Deep in the heart of Cleveland Heights is an eclectic trio of punks called The Brazen Rogues. Looking at these guys you try to figure out their common bond because outwardly you see three very different guys. Vicks, the singer/guitarist is your greaser, Alex the singer/bassist could be considered a skinhead by appearanceand Mark, on drums would be considered the headbanger. Beyond that, as you talk with them, you get to know just how deep their bonds are meshed in their work and how much heart they have in their dedication to make their due mark on the music scene.
Tourbus: How did the three of you come together?
Al: Vicks and I went to an STA show and got the idea, Mark plays wherever he gets the chance and came in when our old drummer joined the Marines.
Tourbus: What inspired your name?
Vicks: A couple of Marines who went robbing banks where referred to by the press as Brazen Rogues.
Tourbus: How did the three of you get involved in music?
Vicks: My father and cousin told me I could never play guitar after my finger got cut off.
Mark: As a kid I saw a Quiet Riot video on MTV, after that I knew I wanted to be a rock star.
Al: It’s a toss up between Michael Jackson and the Transformers theme song.
Tourbus: What do you draw your influences from?
Al: Social Distortion, Suicidal Tendencies, Ramones, Misfits, Slayer, Agnostic Front, and Enya.
Tourbus: What are you listening to here lately?
Al: Hatebreed, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, At the Gates.
Vicks: The Best of Victory Records.
Mark: Clutch, KRS-1, Cryptopsy, Stinkyfister, and Fiona Apple.
Tourbus: You have a release due out this month, what can we expect from that? And do you have a release date set?
Brazen: Come to our fund raisers and we will see. As for a date uhhhhh....how about may 15th ...yeah that sounds good. But seriosly were still looking at packaging deals but the CD is done.
Tourbus: There is a rumor that you are banned from playing your hometown...what caused this?
Al: For some reason we are black listed from a scene that we wholeheartedly support. We try to support all forms of music but the main club in the heights just doesn’t care.
Vicks: We think it may be Marks fault, but it could be that we aren’t a hippie jam band.
Tourbus: So Vicks, when is the next time your cooking cajun for the fans?
Vicks: Come to the release party.
Tourbus: Alex when are you going let your hair grow out?
Al: One day I will grow my hair to my ass, grow my beard long, change my name to Algar the Agro and live the life of a true Viking.
Tourbus: Mark is it true that you use Pantene conditioner?
Mark: No actually, once I used Pantene and when my hair dried I looked like I was in a hair band. Al almost killed me by mistake.
Tourbus: What are your long term goals for the band?
Vicks: Play music, have fun, go on tour, and be big in Kansas.
Tourbus: Where do you plan on touring?
Brazen: For now its between Ohio and Georgia, then down to Florida, then around the gulf coast, maybe Texas. We may add more later this summer.
Tourbus: Anything you would like to add?
Al: Where have all the circle pits gone?
(***Matt Boone contributed questions and his time to this interview, thank you Matt!!!)
Brazen Rogues Official Website
