HEYYYYY (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} _1969) wrote in ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} ohnotheydidnt,@ 2008-07-24 17:54:00 |
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MCR's Frank Iero starts side band, takes three years to get into AP
If you need me to type it out, let me know.
EDIT: the typed-up copy...
"I remember being in the parking lot of a movie theater, crammed into the back of Vinnie's [Avarali, guitarist] Volkswagen and listening to the basis of something amazing," remembers Frank Iero, who was so wowed by Leathermouth's all-instrumental early demos that he literally willed himself into the noisy new Jersey hardcore band after another vocalist's audition fell through. Nevermind that Iero had another, slightly bigger group gaining momentum at the time: Between writing sessions for The Black Parade, the My Chemical Romance guitarist found time to practice, gig and demo new tunes with Leathermouth, who managed to keep their identity relatively guarded as their sound and lineup came together. "I originally wanted to keep Leathermouth anonymous," says Iero, "But playing live, it's hard to keep the secret unless you wear masks, and I wasn't into that--too hot. So I figured fuck it, let's not hide from something we life doing this much." The band's touring lineup includes guitarists Ed Auletta and Rob Hughes, bassist John McGuire, and MCR/Reggie and the Full Effect's own James Dewees on drums.. (Original members Avarali, Steve Oyola and Andrew Escobar have since formed a full-time band, March of Saints.)
Thanks to Iero's day job and a steady trickle of online buzz, Leathermouth have become one of punk rock's worst-kept secrets. Although you'd think the band's sound--rooted as it is in the black-hearted noise and nihilism of bands like Black Flag and Ink & Dagger--would've turned off more MCR fans than it's attracted. "Leathermouth is where I can vent about all the bullshit that makes me crazy," admits Iero, who adds that he's always been leery of promoting the band as an MCR offshoot. "Every emotion I'm not proud to feel, every situation that goes on in the day and age that we wish we could just bury. I like to sing words that make moms cover their babies' ears."
Leathermouth's first official album--a sweltering, lo-fi collection recorded over two years in a series of New York and New Jersey basements--has been in the can for months. Despite rumors of a (more than appropriate) Halloween '08 release on Iero's Skeleton Key* label, he says he's still looking for the perfect home. "It just made sense to sign my band to my label at first," he says, "but then I thought about it, and I realized I hate promoting myself." Regardless of how or when Leathermouth's music makes it into stores, Iero plans to hit the road hard during MCR's current hiatus, starting this fall opening for Reggie and the Full Effect. Any fans expecting Leathermouth's live-and-lewd noise to carry over into The Black Parade's sequel probably shouldn't get their hopes up.
"There's no thought of MCR at all when writing Leathermouth songs," Iero explains. "Sometimes it's fun to throw everything you've done in the past out the window and just scream your guts out about setting girls on fire."
*It's Skeleton Crew, not Skeleton Key.
Also, any typos are probably mine.
If you need me to type it out, let me know.
EDIT: the typed-up copy...
"I remember being in the parking lot of a movie theater, crammed into the back of Vinnie's [Avarali, guitarist] Volkswagen and listening to the basis of something amazing," remembers Frank Iero, who was so wowed by Leathermouth's all-instrumental early demos that he literally willed himself into the noisy new Jersey hardcore band after another vocalist's audition fell through. Nevermind that Iero had another, slightly bigger group gaining momentum at the time: Between writing sessions for The Black Parade, the My Chemical Romance guitarist found time to practice, gig and demo new tunes with Leathermouth, who managed to keep their identity relatively guarded as their sound and lineup came together. "I originally wanted to keep Leathermouth anonymous," says Iero, "But playing live, it's hard to keep the secret unless you wear masks, and I wasn't into that--too hot. So I figured fuck it, let's not hide from something we life doing this much." The band's touring lineup includes guitarists Ed Auletta and Rob Hughes, bassist John McGuire, and MCR/Reggie and the Full Effect's own James Dewees on drums.. (Original members Avarali, Steve Oyola and Andrew Escobar have since formed a full-time band, March of Saints.)
Thanks to Iero's day job and a steady trickle of online buzz, Leathermouth have become one of punk rock's worst-kept secrets. Although you'd think the band's sound--rooted as it is in the black-hearted noise and nihilism of bands like Black Flag and Ink & Dagger--would've turned off more MCR fans than it's attracted. "Leathermouth is where I can vent about all the bullshit that makes me crazy," admits Iero, who adds that he's always been leery of promoting the band as an MCR offshoot. "Every emotion I'm not proud to feel, every situation that goes on in the day and age that we wish we could just bury. I like to sing words that make moms cover their babies' ears."
Leathermouth's first official album--a sweltering, lo-fi collection recorded over two years in a series of New York and New Jersey basements--has been in the can for months. Despite rumors of a (more than appropriate) Halloween '08 release on Iero's Skeleton Key* label, he says he's still looking for the perfect home. "It just made sense to sign my band to my label at first," he says, "but then I thought about it, and I realized I hate promoting myself." Regardless of how or when Leathermouth's music makes it into stores, Iero plans to hit the road hard during MCR's current hiatus, starting this fall opening for Reggie and the Full Effect. Any fans expecting Leathermouth's live-and-lewd noise to carry over into The Black Parade's sequel probably shouldn't get their hopes up.
"There's no thought of MCR at all when writing Leathermouth songs," Iero explains. "Sometimes it's fun to throw everything you've done in the past out the window and just scream your guts out about setting girls on fire."
*It's Skeleton Crew, not Skeleton Key.
Also, any typos are probably mine.
