by Derric Miller
– Managing Editor —
Teenage Casket Company lead singer Rob Wylde checked in with Hardrock Haven to talk about a side project he had a few years ago called Sins of America; the release of Sins of America’s Demos for the Deranged; what it was like to live in the States; what Teenage Casket Company is up to; an upcoming 10-year documentary on Teenage Casket Company; adding his vocals to the new release from Rob Laney’s Straight to Video sequel; and a whole lot more.
HRH: Most of the Hardrock Haven readers know you as the longtime singer/guitarist of Teenage Casket Company, maybe on the latest Tiger Tailz release, but there was a time when TCC was on hiatus and you were living in the States and started another band—Sins of America. The music you guys made is now going to be released via Mighty Monster Records, all the demos and songs from your EP, and it’s called Demos for the Deranged. How did this collaboration come about?
Wylde: Well it all started when I got an email from a guy named Sasch Machyne. He was a big fan of Sins Of America and had the five-track demo that we released in 2008. He hit me up a while ago and asked if I had any other Sins Of America songs hanging around as he was interested in putting them all out on an official release on his label Mighty Monster. I told him that in addition to the give tracks on the 2008 demo CD, I also had four or five other tracks that we recorded after that and were intended to be released on our official debut album, which unfortunately never came to fruition as the band split not long after that.
I sent him all the demos, he re-mastered everything and put the whole thing together. Putting this CD out was something that I’d been considering doing for a couple of years myself as I often get requests for it, so Sasch and everyone at Mighty Monster saved me the job!
HRH: I remember being in touch with you—maybe we did an interview—when you were living in Boston and playing local shows with Sins of America. Looking back on that time living here in America … is it with fond or bittersweet memories?
Wylde: It’s bittersweet to be honest with you. I don’t regret moving to the States, as there was nothing really going on in the UK at the time and I had some amazing times and met some really wonderful people out there. I just regret a few decisions I made in my personal life haha.
On the whole though I wouldn’t change it. I love America and loved the way of life over there and of course the people. I was always made very welcome over there and Sins Of America was a really great band that probably would’ve gone on to do a lot more had things worked out differently, but no regrets. It was fun while it lasted. Great memories.
HRH: One of the funniest exchanges we had, via email or whatever, was that “PBR is one dollar a beer tonight at this bar!” If you didn’t know gluttony was one of ‘Merica’s favorite pastimes, I think that clarified it for you right there!
Wylde: I used to love Pabst Blue Ribbon! I drank that stuff like it was going out of fashion. In fact I’d go as far as saying that it was my favorite beer over there. I don’t know what that says exactly (laughs). I guess some people are easily pleased.
HRH: I remember the first time I heard “Can’t Take It Back” off the original EP. It stuck with me for a while; it was my favorite song on the release. It’s probably because most Sins of America songs are more positive, upbeat, and this was a little more moody. And there is that guitar part where you guys channel Steve Clark from Def Leppard. Just an awesome song. Can you tell us a little bit about the story behind that song?
Wylde: “Can’t Take It Back” was probably my favorite Sins Of America song too and you’re right about the Def Leppard vibe. That was totally the vibe we were going for with that one and Chris Kelley played some really great lead stuff on that track.
The song is written about letting go of things you can’t change. We all make stupid decisions from time and time and make mistakes but sometimes you’ve got to stop beating yourself up, put it down to a life lesson and just move on.
HRH: For those that have the EP, there are unreleased songs like “Hypnotize Me” that you can’t find on the EP. When I compare it to the songs like “One More Shot” or “Don’t Bite the Hand That Feeds You,” it’s somehow more earnest yet more of a pop hit. It’s seems the songwriting kept growing before you guys called it quits. In fact, this might be my favorite chorus out of all of them …
Wylde: Thanks yeah, I think we were really getting into our stride just before we called it quits so it was a shame. The pop side of things has always been really important in everything I write. Unless there’s some pop hooks in there I’m not interested. That’s the most important part to me.
HRH: The only real “ballad” on the release is “So Good, So Bad.” Just like in TCC, the harmonies are stellar, musical, rich. Is this one of the songs you guys were playing live when you were playing shows, or did it come later? And if you played it live … how much did the ladies love it?
Wylde: No we never played that song live, not as a full band anyway but I would often play it when I’d go out and play solo acoustic shows which I did quite a lot when I lived out there.
It’s definitely a song that comes straight from the heart and I think the lyrics are some of the best I’ve ever written.
I remember it making one girl cry when she first heard it. I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing haha. I’m taking it as good! Definitely a song for the ladies though, no doubt about that.
HRH: I don’t know how many songs you and guitarist Chris Kelley wrote together, but for sure one was “One More Shot.” It seems that you guys put together a kick ass songwriting team. Are you guys still in touch with each other? Is there any chance of doing any songwriting together in the future?
Wylde: We didn’t really write together. For the most part I would write all the songs and just bring them into the band but Chris and I did write “One More Shot” and “Already Leaving” together. Chris came up with the riffs and I wrote the lyrics and melodies. Then Evan Deane, the bass player wrote a great track called “Let The Good Times Roll” which opens the CD.
I can’t really see us writing together in the future but you never know, maybe one day. I’m still in touch and pretty close to Evan. We speak all the time on Facebook and he’s doing great. He’s working on a solo album right now and the material sounds great.
I hear from Shawn Vincent every now and then too. He’s just got married and is having a kid. He now plays drums in a great band in Boston called Damn Shame.
The only guy that I don’t really hear from is Chris Kelley so I don’t really know what he’s up to these days to be honest with you.
HRH: And that begs the question … what are the odds of seeing Sins of America doing a few one-off shows, either here in the States (especially in your old stomping grounds around Boston) or even over in England or Europe?
Wylde: When I lived in the States I was always talking about us coming to the UK to play some shows as I know we’d have gone down great over here. The UK loves that whole Glam scene and we’d have had a great time over here if we’d managed to get over.
I don’t see that happening now but I would love to maybe do like a one off reunion show in Boston or something. That would be great and I’m sure it’d be something we could organize fairly easily. I’m sure at some point it will happen, maybe even record a live CD or something. Time will tell.
HRH: Well, we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about the band that introduced you to Hardrock Haven, and that’s Teenage Casket Company. The band’s last release was in 2013, Still Standing. Are you working on any new music with a release date in mind?
Wylde: Still Standing has been doing great and the response to it has been overwhelming. It hasn’t been out for quite a year yet so to us, it’s still a new album. We’ve just been concentrating on promoting the hell out of it by playing live.
Having said that I’ve got probably another albums worth of material written and we recently went into the studio to record a brand new track called “You’ll Be The Death Of Me” which will more than likely appear on a warts and all documentary about the 10-year history of the band that we’re about to start filming in the next couple of months.
The documentary will be released early next year to coincide with the 10-year anniversary of Dial It Up being released then I’m sure there’ll be new music to follow it. Probably an EP I would think.
HRH: You’ve got some upcoming tour dates; how are the shows going with “new” guitarist Dave Kerr, although by this time he probably doesn’t feel very new anymore …
Wylde: Things are going great with Dave. When he joined at the beginning of last year he totally injected a new lease of life into us. He’s an incredible guitarist with a great voice and to top all that, he’s just an awesome guy in general and the perfect fit for us. Can’t say enough good things about him and we can’t wait to get into the studio with him so you can all hear just how good he is.
HRH: Speaking of band mates, TCC bassist Rob Laney released a cool nostalgia EP called Straight to Video that featured some awesome talent like Jarrett Reddick from Bowling for Soup, singing on Soul Asylum’s “Misery.” Did you get a chance of listening to the first one, and any chance of being featured on the sequel?
Wylde: Yeah I have a copy of the first CD and I thought it came out great. I just loved the whole concept of the Straight To Video thing. Laney comes up with some of the best ideas and all the marketing side of things TCC related all comes from him. Really talented guy.
As for the new one, I just got finished recording lead vocals on a track that’s going to be on there. The song is “Two Heads Are Better Than One” by Powertool. A song that was featured on Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and it came out great. A few people that have heard it said that it was the best they’d ever heard me sing and I think I agree. It was great to really just go for it and do a total sleazy ‘80’s Rock vocal on it, something I don’t really do with TCC that much so I’m looking forward to everyone hearing it and the album in general. From what I’ve heard it’s going to be killer.
HRH: Laney used Pledge Music to crowd-source funding for his new project. In a day and age where labels are becoming … I don’t know if “less viable” is the correct term because you’d sign to Sony or Warner or Atlantic in a second … less of an option if bands want to make any profit, would TCC look in that direction for an upcoming release?
Wylde: Possibly. Laney funded the entire new Straight To Video album via pledging so it is an option and it’s not getting any cheaper to record these days so it might be our only option in future.
I think people really need incentives to pledge though, rather than just saying “We want to record an album, give us your money”. Laney’s been giving away all kinds of cool stuff to encourage people to pledge so if we were to do it, we’d have to go down that road I guess.
In an ideal world we’d just get signed to Atlantic or something but in reality, that just isn’t going to happen so you have to find other ways to make it work nowadays.
HRH: Best of luck with Sins, TCC and everything else you are doing! Is there anything I left out that you’d like to leave with our Hardrock Haven faithful?
Wylde: Just want to say thank you as always for your continued support. It’s much appreciated!
Sins Of America’s Demos For The Deranged is out Sept. 26 so please visit
www.mightymonsterrecords.de or www.facebook.com/sinsofamerica to order.
And for all things TCC related, visit www.teenagecasketcompany.co.uk.
