of bands, and I won't name any, think they're the biggest thing since bread and strut around talking down about other bands. We had a band who at first were big fans of ours (and since have developed egos) come
up to us recently and said that they were gonna be bigger than us with bigger shows and that we didn't have a chance. Now what kind of shit is that? We do talk to some bands but for the most part keep to ourself. It's not to be rude but we don't need the gossip & ego shit."
What was the greatest moment for you as a musician ?
"Opening for ACE FREHLEY in San Juan Capistrano in Nov.'94. He watched us soundcheck and came up and said he liked my guitar (a '76 Gibson Explorer). I met him again at the NAMM show in Jan.'98 and he remembered me from then! I was stoked the whole day!"
Do you still like the first record (I love it), or what  would  you change if you could?
"I listen to it now & then. Compared to the new material it sounds amateurish. I had only been working with the band for a few weeks when we recorded it. I would have liked to spent more time on the guitar sound and maybe put better solos but I'm happy with the outcome."
Do you have a big fan base ?
"Bigger than I realized! Since we have e-mail I've gotten mail from as far away as Greenland, Norway, Singapore, Thailand. I had no idea the CD was out in places like that!"
Are you in contact with record companies ? 
"We're going to really push the CD to the labels as soon as possible. The only labels we've been in contact with is Shock Records (for the ACE tribute) and Delinquent Records. We're going to have "Hangin' Out" on their "The Pink & The Black" Glam/Goth compilation."
Is it true that you played a show where you were like M&M's?
"Oh god! Yes, we did. It was for our Halloween show at the Troubadour last year. The costumes matched the colors of our stage gear. We looked so stupid!!!"
Anything else you would like to mention ?
"Please be patient, we're hoping to have the new disc out as soon as possible! Thank you to everyone for their letters and calls. You guys are the reason we do what we do! Stay Glam!! Be Cool!!!"

Contact:

foxyroxx@adnc.com

Martin Zalien

Back