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ROCKNATION ISSUE 16 PAGE 15
ROXX GANG You’ve Never Done Before”
record was released by Virgin
Records?
tours of the U.S. & U.K. where
Interview with Kevin Steele by Tom Mathers Kevin: Roxx Gang did headline
various bands opened. We did
Rocknation: Hello Kevin and welcome we were a band known to indulge but do a small tour with Warrant
to Rocknation. Your band Roxx Gang I remember it was a great show. Roxx which I thought was a terrible
has just released “Boxx of Roxx” a 3 Gang was a band with a lot of internal mismatch. We also did shows
Disc Set including two CDs and the conflict (to put it nicely) and I remem- with Ratt, Faster Pussycat,
Video DVD. Please tell us about Disc ber that night on the way to the gig a Nazareth, Extreme, Enuff ZNuff
1, what songs are featured that have huge fight (on the verge of coming to and my personal fave, Black
never been released before? blows) broke out between guitarists Oak Arkansas to name a few.
Kevin: Yes, the good folks at FnA Jeff Blanchard and Wade Hayes. The I’m a huge fan of Jim “Dandy”
Records have put together and Basement had a ramp your vehicle Mangrum. So is David Lee Roth
released this tribute set. I feel it pulled up to. You ascended the ramp apparently. (Hee-hee)
provides some closure for the band and you were on stage behind closed Rocknation: The DVD included
that we never really had before. Disc 1 curtains. This ugly fight lasted till the features many videos of my
consists of rare previously unreleased moment the curtains were drawn at favorite tracks like “No Easy Way
cuts from throughout the band’s which time they appeared and played Out” and “Scratch My Back”.
history. The radio edits of “Scratch as if they were the best of mates only Please tell us some standout
My Back” and “No Easy Way Out” to continue the fight the second the moments of the making of these
are included, but I believe every other encore ended and the curtains closed. videos.
song with the exception of “Santa I also remember a ring, a silver band of Kevin: Well our first video, “No
Claus Is Back In Town” (which ap- skull & crossbones flying off my finger Easy Way Out” was like a dream
peared on some X-Mas compilation and hitting a guy square in the chest. I come true. Here we were , five
disc) has never before been available tried signaling the kid between songs young bucks from Florida, out
on CD. Of special note are three very to throw it back but to no avail. I never in Hollywood, making records
early Roxx Gang songs featuring the saw the ring again. I was quite fond of and videos. Nigel Dick, (who had efforts between director Chris Moriar-
late Eric Carroll on guitar. Eric was a that ring, so if you’re reading this you directed Guns & Roses) directing, ity and myself and are more inovative
founding member who unfortunately thieving little bastard... give it back! beautiful models, Hollywood sound- and entertaining than anything we had
passed before we were signed. In my Rocknation: How was the recording stage, this was quite heady stuff. We done prior. You will want to remove
opinion, Eric was the best guitar player done at the Basement show? were in Rock ‘n’ Roll heaven. “Scratch children from the room before viewing
Roxx Gang ever had. There are some Kevin: If I recall correctly there was a My Back”, I must say, represents the “Startrip”, filmed in Boobarama Vision.
demo recordings and some “live in the big mobile recording unit there. I seem band in a much more accurate light. Let It All Hang Out!
studio” cuts. to remember our sound man running We had a lot of creative controll on that Rocknation: Well thank you Kevin for
Rocknation: Disc 2 is a rare live boot- back and forth from the board to the one and it shows. Ralph Ziman of L.A. taking time out for this interview, any
leg recorded at the legendary Base- mobile to listen. I’m afraid I don’t know Guns fame directed and we did it at last words to the Roxx Gang fans?
ment club in Dallas, TX on May 29th any of the technical aspects. Honestly, home in Tampa. All our favorite haunts Kevin: Yeah. Thank you for recogniz-
1989. What sticks in your mind from I wasn’t very interested in that side were included and a live show at the ing a real Rock ‘n’ Roll band when you
that show of the dedicated Texas rock of it in those days. I was much more St. Petersburg Bayfront center allowed heard one. I hope you get as much
fans? concerned with the performance and us to include our hometown fans in the pleasure out of “Boxx Of Roxx” as we
Kevin: Texas, and Dallas in particular the after party. video. The other featured videos are had putting it together. And don’t ever
were always very good to Roxx Gang. Rocknation: What bands did Roxx the ones I’m most proud of however. forget... “The idea is to have a ball”.
That was such a long time ago and Gang tour with when the “Things They mark a series of collabrotive Rock On!