Intervju - Michael Thomas, Fastback / Addler´s Appetite What are you up to right now? I am "knee-deep" in press, promotion, and interviews for my new album FASTBACK "The Pain of Beauty". And I love it! I am so excited about the new CD! If you haven't picked up a copy yet then get over to www.michaelthomas19.com or www.fastback19.com and get one! While you're there check out the latest news, pictures, merchandise, tour dates, and new monthly video game where you can compete for the high score to win cool prizes!  Tell us what to know about Fastback and your debut
album "The Pain of Beauty". And don´t leave out the
details about writing and recording the songs.
FASTBACK is a project that I have wanted to do for a while now. It is straight ahead rock'n'roll with no filters and no apologies. It's very guitar driven with big hooks. It's refreshing to me because it's seems like that style of music has been absent in the industry for a long time. I really sunk in and wrote from the gut, not trying to conform to what is trendy or for a radio format. I worked 12 hours a day in the studio, writing and recording, and loved every minute of it. I really wanted to challenge myself in every aspect: guitar, vocals, writing, performing...and at the end of it all I think we even surprised ourselves with the finished product. Some of the songs are aggressive and some are introspective, there is a lot of diversity to the album, but it all is constant and sounds like the same band through out the journey. I say "journey" because you start at one point and end at another, there is a great flow from the first track to the last. Ultimately you want it to jump out of your brain and onto tape exactly as you "envision" it, and between the music, the lyrics, and the art I think we accomplished that task. From start to finish it took about 8 weeks to record. We really pushed ourselves. Most people know us as the guys from this 'band' or that 'band' but since this is our first venture out on our own we really wanted to make a strong album that leaves an impression after each track. How did you hook up with Brian Saunders? And for those who don´t know Brian...tell us what to know about your wingmate! Brian and I first met when we were working with TUFF. Since then I've toured all over the world with Brian in various projects and he was a very natural choice to approach when I wanted to start FASTBACK. When we were off the road we would sit around for fun and play guitar and sing and it became very apparent that there was something there. I had a very strong and clear vision of what I wanted sonically and visually for FASTBACK. I mapped everything out and talked to Brian about it on a plane flight from L.A. to Japan. I knew we had 10 or so hours to kill and that he couldn't escape so it was an opportune time to do it! He was excited about the idea so as soon as both of our other obligations were finished we got down to work. Since I knew where I wanted to take this project I did the bulk of the writing. Brian wrote the bass lines and did the backing vocals. He is extremely talented when it comes to this stuff. If I give him a melody he'll give me and bunch of harmony variations back and that really helps define our sound. It's the combination of playing off our strengths that makes "FASTBACK". We know what works and what doesn't work and we really wanted to stay true to our rock'n'roll roots. I pushed him hard in the studio and he rose to the challenge. He's a great guy and one hell of a musician!  You toured Europe this summer with Adler´s Appetite.
How was that? Tell us all the crazy and juicy details.
Any new favourite country in the former eastern block?
That was a great experience. It was hanging out with a bunch of good friends and playing these killer songs that I grew up on. The crowds were amazing and the places we went to were outrageous. Playing "Welcome to the Jungle" in the middle of Istanbul, Turkey to a packed house of crazy kids was mind blowing. Also, looking over my shoulder every night and seeing Steven behind the drums smiling and playing his heart out was incredibly inspiring. We all had a blast on that tour. I think we spent about 3 days in Budapest, which was a really cool place, so I guess that's a new favorite of mine. There was something special about every place we hit on that tour and I was happy to be a part of the "circus" that rolled from town to town. How could you not have a good time? How is Steven Adler doing these days? Healthy and quit of all his former addictions? Steven is doing great. He is out playing and healthy and loving life! It's one thing to know someone, it's a whole other thing to live and travel with someone for an extended period of time. Based on that experience I truly have to say that he is one of the best guys I've had the pleasure to work with.  Are you planning to come back to Europe and tour with
Fastback? How about Sweden? Ever heard of our
country...if so, what have you heard?
As a matter of fact "YES"! Plans are being made right now. I can't wait to get this band out on the road and do what we do best! The live show is going to hit people like a train that has jumped the tracks, Fast, Loud, and Out of Control! I would love to play in Sweden. I hear you have a lot of beautiful girls there, I may never leave. You´ve toured with quiet a few bands. Give us some fun and crazy tour anecdotes. There have been a lot of great and crazy times, from ENGINES OF AGGRESSION, TUFF, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES to BANG TANGO, ADLER"S APPETITE, and so forth, I could go on and on. Let's see if I can give you guys a new one... There was one time I was on tour with BANG TANGO in Japan and it was towards the end of the tour, my room in the hotel was next door to Joe Lestes'. We had been partying pretty hard the whole trip and having a good time and Joe had a bunch of people in his room. I decided to crawl out of my hotel room window and walk along the ledge to his room window to scare him. When I got to his window he had his back turned to me and I jumped through his open window with a "ROAR'! He flipped out screaming and fell over the bed onto the floor. I scared him pretty good and the whole room erupted in laughter. Brian came running into the room because he heard the scream all the way down the hall. I don't know if Joe has forgiven me for that prank yet. Tell us all there is to know about your own clothingline "Nineteen". It is a "work in progress". The girls stuff is great and you can check it out at www.michaelthomas19.com . The guys stuff is soon to follow. Whenever I get free time a like to work on it, lately though there hasn't been a lot of free time. It's more casual wear, a lot of cool tops, cuts, body styles, and prints. It's very rock'n'roll! Who would feature in your ultimate supergroup line-up? Nigel Tufnel (of Spinal Tap), Jenna Jameson, and Spiderman. It might sound like garbage but could you imagine what it would look like!  Name the 3 highlights and the 3 low points of your
music career? Highlights: 1. First tour of Japan with ENGINES OF AGGRESSION was an amazing experience. 2. Working with Yamaha Guitars and Hughes & Kettner Amps, I'm lucky to have such great guys in my corner. 3. Releasing my new FASTBACK album "The Pain of Beauty". Lowlights: If they happen I'll let you know. Was there anybody in your personal life who influenced you or acted as your mentor in the music area? Actually, there are no musicians in my family at all. I saw KISS on TV at the age of 5 and became obsessed. I had posters, records, pictures, everything KISS all over my room. I knew at a very early age what I wanted to do. There was never a question in my mind. I wanted to do what they did, I wanted to be on stage, the crowds, the show, the fans, and the music was all very intoxicating to a little kid. I was hooked, and that was that. What do you do when you're not playing or writing music? Honestly, that is all I have been doing lately. When I do get free time I am usually doing artwork or something creative. If I don't, I go crazy. I'm one of those people who has to be working on something all the time and if I am not getting out creativity through music, writing, or art then I am miserable. Lately I have been making myself take breaks and do some reading, it's a phase that I go through every couple years. Tell us something nobody knows but only because they havent asked you yet. Something you've always wondered why interviewers never ask. I have been asked everything under the sun, it's hard to think of a question that hasn't popped up. If one comes to mind let me know and I'll be happy to answer any question for you guys, at anytime. Michael Thomas - Official website Fastback - Official website Brian Saunders - Official website
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