We all know and love the rock band TESLA. They have been rockin us HARD for more than 20 years now and they have done this with a straight forward, in-your-face approach… no frills, no gimmicks, what you see is what you get with these guys and what you GET is 100% pure American rock n roll. Formed and still based in Sacramento, CA this band has seen it’s share of ups and downs and has endured many changes. The biggest changes that have recently taken place are the forming of their own record label Tesla Electric Company Recordings which will bring forth a new 2 CD release for the band on June 5 and the addition of new guitarist Dave Rude.
Dave is the founder of his own band, The Dave Rude Band, and had been filling a slot left vacant by former Tesla guitarist Tommy Skeoch throughout last summer’s Electric Summer Jam tour. Dave is now an OFFICIAL member of TESLA. His story of how this came to be is quite interesting. Tommy Skeoch and his wife were about to have a new baby boy and he was debating on whether or not to go out on tour with Tesla. Knowing this the band was looking for someone to fill in for him for the upcoming tour and since Frank Hannon is the lead guitarist they decided to let him do most of the hunting. Lucky for us Dave Rude was who he found… and on Myspace of all places. After recently talking with Dave I found out that this 28 year old guitarist grew up in Albany, CA near Berkeley and has wanted to be a musician for most of his life. I asked Dave about his life growing up and what his life is like now and this is what he had to say:
JS: How old were you when you started playing guitar?
DR: I started playing guitar when I turned nine years old. My mom wouldn't let me start when I was younger (I had wanted lessons since age five) because she didn't want me to get frustrated and quit, as kids that young often do.
JS: You were only 7 or 8 years old when Tesla came busting onto the scene… were you into them at all back then?
DR: When they first came out I 
wasn't that into hard rock. I was into pop. But when I was in middle school I got into rock n roll. I got Five Man Acoustical Jam when I was in seventh grade and I loved it to death. That tape never left my walkman. I got the home video for my thirteenth birthday and Psychotic Supper the next year…WOW! That recording fucking blew me away! I think "What You Give" is one of the greatest songs of all time.
JS: When did you form the Dave Rude Band and what were/are your aspirations for the band?
DR: I started my band in the fall of 2005. Just like any band, I want us to be really successful--sell records, tour the world, write songs that mean something to people but I want it on my own terms. It'd be a lot easier to try and fit into a trend that's popular, but I just can't do that. I write music that comes to me naturally. It's not intentionally retro like so many new rock bands these days… it’s rock n roll. We don't think too hard, we just play what we like.
JS: So when did Frank hit you up on Myspace?
DR: Frank found my band (Dave Rude Band)'s myspace profile (www.myspace.com/daverudeband) in March of 2006. He emailed me saying he was looking for a rhythm guitarist for a two-week FHB tour in May and maybe a couple local gigs. I emailed him back saying I was interested. We talked on the phone the next day and got along really well, so he asked me to come up to Sacramento and sit in with FHB at The Boardwalk a few days later. I went up to soundcheck and met him for the first time. We went to his house, ate dinner, hung out and jammed a little…it was cool. We went back to the show and I did a few covers with the band onstage. They went well so Frank asked me to do the tour with them, and that was that.
JS: Did you EVER think in a million years that joining Myspace could actually change your life?
DR: I knew it was a great
marketing and networking tool for bands, which is why I joined. It's taken the place of the gig flyer, the demo tape, and so much more but did I ever think that an established band would pick me up out of the blue on the internet? Hell no!!
JS: When this whole Tesla thing started you were simply filling an empty slot for last year's summer tour. How do you feel now that you are an official member of Tesla?
DR: It's a dream come true in many ways. Like I said, I was a huge Tesla fan so it's pretty surreal to walk into a band you've been a fan of for the last 16 years… and all the guys are so cool and down-to-earth. I was so surprised. I've met so many guys in going-nowhere local bands with way bigger egos than these guys so that was an added bonus. They've all gone well out of their way to welcome me with open arms and the fans have been very good to me as well. It's always hard to take for the fans when an original member is replaced. I know I've felt the same way many times when original guys left my favorite bands so I was a little apprehensive as to what the Tesla fans might think when they look up to their left and see a new face but luckily everyone has been so extremely cool since the very beginning. I think that shows what cool and dedicated people Tesla’s fans are. They're in it for the long haul and they just want the music to keep coming. I know from personal experience too cuz I'm still one of 'em!
JS: Tell me what it's like for you when you're up on that stage with these guys? Have they taught you anything? What are your hopes for your future with Tesla?
DR: I learn things all the time from these guys. It's great up there onstage with them, cuz it's all about feel. Nothing's planned; we just have a great time. I can't wait to get out on the road for Real 2 Reel and for as much fun as that's going to be, I really want to get to writing for a new original Tesla record.
JS: Tesla's new covers CD Real to Reel comes out on June 5… what was it like for you recording with these guys?
DR: Recording Real 2 Reel was a great experience. We went out to the middle of nowhere in a giant pecan orchard near El Paso, Texas…no distractions whatsoever! The recording 
process was very organic. We'd pick a song to do, listen to it a couple times to get it down, then start recording. The bulk of this album was recorded live in the studio, and the band played as one--like a live gig. The dual solos on War Pigs and Not Fragile were particularly fun. Me and Frank just got up next to each other and jammed like we were onstage and that's what you hear.
JS: What are YOUR favorite tracks on Real to Reel?
DR: I really love Walk Away and Bad Reputation. The solos I played on those were totally off-the-cuff and I hella dig their live vibe. Also, Make It Last is a killer one. Not Fragile is such a rockin' groove. Space Truckin' is pretty monstrous. Seasons of Wither is one of my all-time favorite songs so that was great to record. Thank You sounds great and I dig Bell-Bottom Blues a lot too. As you can see, I like 'em all. Hard to pick favorites. I'm hella stoked to hear what the fans react to.
JS: I hear that the Dave Rude Band has a new EP coming out soon... can you tell us a little about the vibe you guys are putting out there and what your hopes are for DRB in the future?
DR: Yeah, Dave Rude Band has a new EP that will be coming out this June or July. It's a heavy rock CD with lots of melody… big, slammin' classic rock grooves with lots of sweat. Our drummer, Josh Schmidt, is a hard-hitting power drummer with a punk background and Marco Guzman on bass is one of my favorite bass players on the planet! As soon as the CD comes out we'll be gigging a lot. Every time Tesla has time off from our summer tour DRB will be hitting the road so keep your eyes peeled and come out and rock with us when we hit your town!
JS: In closing I would like to thank you VERY MUCH for doing this little Q&A session with me. Is there anything you would like to say to your faithful, new and soon-to-be fans?
DR: Thanks so much for the inordinate amount of support and love you've given me. I can't wait to see you all out on the road.
SO… there you have it… straight from the man himself. His story is unique and sends a positive message that dreams DO come true. Tesla’s new covers CD Real to Reel comes out on June 5 and will be followed by a full blown WORLD tour. For the first time in many years Tesla fans in Europe, the Netherlands, possibly Japan and Australia will finally get to see one of the greatest American rock bands alive.
Real to Reel will be a 2 CD set and when it is released on June 5 you will be able to buy Reel 1 in most major retail stores. Cleverly packaged to hold BOTH CDs it will come with only Reel 1. This summer, in order to get Reel 2 you need to go to a Tesla show. At shows where Tesla is the headliner (only headlining shows) you will receive your copy of Reel 2 with your paid admission… so basically, you buy a ticket to see Tesla…you get a free 12 song disc (Reel 2) that you can take home and place in your store bought package for Real to Reel. Ticket prices are extremely reasonable so don’t miss your chance to see this tour… you will have your asses ROCKED in the best possible way… I GUARANTEE IT!! For more info on tour dates and to hear some tracks from Real to Reel please visit:
www.teslarealtoreel.com
www.myspace.com/teslatheband
www.teslatheband.com
