Introducing The GLASSPACK
The Ball-Buster Interview
by Freddy Metal
Introduce The Glasspack line-up to our readers?
Dirty: the Glasspack is currently me on guitar and vocals ("Dirty" Dave Johnson), Andrew "Lil' Bucky" Garret on bass, and Brett "the Captain" Holsclaw on Drums. We have other members that we consider part of the band that do not play music in the band. We have Joey "Digital Joe" Toscano on website and graphic design, Eric "Rico" Rakutt on tour managing, and Leland "Bird" Thurman on the stage props. Everyone is equally part of the band, regardless of music involvement or lack there of.
How long has The Glasspack band been in existence?
Dirty: Since early 1999, the Glasspack has been on a hellbound mission to drive what we call "Real Rocknroll" back into the minds of America. We are completly tired of all the sub-titles and nicknames. We are utterly disgusted with the current state of commercial or popular music and we're not alone. We look back to better days of rocknroll such as the 1960s and 1970s when free-spirited jams and great rocknroll anthems were born.
In your own words describe the band's sound & influences?
Dirty: Well me being the writer of the majority of our material, I guess my influences cover most of our sounds. I really enjoy old rocknroll such as the forefathers of punk rock, Iggy and the Stooges, Black Sabbath, and the MC5. I also tend to wear out albums made by Captain Beefheart, Jimi Hendrix, KISS, AC/DC, and Hawkwind. The glasspack definitly carries a psychedelic overtone. As for newer rock, I really liked what Mudhoney, Monster Magnet, and the Melvins were doing in the 90s. As for nowadays, i am enjoying High on Fire and Greenleaf.
Who's the songwriter or is it shared by all members?
Dirty: I write the majority of the material alone. I like to smoke a bowl listen to some HookerNHeat (John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat), and write up some riffs. Then, I will rock the riffs with the band and take them home and keep writing on them to create a sort of pure guitar-orientated rocknroll.
Name some bands in which you've shared the stage & opened?
Dirty: We are a very non-commercial rock band. Most of the people we have shared the stage with are unheard of commercially but you can bet your bottom dollar they are known for rocking the house. Some of the bands we have shared the stage with are Nebula, the Hookers, the Frogs, Melt Banana, My Morning Jacket, and Sick of It All. We look forward to sharing the stage with ZZ Top one day or AC/DC, real troopers of rocknroll. We have also played Initial's Krazy Fest, the Stoner Hands of Doom Festival, and the CMJ Marathon. People like to consider us a 'stoner' band but we prefer 'rocknroll.'
Give us the complete low-down on the new Glasspack "Bridgeburner" cd?
Dirty: "the Glasspack/Bridgeburner" is our second effort for Small Stone Recordings, www.SmallStone.com in Detroit, Michigan, the first being "Powderkeg." It is the Glasspack's actual fourth release and the fourth to obtain distribution. All of the Glasspack records were recorded extremely fast and "Bridgeburner" is no exception. We recorded it in less than 36 hours and I am sure it will tell a little bit but thats 'rocknroll.' Fuck all the overproduction and perfectionism, it took me a long time to let it go because it has been implanted in my head since the 80s. "Bridgeburner" is about 40 minutes of rockin' material, all new material. I would say the album is about 60% music and 40% vocals, thats the way we like it. We also recorded a version the Stones "Gimme Shelter." We did the Altamont Speedway version, hehe. Most of the material on the Birdgeburner conveys an image of gossip and backstabbing, or "hesaidshesaid." Its also the first record we recorded outside of Louisville. We recorded it in Detroit at Rustbelt Studios. It is a really nice recording, probably the best the Glasspack has sounded. It was recorded on two-inch tape, FAT. The guitars sound like angry mosquitos from hell. It also features guests from such bands as Big Chief, Raging Slab, and Monster Magnet. It was originally supposed to be released on Halloween 2003 but Small Stone has aquired a new distribution deal with Nail-Allegro Corp causing every Small Stone release to be backed up till 2004. Our new record will come out probably in march 2004, right around the time we got to the SXSW Festival in Austin, TX.
Where & what studio did the production of "Bridgeburner"take place?
Dirty: We recorded it in Detroit at Rustbelt Studios. It is a really nice recording, probably the best the Glasspack has sounded. It was recorded on two-inch tape, FAT. The guitars sound like angry mosquitos from hell and the drums like thunder. The mixing was done in New Jersey by a guy named Bobby Pantella of Raging Slab and Monster Magnet. I think the mastering and editing will be done in Detroit. the artwork was done by myself, Rico, Digital Joe, and Mike Saputo. It features a 70's Gran Trino burning up the Second ST. Bridge between Louisville and Indiana with a skelton driving.
Tell us about the Glasspack 2003 tour & what towns did you hit ?
Dirty: We have now a booking agent for the USA and he books all the shows, http://AttilaBooking.com. The tour started in Louisville at the Rudyard Kipling on Aug. 30 with Teen Kills Three, the 1.3s, and my new band Dirty Bird (first show) with Leland Thurman, of bmx fame. We then went on to hit New Orleans, Austin, Los Angeles, OKC, San Fran, Denver, Chicago, Detroit, and New York but there were more. We played the CMJ Marathon in Manhattan at CBGBs, that was a dream come true. You can check our website, http://www.theGlasspack.com for the most up to date listings of our shows.
How did you decide on shooting your video @ the Rudyard Kipling? - What is your views on the local music scene & how does The Glasspack fit in?
Dirty: We are practically the house band at the Rudyard Kipling. We love the owner, KEN, and we think he loves us. He has been kind to us and tried to take care of the Louisville rock scene as much as possible. He has even takin care of many out-of-towners. Without the Rudyard Kipling, there would be nothing. My view on the music scene here is not important. Whats important is that everyone try to be kind and support the art of Louisville music, it is plentiful here, it needs to be nurtured. Louisville is a great secret for music.
What's the bands long & short term goals as far as touring, recording, writing ect ?
Dirty: Well, the long term goal is too hard to imagine. The short term goals however are just to spread the word of the Glasspack and INDEPENDENT ROCKNROLL.
What would you say is your biggest gripe about the music industry?
Dirty: EVERYTHING
How did the smallstone deal come about?
Dirty: I sent out a bunch of copies of American Exhaust, originally recorded for the now defunct Mans Ruin, and Small Stone was one of the labels that really liked it and offered a fair square situation. Everything is 50/50 with Small Stone and the Glasspack. What you put in is what you get out. Thats way better than a corporate deal.
Who would you say are some of the better bands of the area?
Dirty: My favorite band of all time from Kentucky is the Hookers. I also like early 90s Louisville metal like Kinghorse and Bush League. As of now, my new band Dirty Bird is pretty good, so we have been told, http://www.theGlasspack.com/DirtyBird. All of our songs are about Zombies, Werewolves, and chicks.
What CD would we find in your disc player at this time ?
Dirty: You would find AC/DC's "Powerage" cassette in my tape player. It is unbelievable. I have listened to it a million times and its still not boring, I also find it hard to take Captain Beefheart's "Clear Spot" out of the tape player.
http://www.theGlasspack.com
Small Stone Recordings
http://www.SmallStone.com
