Page 16 - ROCKNATION ISSUE 25

PAGE 16 ROCKNATION ISSUE 25

Interview with

Joey Allen

Rocknation: Hello Joey and welcome to
Rocknation. Last year the band brought in
Jeff Pilson of Dokken and Foreigner fame
to produce Louder Faster Harder. How was
it like working with him?
Joey: It was great. Number one, I’m a fan of
Jeff’s work in Dokken and he is doing a great
job in Foreigner. I’ve known him forever, but
if you have never worked with somebody you
don’t know their capacity as a producer. He
did a great job and it was so comfortable -- it
was like you just sit down and go for it. On
pre-production it was so easy.

Rocknation: What is the songwriting
process for Warrant?
Joey: It has always been challenging only because everybody has got different ideas, you know what I mean? So the best
way for me to put it is that most guys, 4 out of 5 of us, write and put them in a drop box and everybody listens and makes
comments and we move forward. But, generally what happens is that someone writes a complete song, front to end with
lyrics. Those are the songs that get worked on more than any other. That is the way it should be to be honest with you,
because if a guy puts in the time to do that much work, then work on it. So that is the process. Sounds simple but it is not
without its challenges.

Rocknation: How would you compare Louder Harder Faster release to your Rockaholic release with Robert?
Joey: It’s more mature you know, and we have our shit together a little more as a band. Robert has been in the band now for
10 years. I’ve actually been in this band longer with Robert than I was with Jani. It is kind of wild to think about that because all
the success was with Jani. Jani was a great song writer, and I have fond memories of all that and some not so fond memories,
but most of them fun. And after you are with somebody in a band for that long you either gel or you don’t, and we are way past
gel with Robert. He is just a great guy. He is a team player and we get together and do what we do. We actually all get along
great -- no drama. Even some of the bands from our genre that are still around today, I see them and I think, “Why don’t you
guys get along? That is not that difficult.”

Rocknation: Have you wrote or recorded any new songs?
Joey: No, nothing has happen since that release [Louder Harder Faster]. Jerry and Erik write all the time. They have a music
placement company so they are writing stuff for TV all the time. After the writing process and recording process is over, we like
to get back on the road. That is what we really do well, you know. We play live. We have been playing the same songs for
the most part for 30 years so we are getting good at it finally! That is where we really like to work. So, getting in the studio and
knocking out another record is not high on the priority from my perspective.

Rocknation: Isn’t it great more 80’s festivals are popping up in the USA like they have been for years in Europe?
Joey: Yea, we love to do as many of those as possible. There are some bands that are still really playing great and have a
bunch of original guys in them, or some bands are all original – not very many but a few. The festivals are fun when they are
put together and run right by promoters that have it together. You know it is not a easy thing to do put on a show; there is a lot
involved.

Rocknation: You work at Pearl drums. Please tell us about that.
Joey: I’ve worked for Pearl 13 years. I started with Pearl in 2005 to help sales rep Hughes & Kettner Amps. They took on
distribution of Hughes & Kettner Amps, which is manufactured in Germany. I took a degree in electronic engineering. I used
to build prototype amps at Jackson Charvell back in the mid 80’s. So, when I got the offer it kind of worked. Some of the
executives that work at Pearl I’ve known since Steven was endorsed there. I keep in touch every NAMM show and I would
go by and have a beer or something like that. They were always very kind people. And, I try not to burn too many bridges
in this industry because we all know the same people. When they needed someone to rep it on the west coast, I got a phone
call. I went out to Nashville and interviewed. We both had some mutual understandings, some really good conversations,
and I ended up reping with Hughes & Kettner Amps line for about 3 years. When distribution changed, they moved over to the
drum side of things and I’ve been there ever since. You can imagine, in 13 years I’ve learned a ton about the retail in the drum
business. The one thing I learned about this is drummers are nicer than guitar players! Kind of funny but it is true. I get in this
community of drummers, at first there kind of feeling me out to see if I’m cool and one of them. As soon as I got into the club,
they are just a wonderful bunch of musicians that, to be quite honest with you, us guitar players could not do anything without
them! I have a lot of respect for drummers, probably a lot more respect from what I did prior from me being at Pearl because
I’m around them and I see. I’m part that community now and I understand it better now – just because it is so important since
the beginning of a song is the drums. Some of my best friends work at Pearl, so that is the Pearl story.