20 QUESTIONS WITH...Al
It's good to be the King!!!
Welcome to our second ever 20 Questions with our new drummer Al Affuso. We did our first 20 Questions back in March of 2001 with our friends Kristen & Karen. Up until then “Candy Girl” & “Kar Kar” were regular staples at our shows. But after our 20 Questions we never saw them again. At least we know Al has to show up to every gig.
Alot of people say they know Al ... but do they really know Al? Being the newest member of “Where‘s Grant?” we couldn’t think of any better way to welcome Al into the band and immortalize him on the website.
Yeah, ...we know! We lifted an idea from another cool website called MetalSludge.com... Each week MetalSludge does 20 questions with some ex-rock star from the 80’s hair band period like Warrant, RATT & Danger Danger. Well Al never achieved that level of fame but he has seen the inside of a tour bus in Sweden. That closer than any of us ever came. Read on and Enjoy!
1. Hey Al, Tell us about yourself... When were you born (month and day) and what are your hobbies?
Well, I came blasting into this world a mean angry mess on March 10th, so that makes me a Pisces. supposedly, naturally generous, romantic (bs) and have a love for water (false, I saw ‘Jaws’ at 10 and it screwed me up for life!)
- Hobbies include: drumming, snowmobiling, road bike riding, mountain biking, softball, basketball, weight training (if the back allows), and I love traveling. being in a band keeps that part alive..
2. Over the years you've played the cans for a number of bands. Tell us about all the bands you’ve been in (timeline) and some of your fav moments...
First band I was ever in was a band called VIBE TRIBE with some local guys. That was for about 3-4 years, created good music, released a 3 song demo locally. Moved on and co-founded PHILLIP THE MEAT BOX in 1993 with Bobby Spearing. That act has seen more member changes then a gang bang in Las Vegas!! LOL! Still going strong too. Then I joined an original band out of Rochester,NY called RAIN IN THE FACE. AWESOME original music in 1995 and basically we were doing what GODSMACK got signed for!! Way ahead of the music curve. serious power riffs, loved playing that music.. unfortunately that too ended without fanfare. Then in 1997, came the idea of a Rage Against the Machine tribute. I was asked to jam with some boys locally, felt good, so we did one show and then they wanted to blow it off as fun only.. I said “NO WAY.. THIS IS MARKETING HEAVEN!” So we got serious, called ourselves PEOPLE OF THE SUN…got a new singer and made it happen. Through the last 4 1/2 years..its remained a mainstay in my musical life. A few member changes along the way, but the ensemble is strong now. I love performing that music, RATM is so angry! It fits my playing style head on..We’ve played gigs in MA, CT, NH, RI, NJ..I was in a local band called CLEARVIEW DRIVE that broke up, and regrouped as a power trio called PUNKY B. That was a lot of fun, but unfortunately, that ended in a heap of twisted metal this spring…(car crash sound bite!) and now (drum roll..) I am in WHERES GRANT and excited to play a new style of music that is challenging!!
Most memorable times along the way:
VIBE TRIBE: opening for TRIXTER and playing a SKID ROW after party in Saratoga Winners..headlining at THE CHANCE..
PHILLIP THE MEATBOX: Playing to almost 500 people outside in Middletown at a now closed club under a huge tent..very cool!
RAIN IN THE FACE: Performing in front of 600 people at the Limelight in NYC and also Atlantic, Polygram, Sony records and the William Morris Agency..talk about pressure!
PEOPLE OF THE SUN: playing to 500 plus at THE STING in front of ITCHY FISH the Pearl Jam show..I also love performing at the FAT CAT in Springfield..every show is fun there..too many good shows to count
CLEARVIEW DRIVE: favorite moment was when it ended..LOL!
PUNKY B: Performing at Gullys and Pineapple Larrys was fun..
WHERES GRANT: Who's to know..the fun just started right?
3. You're always calling yourself 'Grandpa Al'. Any truth to the rumor that you played at the Boston Tea Party?
”Played?” shit! I organized that f**ker dude! A lot of time went into coordinating the friggin mob scene and getting all the tea together.. I took some of the leaves and... well the rest was history?
4. Rate the following drummers on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 being a hack and 10 being a drum god.
5. Who are your fav. drummers? Any 90’s drummers you like or admire?
My favorite drummers are Matt Cameron – Soundgarden, Morgan Rose – Sevendust, Brad Wilk – RATM, Dave Abruzzeze – Pearl Jam (first album), John Bonham, Dave Grohl still rocks, drummer from Blink 182 is sick too.
6. You also play in a popular Rage Against The Machine tribute band called People of The Sun. Whats you’re favorite RATM song to play? Any songs youre sick of?
My favorite songs to play have always been WAKE UP, DOWN RODEO, TESTIFY and FREEDOM..I could do without TIRE ME and VIETNOW..they seem to wear on my nerves now..
Three Wise Men
7.Is it true that you plan to fire Grant and rename the band "Heres Al?"
I plead the fifth..but..maybe something like “Wheres Oxygen?” would ring true..lord knows I need that FOR some shows for my old ass!!
8. What the craziest thing youve ever experienced/seen on the road (remember this is a family site... haha!)
Oh yeah and one night on tour with Pantera..Dimebag (Darryl, guitarist) freaked out in a hotel down south and attacked a couch with a knife..tore it to shit! Come to find out next day that it was an antique, 100 yrs old and worth like $4000!! Goddamn was he pissed when his manager got the bill..touring holds a lot of memories, some great, most X-rated..
9.You have a great reputation for being a very versatile drummer. How is it different laying beats to punk as opposed to playing rock, jazz or funk?
First of all thank you for the compliment..well the timing is key. The tempo is faster and putting a greater amount of single strokes in the measure is challenging..you really have to work on muscle dexterity and endurance..its like working out after playing a set of this shit! Jazz is serious feel as is funk..just adding a bit more back beat and ass kicking in it..Rock? 4/4 on the floor, AC/DC style..that’s the root..Punk just doubles the root, so if you have the root solid, the punk will come..
10. What are your current favorite bands? Who is the most overrated band today and why?
Wow, theres so many good bands out there and most of them aren’t signed ya know..I like some commercial stuff like Blink 182, Foo Fighters, Creed and on the heavier side, Disturbed, Sevendust, RATM, STAIND, some Godsmack tunes move me..Alice in Chains just flat out rocks..we lost a really creative talent in that band..godspeed Layne..
11.On a chance meeting you bump into Satan disguised as Gene Simmons. He offers you a deal of a lifetime; to become the worlds biggest rock star, drop-dead gorgeous, and have the money youll ever need. BUT as part of the deal you will have to wear breast implants for a year. Do you sign the dotted line?
Are we talking about me or BRITNEY SPEARS here? LOL!! I would kick Satan in his fiery red ass..because in the words of Sinead Oconnor..”I don’t want what I haven’t got”..I will GET what I EARN my friend..that’s just the way life really is..
12. Rate the following chicks on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 being a hound and 10 being a hottie.
13. Any famous rockstars have you met. Have there been anyone (bands, singers...etc) you’ve met that became famous after?
Where do I begin!! I have had the fortune to meet so many..lets get a partial list:
Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McCagen, Izzy Stradlin, Matt Sorum (gave me drum lessons), Ian and Billy from the Cult, great guys, Tracy Guns (LA GUNS), Matt Cameron, Chris Cornell both of Soundgarden, Dave Abruzzeze of Pearl Jam, Dave Weckl – drummer extraordinaire, Steve Smith – Journey, Joe Perry, Steven Tyler, Joey Kramer –all of Aerosmith, Ronnie James Dio, Ice-T, Rick Allen, All of Motley Crue, all of Pantera, all of The Front, all of Bon Jovi, Robin Zander-Cheap Trick, all of LOVE/HATE, Tommy Aldridge – Whitesnake, Stryper, all of Metallica..I especially liked James, he was down to earth..Kiss, Alice Cooper, smoked weed with Lenny Kravitz in Europe, very cool guy, Trixter guys before they got famous..and so many more I cant count..OH, I met Phil Collins once..the only time I was actually nervous around a star..what a class act..One band comes to mind that use to come and see People of the Sun play in Springfield mass..believe it or not STAIND..yeah, they came to a few shows because we played the same circuit back when they got signed..watched them just explode on the scene..
14. What do you remember about the following years?
15.Who deserves a bigger kick in the ass... Zach De la Roca or Sebastian Bach?
Can I kick them both? Zach for being such a f**king non-conformist he blew his load on a head-trip that’s not going to get him anywhere... and BAS..idiot..his ego cost a great rock band a career..but then again, lead singer disease (LSD) is a plague of our time and you see them destroy bands more often than helping them...
16. Be honest Al... did you ever have a mullet?
I had a partial mullet as it was growing out pre-long hair days..right around 1989..but seriously I was always a jock and my hair was either shaved or really short until I revolted against the establishment in 1990 and grew it right out to the middle of my back..got pictures..wanna see?!
17.Out of the following which do you prefer? (either/ or ... or your own creative answer)
18. Prior to playing in WG did Rob Tito ever say a word to you?
yes he actually said in clear detail at Sweenys one night the complete sentence of..
”Hi Al..” that was it..actually that’s 2 words isn’t it?
19. You’ve been in WG for just over a month. In that time has Grant ever once made it to a practice, gig, or returned your phone calls when he was supposed to?
always late to practice and shows so far..BUT he does return my phone calls..that’s because I bribe him with beer..and nude photos of the Brady Bunch..
20. Time for some word association. We mention a name, subject or event and you give us your thoughts.
21. Lastly.... now that youre part of "Wheres Grant?" what do you look forward to the most?
I think I look forward most to the point in time when I am jamming with my head down and eyes closed and all the music that’s around me from my bandmates is super tight, in the pocket and feels like home..a comfort zone drummers call “the groove”..its coming, I can feel it, but its good chemistry that brings it on and we got that..no pressure though, you cant force it..it’s a team effort..each one putting forth the effort to make the UNIT..the best it can be... yada yada yada... (insert drummer talk)...oh yeah and topless chicks this summer...pretty please!
Thanks to Al for being such a good sport and answering all these questions. It took longer for us to think them up than it did for him to send back 10 pages of answers.
Our next gig is Sat , May 11th at the Sweeney's in Walden, NY. Hope to see you all.
