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LA Guns

Interviewed by Gary Hill, Greg Olma and Scott Prinzing
Interview with Scotty Griffin and Steve Riley of L.A. Guns from 2013
MSJ:

Can you catch the readers up on the history of your involvement in music – both individually and as a band?

Scotty Griffin: I grew up in Los Angeles and have been playing since I was twelve. I started off on drums for a very short period, but grew up playing guitar. Never really went anywhere other than local gigs here and there. Then years later I was asked to play bass and things started changing for the better - more gigs and actually getting paid! Then I landed the L.A. Guns gig.

 

Steve Riley: Have been playing drums most of my life. Started recording on major labels in 1975. Joined L.A. Guns in 1987. We have been recording and touring every year since.
MSJ:

If you weren't involved in music what do you think you'd be doing?

Scotty Griffin: Hopefully something that makes more money than music.

Steve Riley: Hard to think of not being involved in music and drums.

MSJ:

What is the secret to your survival when so many of your contemporaries have disbanded?

Steve Riley: We are lifers and are proud of our band and the songs we have written.

 

Scotty Griffin: Just never give up. Find a way to survive. Whether it makes people hate you or look down on you, it doesn't matter. I'm not in this life to make anybody other than myself happy. And when I'm happy, then I want to make other people happy. On paper, that's the way life should work. Unfortunately, theory doesn't always translate perfectly into practice. But you do the best you can.

MSJ:

What are your thoughts on producing new music? Is there still an outlet for you to get the new material out there?

Scotty Griffin: Of course there is. People were complaining about the music business in the '80s. You either deal with where you're at or complain. In both cases you're right (to hugely paraphrase something I think Abe Lincoln once said. . .

 

Steve Riley: We love writing new material and know that is something that keeps us fresh. We are with Cleopatra Records and they have a nice network for sales and we also have the Internet — that is a great tool.

MSJ:

Who would you see as your musical influences?

Scotty Griffin: Oh, the usual suspects: The Beatles, the Stones, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Aerosmith, Van Halen. 70s glam stuff like Bowie, T. Rex, Sweet, Gary Glitter. I also like a lot of pop stuff like the Raspberries, Cheap Trick, the Babies, Jellyfish. And that's just the basic stuff. I kind of like all music in a way. I always try to have an optimistic way of listening to music. Even if I hate something, I try to find something — anything — to take from it.

Steve Riley: So many bands have influenced us and I think it shows with the diversity on our CDs. As far as drumming: Mitch Mitchell and Ginger Baker.

MSJ:

What's ahead for you?

Scotty Griffin: More touring and hopefully a new album with hopefully a song placed on a TV show or movie or video game, or wherever songs are placed these days for artists to make money. I love music, but I try to look at this as my job. And making a living off it is first and foremost. I do believe in what I play, but in a lot of ways “Art” is just short for “Arthur.”

Steve Riley: Touring the world again and going in to do some studio stuff at the end of the year.

MSJ:

I know artists hate to have their music pigeonholed or labeled, but how would you describe your music?

Scotty Griffin: Honest and sellable. I hope I never resort to playing music that I hate, just ‘cause I think it will sell. But by the same token, people speak with their money. If they like something, they'll buy it. If they don't really like it, they won't buy it. I hope I'm able to make music that I feel is real, and that people like it enough that they buy it. That goes not just for fans, but like a music coordinator for a movie or commercial, etc.

 

Steve Riley: Hard rock.

MSJ:

 Are there musicians with whom you would like to play with in the future?

Scotty Griffin: Anyone who was a rock star in the 60s or 70s that's still alive basically.

 

Steve Riley: Jeff Beck.

MSJ:

Do you think that illegal downloading of music is a help or hindrance to the careers of musicians?

Scotty Griffin: I'll answer that question with a question. Do you think stealing a car from a car dealership is a help or hindrance to the career of an auto salesman?

Steve Riley: Downloading is going to happen, so go with it. It gets your name out there so look at as a tool in promotion.

MSJ:

In a related question, how do you feel about fans recording shows and trading them?

Scotty Griffin: I have nothing against that at all. In fact, I don't even have anything against a fan burning a CD or sending mp3s through email or whatever to another friend of our album. That's totally different than getting it for free from some megaupload site. In the first case you have a fan who actually likes our music giving it as a gift to another friend out of the sheer love of music, and not making any money off of it. In the second case, there's some company who doesn't know our music from a hole in the wall, and frankly doesn't even care, and they're making money off us through ads and subscriptions. All of which we, the artists, see 0% of. I know people like to put everybody on one side of the fence or the other. But it's not that easy.

 

Steve Riley: With the phones now you can see our show on YouTube before it is over. So again, just go with it.

MSJ:

If you were a superhero, what music person would be your arch nemesis and why?

Scotty Griffin: Mr. MegaUpload Man. See above for why.

 

Steve Riley: I don't have too many enemies, so hard to say.

MSJ:

If you were to put together your ultimate band (a band you'd like to hear or catch live), who would be in it and why?

Scotty Griffin: The band I'm in right now. I'm here and now. I don't like living my life waiting for the perfect thing to happen, or thinking there's something better out there that I'm not part of. It's like going out on a Saturday night looking for the happening party. You need to tell yourself, wherever I go is the happening place to be because I’m there.

 

Steve Riley: John, Paul, George, and Ringo for the obvious reason.

MSJ: If you were in charge of assembling a music festival and wanted it to be the ultimate one from your point of view who would be playing?

Scotty Griffin: Van Halen (with David Lee Roth of course) and Michael Anthony back in the band too.

Steve Riley: Beatles, Zep, Sabbath, Deep Purple.

MSJ:

What was the last CD you bought and/or what have you been listening to lately?

Scotty Griffin: The last new CD I bought was Van Halen A Different Kind Of Truth which I thought was amazing. I usually buy used CDs though. My last haul included David Johansen Crucial Music, Ohio Players 20th Century Masters, London Quireboys A Little Bit Of What You Fancy and This Is Rock N Roll, and Madonna Like A Prayer.

 

Steve Riley: I listen to a lot of classic rock from the 60s and 70s.

MSJ:

Have you read any good books lately?

Scotty Griffin: Cruel Shoes by Steve Martin

 

Steve Riley: 8 Men Out. About the mob and the world series.

MSJ:

What about the last concert you attended for your enjoyment?

Scotty Griffin: Other than Steel Panther of course, I'd say Alice Cooper. We actually opened for him, but I still consider I attended it since I watched his whole show. It's just so theatrical. I wish more bands would be like that nowadays. Not saying there aren't. I should rather say, I wish the powers that be would "promote" such bands instead of the boring crap that they shove down our throats these days.

 

Steve Riley:  After playing so many shows each year I don't go to a lot of other shows.

MSJ:

Do you have a musical “guilty pleasure?”

Scotty Griffin: Oh, tons! Let's just start with Barry Manilow, end with 60s lounge music, and call it a day.

Steve Riley: Jazz and Classical.

MSJ:

What has been your biggest Spinal Tap moment?

Scotty Griffin: We've gotten lost a few times backstage trying to get to the stage. That happens more often than most people would think.

 

Steve Riley: After 35 years there are too many to list. They happen all the time.

MSJ:

If you could sit down to dinner with any three people, living or dead, for food and conversation, with whom would you be dining?

Scotty Griffin: Antonin Careme, Alexis Soyer and Auguste Escoffier (look them up).

 

Steve Riley: Blackie Lawless, Chris Holmes, and Randy Piper.

MSJ: What would be on the menu?

Scotty Griffin: Whatever they recommended.

Steve Riley: Raw meat.

MSJ: Are there any closing thoughts you would like to get out there?
Scotty Griffin: Buy our album. It'll make you sexier.

Steve Riley: Come see L.A. Guns this year!

MSJ: This interview is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2013  Volume 3 at lulu.com/strangesound.
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