Kings X – Jerry Gaskill, Drums/Vocals

The year is 1988 and a good friend of mine tells me he just read a review of a new band from Texas in Kerrang and he wants to get the album based on the review. I read the review a couple of days later and then he puts this tape into the car stereo and I become instantly hooked on what becomes one of my favorite bands of all time, KING’S X. A 3-piece power trio that blended elements of THE BEATLES, BLACK SABBATH, and U2 into one definitive sound so unique that no other band has captured their essence, yet many bands tried. Many bands in the 90’s admitted to being influenced and/or a fan of KING’S X and it was very evident on the Drop-D tuning that inspired a sound from the Pacific Northwest of the US.Now fast forward 17 years later and the band has released yet another album (their first on InsideOut Music) titled OGRE TONES. This album recaptures the true sound that is KING’S X that had slipped away on their last 2 albums and sounds like 3 friends who came together in the studio to jam and have fun yet it inspired some rockin’, dynamic, melodic tunes that will not only regain their older fanbase, but will definitely turn a few heads from the new demographic of music listeners. The first single, ‘Alone’ is one that starts with a whisper but quickly explodes into a straight ahead rocker complete with Bealtlesque harmonies that should pave its way onto Rock stations nationwide.

This past Monday evening I was given the opportunity to have a phone conversation with drummer/vocalist Jerry Gaskill and find out what is going on in the world of KING’S X.

Q: Jerry, How are you today?

A: I’m alright, how you doin?

Q: I’m good out here in California, are you in TX right now?

A: I am in TX.

Q: It’s a huge pleasure for myself to get this opportunity today as I’ve been a huge fan since I read a review years ago.

A: Thank You! Where’d you read the review?

Q: In Kerrang!

A: Oh yeah, Kerrang! They were good to us. They were the first!

Q: They really latched onto you guys and a buddy of mine bought Out Of The Silent Planet and played it for me and I thought it was pretty amazing and for the time it was a step out of the norm.

A: Thanks! Do you have the new record?

Q: Definitely have the new record! The album sounds more like you guys just sat in a practice room and put it all together kinda jamming. How did it all come about?

A: Actually we went back to the way we sorta used to do things. Where we’d each individually bring in songs and work on them together from that point and that’s how we did this record. And that’s how we did the first 5 or 6 albums. Actually to me it felt more like KING’S X to do it that way and that’s how this album came out.

Q: It’s been quite a few albums, a best of, a live album and you’ve been through a few record labels in your time, so why the transition from Metal Blade to InsideOut?

A: It just seemed it was time for us to do something different, and InsideOut were there and we did this record with Michael Wagener. We just felt like this was a new step for us and we needed to go in and make a really good record. We decided to have a producer again and time for a transition for everything to be new and make this the best we could and it seemed like InsideOut was the place for us to go with what we had to work with. Does that make any sense?

Q: Yeah, it does! Metal Blade always specialized in the heavy heavy style and a lot of attention goes that direction.

A: I love Metal Blade and I think they love us, but I don’t know where we could go with Metal Blade as we’re not really that type of band.

Q: True, you’re not Cannibal Corpse or Six Feet Under.

A: Right and that’s what works for Metal Blade.

Q: What’s happening with InsideOut and are they giving a push towards radio with the single, Alone?

A: Yeah Yeah! They got a really nice campaign going and we’ve got a couple of videos that are being shot and campaigned and they’re goin after the radio. It seems like there’s more happening with this record than we’ve had in a long time and the vibe feels very exciting.

Q: The first single Alone has the energy of how the KING’S X album kicks in with The World Around Me. It kicks in and sets a good tone. But you have other videos already finished?

A: We have one in the works, but it’s not completely finished. We actually did two on the same day, so the other one will be released sometime in the spring.

Q: What’s the 2nd video gonna be?

A: IF.

Q: A lot of people seem to like that song on your message boards.

A: We played that one live on the last tour.

Q: I saw the video for Alone and I saw something I had never seen in a KING’S X video before.

A: Girls! (laughs)

Q: Girls.

A: We had John Tucker, Dr. Teeth, he directed the video and he’s got some pretty happening videos in the rap world right now. And it seemed like the right thing to do.

Q: It was sort of anti-KX, but it’s KX at the same time because you’ve always done your own thing.

A: When I first saw them in the video I was like, “what the hell are they doin there, they don’t belong there?” I kept watching it and was like, Why not?

Q: I definitely think that some of the older fans, as it seems in the last few years, not to be derogatory, but it seems that more fans came out for this album as opposed to Black Like Sunday or Manic Moonlight.

A: This is more along the lines of what we needed to do for a while. This feels to me almost like a real record to me. I think that might be why they’re responding more to it because it’s something that they’ve been waiting for and I don’t know if we’ve given it to them lately.

Q: Did anything change in the band to deliver this record?

A: Nothing like that, we’re all just moving along like we move along. But we just knew that we had to make a record that was good. Make a real good record. It was just time. We put all of the ingredients together and I think we semi-accomplished that and people are digging it.

Q: Was there more focus in the studio this time with Michael Wagener to try to get the best out of each song this time around?

A: Yes! It was much better working with Michael as an outside producer especially for Ty (Ty Tabor – Guitarsist/Vocalist) so he could be the artist and be free to do what he wanted to do. A great, great situation, very relaxing, very free and helped us feel like we were making a record.

Q: You guys redid Goldilox (originally on Out Of The Silent Planet) on this record and there’s some discussion on your websites about why you did it again or if it’s live?

A: I think we just put it on there because it’s a song that people always thought should be a single or a hit song or something so why not release it again and put it on this new record. This new record of where we’re at right now, done in a lower key.

Q: Was it done in one take?

A: As a matter of fact it was done in one take. We went in there and I played it and we did it in one take. Absolutely that’s what happened.

Q: Vocals as well?

A: No, just the basic tracking.

Q: I think this time around you captured more of Doug’s (Doug Pinnick – Bass / Vocals) soul in the vocals this time around.

A: Ahh, good!

Q: Looking over your message board earlier today and I see questions that a lot of the people ask and the one that was funny to me was the people were questioning what the finger signs mean inside the album cover.

A: HAHAHAHAHA! I’m not thinking they mean anything. What did I have, two fingers down? Chunkin the Deuce? My kids were teenagers and they would do that and they called it Chunkin The Deuce. There was a time we were in Japan and we did it with Three Fingers down and we called it Chunkin The Thrice. (laughs). That might be what we’re doin, but nothing like any planned meaning as it was just being silly.

Q: People were saying you guys were flashing the gangster Westside sign or a sign of sexual deviance.

A: That’s what I was doin, the sexual deviant thing. (laughs). I was calling all girls to me in a deviant way.

Q: My wife hasn’t seen you guys live before and I was explaining to her what a live show was like as it’s just 3 guys who are good friends who enjoy playing together with inside jokes.

A: We’ve lived many years together, 25 together now, and they’re probably the closest people to me, and I imagine they feel the same way too, like brothers. We do like each other still.

Q: There was one show on the Ear Candy tour that I saw where after every song Ty would say, “Thank You, Goodnight” and you guys were cracking up all night.

A: HAHA! That was a funny thing. I think I came up with that at one point and put it on a record and it was just sillyness to us. We try to have fun and if things aren’t going right, we just try to make it fun.

Q: How do you feel about the internet and exposing your music online?

A: I think it’s a good thing and the whole world can have it when they want it, and still pay for it. It’s just the way the world is and what could really be too wrong with people having access to your music so readily unless there’s no money to be made anymore.

Q: What sort of bands are you listening to these days?

A: Most recently GLASSJAW and DEFTONES. There’s a few bands around like HEAD AUTOMATICA, GAVIN DEGRAW, THE MARS VOLTA.

Q: I just saw part of THE MARS VOLTA with SYSTEM OF A DOWN last night.

A: I saw that show too. What I saw of TMS was just a mess.

Q: You thought it sounded pretty bad too eh?

A: Let me say this though because I love both records as to me it’s some of the greatest music, I just love it. When we first got in, I was behind the stage just walking around the back looking for the person that helped me get into the show and they were playing The Widow and it sounded incredible. Out front it sounded like a jumbled mess. I couldn’t find the groove or anything. It just wasn’t translating that well to me.

Q: Any new drummers you’re digging on their vibe?

A: Let me see, there’s so many drummers so I can only talk about things I’ve seen. I saw this band DEVILDRIVER recently and I thought their drummer was incredible and he just made that band. The guy from THE SECRET MACHINES, what a drum sound! I just don’t know who’s out there these days. Shannon Larkin is a great drummer. I’ve known him for many years and he’s a truly great drummer.

Q: I saw him when he was with UGLY KID JOE.

A: I knew him back in WRATHCHILD.

Q: He invented a certain style for heavy drumming.

A: He’s an all around great drummer. When I first saw him he was wrapping his arm around his head and it was cool! It wasn’t like somebody trying to put on a show and do something, it was a part of this guy and this is who he is and I admire that.

Q: What kind of set are you playing on these days?

A: I’m using Pearl. I’ve been using Master Studio, but I think I’m gonna go with a Master Custom for the Maple as opposed to the Birch.

Q: Is that what you recorded on?

A: I did, I recorded on Maple, the Pearl Master Custom.

Q: How long did it take to do the album this time?

A: It’s kinda a strange thing. We met Michael Wagener in Nashville, he came out to a show. And we were hanging out with him and he was telling us about this workshop he does where people come out and watch him work and ask questions and kind of hands on the whole thing. He asked if we would want to be the band that he recorded while we did this. We were like, Hey, this is Michael Wagener, let’s do it, why not? What could it hurt? So we went to his studio just outside of Nashville and we recorded 4 songs and just thought, WOW! The three of us and him just thought we should make a record together. We did four songs in July and went back in December for another couple weeks and recorded then went back in January for another couple weeks and finished up the recording. So I guess the recording was no more than five weeks.

Q: I think you came out with a fantastic product this time, the songs are still there and the harmonies are still there and I’m excited to have tour come around.

A: Where are you at exactly?

Q: Sacramento.

A: We’re playin San Francisco!

Q: I’ll be there! Anything you want to tell the people?

A: Buy our record!

Q: Simple enough!

A: Enjoy it if you can and come out and see us. We’ll do the best we can to keep making music you like!