Hard Talk

Here's a Ball-Bustin interview with RJ Blaze; lead singer of Perris Records artist Mother Mercy & Jugulur (one of LA's hottest new Metal acts)

by Jym Harris

Jym : Blaze, tell us about the Mother Mercy CD recently released on Perris Records.

Blaze: I was contacted by Tom Mathers after one of his A&R staff recommended us to press Dancing With The Devil under the Perris Records Label. We worked with Tom before distributing the First Album "Love At First Bite", and he has a great reputation for longevity and professionalism. After emails and phone calls with former Mother Mercy recorded members on this album we finally came to a mutual agreement with Perris Records to release the bane of our existance..The Album that took us 4 years to complete...

Jym : What happened to the first album? Is it still available?

Blaze: Since it is still in demand, and the limited amount for Pressing we did, It has become a huge collectors item. I have seen it go for over $50.00 on Auction Services..You can still get it at amazon.com for $31+.That is the only place I know where to find it. The sad thing is I don't currently own a copy of my first Album...

Jym : So Mother Mercy is no longer together. What happened?

Blaze: We basicly grew apart from each other, My personal writing style was changing to more aggressive as you can hear in the riffs and lyrics for Kicking N Screaming and Mercy Killing on DWTD. I wanted to evolve into another form, and some chose not to change.. It was difficult to keep a band together when there was a force the kept pressing us down in one way or another not to be successful in the music we loved to play..Recently Mother Mercy is getting even more attention then I imagined from all over the world and Hollywood. The Rainbow Bar N Grill. hangout for G'nR, RATT, Crue, LA Guns is now playing Mother Mercy's "Dancing With The Devil" and "Creatures of The Night" on the Dance floor on Saturday nights! We have reached immortality as one of legendary Hollywood bands.

Jym : Following your departure, you joined the band Jugulur. How did that come about?

Blaze: I was recommended by my former Guitarist and Writing partner John Leighton (a.k.a MM/Hades Inferno Johhny Sicx) current in the Queensryche tribute band Prophecy, to check out this band who need a lead singer that a had a great music and huge crediblity with Industry..I tried out and went back 3 times..Finally I was chosen as the New Singer for Jugulur. I dropped my first name and went with my last name. Blaze, Monster, Ash, Crum. I agreed to become exclusive to Jugulur, and retired the current Mother Mercy to work on all the material I had to learn..I know over 23 songs, plus I have contributed to 3 new ones that we have written together as a team. The members are some of the best players an showmen I have worked with to date in my career. Plus we are Endorsed by huge Companies and People. George Barris creator of the Batmobile, Munster's Koach has named us his new Hot Rod Hearse "The Kargoyle" the Official Jugulur Hearse!! Which means you will see it outside our major shows. check it out at www.jugulur.com. We also have a full endorsement with Dragonfly Clothing, Carvin, Samick and Silvertone, Marshall, GHS/Rocktron and many more. You can go to the endorsers page at the above site to see them all!!

Jym: Are you still working with the female Iron Maiden tribute band?

Blaze: No, I have no time for that now, Jugulur is a full time job.

Jym: Didn't you also sing for a Def Leppard tribute band?

Blaze: Yes, I was one of the founding members of Pyromania, and later Hystoria..I did that for a year and had success with it, but it wasn't creative or rewarding enough.

Jym: Well it's great to see you've moved on to bigger & better things. Everyone should check Jugulur when they can.