Trainwreck --- Our Leader Speaks --- www.t-wreck.tk

with Kyle Gass

"Our Leader Speaks"

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October 12, 2003

Joe: So what’s up?

Kyle: Dude check this out, this is pretty rad. Trainwreck is in negotiations... for a live bootleg CD put out by the Sony music empire.

Joe: Holy shit dude seriously?

Kyle: Yeah, when I was in New York for SNL, I marched into the Sony offices with my little demo under my arm, playing it for anybody and everybody that would listen. So finally I was on one of the top floors and I had these suits listening to it and they said you know what, why don’t we just do this. Pearl Jam does it, why not the Wreck? So I think there’s going to be some legitimacy coming our way.

Joe: Are you going to use a recorded show from before, or are you going to record a new one?

Kyle: I’ve gotten with Hezekiah Jebodiah Kingfisher [John King] and I think he’s going to help out. We already have the Viper Room shows on the calendar, but we were thinking we’d do two more shows at a different venue to give us some choices. So I went down to talk to Flanny the owner/operator of Largo and it worked out. We’re going to try and play the 13th. We’ll record it real raw, but you know real tasty with the best stereo mic we can get and we might take something off the board. I don’t know, but we’ll do whatever sounds great and then just deliver a really tight show.

Joe: Have you guys decided how that's gonna be available?

Kyle: I think it’s only going to be available online. They give you a smallish budget and say “hey just go make a good bootleg”. I don’t know if it’ll be good, but we’ll give'm one. I think it’s sort of their corporate response to bootlegging. They're like we’ll just do it ourselves, and throw a little miniscule budget the band’s way and get in on the action basically.

Joe: It’s pretty common for fans to record Trainwreck shows, now that you’re going to be selling them, are you going to try and cut down on fan bootlegging?

Kyle: No way, fan bootlegs are all good. Our’s is just going to sound great. I think it’ll be like $9.95 or something. The art itself is going to be worth five bucks cause check it out; what I’m thinkin for a possible cover is to do a recreation of like a classic train robbery, with me and Darryl riding horses onto a train and then Shreddy would be like the man in black holding an old school bomb, you know one of those round black ones, Boy Johnny would be the damsel in distress, Kenny Bob would be the engineer and then like Lance would be the doctor. Or what do you think about this, like Allman Brothers Live at Fillmore, have you seen that one?

Joe: I actually haven’t seen it.

Kyle: Well fuckin check it out, because it’s one of the great, great covers. It’s sort of all grainy black and white and they’re just in front of the road cases kickin-it… it’s badass.

Joe: Is this going to be in addition to the studio album?

Kyle: Oh yeah, this is just sort of a little chum, this is just some chum. And the live show I think… well you’ve heard it Joe, it’s a real tasty live show, as long as I’m not singing out of key and ruining some takes. I think I might just not sing and then sneak into the studio at night and record my harmony vocals. That’ll be the only thing that’s not real cause trust me; you don’t want to hear it. I’ve been having trouble singing. I don’t know what it is; it could be drug abuse or maybe I’ve had a loss of hearing from cranking the tunes in the car, I don’t know.

Joe: So are you considering laying off the marijuana finally?

Kyle: I have considered it, in fact its Sally’s birthday and I promised her no more.

Joe: Is the studio album going to be on the Sony label as well?

Kyle: They’ll have first chance at it. I mean it’s going to be a masterpiece. It’ll be one for the ages, so we’ll need to get a good deal for it. That’s all I’m going to say Sony people. I’m sure a lot of them read Our Leader Speaks and that’s a message to you. You may get the bootleg cheap, but the masterpiece is going to cost you… so open your wallet.

Joe: Is there any chance you’ll go the independent route?

Kyle: At this point we’ll field all offers. May the best label win, but I think Sony will be into it. Everyone is going to be into it, it’s going to be awesome.

(Kyle’s other phone rings)

Kyle: Hey it’s Lance…dude can we conference him in?

Joe: Unfortunately I don’t have three-way on this phone.

Kyle: Loser... why aren’t you embracing the 21st century? I count on people like you to help me out. He can’t even do a three way with fucking Lance, it’d be hysterical.

Kyle: (speaking to Lance on other phone) Lance, do you have three-way calling? I’m talking with Tenacious Joe from Our Leader Speaks, and I was offering up the three-way but fucking Joe does not have three way calling! Loser, Jesus that could be the opportunity of a life time. Remind me of stuff we need to get out there.

Kyle: Ok, this is coming directly from Lance; we need to add lyrics to our songs on the site. We have got to get them out there because they're not only poetry, I think they can really help people.

Joe: So with the lyrics, who writes most of them?

Kyle: Primarily JR, then me and Chris. The thing is, I think I kick ass with words, but I try to let people be involved. You know how it is. (laughs) I’m just kidding, they are both really quirky and original. I like their lyrics.

Joe: I heard something about Darryl and Lance actually working on some type of TV script for Trainwreck?

Kyle: Aside from the live album and the studio album, that’s probably the most exciting thing going on with the wreck… Trainwreck the TV show. Everyone we tell the story to has trouble standing up. Basically what it is… I can tell you cause your not going to steal it, are ya?

Joe: Of course not

Kyle: Please ask fans to keep it under their hats as well, but basically we’re a band on tour… and we also solve crimes.

Joe: (laughs)

Kyle: See! That’s everyone’s response. We go to a new town on like Route 66 and just totally go Scooby Doo. We play a gig and run into crooks and get mixed up with peoples business and then we have to solve the case.

Joe: So are you going to end each episode with some sort of trademark like the old “I woulda gotten away with it if it wasn’t for you damn kids” typa deal?

Kyle: We’ll probably end each one with a song from our canon. You know fire one off like the Partridge family or some shit like that. Darryl hit me with an idea for one where one of the guys falls in love with a beautiful immigrant girl and we end up busting up a sweat shop. It’s just as current as today’s headlines and it’s like a fuckin love story too. In fact, we’re inviting a bunch of suits to the Viper Room shows. Lance is pretty hooked up with his people, so we’re going to try and make it happen.

Joe: Have you guys started your Trainwreck therapy sessions yet?

Kyle: We did…we shot it, and now the footage is in the vault. I don’t think it can ever be seen. You really can’t use people’s real lives for entertainment like that. I think we all learned a very important lesson. I was out a couple G’s for production costs, but all the footage must remain in the vault. Maybe I could let you see it Joe.

Joe: Ok I’ll be happy then… as long as I’m happy.

Kyle: I’ll let you be the Trainwreck witness. I’ll let you see it for your eyes only. You cannot, I repeat you cannot share a morsel… not even with the lady.

Joe: Do you think you guys worked out some of your issues?

Kyle: Let me say this, I think it was important that we went through it. I can’t divulge too much. We did work on some things though, yeah.

Joe: Was there anything in particular that you guys fought about on the last tour?

Kyle: On the last tour everyone sort of reverted back to their five year old sandbox identity. The things we fought over were like control really. You know you’re out there for a long time and when a problem arises it’s really a character revealer… how you get through things. It’s easy to get along when your just playing a gig, but when your lost and can’t get back to the hotel and the RV smells like shit, it’s like what the fuck are we going to do.

Joe: Was everyone involved in the fights or was it some members more than others?

Kyle: It was definitely down to me, JR and Lance; it was definitely us three. The boys are just innocent, innocent young bystanders. They were like the kids really… mommy and daddy are fighting, they cower and pretend it’s not happening.

Joe: So are you apprehensive about going back out on the road this time around?

Kyle: I’m optimistic that we’ve grown. It’s going to be great.

Joe: So are you guys taking the old Winnebago out this time?

Kyle: Mr. Plantain has generously offered us the use of the recreational vehicle, the T-WRECK mobile. We’ll call it T-Mobile. I just thought of that, but I think that’s a good name for it.

Joe: That could be a bit misleading

Kyle: Well, we can’t have people knowing who is inside, you know how that is. But right now we really got to crank it up. These Viper Room shows are going to be huge and now we have two more at Largo. That’s going to be a great gig, have you ever been to Largo?

Joe: No dude, I’ve never even been out on the West Coast, it’s pathetic.

Kyle: Dude, will you come out please! Come out for the Vipers or Largo. For god’s sake live a little. Is it a money thing… are you very poor?

Joe: Yeah I’m pretty broke these days.

Kyle: Dude, if I score you the round tripper?

Joe: That would seriously rock.

Kyle: Alright, I’ll bring you out; you can take pictures and record. Listen, you just have to be there in a journalistic capacity. Did you see Almost Famous?

Joe: Yep

Kyle: You’d be like that guy. You can bring your lady also, but I can’t pay for her tickets.

Joe: Ah.... screw her anyways.

Kyle: Yeah for god’s sake, you got to be free on the road. Don’t tell her I said that.

Joe: I’ll just erase this part of the tape.

Joe: Now I heard a rumor that you’re going to be doing some kind of TV show with Andy Richter on NBC, is there any truth to that?

Kyle: You know my mom told me that rumor and it sounded so great that I was like “wow I’d love to do that”. I hadn’t heard anything about it so I actually called Andy, who was a buddy from working on Elf. I told him I knew it was a rumor, but we should just do it anyways because god knows I need the job.

Joe: So was working on Elf a cool deal?

Kyle: I loved it, I mean anytime I can do a movie I’m pretty stoked. I love arc-ting. Everyone was really fun; James Caan was a hoot; he’s a great story teller and a million laughs, and Andy Richter and I got on right away. He’s just a really nice accessible guy that likes to have a beer and chat it up.

Joe: Now that you’ve become pretty established in music and acting, are there any other areas you are looking to expand into?

Kyle: It’s interesting you say that, because I’ve actually been thinking that I really want to play with the big boys now: I want to create television shows. I might as well because it’s not like there’s a lot of great shit coming on TV anyways. It’ll be fun making power calls and going “you're lame!” and “you’re great, let’s make a masterpiece”.

Joe: So do you have any particular ideas for TV shows?

Kyle: None. But if you can capture me and my genius in the lens, I think we can make some magic. Hell, if Jim Belushi can do it, by god I think I can too.

Joe: Now what’s this I hear about a fan finding your wallet?

Kyle: That was modern technology right in my face. Basically this is how it went down: I noticed I misplaced my wallet at breakfast with Jeff from Piper Green. I thought; well it’s probably here or there, or in my car. Then my mom calls me and says (imitating mother’s voice) “what’s this I hear about you losing your wallet and your credit card” and I was like what! How the hell did ya...? I mean it’s like 10:30 in the morning or something and I just noticed it was missing and my mom is calling me… it was tripping me out. She said that someone on the Tenacious D message board posted that he found my license and credit card and she just happened to check it. So she went back and hooked me up with the guy. I got my wallet back within an 8 hour turn around from losing it. It was cool, I got the guy and his buddies into the next Trainwreck show.

Joe: I was actually just watching Jack’s MTV diary and they showed you guys practicing at your place, did it make you nervous at all having psycho fans seeing your apartment on TV?

Kyle: No, I don’t care. They scribbled out the numbers and it’s a pretty average looking place out here. Plus, I love my fans. Find me if you can fans! Come over and just stand outside. I’ll see you eventually as I come out of my gated garage and I’ll wave to you.

Joe: So how are you feeling about your new governor?

Kyle: The Governator… um yeah it’s a very interesting situation. I’ll be curious to see if he’s recalled. He’s a fucking idiot; it’s a little too embarrassing to talk about.

Joe: Did you get out and vote?

Kyle: I voted, but I didn’t win, we’ll just say that. But there will be a lot of opportunities for comedy though. He might have to make an appearance at one of our shows.

(Lance rings in on Kyle’s cell phone again)

Kyle: Alright this is brand new from Lance… We’re going to do a Trainwreck tribute album. Basically bands and musicians can come to our shows and learn our songs. Amongst those people that are interested, we will pick the best and assign them a song for the album. Bands across America listen up… are you getting this down?

Joe: Yep

Kyle: Submit your crappy demos and your shitty live tapes to Tenacious Joe care of twreck dot whatever. He will be selecting the best bands and assigning you a Trainwreck song to be made into a Trainwreck tribute album. This is very exciting; it is all happening just now. I can’t give you any more details than that, just get your demos in.

Joe: So do you have anything else on the horizon?

Kyle: I have a new side project debuting... I think this one’s going to be good. Guitar players listen up, the premier of WANK, it’s for guitar players and people who love to watch guitar players apply their trade. It’s just two men; me and Shreddy, and it’s going to be some guitar histrionics coming your way, catch it.

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8.30.03

Joe: So what’s new?

Kyle: We just played Michelle Fleichli’s, you know our manager. She had a combo birthday party and Trainwreck played the backyard barbecue set. I brought over my PA, but unfortunately I didn’t really have enough power so things were a little distorted and we sounded kind of like a bad garage band. But I think we won them over by the end and it was all good after that. It was a really, really great party. We had a taco truck, an ice cream truck and a fruit cart guy.

Joe: No beer truck?

Kyle: No beer truck, but we needed one. We thought “oh we’ll get a keg and we’ll be fine”. Negative! Ran out of beer, you gotta always have enough beer... and the taco guy ran out of tacos! It was a pretty good party. I’m going in today over to Jebodiah Kingfisher our record producer and we’re continuing work on the record.

Joe: How’s that coming along?

Kyle: It’s good, we’ve been adding in some drums and just keep pushing forward. Doing some tracking and um yeah it’s getting there… It’s getting there. It sounds awesome… so good… it is really gonna be fun.

Joe: Your other band Piper Green just had their first gig… how’d that go?

Kyle: It was a hodgepodge, it wasn’t a smash. It was an okay first gig. A lot of things could have gone better, but you know that’s the way first gigs can be... you gotta work out the kinks. But all and all, it was an okay show. We had a lot of friends come up and play. It was kind of like a high school talent show, or like entertaining your family at Thanksgiving, it had a real sort of home-made vibe.

Joe: From the fans I’ve heard it was a pretty awesome show, what kind of problems did you have?

Kyle: It just was not quite as good as I wanted. It was passable; we just thought it could have been better. It was strange actually, I was sleeping and I almost overslept for the gig. So I was sort of groggy by the time I got there. Piper Green is gonna play the next couple third Saturdays at Highland Grounds. I like having a gig that you can just have fun, and come up with stuff at the last minute and play covers... and I’ll always have a soft spot for Highland Grounds.

Joe: Did the D ever play Highland Grounds?

Kyle: That was our very, very, very first gig ever.

Joe: I thought it was Al’s Bar?

Kyle: When Tenacious D actually formed, it was kind of a running sketch we did mostly at Highland Grounds with our theater troupe the Actors’ Gang. It was just like a sketch that we were gonna start a band, and we were naming the band through audience participatation. Part of the joke was that we had another member, and between sketches during the show we actually had to fire him, so that it would just be Jack and me. It took like two years before we had our first gig proper at Al’s Bar. It was like the Blues Brothers was a sketch on SNL and then it became something else.

Joe: I actually remember hearing rumors about that… that it was audience participation that named Tenacious D...

Kyle: There were five names that we had people vote on. The five names were Pets Are Meat, Responsive Chord, The Axe Lords featuring Gorgonzon’s Mischief, Balboa’s Balboa and uh… I forget the other one….. oh! Tenacious D. We really liked Tenacious D, so we put it last, you know sort of stacked the deck. Actually, Harry Shearer from Spinal Tap was at that show, he just happened to walk into Highland Grounds during our set. We were big fans of Spinal Tap. It was just kind of interesting that he happened to be there helping us name the band. I think he liked the name Pets Are Meat.

Joe: You were saying something about a third member of Tenacious D?

Kyle: Well he was just sorta part of the sketch, his name was Keith Farley, an old friend from the Actors’ Gang. We sort of sang a song and he mysteriously vanished. We already fired a member before we were even named. Keith was actually the one that got the show at Highland Grounds organized. We did the monthly comedy shows and they were a lot of fun. A lot of really interesting things came out of it… like Tenacious D.

Joe: So do you still keep in touch with Keith?

Kyle: I haven’t seen him for a while, but we’re definitely old friends for sure. He’s a good guy.

Joe: With Piper Green, is there a story behind the name?

Kyle: Yeah, we all used to live in a house together way back when, and my buddy Jeff was there for a while too. It was just a crazy house with rotating members, sort of a flop house. Two of the guys got obsessed with the Gulf War and they also watched the History Channel all the time… you know the Hitler Channel. They used to love shows about airplanes and we always used to joke about the Piper Cub Airplane. So I just started calling my friend Piper and then he called me Mr. Green cause I smoked so much pot all the time. So it was sort of a weird combo: Piper Green.

Joe: Has it been kind of strange for you being in a band with your girlfriend?

Kyle: She really wasn’t in the band, she was just kind of a guest star. It’s really just Jeff and me. I always try to keep the numbers small, profits high.

Joe: So it’ll just be a duo then?

Kyle: Yeah, but I think we’ll probably have Shreddy jump in on some songs and Cynthia Ettinger. She’s in the show Carnivale. I’m guest starring in one of the later episodes. It’s a new HBO show coming up. You should really check it out. I think it’s really gonna be cool. I play just like a traveling Carney guy that stops in. I was just there one day, but Cynthia is a regular on the show. It’s really kind of cultish; it’s a carnival in the 30’s and this guy with crazy powers and stuff. Cynthia plays an old sort of coochie dancer, like one of those striptease dancers but they don’t take off all their clothes. Anyways, she’s gonna be a regular with Piper Green.

Joe: A fan was actually asking who the women were on stage, I know there was Sandy and Cynthia, and there was one other?

Kyle: Kate Mulligan, we go way back in the theater, musicals and things.

Joe: I saw Shreddy and Boy Johnny were up there with you guys, and I was actually curious about this, with Trainwreck how did they come to be additions to the band?

Kyle: We have friends, a couple of girls we met in Columbus Ohio, and we had the idea that we could just go out there, play a gig or two and pick up some local musicians so we could do it cheap. We needed a guitar tech, so I asked my friend if she had anybody who could do teching, and it was actually Shreddy. He picked up my guitar and started playing like a fucking maniac! I was going “dude you have to join the band and tech”. He was too good. I had to get him in the band, so he’s my little discovery. He’s an awesome, awesome talent. Then Boy Johnny was actually just a friend of Shreddy’s. He was just kind of helping out with the PA and hanging out. I asked him to sing on a song because I heard he had a really good voice, and then he turned out to be just an all around great musician.

Joe: Now they were in a band named Shorty out in Ohio, and they sort of broke up in order to come out to LA to play with you, did you have any bad feelings about breaking up another band?

Kyle: No, no, I’m like a corporate raider. Listen, it’s always your choice, we’re all free agents on this planet Joe, I just provide a gig. If you wanna stick with Shorty, more power to you, but if you wanna join the A-list, then come over with T-WRECK.

Kyle: Have you seen “I Love the 70’s”?

Joe: Yeah, I’ve been catching them all, their awesome.

Kyle: Did you see the shirt I was wearing… I’m wearing a T-WRECK shirt in all of them. I’m putting them on my Tivo. They put me in like one or two times per episode. They don’t wanna overuse me apparently [laughs].

Joe: Actually your mom emailed me about that and said ‘I Love the 80’s’ so I’ve been watching I Love the 80’s for weeks.

Kyle: Oh no, come on mom!... I love being the talking heads, it’s great; 'listen to me I’m the expert', I was there.

Joe: With Boy Johnny and Shreddy, do you think it was kind of intimidating for them coming in as young musicians?

Kyle: Oh yeah, they couldn’t even really talk to me for the first couple months. They were so in awe of my presence. It’s like “you guys, I’m just a dude... relax!”, I know I’m a superstar, but just take it easy. They were definitely the Cinderella stories. I said come out to Los Angeles... come out to Oz my boys and I’ll make you stars. I gave them the tap on the shoulder. But they are quite deserving though, they’re very, very talented. I think they would have been fine even without me. But when talent meets opportunity Joe, it could be explosivo.

Joe: I heard someone say you guys might be playing the Viper Room again?

Kyle: Yes, I think we're gonna play October 24th and 25th, Friday and Saturday night. And we might play a little tour in November because Shreddy is having a birthday party in Columbus. We’re all thinking about going out there and maybe playing Columbus or Chicago or Kalamazoo… right in your hood dude!

Joe: How do you feel about venues billing the band as Trainwreck featuring Kyle Gass of Tenacious D… do you feel like Trainwreck is kind of stuck in the shadow of Tenacious D?

Kyle: I think it’s to be expected, but I also figure if it gets people there to check it out, I’m fine with it. I wouldn’t want it to happen for too long, but on the other hand I wouldn’t want people to miss something that I’m doing just because they didn’t know. I could take sort of the ‘you guys have to discover it on your own’ position, but it’s just too hard… financially it costs a lot. I lost a lot of money on this last tour. It sort of woke me up to the financial realities of touring with a six man band. It’s just really crazy, so whatever it takes you know, if that helps whatever. I wouldn’t care if they wanted to bill it as featuring Kevin Weisman from Alias.

Joe: Now with Kevin, is it tough for you guys to work around his filming schedule?

Kyle: When he’s working he’s busy, but I’m always excited to use another drummer because you know Kevin bugs me [laughs]. But it’s cool if he can’t make a gig, I mean I know Kevin’s schedule. He’s the drummer when he can make it and when he can’t we’ll just find a replacement. It’s just drums for god’s sake; it’s a retard instrument. Jesus anyone can fucking bang on those things. What the fuck is that? That’s not an instrument. Can you tell what song your playing on drums? I dare say not.

Joe: I hope your not gonna be burning any bridges with Kevin.

Kyle: What? I tell him to his face… I tell him to his face, trust me.

Joe: I was actually just watching the trailer for School of Rock and I thought I caught a glimpse of you, are you gonna be in that?

Kyle: I’m not in school of rock, but check this out. My mom saw the same thing and swore I was in it too. And I was like ‘mom I didn’t shoot one frame of that’, and she was like [Imitating his mother’s voice] “I know but your father and I stopped action and we know our own son, it’s you!” I actually called my agent, it’s embarrassing. I was like, ‘did they photoshop me into a School of Rock trailer or something?’ Then I actually went and saw a private screening, just me and Jack at the Paramount Studios theater and I saw the guy that they thought I looked like… he doesn’t even look like me at all! He’s bald and has a goat-tee, and I shaved off my goatee.

Joe: Oh really, you got rid of the goatee?

Kyle: Yeah, I’m just left with mutton chops, I look like one of those old what do you call it, settlers back in the day, who were those religious people?

Joe: The Puritans?

Kyle: Puritans! Yes, I look like one of those old Puritans.

Joe: So do you have any plans for the weekend… anything special going on?

Kyle: Well let’s see, I’m recording today, and tomorrow I think I’m shooting an MTV diary with Jack… so look for that.

Joe: Will that be for the D?

Kyle: No, that’s just his own private diary, but I guess I get to be part of it… so we’re gonna pretend to be friends and pretend that we rehearse and stuff. Yeah, they’re pimping the School of Rock pretty hard. I saw it and it really is funny. You should check it out. Jack is out of his mind! He’s also gonna host the season premier of SNL.

Joe: You’re gonna be there too right?

Kyle: I’m gonna go out and try to finagle my way in again. Like ‘hey I’m still here Jack’ waving from the balcony in the audience. But we’ll try to write a song for it I think.

Joe: Your guy’s DVD is coming out soon now right?

Kyle: Yes, October, that thing is gonna blow doors down, it’s gonna be so good.

Joe: Do you have a final copy yet?

Kyle: No, but I have scattered edits of it. The Brixton show is just so great. It’s by far our best live show captured and the sound is mixed so hot. And of course it has the HBO shows and the backstage stuff, it’s all in there. It’s so good, it’s so complete… it’s the complete masterworks. It might take two nights getting through it though, it’s two DVD’s. And if you don’t have a DVD player, for god’s sake buy one now... for god’s sake buy one now!

Joe: I know it's gonna include some backstage footage, are there any especially cool moments we can expect to see?

Kyle: Oh my god there’s so many, the whole thing is cool. If it wasn’t a cool moment it wouldn’t make it on the thing. There’s some great dancing from Lee, there’s some great girly footage… just funny shenanigans. There’s a great story on the bus where Ben Cooley our road manager is kicking one of the players and Jack does a photo investigation… he gets in there and does some interviews, it’s very, very good.

Joe: There was a little delay on that... It was supposed to come out in September and it ended up coming out in October...

Kyle: It was hard to get clearances from everybody in it and for all the covers. We had to get the whole band of Guns and Roses to sign off on a song we used. It was crazy.

Joe: So did that get expensive?

Kyle: It wasn’t really expensive; it was just kind of a hassle getting everybody to agree to it. You know… trying to get Cat Stevens to sign off when he’s just not down with a satanic band. It was just hard and you know everything is always delayed, that’s just how it works. But it’ll be a great stocking stuffer.
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8.31.03

Joe: So what’s up with the Wreck?

Kyle: We’ve decided that we’re going to go into group therapy. The band had some real problems getting along this last tour due to a lot of issues. Not the least of which was anger issues, so we’re gonna get together in sort of a men’s encounter group with a therapist, and we will be taping it, for our own education as well as the entertainment of others.

Joe: So is there anything that really caused the conflicts in particular?

Kyle: I think it was mainly Darryl’s anger issues. He’s just really got some anger management issues and he gets insane. We had some crazy conflicts, even at the end with Lance, who is a little sensitive as we know in the band, we had a very hard conflict right at the end.

Joe: So you guys have worked through everything so far then?

Kyle: Well we’re doing okay now, but I think we need some deep, deep tissue therapy. I’m hoping we’ll work things out. I’d hate to see it go the way of so many groups and end up with fist fights on stage. You know friendships can be damaged.

Joe: You and JR have been friends for quite a while right?

Kyle: Oh yeah, he’s definitely one of my best friends.

Joe: How did you two first meet?

Kyle: He went to UCLA with Jack and the lot, and in the theater really, I came to know him in the Actors’ Gang.

Joe: Do you remember the actual first meeting?

Kyle: I think somebody brought me over to his little apartment, we were going to go get a movie or something and he was a mutual friend. I remember his little tiny apartment, and I thought ‘wow this guy is really big’. He’s a big guy, but he looks kind of like a goof. He had long hair back then too. He looked like a young Austrian body builder or something.

Joe: Now has he always been built like that, cause on the D’s show he looked like a skinny guy, and then when I finally met him in person he was freakin' enormous?

Kyle: Yeah he was kind of playing that down in the D stuff; he was just acting skinny. But he’s probably put on some pounds since then. I told him since he’s not that bright, he should really develop himself physically. He’s a caveman, as it is well documented. He just has to be harnessed, and thankfully I’m there. I try to help him out, but it’s dangerous for me cause sometimes the tigers eat their masters.

Joe: So do you think the last tour jeopardized your friendship?

Kyle: Yes, but I think it’s gonna survive. I’m confident it will survive. I think if there’s enough love there anything can be worked out.

Joe: So has there been any talks of when your next gigs will be?

Kyle: We’re in really hot discussions about what venue we’re gonna play in LA this October. We’re gonna do a couple shows at the Viper room. I want to do four shows at the Mint, and Lance wants to do one show at the Key Club, but Darryl thinks that’s too big, and I don’t really care cause now I’m just trying to go along to get along. Everybody gets there two cents, the rap on me was that I abused my power, so I have to really be conciliatory and try to get everyone involved.

Joe: Now I always thought your first gig was at Highland Grounds and I’ve been curious about it ever since you mentioned an earlier gig at Largo a few weeks ago.

Kyle: Largo was kind of an initial foray, we only had one original song, actually Lance was there in the audience. It was just me on guitar and JR was singing and it really felt wrong. It felt like a really bad D incarnation. Some close friends really were like shaking their heads and trying to be nice, but were trying to let me know that this was not the thing to do. So I immediately added Kevin just because I thought drums would really change the whole thing, and by gum I was right. The first gig with that was Highland Grounds. But yeah there was a gig. It was actually quite courageous for me to continue on, a lesser soul would have disbanded.

Joe: So how did you guys first hook up with Kevin?

Kyle: Kevin was sort of mutual friends with Jack Black and Jason. He and some friends started their own theater group called the Buffalo Nights and we’d all sort of partied together and everybody new each other.

Joe: So is there crossover between the various theater groups like the Buffalo Nights and the Actors’ Gang?

Kyle: Yeah, there’s a lot of UCLA outgrowth and there’s a lot of cross pollination, it’s a community.

Joe: Are you still active in the Actors’ Gang?

Kyle: Not right now, but I still keep in touch. I still talk to Tim, in fact I just sent him a screenplay he might want to have a reading of at the Actors’ Gang Theater. I might be in it, but it’s pretty early now, you know just working it out.

Joe: So further down the road do you think you’ll go back into theater work?

Kyle: Oh yeah, it’s always been my initial foray. I did a lot of theater growing up and stuff so there’s always interest in doing something good and fun.

Joe: Now do you have any theater experiences that stick out in your mind as some of your most interesting or favorite points in your acting career.

Kyle: Sure, in the Actors’ Gang we performed at the Edinburgh Theater Festival in ’89. Actually that was the first show Jack was in and that’s where we met and hung out. We also performed at the Joseph Paps Theater in New York city for a summer with a play called Carnage that was written and directed by Tim. We had another run in LA, it was a pretty successful play about televangelists and the nature of true belief. It was heavy duty, but it was pretty farcical, it was fun.

Joe: Now Tim Robbins actually made a guest appearance at one of Trainwreck’s shows at the Roxy, how did that go?

Kyle: It was great, it was a lot of fun. He was doing sort of a Bob Roberts incarnation, from the movie, I’m sure you’ve seen it. Remember Jack in that?

Joe: Yeah, he looked so young in that one.

Kyle: Isn’t he hilarious. That was kind of his first gig. But yeah that was great, I saw Tim at a wedding of some mutual friends and I asked him if he wanted to do something and he actually coincidentally was starting to do some sort of live thing with the Bob Roberts character, so it worked out perfectly.

Joe: Now one of your earlier movie gigs Jacob’s Ladder was also with Tim right?

Kyle: Yeah, I auditioned and shot that during the time we were doing Carnage in New York City.

Joe: So was that an interesting experience for you?

Kyle: Oh yeah, the director Adrian Lyne, he directed like Flash Dance, Lolita and Indecent Proposal. He’s an old commercial director, but he is quite a stylist, it was interesting to watch him work it was pretty intense.

Joe: Have there ever been any parts in the past you’ve tried out for and really regretted not getting?

Kyle: Every one… everyone I don’t get I regret not getting. There was a time a while ago where for some reason me and Jon Lovitz kept going out for the same parts. There was a part that he got in Happiness that I auditioned for, the first scene. I really loved it, but he got it and it wasn’t the first time. It’s sad to think when your up against Jon Lovitz as your doppelganger. It’s unfortunate, but that’s acting.

Kyle: Hey my moms here, ask her a couple questions.

Carol Gass: [in background] No, no, no, no, no!

Kyle: Come on mom, its for the website. Look at her she’s running away! She’s closed the door, she’s locked the door to her bedroom.   Mother! [bangs on door] Mom, it’s my career, don’t you want me to be rich and famous. Mom!, you’ve got to help. She’s not coming out. She’s not listening to reason, we’ll try and get her another time.

Joe: Now some of the material you’ve covered has been you know, something parents might find objectionable, were yours cool with it?

Kyle: No they weren’t down with it, especially with the Tommy sketch. That was one mom didn’t approve of. The sort of the sex simulation and stuff, she was really against anything were there’s fluids and stuff.

Joe: So when you finally made it, was she kind of more approving?

Kyle: Yes, well what a surprise! But any way I could make a living, they were pleased as pineapples. Then of course the more fun it got, now she’s with it.

Kyle: Mother come on, don’t be so shy.

Carol Gass: Ok, one question.

Joe: When Kyle was first starting out, how did you feel about his career, were you supportive of him going into music and theater or did you want him to do something more traditional?

Carol Gass: I was supportive, but I thought he needed a JOB. You know a regular JOB. I hated the calls for money ‘I need to pay my rent’ you know that sort of thing. We were always supportive, but he remembers it differently. He never picked out any other career. He never had anything else in mind like his brother who always wanted to be an engineer and ended up being an engineer. Kyle never had anything other than what he was doing. He has two brothers and he’s the baby.

Joe: I remember someone saying one of his other brothers was a musician as well?

Carol Gass: They all are, they don’t pursue it professionally, but they are all pretty talented that way. They like to dabble, they played in a jazz band and the little one just taught himself to play the piano, he’s really pretty good.

Joe: Have they ever thought of doing some type of a Gass brothers collaboration?

Carol Gass: The three of them used to get together at Christmas and play classical music.

Joe: Now I was talking to Kyle about this a moment ago, but I really wanted to get your perspective on it. Was it tough for you when Kyle started to cover material that some mothers might not approve of?

Carol Gass: The first time I saw them I thought ‘oh my god what are they saying!’ But you quickly get used to it, they’re only words. I’m not a prude. I was a little shocked at the language, but you know sometimes I think that was more Jack’s doing then Kyle’s. He seemed to be a little more into it. You don’t really hear that language in Trainwreck do you?

Joe: Here and there, but definitely not as much

Carol Gass: Yeah, not to excess. But no, it doesn’t bother me. It shocked a few of my friends that we took to the show though. I had forgotten to warn them about it, but they’re a different generation, so that’s ok, I adjust. I’m adjustable if nothing. So any way we’re very supportive.

Joe: Were there ever any interesting points for you, like the first time you saw him on TV when you were like ‘oh my gosh my son is doing this!’?

Carol Gass: Yes, the first commercial, that we don’t have anymore, that was really thrilling. My sister was in Hawaii at the time and saw it over there and it was really exciting she said to see someone you knew on TV. The first time we saw them at a live performance, I’m trying to think of the club, but it was LA, but that was really fun. We did go down to LA when he was at a play at UCLA that was really fun you know. But he’s been doing this kind of stuff since he was in grade school so we’ve gotten sort of used to it.

Joe: So was he kind of a theater guy even in his younger years?

Carol Gass: Yes

Joe: Do you remember the first play he was in?

Carol Gass: I don’t even know the name of it. He never had any leading roles, but he was always one of the cast. He was in Guys and Dolls at junior college, that was fun. He did the music for Mother Courage in college along with his friend Jeff who is the other member of Piper Green. They go back to community college days. You’ll have to hear some of their songs, their both really talented I think, of course I’m biased.
___________________________________________________________________________________
8.10.03 - Part 1

Joe: So what’s new?

Kyle: Trainwreck is recuperating from the road… we’re recovering. It was a very, very mentally exhausting trip. I was just watching Adaptation on DVD, it's very good... But yeah we made it home safe and we’re gonna start working on the record tomorrow over at John King’s.

Joe: So how’s the recording coming along?

Kyle: Well it’s slow, only because we’re really working on all the details. We’re treating it like a full blown major release, so it’s taking a lot of time to get it just right. But you know, it'll be ready when it's ready. We’ll serve no wine before it’s time.

Joe: So is there an estimate of when you guys are hoping to have it done by?

Kyle: Well, I think we could maybe do like a song a week, and there’s probably eight more songs, so probably a couple of months. Look for it. Have you gotten your copy of the single yet?

Joe: Yeah

Kyle: So you can see where we're headed. How do you like 'em ?

Joe: It’s definitely sweet. I’m really looking forward to hearing the final versions, right now I've still got the original cuts.

Kyle: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah ...those really aren’t mixed properly, you need the proper mixes, there’s a huge difference. Don’t listen to that… throw it away Joe! Keep that in your rarities vault.

Joe: I’m sure it’ll be a collector’s item someday.

Kyle: Of course yes… after I'm dead it will.

Joe: So how many tracks are gonna be on the album?

Kyle: Well, in the first go round we did five songs. We did the ones you heard, plus Father D.. and gosh what were the other ones? 'I Wanna Know'... and umm...gosh what were the others… do you know our songs? I don't remember our songs! Well we’re gonna record all the songs that you've come to know and love.

Joe: Just out of curiosity, on the past tour I noticed there was no sign of Father D, what gives?

Kyle: Yeah, for some reason it started to become a speed bump in the live show. It kind of dragged things to a halt. Also, we like to have Kevin play the djembe, which is like a bongo type instrument, and it was kind of a hassle for him to have to get out and get the thing and go up. I actually tried to play it a couple of times during sound check and it just didn't seem to be entertaining enough, but in the studio I think it’s really gonna soar. Some tracks you just find are better live and some are better on record. I don't know why, it just is. I think you can be a little more ponderous on the record… it’ll stand up to repeated listening, where as live, it's all about getting drunk and shakin your booty.

Joe: Now when you guys are writing songs, where do you look for inspiration?

Kyle: Just in casual conversation really. Something will come up that we think is funny or interesting and we’ll go ‘you know what that could be a song’. Usually it starts with a phrase or idea; just sort of a little nut. Like celebrity friends, Lance and I were talking about how everyone in LA has at least one celebrity friend that they covet and the little social rights and wrongs that you have, and we thought that would be a funny song. Lance took the ball and ran with it, and we popped out another masterpiece.

Joe: Now how did you guys hook up with Lance?

Kyle: Interestingly enough, during the first go round on the Tenacious D screenplay a couple of years ago, we had read some of Lance's screenplays and thought he was really a funny writer that would be good for us. So Jack and myself decided to get together with him and write the Tenacious D screenplay. It actually didn't work out, we had trouble coming together on what it should be. The cool thing was when we told him it wasn't working out, he was really cool about it. We all became good friends and the rest is history. We found that he played a little keyboard and I really liked his writing. But at first he was actually resistant... he came to the very first rehearsal and we both thought it wasn't working out. I had to drag him back in a few months later.

Joe: As far as the D movie, is there any new news?

Kyle: The D movie is on it's way. We're still waiting to close the deal with New Line, they're haggling over something, but it’s all in the lawyers hands now... I don't even know what they're talking about. I think once that's signed it'll start to expedite hopefully. I'm ready! I'm not slowing it down lemme tell you that. It’s taking so long that I’m almost too old now to play me, which is really crazy. I’m going to have to find a young Leonardo DiCaprio to play myself. That’s how long it’s taking!

Joe: Now how do you feel about acting versus playing in a band?

Kyle: Well interestingly enough for myself, my own personal journey, I always consider myself really an actor. I studied acting and came to LA to be an actor, and have done lots of theatre, a few TV shows and movies and such. But I dunno, lately it seems like the music has kinda taken over. I really enjoy it… I just enjoy playing music. But I think in my heart I'll always be an actor.

Joe: Now whatever happened to that TV show you were working on a while back "It's Not About Me"

Kyle: Yes, we shot six episodes and then the NBC brass said 'No, you're not funny enough, we're not gonna use you' So I guess that's it for that.

Joe: Did you ever see the final cuts of those?

Kyle: You know, I never got round to seeing 'em. But I think I will someday. I'm not a big one on seeing my own work really. I always bump in to it eventually. I don't like to make a point of checkin' it out. But I thought it was a good show. I thought it was really funny.

Joe: Yeah, I was really looking forward to it.

Kyle: Yeah, well you and my mom… were the only people looking forward to it.

Joe: So is there any chance of getting a bootleg copy circulating?

Kyle: Yeah, I probably could actually. Let me see if I can track those down. I actually would like to watch them. I just haven’t really cared enough to really track them down. But you're right, that'd probably be a good idea. I should try to find those. I’d be curious to see how they turned out. See Joe, you're doing some good work there. You get me off my ass and finding my stuff. You always feel like who could possibly care, and yet people do… people do.

Joe: Do you remember the first song you ever wrote?

Kyle: The very first song I ever wrote all by myself was called 'The Recycle Song', which I actually sang one time on this last tour. It's about the importance of recycling. I'll do a little for you right now [Sings]:

There was a time not long ago, when children sang and the wind would blow.
do-do-do-do-do-do-do do-do-do-do-do
But times have changed, there’s far more people and they need a place to grow.
do-do-do-do-do-do-do do-do-do-do-do
There's too much garbage and that's a sin, so fill that yellow bin,
with your paper, glass and tin, you know that we can win. Oh-oh.
Recycle now, don't throw the bottles, crush the cans,
Stack the paper, that's the plan.

Joe: It's got classic written all over it.

Kyle: Well it's a lost classic to be sure. The irony is that I can't remember the last time I recycled, but I hope other people do… so I don't have to!

Joe: Do you remember the first song you ever learned to play on guitar?

Kyle: Hmmm... I actually think it was Stairway... a classic first song. I thought that was the coolest thing.

Joe: So have you always only played acoustic?

Kyle: No, I'm actually playing a lot of electric at home. I think that might be a next phase for me. I’m gonna start bustin out the electric a lot. Actually my new side project Piper Green is revving up. We're gonna play a gig at Highland Grounds pretty soon. Our first ever gig, Joe you'll wanna fly out there for that one.

Joe: Are there any guitarist out there that you look up to?

Kyle: Oh yeah, there’s this guy that I really like, an acoustic player named Monty Montgomery. You probably have never heard of him cause he’s not that huge, but I saw him on a Austin City Limits and he blew my mind. I suggest everyone check him out. He's a great, really fantastic acoustic player. He plays it really loud almost like an electric. It's really interesting stuff.

Joe: So how many guitars do you own?

Kyle: Well I'm looking at them right now... I have my Martin; my normal stage axe, I have an old ‘63 Guild with a Tenacious D pick guard which is pretty hot. I just a bought a really expensive classical guitar from Mexico… it’s real real buttery. I also have a Gibson Les Paul and a couple of old beaters.

Joe: Do you name your guitars?

Kyle: Sometimes I do. Like the Martin, we call Martini... and there are some other names too but some of them are obscene so I can't share them.

Joe: What kinda advice would you give someone who’s just starting out learning how to play guitar?

Kyle: Just remember always try to play stuff that sounds good to you. I mean it sounds really easy but I think a lot of times you get caught up with 'Oh what's this chord and what’s that chord' but just sort of explore and just play a few notes at a time and pick out a favorite melody. Basically always use your ear. I had a teacher one time that said "it starts with the ear and ends with the ear" and it really stayed with me. It's just about what your hearing and then you go from there.

Joe: I know you played some other instruments when you were younger, do you still dabble in any other areas?

Kyle: Yes I do dabble, I still play flute and recorder and I'm working a lot with percussion right now. Actually, I picked up a… just like a penny whistle, which I've been working on. Just like one of those slide ones. [plays a few notes on whistle]. It’s a lot of fun, I think it's goinna be part of Piper Green

Joe: Now Piper Green is you and….

Kyle: Me and my buddy Jeff McFarland, actually he plays guitar and I'll just be playing voice, various percussions and flute... It's an interesting thing, my friend can't sing without playing guitar. The other two groups seem to be really boy oriented, you know guys seem to like the D and Trainwreck, but this one’s for the ladies. It's all soft ballads [begins playing penny whistle again] yeah… it’s gonna be hot.

Joe: So have you guys written any material yet?

Kyle: It's all covers right now. It's all lost classics, they're all just beautiful melodies that we're gonna bring back to life and rearrange. You'll be able to go to sleep or make love to them, but not much else... not much else.

FAN QUESTIONS:

How was it ending the tour in OKC… Was it a fitting end?
asked by Joel S.

Kyle: It was a fitting end, the good people of Oklahoma have always been great great D fans. They all came out and we really had one of our better shows. Yeah we like Oklahoma… the OK corral. The people of Dallas were another story, but we won’t get into that.

Does the Wreck have any plans of hitting the UK?
asked by evil person

Kyle: Yes, I would like to hit the UK after the record's done. I really enjoy the UK, it’s a lot of fun there. I think they would really like it. I think they really like the Americana, it's a little more exotic over there. I think we have sort of a rootsy feel that they would enjoy.

Joe: There are gonna be a lot of people that’ll be happy to hear that

Kyle: Yeah well I hope so, I love those Lonnie’s… love those Lonnie’s.

Who are you planning to vote for in the governor recall election?
asked by Sally

Kyle: I think I wanna run… is it too late to sign up? KG for governor! My favorite headline was when Arnold announced 'Governator'. He's such a poon hound, I'll be curious to see how he hides his lurid past. Actually, Lance was working on a TV show and Arnold was a guest on it and one of the PA's said that Arnold came up to her and said "fingah my butthole!" I don't think it's unusual for him to proposition anything in a skirt… I don't think he's gonna make the best governor. We always laugh about that; ‘fingah my butthole!’... Alright Arnold we’ll get right on that: you weirdo! Politics is really a refuge for the ego-challenged.

What's the funniest thing you’ve ever done while under the influence of drugs or alcohol?
asked by Paul G.

Kyle: Oh gosh let me think, the funniest thing I’ve done… what to myself, or to others?

Joe: either or

Kyle: Let's see… I was on acid, this was a long time ago… but I was running naked around my apartment complex. I don't know why I was, I needed to be pure or something. I needed to be back to nature. I think it was an Adam and Eve thing, I dunno. But I couldn't find where my apartment was, when I was coming back they all looked the same to me. It was really scary. I don't really like acid quite frankly.

How do you rock so hard, do you have any secrets?
Nathaniel S.

Kyle: I think the key is to keep it organic. I think when someone is attempting to appear to rock too hard, people read it. Rock as hard as you're actually rockin' and it'll be more of an honest rock.... you'll be rockin' honestly.

___________________________________________________________________________________
8.03.03

Joe: So how’s the road treating you guys?

Kyle: The roads been long and it’s been difficult, but it’s been gratifying. We’ve had some really great shows, but in a couple cities, I don’t know for whatever reason, it was a little weird. Providence, and actually last night at Dallas… we really understood why Kennedy was shot. Dallas is a dark place… there’s a darkness. We also had our video camera stolen that night. Boy Johnny has been taking tour video footage and we lost everything in the camera. If anyone sees tour footage of us, it was taken! It was really disappointing. We had the famous incident of us trying to empty the septic tank on the RV and it exploding out and hitting Joey Crooklyn and Darryl… we had it caught on video! Somebody has it out there! Listen, the world needs to enjoy these road moments. So put the word out, hopefully we can get that back.

Joe: Do you wanna set up any type of reward for anyone that helps to recover it?

Kyle: Rewards will be forth coming! My gosh, you can’t even imagine… a special T-Wreck guitar signature model for any information leading to the recovery AND PROSECUTION OF THE THIEF WHO STOLE OUR VIDEO! Jesus, what’s the matter with people. And it’s always in Dallas… Dallas was where in the D, a guy ran on stage and attacked Jack and totally went crazy. It’s always something… There’s a darkness there. Dallas people; please find the light… go to the light! Alright, enough of that. Gimme another question!

Joe: Have you guys had time to do any site seeing?

Kyle: Oh yeah. We try to take it in whenever we can. Lance and I walked the Freedom Trail in Boston. We’ve tried to do the sites in almost every town we’ve been in. N’olans we did, and Austin, but it was very hot and very swampy down there. You can only stay out for a little bit before you turn into a dumpling… a saucy sausage and dumpling.

Joe: So how did the NYC gig go?

Kyle: New York City was great. Darryl and I got into a huge fight right before we went on though. But we united on stage and worked it out Dr. Phil style. It ended up being one of our best shows. [sings] “I love New York because it’s so exciting”.

Joe: Now what’s this I hear about you coming out on stage in a diaper?

Kyle: That wasn’t a diaper! That was a very, very, very masculine loin cloth that I created on the spot… it was the spur of the moment. The Upper Crust is my favorite band, they’re great guys, I love them. Anyways, they were playing their last number and I just felt compelled to join them. It was the song “I’m Finished With Finishing School” their big closing and I just decided that I’d strip down to my boxers and roll them up like a loin cloth from Tarzan and then I went up on stage and just went wild. It was madness. If anyone has that captured please don’t send my mother a copy.

[ editors note: if you are Kyle’s mother, please do not click here ]

Joe: So do you ever get stage fright?

Kyle: I don’t anymore, but I used to a lot early on when the crowds started getting a little bigger. I’d get a real nervous-nelly feeling… sometimes the fingers would get a little sweaty. But the more shows you do, the more it feels like home. It’s kind of just a fun part of the day, you get to play and talk to the peeps. So yeah, not too much, but once in a while before a big show I’ll still get the butterflies.

Joe: Is there anything you do to calm your nerves?

Kyle: I try to take some deep breaths and do all sort of simple things like tense-release.   I also do some mental exercises where I pick out fans individually and I imagine "well what could they do"… they’re just geeks and goobers like me. There’s just a lot of them! I also say well ‘I’m scared… but has anyone released a lion into the room?’ The answer is no; there’s no real danger, I’m just acting on that old instinct of danger, the fight or flight reflex. It’s all sort of self made and self created by your brain, so I try to play mental games.

Joe: So how’s your quest for sobriety coming along?

Kyle: Well I can say I haven’t smoked one cigarette the entire tour and I’m really proud of that. But I have postponed my true ‘weed cleansing’ until I get home. In other words, I’ve been living inside my bong. That’s really the bottom line on that question, but it’s still an issue.

Joe: Now in the song White Lions, what do the words, “you run with white lions, you eat better cheese” mean?

Kyle: Well those are Darryl’s lyrics. And I think he’s just saying that if you wanna eat better cheese, you better catch up with celebrities. Cause I think that’s what Darryl’s master plan in show business is... just schmooze and hang out with enough A-listers and hope to pick up the droppings.

Joe: Now last night was the one year anniversary of Trainwreck’s first show, did you do anything special to celebrate?

Kyle: NO!... Really??? When was our first show?

Joe: Highland Grounds on August second last year.

Kyle: Wrong! Our first one was at Largo.

Joe: Really?

Kyle: Yeah it was just JR and myself that played Largo. We opened for some friends of mine. That was the last time we played just me and JR. Wow! It was a year… that’s great. I didn’t even realize that.

Joe: Now when you guy’s were first starting out, did you think the band would come as far as it has?

Kyle: Absolutely not, but I always hope… I always hope for the best. But I think we’re just scratching the surface. I think we’re still really getting better as a band. The world is our clam… no? the world is our scallop… no? The world is our oyster!

Joe: So when did you first come up with the idea to start Trainwreck?

Kyle: I’m not sure, I think it was when I knew that we weren’t going to be touring as much with the D and I thought wow I really miss playing, what can I do with my friends, what kinda concept could I throw out there with JR and I thought you know, lets do something together and see where it goes. It sounded like fun and I really have enjoyed it.

Joe: Did it take any convincing to get JR and the other guys to go along with the idea at first?

Kyle: Convincing! What are you talking about??? Like they’ve got something better goin. Jesus Christ they jumped on board faster than flies on shit!

Joe: What was the initial reaction from audiences when you guys first started playing?

Kyle: I think they were mystified. Why is Kyle playing with a lead singer that can’t possibly keep up with his other lead singer. Why is he diluting the talent pool. So I think they were mystified until they realized the undeniable pleasure and the undeniable fun that T-Wreck provides. I think people seem to really enjoy.

Joe: Did it take a lot of adjustment for you to get used to playing with a full band?

Kyle: Well, not too much, but it is a lot different. It took a while to get used to losing my guitar in the mix. But it’s fun… it’s liberating because if I stop playing the song goes on. It’s a nice feeling to know that I’m just part of the song and not the entire musical element. And I just love the band… they’re very gooooood.

Joe: So now that the tours coming to a close are you bummed at all?

Kyle: It’s been a pretty hard tour. So it’s always fun to go, and then it’s fun to go home and sleep in your bed and look at the apartment again.

Joe: Do you have any plans for when you get back?

Kyle: I’m gonna go into a creative sweat lodge, if you will, and I’m just gonna sweat through August and think of some new songs and I’m possibly going to give birth to another side project, but it’s so under the radar I can’t even give you the name.

Joe: Do you have any hints?

Kyle: Ok, well I can tell you it’s called Piper Green. It’s myself, my old pre-Jack Black guitar and writing partner Jeff McFarland, and my current loveliest, love of my life, lifetime companion Sally Sandoval from Punk Bunny. It’s kind of a super group. So warn the fans, Piper Green and Punk Bunny coming your way soon!

___________________________________________________________________________________
7.20.03

Joe: Hi Kyle, how are you doing?

Kyle: I’m a little tired… I’m always tired. The problem is my age and the intensity level of our playing, it’s quite draining as you saw and personally witnessed Joe. Did you have a good time?

Joe: Oh it was amazing man, awesome show!

Kyle: Did you like that we put your website on our t-shirts?

Joe: Yeah, I was so psyched when I saw that!

Kyle: Talk about good advertising... yeah but the site is really great, although somebody said they want to build like a super duper site… Should we squash them Joe? … Should we squash em?

Joe: YEAH!

Kyle: Alright we’ll squash them, don’t worry we’re loyal.

Kyle: But yeah, you can see how much energy output is up there. It’s quite draining and it’s easy to party too hard out here.

Joe: I could see you guys were really sweating up a storm on stage.

Kyle: Yeah a lot of sweating up there. We just try to keep the fluids flowing, bodily as well as liquids.

Joe: Now would it be cool to talk about your birthday party last week?

Kyle: Of course, listen… I just want you to know that in the column Our Leader Speaks, there is no topic off limits, there is no topic too hot to talk about. There’s nothing. Now the birthday party…yes. Where were you should be the first question… Where were you Joe?

Joe: Dude I would have killed to be there.

Kyle: Where do you live… Chicago?

Joe: Yeah

Kyle: It would have been costly, but had you said you wanted to cover it for Our Leader Speaks, I might have been able to swing for round trip air fare, but I know your very busy, what’s your job?

Joe: Actually I’m a man of leisure at this time.

Kyle: Your looking for work?

Joe: Yeah

Kyle: What’s your area of expertise?

Joe: I’m a marketing major, I’m in the process of trying to work out an internship for the summer.

Kyle: Internship?.. All right, how much do you need to run the site full time Joe?

Joe: (laughs)

Kyle: I know, I know, it’s a bargaining tool, lay it on me!

Joe: It’s all good man.

Kyle: But back to my birthday party, it was a wild affair, I had people playing music and I hired a DJ, Michelle’s husband, or as we like to call him, DJ Indy Cred Jones. He started spinning them so loud that the cops came and we had to turn down the music. But it started to get pretty packed in my apartment, it was wild, it was a lot of fun though.

(Loud PA system blaring in the background)

Kyle: I’m at the Buffalo Airport… special note: everyone’s leaving Buffalo. There’s nobody that lives here anymore!

Joe: So did your band mates make it to your party?

Kyle: Yes, all my band mates as well as about 150 of my closest friends were stuffed into my apartment, except for you Joe… except for you!

Joe: (begins crying)

Kyle: Get ahold of yourself!

Joe: So is your apartment still intact?

Kyle: Oh not too bad… it's a little worse for the wear, but it’s just a 70’s Boogie Nights type pad…it deserves to be partied in.

Joe: Did you make out with any interesting gifts?

Kyle: Did I make out?... no, my girlfriend was there for God's sake Joe, what the hell are you talking about? And another thing; what goes on the road… stays on the road! Anything you see! I don’t want to have kill you. I like you… I like you somewhat... actually I don’t know you that well… but you do some fine work and I wouldn’t want to see anything happen to you. All right, enough said!

(editors note: after reviewing the recording, it totally sounded like I asked Kyle if he ‘made out’ with any interesting guests).

(Repeating the question… a little more clearly this time)
Joe: So as far as birthday presents, did you receive anything interesting?

Kyle: I said no gifts, but people couldn’t resist. I got a Led Zeppelin DVD package which I was excited about, it was kind of weird cause I also got sort of a Led Zeppelin coffee table. I got some pretty interesting stuff nothing I can remember right now though.

Joe: Now I heard something about a painting?

Kyle: Oh yes… Lance is a collector of fine amateur paintings and we were talking about different ideas for portraits and paintings and for some reason Lance said he would like to paint me a portrait cause I said I would hang it up over my mantle.   He came up with the idea of me saving a baby from a burning building. Which I thought was so perfect cause it shows me in the proper light of being a hero and the great guy that I am. I didn’t think he would actually do it, but as my birthday approached I said have you finished my painting, and he said don’t worry I’ll have it done by your birthday. So we had an unveiling and the painting is a masterpiece. I was really surprised. Lance is a man of may talents. Everyone will have to come over and check it out. Every one is invited… except for the guys… I mean everybody’s invited!… cept for the sausage.

Joe: So how’s the tour coming along?

Kyle: The tour is a smash really. Every place we go, I think some really brave courageous curious people come. And by the time they’re done, they are not only converts... they are believers! The shows have been really great and the crowds have really been responsive.

Joe: I can definitely vouch for that from Chicago.

Kyle: Well there you go, you saw for yourself. Did you write a review or anything?

Joe: I haven’t yet, it was just so awesome that it was beyond words. But I’m gonna sit down and crank it out one of these days.

Kyle: There you go, get your priorities straight!

Joe: Are there any venues your looking forward to playing in particular?

Kyle: Well the big show for us really is New York. New York City is kind of a special place to play. It’s just, you know, one of the pillars of culture in our country and you always want to hit it out of the park in New York City. There’s lots of peeps there that we know and plus the Bowery Ballroom is one of my favorite venues. It has a really a great vibe and I like the bar. I’m also looking forward to Ziggy’s, I love Ziggy’s, I think it’s a perfect place for the Wreck... but you know what, every gig is fun, I haven’t had a bad one yet.

Joe: So are you guys enjoying the new Winnebago?

Kyle: Oh it is a dream come true. Mr. Plantain has done so much for us that it’s hard to repay him. I mean both JR and I worked him over pretty good the other night, tried to thank him as best we could, but that still doesn’t seem like it’s enough, The Winnebago is such a dream, so comfy… and uh… we’ve already been buggering twice as much as we did in the van.

Joe: So who does the driving?

Kyle: Well, Boy Johnny is a very, very, very talented driver, but he tends to drive a little fast, and Darryl has been taking the wheel and of course Joey Crooklyn our tour manager.

Joe: What do you guys do to pass the time on the road?

Kyle: Well, we’ve only been on a couple trips so far, but I can see that video games are going to be pretty popular... Tiger Woods Golf and that car game you know were you go around and kill and rape people… what’s that game called?

Joe: Grand Theft Auto?

Kyle: Yeah, that’s a pleasant game.

Joe: Do you have any particular items that are must haves on the road?

Kyle: Well certainly I have items I don’t like to leave behind. As people know, I like to take my Metamucil, I don’t like to leave home without it. You got to keep regular to keep happy. I take a couple antidepressants a day to keep me feeling good and you know various toiletries, but nothing really too exciting.

Kyle: I’d just like to make an update. The fan of the week is going well, we’re gonna be coming out with our first fan of the week I believe by next week. How many candidates do we have so far?

Joe: I think we have like four candidates.

Kyle: We have four… that’s ok, you know what… it’s a good time to get in cause the numbers really increase your odds. Also, Trainwreck Dollars… I’m going to be on the hundred-dollar bill, Darryl is going to be on the fifty, Lance made it to the twenty-dollar bill, Shreddy Krueger will be on the ten dollar bill, Kenny Bob Thornton is gonna be on the five, and Boy Johnny of course will be bringing up the rear on the one dollar bill. We’re going to be telling you how you can earn Trainwreck Dollars in the upcoming columns so stay tuned for that… it's a very exciting time to be a Trainwreck fan. Now four people for the fan of the week is a little slim, I’d like to get that number into the double figures. I know we have more than four fans out there, but I love you four people. You people are my favorite fans. So I might have you over for dinner... and I might not, but I’ll be thinking about you.

Joe: So were there any fights over which band member gets to be on each bill?

Kyle: No, of course not, I make all the decisions. That’s why it’s called “Our Leader Speaks” for God’s sake Joe get it right! Who’s on the hundred… who’s on the hundred dollar bill Joe?

Joe: You are Kyle.

Kyle: Yeah! Get it right!

Joe: So, what do you think about Trainwreck's opener on the tour Matt Beckler?

Kyle: He’s really great, their very earnest and quite tuneful musicians. They’ve been just great, really helping us on the road out there… we appreciate those guys, but yeah they have a good set.

Joe: How did you guys hook up with him?

Kyle: They are friends of Boy Johnny and Shreddy's I believe. They’re from Columbus I think… I dunno, I don’t see too much of them… but I like’ em.

Joe: Do you think you’ll be homesick by the end of the tour?

Kyle: Oh well you know, the road is a cruel mistress. But of course I miss home… I miss my lady, she was on the road in the last town I was in, but yeah, It’s fun to go and it’s fun to come home.

Joe: Now one last question, this one’s not really related to anything, but being a huge Lakers fan and all, do you have any comments on the whole Kobe Bryant thing?

Kyle: Well obviously it’s a very difficult situation, no one expected it from Kobe. But it’s hard to know, I’m looking forward to the facts coming out. If there’s any way I can be on the jury, I think I can be impartial. But I at least like to watch, so I hope they televise it live. Obviously the most important thing is the season next year for the Lakers. Joe, we’re going to try to work through it. We’re excited about the season, it’s a real shame with Gary Payton and the Mailman coming in, but we’re behind Kobe. But if he does have to go to jail, I would volunteer to take care of his wife personally. Personally, I would take care of her and if she wants to come over and stay in my room or the guestroom what have you, I will take such good nurturing care of her. Kobe, if you have to do a long stretch, don’t worry, I’ve got it.

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7.13.03

Kyle: I’d like to welcome people to the column, please come back every week! We’re going to try to be really prompt and good about it…

Joe: Now your birthday is coming up tomorrow, do you have anything special planned?

Kyle: I’m having a crazy big party in my apartment. I’m pretty worried I invited too many people and there might be strangers there who I don’t know and they’re going to steal some priceless antiques. But I think it’s going to be really fun anyways. You can always replace priceless antiques, but how often can you throw a fucking great party.

Joe: Following that, it’s pretty much right back to touring. Are you looking forward to getting out on the road again?

Kyle: Oh Yes! Can’t wait. We’re so pumped!   We’ve got some new songs… we’ve got two, or actually three; Celebrity Friends; which is all about what it’s like to have a celebrity friend since most everybody has one, a song called Train Rock (Train Roll) and the next one which is pretty much written by me is called The John Bartholomew Shreddman and it’s a tribute to each member of the band.

Joe: So how are you guys getting around on the tour?

Kyle: Well interestingly enough, we have been traveling in the van, but our friend and sponsor Pat Walsh, a very, very funny man, has been kind enough and generous enough to sponsor our use of a Winnebago so we can have our own little mini traveling tour bus back stage party; Ladies prepare!

Joe: Now you guys are doing like 15 shows all over the country on this tour, would you say this is your most ambitious tour yet?

Kyle: Oh absolutely, I’m really hoping I don’t lose too much money on this one. I got scolded by my accountant on the last one, so this could be the last one for a while, but we are planning to finish up the album after this tour and it's gonna blow minds.

Joe: So will you have any of the bands recordings available on the upcoming tour?

Kyle: We’ll have the single, only with much better mixes. If you got the last one, be sure and try and get the new one because with Baby, Let’s Rock we had to rush it out and it really wasn’t even mixed, but the new mix really just jumps out of there.

Joe: Do you have any funny stories from your guy’s studio sessions?

Kyle: Well, I probably shouldn’t be saying this, but Lance has had his feelings hurt a couple of times. He’s so sensitive. Twice, and one time especially, everyone had to call him and be like “oh its ok Lance, we're sorry”, but he had a very tough childhood so we try and cut him some slack.

Joe: Do you guys have any special pre-gig rituals?

Kyle: We try to get in for a group meditation, and we usually rally the troops, then fire 'em up with a pre-game speech. Then we put our hands in like a sports team then break and take the stage.

Joe: Now JR told me to ask you this one, but who does your hair?

Kyle: Yes, JR is my stylist as well. It's really one of the last things I do cause it's pretty hot, but JR is really styling it... I think he’s just a bit gay. Like you know those guys that are like too macho, and you go well... Which is cool and I’m happy for him that he's chosen to be a little more honest about it... my hat is off to him.

Joe: Do you guys have any special backstage requirements… like a certain ratio between red and green M&M’s.

Kyle: Well not really, we don’t have the specific Van Halen type requests. We do usually have to have lots of beers for the young guys, we call them the strokes, cause they really enjoy drinking a lot. They always take it all back to the hotel room and sit there with the spectra vision on drinking heavily. Also, we usually like to get a big bottle of vodka cause you know the girls... you just wanna loosen them up.

Joe: So do you have any 'interesting' stories from being on the road?

Kyle: Yeah, but what goes on the road stays on the road! If you want some, maybe you should knock on the Winnebago door, other than that my lips are sealed!
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