Vlads interview

 

 

1. The Vladimirs.  That’s an unusual name.  Where did you guys get your name and is there any significance in it?

(Doug) - I remember when we first started jamming together, not on any
one instrument. But, we said lets start a band that had a Beatles ring to
it. Like the Ramones or something. All of us equal, all of us brothers,
each one a Vladimir..... And the Beatles reference was like Marquis used
to say "Meet the Beatles, well meet the Vladimirs". 

(Marquis) - The name came from Vlad Tepes [Dracula]. It's kind of
silly but still cool. We wanted a plural name like all of the old 50's
and 60's groups.

 

      2. Marquis and Ash, as kids growing up, did you share the same musical  tastes?

 

 

(Ash) - Yeah, we listened to pretty much the same stuff until our
teenage years. At that point we kind of got immersed in different styles.
I didn't get into punk or gothic stuff quite as much as Marquis, although
there were some bands i liked in those styles. I've always been a
metalhead first and foremost. Marq has always liked metal too, just a
little more selective as he got older.

(Marquis) - I was introduced to all kinds of music through Ash and my
older brother Ryan at a very young age. The three of us shared the same
musical tastes, but i think i was a little more influenced by my mother's
old records than they were.

 

3. I once described the Vladmirs’ music as a “goth/punk/metal/hardcore influenced package”.  How would you describe your music?

 

(Doug) - The soundtrack to all of those good times gone bad. I myself,
along with the others, have always been influenced by that raw, call it
violent, or maybe negative vibe that exists in all types of genres. Don't
get me wrong, I love some happy / good feeling type sounds. But, if it's
meant to be bad...it's for me.

(Marquis) - I'd say that's an accurate description. We try to make
our music varied. Hopefully we'll expand on that more.

 

 

 

4. Marquis, Doug, Brian, and Ash; you are all AMAZING musicians.  How long have you been playing your instruments and what got motivated into playing them? 

 

(Ash) - I've been playing drums since '96. I always liked drumming,
but I'm more of a guitar player. I got serious about drums when it became
evident that there was a serious lack of drummers in the area. Somebody
had to do it.

 

(Doug) - Thanks! Fourteen years on and off. I really love to play.
But not so much alone. When playing with these guys it really fuels the
fire to write a song or two. I wish i could write solo, but i only really
come up with an idea, riff, some rant to maybe spark a lyric or
something. I'm not trying hard enough I guess. Results, not
excuses...Right?

(Brian) - Thanks for the compliment. I have been playing guitar for
19 years and this has by far been the best band / group of creative
musicians that i have had the pleasure to work with. And it helps that we
are all long time friends that are as close as brothers. Motivation for
me was my idols in music, too many to list punk, metal, jazz, blues... my
music collection will one day bankrupt me.

 

(Marquis) - Thanks for the compliment, although I believe myself to
be the weakest of the four as far as musicianship goes. Music has always
been a big part of my life. So I suppose it was only natural that i
played sooner or later. I believe I was 11 or 12 when I started playing
guitar and keyboards.

 

 

5. One attribute of your music that I find so appealing is the raw emotion of it.  Of the self titled album, So Fine Concubine, and Night Gallery albums, which album would you say shows the most emotion?

(Doug) - Personally, I would say 'Night Gallery'. Besides the
self-titled and 'So Fine...' cd, we put a lot of emotion (heart, soul,
hang overs, and hate) into this. To me some of the best shit to come out
of Cincinnati. Not to boast, but i have seen some people get their asses
"kicked" to these songs. Besides the "Odds.." album i would say 'Night
Gallery'.

(Brian) - When we finished 'Night Gallery' I thought i could never
have that good of a time making a cd again. I was wrong. The "Odds..." cd
was just as much fun. A total party all the way thru, just putting
EVERYTHING into it. 

 

(Marquis) - I'd say 'Night Gallery'. It's more horror of the mind and
soul than just ghouls and ghosts.

 

 

6. On So Fine Concubine, you covered The Undead’s “Evening of Desire” and Twisted Sister’s “Ride to Live, Live to Ride”.  Any particular reason for choosing those songs?

(Marquis) - They're great songs. I like the Undead alot, but Twisted
Sister holds a special place in my heart. I remember my brother bringing
'Stay Hungry' home and my mom was flipping out over the cover. Good
Times.

 

(Doug) - Well to me, we as individuals all dabble in all types of
music of course. But we all cross paths on favorite bands and songs that
might fit the feeling we want to get across. We all agree on a song that
rocks and make it our own, so to speak.

 

 

7. How did you guys first hear about Antidote Records? 

(Brian) - I heard about Antidote Records thru a good friend of the
band Eric Blair. He knew i was looking for a label to put out the new cd
'The Odds are Against Us' and told me i should try Antidote. He said that
they had a lot of cool stuff going on. He was right.

 

8. Would you say that the upcoming The Odds Are Against Us album is the best Vladimirs release to date?

 

(Marquis) - I hope so.

 

(Doug) - To me, yes. These songs all fit into special places in my
pesonality. Still fresh with emotions, I still feel today. Even though
most of the songs are over a couple of years old. I have to listen to
this album at times. Most of those times, I'm 'run of the mill, buzzed to
kill'. I stay dizzy 'cuz i like it.

 

(Brian) - If the fans love it, i will love it even more. But I think
they will, so "yeah" our best to date.

 

 

 

9. I’ve heard a handful of songs off the upcoming album, and I must say they are my favorites to date.  Two songs in particular “My Love Will Haunt You” and “Obscene Act of Passion” absolutely blow my mind.  Were there any events that brought upon the writing of these songs or were they just part of the normal writing process?

(Marquis) - Imagination mixed with real life experiences. But I'd
rather not go into that.

(Doug) - The wanting, the needing, the longing....the love and the
loss. If you're not having fun, then I'm having a ball. It's what I'm
used to. You have to love yourself to show love. Maybe that's the reason
I'm alone....huh!

(Brian) - I didn't write those songs, but the ones that i did come
from alcohol and too much time on my hands. That's all i need to write my
songs.

 

 

10. If the Vladimirs were playing one last show, who would you want to play with you and why?

(Doug) - WOW! I would have to say a triple threat with us playing
first, like always. Ha,ha! With either Kiss, Black Sabbath, or Led
Zeppelin. I've liked 70's music for a long time. I'd call it the
"Stairway To Heaven-Hallway To My House Tour" Oh Yeah! I'm just ate up
with the dumb ass sometimes.

(Marquis) - My father because he died when i was young, he was a
great musician and song writer.

(Brian) - I would love to play with a band like Rainbow or Deep
Purple. But then throw some awesome hardcore band on the bill like
Uniform Choice. Man that would be great. Can you set that up for us?