Ron Young-LITTLE CAESAR- The lost interview

Ron Young-LITTLE CAESAR- The lost interview

To everyone concerned, ive been interviewing musicians that i love and admire most of the times for the last 30 years...For various reasons ,some of these interviews never surfaced the light of day, mostly cause of the Editors in chief who preferred others, or the decline of the printed press or in the latest years my own disability as i had to survive financially and didn't have the time to send them translated...The time has come to make up for past mistakes and this one is the first and one of the biggest ones. Ron Young , it took almost 1,5 years to answer and then bout 3 more to upload it. I m apologizing and hope there are still enough people interested as your answers are always great.

Ron Young- Little Caesar Interview

First of all thanks for taking the time to answer the questions

1.Ron LC have been active on their own terms the last decade on the contrary with most of the bands of your era. How did this occur? You produce new material and don’t sit on past time laurels, How do you manage to keep the fire burning

We have always tried to be a more “classic” based Hard Rock band. It has allowed to stay away from a dated Production value or songwriting genre….in other words….we were “dated” in 1990 and so we can still be “dated” LOL. We have always just wanted to pay tribute to all of our collective influences or musical styles and artists and it allows us to weave Rock, Blues, Country, Soul/R&B into our flavor and brand of music. We love to play and play music with each other and getting to still go out and engage with our fans both personally and musically is still very inspiring.

2.Do you feel bit “obsolete” to belong at the hair metal or sleaze rock movement? Do you think this term doesn’t suit the band?

We were never a “Hair Metal” band. It was a term that followed many bands from LA at that time period, but we were always a more traditional “Rock” band because we had way more Blues and R&B in our music like bands that preceded us than the more Pop oriented “hair Metal” bands. We have learned to live with the misnomer.

3.You recently released a double live album? You have lived the high days of records and cds, do you see any point in releasing hard copy material in this age of downloading, especially the illegal one? Is there payback to the expenses to get material in physical form?

   We keep our costs very low and are economically more efficient than bigger bands when we record and release a record. Many larger bands have publicly said they are going to stop releasing new material as they lose so much money. I understand that from a Metallica or Aerosmith level band as they will lock out a studio for months at a time, stay in big hotels and have a very high daily overhead. We go into the studio and knock it out quickly….like they used to make records. Our last studio album was done in a total of 21 days. Albums are no longer revenue generators for any band. They are promotional tools to get people to come to the live shows, where we shine brightest anyway.

4.Why did it take so long to release a live album?

  Recording a live album takes a lot of coordination and expense. Now that there are computers and easy ways to get a good recording via smaller and quality equipment, many venues have the ability to record multitrack performances independent of the live mix. We played such a venue in Holland and was handed a small USB flash drive that had isolated tracks of 21 live songs and we were able to come home and mix it down for a live album.

5.Recently Team Rock collapsed and its magazines and radio stations as we speak are under threat for their survival. A lot of the journalists that were writing there are among the big 80s names that build the metal hard rock scene. What is your opinion on TR demise and do you feel that in these internet webzine days, the printed magazine days are over?

   The sad fact is that while the music business wanes in commerce and reach, so do the outlets that satellite the music. Great writers, photographers, magazines etc, are all struggling and the ways to monetize people’s passion for music is drying up. Unfortunately the tech explosion has made the power, significance and position in people’s lives, on a cultural level, less and less important. I have no idea the answer, or a prediction of where this is all going. One thing for certain is the monetary golden years of music is over. That makes making Rock and Roll like so many other art forms where one makes it because they7 have to for their soul….not for their bank account.

6.You are quite active at your facebook page regarding politics, animal rights and social issues. Is there a part of Ron Young besides the LC frontman we don’t know, as LC lyrics are far away from being political.

       On our last Album, the title track “American Dream” was quite political and socially observant. I usually try to keep my lyrics more about life in general, but as one ages, and as our World is getting so tense and intertwined, I felt it was time to mae an observation musically. On Social Media, I try to be very honest and open and start dialogs between people of all leanings. Trying to create dialog and engagement is one of the few blessings Social Media possesses. I try to be honest and always maintain an open mind. Knowing the difference between “I disagree” and “you are wrong” is the subtlety of a desire to be ever evolving yet possessing an opinion….and you know what they say about opinions! Mine are no different!

7.You had a great comment one day regarding adapting and dressing based on the meeting or work you have to do. You seem one of the most adaptive musicians who keep his business successful outside the limitations of a rock band. Would you like to share your other professional activities. Did they start when you saw that rock music wasn’t enough to keep the money come in?

    I have a wonderful and full life. I have had the blessing to meet or dine with vastly different people in my businesses and endeavors. I have dined with heads of Nations, Presidents of Motorcycle clubs and high level executives of major corporations. Being able to be true to one’s self and still behave and dress “appropriately” is helpful as the above listed aren’t always comfortable around people outside of their “element”. There is always an “edge” present in me that I can’t hide under long sleeves. When I meet with people on business outside of the “Rock realm” they are either a bit stand offish at first, or they want to know what it was like hitting Arnold Schwarzenegger with a pool cue lol.

8.You were part of one of Rock ,best kept secrets. A band that came out  at the wrong time but released a great blues rock album, I m talking about Manic Eden. What happened and we didn’t heard anything, was it all cause of Vanderberg s health issues? Are there any outtakes or non-released songs we could hope to listen one day? Now that Adrian is back with his new band, have you been in contact?

 I speak to ADRIAN VIA Facebook. He’s a great guy and talented player. Manic Eden came out at a very weird time. The “grunge thing was exploding and folks at labels were fixated on signing and promoting the next Pearl Jam or Nirvana. All the bands and members of bands from the Eighties had a hard time releasing music. The labels were so myopic that they discounted people that had proven to be part of millions of sales for chasing fads. That was a big problem for Manic Eden which some A&R guys wouldn’t even listen to because of the member’s resumes. When we finally released it and it was tough getting some momentum, Adrian went back to working with David Coverdale. His health wasn’t an issue. The project just kind of fell apart. It was an honor and privilege working with all those guys.

9.With Earl slick you sang on his solo album, another soul classic and along with chain of fools , this brings the right question to my mouth. Is there a “suppressed” Soul singer in Ron Young? Also do you know Jimmy Barnes of Cold Chisel Aaustralia) who has a real soulful voice, I think in a way your re both music soulmates, bringing soul to hard rock along with Glen Hughes of course.

Thanks for the compliment. Yes, if I had a time machine I would be singing Soul wearing a shiny suit in 1968!!!

10.The bands hiatus was because of the musical circumstances or differences between band members?

Were we always a family. There was never any tension within the band. We faced an incredible amount of bullshit from a Corporate level. Whenever you put the egos of men like Jimmy Iovine, David Geffen, John Kalodner, etc. on one project, there’s most likely going to be drama way before the band enters the picture. The whole thing broke down our Spirit pretty bad and put such a bad taste in our mouth we just stopped making music as a band…..that and because Geffen would only release us from our contract if we promised not to reform and release an album on another label. It seems Mr. Geffen doesn’t like it if a band goes somewhere else and becomes successful. It makes his business look bad.

11.Did you at any point felt limited by the tattoo biker image of the early days? Circus of power and you are among the bands with the most  impressive e tattoo image. Was this a set back for LC back in the early days? Are you a biker yourself or just a fan of motorcycles? And what is your opinion on the SOA series, which I think is overrated and full of useless violence plus no real rock music.

In the “early days” I didn’t own a car, only a Harley. You can do that year round in Los Angeles. Motorcycles were never an affectation or prop for me and some of the guys in the band. It stared to become very trendy….all the tattoos and bikes in videos. Also, facial hair wasn’t popular at all back then. Geffen tried very hard to get us to shave. Having a rough image has always been typical for Rock bands. I think the fact that we had 3 part harmonies, did soulful ballads etc, went against our look. Geffen tried for years to blame our lack of success on that. The fact is we sold more records than the Black Crowes coming out of the box. When the label gets sold 3 weeks into your release, when your records are sitting at one companies warehouse and not in stores while you are in heavy rotation in MTV, when your Label Manager gets fired a week after that, when your Manager has a fight with the owner of the label 2 weeks after that etc etc etc…..someone has to be blamed for the lack of success on a band with such high expectations. Somehow I think that our hard image while singing songs like “In Your Arms” was the least of our issues to overcome.

12. Among your studio albums which is your favorite album and song? 

I couldn’t pick one….I have many songs I adore singing depending on my mood. Usually the more soulful the better.

13. How difficult is to manage the band on your own these days and still be creative?

I handle everything. I am the bands Accountant, Financier, Publicist, Graphic Designer, Merchandise Manager, Travel Agent, Social Media Director etc etc. Personally, I love most of it. It’s nice being able to be a lot more in control of your own destiny. We don’t rely on the income as a way to pay our mortgages. It allows us to make music purely. We wish we could be out there most weeks playing all over the World….but very few bands….especially the ones that can’t just throw their equipment up on a stage and start playing without the expectation of a high Production value, can pull that off anymore. Many bands try to convince on Social Media they are out there “rockin’ and partying” everynight, but those days are over. It’s a really rough life consisting of hotel room mates, crappy food, long drives, lifting gear, setting up gear, tearing down gear….and doing it when the fans aren’t looking. Every crew guy you pay is less money in your pocket. If you have a family at home and aren’t living on someone’s couch like when you were 22 and doing anything you had to become a “star”, you feel every expense….and there’s a lot of them on any level of touring.

14. Are there any artistic plans unfulfilled?

I would someday love to be up fronting a big huge band filled with horns and strings like Etta James did in the 60’s. The lush sounds combined with great Soul songs would be such a treat to do.

15. 2016 was a real bad year regarding death of artists, especially musicians, Which one was the most hurtful for you and do you think we re coming to the end of an era  as biologically the heroes of the 70s wont be able to keep up  longer?

It was a terrible year for musical loss. The realization that so many great artists will now be silent, combined with the natural reflection on how the years are advancing had a profound effect on many I know.

16.Ron if you have  the chance to sing at a tribute artist, for who would it be?

I could sing Bad Co or Ray Charles songs until I die and be a very happy and fulfilled Singer.

17. A lot of sleaze/hair metal artists accuse grunge for the demise of their genre. Do you believe it was time for musical change, or just coincidence that turn out for bad luck for the hard rock musicians when grunge came. How do you feel about grunge and punk?

I respect all music for what it says and makes you feel in a given mood. I get a lot of heat for saying by many of my peers, but music in the late 80’s early 90’s turned to over produced crap with weak songs and pretty caricatured approaches to music. Grunge or “alternative” came into fashion because people wanted an alternative to the Corporate crap Produced by the same 5 Producers. Rock Song and then a Ballad….over and over again, with mediocre tracks in between. I have always had a great affinity for roots rock and the Punk rock that emanated from it in the late 70’s. It’s honesty and emotion reminded people just how primal and energetic music can be. I liked Nirvana and loved Sound garden. Great songs, fresher Production and a new voice of anti Corporate rock….which of course made the Corps sign 5 more Nirvanas, Pearl Jam’s, and Soundgarden’s….they learned nothing from the whole demise of Hair Metal….and now look where the business is!

18. Your musical influences and how they re interpreted through LC music?

I love the honesty of Country and he simple accessible songs, I love the pure power to make you feel something in Soul and R&B. I love the total “fuck you” in Punk. I love the power of early Metal. My greatest influence is certainly Blues and Soul based music of the 50’s and 60’s though.

19. You re coming from time to time to Europe any chance to see you in a country like Greece, taking under consideration the economical recession.

My Mission every day is to try to get a few more fans. To reach folks that have never heard of us and that would find something in our 6 albums as being something they find attractive. The more I can do that, the more opportunities we might get to do what we love, with those we love, for those we love. I am deeply grateful that I still get to do something so essential to my Spirit. I know many who can’t even get the opportunities we get to make heir music. We are very lucky and we know it.

20. Tramp will be the new US president in less than a month. I think you vote against. How do you feel of all these protesters who don’t accept the  elections results, especially when some of them didn’t even bother to go and vote.

Politics all around the World is very interesting and also disturbing. The truth is that Americans take their ability to vote and have their “say” with a ballot for granted. They seem very good at complaining than they are voting. Only 48% of our citizen’s vote. It’s shameful. It’s also ridiculous that those that don’t vote then want to go out and protest and be disruptive. They had that chance on election day and squandered their opportunity. They aren’t helping the rest of us that want to engage in thoughtful and respectful debates of ideas for the betterment and future of all of our futures.

21. Your dog Tank left us you a few days ago, how difficult was for you to let  him go.

I was very difficult on an emotional level. I have such a deep love for what animals, their personalities and qualities bring to my life. He was old and broken down. It was time for me to do what was right for my beloved companion and help him leave me with dignity. He deserved that. He did his job as a companion for all those years. It was my time as his guardian to do mine.

Thank you so much for the interview and hope to see you on stage at some point.

Thank you!!!!!!