The 80's will be making a huge comeback this summer with the upcoming Rocklahoma Festival that is slated to take place on July 10th - 13th. One band that was very popular on MTV in the heyday of metal was Kix. You may remember the popular hits "Don't Close Your Eyes", "Blow My Fuse", "Cold Blood". Kix will be performing at Rocklahoma in July 12th.
These days guitarist Brian Forsythe is also performing in Rhino Bucket. The band will be playing a very popular all ages show at Sarfari Sams in West Hollywood on May 10th. I recently caught up with the busy guitarist, Brian Forsythe,as we discuss the upcoming Rocklahoma appearance of Kix at Rocklahoma on July12th and current Rhino Bucket news.
Brian, Thank you for checking in with Metal Monthly. What is new with Rhino Bucket? Will the band be going into the studio soon to record new material?
BRIAN: We are in the studio right now as a matter of fact. We laid down the drum tracks with Simon about two weeks ago and have been working on guitars since then. We have a total of about 15 tracks.
Rhino Bucket has re-mastered and re-issued 1994, "Pain and Suffering". How do you think this version compares to the original,"Pain" album?
BRIAN: Well it's basically the same except for the 5 previously unreleased bonus tracks.
As a guitarist, how does your gig in Rhino Bucket compare to performing with Kix? I really like the bluesy AC/DC influences in Rhino Bucket.
BRIAN: Overall I'm doing what I've always done and it seems to be working out. I do have to dress down slightly for this gig. The main difference is the way we all work together on the songs. One of us brings in a rough idea and we all shape it into a song. Kix was like that in the beginning but as time went on Donnie took over more control and we (the band) had less involvement in the song writing process.
Last summer Rhino Bucket spent a lot of time on the road. What was it like performing at Rocklahoma? There were a lot of die-hards fans there, plus new fans too seeing the band perform for the first time!
BRIAN: We didn't have the best time slot but the people that were present were definitely there to see us so I still had a great time! It was cool to be part of that whole thing.
This year you will be performing with Kix at Rocklahoma. Are you looking forward to this show? How has the reunion shows been going?
BRIAN: Kix has been doing reunion shows once a year in the Maryland area for the past few years and they've been going well; the crowds seem to be growing. So it will be interesting to take it out of the area this year and what better place to do it than Rocklahoma. So yes I am looking forward to it!
Kix survived so many different eras music. Do you feel MTV played a major role in the longevity of ,Kix and in essence with the constant rotation of Kix videos, such as "Don't Close Your Eyes" laid down the solid foundation of fans that have remained loyal to the band throughout the years?
BRIAN: MTV helped but I think the fact that, first of all we were a great live band, and secondly were toured non-stop though out the '80s into the early '90s had a lot to do with it too. We were consistent and didn't stray too far from the path.
Any favorite tours with Kix, that you would like to share with us? What is like it playing with Aerosmith?
BRIAN: We never did a whole Aerosmith tour only a few dates here and there but even then it was a great experience! The most memorable show would have to be on the "Back In The Saddle Tour". They had just gotten back together but were still on drugs. We opened for their concert on City Island in Harrisburg, PA. At the end of the show when they came off stage Steven Tyler had a girl on each side of him with his arms around them and as he passed me I noticed his feet were dragging in the dirt behind him. Those guys were always really nice to us, even later on we would go to see them play and they would always invite us into their dressing room.
Will Rhino Bucket, also be touring this summer?
BRIAN: Mostly weekend fly ins, nothing extended. Unless of course we get offered the AC/DC tour or something.
Rhino Bucket has that AC/DC kind of vibe. What is it like performing with drummer Simon Wright from Dio?
BRIAN: Simon is like a machine only with feeling and solid as a rock! I'm secretly hoping Ronnie James Dio keeps the Black Sabbath thing going for a while so we can keep Simon. I'm sure the pay isn't as good with us though.
Who are some of your musical influences?
BRIAN: I come from a southern rock / blues background. The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The (early) Eagles and also bands like The Rolling Stones, Cream, Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, Aerosmith and later AC/DC of course. Also growing up in the sixties the whole Memphis soul thing had a huge impact on me. I pretty much listen to anything as long as it's good and has a good groove.
How has the music industry changed since the hey of the 80's?
BRIAN: Well obviously the big Record companies are starting to sweat. I'm sure it's harder to get signed to a major label these days the way things are going but then again you don't really need to anymore with the Internet. There isn't as much money being thrown around as there used to be... not that I ever saw any of it.
Do you think metal is coming full circle again, with the launch of festivals like Rocklahoma bringing back the bands that have survived over the years?
BRIAN: Yeah I'm noticing more and more young kids are into the '80s bands.
Brian, How would you sum up the 80's?
BRIAN: Like anything else, nothing lasts forever. It started out one way and ended up a parody of it's self.
Looking back is there anything that you would have done differently?
BRIAN: I would've paid more attention to the business and wrote more songs.
Brian, Thank you so much taking time to do this interview. Is there anything else that you would like to say?
BRIAN: I'd just like to say thank you to all the people who bought the last Rhino Bucket record and who came out to see us play! This next Rhino Bucket record is going to be the best one yet! Please continue to spread the word so I can quit my day job!
