Classless Act is a group of guys that the universe brought together from all parts of the world to create maximus music. They’re a brand new band who got Vince Neil of Motley Crue and Justin Hawkins of The Darkness to appear on their debut album. Then, the guys grabbed an opening slot on the highly successful The Stadium Tour featuring Def Leppard, Motely Crue, Poison and Joan Jett. True, it was only a 15 minute spot, but tell me a band that wouldn’t want that chance? Now, the guys are ending an already busy 2022 by releasing an acoustic EP Welcome To The Acoustic Show on 12/16 and hitting the road with Giovannie and the Hired Guns on 11/29. This band is red hot right now and on a roll! We sat down with lead vocalist Derek Day and bassist Franco Gravante (who also mixed the upcoming EP) for a fun talk. 

I have to hit you with a couple of somewhat typical questions just to make sure I have my facts straight. You guys and I both know that just because you read it on the internet does not mean it’s true.

Derek Day/Classless Act: Especially what’s on the police report too. So, don’t believe any of that.

(In my best Jim Carrey voice) Alrighty then, I guess this interview’s over. It’s been nice talking to you guys.

(Laughter fills the room)

I have to start with my music nerd questions. Every super hero and villain has an origin and a band is no different, minus the secret government experiments and radioactive spiders. What’s the origin of Classless Act?

Derek: The band has had many different members. It’s kind of funny that you call us super heroes because I like to refer to us as The Avengers, but I’ll get to that later. It started on social media but in a very natural way as we were fans of one another. We used any platform we could to reach one another. I have been following Dave, the rhythm guitarist and most original member of this band, for years. Franco came in through Instagram, we found Griffin through instant Tik Tok. We went through other bass players and guitarists and singers, but this is the thing that united us. Then, we jammed, did rehearsals and some writing here in California until we are where we are now.

Franco Gravante/Classless Act: We are all from different parts of the country and the world so it definitely took a minute to make it all work out.

You are definitely making it work out now because you guys are kicking ass and taking names. I actually found out about you guys through Griffin because he and I did an interview several years back and I’ve been watching his career. So when this was pitched to me by your publicist I already knew what was going on so. I wanted to jump overboard and help out however I could. So, my second music nerd question is your name. Sometimes a band name is something with a story behind it and sometimes it’s something pulled out of a hat. What about you guys?

Franco: It was something that we saw in a magazine.

Derek: I think it was in Time Magazine. It was a cool phrase; it was kind of dirty and it sounded like rock and roll. It’s a phrase that can be applied to politicians or sports figures or anyone who’s acting crazy in the limelight. What we’re trying to say with the song is that don’t be surprised if you are a classless act. Don’t kill yourself over being one because it’s okay. Maybe you can turn it into a positive thing and embrace your recklessness and your dirtiness. When you get to our show, welcome to being a classless act with us as long as long as you’re not hurting anyone. We’re all kind of ugly on the inside so it’s ok, just let that out.

What made you guys slow the pace down a bit and do an acoustic album?

Franco: We wanted to show a different side of the band, maybe a rawer side. It’s like you’re playing a different version of the same song and we didn’t know what to expect because all of these songs were electric. We chose the singles first and we rehearsed them only once. We realized that they had some cool potential. We went to the studio and took one take of each song. There are some mistakes here and there, but we didn’t correct anything. 

You find out a lot about a band when they strip stuff down after going electric and then try to do it acoustic. You find out, hopefully, that there’s a lot more depth to a band. 

Franco: Yes and you’re going to see a lot more to us on this tour that starts in December. We’re going to do the whole album and we’re going to do some acoustic stuff. They will see that depth for sure on the tour.

You went from clubs to the huge stadium tour and now back to clubs. How do you approach such different places to play?

Franco: I approached them the same way. In the stadium, you definitely have more space to move. In terms of preparation, I approached them the same way.

Derek: We’ve been playing little stages most all of our lives so we know how to do it. For me, I had to relearn the small space after doing the big stadiums because it sounds different. Things bounce off the wall quicker. I almost appreciate the little stage a little more for not only the intimacy but you also struggle a little bit with the monitors. Your crash cymbal is right in your ear so you have to work around that. You have to remember muscle memory a little more and use your body a little more. They’re both so different and they are both so awesome and so fun.

Was it hard choosing the songs for the EP?

Franco: We did the singles first because those are the ones that people are more familiar with. Then we just added songs to create this whole vibe with the backing vocals and stuff.

Were any of the songs difficult to translate into acoustic the way you wanted it to?

Franco: I think “Time to Bleed.” I love the way it turned out but it took an hour or two to truly figure out how we were going to work it out.

You can still feel that energy that you guys bring to the electric version which is very interesting.  KISS did it with their MTV Unplugged, but not all bands can do that.

Derek: Thank you, that means a lot.

You’re going into new markets with this tour in December. Is it weird going into a market where you may not know anyone, but they know you and everything about you?

Derek: I think it’s invigorating!  One of the coolest parts of the tour is meeting the new people and hanging out at merch as much as we can. You get to meet weird people and really cool people and all sorts of humans. As long as there’s not any Mark David Chapman, we’re happy. (laughs)  Actually, it’s easier to perform for strangers. If you’re playing for your friends, you’re looking at their feet. If you’re playing for strangers, you‘re in their faces, staring in their eyes and into their soul. It’s so much fun!

Derek, you’re stage presence is like no other. Were you the class clown growing up? What went into the development of the person we see up on stage?

Derek: I would attribute it a lot to my mom. She is from Honduras and I live here in Los Angeles. If you meet those kinds of people they love to have a good time and laugh out loud. If they are mad, they are screaming mad. It’s a billion percent all the time. I have a hard time balancing that in my normal life. When I eat, I want to eat everything on the table or if I drink milk I have to drink all of it. It’s just in my Latin blood and my dad is from Poland so you have that hot and cold mixture. Plus I had to jam out in the streets in Santa Monica for 12 years trying to make a living since I was 13. A lot of that comes from me with a bucket and guitar trying to get everyone’s attention. I needed $10 for food and I would jump in their face. That’s kind of how I learned how to sing as well. You’re there in the street with a bunch of other people who are hustling. You’re trying to get people’s attention over them, so it is kind of a necessity thing. It is definitely in my genes. Also I was a class clown and I got in a lot of trouble (laughs).

What is something that each of you learned while on the stadium tour?

Franco: The kindness that everyone carried around with them. Everyone was overly nice and so professional; no one was snobby or arrogant. Everyone was really lovely, so I take that with me

Derek: I learned that kindness and professionalism are one hell of a weapon which sounds funny because a weapon is a negative connotation. If you are kind but also a badass, you can run a stadium efficiently. It’s kind of the secret sauce. If you were to slip up, someone was there to step on your foot and say get out of here but they won’t for no reason.

I see that our time is about up. Before we go, we always end our talks with a fun thing called Three For The Road which is three, silly questions to learn more about you personally. Do either of you have any useless talents?

Franco: I can open and close my nostrils without touching them

Derek: Kind of like a hippopotamus?

Franco: Yes something like that.

Derek: That’s pretty good. I can only show you what I can do; it’s really hard to say. I can do things with my face except it won’t help anyone but it might actually hurt them mentally (laughs). I can also whistle with my tongue sticking out.

If you could have any person, famous, actor, cartoon character, whoever, be your inner voice, who would it be?

Derek: Without a doubt, Jeff Goldblum; he’s so cool.

Franco: George Lopez.

If music was over and you went into professional wrestling, what would your wrestling name be?

Franco: Dranko and I’d show up with a 6 pack.

Derek: Sir Cheeto, that’s actually my Instagram name. I’d show up with bags of Cheetos and make everyone all orange and stuff.

We’ll put that in the interview and now everyone’s going to bring bags of Cheetos to all the shows (laughs).

Franco: That would be so fucking awesome!

Derek: Yes! That’s what I dream actually!

Classless Act is Griffin Tucker (guitar), Chuck McKissock (drums), Derek Day (vocals), Franco Gravante (bass), and Dane Pieper (guitar)  

I’m Music Magazine Owner/Editor Johnny Price