Interview with executive producer Sal Canzonieri.
How did the idea of "A Fistful of Rock &
Roll" get started?
Well, every time I got interviewed by some of the
newsstand music
magazines, they would always ask me what other bands are doing High
Energy
Rock N Roll, and I would always rattle off a long list, which would then
astonish the writer and they always would say that I should do a
compilation. So, finally I did. I meant it to be just one volume with 40
songs, but there were so many great bands from all over the world that I
didn't want to leave out. So, I got the idea to do it as a big series,
have
the history of rock included in it, have great cover art, and so on,
and do
it like a modern day Pebbles series.
What is High Energy Rock & Roll?
Well, it is heavy and fast Rock & Roll mixed
with Punk's energy, fury, and passion. It makes a riff heavy rock
with a fast pace and lots of hooks and melody in the song arrangements,
without having to go into Pop crap at all. It draws from all different
eras of Rock & Roll and combining them all stylistically to creat
something that sounds fresh and new, with a lot of energy and
excitement.
Why stick with Rock & Roll music?
Rock & Roll is always exciting and always recharges people. There
is nothing depressing about Rock & Roll music, unlike the phony
Nu-Metal bands that were around a few years back.
Rock & Roll is what charms the savage beast! People want to
go out and have a great time to be inspired by the music and the band
that is on stage. People need Rock & Roll to help them forget
about their troubles and to help them find a new way out of them.
Everytime THEY think THEY finally have you in
control with their fake player-piano music ("electronica"!), Real Rock
and Roll shows up and wakes up the dead - from the 1950s to the 90s
(Elvis, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Rolling Stones,
Who, Iggy Pop & Stooges, MC5, Velvet Underground, Ramones, Sex
Pistols, Kiss, AC/DC, Motorhead, Minor Threat, Black Flag, etc.) the
ugly beast of Rock and Roll rips the roof off and scares the hell out
of THEM to revitalize the corpse of rock and roll and make music
exciting again!
What's lacking
from mainstream music that these bands
can
provide?
Excitement, high energy, commitment to the audience, a little
danger, a sense of being part of the scene, and a good relationship
with the
fans.
How have sales
been for the series thus far?
Well, they have been very good, in the thousands, each volume seems
to do better and then the older ones seem to pick up as people look for
the
ones that came out before they one they got.
Do you think that if
the compilation series receives enough attention
that it will revive
rock?
Judging from the mail and all the reviews, it already has revived Rock!
A lot of people took notice that rock is alive and kicking with or
without
them. So, it is making a lot of new fans for these bands. Most of the
bands
have told me that since they have been on the comps, they were suddenly
getting better shows, more interviews, lots of mail, more press, etc.,
all
due to being on the comp. So, that is very satisfying for me to know
that
the comps are really helping these bands. TO me, none of the bands are
unknowns, being a fan of the genre. But to many people it is the first
time
they are hearing these bands. I hope it can go past the 13 volumes and
be an
on-going series that highlights the best of the bunch for that year.
How has the
response been from the bands themselves when you've asked them to be
part of them?
Very good! From the first day I announced I want
to do the series, the
miraculous thing was the ALL of the best known bands on the comp sent me
their songs within 2 weeks of my announcement! So, I was able to spread
them out over all the volumes and that gave me the room and the power
to get
not only middle level bands on there but also brand new unknown bands
that
were fantastic but just needed a chance to be heard.
Do you have plans
to go past Volume 13?
I would like to do one or two a year after volume
13. But, since I have many labels interested in doing something
similar, maybe I can do different series with other labels. Right now,
Devil Doll records: www.devildollrecords.com
is
doing a series with me called "Rock N
Roll A-Go-Go" which are CD EPs of 4
bands on each volume, each getting about 3 songs. They are all Fistful
bands. We give some of the Fistful bands that need a little push a
chance to
get more of their material out there. I write the liner notes and help
to
get the bands together.
Got any messages
for those afraid to rock?
Wake up to real heartfelt music! This is rock n roll created by people
that
are happy to be alive and are full of energy and excitement! This ain't
no
fake stuff that the record labels have developed to steal your money,
this
is music that reflects real life not fakeness. You can move your body
and
really connect to rock n roll music in a way that no other music can
ever to
so. Rock N Roll is an ecstatic experience that makes you feel really
happy
and alive and full of energy when you hear it. You feel all charged up
after
a rock n roll show. No depressing shit here! Join the New Rock
Revolution
that is happening all over the world!
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