Stevie Dacanay, guitarist for Buckcherry, spoke about their upcoming album, Warpaint and the following tour. It was great talking with him about what went into the production of the album, where they get their inspiration, their writing process, and the making of their video for their latest single, “Head Like A Hole.”
Side Stage Magazine: So why don’t you tell me about your new album coming out in ten days.
Steve Dacanay: It comes out March 8, in ten days. We went through the producer who did our 15 album, Mike Plotnikoff, and he had a lot to do with “active rock” as it were in the last 10, 15 years. He’d take what we do, and cut it into a more modern take. It’s still all of us, you know.
I’ve been listening to it, and I really like it! I especially like the Nine Inch Nails cover that you guys have done. I was watching the videos side by side to see how they compare.
Cool! Yeah there’s quite a few takes and directions we had for the video. And he wanted to do nods to Trent Reznor and the original video. He kept the tight shots, that was purposefully done in the original version. It was kind of the version we approved, and we were messing around in the studio. We were doing two different songs, and the “Head Like A Hole” one just really came out as the strong one. We love Trent Reznor, I believe, in my opinion, you should do an article on his true genius.
Yeah, definitely! I love the tight shots too, that extreme close up on the mic and the guitar. I love dark, contrasty photos, so I really loved the video!
Me too!
So you guys came back from a European tour. Are you all rested from that?
Yeah. We hit the UK, and Europe. We did a lot of shows in about three and a half weeks. The tough thing was a few of the band members got really sick. So we went home with kind of the wheels falling off, but looking at the big picture, it was a successful tour for us. A lot of people there are looking forward to this album coming out. They respond in really vocal, and passionate, and really animated ways and sing along right away.
Oh that’s awesome! So I haven’t seen Joyous Wolf perform, but I have seen pictures and videos and they seem insane! That seems like a good fit for you guys to tour with them.
Yeah. I’ve heard a little of their music. Mike Plotnikoff has done a little of their music as well. Really, they’re a cool Rock N Roll band, which is good for us. It comes with the package–two Rock N Roll bands that don’t use tracks out there, just carrying on, ya know?
So you were supposed to be coming out to North Carolina back in I think September, but it had to be cancelled because of the hurricane, so I’m so glad you’re coming back this way in April.
Oooh, that’s why! How is everything over there?
Oh it’s good. There’s not much damage left, we’ve recovered pretty quick. That venue actually just reopened their doors in January I think.
There was a show in Chicago that [the venue] burned down, so that one got rerouted to Wisconsin. It’s always a shame when unforeseen disasters happen. We like to come back and make god on promised that we planned, so i’m happy that we’re going back.
Yeah, and it works out better cause it’s after the new album drops!
Yeah, and there’s gonna be a better awareness. Our video’s out now, and when we get there, everything should be playing [on the radio].
So do you have a favorite track on this album?
I like them all for different reasons. Obviously, they’re all our babies. But I’m having fun playing a song called “Back Down.” It’s more of a Stonesy riff. There’s also a song called “No Regrets,” it’s like a basic punk kind of song. But I like them all for different reasons. We went pretty light on this one. We have a rock song, an older rock song, a punk song and a ballad too. We did our homework and we had so much fun with this one.
I can definitely hear some classic rock influences. The first track, right off-the-bat, reminded me of AC/DC.
Yeah. In my opinion, with “Warpaint,” that’s a classic military sound. It’s a good strong guitar riff, the vocals and chorus.
How does the song-writing process work for you guys?
Well, a couple different ways. Josh will come to me with a melody and lyrics and a chorus, and I’ll build a song around them. The other way is the exact opposite-I’ll come to him with verses and chorus music and if he connects with it, he’ll add some lyrics and I’ll go ahead and add guitar and all that. It usually goes on of two ways.
Is it usually the two of you that does most of the song-writing?
Yeah, on this one yeah. We co-wrote a couple of songs with our new guitar player, Kevin Roetgen, and we also co-wrote another song with a guy named Johnny Andrews. That one’s called “Bent.”
I know inspiration can hit you anywhere, but is there one area that you find it the most?
Yeah. I think I find inspiration the most in older music. Listening to old R&B, older Rock N Rolls music. That’s kind of the main place that I, as a guitar player and songwriter, find inspiration.
Well, they’re classics for a reason.
Totally! Josh is deep in his roots, and he grew up on Punk Rock. We find it [inspiration] in all different places.
Do you have anything you’re looking forward to on this next tour?
Besides the festivals, we have our release, and then our songs are going to hit radio, and then we have the headlining tour. For the summer, we have some festivals and then we’ll be back in the UK and Europe with the Backyard Babies in the Fall.
Wow! That’s a lot going on! What festival are you playing?
We’re doing the Inkcarceration, I can’t remember, we’re doing a few festivals and I can’t remember which ones. We’re doing Hard Rock Hell, and Rocklahoma.
That one always has a great lineup.
Yeah, I think definitely that one in March or May.
I think it’s usually May. I think Welcome to Rockville opens up the season in May.
Is there anything else you wanted to add about your tour or your album?
Yeah! March 8 s a big day, and you’ll hear us on your local stations, and we’ll be out on the East Coast very shortly. Thank you for all the love over the years!
I’m excited for you, personally, but I’m excited for the fans, all the great stuff you guys have going on, they’re really going to love it.
Thank you for putting out the good word.
Their album releases March 8, and their tour begins that same week. Stay up-to-date with their news at www.facebook.com/buckcherry and listen to what Stevie has to say below.
