Page 26 - Black Velvet Issue 84

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drummer that has been with him for a long time, he album, like all Bumblefoot albums, he couple are naturally made for each
but besides that played all other musical instru- Thas a range of styles and subjects. Tother. He says that his wife has an
ments on his new solo album himself. Those were a couple of the more serious ones amazing mind, but he himself also has an amaz-
“I like what everybody would like for most – and ‘Women Rule The World’ is one of the ing mind. Bumblefoot always comes up with in-
things in life – people that you enjoy being more light-hearted songs. Ron says it’s “about genious ideas, both in and outside of music. On
around, that do what they do well, that don't how men can battle and conquer and try to be ‘Little Brother Is Watching’ he used all sorts of
plant destructive seeds, that you can depend on. the best, feel almighty, to control, but our interest sounds for the album – including a creaky door.
On a tour things won't always go as planned, in women is the foundation, if not the motiva- He also had the idea for a listening party in New
sleep and health and conditions will be challeng- tion.“ York where 100 fans got to listen to the songs
ing, you need people that can roll with it. I've We think some men would be adamant that and then joined in stomping, chanting and
seen it many times, the difference in bringing out women don’t rule the world. A lot of women may singing backing vocals – which were then incor-
someone's best or worst comes down to re- not agree with Ron either. Ron himself is happily porated on to the album. He says, “They kicked
spect, valuing people. You can't expect some- in love with Mrs Bumblefoot, who he’s been with ass, sang their hearts out and it added some-
one to act like a team player if they feel for 25 years – so it’s no wonder he thinks thing special and real to the music. One guy
disrespected. My drummer Dennis Leeflang and women rule the world… he obviously has found suggested we try singing a chorus in the song
I have played together for 13 years, I have peo- the one who rules HIS world, but some females, “Little Brother Is Watching” and I included it in
ple I've worked with for 20 years and we look for- or males, can’t find ‘the one’. So what advice the song,” he smiles. He says he’s open to feed-
ward to it. And with all these people, it's not just would he give to any single girls who are still back. “I don't know everything, and everybody's
'work', we hang out as well, lots of good relation- looking for their knight in shining armour? “You ideas are worth consideration.”
ships based on more than the musical side of don't want someone who's desperate and
things. Decades of fond memories while going needy... there needs to be a balance in how ittle Brother Is Watching’ may have only
through not-so-easy times together.” people feel about each other. My advice? Be ‘Ljust been released, but Bumblefoot has
independent. Don't feel like you need someone another album due out this year too. We’re not
peaking of not-so-easy times, Bumble- to complete you, or to get the things you want, quite sure how or when he found the time to
Sfoot has had his share. He sings about you need to be self-reliant. Hopefully it'll put you work on an album with Scott Weiland, John
a couple of not-so-easy times on the new album. in a position to make better choices, better com- Moyer, Jon and Vince Votta – under the guise
‘Don’t Know Who To Pray To Anymore’ is Art Of Anarchy – but he did, and we’re
actually a song that a lot of people can re- looking forward to hearing that release
late to. Bumblefoot sings about fighting later in the year. Bumblefoot tells us, “I'm
every battle ‘but still I lost the war’. He very proud of it sonically, I like the sound
also sings ‘I once thought God was good of the album after all the recording, mix-
and kind, then Mother Nature blew my ing and mastering. I like the combination
mind and left my broken body on the floor, of personalities, and hearing the song
I don’t know who to pray to anymore’. The grow new limbs with every person that
song was about a car accident that Ron added themselves to it, doing things only
was involved in, although it includes a they could come up with. And I like a lot
sense of questioning, wondering what of the songs' riffs, vocal melodies, drum
puts us in the place of bad events and grooves... after years of being part of
why obstacles appear in front of us. Why every step, there's a great sense of sat-
do some things turn out bad when there isfaction, gratification. Hopefully people
is a God above? Since the mention of will enjoy the album.”
God and not knowing who to pray to any- Since the project is called ‘Art Of An-
more, we ask if Ron is religious – or was archy’, we ask how much anarchy is in
he? his own art. He replies, “It all depends on
“I've always been more about the spir- how we define 'anarchy'. Is it strictly im-
ituality than the religion itself,” he an- plying a punk rooted style, or is it a free-
swers. “The song is speaking for anyone dom or unwillingness to contain
who's had their faith shaken, not just in ourselves to an imposed set of rules? My
God but in all things, and about not com- previous albums had a punky edge, as I
ing to terms with it yet. This feeling does- did grow up embracing late 70s early 80s
n't necessarily hit people from one event, punk as it was coming out, the newest
that'd be like judging a house by one album doesn't show as much of that
brick. We build from a lifetime of experi- side... ultimately in every album I do
ences, good and bad, expected and un- whatever I want how I want, saying what
expected, actions and reactions, mistakes and promises, and in charge of your own happiness. I want to say how I want to say it, I don't tell my-
lessons learned, and too often people simplify Be worthy of love and respect, and settle for self there's a rule book I need to adhere to, I also
other's situations to justify harsh judgments. nothing less.” We definitely agree with him there don't feel like I have to prove I'm doing that. I
This song is for anyone going through a difficult – although think there’s also a fine line between don't know if any of that qualifies in any way as
time, to hopefully know they're understood and being independent and coming across like you anarchistic, I just call it ‘be yourself and don't
others have been there.” don’t need anyone at all, ever. think about it’.“
Another hard time that Bumblefoot sings Ron shows his love for Mrs Bumblefoot in
about is his cancer diagnosis. The first song on the song ‘Eternity’. He sings ‘Counting hours ‘til umblefoot has mentioned that he still
the album, ‘Clots’ is about this. Ron has men- I see your face, counting minutes ‘til you’re with Bhas a lot of dreams. Since he has
tioned that he was lucky, it was caught fast and me, each second feels like eternity’. “I'm just a achieved so much, we end up asking what
cut out. In ‘Clots’ he sings ‘we all self-destruct’. big ol' mushball,” he laughs. It’s not the first song dreams he still wants to fulfill. He replies, “I want
But it seems that he didn’t have any particularly he’s written for his wife either. On the 2008 to make a music festival that will shed light on
strong destructive habits that enticed the dis- album ‘Abnormal’ he wrote a song called ‘Jenny all the deserving bands and artists around the
ease. ”Things happen - in a different way for B’ which was also for his heart’s desire. In that world. I've travelled and performed in a lot of
everyone, there are no definitive answers or ab- song he sings ‘Jenny B - you got all of my heart, places where I've had the pleasure of playing
solutes,” he explains. “A child may get it, some- can’t ya see, you’re the only one who gets that alongside amazing local musicians and bands,
one who smoked for 90 years may not. I never part of me’. in Albania, Belarus, the Middle East, East Asia...
did the things that were considered catalysts for Speaking of the only one who gets part of I'd love to see the world take notice. It'll take a
it, was in better health than I had ever been and Bumblefoot, we ask what his wife has to put up lot of support, it will be a big machine to build,
was taking better care of myself than I ever had. with. What does she get to see that others I'm going to try my best to make this happen.”
Found the tumor a few days before leaving on a don’t? Wow. That sounds like it will be an amazing
two-month European solo tour, wrote a song “She has to put up with enormous food thing. We can’t wait to see it come to fruition.
and had the surgery, just another life experi- bills,” he laughs. “I'm very silly and make her Visit www.bumblefoot.com for more info.
ence, we all have all kinds of stories to share.” laugh a lot. She makes me laugh too, she has
an amazing mind.” Words By Shari Black Velvet
Main Photo By Savanas.
Small Photo By Catherine Assanov
BUMBLEFOOT