Blacklist Union are back with their new album entitled “Back to Momo”. This LA band has a fresh look on the rock & roll music of our time. Grande Rock caught up with the mastermind, vocalist & composer Tony West so as to talk all about the new album, the LA music scene & Michael Starr among other things…
Hi Tony. Let’s cut to the chase. Why did it take you almost 3 years to release a new album and what happened in the meantime?
T: We are a self-financed do it yourself band with nobody paying for our recordings or our CDs to pressed or mixed or mastered. We write all our own material. Then we have to let people know it’s coming out so you have 6 months of publicity and so forth. It’s the same old story – we put out a record it seems every 2 years; that’s a good margin to go by nowadays, especially when you’re footin the bill yourself and you make hardly any money.
What are the differences and the similarities of your new album “Back to Momo” in comparison with your previous works?
T: “Back to Momo” is a classic rock record, it can make an impact around the world where there’s a revolution in Rock n Roll again; much like Stones records or AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Alice In Chains… I believe it will cause a movement eventually. I hope I live to see that but the first 3 CDs were about casting out all my pain n anguish and darkness that I had for so long. “Back to Momo” is lite n fun and kick ass and clever and it will inspire you and make you wanna fight n fuck and drink n drive fast… all those good things!
What does the album’s title “Back to Momo” declare?
T: Well I don’t know if it declares anything but Momo is a whore house in Los Angeles. I guess it could declare we love whores.
In which parts did you work more in this album? Did you change your songwriting formula or what?
T: Definitely not, we have the same approach that we always have. The one thing that we put in the sound of Blacklist Union is “Blues” which is one thing that I think was missing from the other 3 CDs. There’s lots of “Blues” influence… I love singing the “Blues” – “Blues” is a huge part of Rock n Roll.
Do comment on each track…
T: “Alive n Well Smack in the Middle of Hell”: That’s the Hollywood story right there.
“Shake It Off”: A very liberating song. It’s about all the shit that people talk about me.
“Mirror, Mirror on the Wall”: Sometimes you gotta look at yourself and realize that maybe everybody else is not the problem – maybe I have a hand in it too.
“Evil Eye”: It’s about my abusive wicked Mother who used to beat us and belittle us.
“Superjaded”: Try living in L.A. for 5 years and you will become super-jaded.
“Rock n Roll Outlaw”: We love Angry Anderson and Rose Tattoo; we love Australia.
“Back to Momo”: We love whores!
“We Are Not Saints”: Nice boys don’t play Rock n Roll.
“It’s All About You”: That should be the theme song for Los Angeles; everybody so self-centered and selfish… most of the time you talk to someone and their not even listening to you.
“Meet Me On Zen Street”: It’s about the place I’d like to live… I grew up in the streets however, I need to stay Zen so if I stay on that intersection I’m pretty good, it’s easier said than done.
“Graveyard Valentine”: It’s about the torment I went through with Tracy and Bianca and being able to let that go. They both died.
“Wined, Dined & 69’d”: You reach a certain age and that all you wanna do if you go out on a date or you’re with your girl.
“Read Between the Lines”: It’s a song that’s dedicated to Andrew Wood from Mother Love Bone, my mentor and hero and is also about the reality of Rock n Roll in that it’s not all a big party, non-sense and good times all of the time; it’s quite difficult and trying at times.
Where did you record the album and who mixed, produced and mastered it?
T: At the Village Recorder and Chris Johnson, who produced all the Blacklist Union CDs, mixed, produced and mastered it. He was the executive producer. We also worked with a guy named Ghian Wright, he was the guy that was behind the board we track with… we love working with him, we can’t wait to work with him again!
A video for “Alive n Well Smack in the Middle of Hell” was released a little time ago. Is there gonna be another video (lyric or concept) out soon and for which track?
T: We are in the middle of a treatment for our second single “Evil Eye” video and that will be out October or September.
What are the band’s touring plans? Have you booked any shows in LA?
T: We’ve had plenty of shows in L.A., we don’t want to play L.A. it’s a burnt out washed up wasteland filled with haters and energy vampires. We have a 10 day tour in the States we’re gonna hit up a bunch of cities and were gonna get to the UK, Germany, Australia, Scandinavia… that’s where we wanna go, that’s where our market is.
Now, almost 11 years after the band’s formation, how do you see rock music in general? What has changed for the better and for the worse?
T: Rock music is dead in the US, it just keeps getting worse especially with cock-rock bands beating dead horses and having 1 to 0 original members in their band. When you’re climbing the ladder to success it’s a lot different swapping out members then after you’ve had the success because people recognize it. For the most part people don’t even care. People want something new and refreshing… it’s definitely not cock-rock! Thank God Punk Rock is still around!
What’s that you want to achieve with Blacklist Union in the years to come?
T: Making an impact, making a difference, igniting a new time, a new scene and movement. That’s what Blacklist Union is about.
Time for our “weird questions”!!! How did you come up with the name Blacklist Union initially?
T: Because I have the worst reputation in Los Angeles. I’m banned from certain clubs, I’m banned from clicks in Los Angeles. I take no bullshit from anyone; I grew up in New York and when you hold people accountable in Los Angeles, they don’t like it. As a result, we’ve been banned from places and I think that’s as Rock n Roll as you can get.
What’s the LA music scene like today? What has changed compared to its glory days?
T: The L.A. scene is a wasteland filled with haters and energy vampires from the musicians to the promoters to the industry people… it’s disgusting! There’s no humanity left in Los Angeles, there’s no camaraderie, there’s no community in the scene. Everyone talks shit about each other therefore as a result people have shot themselves in the foot and there’s no scene at all anymore – that’s in the Rock scene; there’s still a great Punk Rock scene in L.A.; but those glory days are way, way over and have been for many years.
I’ve read that you were roommates with Michael Starr right? Was he all over sex, orgies, fetishes and such stuff all the time? Which were you rock & roll dreams back in the day?
T: Mike Starr was my brother and friend and I really have no comment on that stuff but I can tell you he was my “wing-man” and I miss him more and more as time goes by. He was a beautiful kind soul and he definitely made an impact. One thing I have to say about Alice In Chains is that Lane and Mike were the real deal, their songs… they lived their songs and that’s the difference between them and all the other bands you never heard of that came out at that time. Alice In Chains was authentic, Mike Starr was authentic.
Are Rock Stars over or what?
T: Well I’m right here so it ain’t over yet!
What would the world be like without religions… can you imagine?
T: I don’t really comment or get on the subject of religion or politics. It’s more about spirituality for me.
Top 3 horror movies of any era?
T: I don’t really like horror movies; I rather watch cartoons and positive stuff.
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
T: I already wrote that record it’s called “Back to Momo” you should check it out, it’s kickass!
Best pick-up line that has worked for you several times in the past?
T: I don’t use pick-up lines… I wish I was capable of doing that but that’s just not me.
What’s the worst thing you can say right after sex?
T: You remind me of my ex.
Pick a movie-celebrity/porn-star of your choice that you’d like to have sex with…
T: Jenna Jameson and Carmen Electra’s not so bad either.
Which of the Seven Deadly Sins do you reckon is the one, that’s more likely to send you straight to Hell, in the afterlife?
T: I’ve walked through way too much hell to be going anywhere like that in the afterlife!
T: We are a self-financed do it yourself band with nobody paying for our recordings or our CDs to pressed or mixed or mastered. We write all our own material. Then we have to let people know it’s coming out so you have 6 months of publicity and so forth. It’s the same old story – we put out a record it seems every 2 years; that’s a good margin to go by nowadays, especially when you’re footin the bill yourself and you make hardly any money.
What are the differences and the similarities of your new album “Back to Momo” in comparison with your previous works?
T: “Back to Momo” is a classic rock record, it can make an impact around the world where there’s a revolution in Rock n Roll again; much like Stones records or AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Alice In Chains… I believe it will cause a movement eventually. I hope I live to see that but the first 3 CDs were about casting out all my pain n anguish and darkness that I had for so long. “Back to Momo” is lite n fun and kick ass and clever and it will inspire you and make you wanna fight n fuck and drink n drive fast… all those good things!
What does the album’s title “Back to Momo” declare?
T: Well I don’t know if it declares anything but Momo is a whore house in Los Angeles. I guess it could declare we love whores.
In which parts did you work more in this album? Did you change your songwriting formula or what?
T: Definitely not, we have the same approach that we always have. The one thing that we put in the sound of Blacklist Union is “Blues” which is one thing that I think was missing from the other 3 CDs. There’s lots of “Blues” influence… I love singing the “Blues” – “Blues” is a huge part of Rock n Roll.
Do comment on each track…
T: “Alive n Well Smack in the Middle of Hell”: That’s the Hollywood story right there.
“Shake It Off”: A very liberating song. It’s about all the shit that people talk about me.
“Mirror, Mirror on the Wall”: Sometimes you gotta look at yourself and realize that maybe everybody else is not the problem – maybe I have a hand in it too.
“Evil Eye”: It’s about my abusive wicked Mother who used to beat us and belittle us.
“Superjaded”: Try living in L.A. for 5 years and you will become super-jaded.
“Rock n Roll Outlaw”: We love Angry Anderson and Rose Tattoo; we love Australia.
“Back to Momo”: We love whores!
“We Are Not Saints”: Nice boys don’t play Rock n Roll.
“It’s All About You”: That should be the theme song for Los Angeles; everybody so self-centered and selfish… most of the time you talk to someone and their not even listening to you.
“Meet Me On Zen Street”: It’s about the place I’d like to live… I grew up in the streets however, I need to stay Zen so if I stay on that intersection I’m pretty good, it’s easier said than done.
“Graveyard Valentine”: It’s about the torment I went through with Tracy and Bianca and being able to let that go. They both died.
“Wined, Dined & 69’d”: You reach a certain age and that all you wanna do if you go out on a date or you’re with your girl.
“Read Between the Lines”: It’s a song that’s dedicated to Andrew Wood from Mother Love Bone, my mentor and hero and is also about the reality of Rock n Roll in that it’s not all a big party, non-sense and good times all of the time; it’s quite difficult and trying at times.
Where did you record the album and who mixed, produced and mastered it?
T: At the Village Recorder and Chris Johnson, who produced all the Blacklist Union CDs, mixed, produced and mastered it. He was the executive producer. We also worked with a guy named Ghian Wright, he was the guy that was behind the board we track with… we love working with him, we can’t wait to work with him again!
A video for “Alive n Well Smack in the Middle of Hell” was released a little time ago. Is there gonna be another video (lyric or concept) out soon and for which track?
T: We are in the middle of a treatment for our second single “Evil Eye” video and that will be out October or September.
What are the band’s touring plans? Have you booked any shows in LA?
T: We’ve had plenty of shows in L.A., we don’t want to play L.A. it’s a burnt out washed up wasteland filled with haters and energy vampires. We have a 10 day tour in the States we’re gonna hit up a bunch of cities and were gonna get to the UK, Germany, Australia, Scandinavia… that’s where we wanna go, that’s where our market is.
Now, almost 11 years after the band’s formation, how do you see rock music in general? What has changed for the better and for the worse?
T: Rock music is dead in the US, it just keeps getting worse especially with cock-rock bands beating dead horses and having 1 to 0 original members in their band. When you’re climbing the ladder to success it’s a lot different swapping out members then after you’ve had the success because people recognize it. For the most part people don’t even care. People want something new and refreshing… it’s definitely not cock-rock! Thank God Punk Rock is still around!
What’s that you want to achieve with Blacklist Union in the years to come?
T: Making an impact, making a difference, igniting a new time, a new scene and movement. That’s what Blacklist Union is about.
Time for our “weird questions”!!! How did you come up with the name Blacklist Union initially?
T: Because I have the worst reputation in Los Angeles. I’m banned from certain clubs, I’m banned from clicks in Los Angeles. I take no bullshit from anyone; I grew up in New York and when you hold people accountable in Los Angeles, they don’t like it. As a result, we’ve been banned from places and I think that’s as Rock n Roll as you can get.
What’s the LA music scene like today? What has changed compared to its glory days?
T: The L.A. scene is a wasteland filled with haters and energy vampires from the musicians to the promoters to the industry people… it’s disgusting! There’s no humanity left in Los Angeles, there’s no camaraderie, there’s no community in the scene. Everyone talks shit about each other therefore as a result people have shot themselves in the foot and there’s no scene at all anymore – that’s in the Rock scene; there’s still a great Punk Rock scene in L.A.; but those glory days are way, way over and have been for many years.
I’ve read that you were roommates with Michael Starr right? Was he all over sex, orgies, fetishes and such stuff all the time? Which were you rock & roll dreams back in the day?
T: Mike Starr was my brother and friend and I really have no comment on that stuff but I can tell you he was my “wing-man” and I miss him more and more as time goes by. He was a beautiful kind soul and he definitely made an impact. One thing I have to say about Alice In Chains is that Lane and Mike were the real deal, their songs… they lived their songs and that’s the difference between them and all the other bands you never heard of that came out at that time. Alice In Chains was authentic, Mike Starr was authentic.
Are Rock Stars over or what?
T: Well I’m right here so it ain’t over yet!
What would the world be like without religions… can you imagine?
T: I don’t really comment or get on the subject of religion or politics. It’s more about spirituality for me.
Top 3 horror movies of any era?
T: I don’t really like horror movies; I rather watch cartoons and positive stuff.
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
T: I already wrote that record it’s called “Back to Momo” you should check it out, it’s kickass!
Best pick-up line that has worked for you several times in the past?
T: I don’t use pick-up lines… I wish I was capable of doing that but that’s just not me.
What’s the worst thing you can say right after sex?
T: You remind me of my ex.
Pick a movie-celebrity/porn-star of your choice that you’d like to have sex with…
T: Jenna Jameson and Carmen Electra’s not so bad either.
Which of the Seven Deadly Sins do you reckon is the one, that’s more likely to send you straight to Hell, in the afterlife?
T: I’ve walked through way too much hell to be going anywhere like that in the afterlife!