ML: Tell us about the album (Give Me Air): How did you go about writing the songs & music, etc.
KC: In the early 1993, I had a band, called Dirt, with Ron Young (Little Ceaser), Gary Corbett, and Tommy "T-Bone" Caradona. I met Eric Singer when we were doing showcases for Atlantic Records (along with a ton of other A&R guys). Early versions of "Breaking Away" and "Don't Say That You Love Me" (originally called "Tongue In Cheek") were written at that time.
When that didn't pan out as planned, Joe Lynn Turner came around in 1992-3. After that Ace Frehley came along in late 1993-4, which sidelined my plans for an original project. When those two tours came to an end, and Ace went back with KISS (1996), I revived my idea for an original band.
I pulled together songs from Dirt and also songs I wrote with Robert Mason in the early 90's. However, I didn't get to record the first EP until 1998, because ESP had happened in 1997-8. With those songs, and songs I wrote with Bruce Terkildsen (who sang 5 songs on "Give Me Air") and on my own, I came out with the 7 song EP (Year 1999). We sold over 1000 units on our own at shows and from my web site. Those sales helped give me the motivation to record a full length album.
I didn't start actually doing the "Give Me Air" album until mid 2002, writing songs, redoing the old ones, and pulling together people who would play on the record. We actually started recording in September 2002, out of my basement studio, where the entire record was recorded (with myself and my good friend Chris Mitchell helping me engineer it). We recorded in between gigs with my cover band, teaching my students, and basically whenever we could. John Corabi and Brent Fitz came on board in February 2003. Brent played basically all the drum tracks over a 1 week period, and Corabi recorded all his songs over a 2 week period; that was an interesting time, recording during a blizzard at 3 in the morning, doing 12 hour to 16 hour sessions, with my ex-girlfriend nagging the hell out of me the entire time.
After Corabi and Brent went home (actually Brent went right back on the road with Vince Neil, and Corabi went on tour with Ratt), Chris and I got back to work, and over the next 8 months, finished recording the rest of the album. Joe Lynn Turner came in July to record the vocals on "Make Up Your Mind" and the one verse of "Freedom."
During this time, we were searching high and low for a mixing engineer to get the album to sound like it should, and what I heard in my head. On a pure stroke of good luck, we ran into Richard Ott through Bob Daisley. Richard recorded Bob's tracks for "Freedom" and "Make Up Your Mind," and I asked him if he would be interested in mixing the record. He sent us a rough mix of "Open Fire," and when Chris and I heard it in the studio, we knew Richard was the guy. From there, it was a no brainer to use Masterdisk studios in NYC, because I knew Chris Ramos, who mastered the first record.
ML: You had a long relationship with folk in the KISS camp - How was it working with Ace & Eric Singer?
KC: Ace is a great guy and a good friend. It was very cool playing with him the first few times, because I remember seeing him with KISS at Madison Square Garden in the late 70's, and then there I was playing with him 20 years later. Ace and I have built a close friendship, and I consider him one of my good friends. Eric is a great friend, and I always enjoy playing with him, because he's such an incredible drummer, and easy to get along with.
ML: Will you tour behind the album?
KC: Absolutely. John Corabi and I are trying to get a tour together possibly doing shows on the East Coast and overseas in September or October. Nothing is firm yet though. Most likely, we will do songs from Voodooland, John's old band The Scream, and songs from the Motley Crue record "Hooligans Holiday", which John never really had a chance to do live.
ML: What are you currently up to (outside of music)?
KC: Not a whole hell of a lot. Music is the primary focus of my life right now, but I am enjoying life with all my friends and family.
ML: If & When Ace Frehley records a solo album & tours will you be involved?
KC: It's always up to Ace, and you can never predict the future. However, when he's ready, and if he wants me to take part, I'll surely be there.
ML: What are your fondest memories of working on the Return Of The Comet album (at Juan Croucier's house with Eric)
KC: That was a two day affair basically. I cut "Strange Ways" in Los Angeles at Juan's house on one day, and "Love Her All I Can" in New Jersey with Dave Wittman engineering on another day. It was a 2 man band, just Eric and me, and a lot of fun.
ML: What are your future plans (as far as recording), will you next album be in the same vein or will you continue to experiment?
KC: I'll never come out with the same album twice, and will always try to improve. For Voodooland specifically, I've pretty much made up my mind that this next record will be heavier, but nothing else firm as of yet. I'm still focusing on "Give Me Air" and getting that out. I'm always writing, coming up with riff ideas, even though I may not have a specific project in mind for them. John Corabi and I are talking about writing and recording together for John's solo record, and Joe Lynn and I are talking about writing and recording for his next solo album. |
Read the KISS Asylum interview with Karl Cochran
