Welcome to the chuck shoe podcast. Thanks for tuning in. Oh Sam BAM Colton is my guest. He's an amazing guitar player. He's currently in three bands I found out faster Pussycat, who I was a big fan of still him. They had a big hit in 89 with House of Pain, and some other great album Rock Tracks. And of course, that was all before Sam was even born. But he's their current guitar
player. And he's also the guitar player for butter side was a band that was signed by Lemmy, from Motorhead for his label, personally, so that's pretty cool. We'll talk about the name too, but they got some great tunes, catchy songs. And finally, he also plays on this. He just recorded New Music with Dorothy. So this girl she's got millions of views listens on Spotify and YouTube. I just discovered her by doing the
research for this interview. And I'm excited to hear new music from her so and all three of these artists actually have new music coming out. So new, faster, pussycat new butter side. But this interview is a chance to get to know Sam. He's a very talented guy, Ace Vaughn Johnson, who I recently had on, said Sam could be the next Jerry Cantrell. So definitely pay attention. And also he's a super nice guy very down to earth. I really enjoyed chatting with
him. And hope you guys enjoy to welcome Sam van Colton Sam BAM Colton, to the chuck shoot podcast. So yeah, that's my first question obviously. is Sam bam. I'm trying to do this research. I'm googling stuff is this I first I heard that name. I thought oh, that's such a cool nickname, Sam. Bam. Is that your real name? Or is that a nickname?
No, that's a nickname. Ah,
no, that's why I couldn't find it. Okay, so what is what is the story with that then?
So my name is actually Sam. But when I was in my first band when I was like, 13, everybody kind of had their own nicknames. And that's the one that vino I was given and I don't really know where it came from. And at first, I was like, super annoyed with it. But then it just, at some point, made it by name on Facebook. And then that's where that's just how it's been ever since.
Okay, nice. Well, I think it's cool. I think it sounds like Sam ban. You know, it's like, I know, it sounds tough for something like a superhero or so I like it. I think it's awesome.
I'll take it.
Thank Yeah, it's very cool. So growing up, you grew up in St. Louis, and your mom cut hair. Your dad did like insurance stuff. But I thought this was interesting. Your dad used to be a professional racquetball player. Is that right? He traveled the world.
Yeah, it's pretty insane that my dad traveled the world playing racquetball. And I have no athletics whatsoever. Animal
doesn't do either of your parents play any music though. or have any musical talent?
No, they've they've never played music. They just they do they've always loved music course. But they've never played okay.
Yeah, it's funny like and then so your parents it sounds like they were in the typical like, I would call like parent music Rod Stewart and Three Dog Night like those are those sound like kind of like I feel like everybody's mom or dad had Rod Stewart when I go there. My friend's house is like, Oh cool. CDs music. I love music. And always like I'm always like, oh, Rod Stewart. Okay, but so somehow you found some songs that you like must be on the radio or something ever ever.
What is it evolution elevation by YouTube and one headlight by the wallflowers I love that wallflower song. But what was it about those two songs? That was the the guitar sounds? Or was it their catchy songs or the lyrics? What did you like about those two songs in particular?
I think it was probably the the songs in general. I mean, the one headlight thing was when I was a little little kid, like, really, really young. And then same with elevation too. I mean, elevation now thinking back about it musically, that's like probably the first time I've ever heard a wah pedal or kind of thing. You know, and I love that kind of sound still to this day. So, um, I don't know. I really think it was kind of just the songs and just as a young kid, I was obsessed.
Yeah, you don't sometimes I remember when I was a kid. I like the song wake me up before you go go by Wham I just thought it was something about that song. I just I loved I was like, so catchy and, and so you know, just could sing along to it. I don't know why I like it. You know, it's like, Yeah, sometimes it's something just hit you. So. But anyway, so then a little later, I think it was around age 10. You said that your this is interesting. You're watching the interaccess Rock
Star Show. I vaguely remember that coming out. But you were really obsessed with the the house guitar player Raphael Moreira, which he's not even in excess. He's just in the house band, right. Yeah. But that's kind of what drew you to the guitar.
Yeah, completely. It was just That whole TV shows watching it, it was, it was so cool to me, especially in watching Raphael just because he was just an is such an incredible guitar player, just everything he would play was just so sick. And he had like, every kind of Gibson Guitar that you could possibly think of. And it was just everything about it was I was just, I was obsessed with it, I would make. Not, I'm not an
artist by any means. But I would, you know, make drawings of the different people and like, I was just, I was so hooked on everything about it.
Okay, so then that's when you started taking guitar lessons from this local guy, who you've also said, is one of your favorite guitar players, which I think is really cool, because he's, you know, he's a local guy. And you cite him Mark Kruk when highsec Crow, crow crowl, he started taking lessons from him. He played in some like a Rod Stewart tribute band, which is kind of close to
your parents like that. So what did you learn from him in terms of playing the guitar or just like the music business or just life in general? Well, so
Mark actually came a little later, right? when I very first started, when I was 10, I took from a music store in Santa Cruz. And it was like, I don't know if I've ever talked about this ever. Okay. And yeah, that's I had a teacher named Bill Hopkins, I think was his last name. And like, it was just always kind of, you know, learning. There was like the book stuff, the kind of more technical stuff I read, that I would always be asked my way through to get to learning the
Green Day songs. But then, yeah, my friend Mark growl came into the picture a few years later, when I was 13. Like you said, some play with a Rod Stewart tribute band. And you know, we went up to him, me, my mom, and really Oh, to give lessons because I thought he was just so cool. And he's like, Oh, no, but I know some people that do. And then about a month later, I ended up jamming with him at this open mic night. Hmm. And then we became friends and, you
know, lessons from him. And that's where I really started kind of learning a lot more kind of, you know, like the heavier kind of like, just priest and Iron Maiden and it was all about learning these two guitar harmony songs to go up to the open jam and, and play with him and right.
So cuz when you first got in you were listening to kind of more of the stuff that was popular, probably on rock radio at the time, like, shine down and see there and Three Days Grace, and then yeah, he kind of introduced you to the old school metal. So when did you discover Allison chains? Because that's your favorite band. Right?
That's a rebel band of all time. Yeah. That probably came around more like, probably 16 I think a little later, okay. I even specifically, remember, again, I got started playing at open jams and stuff, which were these things where you could go and sign up on a list and then you get called up play and you play your two or three songs. And I even remember playing them bones at an open jam probably when I was out song. And like, you know, it's Yeah, it's just I
fell in love with them. And they've been in love with them ever since.
It was Do you have a favorite song or album?
I mean, album. You know all of them. But I guess I had to pick one. It has to be dirt.
That's a classic. Yeah. Oh, I see. I got the post over there. Awesome.
But uh, and favorite songs. I mean, it's always kind of been between like, Damn that river and rain when I die. And it ain't like that. And just do
like they're they have a couple acoustic of the sap was the first one and then they have the jar flies acoustic. Do you like that stuff as well? That's not so the jar flies especially so dark.
Oh, I love every bit of it, man. rotten apple and all those songs. Yeah.
It's good stuff.
I love that. Yeah, I love the nudie acoustic side to them too.
It's interesting, though, because you don't do drugs. So like you're just listening to this stuff. And I mean, are you just as a put you get kind of a dark mood. I remember listening to that jar fly CD, when I was a kid. Like I would always listen to music. When I come home from school and I just pass out I'm so tired because I didn't get enough sleep the night before. But do you listen to it like when you're falling asleep or like what are you doing when you're listening to that?
No, that's like my, my morning Pep Music Man. The jar flies. No, okay. Uh, you know, it's just, especially on a day like today it's actually raining in Los Angeles, California, which is pretty crazy. Oh, that's rare. a day like today is definitely you know, the vibe for listening to that kind of stuff. But, you know, it's, I just I just love the music. So the fact that it's kind of like, like you said, I don't do drugs. I don't drank at a party. But it's the I just
liked the music. And I like the songs and that kind of darker, deeper stuff. I kind of resonate with a little bit more. So I don't know. That's cool.
No, I love Allison chains. So tell me about this. You You played in front of 7000 people when you were 14, what what band? Was that? Or artists? or How did that come about? I mean, I can't imagine I was scared to get up in front of the class and read something when I'm 14, I can't imagine doing something like playing the guitar in front of 7000 people, I would have a heart attack.
Well, yeah, getting up to read something in front of a class. I'm still terrified to do that. But it's, you know that that whole story that was again, I was in my first band. And we would go up to the open mic nights that happened every Monday night at this club called house Iraq. And this guy who hosted the night was this guy named feral Webber. And we would go there and play every week. And he said, You guys are going to open my next show. You know, he's really supportive of us, and really,
really awesome. And his next show ended up being at this club that was 21. And only that they wouldn't allow us to play it. So then he's like, Okay, my next show you guys are gonna open. And he kept his word. And his next show ended up being that show, which was with a Led Zeppelin tribute band, playing in Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, more specifically, St. Charles, Missouri, it's called family
arena. And these guys would do these tribute shows and still do some of these tribute shows where they hand out free tickets for months, at all different locations and people, you know, pick up the tickets, and the money's made on concessions and parking. Ah, and you and they just pack the people into this place. Oh, yeah,
that's a lot for a tribute band. I would say Do you remember the name of that? Because I've seen some of those Led Zeppelin tribute bands.
It's called houses of the holy, I don't think they're around anymore, because some of the guys kind of split off. Oh, my friend Mark Crowe was the guitar player. And that's another time. Okay. That was still pretty early on. I mean, I had been taken lessons. Yeah. still kind of like, you know, he was the rock star, those look. So
you're playing in front of 7000 people and you're not nervous or scared? Or it just was that felt natural to you?
Well, yeah, I mean, the before going up there that's out of basically playing on stage is about the one time in life that I am actually comfortable. So that's but that's one of I can count on one hand the number of times I've been nervous. And that was the first one really wow. But once we were up there, it was just it was all good. And it was, you know,
that's awesome. So then at one point is, is it true? You were playing four to five nights a week in nine different bands in St. Louis? Like, I mean, how did you how much sleep are you getting at this time? Because I think you need probably you're supposed to get at least eight hours right? But how do you play four to five nights a week? nine different band? How
do you keep that all straight? You're amazing. Man. Your your research? Amazing. Yeah, it was a it was pretty crazy. Before I moved out here to LA it ended up even being like almost 13 different bands, you know, oh
my god.
But like, you know, yeah, four to five nights a week at least. And all through high school. I had good grades and mostly straight A's. And it was just, that's that's all I've wanted to do. I just playing live is.
So like, instead of kids that are on playing a football team or whatever, it's just you're playing in bands at night?
Yeah, that was basically it. I didn't really have any friends in school.
Wait, wait, you're playing in front of 7000 people you're playing all these different bands and you're not have any friends?
No, I mean, it was really even in that Yeah, that was in high school. It was... there was kind of like a group of kids that would sit with at the at lunchtime and stuff but like, nobody I don't talk to I don't even really remember a single person from high school other than a couple teachers really but it was always kind of like just get through the day and get through school and then get the homework done to get to go out and and play at night and jam.
So were you like bullied and stuff were you just compute kids kind of ignore you?
A little bit of both. Bullying was mostly through grade school, like the school I attended was kindergarten through eighth grade. So you're stuck with the same jerks from eight or nine years.
Yeah. I hate that shit. Well, you got the last laugh though.
Yeah, I mean, ultimately.... I remember being in fourth or fifth grade and some kid telling me guitar will never take you anywhere, but quite the opposite.
Wow, what an idiot. Yeah,
no, cuz So, like, at the time as a kid, it's just like, you know that that makes you feel like crap. But ultimately.... and I'm really weird. My memory isn't always great... but then certain things like that I can remember like, just exactly...
For sure...
Yeah's quite the contrary has happened.
Yeah, no. So tell me about this. So that I think was this besides playing in front of 7000 people... was this in high school when you auditioned for Black Label Society? Did I hear that right?
Yeah, you did.
Wow. That's crazy. How did he find you? You're because you're in St. Louis. So
actually, by that time, and I mean, I kind of sorta auditioned, but by that time I had, I had been living in LA. Okay. Been living here probably like two months.
Oh, so this one, you're going to that school, the music school or whatever.
When I was going to Musicians Institute Yeah.
Okay.
And I had heard about these semi kind of like, audition kind of thing, where you basically were, or at least in my case, I had met with Blasko for a couple minutes, because he had done some teaching there a little bit in the music business program. That's cool.
Yeah, I had him on my show. He's Ozzie's bassist and it was in Rob Zombie. Great guy. Yeah. So so he kind of hooked you up with that. Right?
So he, yeah, the audition thing was to go and he basically talked to him for a few minutes. And he and he was like, "Okay, yeah, film videos of you doing like this, this, this and this" and then I did and then nothing really ended up coming of it, but it was still you know, but
kind of you was there something where like, you want to contest so then zakk Wylde had to come deliver a guitar to your house or something?
That was extremely weird timing... Things happen within like a week.
Oh, that's hilarious. So you're like, Hey, I auditioned for your band. I didn't make it. But I'll take this guitar as a consolation.
It was really crazy. A friend of mine has randomly sent me this contest and like I would just enter stuff like that.
Yeah, sure.
Yeah. And yeah, it happened like right after the audition thing if we can even really call it that. And then I got an email that said congratulations from BLS. And I'm like, What and then I opened it and it's like, you won the you know, the guitar thing. I was like, What the heck so Zakk Wylde came to my living space here and delivered a guitar which was just
does he smell good? I had so I had a Who was it? Them evils them evils they open for him, Jordan Griffin? And he said he smells magnificent. I was like, what he's like, I don't know. It's he smells great. I was like, Okay. Do you remember?
The the couple times that I have met zakk Wylde. I don't remember him smelling it. It's kind of you would expect him to a little bit but the few times I've met him, I didn't notice anything.
Okay. I just thought it was funny with Jordan told me that story. I was like, What is like just Randy's like, I don't know. He smells magnificent. I was like, Okay, very cool. So before you got to that college, like this was kind of an important pivotal point in your life, I think because you are going to go to like a regular college for web design and audio engineering. And then was it a friend of yours you say didn't have a lot of friends.
But this one friend kind of convinced you to go to the to the music Musicians Institute in Hollywood, right?
That is correct. Not me saying like that. I didn't really have many friends. That's like, I didn't have any friends that were my own age. I had become friends with by going to the jams and stuff when my first band playing with the the adult musicians and the pros. Those guys became my friends. Okay, so yeah, this this guy named buddy Blaze, who makes guitars that I was playing for a while. He we were at the lake with him over Fourth of July weekend. And he was asking about
college plans. And I was all set to go to a local college in St. Louis for Yeah, web design with a minor I think an audio engineering because their music program was really jazz based. And admittedly, say I wasn't accepted into the music program. Oh, it was kind of like okay, well, I guess I can do this.
That seems kind of cool. And talking to buddies I, oh, you should have been you should be going to Am I that's kind of the place that you, you know, and my mom always kind of Thought that to begin with, you know, she always thought that it wasn't really a good idea to be staying in St. Louis, because there's only like, yeah,
that's cool. Your parents were so supportive of you doing music because a lot of parents say like, Oh, don't, you know, give up on the Rockstar dreams and get a real job. And your mom was like, No, you need to go to this music school.
My parents both have always been extremely supportive. Just, you know, between taking me out every night and then not getting much sleep and right, yeah, just always being being amazing. And I, you know, and my whole family now, especially to my my sisters are really supportive. And they really, they like everything, too. So that's, that's Yeah,
that's really cool. So you go to the school, the music Musicians Institute, what did you learn there? besides just like meeting all these other musicians and people in the music and networking? Did you learn was there certain classes you took that really helped you with some of the technical stuff like about music in the music business? or?
Yeah, there was so much stuff, it was, I started with the Associate Program, which is there a year and a half program. And then after completing that, I decided to do more and go into the bachelor
program. So getting into that, you there was so much stuff that not even related to guitar, they had to learn, like arranging for horns and strings and writing out musical parts and having to do these things called jurys, where you have to write out everybody's parts, you got to write the drum notation and the vocal notation and everything and rehearse with the group and play songs that are you know, like a jazz song and a Latin song and like a transcription that had to be some crazy art
thing. So there's, there's so much stuff that I learned even learning Pro Tools and stuff. I do work with different dogs. That's where I have my Pro Tools. skills from then. Yeah.
Oh, that's great. So then you, you perform, you made your, your debut at the Viper Room with a band called Made in America. So tell me about that experience. Like, are you aware of the history of the Viper Room? Because I just it's so it's such a fascinating venue? It's one of those legendary places.
Yeah, very much. So. It's, uh, yeah, that was my, my first gig after after moving here. And this band made in America, this singers name was Dave tackett. And I very much owe a lot to him. Because when I first moved here, I was losing my mind, you know, going from playing four to five nights a week, not being able to play anywhere, really no, for it. So there were these jam nights that
were going on. They've now kind of turned into other things, but at this little club in the valley, and David took me there. And that's where I started meeting everybody. And he got me up to play with the different people. And so you know, I still owe a lot to that singer Dave Keck for for helping me out when I first got here and it was a lot of fun the band and yeah, that was my first time playing the Yeah, I mean, the whiskey and all these years, so
yeah, almost. Now you live pretty close to all that stuff. Right. And Hollywood?
I do. Yeah. So tell me this air all the time. Oh, really? Oh life.
Yeah, right. normal life. So those jam nights one of the guys you jammed with was one of my favorites. gilby Clarke solo artists but also was formerly in Guns and Roses. How did that happen? And you remember like, What song did you do with him?
That happened from that Dave packet? Okay, here was one night and you know that he got me up to play. We played highway star by the purple. Oh, nice. And that was really cool to me because Gilbey when I first got into Guns and Roses when I was like 12 or so I got the user illusion DVDs, which Yeah, yeah, I didn't even realize that there was a lineup before him, you know? Like, oh, he's so cool. And you know, all the different loss balls and all that stuff. So yeah, it was
really cool to, to jam. I'm especially I was 18 when I first moved here.
So that's insane.
So Young. And now fast forward, the plot thickens with Gilbert. He's actually mixing the new faster pussycat music, but we can get to that later.
Oh, cool. Yeah, we'll get to that. But this is another one. I just realized that you had another person you work with. Tell me about this young I don't think a lot of people know who this is. But I did she go by Gabby Ray or Gabriella. She's like this up and coming singer. I think she's been on the Monsters of Rock cruise and I saw a video of her singing with Vince Neil from Motley Crue and Nuno Bettencourt and a bunch of other rock stars.
And I think you played with her right you guys Oh, For queens Reich and dokken and Europe and all this stuff, right?
Yeah. She back then yes, it was Gabby re now okay now as Gabriella, okay. You know, wanted to change and rebrand for the new thing that she's she's working on currently.
But what is the no think she's working on.
She's been working with Nuno Bettencourt has spoken to her producer and kind of right hand dye for the last couple years and, you know, just been working on, she's got, at least I know she has an album for sure of stuff. And it's it's all amazing. And I say that objectively because, you know, my friend Listen, and, you know, it was all her and you know, together. And, you know, I'm I'm really excited to see what happens for her. And but, you know, back that was playing with
her. I mean, that was my first tour, which oddly enough happened five years ago right around the time currently that's happening right now. And I got to do a lot of really, really cool shows. With her. A lot of I was some of my first really big shows for sure was playing with her.
So what happened did she is because she's working on a new node now or just because you're in so many other bands.
I think it's kind of a combination of things. Okay. Yeah. myself being in a few other projects, and then hurt she's been mostly working with with new now. And, you know, I don't kind of see what happens maybe in the in the future.
Yeah. Because Yeah, you ended up joining a butter side. So and you say you didn't pick that name. So what is the story with that name? Then? These guys were signed by Lemmy himself from Motorhead.
Yeah. Yeah. And singer Patrick used to roadie for Lemmy. And he sang for Steven Adler. Yeah, watch a bunch of great stuff. And he's a great human and great person. And, yeah, I started playing with them. He had randomly hit me up on Instagram one day and asked if I wanted him and the kind of turned into me doing a few gigs with them. And ultimately, I wasn't able to, to stay because they were doing a tour and I was still finishing, am I but then it came back around, and I ended up
rejoining. And, No, I did not pick the name. What does
it mean, though? What I do like the music, I'm just confused by the name. I'm like, What is this? I don't understand what this means.
I'm confused by the name and I'm in the band. Now it's it really it does not mean any okay. Name just completely apparently came out of Patrick trying to rhyme with himself at some point when he was doing his first record and just, you know, it's, I guess he kind of calls it the the anti cliche and kind of all just, there's other meanings that have kind of come up more recently. But
okay.
Ultimately, it really doesn't mean okay.
Well, you guys I saw something you posted about you guys are gonna have your song played on Kalos radio in California. That's a big rock station there. Right. That'll be played this Sunday.
Yeah, it'll be played this coming Sunday.
Is that the song with Phil Campbell from Motorhead.
It's actually the first the first single from from the record that's coming out in March and the singles called Zen. Oh, and I think it
is everyone on Spotify. I think I listened to a bunch of your music today. And it was it was great stuff was really good. They're starting to like, after you hear it a couple times it starts to get in your head and you start to like sing along to it. It's good stuff.
Oh, well. Thank you. And yeah, that's um, yeah, the first singles then is what's going to be played on kale s and then there's a couple other singles that'll be coming out in the next one's coming out next month one's coming out in March and record comes out at the end of March. And then we move on from that okay, that that record has been a very, very long and tedious process. Not recording it by any means. That's been
done forever. Magazine it getting it out and with past members and different legal things. Oh, okay. Hold it down for for a while.
Okay. Well, I'm glad it will see the light of day so tell me because I how I found out about you. I mean, I think I vaguely knew you're probably saw your name because that you're in faster Pussycat, but I didn't really hear a lot about you until when I interviewed Ace and I listened to a couple interviews that he had done and he he raves about you in several interviews, and saying that you're the next Jerry Cantrell. So how did you meet meet him? How do you guys become friends?
I have tried to remember and talk to him about how we actually met I think it's been one of the the jam nights. Sure. Okay, and, but we really have become close more in the last couple of years Really? is kind of like the older brother that I never had, but have always kind of wanted, you know? Yeah, he's just he's been he's been a great guy. And you know, especially with the the faster pussycat thing, we've only gotten closer and better friends and I talked to him all the
time. He's somebody, you know, he's, he's just a great dude,
though. He is such a nice dude. He was so nice to me. And he like shared my episode. And he and then Tracy guns retweeted it. I was like, Tracy guns just retweeted my stupid podcast. I'm like, That's amazing. So he's super nice. So
Tracy's always been super cool. And really, yeah.
So. So because Ace is in LA Guns and Faster Pussycat. And so you basically just sub out with Faster Pussycat to do LA Guns. So are you kind of like a full fledged member now? Or is it still like, are you still a long term sub? Or what would you call it?
Well.... I guess I'm a member now. Because it's, yeah, I mean, ultimately, when I came in, yeah, it was just a sub race. And that's all I was going in to do. Because I didn't want to be that guy- whatever, stealing, somebody gave whatever all that like, a few shows into the tour, they kind of, they were already kind of saying they didn't really want me to leave. And it's, which.... they're Faster Pussycat- love the guys. They're all really, really nice, guys. I love hanging out with
all of them. And so, and I've been working with Tamie for the last about year and a half, maybe a little bit less on new music. So, yeah, I think it's kind of safe to say that I'm in the band now. Okay. But, again, Iike I know, as I've said, I'm sure that , we'll probably be back playing at some point.
Yeah. Or maybe you're going to be too busy because you got other stuff going on, too. But so being in faster Pussycat, you've done a lot of shows with them. I assume a lot of their fans are old like me. But there's got to be good and bad things about like you being like, so young and being in that band, like, what are the good things about that? And then what are the like bad things?
I mean, I'll tell you one of the funny things is, like comments on because I run all the social media.
Oh, you do? Okay, cool.
Yeah, I'll post stuff. And like, you know, somebody will be like, you
can share this episode is what you're saying.
Share it everywhere, man.
Yeah.
The funny thing, even this happened at the show, too, is the people saying like, Oh, you guys look different from how you were in the 80s. I'm like, Well, I wasn't alive in Texas, holding up on a picture of the original band. She's like, which one? Are you? And we're like, playing slip all the time. I wasn't alive.
Yeah, I mean, I don't people can Google that stuff. It's not like that on the internet. It's all on Wikipedia. So if they really, it's almost like they're trolling you or something?
No, I don't I just think everybody, everybody has access to the internet, not everybody should have access to the Internet, and that's okay. But some of the, some of the good things is the fact that, you know, for me, I'm, I'm 25. And stepping into that spot. A year and a half ago, was, you know, a step up for me from from our was and getting to play with a group like that, that, you know, back home and St. Louis. everybody's like, Oh, yeah,
that's so cool. Like, it's, you know, to get to play with a band that has the legacy and the longevity that they've had, right. A band that you know, that some people have heard is absolutely, like, cool. And they saw the following I I can't really I can't really say any negative things it's it's been it's all you get
a lot of you get a lot of the rocker like Cougar chicks coming after you after the show. Like hey, like
it's kind of a part of it. You just gotta, you know, yeah,
part of the gig. I'm gonna turn girls down or maybe not. I don't know. Maybe you give into the some of them.
It is just part of the job. But yeah, it's just everybody. You know, it's just, everybody's there. That's fun. Yeah, it's it's everybody's there to have fun and ultimately, you know, it's just, that's cool. That's super cool. There is kind of a little bit of a line.
Yeah, I love faster pussy guy. I don't think I've ever seen them live. I think there's a couple times where I was like, almost gonna go with it for some reason or another, I think, didn't they? Didn't you guys just recently do a tour with like, Bang Tango and somebody else I can't remember. I wanted to go to that. But I feel like it was like on like a Tuesday or something. I couldn't go. Hopefully you guys
too again, or I'd come in on. Yeah, that was in 2019. Okay.
Yeah. Yeah. And then, oh, this is really cool. This is another thing I discovered when I was doing my research is that you did a record with the artist, Dorothy, she's just one name, which is like, I feel like if I was her manager, I would say that's, that's hard because people type in Dorothy and like 5 million things come up, but she is really talented. I never really listened to her music before. But she kind of sounds like a, I would say kind of like a harder
rock version of Janis Joplin. So what can you tell me about working with her and the new songs that you guys recorded?
She's been really cool. That kind of came out of nowhere, really. And it's something also that... my older brother Ace kind of helped out with because he knew Dorothy, oh, he had brought her to, like, I had kind of connected with her on social media a little bit like she had started following me on Instagram, and we talked a little bit, and, but Ace had brought her to the Viper Room where I was playing on a jam night thing. And, we hung out
and played some songs. And, she was like, Yeah, I think you should jam with my band. I was like, Okay, cool. And so that ultimately kind of led to well, and then the apocalypse happened.
Apocalypse, yeah, that's
okay. And, but we kept in touch through social media and texting, and then she had ended up. She was here in LA, and she wanted to work. And right. So we got together and we, you know, worked on some stuff a little bit. And then she had it... asked me one day, she's like, do you want to go to New York and record my record? And I'm like, Yeah, I want to go to New York and record your record. Just because, for me personally, I had never been to New York. And that's someplace.
I've been to start New York City. Okay, city. I played in New York, but, in other parts, but then yeah, it was it was a lot of fun. She co wrote songs with a lot of really cool people she wrote co wrote a couple with Jason Hook, formerly of Five Finger Death Punch... and co wrote a couple with Keith Wallen, who's one of the guitar players in Breaking Benjamin. It was just it was a really fun process. The producers name is Joel Hamilton. And the studio just had all I'm a gear freak,
sir. That all the super cool old gear and just.. we were there. I was there for 13 days, we did pre production for about a little less than a week, and then recorded bass and drums over a couple days. And then I did all the guitars in about three days.
So how many songs are you on?
12? There's at least there's 12 of those. And then I know she's been writing a couple others with a couple other people. Okay. So I'm not really sure, would you?
So did you co write those songs with her or you just play the guitar?
None of the ones for the record? I just played the guitar. It's okay.
Are you in the band though? Or is it you're just she just used you as a studio musician, musician for this? No, I believe I'm in the band. Well, it's weird for me to to say because again, like COVID happened? Yeah.
There hasn't been. There hasn't been any show. So there's been a few of these kind of things talking about it. It's like, Well, yeah, so I am in her band. I haven't played with her. Yeah, sure.
But so you're in three bands then?
Yeah. Okay. And then a bunch of other kind of hired gun stuff on the side. Stay alive. Sure. No. But yeah, three, three groups. Mainly, yes.
That's cool. So I mean, like we said, before, you don't drink. You don't do drugs or anything. You never did that. I feel like that's really unusual for someone of your age. Like usually I talked to a lot of musicians and everyone goes crazy in their teens and 20s and 30s, and then maybe sometimes into their 40s or longer and then they sober up when they're older. Like a perfect example is the faster pussycat singer Timmy like he went through that party phase for years. And he just
recently got sober. Do you think that like not doing that? Does that help you? Like, be more productive and be in three bands? I mean, I feel like it'd be hard to be in three bands and be boozing a bunch.
I think it'd be really hard. Yeah, I mean, it's I don't know it just for me personally, I've never had the interest in partying and doing and yet stuff and I think it mostly stems from from two things. One, my my parents don't drink or party, so I didn't really grow up around that. But then at the same time, I did
grow up around it. From starting playing in bars since I was 12, and yeah, around all those, just seeing how it makes, you know, changes people and makes, you know, all that stuff, and it's just, it's never been of interest to me. I've never even drank like soda, even as a kid, either. So, huh, it's, um, you know, for me, I just, I'm starting to realize more and more, I am a junkie, but for like, when it comes to music, and when it comes to gear, like, I'm just, that's awesome.
That's a pretty healthy addiction, though, I think, much better than pills.
Yeah, it's healthier than than drugs, for sure. Probably, you know, equally is detrimental to my funds. But, you know,
so like, what is your formula for success, like, how much of it is hard work, and networking, and practice and all that, and how much of it is just raw talent, it's got to be a combination, I would assume, right?
I really do believe that it is a combination of the two. Um, you know, when I was going to MIT, there was a lot of kids that would always be there just like, practicing, and they'd be there all day long. But like, they wouldn't go out. And as far as getting work and getting jobs, you got to get out and you got to network, and you got to meet people, and you got to jam together and get your name out there. And that all takes time to do like, it doesn't just you don't just go
out and then it just happens. So it's, it's something that it takes time. And but I do truly believe that going out and networking and playing live is just, that's, that's kind of paramount to, you know, because, and ultimately, it at least for myself, as much as I sit and try to practice or work on stuff. Once you're on stage, everything is just different. Like there's there's a different set of whatever the word is, I don't know, it's the morning for me.
So my brain. Just there's a different, there's a switch that flips, okay, you know, so it doesn't matter how long you sit and kind of work on something. There's, there's a different part of your brain,
right? No, I agree. It's like when I do the podcast. I mean, I have my questions laid out. But then once we start the interview, sometimes I'm like, Oh, I gotta follow this rabbit hole, or I gotta go, you know, screw this question. I want to ask about that. Like, sometimes you just got to be in the moment. So yeah, yeah, absolutely. So you have the three year networking, like you said, I mean, you were able to meet some pretty cool musicians.
You got to meet Jerry Cantrell, your hero, your favorite guitar player. What was that like? A couple times?
Yeah, I feel like I've been lucky that I've met a lot of my heroes, and that they've all been cool. You know that I haven't. I've never really had that story, luckily of meeting one of my heroes, and then not being a very cool person. So yeah, meeting Jerry, he's a couple times I met him, he'd been really cool. And the first time I met him, I was like, you know, I was kind of young, I was probably 18 or 19.
And I, back home in St. Louis, I do an Allison chains tribute with some friends and stuff, just because we love the music so much that you know, and it's not it's not like a tribute band, like we, you know, dressing up like the guys or whatever, we're just all about playing the songs because we love the songs. But you know, and I told him like, Oh, yeah, you know, do like an Allison change review or whatever. And, and he was like, Oh, cool. What do you do? And I was like, I try
to play you. Try. You know, he's, I just think he's a super cool. And again, I've had good experience meeting him. And yeah, he's, he's my biggest musical influence for sure.
That's really cool. And then you met slash three times. How did you meet him three times. I mean, I feel like four times. I mean, I feel like he is like, so it would be so coveted. Like, he would not do the jam nights and like, you know, even if they had a concert, I feel like he's in his own dressing room. How did you come across him?
They were there. The first time ever was when I was 12 years old, and I was on vacation here in LA. And he was doing an event at the Guitar Center in Hollywood, right down the street over here. And this, this guy who worked there, you know, again, I was 12 years old. He said to me and my mom, he's like, Okay, guys, can you guys come back later, I'll let you in. And he kept his word. He, you know, we came back. We were, you know, there was this crowd
of people in front. And he kind of came and got us and like, walked around to the back and, you know, then I met him. That was the first time the other couple times the two times following that. I was. Yeah, in my teens. And the guy buddy blaze had facilitated with Alan nibin, who was the former manager of neuros. Writer, the big fan of that world the first time around. Wow. And yeah, Alan had, had hooked it up and I got to meet twice after a shows he played in St. Louis,
with Guns and Roses or with his solo band.
This was with his solo band. Okay. Yeah. And he's just again, he's always been really, really cool. He's just, he's got that whole. Just, you know, you see him and he's got that. The ultimate Rockstar persona just everything about him just totally in the playing and everything but then he's just the super soft spoken quiet. Really kind of chill, dude. And, and then the last the most recent time I met him was at lummi 70th birthday parties.
Playing that with Gabby Ray, actually, with Gabby Rae and Nuno that night. Oh, cool. And slash was playing and we met him backstage.
Super cool. That's neat, man. Wow, sounds like you've done so many cool things. It's not all these great rock stars and stuff. So I gotta ask you this too. Before we wrap up here. What is your obsession with Jurassic Park? Well, I love that movie too. But is that like your favorite movie? What is it about that, that you love so much?
I you know, as a as a kid, I really liked dinosaurs and snakes. And, you know, but I was really, really, really into dinosaurs. So I've always just loved Jurassic Park, even since I was a kid. And, and even now, I guess they'll probably watch it at least once a week. And it's just something about the movies. I'm not. I'm not really great when it comes to movies. Like I kind of live under a rock with as far as most things go out of music, but just everything about the movies. I
just I love them. I love the vibe of them. I like the dinosaurs still and yeah,
that is a great movie.
Just got this a copy this.
Oh, cool. It's like a Jurassic Park Jeep.
Yeah, cuz I was talking about the fact that I I've seen in Hollywood here a few times somebody has a Jurassic Park Jeep. Park a couple streets. Oh, really?
Like a full size one?
Yeah. Like, I'll be walking to the grocery store. And I'm like, Oh my god, there's it literally it's this.
That's like, like the model you're showing. Okay? Yeah. Oh, that's super cool. Man. I want one of those.
Oh, man, I want to get one of those. So I think
it'd be cool if they actually made it made it happen with in real life. What they talking about bringing back the woolly mammoth, or something? I
don't know. Is that really going to happen? it at this point? I would not be shocked.
It's I feel like it's this year, the past year, every crazy thing has happened. Why not bring back dinosaurs? What the hell?
You know what? Just let it happen?
Let's let it happen. For sure. Well, I like to always wrap up with a charity is there? Is there one that you want to give a shout out to or one that you've worked with? In the past?
I haven't really gotten to do much work with charities other than there's rock against Ms. Oh, really, really great thing?
I don't even heard of that one.
You haven't? No. But
I mean, I MS is a huge thing. Especially in my home state of Washington. I think for some reason, it's more common there. They think maybe because of the weather or something. Lack of sunshine, it's really it's debilitating disease, for sure. It's terrible.
Yeah. And they, they do it again, in normal life. They do an event every year in LA and I got to participate in and about, you know, a year and a half, two years ago, and a bunch of friends always participate in and, and that's, you know, the people behind it are really, really great people. And it's a really great cause. And the other one I wanted to mention was, I mean, even though I think there's a kind of happening now but the save our stages. Oh
yeah.
Just because, you know, all these venues and all these places, just in all these different states. I mean, it's if they don't get help, like when, when they're able to go back to normal, there's not going to be anywhere for anybody.
I know. It's so sad. I see some of these like, sometimes I'll just see like a restaurant or whatever. And there's like, we're done. We're out of business. I'm like, couldn't you have at least tried to go fund me? I feel like there's like some rich people that are fan of that place that would help out. I mean, like, if the rainbow was ever struggling, I feel like all they had to do
was say, Hey, we need help. It's like comes in with his, like superhero cape and like just, you know, buys the place or whatever, right? I mean, there's so many rockstars that would help out with places like that. I would,
I would hope on that subject. There's the bar back home that I really kind of grew up playing in.
Oh, that's Sharpies, or what does it know? What is it called?
Charlotte?
Charlotte? That's what it was not Charlotte Sharkey. Yeah.
Charlotte. Starkey's is a Mexican place out here. No, Charlotte That's, that's a place that in St. Louis, for some reason, they have very divided rules and certain places can be open, but certain places can't. And, you know, so a place like that they, you know, they're not getting aid from anybody. Not that they're like something that would be a part of the saver stage. But it's just, it's something that I did watch a GoFundMe for, oh, to try to save the place because she was being
closed. And she really, the owner, Judy really didn't think that she was going to be able to make it through a second shutdown. And, you know, again, for me, I grew up playing there, and I would not be the musician that I am today, or probably where I'm at today, if it wasn't for that place. And a lot, you know, for a lot of people in St. Louis, that's, like, their kind of musical home away from home and their little haven. And so, luckily, you know, that was able to raise some funds, and she's
been able to stay open. And but now she's kind of gotten shut down again. So it's just, it's just, yeah,
so is the GoFundMe still up, then can people donate to that? If they want?
I believe it is still active. Yeah. If anybody is, you know, is able and they, you know, have $10 to spare, you know, it's, it's a really, really good cause and a really, really great place that does not deserve to be shut down.
Absolutely. Okay. Well, I'll try to find the link or you can send it to me, I'll put that in the notes. Unless people are listening to this like five years from now then hopefully, it's already been saved at that point.
But still alive and well.
Yeah. All right. Well, thank you so much, Sam. Bam. I really appreciate this. And I look to see you next time. I'm in LA. I want to come and see you at a jam night or something. Man was nice to kind of store to meet you.
Yeah. Hockey for a little bit. Absolutely. Thanks for having me.
Okay. Thanks, Sam. Bye bye. See, Sam BAM Colton. Follow him on Instagram to keep up with all his projects, new music from faster pussycat butter side and Dorothy and I mean, who knows what the future will hold. You might be listening to this episode in the year 2030. And we have flying cars and shit. And Sam's a household name so jump on the bandwagon now before it's too late. If you enjoyed this episode, check out some of my other interviews like a spawn
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