A Dirty Dozen with KURT DEIMER – April 2022

Photo credit: Andy Woodall

According to a recent press release: “Kurt Deimer has come a long way in less than six months. After joining forces with Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X and recording his debut EP Work Hard, Rock Hard with Grammy-award winning engineer Chris Lord-Alge, he opened for Geoff Tate on the former Queensrÿche frontman’s U.S. tour last fall. Now, after being a featured member of the Stowaways on the Shiprocked cruise this January and performing alongside artists including Nita Strauss, Bumblefoot, P.O.D.’s Sonny Sandoval and Bad Brains’ HR, he’s set to be direct support for Yngwie Malmsteen on the guitar legend’s upcoming North American tour (see tour dates below).” We get Kurt to discuss new music, influences, and 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 you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Great Question. I write all my lyrics from things I have experienced in my life. Instead of going to therapy I write literally things in a way where the listener can take my lyrics and interpret them in a way that may apply to something going on in their life.  Kind of like a motivational speaker but in a rock and roll format/presentation.  For instance, “Naive” about watching everything around you, unfortunately there are people around all of us who just want to take advantage of us. Believe me, I could tell you some stories!!  “Only Time Will Tell” has a hidden meaning: live your life, do what your heart and soul want to do, take the chance.  Live life to its fullest because Only Time will tell what is going to happen. “Back Of The School ” about internet bullying, even though we reference how back in the day we just fought in the back of the school, now people hide behind their computer keyboards and are mean and bully others like cowards.  “Whatcha Sayin” the world is going to hell, all our traditions and values are eroding. What is our higher being, whoever that may be for an individual trying to say to us? Try to take the positive and filter the negativity that surrounds us and treat others with dignity and love and respect.  “Burn Together” the demise of the family unit and the effects it is having on society.  “Ease It In” though the title has sexual connotations the song speaks about figuring shit out, take your time, don’t panic, be at ease.  You meet a partner you like, take your time, learn, love, no force, ease it in.   As far as hidden Nuggets, I try to be very direct and present my music the same as you would hear it on the album.  I would say the hidden nugget is the EP Work Hard Rock Hard that millions of people have not heard yet. Once you hear it, you’re hooked and if not that’s ok too thanks for giving it a try. Kurt Deimer is the hidden nugget the world needs to discover, and with kind folks like yourselves spreading the word it will grow. Our music rocks in our own style, people just need to find us, Kurt Deimer and all our music and much more coming is the hidden nugget.

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

My parents started me in piano at a young age and I always was a percussionist and played the drums.  My father sang baritone every week in the church choir wherever we lived, and my sister who passed from ovarian cancer in 2013 (lfoundation.com) was a beautiful vocalist and thespian. I was the guy nobody ever thought could do this. I went to my first concert which was Jackson Browne, and watched the stadium come alive, then the Charlie Daniels band, then all of sudden Iron Maiden, UFO, Triumph, Judas Priest, etc. and I loved it. I said to my young brain if I can figure this out and be able to survive the climb, I want to be a rock star.  Fast forward from the late 70’s early 80’s to 2017.  I went to do a cameo appearance in the movie Trading Paint starring John Travolta and Shaina Twain.  The casting director liked my look and offered me a speaking role as track announcer, so next thing you know out of nowhere I’m planning my scene with John fucking Travolta and Shaina Twain and doing the scene with Toby Sebastian from Game of Thrones, that night in September of 2017 I knew that was my sign to now act and start my music career.  Next thing you know I’m in the 2018 movie Halloween as the murdered Gas Teller with Jamie Lee Curtis, crazy!! Then I started writing music in 2018 and here I am.

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

AC/DC Highway to Hell album because Bon Scott had a unique voice and they rocked, and that album is killer top to bottom. Their tour I saw, Hell Bells, was amazing, their energy and their performance. They were unique, and Kurt Deimer and our sound is unique and one day when we become headliners our shows will be some of the most epic anyone has ever seen because I’m an actor too and I have a vision to have rock and roll spectacles that will blow your mind.  I might add seeing Ozzy with Randy Rhoads before he passed was epic and made me want to do what they were doing at a young age as well.  Epic.

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

Two answers – I wish I could have done a collaboration with Johnny Cash. He has a deep voice like mine and was so cool.  His cover of “Hurt” was killer, it would have been an honor to do a song with him. Classic song writer and artist. In today’s world, believe it or not I want very badly to do a collaboration with Kelly Clarkson, she has a beautiful voice and seems like a very kind person. We have similarities in that we have both been through hurtful divorces and were taken advantage of and I would be honored to have her collab on a song or two I have written that needs a female voice.  I want to collaborate with her to honor my sister’s memory as well, and Kelly feels like that artist who could bring the songs I speak of alive and honor her memory.  Kelly will be rockin’ I’ll tell you that if I get lucky enough to collaborate with her.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

Very easy answer, spend time with my three sons Cullen, Luke, and Will and watch them grow as young men and be there for them all the time. I also like to chill with my German Shepherds Jax and Taco, my fainting goat Ruthie, my other dogs Tig and Hank and my cats Simon and Flynn.  I write lyrics to relax as well, all my lyrics come from chill time with myself.

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?

Bringing back the good old rock and roll in our own style like Van Halen did, like AC/DC did, etc.  Our own vibe, our own message, our own style, just rocking the fuck out.  Like I always say not everyone likes the same music, and if you give us a try thanks, but if you don’t like it why do you have to tell me I suck, or this shit sucks, or terrible, etc.  There are a lot of jealous, mean, nasty people on the internet. I am a positive, loving and caring person, so I wish if someone did not like my style great, move on in kindness, no need to say mean things, you don’t even know me or what I’m , I don’t like a lot of music out there but I move on in kindness and appreciate the effort and creativity (hence why I wrote, “Back Of The School”).

Photo credit: Andy Woodall

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

Cristian Sturba, my bass player, makes little creations for us, but it is definitely not cooking. We eat out on the road, and I like to treat and buy the meal for my band anytime I can because they are my family, and we are very tight, and I appreciate and love them all as brothers.  My IPAs are procured by my tour manager, front of house, hard working mother fucker Kyle Gerhart. he makes sure bus is always stocked.  Phil X always pulls out the acoustic and or electric and is always playing in the back of the bus!!!! We wrote a song coming out on our next album called “Look” on our last tour on the bus.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I really do not get starstruck because I know the star is just a human being like me and a person with a heart and soul who worked hard in most cases to get to where they are today. With that being said I just met Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains at the Sunset Marquis bar lobby in West Hollywood a couple of weeks ago when I was recording in LA and that was an unexpected dream come true. I’m a big fan of his work and Alice in Chains and he took a few minutes to shake my hand and chat and I really appreciated that and think even more of him now. A good person.  By the way, thank you Jerry.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Hearing the intro at our live show and knowing I’m about to walk out and entertain and rock out for all these new faces and fans and people from all walks of life and hopefully inspire them and leave them thinking who the fuck are these guys and how much fun was that shit?!?!  I love making people happy and seeing their faces from the crowd makes my heart smile and makes me want to go even crazier on stage and bring it. My dream job is easy, before I got back into music and acting I started four oil companies in the last twenty three years which run themselves now, they include Starfire.com, Coolantsplus.com, Pennstar.com, and pantherpetroleum.com. So I would go back to being hands-on with my companies, shoot more movies and write a book about how I figured out life and my journey.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Who is Kurt Deimer? Well I am the hardest working person or one of the hardest working people you will ever meet. I love humanity, and always strive to treat people with dignity, respect, love, and kindness. I believe in helping others and the more you give the more you get. I’m a proud father of three wonderful boys, Cullen, Luke and Will.  I care and will always be there to help them through life.  I am more of a giver, I am not a taker, I believe I was not born to be a burden on others and make sure I can always take care of myself without handouts. I believe I was born to help others with my lyrics, so they do not experience all the trouble and pain I have been through to get to where I am today and I still have a long road of this ahead, but I NEVER GIVE UP!! I never grow tired of answering any interviewers ‘ questions, if they were kind enough to want to interview me and learn my story and promote my work as an artist, I will gladly answer any questions at any time.  I appreciate the fact you or they or anyone who wants to learn about Kurt Deimer even cares to and will gladly answer all questions.

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?

Trusting people I sincerely thought wanted to help me and weren’t doing it just for the money. I have been taken advantage of by many people on this journey in music and acting since it began in 2017. But you pivot, you regroup, and you never give up.  Please everyone, don’t be naïve, I’m telling you, you have to watch everyone and their intentions.

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?

Van Halen. I love that their first studio album is just called Van Halen. I was at the Texas state fair in Dallas and heard it over the speakers by the spinning ride. It BLEW MY MIND.  great unique vocals and lyrics, great harmonies, great drummer, and the best guitarist I have ever heard in my life.  I definitely have built my band and music heavily influenced by them.  Not that I sound like them, I don’t, but I incorporate harmonies with Phil X and Michael Vassos, like they did, I have a great drummer, Dango and great bassist, Cristian Sturba like they did, and my rhythm guitarist Michael Vassos can play anything and sing like a motherfucker as well. So it is their style, the way they were different and brought it that inspires me and my performances today. They taught me to just be myself and my style and rock the fuck out.  Then I saw them live on the Mean Streets tour. I was right there in front and said this is what I want to do: have the charisma and style and presentation of Van Halen.  When Phil X and I joined forces, I told Phil to be Phil X and let it all out and that is what he does, now he is my favorite guitarist ever in the world, but Eddie was his idol, so Eddie is still right there side by side with Phil X.  I’m very blessed to have Phil as my friend and brother first and foremost, but as my writing partner, lead guitarist, back up vocalist, collaborator, it is magical.

KURT DEIMER LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews