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Hi there Marv, thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions. It’s greatly appreciated! “No worries! My pleasure.” The new Monster Truck album, ‘True Rockers’ delivers a killer one-two opening with ‘True Rocker’ and ‘Thundertruck’. A real killer statement of intent, was this always the idea? “True Rockers to me was just a gag. A bit of fun and an outrageous proclamation. I do think it’s a bit of a jab at the “rock n’ roll is dead” sentiment, in how people are perceiving it. It’s a way to identify with other rock fans. Like, “Hell no, rock isn’t dead, we’re true rockers!” There’s a great deal of variety on ‘True Rockers’; out-and-out rockers like ‘Being Cool Is Over’, the bluesier ‘Devil Don’t Care’, the more commercial ‘Young City Hearts’, and the massive sound of ‘Evolution’. What do you put the variety down to? “I think variety is something we strive for in every record. We like to leave ourselves open doors for creativity. It’s really easy to get stuck in a box in rock music. One band finds a new sound, then influences a sub-genre, then hundreds of bands stick to that “scene” and it grows and gets boring. We refuse to get boring.” It’s certainly a fresh album, but it’s also a fun album. It opens with you getting screamed at to get moving! Was the fun aspect a deliberate response to the shit-storm that is modern day life? “We are fun as fuck, if you didn’t know. Haha! I think our previous record “Sittin’ Heavy” didn’t have as much fun as our first album. We decided consciously to make this record a bit more carefree and more indicative of our actual personalities. There’s ups and downs and a lot of good times in both directions.” ‘Evolution’ sounds massive and is insanely catchy, but it took a bit of flak from the keyboard warriors out there. Bands really can’t win, can they? Release the same album time after time and they get shit for it. Dare to mix it up, and it’s the same result. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t? “Well really, “who cares” is the correct way to approach such blatant negativity. When it used to happen (yes that’s right, people have been comparing us to Nickelback for years!), I used to get upset. Now I realise that people need that release. A satisfactory way to get rid of anger without hurting those they love. That way is for some reason the internet, and for some people our YouTube video for “Evolution”. That being said, it will be a cold day in hell when we take songwriting criticism from internet comments.” Dee Snider pops up in his inimitable style on opening track ‘True Rocker’. Where did the connection come from? “I met Dee in Toronto after he messaged us on Twitter. He’s just a very passionate music fan and he was drawn to us. We found out we have a lot in common. So when we wrote the song “True Rocker”, I wanted to have a real icon do the sermon bit. The obvious choice was Dee, and he killed it. The fact that he said yes was amazing in itself. Was his sermon unscripted? “I wrote a rough script of how I wanted it to go, and Dee rewrote it and made it entirely his own.” Have you been able to play it live together at any festivals? “I really do hope we cross paths on tour to perform it. His energy is special.” What was the album recording process like? It sounds live? “It great that it sounds live! We tracked it. Each individually. Some parts not even in the same country. I think Dan Weller, who produced most of the record, really has a knack for creating a vibe. He did an amazing job. I guess more amazing than he thought if it sounds live! Haha.” “Old-school” is a phrase that people sometimes take as a slight, but ‘True Rockers’ is, to me anyway, a classic “old-school” rock album? “I hope it is! That’s all we try to do. Make a whole album that sounds as cohesive and exciting as all the albums we love from the depths of rock. We’re trying to write an experience rather than a single. A whole piece that is meant to be listened to entirely.” 2019 sees the 10th anniversary of Monster Truck. Did you think that you would reach that milestone? “I can’t believe it’s been 10 years. It seriously feels like 5 or less. We had no expectations for this band. It was fun, that’s it. The fact that I’ve had a career the last 10 years is shocking to me! We are incredibly grateful to all our fans and team that stood by us and raised us to the level we are at. It’s astonishing. And how will you celebrate? “I think we’ll get some bubbly and probably have a BBQ.” The last few years have been especially successful for Monster Truck in the UK and Europe. What do you put that down to? “There are just simply more people. We could tour forever in Europe, we can only do about 17 or 18 shows across Canada about once a year so it really limits our market. Going overseas gave us new markets and more opportunity… not to mention the fact that Rock and Metal are much smaller than they used to be in North America. The younger generations aren’t consuming it as much. There’s almost no way you could get 300k people to a rock festival in Canada unless the Stones are playing.” It would be remiss of me to not mention the shows that you played with Deep Purple. For a band with such a crucial organ sound, that must have been particularly enjoyable? “Touring with Deep Purple was really affirming for me. Like somehow, we’re doing the right thing. The tour was amazing. They gave us every opportunity to do our show the way we wanted. Also, some of the most kind and honest folks I have met on the road. Class acts. All of ’em.” You are, of course, back over in the UK later this year with Black Stone Cherry and The Cadillac Three. Who will be leading who astray on that tour? Are you in training to keep up with the drinking exploits of The Cadillac Three?! “I’m not really privy to their drinking exploits, but it sounds like fun! We have been known to rip it up, but we gotta do a good show. I’m positive that the tour will be a party.” Will you be checking out the Queen bio-pic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ when it gets released? Rami Malek looks incredible as Freddie Mercury! “I loved Rami Malek in Mr. Robot! The previews I’ve seen look great.” Lastly, when was the last time someone fucked with The Truck?! “People are always trying to fuck with us after we put that shirt out, which I guess has been 10 years! No one has been devious enough to really toss a wrench in the works. Maybe we’re too nice… or don’t get bothered easily.” Thanks for your time Marv. The new album is killer! Looking forward to Glasgow in December! Cheers! “Right on, Dave! Can’t wait to be in Glasgow! One of our favourite cities!” ‘True Rockers’ is available September 14th on Mascot Label Group. Interview: Dave]]>
