Met the man behind the kit

Are you native of the Chicago area?  

I’m from the crazy house in a moderately upscale neighborhood outside Chicago.

Do you have any non-music-related hobbies?
Cars, women, alcohol, fireworks and other combustibles. Guns, not so much anymore.

How did your playing in Michael’s band come about?  Did you approach him, did he approach you, or was a third party involved in suggesting you perform together?

All of the above. Really.

The link to “your website” on your Facebook profile leads to a jewelry store.  Is this a business you’re involved in, or what is the story behind that?

Yeah, I’m very involved in the decision making, direction, operations, managing, etc. of GEM.  A lot of it is just solving problems. I don’t do much of the creative,  that’s Laura’s (Nick's wife) area. She created the store as an extension of her interests and talents. It’s a “mom and pop” business. I like being an entrepreneur, I’ve never been afraid of risk as far as career choices go.

What’s the general dynamic between you and the other members of Michael’s band?   Are you all friends offstage – i.e. do you spend time together other than at rehearsals and shows?

I think we’re all pretty busy; occasionally I hang out on non-gig events. We respect each other and have a lot of depth with each other, and know what that means to each other.

Have you traveled outside the U.S. -- maybe toured overseas with any of the bands you’ve played with?  If so, what were a few highlights from these experiences?

They’ve all been great experiences. I’m very open to differences in culture, as are many of the people in the places I’ve been.

Digital downloading has become a major topic of debate among musicians, the  public – and particularly with the most discerning audiophiles in recent years.  Do you view the move to digital music sales as a necessary evil in this age of the Ipod or do you fully embrace it as a musician’s friend? 

I grew up with vinyl. I now want everything to be digital for very practical reasons. My vinyl collection met its demise just as CDs were making themselves common. The thing I miss is the scale of the artwork and the liner notes. I think the fan base will respond to whatever an artist puts out in whatever period, so individual downloads really seem to be driven by the marketing department.

What’s the most difficult part of sharing the stage with Michael? 

His piano interrupts my spatial vibe sometimes, as well as his amp, but I get it made right at set-up. Did you mean something else?

What’s the best part of sharing the stage with Michael?
He’s there to deliver.

Interview by Mil Scott

You've seen bassist TJ Pavletic on stage
with Michael McDermott many times 
He might not say much there
but he shares a few insights here in a recent interview 

Who are your most significant artistic influences (musicians)?  

I always loved music as a kid. I listen to all kinds of music, but I don’t buy as much anymore.  My girlfriend listens to everything, and that’s really how I hear cool new stuff.  I’m a huge Black Crowes fan… Stones, Waits, Keith R… Michael, too.   I think Nick Kitsos is the funniest guy ever.  He’s so dry and witty.  Everyone that I have played with over the years has influenced me, and I’ve learned a lot…Nick K., John Carpender, Klem, Jon Spiegel, Heather H, Fitzy, Angelo Santucci, Gary Stier.  It’s great just watching these people play, and I always ask them musical questions.  It really is an honor to play with this quality of musicians. I’ve only taken a couple actual bass lessons.  It’s more Michael showing me the basics and trying to pick up stuff from really talented people.  I am so lucky I’ve crossed paths with all of these people.


Could you share a bit about your common experiences growing up in Orland Park?  

Growing up in Orland was great.  It must have shaped me somehow.  Everyone is nice.  I guess I’m generally pretty laid back…don’t know if that has to do with Orland Park.  I have one story where Michael connected again.  I was sitting in front of Sport Mart at, like, 4 in the morning, waiting for Bruce tickets.  Next to me was this other cat in a car, and after a few hours I noticed it was Michael, so we sat waiting for tickets.  This had to be before we were hanging out.   It was the Tunnel of Love tour and I got 13^th row.  I don’t remember what Michael got.

How did your playing in Michael’s band come about?

I don’t have a start date but I probably was playing with Fitz and Michael needed a bass player.  I just started filling in here and there.  Basically, time would go by and then, “I need ya for this one,” or “Can you do that one?”  It’s been that way since the beginning.  Whenever he needs me, I’ll be there, no problem.  It’s really an honor just to be considered.

 
Aside from playing in Michael’s band, what other artists have you played with? 

I still play with Fitz and the Celts.  I play with the orphans – that’s Angelos band.  Angelo has always been a great teacher of music.  I’ve played with Gary Stier for about a year.  He’s also a tremendous teacher.  I’ve learned a lot from these two.  And, playing with Fitzy has been great.  I’ve been with him about 17 years.

You accompanied Michael on a trip to Ireland some time ago.   Could you share a bit about that whole experience?

I was just moving back from Milwaukee.  I’d just broke up with a girl, and Michael asked me if I wanted to go.  It was just a vacation – we went to have fun. We had such a great time we missed our plane on purpose to stay longer.   We went to Galway, and a bunch of small towns…spent 14 days in Dublin, though.  We’d drink all night, sleep all day.  It was the time of our lives.  It was great.  Of course, Michael had to meet a girl and invite her back to Chicago.  She showed up at our apartment a year later to stay with us for a month…ran up a huge phone bill and eventually we had to change the locks.  She was the only bad part.  But, we had fun

Do you ever encourage Michael to add some of his older, unreleased songs to the setlist?

I have tons of demos from back in the day.  I suggest some stuff.  Some songs he says, “Yeah, that was cool” or “No, I don’t like that one.”  This only happens when I open that old demo box and listen to stuff.  I’ll be like, “Dude, remember this song?”  I think he’s re-used many lyrics from the old stuff.  He does that a lot with songs.

Do you and/or the other band members offer suggestions on playing songs differently from Michael’s original intent for them? 

He’s totally open to anyone’s suggestions to help a song.  If he likes it, he’ll do it.  

You went through a very serious health crisis in 2002.  Can you share a bit about that?

Michael was great.  He came to the hospital and all…took me to radiation a couple times…and the East Coast trip.  That was the trip when the ice went through the windshield.   NYC was great.  Rick Conrad and his brother were out in New York.   The boys were back in town.   There were so many people – family and friends – I couldn’t have done it without them.   The fans were great, too.  I got so many cards from people that I didn’t even know, yet they knew who I was.


Do you have a favorite McDermott song?

Day like Tomorrow is one of my personal favorites

Michael’s music prominently features the duality of an almost perverse pleasure in debauchery juxtaposed with a deep reverence and spirituality How do you interpret this?

I guess with Michael – and he might feel the same – it’s like in Bruce’s “Backstreets”… “trying to learn how to walk like the heroes we thought we had to be.”  Don’t quote Michael on that…but for me, yeah, be it an actor, writer or singer, if I really like them… some part of you tries to be like them. I guess any performer tries to emulate their heroes.


Can you share one or two things you know about Michael that even his longtime fans might find surprising?

Well I have to save something, ya know – if I ever need it told hold it over his head…


Interview by Mil Scott