Solarized seems to be taking off in a big way in the underground but the "large scale" press doesn't seem to be writing much about you (yet!).

Mainstream magazines focus on mainstream acts. They offer a variety of articles on a variety of topics, but scarcely touch upon rock. Lately, the trend seems to be sort of a mix of media related articles and columns geared for what they believe to be the techno set. Stuff like gaming software, glamour and modeling, dance and pop music, movie premiers, celebrities and digerati. I'm not sure that all of today's high-gloss music magazines should necessarily be considered as such.

As far as we're concerned, Solarized hasn't even scratched the surface of being noticed by the "large scale" press, as you put it. We've only just gotten in the race. We're the dark horse moving up on the outer lane, but there are plenty of fast runners on the track.

I think it's also important to note that there really aren't very many magazines in existence anymore. They've become far more expensive to produce and, consequently, more costly to purchase. Add in the fact that the internet has eaten a rather large amount of their market share via self-publishing of free content and it's easy to understand why a band within the indie ranks won't exactly be cover material. They live and die by their ad revenue, so who could blame them?

How about telling me a little bit about the guys and gal in the band.

The current line up is:

Jim Hogan - guitar, vox
Lee Stuart - guitar
Lou Gorra - bass
Regina Satana - drums

Reg and I were in the band Daisycutter together. When Daisycutter broke up, we started what would eventually become Solarized. Reg and I knew Lou from back when he was doing the Death Metal thing. He had disappeared for a few years, as he was in Texas playing for the doom outfit Astrotrigger. He signed on as the bass player and brought in Pete Hauschild as an additional guitarist. Eventually Pete left to pursue other things and we brought in Lee Stuart to replace him. Things seem to be better than ever. There's a real camaraderie between the four of us.

Did you think Neanderthal Speedway would do as well as it has done?

No, but I do think it was the best money this band ever spent. I really didn't know what to expect in terms of sales. We busted our asses to create something that we felt was worth hearing and figured that if one person heard it, then they would dig it and spread the word. I think I can speak for everyone in Solarized when I say that we are damn grateful to everyone who did. The thing that really shocks me is that the buzz hasn't let up yet and that the CD is still selling at a steady pace. The only reason I can think of for it's steady sales is that the public is really hungry for ballsy, in-your-face rock and the industry just isn't supplying it.

I know about your Jersey Devils release but could you tell us about any earlier stuff, such as the demo (?) that your Rise Above cut is taken from.

The song Meanspirit is the one from the Rise Above compilation. It was a left over from the original Eight Ways demo session that we used for the Jersey Devils split. That stuff was followed by three demo sessions we recorded at WOM, another basement-studio. We ended up taking those three and putting them together for the Neanderthal Speedway album. It's a shame that the Rise Above compilation took so long to come out, as we really should have re-done that track. It's hard to create a recording that does a band justice when you're working out of pocket. You just scrounge up as much money as you can and hope for the best.

The next full-length release should be noticeably different from anything we've done before. We've worked hard to get the name out and it's paid-off, so we'll now have an actual budget to work with. We can head to a better studio and quite possibly get a more established producer in. I don't know if it will happen, but that's what we're hoping for.

What's more pissing off?

1. Your new van breaking down

2. Your footswitch failing during the Mega Dosage gig

3. Metal Hammer reporting that Tim Cronin and Ed Mundell are the main guys in your band

The Metal Hammer thing doesn't bother me at all. They aren't the only ones to make that mistake. The footswitch thing wasn't a big deal to me, either. I just tuned up the drive on the amp and said, "Screw it, man. Let's rock."

The van breakdown did bother me and I was visibly pissed-off. I bought the van 2 days before and felt personally responsible for the whole thing. It was not a good thing at all. Of course, if something is mechanical, it will break, but I still let it get to me.

Have you ever met Jon Bon Jovi?

Yes, albeit in a roundabout way. Back when I was in a hardcore band called Dirge, we rented a room for practice space and Bon Jovi had rented the really big room above us. They'd be up there rehearsing for an upcoming tour and we'd be downstairs rocking our punk rock asses off and, like the snot-nosed, little upstarts we were, we'd be yelling through the vents, "This is how you do it, you bastards!" Of course, later on in life, I came to realize that they were writing well-arranged music, even if it was geared toward the bubblegum crowd.

You're working on new stuff…How's it coming along? Will it differ from Neanderthal Speedway?

I guess it will, as we have a new guitarist. The style will still be the same, but Lee's playing is exceptionally well rounded. The guy's a highly respected guitar teacher, despite looking like a tattooed dirt bag. He's good with a slide too, so we'll be adding in an occasional song working around that. The new stuff is gonna be way cool. We've been working out a lot of new stuff…so far, it rocks like hell.

Do you like Solarized being termed as Stoner rock?

Yes and no. Yes, in that I don't mind it, as it must be classified in some way to separate it from other styles. No, in that it's a really stupid name for a style of music. It implies that one would be better off sedating one's self if they plan on listening. I find that quite comical. Solarized isn't really, by the current definition, a Stoner rock band to begin with. It's just a stone groove thing.

Which band would you rather had never existed?

Any band that lead to a life-taking tragedy. Since it's a hypothetical situation to assume I could change anything in the past, it really doesn't matter which one.

Who are your favourite comic heroes?

I'd have to say Jack Kirby's The Inhumans. They were a spin-off from the Fantastic Four. The Inhumans weren't heroes, though. They were anti-heroes… Misunderstood, sometimes persecuted, super-powered beings, who fought along side the good guys, but never purposefully meant to. They were just trying live their lives without any hassles.

The runner-ups would be The Punisher 'cause all he wants to do is kick ass and take names as he cleans the streets of crime…and The Mighty Thor 'cause his character was all about honor and the stories all had the cosmic Teutonic Gods thing going on. Well, that and the fact that he got to constantly hit people with a big hammer. How cool is that?

When are you coming to play over here in Europe?

No dates are yet confirmed, but it's in the works and it looks like mid Fall. We hope to be out there by November. It's really up to the booking agency, though. In a perfect world, we would already be there.

Is the "stoner" scene as friendly as it seems?

I'd like to think so. I suppose it depends on how friendly you are. If you're cool toward people, then they usually reciprocate, but everyone is different, I suppose. We all have our good days and bad days. I think that those of us who are in any kind of public spotlight are prone to receive more attention when we have either. Good, bad, or indifferent…Ultimately, the scene itself, decides what it is.

If you could have two super powers what would they be?

Only two!?! What a rip off! I would have to go with the power of immortality through instantaneous regeneration and the power to change the molecular structure of inanimate objects. That way I could live as long as I felt up to the task, and I could turn crap into money.

Lastly and more personally, how the hell can I get a Solarized t-shirt?

I'm glad you asked. I won't start plugging the merchandise, but I will mention that we will be soon selling via our website site at:
     http://www.monmouth.com/~solarized
We encourage anyone and everyone to go there and bookmark the page.

Let me start off by saying something. You probably are gonna say we sound like Black Sabbath and I want to say to you that there is a lot more than that going on. We love the Hellacopters, the Beatles, the Queens of the Stoneage, Raging Slab, the Pink Fairies, and three new bands: Sabbara Cadabara, Hotter Than Hell, and Draw the Line. We are not just a retro-rehash-hole in the sky-rip-off !!!

Lets start off making something very clear - I think your album of absolutely fantastic. I've had the rare pleasure of getting several really good CDs over the past month or so, and yours is definitely one of them.

Oh... Sorry I jumped down your throat there. I'm a little on the defensive today. Thanks for the compliment but honestly I can't imagine the Chrome Locust record being anyones favorite. I'd rather listen to Zeppelin Bootlegs from the 2nd U.S. tour in '69. That's where all the live shit we do comes from- Raw as a motherfucker.

Please introduce each member of the band, including their musical backgrounds and something derogatory.

Todd Youth: Knows how to rock his asses off on the Gtr! At age 12 or somethin' Todd played gtr in NYCHC band Warzone. Then he went on to play with Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law (for about 10 years), Shining Time Station, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Larva, Dressed to Kill City (a Kiss Tribute- Ace of course!), Marky Ramone and the Intruders, The Waldos, The (Walter) Lures, The Homewreckers, D-Generation (for about 2 years), Chrome Locust (1 year), Jesse Camp & the 8th Street Boys (3 months), Samhain, Danzig and anybody else who will pay him $750/week to ride in a tour bus with bunks big enough to squeeze in a 40 year old fat puerto rican chick for the ride to the next gig.

Michael Wildwood: Michael's nickname is "Steven Adler" . Adler punched a wall high out of his mind when he played drums for Guns n' Roses at the height of their success. He broke his hand and they had to replace him for the tour they were in the middle of. That's Michael to a Tee. He is the lead singer of the group. He doesn't sing lead vocals live, he sings the harmonies. But you see Michael is the crazy ass, out of his head, off the rocker- rocker!! Michael is our very own Axl Rose or David Lee Roth. He doesn't just get high, he gets HIIIGGHHH!!! He writes all the lyrics (like Neal Peart did) and vocal melodies (like Ronnie James Dio did). He reminds me of Keith Moon when he plays his trap kit. A goddamn animal!! A true inspiration to play bass with. Me and Michael fantasize that we are JP Jones & Bonzo when we play. We fuckin' channel their shit and jack it up to the next level... We are like a caveman version of Zeppelin '69 live at the Fillmore!

His background is Beatles-Zep-Beachboys plus all the 70's Punk shit like PIL, Sousix & the Banshees, The Clash & shit. He played in D-Generation for a long time before we all started The Locust.

Jim Heneghan: That's me. I play the P-Bass '72 style. Sometimes I do a dance step called "The Alley Cat" during the Locust anthem "New World Disorder" and I dream that I am as cool as Dennis Dunaway from the Alice Cooper Group. If I could get down with those signature leg kicks he did, it would be all over! Massive bass player he is. I play through West Fillmore amps that Grand Funk used to use. All the shit I do happens because of that amp. It's only got four knobs and only one works, and that one is on Ten all the time. Simple. [cool! - Ed]

I used to play in a bunch of NYC bands you never heard of- Gangway Fathead, The Space Juniors, Bingo Gazingo & the 8th Grade, and Doubleneck- to prove it. Right before Chrome Locust, I played in Vasquez with Rick from D-Gen for a year. Then I left Vasquez to play with two other soon to be EX- D-Geners in the Locust. Sam Yaffa (ex-Hanoi Rocks and Jessie Camp) took my place in Vasquez.

Chrome Locust are a relatively new band, have the various members been in any other bands previously?

Are you hearing anything I'm saying??!! I just told you the entire Chrome Locust history. You must be one of those "Stoner Rockers" I keep hearing about. [he's a sneaky man is Jim, but right - Ed]

Your music contains elements of Sabbath, Backyard Babies, and perhaps almost Entombed at times. Who would you say influences your musical style, and how would you categorise music.

I think D-generation maybe has the Backyard Babies vibe, not us. Dregen is a fool to have quit The Hellacopters. I know he is probably being loyal to the band he started and all but shit, that decision was a no-brainer. The Hellacopters released a Perfect fuckin' Album - Super Shitty To The Max. That's not easy to do, and the 2nd one was real good and the 3rd one o.k. but it needed Dregen. The Backyard Babies is bullshit. Any trendoid can do that shit. It smells fishy... like the Back Street Boys. See, Dregen and Todd Youth both wear eyeliner but that's were the resemblance stops. They are opposites. Dregen had to choose between two bands. He made the wrong choice in my opinion, I'm guessing out of some loyalty to his first band. Todd made the wrong choice because he has no loyalty to his band. (%$#@#$?!! Oh Shit! Did I even mention that Todd quit Chrome Locust a few weeks ago to join Danzig! Well he did and that's what I'm refering to). He joined a shitty vampire cabaret act instead of blowing the spot with his own Action Rock combo. Now me & Michael gotta look for a New GTR Player for the Locust. It ain' easy. [oh you poor boys. Anyway I hate to disagree, but the Backyard Babies piss all over the Hellacopters from the albums I've heard - Ed]

My point is that great R&R bands are not "made", they are "cast". The Whole is always greater than the sum of the parts. When Chrome Locust got together we all felt it. The first fuckin' time we played Hole in the Sky together. The room was electric. Some people get scared when they feel that. Afraid of failure. Not Me... she-it no! We thought we needed a frontman. The casting thing. A guy that is so over the top you would never want to hang out with him for any length of time. Every great band's got one. We even took a band photo with a guy who looked like Buck Cherry 'cause we thought we gotta have a frontman to do the full-on rock trip. Then we realized we already got a frontman, he's just behind the drum set!

Tell our readers why they should buy your fantastic album.

To tell you the truth, the album isn't great in my opinion. I love the last song, the instrumental- probably 'cause I didn't play on it. Todd or Michael did the Bass. We killed live. 90% of our gigs were OFF THE HOOK. Out of control. We're talking about a band that cancelled more shows than we played. The day before every tour we did, I really was never sure if we were gonna leave or not.

Would you prefer:

1. staying at home on a Friday night listening to Sabbath and chilling out with a few beers

2. going to a local band gig

3. going to a club and moshing your brains out to Slayer, then passing out in the middle of the road on the way home due to excess alcohol.

Nowadays, I'd go to the club if the band was good. Back in the day I woulda been stage diving at a Jane's Addiction show. Never got to see the real Slayer.

You have already played gigs with some of my favourite bands (Queens Of The Stone Age, Backyard Babies to name two). Who have you most enjoyed playing with, and what band do you dream of playing with in the future.

We only played shows with great bands. I loved all the bands we did gigs with: Queens, Slab, The Hellacopters, Nebula, Atomic Bitchwax. [no mention of Backyard Babies you notice - Ed] We played the eastcoast part of the Bad Brains (Soul Brains) tour. That was so cool. An intense show -different every night. Same set list but H.R. changed every night from statuesque to climbing on the ceiling pipes and being a spaz.

I dream of getting a Good GTR player these days.

Do you have any plans to come over to the UK or Europe?

No plans yet.

If you could choose one band or person in the history of music to have never existed, who would it be? You're not allowed to wimp out of this one!

A tough one because I veiw music history as a series of neccasary cycles. The shitty bands that I blame for the state of crap we have today were actually needed at one time. For example, I heard the Chilli Peppers in 1985 and hated them. Awful. Then I saw them live, got blown away, and slapped my bass for 5 years (Gangway Fathead). That band was an antidote for a lot of people. They tuned me onto Funkadelic, One of my all time favorite bands ever. But, they put out a lot of crap in the 90's and are some how responsible for the whiteboyrapfunkmetal of today. Forefathers if you will. So without the Peppers, There might not be a Korn or a Limp bizkit and that would suit me fine, but I can't live without Funkadelic.
Catch 22!

What are your three favourite albums of all time, and what is your least favourite?

Tell us a good joke.

What's the differince between Neil Armstrong and Michael Jackson?
Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon. . . Michael Jackson buggers little boys in the butthole!

Thanks for your time, it's much appreciated.

My pleasure. Thank You.