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How did you original meat up with John [ex-Motley Crue] and what happened from there?
Well, John I met through Nikki Six, I knew Nikki from about 1990, and obviously within a year or so they got rid of Vince and got this new guy John Corabi, who I hadn't heard of before actually. I was very curious about him, here was a guy stepping into somebody elses shoes, just like me with KISS, and we hit it off pretty well, didn't really know him that well right away, but I loved the Motley record that he did with those guys and kept in touch obviously, always knew what was going on, and of course at a certain point realized that John wasn't going to be in Motley anymore. It kind of coincided at the same time that I wasn't going to be in KISS anymore. So obviously [I said] "let's talk. Let's get together and see if we can go off and do our own things, or maybe we can work together." And as it worked out our influecnes were similar, our desires of what a band should be like were very similar. It all really came together pretty smoothly.
When did you first meet?
We first started talking September of '96, and we really didn't get a chance to start writing and get serious about a band until November of that year. I had to go away to Australia to do some clinics over there, that was really cool. So as soon as I got back we jumped into "okay, let's write, we're a band".
What type of clinics were you doing overseas?
Eric Singer and I got a chance to perform at these clubs in the classic cities in Australia, it was very exciting. Good crowds, we did our individual performances, with a backing DAT on a machine, I was doing some KISS stuff and some new originals, that kind of showed the lead guitarist vibe. And then Eric and I, we got a bass player, we jammed together, did a few KISS things, Hendrix thing, Zepplin thing, you know, it was quite a lot of fun, everybody really enjoyed it. [...] That's not a career, it's a thing you do in addition to other things. And as soon as I got back John and I got to work very seriously.
About your departure from KISS. Was that a welcome release for you, or was it kind of disappointing?
No, actually as much as it was a difficult thing I was very very relieved. I was in the shadow of the make-up era, even when the band was selling platinum with me in it. So it was always something that I had to deal with. The press always looked at the band as that era, they'd always forget everything else. It was really kind of nice to move on from that as much as I was proud of my tenure and my contributions.
How does your experience in KISS influence the music in Union?
I certainly have spent lots of times in the studio creating/ writing songs with the guys. Being in the studio, learning from different producers. [...] You learn everytime you are in the studio, it's always a lot of experience. I always tell people [that ask me] "what do I do, where do I start", well, play with other people, get out there. Through the years I've developed my guitar sound, my recording technique, what I like to hear. [...] You bring it all to the next thing you do. You remember all the shit you really like and use it, or do it your own way.
What was hoped for with the music of Union?
Well I certainly wanted to do what our vision of a band should be, in Motely and KISS you had very strong people leading those bands, that was understandable, it was their bands. Here John and I had an opportunity to just spread our wings and do what we want to do. Suddenly the responsibility was on our shoulders, which wasn't always an easy one, but it was time. So obviously I didn't have to write a KISS or Motley record, we didn't want to, that wouldn't be fare for the fans, or certainly ourselves. Let's just do what we like, we're into crunchy guitars and big hooky songs, so let's just go for it, see what happens.
Was it pretty much a joint effort between you and John on the musical side?
Well initially, absolutely. There was this guy Kurt Cuomo, who I met through KISS, he wrote songs on the Carnival Of Souls record, who got involved with us. So the three of us really [collaborated] a lot in the beginning, then of course Brent and Jamie got involved later on.
How did you come across Brent and Jamie for the album?
Brent I met through a singer I did some gigs with here, I met her in L.A. He's from Canada actually, so he was here in L.A. [...] I didn't immediately think that Brent would be the drummer, but we checked him out on a couple of songs, we just jammed with him. He came up with some great drum vibe. It all worked out rather smoothly without having to audition a lot of people.
Jamie was somebody that was kicking around L.A. that nobody actually introduced me to, I kind of bumped into him at a club where he was playing. Brent and I were like "this guy rocks, let's ask him what he's doing". He was coming out of a situation with a band where the singer died, so it was a good time for him to join something, sort of like a rebirth for him.
Both these guys are extremeley talented, John and I were fortunate that we got two guys that really love the kind of music that we are into, and can really contribute to the band in every way. They're really a big asset to the band. And it's a band! This isn't a project with just John and I where the other guys are hired guns. We'll struggly and profit in the same way.
The lineup seems fairly stable then...
Oh yeah, obviously John and I started off together, so obviously the press will talk to John and I more, but you'll always see four pictures.
Coming out of these major bands, do you find the press is looking for something big and flashy as opposed to the technique involved in Union?
Well look, I'm going to talk about the band one way or another, it doesn't matter what they were looking for. I'd say that it's an interesting story and it needs to be told, it does tie into how Union got started and where Union is at, you always bring your prior experiences: you break up with one girl and start dating another, hopefully you learned something from the one before that. I think it is newsworthy, I'm very proud of my tenure and my whole career, and to get a chance to talk about it. But you make a point there, I'm most proud of the music, you know, but obviously people want to know, what is it like to be in KISS, and how does it feel to find out you're not in KISS anymore. Those are good questions, and I'm willing to talk about it.
Do you wonder about the fans. You have some tours coming up and knowing where you and John came from the fans may be expecting a bigger flashier show, but with Union it seems you'll be having the more down to earth club type shows?
I've put it out there because I've gotten that question a lot. I think they can understand that a brand new band, we're still from the ground up here, we can't afford to go blow things up and have a giant union symbol behind us, or logo behind us. I think they understand that. It's pretty obvious that if you're a fan of KISS and Motley you are going to expect a show, but they've both done things on a smaller scale to as a treat for the fans. And I hope [the fans] understand that when they see us we're going to do the best we can, but we can't afford to compete with those kinds of shows, I don't think that they're that naive.
Are you attempting to gather a different fan base in general?
To me I'll take anybody who likes the music. Let's be honest, you do your music not for a specific audience, you do it because its in your head and you want to get it out onto the CD so people can enjoy it and turn them on and move them. Now obviously there is a fan base from KISS and Motley that is kind of curious about the band. [...] They play it on the radio, obviously the radio isn't just for a KISS fan or Motley fan. So hopefully we will get a good reaction.
What type of reacion have you been getting to the music so far?
I got to admit, I've been very very pleased because it's been very positive and people are understanding it. I know a lot of them were wondering, very curious as to what it will sound like, will it sound like KISS or Motley, well Union sounds like Union. Its a combination of a lot of things. I read a review on the internet, and that's how they reviewed it "Union is Union". [...]
So you're very pleased when people say it has a Union sound?
Of course. To me I'm so proud of it, you know, everybody is entitely to their opinion, so if you don't like it and I read a bad review that says it sucks, I know I did what I wanted, I can accept whatever happens, to me it's already a success: To get those eleven songs onto CD is quite a feet, and I'm very proud of it already.
[...]
When do you plan on touring?
We want to get out there an tour in April.
How did you end up on Mayhem (Record Label)?
We did our job, which is getting together a demo tape and send it to the managers to put it out there. [...] Mayhem, they're a big indie label that happens to do rock-n-roll, they freaked, that thought it was brilliant from day one, first listen. We kept in touch with them, in a very short period of time we got a offered a very respectable record deal. And they are just so excited, as you probably know already. We're thrilled, because they get it, they understood what we were trying to accomplish musically, and weren't interested in trying to control it in any way, [they just let us do our thing].
[...]
About the star symbol?
The symbol is these four interlocking four point stars. That shows the four of us really need each other and we're a band. We want to be a band.
[...]
Image?
You talk about image. I'm not going to toot my own horn, but the band looks cool, we got three really tall guys and a singer who is short, or shorter. I think there is a cohesiveness in everybody. We didn't manufacture it, it just sort of turned out that way. [...] Obviously we're not going to appear in makeup. Clothing-wise, we like looking like rock stars, so we're not going to show up on stage in a flannel shirt or a gas station T-shirt, because I think people deserver something a little more showy than that, but I'm not going to be in platform boots and space makeup. We're kind of honest to who we are.
[...]
What direction do you see the scene going in?
I really think that rock-n-roll is getting its shit back together and people are really enjoying it and getting into it. The labels haven't been very supportive, we all know that, and it almost seems like that if you can't play and can't sing they sign you. [...] I see a lot of interest in rock-n-roll, whether the major labels will get it right away I don't know. All I know is that it may come out of the independent scene, but there are definitely people out there who want to hear rock-n-roll.
[...]
Any last comments?
I just want to thank all the fans that have supported us through the years. It's been a great ride with KISS. I'm so proud of my new thing and I hope that everybody gives it a shot and checks it out.
Copyright ©1998 Borcek