August 16, 2010

Blacklist Union - Til Death Do They Part

An Interview by Tom Farrell

Diehard hard rockers Blacklist Union are wrapping up work on their third album, Til Death Do Us Part, another arsenal of metal-tinged music that’s sure to raise the attention of listeners worldwide.

We recently caught up with frontman Tony West and picked up some info on the new album, upcoming plans for the band, and his love of video games. Tell us about the new Blacklist Union album.

TONY WEST: “It’s called Til Death Do Us Part. I wrote with Anthony Valli, Tracii Guns and Todd Youth on this record. I also wrote with Mark Fein. The track listing is “Alabama Slammer,” “Blown Away,” Death of a Dream,” “Feed the Snake,” “Game Over,” “I Do,” “Lickity Split,” “Diggin’ for Gold,” “Superjaded,” “Bittersweet,” “Say it to My Face” and the title track, “Til Death Do Us Part.”
“The whole meaning behind the record was that, I’m a very spiritual person, and I think of things in a different way than a lot of people. Everything is energy, and I wanted my soulmate to show up, ‘cause the album is called Til Death Do Us Part.I had no idea if that would happen or not, and it just happened naturally, because that’s the way the universe works. The first part of the record was about me finally getting on meds and getting myself okay. There’s a little bit of heartbreak in there. The second part of the record is about being in love, and finding love again. I had to walk through a lot of fires to get to the light.”

What were some of the fires you had to go through?

TW: Everyone has trials and tribulations in their life, and it makes you who you are as a person, if it doesn’t kill you. I had a horrible childhood, I had drug abuse for years, deaths of people I love. It’s just life. Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, or whatever that saying is, it’s true. If it wasn’t for all that shit I wouldn’t be who I am today or doing what I’m up to. I’m grateful for everything.

If there was no rock n’ roll music, what would you be doing?

TW: Sailing on a pirate ship (smiles).

How’s married life treating you? You just tied the knot?

TW: Yeah, me and Lydia just got married, we’ve known each other for years, (smiles) and she made me chase her around a bit. We did this photo shoot ten years ago as a married couple on the beaches of Malibu. It’s supposed to be an offshoot of the Tommy Lee and Pam thing…I don’t know…we fell in love. We’re both old enough to know what we want out of life, and I’m madly in love with her. She’s beautiful and she’s sweet and kind.

How are you using the Internet to promote the album?

TW: The Internet is everything. Magazines barely exist anymore, a lot of avenues that used to exist don’t. We’re going to use the Internet to break ourselves. We have quality, in-your-face music and marketing ability. We know how to promote ourselves. Instead of the fuckin’ labels getting 92% or whatever it is of your shit, the band is getting 100%. We’re going to do it, and I want to teach the other good fuckin’ bands how to do it themselves, too. But you gotta have capital come from somewhere, you gotta have an investor, you gotta have someone TW: money. That’s what the labels basically are, they’re banks.

What are your touring plans?

TW: 50% of the tour in Europe, 25% in Japan, and 25% in the States. The problem with the States, is that they want the Jonas brothers and Hannah Montana. But there are still states that love us, like Texas, and Tennessee, the Midwest has been really good to us, the East Coast, New York, San Francisco, etc. But there’s a whole ‘nother scene in Europe and Japan. This is their genre, this is what gets pushed over there.

Your genre of music doesn’t really seem to get a lot of airplay. Do you think the Internet has changed that?

TW: Well, who the fuck listens to the radio? I don’t. I haven’t listened to Howard Stern since he went onto satellite radio, and I like Howard Stern.

I understand Hunt Sales is drumming for you on the album?

TW: Yeah, Hunt played with Todd Rundgren, Tin Machine, and Iggy Pop. He’s a good friend of mine for a long time. He’s going on tour with us. I’ve known him for years through my ex-girlfriend, Inger Lorre. Me and him just hit it off. He’s the real deal - a pirate mother fucker, old school, all about the rock. He’s seen it, he’s done it. He has the best stories you can ever imagine. Every time we hang out we just laugh. So, I figured, let’s just get the best.

What is it that sets Blacklist Union apart from other bands?

TW: Well, there ain’t nobody telling us what to play and how to play it. I know there’s a lot of bands out there that have artistic integrity, but there’s also nonsense where kids will do whatever the labels tell them to do, and they’re getting ripped off, and they have no money when they’re done.

(To Tony’s wife) Tell us something about Tony that we don’t know.

Lydia: "He makes me watch Sanford and Son and South Park against my will."

Tony, if you could pick three words to describe yourself, what would they be?

TW: Outrageous, ambitious and marvelous.

Who did you listen to while you were growing up?

TW: I grew up listening to everything, but as far as my influences, my biggest one was Andrew Wood from Mother Love Bone, Ian Astbury from the Cult, Perry Farrell, Michael Hutchence from INXS, Ozzy of course. I listen to everything from Enya to Slayer. I love country. I listen to Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings - the outlaws of country - the real deal.

What is your personal key to success?

TW: Persistence. There were times when I didn’t have anything. I was sleeping in a hallway. I met Dave Navarro once, and he said, ‘Hey, aren’t you Tony West?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, how do you know who I am? You’re famous!’ And he said, ‘Yeah, but you’re infamous.’

What are your favorite video games?

TW : I grew up with a lot of old school stuff. I play Grand Theft Auto a lot. I play the Xbox 360 mainly. I play a lot of Madden football. I’m getting schooled on it, but I love it.

What were some of the first games you played?

TW: As a kid, I played a lot of them, Ms. Pac Man, Star Castle, Asteroids, and I really liked this one called Mr. Do.

Are you a Guitar Hero fan?

TW: (smiles) I won’t even do that to myself. When we were last on tour, our drummer was playing Guitar Hero so much his fingers were crunched up and he could barely hold his sticks. I’m afraid to play Guitar Hero because I’m so obsessive-compulsive that I’d probably play it for days, you know what I mean?
It’s a lot of fun. I love it when the crowd boos you, that’s awesome. The characters are great, too.

What Blacklist Union songs would you most like to see in Guitar Hero?

TW : “Please Kill Me,” “Breakin’ Bread with the Devil,” “Kiss the Monkey” would be a great one for the kids to learn.

Any messages for Blacklist Union fans?

TW: This record by far surpasses anything we’ve ever done. It’s the best stuff I’ve ever written in my life. The melodies, the music, everything is great. It’s a kick-ass rock record. We’ve evolved as a band. We’re tapping into a lot of stuff.

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