Fools Paradise band Interview

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I N T E R V I E W
June 2004
Fools Paradise

Nick, David and Clarence
www.FoolsParadise.us
info@neilson-fools.com
Band contact number: (805)986-2970

RCN: Hello, we are here with Fools Paradise a local band from Ventura County, and they're a Kick Ass Hard Rock Band, so we're going to find out a little more about what makes them tick. . .

1. RCN: What type of band are you?

We are a Dynamic, Creative Hard Rock Musical Experience.

2. RCN: Tell us the brief history of your band.

In 2000, Nick and Clarence lived across the street from each other, and at times Nick could hear low bass sounds rumbling off and C could hear Nick's guitar crunching away. For over a year or so, the most they said to each other was "Hi neighbor". Eventually they started playing together and soon began looking for a drummer. They ran an ad in a local paper "Rock Drummer Wanted". That's when David joined in and Fools Paradise was formed. That was in early 2001. Since then we have played various clubs through out the county and surrounding areas. We have opened for the Lou Gramm Band (former lead singer of Foreigner) at the Majestic Ventura Theatre and received radio airplay on the Octopus 95.9FM. We believe in giving the audience what they came for and strive to deliver a performance worthy of the best venue, no matter its size or locale.

3. RCN: Who are your musical and non-musical influences?

Our musical influences run from Black Sabbath, Dream Theatre to the Isly Brothers. We get a lot of ideas from everyday life and how politics and religion affect the world globally, we're not sure if the do more harm than good.

4. RCN: What are your dreams and goals?

To make our mark, something to say "We were hear and this is what it sounded like.

5. RCN: Who writes the songs, what are they about?

Nick usually brings the outline of the song to the band for completion.
6. RCN: What's your opinion of George Bush?
He's done enough damage; it's time for him to go.

7. RCN: How do you promote your band and shows?

We have a website www.FoolsParadise.us where we announce our shows, we also print up and post fliers, send e-mails, make phone calls, and send notices to local radio stations, news papers and magazines.

8. RCN: Describe your show, visual and musically

Sweat drenched emotion. Currently, Fools Paradise performs between 40-90 minutes of original material.

9. RCN: What do you think about downloading music online?

It's great exposure for a group. If there's music that people like enough to download and are wiling to pay for it, weather it be 50 cents or a buck a song, I think it helps bands to continue, and gives them more self esteem and helps them create more. If they don't mind people downloading their music for free, then we don't have a problem with it.
10. RCN: What's your outlook on the record industry today?

It seems as though there are a lot of people in the music business that aren't very musical.

11. RCN: What's your claim to fame?

"...got our own world to look through, and I ain't gonna copy you." Jimi Hendrix "If six was nine"

12. RCN: Tell us a story about a day in your life.

Get up in the morning and go to the day jobs we haven't quit yet. After work we drive home, Check the emails, update the website, continue working on the album artwork and linear notes, design fliers, do some online networking, feed the dogs and at 7pm (three times a week) the band shows up to rehearse until 10:00pm, talk shop for a while. Presently we are doing the fine touches on our new self recorded CD due for release in early to mid July. We have a few sound bites on our website, with more to come.

13. RCN: What inspires you to do what you do?

We have no idea. It's just been programmed into us from birth. It maybe some sort of conspiracy.

14. RCN: What advice would you give to fellow bands?

Don't be something you're not, not for anyone. Fail or succeed as you and no one else.

15. RCN: What are some of your pet peeves?

When people say one thing, and do another.

16. RCN: How does music affect you and the world around you?

Music can either help you escape from the world around you, or help you become more in tune to it.

17. RCN: What's new in the recording of your music?

Recording has become more accessible for bands, the prices and choices are many. In our case we were able to purchase the equipment to record our music ourselves, but believe me it hasn't been cheep or easy. I couldn't tell you if there's anything unique or different in the manner in which it was recorded, except it is US who have recorded it, without the help of a A&R guy or hot shot producer. For more about the equipment, see our website.

18. RCN: What are the biggest obstacles for bands?

Not having a plan or direction. Not networking with other bands and helping each other. One band kept sending us e-fliers so we started emailing them about our gigs and the next email we got from them, asked us to remove them from our mailings. What was that all about? We could have helped each other. Actually there are so many obstacles we could go on all day.

19. RCN: What's the best and worst thing about playing clubs?

The best thing is your music connecting with people and making new fans. The worst thing is being treated like you're a dime a dozen and being rushed on and off the stage in a frantic hurry.... and selling tickets and playing for peanuts isn't all that great either. We've sold over $2,400 worth of tickets to one show and were told we would get a $300 bonus if we sold have that many. After the show we went to collect and we were told they never said that. Later they called us back for another show. We accepted on one condition, that we get paid in advance, they wouldn't agree to those terms. Sometimes it's a one way street.

20. RCN: Tell us about your next shows and why we should be there.

Fools Paradise believes in giving the audience what they came for and strives to deliver a performance worthy of the best venue and we also need your support. Fools Paradise will be performing at Paladino's in Tarzana on May 28th, 2004 at 8pm. Come and see us and someday, maybe you'll be able to say you saw us when we were nobodies.

RCN: Thank you for your insight and time. We'll look forward to hearing your music and seeing your next live show . . . Later gator.

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