What was the first song you had to learn to play?

 

Oh Jesus, we're going back a-ways.... my earliest recollection of having to play anything in public involved learning to play The Muppet Show theme & The Pink Panther theme on the piano in front of my elementary school's assembly.  That was a lot of pressure for a shy 12 year-old kid.  But Jim Henson & Henry Mancini would've been proud.

Do you think it influenced how you write music today?

Shit, I wish it were MORE of an influence - I was a pretty good piano player when I was younger.  Then I got lazy, then I wanted to play the drums, then I re-discovered keyboards.  Now reading sheet music is still something I can pull off, but it's much more of a headache.  I'm planning to get back into the art of "playing piano" soon.  I can't play anything popular by ear anymore besides "Frosty The Snowman" & the opening lick to Seger's "Old Time Rock N' Roll."

What is your main source of inspiration for the lyrics you write?

Women.  God love 'em.

Who would be your dream line up to work with?

I'm already playing with 2 monsters in Bumblefoot & Chris Pennie, but if I may fantasize further.....The Edge, Trent Reznor, Mike Patton, Thom Yorke, and Boba Fett.

What projects are in the near future for Q*Ball?

I'm pondering a few new projects - something much more mellow & ambient, mostly instrumental, in the vein of Sigur Ros, Portishead.  Don't know if I'll even call it "Q*Ball."  Also working on the next Return To Earth album - it's MUCH heavier than the first one, which I thought was fairly heavy, itself - we're really coming up with some good shit for this one.  I've dedicated so much time to the label over the past year, but I just acquired a Macbook & a Pro Tools rig at home, and I'm psyched to get back to writing.  Time to scratch that itch again.

Tell us about your most recent release on Bald Freak Music?

We just released Bumblefoot's sixth studio album, Abnormal, on July 1.  We've been absolutely slammed with online orders - his participation in Guns N' Roses, coupled with an already hardcore fanbase, has really put him on the map in the hard rock world.  The label is really small, staff-wise, and we're not as equipped as I'd like to be for a release of this stature, but no one can really complain.  This kind of response is what we've been striving for.  That said, I've had more than a few nervous breakdowns this past month.

What other releases will we be seeing from the label within the year?

New Jersey pirate metallers Swashbuckle will release their second album, "Back To The Noose," in the Fall, and hopefully we'll see the Return To Earth follow-up by year's end, as well.  No timetable for the projects I'm working on in addition, but hopefully soon!

With the popularity of Guitar Hero, have you looked into getting any of your artists to appear on future Guitar Hero or music-related games?

Shit yeah, it's just such a tough nut to crack, tho.  I reached out to Harmonix about getting Bumblefoot on GH2 over a year ago, had a little back-and-forth with them, but the game has gotten so huge over that time, so we were likely steamrolled by the big boys.  The earlier versions were all covers, now everyone's jumping on the bandwagon of that cash cow.  Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.  They're missing out, tho - Guitar Hero without Bumblefoot is like a hot dog without mustard.  The good news is that a new GnR song is making its way onto the next version of Rock Band, so Bumblefoot will get some nice exposure from that.  I haven't played Rock Band yet, myself, but I have all the versions of Guitar Hero - I'm fairly addicted & I've gotten pretty damn good.  Much better at GH than any real guitar...lol.

Since you have a label, a lot of bands must be getting in touch with you... are there any local or unsigned bands do you think are worthy of mentioning? 

I have been getting SO many demos lately - some decent, some not-so-decent.  But that comes with the territory.  One band I stumbled upon recently is a local NYC band called The Head Set - they remind me of old U2, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Bowie.  Real polished sound, the singer has serious chops, and really nice guys, too.  They're the best band you've never heard of, check 'em out.

Any advice for future musicians or people trying to form a label...???

Yeah.  Don't do it....lol.  Get a real job.