Blue Oyster Cult could almost be classified as "Heavy 70's Alternative Rock". With darker themes, stellar musicianship, and "not-quite-pop-enough-for radio" songs, BOC gained a "Cult" following and influenced such artists as Mike Watt, L7, and Metallica. In the 1980s, the band suffered personnel changes with the departures of brothers Albert Bouchard (drums) and Joe Bouchard (bass). Hardcore fans of BOC still mourn the absence of the brothers today, who contributed greatly to the band's songwriting.
Joe Bouchard took time off to spend with his family and work on his Masters Degree. He created a dance composition for a 90-piece orchestra as his Masters Thesis. He then teamed up with Billy and Andy Hilfiger (Tommy Hilfiger's brothers) and Jimmy Cacala to record and tour as "The X Brothers". 2001 finds Bouchard as busy as ever, writing instructional music books and collaborating with ex-Alice Cooper Band members Dennis Dunaway and Neil Smith on the new album Bouchard/Dunaway/Smith - Back From Hell.
CS: How did the evolution to Bouchard/Dunaway/Smith happen?
JB: I've known Neal and Dennis since BOC toured with Alice Cooper in the early 70s. When I moved to Connecticut in 1975, I ran [into] Dennis on the train coming back from [New York] city. We traded phone numbers and ended up jamming at Neal's house. We started writing songs not too long after that. They played in different projects and I had my X Brothers so we didn't work that hard at it at first. It was just something to do when we got bored. I could call Dennis on a free afternoon and 20 minutes later we'd be in Neal's basement jammin on some tunes.
For various reasons in May of 1999 we decided that we needed to kick up the energy level and get some new songs out. I had just gotten my song "Astronomy" covered by Metallica, and those guys did extensive interviews for VH1's Behind the Music. Neal also was an instigator by getting us booked [at] some collector/memorabilia shows. Those are fun events where you get to talk to a lot of fans. They all wanted to know when we were putting out a new CD. This current recording started as a songwriting project. We didn't think it would become a live band too. But it's great playing with those guys and we bring a lot of collective experience to the live stage.
The writing all took a giant leap forward when I brought my old friend, Ian Hunter to rehearsal. He was just going to "observe". But it didn't take long before he was making suggestions and helping us write the songs. We ended up collaborating on four songs with him.
CS:Do you have plans to tour with Dunaway and Smith?
JB: Bouchard/Dunaway/Smith just played the Whisky a GoGo in Hollywood [a few] weeks ago. It was a great show. It was promoted by a group of Alice Cooper fans as a memorial to their late guitarist, Glen Buxton. We recorded a live video that we hope to release commercially.
We hope to play more this fall as the CD starts to be heard. Our big thrust now is to snag a better distribution deal for the CD, and set up a good website on the band.
CS: Where does this put the legendary X Brothers?
JB: The X Brothers Band is on hold for the moment. I just got an offer from a movie company that wants to use our song "Hot Time in Hell". Very cool. Unfortunately, Billy Hilfiger, X Brothers guitarist, has been battling a brain tumor for four years. He had his first seizure just before the X Brothers CD was released. He's still doing ok and we play a couple times a year, mostly at a private parties. But it would be impossible to play 35 shows a year like we used to. I'd love to record a live CD with them as soon as Billy is in better health. My bass player Andy is deeply involved in the fashion industry. He's co-president of J. Lo Enterprises, Jennifer Lopez's clothing company. Jim Cacala, the drummer, is now the lead singer with a popular upstate NY group called Jesus Chrysler.
CS: You wrote the legendary "Hot Rails To Hell" with Blue Oyster Cult, Recorded "Hot Time In Hell" with the X Brothers on Solid Citizens and your new album with Bouchard/Dunaway/Smith is entitled Back From Hell. You seem to have a slight preoccupation with Hell. Are you Catholic?
JB: I was raised Catholic, but I don't remember any long preoccupation with fire and brimstone. When I was growing up we couldn't say the word "hell" in the wrong context in our family. The title "Hot Rails to Hell" was initiated by manager, Sandy Pearlman. I had written the song and it needed a title. Sandy suggested "Hot Rods to Hell" [and] since it was a subway song it became "Hot Rails to Hell".
When I came across the song "Hot Time in Hell", I said this is a prefect song for that Hot Rails guy. Back From Hell as the title of the CD was my idea that probably sprang from all those "hell" songs. Can't get enough of a good thing.
CS: The last time we spoke, you were working on the Alice Cooper Box Set. This, along with the tribute to the late Glen Buxton gets the old mind a-workin'. What are the odds that the original Alice Cooper Band will regroup with you on guitar?
JB: I hadn't thought of that really. It really wouldn't be the original Alice Band without Glen. I've talked to Alice recently and he seems pretty happy with his current band and recordings.
CS: On the subject of tributes, you were musically reunited with your old Blue Oyster Cult bandmate Buck Dharma for the Helen Wheels tribute album. How did that feel? Will there be any more collaborations with Buck in the near future?
JB: Pretty good. It was really smooth recording with Albert too. Some things you just never forget. I even made a suggestion for an arrangement idea that got used for the song "Goodbye Joe". We didn't really discuss personal matters. It was all business. Albert has been trying to get Buck to do an all instrumental album. But it's hard to say at this point if it will really happen.
CS: What are your feelings about rock music today? Do you have any favorite new bands or artists, besides Chris Shepard?
JB: I follow everything that is out in popular music (when I can stand it). Don't care for much rap that's out now. I admire some young bands like Creed, Vertical Horizon, Staind but I've yet to actually lay down cash to buy their records. Mostly I follow the new music because I teach a few private students that play all that stuff for me.
CS: Given its lack of creativity and originality, corporate radio is obviously not helping to further good rock music. Where is there hope, Joe?
JB: Hope? Probably the biggest difference between the current generation and the generation of classic rock is that back then, music was a bigger part of life. The only decent part of life if you ask me. Now there's so much competition with video games, the internet and cable TV. Anything you want is at your fingertips. Music may improve if it becomes a more important issue to the current generation of music buyers. Seems like they are settling for crap for a lot of reasons. The TV image has taken over. There is hope in new delivery systems of music. Digital satellite radio, internet websites that really care about the quality of music.
CS: Finally...the all-encompassing "What's next" question: What's next?
JB: What's next. Hmmmm. I just want to stay with a creative direction to my life. Right now I'm writing a book for little kids called "Bass for the Absolute Beginner". I would like to do more CDs and write some classical music like I did in the 90s while I was working on my masters degree. We'll see. With home studios getting better and better all the time, I've finally got the tools to do
