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Bobby Rock (ex-Vinnie Vincent
Invasion drummer) |
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Bobby Rock is your real name?
Bobby Rock:
It is now.
Can you give us date and place you was
born?
Bobby Rock:
July 13, Livermore, California (near Oakland)
Where are you living now?
Bobby Rock:
Marina del Rey, California
Are you a millionaire?
Bobby Rock:
"Uncle Sam" seems to think so!
Do you have some Russian friends?
Bobby Rock:
Yes.
When you start drum for the first time and
when you decide to be a drummer?
Bobby Rock:
10 years old.
Can you describe your style of drumming?
Bobby Rock:
Arena rock oriented with progressive fusion, funk. Latin, rudimental and
jazz influences.
Can you play on other instruments?
Bobby Rock:
No.
Do you have some hobbies except for the
drumming\music?
Bobby Rock:
Everything I do in my career, doubles as a hobby! I love to hit the drums,
read, write, meditate, go to the gym and practice martial arts, among other
things.
Do you have some professional problems to
be a drummer?
Bobby Rock:
Not at all.
Who is from modern drummers in your opinion
more creative, strong and powerful, the real future?
Bobby Rock:
That's hard to narrow down, since there are a lot of great new players. But
I still listen to the "old" guys just as much...
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Bobby
Rock in Vinnie Vincent Invasion |
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Can you tell us exactly dates you was in
Vinnie Vincent band, when you in and when you out?
Bobby Rock: I
joined on October 1, 1985. The band broke up around October 1, 1988. Exactly
three years.
How it happens
you get in Vinnie Vincent Band?
Bobby Rock:
While on the road down in Texas, I had heard that Vinnie had left KISS
and was auditioning drummers in LA. So I got the number of his right hand
man (Dana Strum) from someone I knew, called Dana and talked my way into an
audition.
What it was like working with Vinnie
Vincent?
Bobby Rock:
Like the Zeppelin song says, "Good Times, Bad Times." Overall, it was a
great experience, during one of the most exciting times to be in the
business at that level. I endured a career's worth of craziness in that
situation, let me tell you...
When you last time meet Vinnie Vincent?
Bobby Rock:
I'm not sure... it has
literally been years.
Who are design LP
covers for Vinnie Vincent Invasion?
Bobby Rock:
Can't remember. The label took care of all that.
What the real name for the band, Vinnie
Vincent Invasion or just Invasion?
Bobby Rock:
Vinnie Vincent Invasion.
Can you tell us when Vinnie Vincent band
out of music scene and when and why you understand it is the end?
Bobby Rock:
We all knew it was coming to a close during our last tour together in '88.
There were a lot of misunderstandings between us and, perhaps most
importantly, a fundamental difference in the direction we were all headed in
musically. Plus, we were like the ultimate dysfunctional family. Our
communication skills together were pitiful. Also, some of the prospective
new managers that were circling around the organization back then were like
double-talking divorce attorneys, and that really muddied the waters even
further. It was, as we say here in America, a clusterfuck.
Do you have any
plans for KISS\Vinnie Vincent related projects in
the future?
Bobby Rock:
None that I know of.
With growing interest in KISS
today, why don't you write some kind of book "My
years in Vinnie Vincent Band" or so?
Bobby Rock:
Actually, I've been accumulating a ton of material for a future book that
has a lot of memoirs and journal entries about a lot of my
experiences...including from the VVI days. It's a pretty interesting read so
far. But whether I ever release it or not is another story.
Do you have some exclusive unpublished
photos from V.V.I. days?
Bobby Rock:
Yes, but none that I could show in public!
Nelson was commercial success for you, but
why Nelson is break up? Why they take you in the band?
Bobby Rock:
The band never officially broke up...it just kind of faded away over the
course of working on our second record. There were a lot of difficult issues
goin' down with the brothers and the label and, as things dragged on and on,
everyone else just kind of got involved with other things.
I was wondering when I saw you at Nelson
posters appears in Russia. Were wondering your friends and fans to know you
are in pop band after years of drumming in rock band?
Bobby Rock:
Although the band was always marketed as a pop/rock band, anyone who ever
saw the band live never questioned my involvement. I've always maintained,
it was an extraordinary live act, and we all got plenty of room to stretch
out. Plus, my criteria for working with someone has always been more about
how good it is, for what it is, versus how heavy it is.
Did you meet some KISS
drummers like Peter Criss, Eric Carr or Eric Singer? Who is the best in your
opinion?
Bobby Rock:
Yes, I've had the pleasure of meeting them all. They each have their own
style, although Eric Singer is probably the best, technically. But there's
no telling how Eric Carr would be playing nowadays, if he were still
around...rest his soul.
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Peter Criss with Bobby Rock,
somewhere in Vinnie Vincent Invasion time |
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I saw a picture of you with Peter Criss,
can you tell us where and how this picture was made?
I saw that picture, too. I have no idea when
or where it was taken!
How it happens you meet with Peter Criss
then?
I've met him on several occasions, but I'm not
sure about that particular time.
I heard you play with Slaughter last year?
Do you play some Vinnie Vincent era material on concerts?
No.
Can you name all your solo albums in order
they appear with year of release?
Bobby Rock:
"Debut" EP - 1994,
"Out of Body" - 1996,
"Snap, Crackle And
Pop...Live!" - 1998, "Groovin'
In Tongues" (EP re-release) - 2000
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Carnival Of Souls, a new band with
Bobby Rock on drums |
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Your new Band called "Carnival
Of Souls", why? Is this brand new band?
Bobby Rock:
Yes, it's a new band. Bandleader/bassist Gene Hunter named it after the
classic cult horror film.
When I saw at your new band
"Carnival Of Souls"
pictures it remain to me early Judas Priest. What about music, what kind of
it?
Bobby Rock:
Yeah, at a glance, it has some of those classic metal elements. But the best
description of the music would be, modern day arena rock. It's a perfect
hybrid of old school hard rock and metal with modern day aggressiveness and
production. We have a great front man in Lee Cee, the band is very
theatrical and everyone can really play...so "Carnival
Of Souls" ("COS")
absolutely crushes live. Can't wait to get out there and tour with these
guys.
What on you planning right now?
Bobby Rock:
Just focusing on work with "COS".
The CD is finished and we have two videos completed. You can preview
everything at
www.carnivalofsoulsonline.com. Now we're just getting all of our
business stuff in place. I'm also finishing up a few new books and working
on a few other musical things. It's a full plate right now.
And please tell the last words to Russian
fans.
Bobby Rock:
Can't wait to play for you guys SOON! |
