Interviews
Greg Fraser
FRAZE GANG
Interview by: Derrick Miller
1. First off, thanks for taking the time to talk with Rock Nation
today. We are here to talk about your new release with your brand
new band, Fraze Gang. So, for those who aren't familiar with your
band . what is your music all about?
It's about getting back to the feelings and passion we had for
playing music in the basement with some friends like we did back in
our teenage years. It's about playing what feels right instead of
trying to fit in with whatever the latest fad is. We grew up
listening and learning mostly British rock like Deep Purple,
Zeppelin and that reflects in our approach to making music in that,
we don't care if we're current or not. We wear our hearts on our
sleeves. We're just 3 Canadian dudes who like to get together &
kick some ass!
2. You are probably best known as the guitarist for the band
Brighton Rock, a band you joined at a really young age and ended
up touring the world with. In your words, how does Fraze Gang
differ from Brighton Rock?
The vocals definitely sound different but in a lot of ways there's
some similarities. Being the chief songwriter for Brighton Rock, my
writing style hasn't changed that much. I still draw my inspiration
from 70's guitar rock and I think it shows in our music.
3. In your current band, you actually take on lead vocals as well
as lead guitar. What made you want to make that leap to become the
frontman as well as lead guitarist?
In Brighton Rock I was the lead guitarist and I had a blast doing
it, so I didn't want to give that up but becoming a front man was
not my first intention at all. In fact I even had singers at my
house singing my songs trying to find that right voice, but it
never felt right. So I got tired of waiting and decided to take the
plunge as a vocalist and have never looked back.
4. I hear a lot of Hendrix in your guitar playing as well as
vocals; is that fair to say Hendrix is one of your influences?
He was one of my influences, but I would have to say that Jimmy
Page & Ritchie Blackmore were more of an influence because that's
who I was trying to learn songs from when I first started getting
into to guitar.
5. You were also a touring member of the band Helix, one of
Canada's greatest rock bands. What did you learn from vocalist
Brian Vollmer as a singer?
I learned to treat your voice like it's an instrument. Brian warmed
up before every show & he very rarely ever had a bad night vocally.
He usually nails it every time. It's all about finding what's in
your range and knowing your limitations.
6. Let's get into some of the new songs. "Jackhammer" is a
slammin', heavy as hell rocker. In fact, it's a bit heavier than
everything else on your new CD. Was that the first song you wrote
for the new CD, or, was it just something you wrote you thought
HAD to start the CD off with?
We originally released this cd on our website only. Bongo Beat
Records signed us & wanted to release it "Worldwide" but also
wanted to totally change the artwork & cover design. We knew that
was going to be a long process. During that time I would continue
to write music and Jackhammer was a song that stuck out to me. So I
brought it to the guys and once they sunk their teeth into it the
song came alive. Legendary producer "Beau Hill" (Ratt, Warrant,
Alice Cooper, Winger & Europe) was expressing interest in remixing
some of our tracks and we thought "wouldn't be cool if Beau mixed
Jackhammer!" So he agreed & when we heard the finished result we
knew it had to be the lead off track.
7. I absolutely love the song "Sugar Daddy," with the way it
starts, and with the lead in bass line, which is funky, groovy,
crunky, and everything else you can think of. Also, it sounds like
something Hendrix would love to play. Tell me a little about the
track .
I would love to hear what Hendrix would have did with this song. I'm
sure he would have just ripped it up!
When Fraze Gang gets together we like to jam. Everything goes! When
we do lock in, the energy is amazing and we're always looking for
that spark. "Sugar Daddy" is a pefect example of a song that came
together as a result of putting everything out there. "No holds
barred!" Play what comes natural as it happens. I had the riff & I
threw it out there & the band took it to the next level. Stevie did
some great lyrics & the song fell into place.
8. You are known as a guitarist, but, how comfortable were you
branching out as a singer?
It was a little uncomfortable at first but now I think I've settled
in. Lots of the fans have shown their gratitude & I've also seen some
nice reviews which helps boost my confidence.
I never had any desire to become a front man growing up but now that I
am, it's a lot of fun.
Stevie our bass player might sing a couple of songs on the next cd and
we might have a special guest vocalist on one song just to add some
spice to the mix. Should be interesting.
9. You obviously have an affinity for the blues, as everyone will
hear on the final track, "Hot Rod."
The blues is everything that Rock & Roll is based on. It's all about
emotion & putting it out there warts & all. My first concert when
I was 13 was Rory Gallagher opening for the Doobie Brothers. Rory is
an incredible blues guitarist that blew my mind that night. His tone &
vibrato was unreal. I immediately went out & hunted for anything on
Rory Gallagher and really discovered the blues from him. I like the
blues when there's an edge to it instead of the more traditional
blues. I like guys that can rock out like Frank Marino, Robin Trower,
Jimmy Page. We went for that old honky tonk blues feel for "Hot Rod"
bringing back those memories of playing in some biker bar & everybody
is dancing on the table drunk & having the time of their life!
10. Tell me about the other band members, and what they bring to
the overall Fraze Gang sound.
Stevie Skreebs our bass player played with me back in the
Brighton Rock days and we've been jamming together for 30 years.
He knows how to lay it down and still kicks ass live.
Phil Epp our drummer is a "Rock" back there behind the drum kit. He
knows how to lock in and hold it down. We've been playing with Phil on
& off for 15 years and we've become a lot tighter unit as result. Phil
& Stevie play very well together and have a solid foundation which is
great for me because I get to create some ideas & know the "groove"
will be there.
11. What do your tour plans look like over the summer? Any
festival dates or tour planes in the U.S.?
We have some big shows coming up in Toronto this summer and there's
talk about some some possible US dates and European also. We would
love to come to the US to play and hope that'll happen soon!
12. Is there anything I left out that you'd like to leave with our
readers?
For all your Fraze Gang news go to www.frazegang.com
www.myspace/frazegang
Thanx for giving us the opportunity to hang with you!
Cheers!
Greg