METAL TO THE MAXX: IT'S VILE FAXX!

METAL TO THE MAXX: IT'S VILE FAXX!

J. Kordosh

What’s hotter than the New Metal? Why, the Newer Metal, of course. Hottest of all is the Newest Metal, a days-old trend that’s got the industry a-talkin’.

Now Sounds/New Stages is therefore pleased—and incredibly fortunate—to present our interview with Vile Faxx, the newest (best) metal band in America. Formed precisely 12 minutes ago, Vile Faxx have distilled the finest elements of every HM group ever and, brother, they’re monstrous! We managed to catch ’em at the 48-track studio where they were cutting their first album, Faxx ’n’ Figgers, which has already gone platinum nine times on advance orders alone. As always, NS/NS asked the tough questions of Dick Hardy (lead guitar), Johnnie “Dames” Rio (vocals/guitar), Frankee Sevvin (bass) and Hector Diaz (drums). And, as always, we got the right answers on how you, just like Vile Faxx, can get the big metal sound of the instant! Actually, it was quite exciting.

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“Johnnie,” we said to the redoubtable Johnnie “Dames” Rio. “How does Vile Faxx get that million-dollar metal sound? Surely it isn’t...luck?”

“We don’t believe in luck—write that down,” he said. “We believe in metal and the right metal gear.”

“How does that apply to you as a guitarist?” (Johnnie plays rhythm guitar in addition to being the band’s singer/ songwriter.) We’ve gotta know how you chose that lilac purple ESP guitar. It’s a bad axe!”

“Listen—I’m a metal madman. I wanna party and rock and that’s it! Now, ESP has what they call their ‘Metal Series,’ and we’re talkin’ a kick-ass line of guitars here. Even before I formed Vile Faxx [glances at watch] I knew I wanted a guitar with one custom humbucker pickup—just great for us rhythm players—and oh-so-easy fret access. Check out this body shape.” [Here one of Johnnie “Dames” Rio’s many groupies walked by as Rio was holding out his guitar.]

“Looks great,” I said, falling off my chair as she turned the corner.

“Hey, we’ll take care of you,” Johnnie said. “Ask me about my amp.”

“What’s this I hear about your amp?” I questioned relentlessly.

“We all use Dean Markley gear—it’s tops. You’ll notice both Dick and I have opted for their powerhouse T120 all-tube lead amps. We’re talking full channelswitching here. All the overdrive we need, all night, every night. Reverb. Hell, even a sensitivity switch giving us a 10 decibel boost!”

“So you’re saying metal is power and Markley is metal?”

“Nice turn of a phrase, but you got it. [Turns to lead guitarist Dick Hardy.] Has he got it, Dick?”

“Yeah. But listen, man, I use an Aria Pro II, OK? Dual pick-ups. The original smooth-joint model. Don’t ask me who I’m into—I grew up on Mick Mars, OK? I need the power to cut through, I need sustain...[laughs]...I need my Aria, OK? Molten metal. Girls on the bus. Who the hell’s Eddie Van Halen?”

NOW SOUNDS NEW STAGES

‘‘Uh, Johnnie,” I said, ‘‘Dick seems to be wandering.”

“Van Halen. The dude’s old, m’right? Arias. Penicillin. Can’t live without ’em.” [Here Dick was led away by some friendly people.]

“Well, it all sounds mighty metal to me so far,” I said to Johnnie. “But one thing I noticed during the half-hour it took to cut your album was how good Frankee Sevvin sounded on bass. I’d compare him to Jack Bruce.”

Just then, Frankee came in with several voluptuous hangers-on. “Jack Who??” he exclaimed, reaching for a beer. “Was he in a bigger band than Vile Faxx?”

“Banish the notion!” I exclaimed heatedly. “He was one of them British blues/metal guys. You know, Mayall, Clapton...”

“Well, I dunno about that stuff, but I’ll tell you this: ol’ Gramps never had an ESP bass.” He was carrying his own pearl-finished masterpiece.

“Looks sharp, Frankie, but how does it help you get that much-needed metal bottom?”

“Man, you need help. Look at this bridge: you see the tracks to hold the saddles in place? Of course you do. And do you know why I need that? It’s because I play hard— all us metal guys play hard, write that down. This baby’s designed to accomodate players like me—it’s thunderous and sturdy. I’m thunderous and sturdy. We all are; have been for almost an hour now. This bass is me!”

I was amazed at how vile it all was. Hector Diaz, the drummer, just happened to overhear us.

“Don’t believe everything Frankee tells you,” he cautioned. “In metal, drums are everything. You ever listen to Ratt? [I admitted I had, and often.] OK, then you know what I mean.

“Now, you saw my Gretsch kit in the studio—that’s what I’d recommend to any aspiring millionaire. It’s got it all: natural wood finish, die-cast rims and six-ply maple shells. It’s punchy and clean and it carries a long tone. You noticed my Paiste cymbals, too. After playing professionally for 57 minutes, there’s something I’m looking for in a cymbal. [Pause] I’ll remember what it is in a minute. [Frowns, thinking hard.] Oh, yeah! Durability! Sizzle! Stuff like that. I need not add that Alex Van Halen uses the Paiste 15" 2002 Sound Edge Hi-Hat.”[Heck, no!]

“What a fine kit it must be,” I answered.

“Fine kit?! Listen, Mo, that kit’s got the new Gretsch Techware! It’s doublebraced for bashers like me! Everything on the kit is guaranteed for five years!! Fine kit??!”

Seeing that Hector’s hot Latin blood had been aroused to the point where he was going to punch me in the face, I quickly exited. I ran into Johnnie “Dames” Rio again.

“How’d it go, man? You get your story?”

“Uh, I was going to ask you about your microphones.”

“Ha! The Astatic Pro Series! Good thing you asked—Astatic makes a mike that delivers for the modern metal band. You heard me singing—you know I’m always an octave above my range. Do you think just any mike’s gonna deliver that sound without breaking up?”

“Nope.”

“Then you’re right,” he answered.

“Tell me, Johnnie, what are your plans for Vile Faxx?”

“Well, we just finished our second album while you were talking to Hector. Sounds like another multi-million seller. Tomorrow, we’re gonna do our world tour—gotta support this product, you know—and the next day we’ll probably party. We haven’t partied for [looks at watch] quite some time now. We’ll take care of you, y’know what I mean?”

I knew what he meant. I tried to think up another question about his amp.