Buckcherry Interview
1.14.2008
Having been through a multitude of dramatic turbulence in the recent past, it’s quite a pleasure to see the straight-ahead hard rock group, Buckcherry, on top of the rock world again. The band’s latest release, 15, has already been certified gold and has taken the charts, radio, and television by storm. Their latest successes can mainly be attributed to the power of their most recent hit single, “Crazy Bitch.” It’s obvious that frontman Josh Todd, lead guitarist Keith Nelson, bassist Jimmy Ashhurst, guitarist Stevie D, and drummer Xavier Muriel are having the time of their lives again. I had the great honor of speaking with guitarist, founding member, and songwriting backbone, Keith Nelson, right before the band’s highly anticipated national tour. He spilled the beans on just about everything including the band’s 2002 breakup, life without record label support, and his unexplainable love for bicycles.RAG: For anyone who has been in a coma for the last eight years, how would you describe Buckcherry’s music to them?
Nelson: High energy with an IQ! We’re just a real rock and roll band. Just five guys making music that we all love making.
Nelson: There are a couple of reasons. I think everybody likes the underdog story and we were definitely the underdog prior to releasing the record. There was no record deal. I think we made a really honest record. There wasn’t a huge marketing campaign for it, so we did everything ourselves. I think it had a lot to do with all of those things coming together.
How does the album “15” differ from your previous two records?
Nelson: Well, we made the record ourselves. I produced the record with two other guys. We basically made the record that we wanted to make. Nobody was there telling us what to do and what not to do. It was a different vibe. We had nothing to lose by making this record.
Briefly explain how Buckcherry’s writing process works.
Nelson: They all start in different ways. Some start with a bassline; some start with Josh and an acoustic guitar; some start with guitar riffs. For instance, the song “Crazy Bitch” started with Josh calling me and singing the chorus. I took that melody and came up with the music around that.
The hit single “Lit Up” obviously ignited a great deal of your initial success back in 1999. Did the mainstream success of the song come as a surprise to the band considering what it was about?
Nelson: Absolutely! When we wrote the song, we never imagined it being played on the radio. The record company declared it as our first single and it quickly got the attention that it did. That single alone made that record gold.
In your opinion, what is the best song you have ever written?
Nelson: There is a song off of Time Bomb called “You.” I think that that is probably one of the best songs we have ever written. Sadly, that album was severely under-promoted. You can’t even buy it anymore. It’s actually out of print now.
Nelson: Doing what we are doing right now. Starting with nothing and making a record that has gone gold and is still in the Top 200 of the Billboard charts.
In 2002, it was confirmed that Buckcherry had “broken up.” What exactly happened?
Nelson: There were no fistfights or drama or anything like that. After the tour following the release of Time Bomb, three of the band members had quit. We got back to LA and realized that there were only Josh and myself left. We were the two guys that started the band. We tried to write new material for a few months, but I think that ultimately the idea of not having a band really weighed on us. We decided to completely take a break from everything. It just wasn’t fun anymore.
Was it difficult beginning again? Did you fear that fans had forgotten about you?
Nelson: You never know what to expect. My greatest goal was to just come out with another record. We didn’t really have any delusions that the world was waiting for our new record. We made the best record that we could and slowly recruited everyone that wanted to do business with us.
I had heard a few years back that Josh Todd was “in the running” toward becoming the front man of what ended up becoming Velvet Revolver? I later read that you were actually given songwriting credit for the VR song “Dirty Little Thing.” The whole situation seems crazy to me. What exactly happened?
Nelson: There is not much to say about it. Velvet Revolver is a great band and now my band is back together. During the few months when Josh and I did not have a band, we had rehearsed a few times with the guys of VR. The situation didn’t end up working out, but I am really happy that those guys persevered. They are a really great band. They have a new record coming out this year. I think we all ended up in a good place.
What do you think about the newer bands / styles of music that are coming to life?
Nelson: There are some really awesome bands right now. I’m a huge fan of My Chemical Romance. I really like the All-American Rejects. There’s a band called Black Stone Cherry that I love. I am a Shinedown fan. There is some really great new music out there if you are willing to dig for it. There are all of these emo bands with their weird haircuts and whatnot, but some of those bands are simply amazing.
What do you like to do when you’re not playing music?
Nelson: I like to get away from music. I like to ride a motorcycle. I like to ride bicycles, too.
Really? Bicycles?
Nelson: I know it’s probably weird trying to picture a big guy covered in tattoos riding a bicycle, but I really enjoy it.
What is to come for the future of Buckcherry? (New CD, upcoming tours, etc…..)
Nelson: There is probably going to be a DVD being shot over the summer for a winter release. There are some talks of doing a live record. Of course, there will be tons more touring and doing what we have been doing until nobody wants to hear us anymore.
Posted byLogan Lenz at 15:42
Labels: Buckcherry, Interview, Rag Magazine
