Saw*Kick Media

Its seems when a band elects to ignore the last 30 years of musical evolution to play hard rock the way its founders intended, a good time will be had by all. Year Long Disaster just so happens to be that kind of band. Its potent three man attack crafts a sound that could bring chest hair back in style and make you wish you never sold your vinyl collection. The Los Angeles residents have overcome battles with addiction and are now on the cusp of emerging as the next big thing in rock and roll. We caught up with bassist Richie Mullins to talk about opening for the Foo Fighters, the bands new album, and  getting animated by Aqua Teen Hunger Force’s Matt Maiellaro.

S*KM: You have been very candid about your drug addictions prior to forming YLD, how did that experience impact your lives and the music you would go on to create? What would you say to musicians who are still consumed by their addictions?

YLD: Addiction is awful. Fucking awful. It took me to lows I never thought were possible. Just when I thought things could not get worse they would get a hell of a lot worse. It impacts me creatively now in a manner that I can express what that was like in sound, certain riffs are direct representation of the power of distress taken to its apex.

Anyone consumed by their addictions should seek help and not be afraid to tell others that they have a serious disease and need help. Life past the addiction is wonderful. For me personally I was able to find my love of music all over again.

S*KM: You were added to a healthy set of dates on the east coast leg of the Foo Fighters U.S. Tour. In your eyes how big of an opportunity was it for you to get your music in front of the stadium-sized crowds the band attracts?

YLD: Its an amazing opportunity on many levels. You get the experience of playing the ultimate venues, you get to meet performers who have worked their way to that level, you get huge exposure and you get to find out how your sound translates to the ultimate venue. We believe ours translates pretty well.

S*KM: Were you surprised when you got the call or do you go way back with Dave Grohl?

YLD: We were surprised, and then flat out flabbergasted when they gave us the entire tour and the new shows that they added as well as their direct support band. Dave’s belief in us is fantastic.

S*KM: You were recently over in Europe playing some of the big summer festivals, which continent has more die hard YLD fans?

YLD: Die hard fans are actually spread out very well for us. We seem to have just as many US fans as Euro fans.

S*KM: What are a few things you enjoy over in the UK that you wish could be adopted back in the states?

YLD: Nothing from the UK. Except maybe their ability to import chocolate from Belgium.

S*KM: What is one thing you can’t wait to do/have when you return home from a tour overseas?

YLD: Dinner at Hugos on Riverside in the Valley…their macaroni and cheese is like a Koala Bear crapping a rainbow on your brain.

S*KM: While you were hanging out across the pond you opened for Clutch in Deventer. What is it like sharing a stage with one of the best and most unappreciated bands in music today?

YLD: Awesome, they are incredible people as well as musicians and they are so encouraging and inspiring.

S*KM: Do you ever get the urge to go and pet Neil Fallon’s beard?

YLD: Not after I did it once back in ‘99.

S*KM: Most people know about the bands exceptional list of references, starting with Daniel Davies paternal connection to Kinks great Dave Davies and ending with drummer Brad Hargreaves other gig with Third Eye Blind. When it is all said and done do you think the name dropping will be the other way around?

YLD: I think it’s all relative and if you do it right you move past a collective and become an individual. Like when Kramer went nuts at the Laugh Factory and went from zero to racist, suddenly he was no longer Kramer from Seinfeld but rather Michael Richards; Racist. Seriously though, I think we are moving well in the direction of establishing our own entity.

S*KM: The bands sound is obviously a throw back to the straight and dirty rock of the seventies, however no band is an exact replica of a past music style. What modern elements do you guys feel you bring to the vintage sound?

YLD: We do not consciously try to bring any modern elements to the music, I think your influences just creep up into your head, amalgamate themselves into something that is unique if you have integrity and patience and that reflects the age that it appears in.

S*KM: You are on record as saying most modern music is “melodramatic and childish” and that the band listens to a lot of older music because “most current music is shit.” With that being said can you give a few examples of such bands as a public service announcement to the S*KM youth and also tell us a few of the contemporary bands that meet the YLD standard?

YLD: As anyone who studies Presidential rhetoric knows you should always list what you are against and never what you are for, but you are twisting the tables a bit are you not? Wait your not…any who…my public service announcement would be if it has the words Pop Punk, Orange County, Singer/Songwriter, Nu Metal, Mad Beats, or Dub in its description I would be hard pressed to not say “AVOID!”

Bands we play with that rock like ACDC, ZZ Top, The Sword, Clutch, The Brought Low, to name a few.

S*KM: Let’s talk about some modern music we know matters. With your debut self titled release being received very well from critics (Review) and fans a like, when can we expect to hear some new material?

YLD: We are ready now to roll out the new stuff, when we will have time to record it is a whole new matter. We have big plans for this record and have enough material for a double record right now. We may make an EP and an LP at the same time or maybe just make the LP and save the EP….

S*KM: How has your songwriting interests evolved since the first record? How will you approach the construction of the next record and do you believe/fear the sophomore slump?

YLD: I think we learned a great deal from the first record and we are ready to embrace making the second record. We want to streamline and make it a much more concise simple record so to speak. We also have some elaborate plans to construct a few larger arrangements as well. Epic and Masterwork are terms we are throwing around.

S*KM: It is rare to hear musicians publicly evaluate their recorded material. Is there anything in the YLD catalog that sounded great at the time but has since lost its favor with the band?

YLD: We play everything so much that we spend time hating something then removing it from the list then rekindling an appreciation for what we attempted later and bringing the song back.

S*KM: You released a video back in May for your song “Leda Atomica” which was animated and directed by Aqua Teen Hunger Force’s Matt Maiellaro. How did that idea come about and what were your thoughts on the finished product?

YLD: Matt is the shit! I was damn pleased with the video, he is seriously one of the most spontaneously creative people I have ever met. I love that video.

S*KM: Let’s talk shop, what is some of your favorite gear featured in your rig?

YLD: The Acoustic 370 bass head from 1972 and the Orange Retro 50 guitar head.

S*KM: If you could have one rock legend, past or present, on speed dial to call up and jam with anytime, who would it be?

YLD: Matt Maiellaro is the legend and I get to jam with him all the time. I would like to jam with Pete Townsend some day.

S*KM: We would like to cordially thank you for taking time to answer our questions. We would like give you a few minuets alone with Saw*Kick and the YLD army to keep them current on future events and news we have neglected to cover.

YLD: Look for us near you. Attend the show, call radio stations and request. It Ain’t Luck to be played during morning rush hour….Cheers!

You can listen to Year Long Disaster for yourself at www.myspace.com/yearlongdisaster and catch them live on September 16 at the Metropolis in Montreal, Quebec.

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