Stone Axe is the creation of former Mos Generator guitarist Tony Reed and The Swinos vocalist Dru Brinkerhoff and should be adorning the shelves of all fans of big time, blues-injected classic rock that echoe such giants like Free, Humble Pie and Cream. Sometimes it doesn’t take much to hook you, to grab you, to go for your throat like a lion does to its prey. And We can tell you, it only took one listen of Stone Axe’s debut album to know that we were hooked. It's bands like Stone Axe that excite dedicated rockers like ourselves. Just to know that the next generation of rockers don't have to worry about the well going dry. Stone Axe is here to make sure that doesn't happen.
The Rocker and I caught up with Stone Axe frontman, Tony Reed to talk about the band's debut release here is what he shared with us..
AAM: First off, Tony thank you for sharing some time with us. Can you talk to us about how your new band, Stone Axe came about.
TONY REED: We started writing about two years ago, but for the first year it was just considered a project. Most of the songs were written by the time we did the first single for Roadburn. The process was, and still is, that I write and record a song and then give a mix of it to Dru, he takes it home and writes the lyrics and melody then comes back in to record the vocals. We never have any rehearsal time, we just do it.
AAM: Talk to us about the making of your debut release. Who wrote the material on the record?
TR: I write and record all of the music and then hand it over to Dru Brinkerhoff to come up with the lyrics and melody. We usually discuss the stylistic angle we want to approach the song with and then record it. Most of the time it works very quickly. Dru understands where I am coming from musically so it is easy for him to adapt to the different vocal styles easily.
AAM: The Stone Axe album contains influences from different bands also from the seventies (Free, Thin Lizzy, Cream). Do you have a preference for bands from that era?
TR: I am convinced that rock music stopped evolving in the mid 70s. Other styles got piled onto the genre to make hybrids but true rock with power, passion and conviction is long gone. Every song on the Stone Axe album has a musical tie to a rock band from the seventies that we love. On this album I think the main bands that we used for inspiration are Free & Cream, but all over the album you'll hear familiar sounds from the past. Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Grand Funk, The Faces, Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, Mountain and a few others are very present on the songs.
AAM: So how many songs did you actually write for the album? There are 10 on the album.
TR: I wrote tons of material.I started writing songs that didn’t fit in the Mos Generator sound and when Dru completed the sound I knew we, at the very least, had to do this for ourselves even if it was only going to be a local area project.
AAM: Some fans describe Stone Axe as "Stoner Rock" while others say you guys are "Hard Rock". How would you describe Stone Axe's sound?
TR: We are a rock band that plays heavy music. Call us Stoner or Hard whatever you want. One thing is for sure we play it heavy.
AAM: Some may remember you from Mos Generator. What is the difference between STONE AXE and MOS GENERATOR?
TR: Stone Axe calls on the 60's rock sound more. Our influences aren't obscured at all. You can listen to each song and tell where the influence came from. We are paying tribute to our favorite bands of the 60's & 70's. Mos Generator, on the other hand, melts alot of influences together making the sound harder to label. MG is much heavier and most of the space in the music is filled up, but the Stone Axe sound has a lot of space and room in the groove. For a guitar player, they are two completely different places.
AAM: As a guitar player who are some of your influences?
TR: First and foremost, Tony Iommi. Then there is Ace Freheley, Paul Kossoff, Dave Gilmour and Peter Green. Those are the ones that I really love listening to.
AAM: Do you have plans playing any gigs in L.A.?
TR: Right now, there are no plans, but I would love to play there again. I played there with Mos Generator. It’s just so hard to find a placd to play in L.A. If you know of any venues, please let me know. But as far as touring, we will be playing a music festival in Sweden.
AAM: Wow, Sweden, talk about Stoner Rock Heaven, they are going to love you guys there. You must be stoked.
TR: We are definitely excited to be going there. It’s going to be a blast.
AAM: How would you describe Stone Axe to someone who has never heard of you before?
TR: We are a rock band that plays from the heart and soul. There is nothing fake about our music. We play because we love to play. We bring it every single time we hit the stage. Stone Axe is about delivering nothing but uncut, raw sounding from the heart rock and roll.
The Rocker and I concur. Stone Axe delivers the goods tenfold. We would like to thank Tony Reed along with All Access Magazine for sharing his time with us. Tony, hit us up when you get back from Europe! Thanks again brother!
For more info on STONE AXE: www.myspace.com/stoneaxe
