"I'm not going to be Aerosmith and play for fifty years"

This was just one of the quotes that Brock Lindow (pictured above in the yellow shirt) had for us in a very interesting interview. Even though he was reluctant to want to be like Steven Tyler or Ozzy for that matter, he shows he is truly genuine, passionate, and excited about the prospects that his band 36 Crazyfists have ahead of them. The band is just coming off a tour with labelmates Machine Head and their good friends from God Forbid as well as the Download Fest where he says there were 130,000 people there clapping in unison. Read on to see how Brock talks about the tours, MTV-X, and the metal scene in Alaska.

Sharita: I read the bio and saw that you were from Alaska, I don't know of any bands from there is there any other ones coming from there?

Brock: No, were the first one.

Sharita: Ok, So tell me what were your influences?

Brock: Well, we collectively like, I mean everybody is probably in a band because of Metallica, that was our favorite band. But, as  a band were pretty diverse, I mean, I'm like a classic rock fan, like the cult is one of my favorite bands.

(Sharita and Erika Gasp)

Erika: That's one of our favorites too.

Brock: I mean I like a lot of older stuff like the Cult, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, I'm sure everybody was into metal growing up.

Sharita: I didn't know much about you guys so I listened to some tracks on your albums, looked at your bio and in there it mentioned the last album "Bitterness The Star" was very depressing. Were there any personal experiences that you'd like to share that inspired that album.

Brock: Well definitely that last album was based on light mishaps and relationship downfalls. Nothing that every regular boy hasn't gone through (Chuckles) It's mainly on relationships for me. On this record "A Snow Capped Romance" I completely got away from that just because I had written one way for so long. I mean for the last record whatever was depressing to me was like my musical outlet and this time around I tried to be more positive because my life is completely different. That's basically the biggest differences between the two records.

Sharita: I interviewed the lead singers from Headbangers Ball Tour last year and asked them about an 80's metal resurgence? Do you think were on the verge of that?

Brock: I think it's really great that the bands that are really heavy are doing really well on the charts. I don't think it will be fully embraced like the 80's metal bands. I think the vocals are too heavy for the mainstream listeners but I think it's great that more kids are getting turned on to it, it's being played on the radio, the videos are doing decently because MTV is adapting and Headbangers is back so, I hope it would get really big again.

Sharita: I hope so too I'm a child of the 80's loved Bon Jovi, Poison, I know that's a sad thing (laughs)

Brock: Me too, naw naw, It was good. Erika.

Sharita: I got teased a lot in High School though.

Brock: Well were you guys Journey fans?

Sharita and Erika: Yes.

Erika: Favorite song, by Journey, quick.

Brock: Ah, aw man I won't say "Faithfully" because that's too cheesy. Anything on the "Raised On Radio" record. I love that record. That was my first concert in the sixth grade. I saw both nights when they came to Anchorage. That was when we first got an arena. Before that, I didn't know who was coming to Alaska. That was one of the first big bands I saw.

Sharita: How great was it to be on the Headbangers Ball Album?

Brock: It was awesome being a part of that with all the bands it probably helped us a lot to be on there with a lot of big names.

Sharita: How was it being on tour with Machine Head and God Forbid as well as the Download Fest in Europe?

Brock: Oh it was great. Were great friends with both bands prior to the tour so it made it really fun for everybody, and we just got back from Europe and that was phenomenal. I mean, it was the biggest show we ever played in our lives. I think during the day there was like 130,000 people in that festival, I can't complain.

Sharita: Was it kind of intimidating playing in front of all those people?

Brock: I was definitely nervous, but I'm nervous every night I mean you always get nervous before (the Show). There was this guy who went out and introduced all the bands. (the audience) Would clap in synch I guess that's the thing over there. Then you could hear the loud roar and that was definitely intimidating. Soon as the first song starts you forget all about it, but between songs when you look out there at all these freakin' people...I couldn't see passed them it was crazy.

Sharita: Were starting a campaign to Bring back MTV-X, do you remember it?

Brock:  Yeah I remember it being on for a minute.  (Laughs)
 

(Sharita and Erika Laugh)

Sharita: You think MTV would say yeah, let's bring it back because there are a lot of great bands out there that need exposure besides the two hour Headbangers Ball?

Brock:  Yeah it's good with MTV2 and Uranium but, I feel if there was a 24 hour metal channel that would be awesome. Get it going, I'll sign the petition.

Sharita and Erika: Oh Great, Yeah. There you go!

Erika: Quickly, excuse my ignorance because I don't know about the music scene in Alaska. How long have you guys been away because you live in the states now right?

Brock:  We live in Oregon now. We go back every chance we get to play and all of our family still lives there so it's like we have two homes. Still we moved away permanently so we could tour. However, we are really involved in the music scene there, a lot of our friends are in bands. There is so much talent that no one knows about but not just rock and metal, I mean you wouldn't believe it, great hip/hop acts it's huge there. Well a lot of people think it's nothing but Eskimos and white people but we have three big military bases there so we have every ethnicity up there. So I been trying to bring awareness to it ever since we got a chance to have a voice. The A&R people ask me are there are any acts talent. They should check it out. It's just along way. When you think you don't think it's a musical hotbed. Its probably going to stay isolated but the kids are hungry, they'll come to the shows.

Sharita: (Gives background on Type O Negative leaving to go to SPV) How's Roadrunner treating you guys?

Brock: Let me say this, for bands at our level you're lucky to be able to record. On our first record we were very disappointed. I think everybody felt they're not helping us and then in the end we had a big blowout. Everybody apologized. On the record it's been great were thankful to be there and they're' are doing a better job for us.

Sharita: First show with Kittie, are you fans of the girls or...?

Brock: They're a good bands we played with them (once b4) I'm really not big on them because I don't listen to them to be honest with you but I've seen them a few times and they're a good band for sure.

Erika: Throw a couple of the bands you'd like to promote out of Alaska?

Brock: Delmag, that are really good friends (with us) Subconscious, young kids that are just playin'. They're killer metal bands. There loads of stuff no one knows about, it's so diverse too. There's no big metal scene but it's a strong music scene with folk bands hangin' out with Death Metal bands. Not like playing on the same bill but they would cause' they don't know any better. (laughs) I mean that's like the difference between the scene in LA or NY a very jealous clique among types of bands. I mean we came from a place that there is none of that. Very pure place, hasn't been contaminated by the masses.

Sharita: What are your special aspirations for 36?

Brock: You know we never had any goods because we came from a small place. So we didn't realize about touring and record labels stuff like that. Everything we were doing we were just extremely grateful for the opportunities . I mean everybody was trippin because were (a band in Europe) excited as hell to be there. Now I think I want to go to Australia and Japan. As far as selling records, yeah I want to everybody does but I'm a realist, it's hard. This is a crazy lame shady business. So I want everyone to enjoy our music , I know I won't get rich off of it unless something crazy happens that would be wonderful but I don't think that way. I'm not gonna be Aerosmith and do this for 50 years. I'm going to try to have fun with it, stay positive. Look back on it and thankful for it.

Sharita: Thanks good luck on stage.

Brock: Commenting on Candiria's name being spelled wrong.

After the Show...

Erika and I were invited by Brock to sit down and have a drink with him and Thomas the drummer. Eventually Mick and Steve would join us as well. We some how got on the subject of downloading music.

Brock: I think it's good exposure for bands , people were downloading our album months before it came out. I just wish there was a limit to it. Regulated in some way.

Sharita: What bands are you listening to right now?

Brock: Killswitch Engage, Unearth.

Thomas: We love the guys in KsE. (He proceeds to go on about how much they love them and Howard.  He also comments on how people are asking him if he is Jesse Leach, KSE's original lead singer and that he feels is better than Jones).  I say man I don't know, what he's great, hilarious, fun to be around, great guy.

Erika: Are there any upcoming bands that you'd like to see make it?

Brock: Oh yeah there is a band called Emery who is the metal version of Duran Duran.

(We both gasp) Really?

Later we would talk about the brand new video and in the interim would unveil a scoop that must be shared at a later date. They also commented that they sucked on stage tonight, Actually I thought they sounded ok. If they didn't play well we didn't notice because of all the energy they were giving to the crowd.

We'd like to thank Brock, Steve, Mick, and Thomas for being so great to us.

Click here for photos from tonight's show