A Dirty Dozen with BAD BLOOD – June 2019

According to a recent press release: “Bad Blood, who’s debut record is set for July of 2019 has already been extremely successful in landing several major syncs with their music in commercials and video games with major brands such as Bentley, William Henry Jewelry, and Mutant Football League on Playstation 4 and Xbox. Partnering with new music app Vezt, which allows users to buy in on songwriting and publishing rights, fans will be able to earn royalties and get paid every time they listen and promote their favorite music on social media.” We get the band to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Chris Clemence: We put a lot of work production wise into this, while still trying to keep everything raw as possible. Not too many tricks up our sleeves, just tried to write the best songs we could and play em as loud as possible.

Chris Iorio: I would say this record is a pure Rock n Roll album full of big riffs and soaring choruses. We want to get people amped up and moving. As far as hidden nuggets, we threw in some very cool production sounds in some of the songs that would normally be in movie scores so that’s pretty cool.

Kenny Borill: This record is a musical score for life.  The listeners may not catch some of sounds we added to make each song bigger than it already is because out the gate these songs are huge.

Chad Cherry: This album will fire up the listener. These songs pump you up and get you ready for battle. Everything is pretty catchy so I doubt the listener won’t be able to grab on to ‘em. And yes, there are definitely subliminal messages though out this entire record that might possibly influence you to worship Chad Cherry.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Chad Cherry: I was a weird misfit kid… hated school and authority… discovered punk rock and picked up a bass guitar… started a band because living in the middle of nowhere was boring. Yep, that was me. Playing music was the biggest form of a middle finger I could project.

Chris Iorio: I’ve been around music since a very young age. What got me into playing was when I saw my Dad jamming on his old acoustic when I was around 8 years old. I asked him to teach me how to play. As soon as I picked it up, I instantly fell in love, and the rest is history.

Kenny Borill:  My family has a great musical background. Growing up in Louisiana music is a huge part of the Cajun tradition.  My mother got me my first drum set in my early teens and I can’t thank her enough for that gift.  My cousin taught me the ropes of drumming on a set.  And seeing the success of my uncle (Doug Kershaw The Louisiana Man) made me believe it was possible.

Chris Clemence: I kind of stumbled into it. I didn’t even know was a bass was but I knew it looked cool and I had to play it. The rest is history.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Chad Cherry: There’s too many artists to name that influence me. To be vague, classic rock-n-roll music, heavy metal, punk rock, goth rock, synthwave, horror movie soundtracks. I enjoy all that stuff. I think John Carpenter rules.

Chris Clemence: I grew up with the punk energy and mentality. Loved Cro Mags, Sex Pistols. Play every note like its your last. Rock out the hardest you can. Beat the fuck out of your instrument. But I also loved mainstream rock and pop with huge sing along choruses. I still have that mentality today and I think it comes across in our music.

Chris Iorio: That’s a very tough question since I have multiple favorites, but I would say overall CORE by Stone Temple Pilots had a really significant impact on me.

Kenny Borill: Oh yes, Nazareth, “Hair Of The Dog.”

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Chris Iorio: Stone Temple Pilots, Guns N‘ Roses, Avenged Sevenfold, Mötley Crüe, and System of a Down.

Chad Cherry: Alice Cooper, Black Flag, The Stooges, Black Sabbath, and The Ramones.

Kenny Borill: Randy Cooke – one of my favorite drummers, Scott Weiland, Beastie Boys, Rage Against The Machine, and Led Zeppelin.

Chris Clemence: Jimi Hendrix, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cro-Mags, U2, and Foo Fighters.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Chris Clemence: I’ve actually been fortunate to collaborate with a bunch of my biggest heroes already, Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Harley Flanagan from Cro-Mags, Nick Hexum from 311, DH Peligro from Dead Kennedys, the list goes on! But I think it would be super cool to do something with Don Henley from the Eagles. Amazing songwriter.

Chris Iorio: Dave Grohl would be awesome to work with! Seems like a awesome dude, and in my opinion he’s one of the best songwriters in rock.

Chad Cherry: If you have Jack Whites digits I’ll call him right now. We’re both from Michigan. Might be cool.

Kenny Borill: Beastie Boys.  Because the Beastie Boys are f’in epic!

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Chad Cherry: Bad Blood is heavy ass Rock n Roll. Not necessarily in an agro way but more in a motivational way. It’s perfect music for action films. It stokes you up, makes you want to kick some serious ass in life. And as for terrible comparisons, I’ve heard them all. But I really don’t think I sound anything like Plácido Domingo.

Kenny Borill: This music is written to get a crowd moving and chanting.

Chris Iorio: I would describe it as good old fashioned rock n roll with a stadium, arena feel to it. There’s soaring vocals and guitars coupled with thunderous drums and bass that will get even the most finicky of rock fans nodding there head or tapping their foot. I’ve heard a Mötley Crüe comparison so far, but I have a hard time seeing how that’s a bad thing.

Chris Clemence: I’d just crank it and let em decide for themselves.

7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Chris Clemence: I think the most amazing thing is writing and creating a song that resonates with people. No greater feeling than having a stadium full of people sing along to something you wrote.

Chris Iorio: Performing on stage and recording in the studio. Performing, because there’s no other high like it, and the studio because it’s such a magical feeling creating your own music and seeing it come to life.

Kenny Borill: The freedom to say and do what you want.  Working with talented people.  You never stop learning and growing.

Chad Cherry: Having rhythm.

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Chris Iorio: We’re usually doing some combo of those 3 when we all get together haha! We’re usually at the bar or getting tacos. But I’d say Chris (Clemence) is the best cook even though I haven’t had Chad or Kenny’s cooking yet. I can make a mean pasta! Other than that we all bring the drinks and I’d say Kenny is the most likely candidate to break out in song.

Chris Clemence: We all definitely spend some time at the bar haha.

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

Chad Cherry: I got to meet Grumpy Cat once. I was so flustered I didn’t really know what to say.

Chris Clemence: I’m jealous of Grumpy cat! Last time I got starstruck was when I met the Ninja Turtles at 4 years old at Disney Land. Leonardo gave me a high five and I’ve never felt cooler.

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

Chad Cherry: Would be pretty sweet to work at Area 51.

Chris Clemence: I’d be a professional alien there.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Chad Cherry: No way. Everything happens for a reason. Life is gonna do whatever it wants to you but you can obviously guide your ‘destiny’ as much as possible. You have to eat shit and make mistakes to figure out what the hell you’re doing.

Kenny Borill: I wouldn’t change one thing is made who I am today.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Chad Cherry: Recording sessions with The Rolling Stones for every record they’ve ever done. Because they are best of the best. Is that asking too much? Actually screw that…if I could go back in time I would start placing bets on sporting events.

Chris Iorio: I could also give you a few answers for this one haha but if I had one I would say Appetite for Destruction by Guns N Roses. I’ve heard so many wild stories about the making of that album and it’s one of the most complete rock albums ever written.

Chris Clemence: Would be awesome to drop some acid with the Beatles and rock some bass with McCartney.

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Category: Interviews