https://www.facebook.com/ratrodrocks
From: Pennsylvania
Sounds like: Rock
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound?
Mark: I first started playing guitar at age 10 but really got serious at 13 when I first heard Back in Black. My sound was developed by intensely studying Malcolm Young’s playing in all of those AC/DC records. My lead style was developed as a combo of Angus, Ted Nugent, Ace Frehley, and so many of the great blues players in the past.
Brice: I’ve been playing music as long as I have been able to hold a guitar. Growing up I was free to listen to anything and that allowed me to find my favorite artists from all genres.
Jeremy: I got started on music at an early age. When I was about 4 years old, my dad gave me an Old best up acoustic guitar that he pulled out of a dumpster behind a school. It was missing a string or two but I remember sitting on the floor with it flat in my lap, strumming and sing along, even though it wasn’t tuned. A couple of years later (around 7 or 8 years old) my mom started teaching me how to play concert snare( she played in high school). And by age 18 I was playing drums and percussion in the school band. I learned how to sing in church, singing hymns, but didn’t start performing as a vocalist until college.
LJ: Seeing Kiss on tv and my Cousins giving me Cheap Trick live at Budokan.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
Mark: A smile! Our music is about having a good time. Yes there can be some serious topics in the lyrics but the underpinnings are optimistic as to say “yeah it’s a bad deal or tough situation, but it’s going to be ok”.
Brice: I only want people to enjoy the music that this band creates because we enjoy it.
Jeremy: I want people to enjoy themselves and have a good time!
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
Mark: We are basically a 3-chord rock n roll band with a touch of punk. If you were to compare us, we are kind of a musical mixture of AC/DC, The Cult and Kiss.
Brice: Blues hard rock, with a slight southern influences.
Jeremy: Hard rock!
LJ: Good old Rock n Roll with a hint of punk.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
Mark: I am a big fan of a lot of Australian bands so I think it would be really cool to tour with Rose Tattoo, The Angels in their heyday or Airbourne.
Brice: AC/DC (1975 era), Airbourne, Molly Hatchet, Deep purple (Machine head era).
Jeremy: Dead Daisies, Faster Pussycat, Bad Marriage
LJ: That’s a hard one - Michael Monroe, The Backyard Babies, The Supersuckers
5. What's your thoughts on AI generated music?
Mark: It’s an uninspiring, unreal, non emotional collection of 1’s and 0’s that are arranged in frequencies that are pitch-perfect, meter- perfect, and appealing to some people—Not for me.
Brice: I hate it, I don’t think it should be consider music. It takes away from the real artist that uses all their time crafting music.
Jeremy: Ai music is an abomination! It’s pure garbage!
LJ: You do you ... not for me!!! But some of the genre switches is kind of cool!!
6. What’s your take on the current state of Rock?
Mark: In popular culture it’s nearly nonexistent. But it’s far from dead. There are a lot of great talents out there but you have to seek them out.
Brice: I think it could be better, there is no hope for any sort of variety on regular radio or satellite radio since they sill play the same 20 songs over and over again. But if you dig deep enough you can find some really cool bands.
Jeremy: I think rock is making a comeback.
LJ: Hanging on by a thread but there are so many cool non-famous or local bands out there gives me some hope.
7. What’s the current music scene like there in Pennsylvania?
Mark: There are pockets where there is still interest and support for live original music but again, you have to seek it out. Live original music is not mainstream but Top 40 pop cover bands still do pretty well.
Brice: Not very strong in my experience. We do better in Delaware and Maryland.
Jeremy: The Philly music scene has changed and shifted over the years but I think it’s alive and well.
LJ: Nonexistent.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
Mark: Financially streaming is a joke! It pays little to nothing and it seems like they set the rules about what they will pay. I was just looking at a royalty statement yesterday. On one of the line items, 400 plays some of them had 0 pay but in total: $.02; 2cents—2 pennies!! The USA no longer even makes the penny! So we’ll make sure and not spend that all in one place!!
Brice: You might as well toss circus peanuts at me, at least that would prevent me from starving if I didn’t have my day job lol .
Jeremy: I think artists need more royalties.
LJ: They pay????
9. What’s next for Rat Rod?
Mark: A new album is currently in the works. We are releasing singles (for streaming-go figure lol) every 1-2 months and they all will be put together for the 4th Rat Rod studio release (5th overall) later this year with the title still yet to be settled on. We have a number of shows set up with the goal this year of new towns and venues to explore.
Brice: We have tons of new material in the pipeline, and a couple of shows coming up.
Jeremy: New album, new videos, and hopefully a tour!
LJ: A new album, more shows, trying to break into new regions we haven't played yet.
10. Any shoutouts?
Mark: Basically we want to shout out to everyone one you around the world who follow us, share our stuff, buy our tunes, stream our tunes, or in any way support what we do! We love all and thank you!!
Jeremy: Shock Records, Deb Madonna Rocker, and all the diehard Rat Rod fans!
