| 1979 released MCA your first album, "Love's So
Tough". When you were a kid, to what kind of music were you listen to? When did you
start playing in bands? How did you get the deal with MCA back then? |
When I was a kid, I listened to everything I could get my hands
on. From Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis to Motown, Stax, blues, rhythm and
blues, Dylan, Stones, Beatles, everyone. I grew up in a musical family and have played
instruments all my life. I picked up a guitar when I was sixteen and have been playing in
bands ever since. I took a break for 2 years when I went to college but have been playing
for about 30 years. Art Nardini and I started a band in the late seventies and we began
recording demos. We were signed by Cleveland International who were working Meat
Loaf’s "Bat Out Of Hell" at the time. They, in turn, signed us to MCA and
"Love’s So Tough" was released in 1979. |
| Between 1979 and 1983, you released 4 great albums on MCA.
Your band was called The Iron City Houserockers. What happened after your 4th album on
MCA? In 1984, you released just one single. Your next album, "Rock And Real",
came out in 1989! That's a long time with nothing going on! "Rock And Real" came
out on Rounder Records and the name of the band changed to just "The
Houserockers". Why? Did you play between 1984 and 1989? |
After the Iron City Houserockers 4th album
"Cracking Under Pressure", we we're dropped several weeks after the album was
released. The band was shattered and we played on for about six months before finally
giving up the ghost in June of 1984. I had cut a single in the meantime as Joe Grushecky
and the Buck Alley Band. (Hey, it seemed like a good idea at the time). Art and I hired a
band which included Joffo and we went out and played for about 3 years almost getting a
record deal. Looking back, the music was pretty bad. I was denying my roots and my past.
All of the band quit except Joffo and Art. Billy joined and Joe was the sound man. We got
back to basics. I started writing good songs again and we got signed to Rounder in 1987.
We kept the Houserocker name on a suggestion from Rounder because it linked us to our past
and nobody knew my name. |
In 1988, you joined Bruce Springsteen on
stage when he played during his "Tunnel Of Love Express - Tour" in Pittsburgh.
Was that the first time you played with him? Did this open new doors for you? |
The first time I played with Bruce was at
Clarence’s Club, Big Man’s West, on the Jersey shore in 1982. We jammed during
the "Born In The USA - Tour" at the Secade in Pittsburgh. I later played
"Raise Your Hand" with the E Street Band and also played with the Lucky Town
Band. None of these gigs had any impact on my career. Bruce and I started working
on "American Babylon" and have played together many times since. The
"American Babylon" project exposed me to a lot of new people. |
You released two albums on Rounder, the
already mentioned "Rock And Real" and in 1990, "Swimming With The
Sharks". 1991 was off and then you released "End Of The Century" in 1992 on
Razor And Tie. Another new deal with a new label. Why? |
Labels come and go. The music remains. Music
companies are generally the enemy of the musician |
| You had great reviews in Rolling Stone magazine all the time.
I think in the 80s, your band was voted as Americas best bar band! "End Of The
Century" is another great album, you joined Springsteen again on stage in 1992 - but
you never came over to Europe. Why? |
We never played Europe because our
records weren’t released or promoted there. We have a big band and it's very
expensive for us to come to Europe. Without some type of support, it was impossible. |
Europe had to wait 'til 1995. How did you
like to play in Europe? Was it different than in the States? How was the audience? |
I loved playing in Europe. The audiences were
very respectful of American music. In the states, roots music is taken for granted at
times. |
| You already played the Albani in Winterthur in 1995. This was
the first time I saw you. I remember that night so good. It was one of the most powerful
nights I ever had in a club. Straight bar Rock'n'Roll. Was I very lucky that night or are
all your gigs so incredible powerful? Pumping Iron, Sweating Steel, right? |
We always try to give every gig everything
we’ve got. The band always plays hard no matter of there are ten people or a
thousand. A really great gig though depends on the audience. There must be give and take
for the band to soar, sort of like a love affair. We connected with the people at the
Albani. |
What Do you feel on stage? |
I feel the music, the ibt and flow of
life, the good times and some times the bad. |
What is your motivation to go out on stage
every night? From where do you get the motivation? |
I love to play music. I love to create music.
It’s my art form. It’s how I communicate with the world. I feel lucky that I am
still able to play it. |