Road Crew Magazine
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Black Robot – Interview for Road Crew Magazine

Jonathan Brightman and Huck Johns of Black Robot join me to talk all thing Black Robot and more…

Hi guys, congrats on a truly kick ass rock n roll record!  I do like the way you have tried to make a buzz surrounding Black Robot by spreading the word around.

How are you guys today?

JB-BADDASS!

HUCK-Killer dude…

Jonathan, was the chemistry still there between you, Yogi and Devon? Or did take some time to get going again?

JB- Absolutely. Although several years have passed, it really felt like the heartbeat of the old, GREAT version of Buckcherry.  But much better with Huck. Devon and Yogi and everyone that appeared on the Black Robot record are amazing musicians and extremely creative.

Did you look to any bands to influence you on this record?

JB-We approached this record with the agenda of trying to make a timeless, classic record that would stand the test of time. Our influences ranged from AC/DC, Rolling Stones, The Who, Beatles and sounds ranging back to the 50’s.

Huck- I would say I always look to other music as inspiration. When making a record, it’s hard not to hear other songs within songs from the past or present. I think all great artists use what they were brought up on when creating a song.  So in my mind, I felt like Roger Daltry or Bonn Scott recording a new song in 1974.  To me the influence IS the Rock & Roll.

Huck, how was it for stepping into the fold with these guys?

Huck- I have to say, JB is my best friend and making music with him was a fun and exciting experience. I’ve always wanted to be in a band with him and to me that’s the best thing about this whole thing-making a rock record with friends! Dave is an amazing producer and the contributing musicians were all very cool cats.  And of course it was great using Yogi and Devon!

Jonathan, from a UK point of view you seem to disappear after Buckcherry, did you need a break or were you carrying on with other projects?

JB-Yes, I did need a break. I was a founding member of Buckcherry in 1995 and after six years of hard work and touring I decided to limit my involvement with music to producing local unsigned artists in Los Angeles.  In 2003, my ex Buckcherry bandmate, Keith Nelson contacted me to try to reform Buckcherry with the singer of a band called Leisure and drummer Mike Fasano. We did a few rehearsals, but I thought it was wrong not to involve Josh. For a long time, I was convinced the major labels had destroyed opportunity for good rock bands to emerge. I was at Best Buy (electronics shop) one day and I saw kids playing the Rock Band video game and rocking out to Led Zeppelin, Pat Benater and Weezer while playing a plastic guitar controller. It reminded me of the feelings of excitement Rock and Roll gave me when I was a kid. I was totally re inspired!

Black Robot seems to be something that you two guys have been working on for a while? Was it always planned to come out as Black Robot or was it another project?

JB-I’ve always been a fan of Huck. Yogi and I wrote some songs with him in 2002 in my living room. Huck and I assembled a band in 2003. The band was backed by an investor that was involved in organized crime (long story).  We decided to pull out of that situation and pick it back up at a later point in time. But yeah, Huck and I are great friends and we’ve always wanted to create the Robot!

Huck- I’ve always been a fan of J.B. J as J.B. put it, we went around with this idea a couple times.  After I had my little taste of the industry with my Capitol Records release, it seemed we were all in the right spot to finally go make a record.

The recording of the record comes over as fun and enjoyable for all you guys...

JB-For me, this album was an incredible experience. It was great having the ability to collaborate on writing this record with the guys. It was hard work. We came to the studio after our day jobs and did twelve-hour days in the studio. We had to work hard and fast. We were only able to afford two weeks to finish the entire project.

Huck- It was a blast and as J.B. put it, it wasn’t easy. A lot of time was spent putting together the pieces, we were there for every knob turn and tape drop. Since the record was recorded live in a sense-and through so many different vintage amps and microphones, to give it that vintage record sound-we didn’t want to miss a thing and make sure we had our nose in as much as we could. It was a real production experience, as If we were in 1974, or 1984.

The album is really pure Rock n’ Roll. Was this your intention for this record?

JB-This record is a very honest expression of the music we have inside us. We all grew up on Rock n’ Roll. We entered the studio with no songs written and agreed to record every bit of music we jammed on. Toward the end of the sessions we were pulling out bits of music and started crafting songs. All of the equipment and amplifiers were vintage with very little or no effects. It was a truly organic experience making this record.

Huck- Our intention I think was to deliver a rock record that was REAL. Real in the sense of organically created and not contrived to fit what is going on out there now.  More like what’s been going on for 50 years. We wanted to recreate the sounds that shaped Rock and Roll.

Why did you go with a cover song on the album to, in Cocaine?

JB-I love Clapton and Cocaine!

Huck- It’s a great song and everyone loves to sing along to it, we thought that it would just be a fun cover to do, and hell, Lynard Skynard and Clapton never went wrong covering Mr. Cale!

Will Baddass be released as the first single? And will a video be made?

JB-We’re considering BADDASS as our second single. Cocaine first. Huck has some hysterical ideas for a video for BADDASS.

Huck- Cocaine first but Baddass…God I hope so, I really want to make fun of..um..I mean, pay homage to Kid Rock!

With regards to the line-up change after the album was released, was this always on the cards or did it come of a surprise?

JB- Yogi and Devon are great friends and they were awesome to contribute to this record. It all started with that relationship. Yogi is the touring guitar player for Chris Cornell and also has some amazing solo work. If the stars line up one day maybe the guys can join the show at some capacity if the band blows up. Devon is a successful businessman now and he also writes music for film and TV. We have the good fortune of being able to continue this project from a touring aspect and future records with our current line up. These guys are young and hungry and really know their rock and roll.

Huck- It was great using Yogi and Devon on the record, but the current line-up is ferocious!  They are the perfect fit for this type of music. I believe the live show is better than the recording in a lot of ways!

Have the new members settled in to your Baddass ways in Black Robot?

JB- Our guitar players Andy Andersson and Eli Wolfmeier have an amazing chemistry together. It’s like Skynard and Allman Brothers at times. Daxx Nielsen is also one of the best drummers I’ve ever heard. He has that whole Bun E. Carlos thing going on.

Huck- THIS IS BLACK ROBOT 2009!

August 8^th at the Roxy, LA then. You guys must be pretty excited with this?

JB-L.A. knows how to rock.

Huck- Its gonna be really cool! We are spending a lot on the production and visuals along with the sound and promotion of this debut Hollywood show! We couldn’t ask for a better place to kick it off and look forward to all our fans and friends coming to rock it out with us!

Do you plan more shows and will you be doing any across the pond in UK?

JB-We’re amazed at the incredible support we’re getting from the UK. UK Rock fans are very discriminating. If the UK demands it we’ll be there!

Huck- UK, WORLD- WE LOVE YA!  We’re comin’ and were gonna kick some rock and roll ass American style!

What else do you have up your sleeve for Black Robot and yourselves in the upcoming months?

JB-It’s going to be a long and winding road from here on. We really believe in this record. The music industry has changed in many ways and we’re going to do everything in our power to navigate Black Robot into a world class international rock outfit. Much of what happens in our future will be determined by how well we’re embraced by music fans. But we have faith that we are going to strike a nerve with the international rock community.

Huck- Giving every ounce of passion and energy to the fans and the listeners.  To devote our souls to the rock and roll gods and deliver the best live shows a band could possibly give.

Thanks to Jonathan and Huck for taking time out to do this interview. Black Robot is up and running so spread the word! Catch them at The Roxy Theatre – August 8^th.

Huck- It was my pleasure and thank you for supporting Black Robot and Rock and Roll.  We’ll see you at the top!

Thanks again.