There were critics writing off Buckcherry before their self-titled debut album had its first complete playthrough 22 years ago when it was released. The band’s seen some ups and downs, hits and misses and even personnel changes, but they are still here. Frontman Josh Todd and guitarist Stevie D have proven to have a certain kind of “X factor” that you’ve seen some great frontmen/guitarists have in bands throughout history. Whatever it is, its helped the guys to keep this machine rocking and putting out albums and then of course delivering the goods out on the road. The band just released its ninth studio entitled Hellbound.They reunited with producer Marti Frederiksen who previously produced the band’s fourth album, Black Butterfly and co-wrote one of their biggest hits “Sorry.” We caught up with guitarist Stevie D recently as the band was preparing for a show. We sat down with him to talk about reuniting with Marti, how the live shows are going and the first albums that he ever bought. Can you guess what they were?
What made you guys go back and work with Marti (Frederiksen) again?
Stevie D/Buckcherry: Well we’d planned a new deal with Round Hill Records and there was a short list of producers we wanted to work with. He was already a partner at the studio. There’s a studio called Quad Studios, later named Sienna Recording Studios. He was already connected with the label, so we had our manager ask him would he be interested in producing the new album. He didn’t even hesitate and said “Yes.” He was at the top of my list anyway, he’s so talented. Such a songsmith, great producer, and engineer. It just made sense. He already knew how we worked. It’s been a lot of fun. It was a no-brainer.
Nice. Correct me if I’m wrong, but you haven’t worked with him since Black Butterfly?
Yeah. I think we did something on All Night Long, which was the album right after that. But yeah. It’s been awhile! 10 years for sure.
So was it just like the proverbial saying “riding a bike” when you got back together?
Yeah. Pretty much! Josh and I wrote about 20 songs before. What we started doing was since we were in the middle of the pandemic and there was a lockdown, we were quarantined. We started emailing back and forth. So the proverbial getting up and riding a bike, it was weird because it was on all Zoom calls and emails back and forth. And then we said “You know what, let’s just get out to Nashville and get in the same room.” From there it was like riding a bike.
So were you guys all together when you actually did the recording of this?
Absolutely. What we did was all flew in. Billy, Josh, and I live in Los Angeles. Francis in Texas and Charlie lives in Portland. We all met in Nashville. We tested there at the stadium out there and as soon as we got our results back, we went right into the studio and started mapping these out.
How long of a process was that when you got back in the studio?
Well, we were doing a lot of pre-production. I’d say the actual recording process took maybe two weeks.
You said you and Josh had written about 20 songs. Is there a Buckcherry vault? You know, kind of like Prince’s vault? Where do the extra songs go to that don’t actually make it to the album?
Well, we do have hard drives at my house filled with all the songs. Keith left the band in probably 2016-2017 and I took over the recording process from there.
You guys have done two videos so far. Do you have a team that chooses which singles to release or do you guys at pick those?
Well, I think historically Buckcherry will let the label choose what songs should be singles. The reason being, we want them to be excited about promoting and be excited about marketing. We’re all so very close to the songs, so it might be an un-objective point of view from us. So we let the label pick the singles. It just so happened that “So Hott” was my pick for the first single and that coincided with their pick. It was a good one, you know?
I think they also have a rhyme and reason to what they do. Sometimes songs are just flat out tested. I remember for ‘Black Butterfly’ there was a lot of test for songs, which one’s were going to react.
So you guys are actually out on the road right now. It started on June 1st. Was that your first show back?
Yeah. We’ve done 2 shows. Wichita and Kansas City.
I’m just wondering, were these crowds just off-the-hook, just glad to be out for the first time enjoying live music for over a year?
It’s pretty intense. They’ve put a cap on the capacity, in order for some social distancing to happen. They’re just opening up slowly. The people, they may start out separated, but end up jamming towards the front of the stage. We did a show a month ago. Just a one off in South Dakota and it was ape shit. It was crazy how fanatical they were. It was really fun to see.
That’s great. I’m sure you guys have been itching to get out there, the fans have been itching to get out there. You bring the two of them together and it’s a beautiful thing. That’s awesome.
Yeah! We’re having a lot of fun.
So, this band has been around longer than I bet many of the critics predicted you would. You and Josh definitely have something magical there. What do you attribute it to? Is it that chemistry and the connection you guys have that’s been able to keep the band going?
It’s hard to quantify what and why and how. I can tell you this. I’ve known the guy since we were kids. We were roommates in Hollywood back in the early 90’s. We threw up and grew up together. And now, we’re grown-ups in southern California. We’ve got families, so there’s a lot more to it than just music. Actually, the music part of it came later. Our songwriting language between the both of us came later. We were friends first. So maybe that’s part of the equation.
Makes sense. So I know you guys have a lot of live dates. What else do you guys have coming up?
Trying to rack up views/spins for the song “Hellbound” around the world. And then, I’d say in about a month we’re gonna release the 3rd single and the album. 3rd single is “Ain’t Wasting No More Time.” We’ve already shot the video for it and roll out the album.
Congrats on a whole lot of platinum being thrown your way this past week. (Their album 15 went double platinum while “Sorry” went double platinum and “Crazy Bitch” went quadruple platinum.) I saw that and thought “Oh my God, this is awesome!”
Yeah. Can you fucking believe it? It kind of hit us the same way! After we did that 15 years ago, we kind of stopped watching. After time though it just kept selling. There was an inventory made by our new label. They just wanted to make bullet points for marketing and said Buckcherry had sold a million albums and 2 million singles, let’s just double check and see how many that is. They went and found out another million had sold. 2 more million of “Crazy Bitch” and 2 million of “Sorry” had sold. Just when you think nothing is happening, guess again.
Nice. The songs have some legs to them!
They had some legs and longevity.
We always end these with something fun called “3 for the Road. Just 3 kind of fun questions. You’ve probably seen on television shows and movies where the actor or actress will have their inner voice speaking. If you could have anybody in the world be your inner voice, who would it be?
(laughing) Oh my god. You know what. How about Matthew McConnaughey being my inner voice.
That’s a good one! What was your very first album you bought with your own money that you saved up?
I remember vividly. I saved up enough money to buy 2. I bought In Through The Out Door from Led Zeppelin and Night In The Ruts from Aerosmith.
You started good!
I know I should have bought like Zeppelin IV and Rocks or Toys In The Attic. I didn’t know, I just knew to get something from those two bands.
Still good though! Being a guitarist, every once in awhile we ask this. That classic scene from the “Crossroads” movie.
Yes, sir! I’m familiar.
Alright. Which character would you want to be? Ralph Macchio or Steve Vai and who would you want to play the opposite?
Of course like I’d gravitate towards Steve Vai, but you know. I would want to win that. So I’m picking Ralph Macchio and then Butler will be – dang! Who would be a good nemesis? I can’t even think who would be a good nemesis. I don’t want to beat like Angus Young or something. That’s not even possible. You know what I mean? Let’s just say Jimmy Page. Jimmy Page: 1977.
Interview by I’m Music Magazine Owner/Editor Johnny Price
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