Rob: The first time I saw you guys play it blew me away...that was in Mesa AZ at last years shod fest...How did you guys meet? Give us a rough history of the band and personnel and time line and all that.
Rick: I joined up with the "2 James�s" in feb.1999 in a band called trenchant with me on bass, Mountain Maker drummer James on vocals, Mountain Maker guitarist James on guitar, and ex -16- drummer Jason Corley. We did that for 2 years and the band just kind of ran its course. Me and the 2 James�s continued on in Feb. 2001 with James bonar moving from the vocals to the drums and me and the other James staying on bass and guitar. This is the line-up that continues to this day. Shit, almost 3 years now. Time flies man.
Rob: What are some of your upcoming plans? Releases? Tours?
Rick: Right now, we are just writing new material. As you know, we we`re supposed to have a release on Madroad records, but it`s looking kind of shaky right now. We will press on and we will see what happens with that. Unfortunately, we have no current plans to tour.
Rob: How often do you guys jam?
Rick: When we have a show coming up, we practice twice a week. When we`re just writing, we practice once a week.
Rob: Most of your stuff from what I remember is instrumental-- is that how most of your stuff is going to be or will you be adding vocals in the future?
Rick: When we started off, we we`re strictly an instrumental band. James (guitar) would always get asked "where`s your singer" after shows. He got tired of hearing that so he took on the vocal duties as well. We always write the music first with little thought for vocals. In the music writing process, the "vocal sections" are created naturally. When we finish writing and arranging the music, that`s when James will work out lyrics and vocals for the songs. He likes to use the vocals as something to come over the top with. He will put a solo in a song with the same thought in mind. Some songs will have a solo or two, some will not. The most important thing for us is the RIFF!!
Rob: Who does the songwriting?
Rick: Guitar James will come up with the ideas and then we all get in the practice room. He and drummer James will do the bulk of the "molding" (I lifted that from matt pike) and arranging. I learn the parts and arrangements as we go along because stuff is constantly changing. The 2 James�s play all 3 instruments so they definitely influence each other`s playing and mine. Me, I just play the fucking bass (ha-ha), but I will suggest something all the time. It�s a very diplomatic creative process. Who are some of you favorite bands out there? Shit, a lot of the bands we dig are no longer together (ha-ha). band`s that are still together would have to be e-wiz, floor, the rubes, Bongzilla, YOB, Dixie Witch, Smoke in Sunshine, Sasquatch, Volume, Suplecs, Sofa King Killer........ There are so many.
Rob: What are some of your classic roots and influences?
Rick: Black Sabbath, old Judas Priest, St. Vitus, Sleep, Melvins and Eyehategod.
Rob: You guys seem to surround your band around the drums...they are powerful and very soulful...the guy blazes...it kind of reminds me of the Melvins in that respect...tell me what you guys go after when you play, how do you perceive the music comes across like?
Rick: The most important thing we feel is tempo. Tempo is the one thing that can kill a heavy riff. If it`s to fast it will lose its impact. if it`s two slow, it`s sounds like your going out of your way to be "scary scary". When we practice, we spend a lot of time on what the drums should be doing at that point during the song. since it`s a 3 piece and I follow the guitar for the most part (for some reason bass fills don`t work with guitar James` tone), me and guitar James will try and get separation from the drums that way drummer James can get as creative as he wants too. Its makes my job easier as well because I can just sit back and support and be the backbone. The guys don`t want me to noodle (ha-ha). To me, the two James do amazing shit on drums and guitar. We want the music to breathe and have a pulse, push and pull. That�s why when drummer James doesn`t play the same thing twice, it`s very cool. (Ha-ha) just fucking with you James.
Rob: What do you think of the whole stoner rock genre term, etc...?Unfortunately, it`s going to get tagged with some label. That�s not a big deal. To me, we`re all a bunch of rock bands with D.I.Y. sensibilities. Musically, the genre is very diverse. The one thing we all have in common is the power of the riff, period.
Rick: How much footwork do you do on the internet for your band?
Rob: Very little, we will put it out there for people to check out. If you dig it, very cool. If you want to know more about the band, we would love to establish a correspondence. If it`s not your thing, that`s o.k. we would never force feed the band down people`s throat. Do you guys ever have any plans to go overseas? I bet they would dig you in Japan...
Rick: Maybe someday, who knows where this band will take us. From watching videos, Japanese fans love their music and are very polite and respectful.
Rob: Do you have a website where we can get more information on Mountain Maker?
Rick: Pat Brink from VOLUME is going to develop a website for us at some point. He�s are biggest fan and supporter. The guy rules and is a good friend of ours.
Rob: Anything you want to add for the community at StonerRock.com?
Rick: When you�re having a shitty day at the office or warehouse or out in the field and your boss, co-workers, or life are grinding you down, remember that you have access to the power of the riff live and in your cd collection, let that set you free and never under estimate its power and effect. We are the lucky and selected one`s to have discovered this music. There is no turning back.
Rob: Here is the section of the interview that we call the silly questions, they are just meant to have fun with...
If you weren�t a rocker, what would you most like to be?
Rick: I would like to coach kids sports. (The James�s think I�m a fucking jock so I wouldn`t disappoint them. (Ha-ha)
Rob: What was your worst gig and why? What was your best gig and why?
Rick: We have had a couple of shitty shows, but the one that stands out is that we had played this bar in our part of town early on before we even had a band name. I invited this girl that lived in my apartment complex out to the show. I think we played with volume that night. Mark Abshire from Nebula and his wife were at the show. So the band and the volume guys invited friends and family out to the show. At the time, we we`re just instrumental so a buddy of mine takes it upon himself to take the mike and do his VERY BAD Henry Rollin�s vocals. He thinks I�m still pissed at him. I think my big muffs` battery was dead to. I think guitar James` sister was a little drunk doing some dance in front of us. It was very embarrassing. After the show, no Mark Abshire and his wife and no chick from the apartment complex. I think she moved shortly thereafter. Our best gigs we`re SHOD IV and V. IV because we found acceptance with our music (hail rob levy) and V because we felt we could hang with our contemporaries. We have had
some good shows with graves at sea and Son`s of Serro as well. Just brotherhood, beer, and rocking out to each other`s music with no one else there. Roger from "graves" is probably the nicest person you could ever meet. He would give you the shirt off his back.
Rob: Top three movies, books and albums of all time?
Rick: American Beauty, Boogie Nights, Deer Hunter.........Bukowski`s Ham on Rye, Factotum, and women.........Sleeps` Jerusalem, King`s X, Dogman (that`s me only) Eyehategod, Southern Discomfort.
Rob: How often do you surf the net and what do you mostly do while online?
Rick: Usually an hour a night, I spend most of time deleting spam and looking for another part -time job.
Rob: What is your favorite city and venue to play, and why?
Rick: Since we are a so- cal band and we haven`t played "L.A." yet. We always have good shows in the lovely cities of La Mirada and Downey. We like bars with no stages for some reason. It�s cool to be eye-level with your friends.
Rob: What is the most rock `n` roll thing you�ve ever done?
Rick: If I told you the James�s would never trust me with their wife or girlfriend.
Rob: What�s the most rock `n` roll thing you�ve seen someone else do?
Rick: Your average nine to fiver with polo shirt and Dockers just happened to be at the bar where our friend`s band was playing that particular Friday night. Of course, he was pretty hammered by the time the band played. They launch into a song with a heavy riff and the guy starts smashing his jack and coke glass against his forehead over and over. Once again, never under estimate the power of the riff. This is what Mountain Maker stands for. To get that kind of reaction from your average Joe.
Rob: What�s your worst "bad trip" story?
Rick: Waking up at 2:30am to go to work, that`s a bad trip right there.
Rob: What�s the most painful thing you have ever witnessed at a rock show?
Rick: See above about jack and coke glass smashed against forehead.
Rob: How old were you when you first realize you wanted to rock?
Rick: Hearing "in the meantime" by helmet in 1992. I was 23. I�m an old man ya know.
Rob: What�s the most embarrassing job you ever had?
Rick: Trying to sell subscriptions door to door for the orange county register. I did it for a couple of hours. I just said "fuck this bullshit" and went home.
Rob: What�s your favorite ice cream flavor?
Rick: Hagan Daaz (did I spell that right) "caramel de leche" or something like that, it rules!!!!!
Rob: If you could date any rock star dead or alive in the world, who would it be? Movie star?
Rick: there are a few rock stars that are pretty smokin`, but I will bypass all of them, walk up to Jessica Alba and say, "my name is Rick, I play in a heavy metal band, I listen to Black Sabbath and Lynyrd Skynyrd and I don`t dance, these things don`t bother you do they?
Rob: What would be the ultimate dream gig of all time line-up be, with your band opening? Limit to three bands please (including your own...) and where?
Rick: NEUROSIS, MELVINS AND Mountain Maker, live in a basement, warehouse, or garage........San Francisco, California.
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