John Garcia - The man that invented a genre talks to Music Trespass!!!

August 4th 2014

Internet (Online)

Getting to know a Stoner legend!!!

Joe Denby talks to Stoner legend John Garcia about his new solo album, the future, music and all in between. John Garcia is best known as the vocalist and founding member of Kyuss, Slo Burn and Unida. Garcia currently performs in Vista Chino with former Kyuss drummer Brant Bjork

Music Trespass: How are you today?

John: I'm doing great, I am playing Mr. Mom today I've got both my kids. My wife is running the hospital. So I've got the summer off, the kids have the summer off so things are good here at the Garcia res.

Music Trespass: Let's talk about you upcoming solo album!

John: I'm stoked that I finally got to release this record. I've been wanting to do this for a very long time, I wasn't looking to change the face of Rock 'n' Roll with this record or anything like that but it's something I've wanted to do for..well a very long time. To finally say no to some of the other projects I'm involved with and finally say yes to this group of songs. It's a bit of a monumental moment for me not for the world of Rock 'n' Roll but for me. These songs are personal to me, these songs were close to me and my heart and I was super passionate about this project and exposing myself in a way that not hidden behind another band name, it's not that I was masking myself with Vista Chino or Unida or Slo Burn or Kyuss it's something were I'm a little more exposed.

I've been very lucky to have had the group of incredible musicians that played on the record. We had Robby Krieger from The Doors, Mark Diamond, Eric Groben, Danny Brown, Chris Hale. The producer Harper Hug and Trevor Whatever. It was recorded at Palm Springs. It took about a month to do and you know I'm very fortunate to be talking to a total stranger about something I created I'm appreciative to the fact that I'm able to do so. It's an exciting time for me, I am getting ready to leave on tour for Australia in September. I'm going to go over to Europe for a heavy extensive run, not to mention four shows in the UK at the beginning of December so yeah I'm excited and happy about it. I've already started rehearsing I'm going to be playing some Kyuss songs, some Slo Burn songs and of course the new record... so I will be playing past and present. So things are good Joe! I'm in a good spot, I don't want move from this position any time in the near future. I don't see myself doing another Vista Chino record right now, I don't think there will be another Hermano or Unida record I'm very happy with where I am right now and you know I plan to stay here for quite a while.

Music Trespass: So how long has this project been in progression? Are songs years old?

John: I've been wanting to do this record for a very long time. I started collecting this group of songs, these compositions that I fell in love with, myself, me that I fell in love with since I was eighteen years old so throughout the years. I've collected this group and kept them in a cardboard box if you will and every morning I got up and looked at them and felt bad for them. I kept saying yes to other projects and no to this one and finally I got a chance to release them and everyone of these songs (to answer your question) Every song had specific players that we chose. The constant player was the drummer Tom Braten and myself so we had a different bass player for a good part of the tracks and we had different guitar players for certain tracks but we got these specific players for their talents for the particular track. Every recording experience is a little different for me, especially with all the projects that I've had and I've learnt that and embraced it. All the writers and musicians, they were all just as passionate as I was so I was very lucky and very fortunate to surround myself with such great musicians.

Music Trespass: So to touch something you said earlier are you a solo artist now? this isn't a side project? everything else is on hold and from now on it's John Garcia?

John: That's fair, that's very fair!!! Absolutly 100% and you know anybody who knows anything about my career and where I've been knows that I don't like to stay in one place for very long, and if there's a rule book as to how many bands I can play in or how many records I can do I threw that out of the window a long time ago. So I go with my guts and where my heart tells me to go and right now It's telling to stay right where I'm at, and it's telling me to do another record and another after that and another after that. So I'm goning to be here for a long time and don't plan on deviating from this anytime in the near future.

Music Trespass: So it seems that your in the perfect position because your doing a show now, are you sticking with one band?

John: I'm going to stick with this one band and their all desert locals here I'm very excited about that, it's great to be able to go to rehearsal, youn know I went to rehearsal last night and it's great to not have a band that's spread all over the world or all over the United States were we have to fly people in or I have to fly somewhere. It's refreshing to call someone up and go lets do a barbeque and then go jam later tonight. I gotta tell you refreshing is not the word it's a sense of freedom and a sense of liberation. I feel really good about the position I'm in and were ready to hit the road.

Music Trespass: It's sounds great for you and it also sounds perfect for the fans I know everyone would love to see you with a great band behind you and your playing everything from all era's of you repertoire. You can pull out rarities, the possibilities are endless.

John: That's exactly what I'm doing. I'm playing past, present and everywhere between.

Music Trespass: What's your take gone the Industry right now you've always been semi-underground and kept a constant of new music and touring how have things changed for you?

John: You know that's an interesting question but honestly I don't ponder on any of that stuff, I'm aware that the industry has changed tremendously and I've had to change along with it. This record deal that I have right now is a little bit of a throwback that I have with Napalm it's gone back to the more traditional type of record deal that I'm accustomed to and that was very promising but honestly though Joe I don't know!. I'll be as straight up as I can I don't know how to answer that because it's not high on my radar and I'll tell you why it's not high on my radar because there's so many other things that I've put my energy into and two of them are with me right now today, and those are my children and I don't mean to disrespect the question or you as a journalist by any means it's just i'll the best I can.

Which is just like the industry where things can go wrong or just like my career, where whether a record has been swept out underneath me or former band mates suing me there are bigger, better and bolder things that I would like to think about then stuff that I don't really care about so, and those things are me spending time with my kids, me spending time with my best friend, my wife. I just feel that way and you know I'm more concern about what kind of fishing bait my kids pick out when we go fishing trips then I am about the current state of the past and present of the music industry. It's changes 100% but I'm enthralled and consumed with my kids and my wife and I try to keep my eye on the ball and to be able to talk to you over the phone about this stuff boy let me tell you I'm grateful and thankful that I can do this and talk about something I created.

Music Trespass: So what advice would you give to people making music and want to take it to the next level?

John: Well if your going to do it you better do it and commit. If I was doing it for the money I would've quit a long time ago. I'm lucky I've got two things that I love to do. One being veterinary medicine and two playing in a band. I'm very happy for the young kids out there boy let me tell you, if your going to do it, commit yourself to your craft. Sometimes it doesn't work out and sometimes it does but if your committed you know as long as your passionate. If you do something you love you'll never work another day in your life and that's true. Follow your passion. whatever it is, do it and learn.

Music Trespass: What music have you been listening to?

John: I'm listening to Terrance Trent D'arby, Rufus Wainright. I listen to some Franky Valli, some Frank Sinatra. A lot of oldies but goodies we're spoilt out here with radio, we have a station out here with a disc jockey called Art Laboe. A little bit of everything.

Music Trespass: What is your top five albums?

John: In no particular order: The Doors 'Soft Parade', The Cult 'Love and Electric', The Misfits 'Walk among Us' and Bad Brains 'I Against I'

The Doors (Pictured Above)

Music Trespass: A good friend of mine asked do you remember playing in Romford with Hermano twelve years ago?

John: I vaguely remember yes. I hope I didn't do anything stupid. I hope he enjoyed it.

Music Trespass: How do you look after your voice?

John: I don't smoke as much or drink as much as I used to. I practice a lot. I know what tuning suits my voice best which is C standard, D sharp so I know my range. so a lot of practice and I take care of myself.

Interview and Questions by Dan Devour