Page 45 - Rocknation Issue 28_Neat

ROCKNATION ISSUE 28 PAGE 45
VOODOO MOONSHINE

Interview with

Chuck Oney

Hello Chuck, welcome to Rocknation. Let’s dive into your 2nd solo record called “Authorize Information”. The title track “Authorize
Information” was inspired by a legend in the music world, please tell us about that.
Sure when David Bowie passed I didn’t realize how much he influenced me as much as he did. I was always into his Glam, Ziggy period, but after
that I kinda fallen off even though ‘Ashes to Ashes” was a great song to me and the video is just fantastic. But I started getting really into his Berlin
sessions recordings after his death. I watched the documentary where he discusses writing a song using the William S.Burroughs cut up technique
of cutting up pieces of papers with different words or text or sentences and pulling them out of a hat to create something new. I thought that was a
cool idea, but decided to use a Television and a remote channel changer. So I started flipping thru channels and wrote down the first thing I heard on
a piece of scrap paper nearby. I was writing the sentences, all from what I was hearing after I flipped to the channel. I didn’t change any of it in the
verses or bridge. But after I was done I realized I needed a chorus. I turned the scrap paper over and it said “Authorize Information” it was for me to
Authorize Information for a new pin number for a credit card. I was like wow this is perfect, a gift from the songwriting gods!!! I couldn’t have wrote it
if I tried. So afterwards I did the music in the style of Bowie’s Berlin sessions, done my way.

The song “Zone” was inspired by another artist. Please tell us about that.
I always love the melancholy and hopefulness, to me anyway, of Tracy Chapman’s song “Fast Car”. So when I was writing “Zone” which is all about
an experience that happened to me and to many others I’m sure called, as the kids say “Friendzone”. Since I was inspired by Tracy’s song, I tried to
keep the instrumentation the same as what I hear on her song.

You have many talents playing the Bass, Drums, Guitar Keyboards on this record. How long did you spend in the studio?
This album took a while, over a few years. After my last release in late 2014 I ran back into the studio in Spring 2015 to cut the drums right away for
this one. But after that I got involved in other projects and let it set for about a year or so. When I came back to listen I just wasn’t having the same
vibe as I had before. A couple of songs weren’t even fleshed out yet. Then Bowie and Prince died so I started looking to write some more tunes.
Then I ran out of cash and started piece mealing whenever I could to get back into the studio. We were about 75% done when COVID hit and the
studio where I record at, shut down for almost all of 2020. We finished the last bits in Jan 2021 and it was released in May 2021

ONEY has a new compilation called “Wasted Love” on the Rocketz Records cassettes only label in the Summer 2023. How did you make
that connection?
ONEY has a great following in South America for some reason. Most all of our Spotify streams are from those countries. The label owner is a young
kid named Roger who’s jut trying to spread the word of the bands he likes. I was a big fan of ROIR Records in the 80’s, which then was a cassette
only label. I got my introduction to Johnny Thunders solo and the New York Dolls - “Lipstick Sessions”, which was the Dolls Demo sessions, from
ROIR. Rocketz Records asked us and I love cassettes still, “Authorize Information” is out on cassette as well as my first solo release ‘Shimmering
Hearts”. So we said YES! In a nod to the Dolls, we are including a song from our original band 1987 demo session that has never been released.
The New York Dolls were a huge influence on ONEY.

Please tell us some details on how many songs will appear and where will it be available for sale in the USA since this label is located in
Columbia?
We are shooting for 12 tracks, 1 which is an unreleased song. It’s going to be called “Waysted Love” which was the original title for “Bust Em Down”
but the label back then made us change it. It’s a compilation from previous releases. I don’t think it will be for sale in the USA except for a few select
stores in Columbus, Ohio. I’m friends with a few independent Record Store owners in my town. But it will be available to order on Rocketz Records
bandcamp.com site.

What unreleased track will be featured on this release?
It’s a song a friend and preONEY bandmate wrote called “I Don’t Want Anybody Else But You”. The first recording session ONEY ever did, with the
original lineup. The song features me on Piano and Lead Vocals, Mickey Daniels (R.I.P) on Guitar and Backing Vocals, and Jeff Boggs on Lead
Guitar who many years later went on to Hydrogyn. As well as The original bassist and drummer. I just love Jeff’s playing, monster guitarist,
unfortunately he didn’t wanna tour back then and we were soon off to the Southern parts of the USA right after.

Since Covid has slowed down, how are your live shows with your solo band going?
When COVID came in, I actually played a gig the night before the lockdown. During COVID
after always playing shows for 35 years, I took a forced break like everyone else. I got a new
turntable and cassette deck and was going back and really listening to music that I loved and
things I didn’t pay attention to or never heard. I discovered my original love of Rock N Roll
came back as it did when I was a teenager. So when things opened back up, I wanted to go
see concerts and shows, that I always had to miss because I was gigging that night or day. So
I started going to see acts I missed and my love for seeing live musicians play came back
tenfold. But I also discovered I didn’t miss the hustle and work it takes to have a show or gig
when you are all on your own. So now I only play if a venue, band, or act ask me too. I scaled
way back and if they ask me to do a show, it usually means I’m not background noise in the
back. So I have played a summer Festival last year as a solo acoustic act and did a full on
Christmas band show in Dec, finally getting to play the songs off “Authorize
Information” with a full band. We played as a 3piece with me handling all the guitar duties and it
went really, really well. We sounded good and I look forward to more shows with the band!

Thank you Chuck for taking time for this interview, any last words to the fans?
I am always amazed at how much ONEY’s music meant to some friends and fans over the
years and even my Power Pop band from the 90s, The Vague. Thank you so very much for
listening and caring! Please give me a like at on Facebook to get up to date news and live
shows info http://www.facebook.com/coney69
And you can order “Authorize Information” here
https://chuckoney.bandcamp.com/album/authorize-information
Thanks to ROCKNATION and all the readers and listeners, it’s been a pleasure catching up!!!