FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
1. THE PONY INTERVIEW WITH JOSH TODD
2. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This Week at The Stone Pony: Super Tuesday (Tuesday), Default and Shinedown (Wednesday), Josh Todd (Friday), Garden State Film Festival Clambake Fundraiser (Saturday Afternoon), Juggling Suns (Saturday Evening), The Sensational Soul Cruisers (Sunday)
New on the Pony Calendar: Hippie Holidaze with Bugg (August 30), Stryper (November 16)
When Buckcherry broke off the streets of Los Angeles with their 1999 self-titled debut album, a large part of their success was due to their charismatic, tattooed frontman, Josh Todd. The band's dirty, blues-inspired, L.A. rock, was ballsy and aggressive, producing three hits, "Lit Up", "For the Movies", "Check your Head", making the band something of a rarity: an old-school rock band getting airplay on Mtv and mainstream radio. Todd built on this exposure to break into mainstream consciousness with high-profile modeling gigs and a developing career in acting. The band followed-up with a second CD, Time Bomb (Dreamworks), in 2001 which, while a critical success, ending up on several "best of" lists that year, and a hit with fans, proved ironically prophetic as it would be the last one Buckcherry would produce. While Todd kept busy with his ongoing screen career, the slow demise of Buckcherry finally culminated in the dissolution of that group last year. Todd quickly rebounded with the creation of a new direction, as if almost by fate, and has gotten back into the game in a big way with a new album and a heavy touring schedule. Josh Todd, the group and its namesake, bring it to the Stone Pony on Friday evening, August 22nd. Get down to Ocean Avenue to experience some L.A. attitude and a close-up look at one of the best frontmen in rock and roll today. Todd took the time, just before the tour began, to answer these questions for the newsletter about the end of Buckcherry, the new band, his music and a brief flirtation with a potential L.A. rock supergroup.
The Stone Pony: For those who might not have been following the story, you decided to leave Buckcherry in July of last year. Your website simply states that it was something you thought “long and hard” about. Can you give us a little background about why you decided to leave the band? Was it a scary prospect to leave a group that had been a success for you?
Josh Todd: By the time I left BC, everyone in the band had quit except Keith and I. It¹s funny because it actually came full circle because Keith and I started the band writing songs on a 4-track in my room. We tried to keep it together after that and wrote about 20 songs together for record three. There was a lot of things in the BC framework (record label, management, direction, creativity) that led to my decision of leaving for good. I don't like talking sh*t about people, it's not my thing. but let's just say it was time for me to move on. I am very passionate about anything I do creatively and I found myself wanting a new experience. I was always taught to follow your heart and to trust your gut; my decision came after a lot of soul searching, so by the time I decided to leave, I was alright with it.
The Stone Pony: It didn’t take long after leaving Buckcherry to put a new group together and get back into the studio. Were you already writing music that you wanted to record and perform when you made the decision to go out on your own, and did you already have a plan laid out about what you wanted to do with your career? Have you been writing new music in the past year just for this new project?
Josh Todd: I am a workaholic, among other things, and I am happiest when I'm creating; honestly, I didn't know where to start, the demise of BC took a lot out of me. I write really fast and have a strong work ethic. I just needed some guys to jive with and I knew the rest would come. I cold-called one ad out of a local music mag; it just kind of jumped out at me. I honestly thought nothing would come of it, but when I met these guys, we instantly had chemistry and it was effortless and fun. Being in a band hadn't been fun for me for a while, so all this inspiration and good songwriting came out of that; it was the spark I needed. Two days later, we got a lock-out studio and started writing five days a week, and in a little over two months we had about 30 songs, no joke. That was my goal, 30, and then we could see if we had a good rock record. It's been my experience that it takes a couple of good songs to get to a great one, and I just want great ones because if I'm going to sing them over and over again they better be great.
The Stone Pony: You started auditioning new band members only a month after leaving your old band. How long it did it take to find musicians you wanted to work with, and what qualities did you look for in people to record and perform with? Can you give us a run-down of who’s in the band with you today?
Josh Todd: I cold-called this ad a week after leaving BC, like I said, it was a long demise so, by the time I walked away, I was ready to be inspired again. The band I called were all friends, they had come from Salt Lake City to make it; they just needed a singer. I wanted guys that have loyalty and no egos or drug problems. I wanted a band that respected one another and, most of all, believed in the movement we wanted to create. I got all that because I kept myself open for it. I love my band. I got in this business to fu*k sh*t up, not to baby-sit.
The Stone Pony: You finished mixing and mastering your debut album, “You Made Me”, back in April. Is there a label involved, or are you release it on your own? What are your plans for distributing and promoting the CD, and when and how can fans get their hands on it?
Josh Todd: Fans can get the record by going to www.joshtodd.com and buying it. We will also have copies available at shows. We will eventually get traditional distribution; right now, we just want to create a story and let people get to know us.
The Stone Pony: How does it feel to be back on the road touring again with a new band? Even though you’ve done a few appearances here and there, in August you’ll be hitting the road for a serious round of shows. Do you enjoy being on stage and the whole rock and roll lifestyle of getting to be on the road and visit lots of new places?
Josh Todd: I like to perform, period; that's why I got in this: to write about what's inside me and to shove it up your ass. We will tour as many places as people want it. I like to travel to other places, but nothing beats America.
The Stone Pony: Talk briefly about your acting career. You’ve talked about how much you love the challenge of acting, and getting “into another headspace”, and have gotten involved with some major films, including “The New Guy” and “The Banger Sisters”. Do any of your film roles so far stand out as favorites for you, and are you still pursuing new acting and film work?
Josh Todd: I love to act, it's really challenging. I just finished a little independent movie called "Lightning Bug" and it probably was my favorite experience thus far because I really got to act a little. I will always looks for roles when I'm not on the road because I enjoy it.
The Stone Pony: You were in the news this past March when “Rolling Stone” reported that you were briefly the front man for a new group featuring former Guns N’ Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum. According the article, things were going great, with daily rehearsals for about a month, when Slash suddenly killed the whole thing. In the few months since that happened, have you gotten any further insight into why that group didn’t last? Is the fact that you’re so happy with you current band make you feel that things like that do happen for a reason?
Josh Todd: Slash didn't think I was right for the project, that's what it came down to. I think he made an excellent decision. I have played the leadership roll in all my affairs; it was a disaster waiting to happen.
The Stone Pony: The band played SXSW this past March, showcasing the band for many fans for the first time. Do you appreciate being able to perform more now that you’ve had a run at the top and a chance to try it again on your own terms? Would you like to be able to perform for 60,000 fans again, or are your musical aspirations different at this point in your career?
Josh Todd: I will give the same performance in front of ten or ten thousand; it doesn't matter to me just as long as it's on eleven. Would I like to perform in front of 60,000 again is a stupid question.
The Stone Pony: The band was originally named “Shotsfired” when it debuted in September 2002, but you’ve since decided to drop the name in favor of your own. Was that decision simply based on your own name recognition, or are you trying to make a point about this being your project? Is there more pressure having your name on the marquee, or are you more comfortable putting it all on the line?
Josh Todd: I had a few people in my organization talk me into that one and it made sense. I have never not been in a band so it was a little weird at first, but the guys in my band were totally behind me in that decision so it was ok for me. I am very confident in my abilities on stage and I don't second guess myself. I want to go to my grave knowing that I took risks and hung my balls out there win or loose.
The Stone Pony: What are your plans after you’re done with this first round of touring? Is there any chance that they’ll be a video or any other projects from the band that fans should look out for?
Josh Todd: Oh yeah, we're doing a video real soon and things will be unfolding constantly over time; just keep informed by going to the website and we'll do the rest.
Josh Todd's official website can be found at www.joshtodd.com. He brings his new band to the Stone Pony stage on Friday, August 22.
Now at AsburyPark.net:
Boardwalk Saloon Opens
The Cadillac Ranch Saloon on the Asbury Park boardwalk has
opened its doors to the public. The 7,000-square-foot bar features a theme
described by its operators as as "upscale honky-tonk."
Thursday Nights: Ladies Night
The best mix of house, trance,
progressive and vocal. 18 to enter, 21 to drink (ID mandatory). Drink
specials. Doors open at 9:30 pm. DJ Prime and B.G. are on the wheels of
steel ... Dress to impress - our promoters are tough on the door ... Come
see for yourself what all the hype is about. It's on every Thursday
only at The Stone Pony!
