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Band page - By Blood Alone
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Band Profile
What is your name and your current position in the band?
John Graveside - guitar, composer, brains-of-the-mob.
How would you categorize the style of the band? And did you ever consider or try playing other styles of music than the one(s) you are playing now?
Progressive/Gothic/Metal, though critics love to put different labels on us based on their own musical tastes (something we find very amusing.) We never consciously think of playing any other style. Whatever comes out of us is what we play.
What is your latest album and why should people buy it?
Our latest cd is "Seas of Blood" on Jericho Hill Records (Dist by Relapse). As for why people should buy it, I think metalobserver.com said it best:
"If you experience such marvelous songs as the title tune it is impossible not to get engaged and to let yourself simply flow with the sounds coming out of the speakers. And I can assure you that there are more captivating tunes on this beautiful, intriguing and simply speaking - enchanting album."
Tell us about the history of the band. More specifically, when was the band formed, how did you meet, and have there been any particular highlights or low points in your career, any crucial events that have taken you where you are today?
The band formed in 2004. I was looking form a new band, had been for quite some time, but wasn't finding the "right" people, when all of a sudden things started to turn around. Our original drummer Captain Awesome responded to an online ad, and at the same time I responded to our vocalist Cruella's ad. Our bass player Jack was a friend of the Cap's, so we were a 4-piece for a few months. At that point, Cruella found out her friend Jenny played keys (it just sort of came up in conversation), so we asked her to audition and she was great. So there was a year of fruitless searching, followed by a complete band forming in the space of a few months.
I'd say our high/low points bookend Cruella's breast cancer battle. The low was when we found out she had it, and we had to play a show that night, right before she started her treatments. That was tough on all of us. The high point was our first show back after her treatments were finished and she had a clean bill of health, and we had all new material. The crowd was so thrilled to see us. It was quite touching.
Was there ever a time when you wondered if your band would remain just a local outfit and never make it in the industry?
From the very beginning we did not intend to be just "a local band". Other bands I had been in didn't stop at that point, so why should this one? Plus, there are not that many progressive rock fans in Portland Maine, so expanding onto the international scene was sort of mandatory.
Can you share with us one or two of your favourite moments with the band?
Playing on the road is always fun. Also our yearly xmas get-together where we just socialize. We're not kids anymore and all have spouses and day jobs, so we don't get much time to hang out and be friends. When we do it's great fun.
How is the writing process in the band?
Well, for "my" songs, I noodle around with riffs a bit, and when I have a basis I start recording a song demo, adding sections and trying to stretch out the arrangement. Coming up with the riffs is fairly easy, but making them all fit together is the hard part. Once the structure is set up. I give the demo to the rest of the band, and they put their own spin on it. Cruella writes the vocal melody and lyrics.
For "Cruella's" songs, She writes a vocal part and lyrics, and a simple accompaniment on keys. From that we flesh out an arrangement. It's great having two writers with somewhat different styles in the band.
What brought you on the path to becoming a musician? Did you ever consider or take any other paths through life besides music?
I actually have dual paths in life. I'm both a musician and a graphic designer, though the musician part came first and inadvertently lead to the design part (A band I was in needed flyers and artwork, so I took a stab at it and found out I liked it enough where I now earn a living at it.)
I think I started playing music to piss off those who said I would amount to nothing (when I was in school there were MANY such people.)
Do you have any idols? If yes, who?
I tend to look up to determined people who have something to prove. Frank Serpico, Johnny Ramone, Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth, Gene Simmons. I guess it's not so hot to identify with people who have chips on their shoulders, but that's how I feel.
Do you have any regrets looking back at your career? For example any songs or even full albums that you regret recording? If so, what made you regret it?
I can't say I regret anything, simply because what has happened in the past has made me what I am today, and I can't complain about who I am and where I am in life. Even with bad things, at least I am wiser for it.
Are there particular songs in your catalogue that the fans love but you're not particular fond of yourself?
Not that I know of.
How important do you rate the lyrical side of your albums?
I don't handle the lyrics in the band, but I do feel them to be as important as what i do - the music. With some artists it's very one-sided, like maybe Bob Dylan, who is praised for his lyrics but the music not so much. Then there's the other end of the spectrum with someone like Yngwie Malmsteen, where all the attention is on the guitar playing and no one really pays attention to the lyrics. We're nicely balanced.
What do you think about the state of the music industry today?
It's great and terrible at the same time. Great because anyone can put out a cd now and have their musical vision on disc. Terrible because anyone can put out a cd now and the market gets flooded with bad music, and the truly talented get lost in the shuffle.
What do you think is the best way to fight music piracy?
We've had years of expensive cds with mediocre music, and therefore have a generation that don't think music is worth spending money on. It will take years of labels rebuilding the image of the industry, releasing better music while lowering costs.
But in the grand scheme of things, piracy is not what's causing the downfall of the music industry. It's the fact that there's a lot more types of entertainment competing for the listeners dollars. When i was a kid, your choices for entertainment were pretty much buy a record or go see a movie. They cost roughly the same at the time. Now there are TONS of different ways to spend your time and money, and the music industry hasn't proven that music is worth people's money more so than other forms of entertainment.
Do you have a life philosophy? If yes, what is it?
Not really.
Can you describe a typical day in your life?
Hard to say. Every day is different.
What do you like to spend your time with besides music?
I'm a graphic designer by trade, so a lot my time is taken up with that.
What's the craziest thing that has ever happened on a tour?
We we're loading out after a show in Somerville Mass, when an SUV came screeching around the corner and stopped in the middle of the street. The passenger side door opened and a woman fell out face first onto the pavement, not moving at all like she was dead or paralyzed. The man driving came around to the passenger side, cursed at her, threw her back into the SUV, and they took off with police hot on their heels.
You're heading off to live on a deserted island for a couple of years with your portable entertainment system... Which albums, movies or books would you bring? (Max. 3 of each)
Since this would never happen, there's no point in me putting any thought into it. When am I ever even near an island?
What is your favourite joke?
A man walks into a bar... no, just kidding. I can't say I have a FAVORITE joke. There are so many. My favorite comedians are Steve Martin & Louis Black.
Can you tell us about any future plans for you and your band?
By Blood Alone will be taking most of 2009 off from gigging to record the followup to our last cd, "Seas of Blood." We are going to play a few shows on the road (mostly because we were asked to and they seem like good opportunities), but recording is the main focus this year.
Thanks for answering these questions. Now you are free to write a few lines to our readers.
Please check out our most recent cd "Seas of Blood", and watch for our next release by visiting www.bybloodalone.com. I guarantee it will knock your socks off!
Added by Steen - 2/6/2009
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