The following interview was done for a Winter 2000/2001 issue of
Fireworks Magazine, which is published in the United Kingdom.
The interviewer is writer / reviewer Nicky Baldrian.
Nicky: Can you tell me in as much detail as possible the history
of Crystal? I think the readers of Fireworks would be very interested
to read about your beginnings.
Andy: Bill and I found out about Grady McGrew through mutual
friends.We had first seen him play in the local band Jynx before and
thought he was a killer guitar player and decided to try to snag him.
Bill: We basically ended up putting Crystal together from the
remains of two bands. Andy, me and Crystal's original drummer, Bill
Anderson, were in a band called Black Pearl. Grady and guitarist Raymond
Cameron were just getting out of a band called Hit'N Run. We got a
little rehearsal studio, practiced for a couple months and started
playing steady immediately after that. That was in 1983. We didn't
stop performing regularly until the summer of 1994. Rick replaced
Bill Anderson in 1984. Raymond left a few years after that and we
just went four-piece. From the beginning, we alternated playing in
town and going on the road. We averaged about three to four months
a year on the road. We were very fortunate in that we were able to
make our living strictly from playing music. We played both cover
tunes and originals in the clubs to pay the bills and did original
shows and concert openings whenever we could.
Nicky: You released three ep tapes in the 80's. Tell me about
them?
Bill: The first album, The One For You, was recorded and released
in 1985. For most of us it was the first time in any sort of real
studio. We recorded here in San Diego and basically produced it ourselves.
It received some good local press, particularly from the Los Angeles
Times. After that there were a couple of recording sessions that never
got released to the public. One was recorded in the same studio as
The One For You and would have had a similar sound to that album.
We never ended up finishing those recordings. Instead we did a project
with Paul Sabu producing. We were never really happy with the direction
Paul was going with that so although we did shop it some, we never
released it to the public. After we went four-piece, our music took
on a harder edge to it and hooking up with John and Dino Elefante
was an excellent match. We recorded the second two releases at Pakaderm
Studios in Los Alamitos. They did a much better job of capturing the
sound we had been trying to achieve. The second release, Crystal,
came out in 1989. Of course, given the opportunity, we went back to
work with the Elefantes for the third release which came out in 1993.
Nicky: I understand that you had some major label interest?
Bill: We had some interest from different labels over the years
but never really got to take that next step. Polygram was interested
for a while. And we also had some buzz at Atlantic. We got heard by
a lot of the right people but we were just never considered the right
sound at the right time.
Andy: Part of the motivation for getting that third project,
Crystal 3, out too was that A&M Records had actually sat down and
talked about us and considered doing something with us and said "Send
us your next project as soon as possible." It was very promising.
So that's why we opted to only do three songs on that one, to just
get it done so we could get it to them. Simultaneously, when that
release happened, the Seattle rock scene hit. The whole sound of rock
music changed almost at the same time we were shopping the third tape.
Rick: By the time we got that one out, we were already a little
bit behind the curve. We could have changed production direction on
it and it probably would have still worked.
Grady: But what was big then was Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl
Jam, Nirvana...
Nicky: How come it has taken this long for Crystal to finally
get their music out on CD?
Bill: Back when we were releasing the original EPs, vinyl and
cassette would have been the only options at the time. In fact, the
first album, The One For You, was only released on vinyl. By the time
Crystal 3 was released we could have done a CD but we were trying
to keep expenses down since we had just spent a lot of money in the
studio. Besides, cassettes were still in heavy use at the time. We
disbanded about a year after the third EP came out, so we never got
around to compiling the material onto a CD.
Andy: We never expected any interest after all these years.
When Bill created our web sites, we discovered fans we never knew
we had. It's been quite a kick to realize that our music has been
heard in Europe and that there was a demand for it. It would be wonderful
to record some new material and perhaps tour with the band again.
Nicky: Congratulations on your excellent album. The album mentions
the help of the infamous Elefante brothers. how did you hook up with
them to produce your material and will you work with them on your
next release?
Andy: We met John and Dino through a friend of ours named Mike
McNulty. Apparently, he used to work on the road crew for Kansas and
had established a friendship with the Elefantes. He set up a meeting
with them and they liked our music enough to squeeze us in to their
busy schedule. It was quite an honor to work with such notables and
to have them produce the EP's. Their influence has definitely helped
our success. They since have moved their studios from Los Alamitos,
CA to Nashville, TN. I would love to record more sessions in their
studios if their schedule permits.
Bill: One thing that was really nice for us in working with
the Elefantes, is that they come from a similar musical background.
They were going in the same direction we were so their influence complimented
what we were trying to do. And of course we all knew their work with
Kansas and other groups so it was fantastic to be able to work with
them.
Nicky: You've linked a deal with Song Haus for the record,
how have they treated you and are there any plans to come over to
Europe for some shows?
Andy: So far, everything has been great. They have done an
outstanding job on the packaging and re-mastering of the CD.
Bill: Cliff Maag did the CD re-mastering. He works with a lot
of the big names in Nashville - Faith Hill and the like - and we think
he did a killer job on our music. Unfortunately, his involvement was
kind of last minute, so we didn't get to give him credit in the liner
notes, but we certainly appreciate his work. I think that Song Haus
did a great job on the artwork as well.
Andy: If enough interest is generated, I am completely open
to doing some shows in Europe. We were on the verge of a small European
tour (Italy and Germany for the American Military) before we disbanded
so I feel we still need to achieve that goal.
Nicky: Tell me about the shows that you have done so far in
your career?
Bill: We got to open a lot of cool concerts over the years.
Steelheart, Joan Jett, Steppenwolf, Foghat, The Romantics, Andy Taylor,
Pat Travers, Head East… By far, my personal favorites were Kansas
and Firehouse. Kansas because they were always one of my all-time
favorite group of musicians - it was really an honor to be able to
be on the same stage as them. Firehouse also stood out as just one
of the most fun shows we got to do.
Nicky: What are you influenced by spiritually and musically?
Andy: I draw my influences from a wide range of music. From
classical, to heavy metal- jazz and new age to country and R&B- I
feel that to be an outstanding performer and song writer, you need
to be open to all musical styles and thus incorporate some of those
influences. I come from a very strange spiritual background. I am
half Japanese and my mother's side of the family is Shinto. My American
father's side of the family is Christian. I draw from both cultures
and get to see the world from two different perspectives. It has made
me a well-rounded person and has definitely fueled my creativity.
Bill: Musically, I'm influenced by everything. I've always
listened to a lot of different styles and actually, as a composer,
I tend to write most comfortably in the jazz, new age or classically
influenced realms. I think all those diverse influences come into
play whatever the style of the song I am working on. On the current
CD, I think that you can hear some of my jazz influences creeping
through on the ending piano part on I'm a Dreamer and definitely some
classical influences on the bridge section of Always Be There. My
spirituality has always come from nature - being in wide-open places
that are relatively untouched is inspiring to me. Places like Alaska,
the Grand Canyon. And composing and playing music is something I consider
to be very spiritual.
Rick: The bands that had the biggest effect on me were: Jimi
Hendrix, Cream, Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, Grand Funk Railroad
and Journey. As far as spirituality goes, I just simply believe in
God.
Nicky: What's next for Crystal?
Andy: Hopefully an opportunity to record new material, reunite
the band and come to visit Europe!
Bill: A lot of it depends on how the Collection does. We've
gotten very positive feedback so far. I'd love an excuse to get back
in the studio with this group.
Nicky: Finally is there anything that you would like to say
to the melodic rock and AOR fans here in Europe and the UK?
Rick: I would like to say thanks for liking our music and we
hope to come and play for our fans in Europe very soon.
Andy: Thank you very much for all the kind words of support
and for giving us the chance to present our music to an audience I
wish we would've had in the 80's. AOR was and still is great music,
and I foresee a big comeback of melodic rock into mainstream music
in the near future!
Bill: It's been wonderful for us to be able to make all sorts
of new friends all over the world. The Internet has been a great tool
for us. I definitely want to say thanks to everyone out there for
giving us such a warm and positive response. Hopefully we'll get to
meet some of our new friends in person someday soon.
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