l-r: Mick Monroe, Wain Stixx, Steven Anger and Les Izmore
When HOTT ROXX drummer Wain Stixx signed my guestbook, I hit him (and the rest of the band) up for an interview!! This Canadian glam rock band (consisting of Wain Stixx - drummer, Les Izmore - guitar, Mick Monroe - bass and Steven Anger - lead vocals) answered my 20 questions on everything from the famous groupie experience to the inspiration behind what they love (and live!) to do! Read on for more...
My questions are in blue. The bands answers are in green. What follows is pure, un-edited coolness!!
1.) Lets start off with the basics: What was the inspiration behind the name HOTT ROXX? How was the band started? And how long has it been together?
(ALL) - The band started a few years ago as a heavier version called "ROXX". After a few member changes we realized that our hearts & music didn't fit the old name. We wanted to Glam the name up a bit so we added the 'Hott' on to 'Roxx' & created a newer 80's Glam sound to the band. We are getting a very good response to the new act!
2.) What is your biggest musical accomplishment to date?
(ALL) - Finding four guys that want the same things & have the same goals musically, all working together on the same level.
3.) Who has inspired each of you the most?
(Mick) - KISS mainly, although I love most of the popular rock bands from the seventies & eighties!
(Les) - KISS!! They are what Rock & Roll is all about! They managed to keep music true during the grunge years, when every band was an overglorified garage band.
(Steven) - David Coverdale! because of his great vocals, cool hair & wonderful taste in women!
(Wain) - Neil Peart is the ultimate drummer & also think that KISS & The BEATLES influenced me alot.
4.) Les - I noticed in your bio that you use the C.C. DeVille model of Ibanez guitars. What is the reasoning behind that?
(Les) - Actually it's not a real CC model, but I like CC's stage presence so much that I dressed up my Ibanez RG750 to look like his. My backup guitar is a real Yamaha "Blues Saraceno" model.
5.) Speaking of POISON, have any of you ever met the band? And if not, what would you say if you had the chance?
Les has met everyone from POISON except Brett. Steve is acually writing a screenplay & wrote a song from the movie especially for POISON to perform. Mick & Wain have met the guys from KISS. They are all great guys!!
6.) I guess by now you guys have quite a field of groupies. Have they been a help? Or a hinderance?
Let's put it this way, Les & Mick have both gotten divorced since the band started. So.... it's been a help!!!
7.) In your set, what covers do you do? And what are the names of your originals?
Some of our favorite covers are 'Round & Round - RATT', 'Look what the cat dragged it - POISON', & 'Bathroom Wall - FASTER PUSSYCAT'. Some of our originals are 'Here, Kitty, Kitty', 'Life Goes On', & 'All Night'. Our new CD will be out in 2001!!
8.) Wain - All drummers have a favorite song to pound out their aggressions to - what’s yours?
(Wain) - Our original 'All Night'!!
9.) What’s the most embarassing thing thats happened on stage? (Come on... Spill your guts, lol)
(Mick) - When my guitar rocket went off & hit Les in the head!!
(Les) - Same as above!!
(Steven) - Women trying to undress me on stage!!
(Wain) - When I looked out into the crowd & saw two girls roasting sausages on our flame throwers!!
l-r: Steven Anger and Les Izmore
10.) What do you think of NAPSTER? Would you use the feature in the program that allows newer bands to release their work to the public?
It's fantastic if you're an unsigned band trying to get known. It sucks when you have a record deal & copywritten songs are being pirated.
11.) KISS: The Farewell Tour - Do you believe it’s really over? Or do you think they’ll release something else at a later date?
The've already announced the Australian tour for 2001, so anything's possible!
12.) Mick - What advice can you give to aspiring bassists?
(Mick) - Never give up, & tell any negative people to F*ck Off!! Learn to play real music,, not grunge!
13.) Is your musical taste purely 80's rock (I love the stuff!!) Or do you also like some of the more recent bands?
We like anything that rocks whether it's performed by POISON, KISS, BON JOVI, or newer people like FOO FIGHTERS, CREED, MANSON or LIMP BIZKIT. It should always have good musicianship.
14.) Steven - What is the hardest thing for you, as a singer, to accomplish? And have you ever done vocal chord damage as a result of ‘pushing it’?
(Steven) - The hardest thing for a vocalist is finding a competant soundman who knows how to control stage monitors. Yes I have blown out my vocals because of incompetent soundmen.. I need to hear myself!
15.) When you’re not rehearsing or performing, what do you like to do?
(Steven) - I like smokin' a joint & sitting in front of my Sony Playstation!
(Mick) - Drinking & Screwing!!
(Les) - watching hockey & hanging out with my little daughter!
(Wain) - drinking & staring incoherently at the TV!!
16.) What are your pet peeves?
(Steven) - Every driver on the road except myself!
(Les) - My imaginary friends ignoring me!
(Mick) - Cats!! I like dogs better as pets!
(Wain) - Running out of beer before midnight!
17.) 80's rock almost seemed to disappear for a while, do you think it’s coming back? And if so, why?
Yes is comming back!! We're proof!!
18.) If you could pick, what would your ideal line-up consist of?
Our ideal lineup would be Les, Steven, Wain & Mick!! just kidding! probaly Freddy Mercury on vocals, Bob Daisley on bass, Paul Gilbert on guitar & Eric Singer on drums!!
19.) When you were, say.. 6 years old, is this what you thought you’d be doing?
YES!!!!!!
20.) If there is one thing you could tell readers that they already didn’t know about you, what would it be?
That we're "try" sexual!! we'll try anything sexual once!! (with girls that is!!) & ALL girls are welcome backstage at every show!! The more the better!!!
What a really cool interview!! Thanx HOTT ROXX and good luck!! For band information, pictures, tour dates and more... go to their official website!!
To email the band, click here!
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