Ryan Roxie

Interview With Ryan Roxie

Interview with Ryan Roxie of Roxie 77
9.8.09

We have the best job in the world here at BSD since we get to cover and talk to the most amazing artists and bands. We recently caught up with Ryan Roxie founding member of Roxie 77 and probably most well known for his guitar work with Alice Cooper, Slash, HappyPill, Dad's Porno Mag plus many more. Talk about talented! Go to his website www.roxie77.com and check out his latest album "Two Sides To Every Story." You can download the tracks there for free (one song will be allowed to be downloaded for free each week so that eventually you can download all 24 songs for FREE!!!) or you can purchase the album or songs and 50% goes to charity (even better!).

BSD: Congrats on your new album-Two Sides to Every Story. It is truly amazing. My favorite song is "Stay in California". Which song is closest to your heart?

RR: Because of the name "Two Sides to Every story", the 'Stories' are basically just chapters of my life put to loud guitars and bangin' drums...each 'Story' means something pretty heartfelt for me on this latest album. There is a 2 minute acoustic song that I released on this record called "So I Thought"...and I almost always tear-up when I play it...especially in the 2nd verse....I wrote it right around the time that I was separating from my wife, but we we're still on a vacation together with the kids...and for some reason this song just came into my head...for a brief moment, it put everything into perspective...

BSD: How did you come up with the idea for recording each song twice-with both electric and acoustic versions?

RR: I came up with the concept of 'Two Sides' a while back, because of what I was going through in my personal life. There have been some big changes in my world since the last Roxie 77 album (Peace, Love & Armageddon) and I started to see clearly that there are always at least two sides to every argument, two sides to every situation...doesn't always mean one is good and the other is bad...just means that there are different ways of looking at things...and I thought I might be able to apply that to my songs...different ways of hearing my songs....so hopefully people will have their favorite 'version' of my songs, but appreciate both versions.

BSD: What inspires you musically?

RR: Nothing inspires me more than to see other musicians putting their heart and soul into their own music and putting on a great performance. There is a certain energy that a live band can deliver when all the cylinders are kickin' that is better than any other feeling in the world...well, almost! When I see any band, young or old, brand-new or on the dreaded "European comeback Tour" that is truly 'Carrying the Torch of Rock n Roll' , that inspires me to go out and write and play the best music I can...

BSD: How did you end up in Sweden? Do you think about moving back to the states?

RR: Getting back to the 'Stories from the book of my life" subject, I just felt that my 'chapter' of livin' in Los Angeles had finished, and it was time to turn the page and start a new chapter....if it's really true that we only go around once, I wanted to experience as many different types of 'life' as possible....living in Europe is a completely different experience than living in the States....some things better, many other things not as nice....but it's the 'experience' of doing it that makes things interesting....and like a good book, I can't say that I wouldn't want to re-read some of the chapters over at a later time...so the States might someday again be a place I call home....but like my favorite quote of all time from the movie 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' my hero Damon says, "where ever you are, is the place to be"....and right now, I'm lovin' it here in the land of pretty blondes and freezing summers....Sweden.

BSD: How does the music industry differ in Sweden than here in the U.S.? Are the fans different?

RR: Just listen to AC/DC's "Long Way to the Top (if you wanna rock n roll)" song and you'll quickly realize that its the SAME struggle throughout the entire world if you're doing your best to make music for a livin'....just here in Sweden you have to add in the 9 month snow season...ha!.....As far as the fans go, to me, a Roxie 77 fan whether they are American, European, Asian, Austrailian or any other nationality all get HUGE respect from me because they are the ones that have searched my music out, and gone on to help me promote my music and ideas to others....I've always relied on the goodness of the peoples hearts to help me with the development of Roxie 77....without 'sounding' too 'indie', Roxie 77 has always been a grass-roots type of movement....and I appreciate anyone that jumps on board and dives in with their support...

BSD: You give 50% to charity for anyone who buys a song off your new album from your website. Are any of the charities personal to you? How did you decide which charities to donate to?

RR: 2 of the 3 charities that we are working on the "splitting the profits" campaign I have worked with for many years now...'The Art of Elysium' is a great project directed by Jennifer Howell that sets us musicians, actors, and artists to visit hospitals and spend time with long-term younger patients that really get SO much from having someone visit them on a weekly basis...I did this when I was living in L.A., and trust me, the experience might even better for the artist than it is for the patient...Also, 'Love, Hope, Strength' is a great organization that helps with cancer related research and cure-support...I really admire the passion and drive of their Executive Director, Shannon Foley....Our 3rd organization we chose because I feel that 'Doctors Without Borders' is an amazing concept and that their administration costs are kept to a minimum...meaning that if you contribute a dollar, most of that dollar goes to the 'cause', not the 'costs'.....

Feel free to check all the sites out at the links provided at roxie77.com or simply:

www.lovehopestrength.org
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
www.theartofelysium.org

BSD: Do you still talk to Alice Cooper? Any plans to record anything with him in the future? Or is he too busy playing golf?!!!

RR: AC and I have spoken a few times in the last year and it's always good conversation so I never close the door with the prospect of working with him again. But because of both our busy schedules, it doesn't seem that easy to organize playing in Paris one night, then getting my daughter to Choir practice and my son to Swimming Class the next day....!

I have always respected "The Coop" and his fans, so I'll always be grateful for the job has given me....and I can only hope that I'm able to continue to write and record the type of songs that I'm really proud of and that I'll be able to leave my 'mark' on the music world just like the way 'my former boss' already has...

BSD: Your kids seem like they may be future rocknrollers! Would you be happy if they followed in your footsteps?

RR: I never 'push' them to play or sing...I'm just thinking that if they are surrounded by music in a way where they don't feel they HAVE to play, but it's always around them if they want to, it will be natural for them to gravitate towards it, but to be honest...I wouldn't care what career either of them would decide to choose...as long as they pursue and enjoy it with the same passion and joy that I have tried to pursue my job with. I love those two little ones so much, I will support them with most probably anything they decide to go for.

I never had the opportunity to "hang out" in recording studios, rehearsal rooms, or back stages when I was a kid... but hey, I STILL ended up doing what I dreamed about doing in life. All I hope for is that IF they decide to pursue music as a way of life, that they will feel very comfortable in the surroundings of creative people and a rock n' roll lifestyle.

BSD: I know Cheap Trick is one of your favorite bands. They've been touring the past few years as an opener for bands like Poison and Def Leppard. No offense to Poison or Def Leppard, but don't you think they should be headlining?

RR: We were really lucky to have Cheap Trick co-headline a tour with us a few years back...and I must say...not just because they are one of my favorite bands....they kicked ass EVERY single night. I can see why everyone wants them to tour with...they basically give any band that goes on after them a real 'job' to do in order to match the energy and professionalism of a Cheap Trick show...look, they've always had that 'underdog' mentality and always end up being the 'peoples favorite' band...so it doesn't seem to be that bad a position to be in...no?

BSD: Who would you like to work with musically if given the opportunity?

RR: Well, now that you've gotten me talkin' about Cheap Trick...I'd LOVE to hear what Robin Zander would sound like singing a song that I wrote on...to me, he's just got the ultimate voice...

And now for the DIRT!!!

BSD: What band should pack up and call it a day?

RR: Any band that isn't havin' fun doing it anymore should step aside and let the next band that is more then willing to give it there all come along and fill the gap....It saddens me to say this about one of my favorite bands, Oasis, but when I saw them this last year on tour (twice!), both times they kinda sucked and acted like it was 'just another gig'.....well, I thought maybe they should pack it in then....and I just heard recently that they broke-up.....hey, I don't mind bands breaking up, but what I can't handle is when some of these bands say they are on 'hiatus'....seems to be the new thing to say....but sounds kinda weak....a very 'politically correct' way of stating that you can't stand each other....check it out and you'll see...more and more bands are coppin' out the whole 'on hiatus' plea....pussies!!!

BSD: What band or artist should make a comeback?

RR: Not sure if 'any' should really make a comeback....perhaps a reunion show here and there is nice for the fans that had NEVER seen these mythical rock gods (like when I went to see Led Zepplin's 'comeback' gig in London a few years back), but I think that it's a lose-lose situation for both the bands AND the hardcore fans....Think about it, the bands probably have way less hair and way bigger pant sizes then they did when they were 'it', and the fans pretty much have a sound 'image' of the band that relates to them from a different time...to try and recreate that on a permanent level night after night is just impossible....

My take would be to just keep making and performing NEW music and drop in the hits only when it's necessary...you'll eventually find the hardcore fans that will STILL love you, and perhaps, even find a new audience....probably the best band to make the 'comeback' again and again is ZZ Top, because they looked 'old' from the beginning...

BSD: What's the craziest thing a groupie has done to meet you or the band?

RR: Once there was a girl that had her friend punch her in the face so that she would end up in the first-aid injury section that was located right next to the dressing rooms for the show....it worked because the bass player met her on the way to the stage, and he eventually took her home that night....so never let anyone tell you a 'pity-fuk' is not real....

BSD: What are your pet peeves?

RR: Being more then 10 minutes late to bus call, not clearing your own dishes from catering, and drinking someone else's Vodka.....which I can all pin-point down to at least one guy in every band I've ever played in...

BSD: What artist/musician needs to put his ego in check?

RR: I think it's pretty obvious at this point it's ME, ME, ME!.... no? Or am I the only one that recognizes how great I am....ha!

BSD: Do you ever see any of the members of ABBA around Sweden?

RR: Actually yes....Me and my son used to see 'Benny' taking his bottles to the recycling center....He obviously has a environment conscience mind set, as there is NO way they he actually needs the money that he gets from his bottles and cans....damn...guess there is no way to ever truly hate ABBA....!

Drop on by www.Roxie77.com and see what all this talk is about...the site is set up so that it is pretty easy to get to all the 'familiar' sites you are used to viewing such as YouTube, Facebook, Myspace, and Bandcamp. Listen, Watch, Download, and above all.... enjoy the noise....

Many Many thanks to Ryan Roxie! And, check out his website here and his Facebook page here and his Myspace page here!!!