Page 12 - Black Velvet Issue 85

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All We
All We

hat is fate? According to the Oxford Dictionary it’s the development of events outside a
Wperson’s control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power. Well fate seems
to have definitely played a hand when it comes to Longineu Parsons III and Ben Harper. The two
guys became friends at an early age and began playing together before forming Yellowcard in
the 90s. Ben was unfortunately only a member of the band until 2005, while Longineu (LP for short)
continued until early 2014. What happened next? Well fate made magic, stars aligned and LP and
Ben hooked up once again. They now have a new band, This Legend, and are joined by vocalist
Chris Castillo (Stanley And The Search) and bassist Steven Neufeld (HeyMike!).

P tells Black Velvet, “Ben and I started became This Legend.” pretty much about music being my life but it’s
Lplaying music together long before we El Hefe and Jen signed them to their label also about how it’s hard to give it up. Some-
decided to start a band and call it Yellowcard. and they released their debut album, ‘It’s In times the things you put your heart and soul
We would always jam for hours at a time every The Streets’ towards the end of 2014. “We all into don't work out the way you want them to,
day.” Although when Ben departed the band, have a punk background as far as a style of and it may be easier to just push them aside
LP had little to no contact with him. However, music that we love to listen to and play,” LP and move on. But it’s not that easy, especially
he says, “I did believe that someday we would says, “so we most definitely put our own influ- when you feel you’re meant to do a certain
jam again.” ences into it. Our record also explores many thing with your life. ‘I almost wish that this was
LP tells us that he was (and still is) good other genres of music. We didn't choose a spe- it! But then I hear the music in my head.’ I'm
friends with El Hefe of NOFX and his wife Jen. cific style. We chose to write what we wanted saying maybe it’s time to let this go, but it’s
The couple own Cyber Tracks record label. from the heart.” hard cause I can't stop writing/making music.”
“When the Yellowcard thing happened I imme- Vocalist Chris Castillo took control of the Chris tells us that he already had about
diately went over to Hefe and Jen’s place and lyrics and penned songs such as the aptly titled nine songs written when he met his new band-
told them that I wanted to start a kick ass band ‘Lyrics With My Pen’. Chris continues the story, mates. “When I met them I showed them a
and get it rolling. Then I contacted Ben, and telling us, “’Lyrics With My Pen’ was the first song I had just started working on. It was ‘Get
then Ben and I put the rest together. We then song I wrote after Stanley And The Search. It’s Fast’. Ben, LP and myself worked on it and it
THIS LEGEND