Black
Velvet: So... Trash Light Vision. when did you first have the vision
for this new band?
Acey Slade: I had been thinking about it when I was on tour with the
'dolls. We all knew that there was going to be a time when we would
have to return Joey to Slipknot, otherwise eight 250lb guys in masks
would come knockin' on our bus door. I've been fortunate enough to meet
some amazing people and be in some insane positions. All this makes
for good songs, but not necessarily Murderdolls songs. I haven't sang,
written, or had the idea for doing my own band in a long time so I've
had lots of ideas kicking around in notebooks, on coffee napkins and
gum wrappers for a long time.
BV:
Who's in the band, where did you find them and why did you choose them?
AS: Steve Haley is the guitarist. We quit doing drugs together and he
can hang pictures on his cheekbones. He also has a '69 Les Paul Custom
because 'Mick Ronson had one'. Roger 'Rags' Segal was my first roommate.
We used to sell clothing to strippers together by day, and sneak into
bars at night (we were under 21) to see bands play. Len Thomas is the
drummer. He played with Rags in his old band and was part of the package.
BV:
I guess Trash Light Vision will be just a side project while nothing's
going on in the Murderdolls camp. How do your Trash Light Vision bandmembers
see that? Do they have other 'jobs' that they'll go back to when you
go back to Murderdolls?
AS: Well... Murderdolls could get together in 2 weeks or 2 years. I
know we will do another album. But, this is my priority right now. The
guys in TLV are not too worried about it. They were cool when I had
to fill in for Rich Jones on the recent Amen tour. Right now we are
all just happy eating peanut butter and jelly and playing music all
night... haha. Going into this, they knew that I could be 're-activated'
for the Dolls anytime. I think that makes it easier. Plus they know
this is where my heart is at right now.
BV:
Obviously the band is in some way different to Murderdolls and has been
quoted as mixing 'diverse musical influences from Refused and Ramones
to David Bowie and Guns N' Roses'. But for someone who's not heard you
yet, what do you actually sound like - and how did you come up with
that sound?
AS: Well
I don't know. I just listen to a lot of different stuff
and write whatever pops out. I mean, to me, it's the whole 'originality
is boring' thing. I just play rock 'n' roll. But if you need a comparison,
it's like this, if the Murderdolls are Mötley Crüe, than TLV
is Guns N' Roses.
BV:
Would you say you play a different character to that which you are in
Murderdolls? Of course you're now on lead vocals, which means that's
a change, but personality-wise, looks-wise, is the Acey Slade of Trash
Light Vision much different to the Acey Slade of Murderdolls?
AS: Yeah... I'm still kinda working that out. I've been a side-man for
so long, I have to say this is a bit of soul searching. In Murderdolls,
we take great pride in being a fun band that doesn't take themselves
seriously. With TLV, I wanted it to be more real
but still entertaining.
BV:
In Murderdolls, Wednesday had his little novelty bit of brushing his
teeth. Is there any novelty aspect of Trash Light Vision? So would you
say it's more serious or is it still fun too? What do YOU get out of
Trash Light Vision?
AS: That's just it. With this, there is no gimic. It's four guys playing
rock 'n' roll. It's so cliché but nobody DOES cliché anymore.
Whether it's the White Stripes with their one guy and one girl two-piece
thing or Staind with their 'problems with life' thing. We are the new
cliché. Three chords and a cloud of dust played by guys who look
cool. Period.
BV:
Did you write all the Trash Light Vision songs by yourself? How and
when do you find it easiest to write songs?
AS: Yes, I have written all the lyrics. The music is about 85% mine
at this point, but we will see what happens in the future. I play with
guys who all like the same music as each other, so why wouldn't I utilise
them? I find it best to get the initial idea when I'm in motion of some
kind. Whether it's a guitar riff in my head on the subway or meeting
some weirdo on tour. I then put the monster together in my apartment
in NYC. Mostly at night, for the creative end, but for recording I like
to do it during the day when I'm more focused. I think I get less focused
and more creative as the day goes on.
BV:
Do you have a favourite song that you've written? Which one means the
most?
AS: Well, some of my favourite stuff I haven't played for anyone because
it's for me. I always write about 'real' stuff and I think there are
some things I don't want people do know. And that's why I'm too insecure
to play it for anyone.
BV:
Can you tell me about the subject matter of some of the songs?
AS: Well the weirdest one I wrote about my ex-girlfriend at my funeral.
It was a metaphor to the ending of our relationship. I found out later
that she tried to kill herself the day I wrote it. But that's an example
of one that will stay put away forever, but you don't want to know about
songs that you WON'T HEAR huh, haha... I'll give you examples: 'Black
Apples' it's about knowing the seven deadly sins - that they are bad
for you - and not giving a fuck. 'Chemical Girl' is about a girl I met
whose parents have been feeding her hormones since she was eight. 'You
Wanna Be Just Like Me' is about the irony that we (myself, my friends,
fans of music) may look weird, but I can assure you that there are more
fucked up people that look VERY normal. 'If You Come Home With Me' is
about waking up in a tub of ice with your kidneys gone.
BV:
Those songs sound interesting - especially the one about the girl who's
been fed hormones since the age of eight... and the one about waking
up in a tub of ice with your kidneys gone. The last one sounds like
it could be a Murderdolls song - a kind of gory horror thing.
AS: Haha, yeah, kinda. I mean, it's still in me. I'm a Murderdoll through
and through. But last night someone said one of our songs sounded very
Manics. Yeah! I think it may have been our cover of 'Me And My Shadow'
but I'm not sure.
BV:
Do you think your music and live show has the power to attract new fans
other than the Murderdolls fans that you already have?
AS: It's different. This is more punky and rock, less metal. I wanted
to make sure that it was different. I would rather lose fans for TLV
because it's different from the Murderdolls than because it's a second
rate Murderdolls and that would have been the easiest thing to do. To
me The Murderdolls were special because we helped people laugh at their
crappy life. I think TLV is something people can relate to on a personal
level. And THAT can help get them though their crappy day too!
BV:
You're touring the UK with AntiProduct. I know AntiProduct supported
Murderdolls before. Did you become good friends then and keep in touch?
How did you set this tour up?
AS: Oh yeah, Alex and the whole band are just good people. I like to
keep relationships. The agent for the tour is a guy I met on the Hanoi
Rocks tour. AntiProduct are old friends and that's good enough for me.
I prefer to work with people that I think have good hearts.
BV:
You did some Philadelphia shows before the UK tour. Were those the first
ever shows for Trash Light Vision? You were born outside of Philadelphia.
Do you have a lot of friends and relatives that come to the local shows?
AS: I am staying in Philly at the moment, sleeping in our rehearsal
place. This is where Rags, Len and Steve live and yeah, where I became
friends with them when I was younger. We wanted to do a bunch of shows
out side of New York City before we hit the Big Apple. Philly audiences
are very, very tough. So where better a place to cut your teeth.
BV:
What ambitions do you have for Trash Light Vision? Is there anything
you want to achieve that you've not yet achieved with Murderdolls or
any of your previous projects?
AS: I'm back at square one in some ways. Four guys starving to play
music for a living. At this point all I care about is having the privilege
to play music for a living. I don't care about gold albums or owning
a Starbucks (we'll wait. haha). Every time I have ever put my ass on
a tour bus, I am always grateful to the universe for putting it there.
I hope it happens again with TLV.
BV:
So you're a big Manic Street Preachers fan. Metal Edge once asked you
'If you could have the answer to any one question, what would it be?
You replied 'Richey James Edwards - where are you, and why?' You were
also asked by Roo Music, 'who would you love to jam with most in the
whole world?' and your reply was 'Richey James Edwards'. How did you
get into the Manics originally?
AS: When 'Generation Terrorists' came out it was what I was looking
for but didn't know it. It was glam that had a reason and made a statement.
It was intelligent sleazy rock 'n' roll. That's what I hope TLV would
be preceived as... only more sleazy... haha.
BV:
Did you ever see them?
AS: At the HMV instore they did about a year ago. It was like watching
your dad play with his work buddies unfortunately... haha But the songs
still mean the world to me.
BV:
Why do you want to jam with Richey more than anyone else? What has he
got that no other musician has?
AS: I can very much relate to the fact that he just felt lost in this
world. I never feel like I fit in, unless I'm playing. I know that I'm
not an amazing guitarist, but I won't let that stop me from being a
rock star. It didn't stop him, so I can REALLY relate to that.
BV:
Have you ever felt like running away and disappearing like Richey?
AS: I have to give two answers to that. 1. I don't think he is dead,
and it wouldn't surprise me if people knew his whereabouts. 2. I wouldn't
want to disappear because no matter where you go, you're still stuck
with yourself. But I do think about dying every day.
BV:
What if you were running away from a situation - not necessarily yourself?
Maybe if you're in a bad situation at home then running away to a completely
different place or getting out of the limelight like Richey did (if
he did run away) would make things a lot better. Not that I'm condoning
running away, but you know what I mean...
AS: That's true in those cases. I'm talking more about depression or
drug addiction. Lots of alcoholics or abused women move to a new State
just to end up in a new bar or a new abusive relationship. As for Richey,
I believe that in theory, he had 'cleaned up and was doing well' right
before he disappeared. I would like to think that he was just over being
a star, but was smart enough to know that the best way to be the biggest
star is to have a tragic ending.
BV:
What are your three favourite Manics songs?
AS: 'Motorcycle Emptiness', 'Ain't Goin' Down' (off the Slash N' Burn
single) 'Little Baby Nothing'.... and... the entire 'Holy Bible' album.
I know, it's more than three... but can you blame me?
BV:
Finally describe yourself in five words, then describe Trash Light Vision
in five DIFFERENT words, then describe Murderdolls in five more DIFFERENT
words.
AS: Me - Misunderstood, Confused, Entertaining, Mischievous, Honest.
TLV - Greatest Rock Band Never Heard. Haha. Murderdolls - Missed, Disastrous,
Fun, Dangerous, Inconsiderate. Haha.
Visit www.trashlightvision.com for more information on Acey's band and www.aceyslade.com for info on the man himself.
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