Interview with 40 Grit

For those that have never heard 40 Grit before, introduce them to your music.
We are a heavy rock band with a metal edge to it. Our songs have a lot of hooks, melodies, and grooves in them that get stuck in your head. The vocals aren't as heavy as they were on "Heads", but they're still there. James just sang a lot more on this album, and I think its great!

If you had to mix three bands to create your sound, what bands would those be?
Pink Floyd, Alice N Chains, Machine Head.

Your last album, "Heads", seemed to have a much harder edge and be less hook-driven. What sparked the new, hookier, some would even say commercial sound?
I think the fact that Andy joined the band is a major factor. With our old drummer it was hard to sit down and pick apart a song until we liked it. With Andy it's the complete opposite. Then there's the fact that we just wanted to progress our style of music.

What do you like most about the music industry?
I like the fact that record companies are willing to spend the money to sign a band, give them tour support, money to record an album, and then distribute and advertise that album to the public.

What do you like least?
I hate it when they don't any of the above for a band.

How long have you been doing this?
The band has been around since 1997. Andy has been in the band for 2 years now.

If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?
Musically, we wish we could've had the frame of mine that we have now. Especially when it comes to things like song writing, touring, marketing etc…

If you hadn't been born in this century, when and where would you like to have lived?
Chris: I'd want to be the fat-ass Caesar guy, being fed grapes by the hot chicks.
James: Id probably be the gladiator for Chris's amusement. Or a caveman would be a cool.
Kevin: Id be a pharaoh, just to have a pyramid built for me by my slaves.
Andy: I would probably be some belligerent drunken Irish farmer

Who are your musical heroes?
Pink Floyd. That's it.

What do you do in your spare time?
When were not touring, were working. We still do a lot of band stuff most of the time though. Chris is always working his ass off for the band, dealing with the label and our manager and stuff like that. James sits at home and procrastinates a lot, but he is also writing new material at the time. Andy lives with Kevin and his wife so they're always hanging out together at the house, drinking, smoking, and wasting space…

How hard do you push yourself?
Pretty much as hard as we can. We have our limitations of what we can do with what we've got, whether its money or equipment or something like that. We've also got a lot of people who've helped us out along the way, who we are completely in debt to!

When are you completely satisfied with your work?
When you don't have the urge to go back and fix things

What's the first song you remember hearing?
James: Chris: Kevin: Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music.
Andy: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - I Love Rock n Roll.

What are you listening to lately?
Kevin: "Killswitch Engage"
Chris: "Queens of the stone age"
Andy: "Rush"
James: "Aerosmith"

What's your favorite album by another artist?
We love many, many albums but here's the one that came to our heads right now.
James: Aerosmith "live bootleg"
Chris: Pink Floyd "Wish you were here"
Andy: Tool "Aenima"
Kevin: Pink Floyd "The Wall"

What song of yours are you the most proud of and why?
James & Andy: "Last Time around" Because vocally it was very dynamic, The approach of this kinda song was new.
Chris: "Apart of me" Cause it was the first song that I did vocals on an album.
Kevin: "Serenity Reigns" Because of the dynamics and vocal melodies plus it's fucking heavy

Had any of you recorded with other groups before forming 40 Grit?
Yes we all have recorded demos except for Kevin. 40 Grit was his first band.

Is it possible to be out on the road and not eat junk food?
HELL FUCK NO N' SHIT!!! HAHAHA That's the only thing you can get for cheap

When do you go back to the studio?
We're concentrating on promoting this album and don't really have any plans yet, but are constantly writing new songs.

Is it hard to maintain a relationship when you're out on the road?
No they are 2 different worlds "Absence makes make the heart grow fonder"

When do you go back in the studio?
We rehearse in a studio so in a sense we never leave.

What does your contract rider call for in terms of backstage amenities?
Beer, water, fruit and lately cause our managers joke we have been getting sour skittles

What would you be doing if you weren't a musician?
James: pro baseball player. Kevin: Pro Football player Andy: A FUCKING COP!!! Chris: a Musician

Other than your current band members, if you could get any musician living or dead, who would be in your "dream band"?
James: Steve Tyler, Jerry Cantrell, Keith Moon, John Paul Jones.
Kevin: Chris Contos, James Hetfield, Lane Staley, Eddie Van Halen.
Chris: David Gilmour, Roger Waters, David Grohl.
Andy: Kurt Cobain, Pete Townsend, Justin Chancellor

How many guitars do you own?
Chris: 4
James: 2

How many record albums are in your home collection?
Kevin: about 50
Chris: about 15
James: none
Andy: 1

What's next for you?
Touring as much as possible.

Any last words?
Thanks a lot for making this one of the most interesting interviews!

For more information on 40 Grit check out their web site at http://www.40grit.com/