Steve Haley Interview
8/25/04
8pm

I got to sit down face to face for an interview with guitarist Steve Haley of Trashlight Vision. Steve is not only a remarkably talented musician he is breathtakingly handsome with a genuinely warm personality. Steve has the ability to make you feel immediately comfortable in his presence…

Jo: How long have you known Acey and the other band members?
Steve: I have known Acey about 7 or 8 years. Lenny and Roger.... a little over a year.

Jo: Musical Influences?
Steve: Musical influences. Early Bowie, Sex Pistols, Black Flag, The Stones, TSOL. Too many to name.

Jo: What influences your song writing?
Steve: It really depends. I try to just wait for that right chord or that right note that feels like it is going to head somewhere and I travel with that and explore it. I guess I am mostly influenced by bands I love and life experiences really.

Jo: What is your favorite TLV song to perform?
Steve: Ah, that is a hard one. I gotta say I love playing all of them, but "My Fuck You To You" is just too much fun.

Jo: How has the TLV experience been so far?
Steve: Unbelievable. It was just so cool getting together with Acey and getting this project going. And getting over to Europe as fast as we could was just mind blowing. It has been just really cool watching the growth. I mean, we have been bustin' our asses and trying to truncate the process of growing as a band.

Jo: If you were not a musician what would you be doing?
Steve: I'd be dead.
Jo: You would be dead?
Steve: Yea.
Jo: Why would you be dead?
Steve: I have been asked that a lot and I have never been able to come up with something. There was a fleeting moment when I was maybe in third or fourth  grade when I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but I found out how much schooling it involved and that kind of squashed that idea. But, I really couldn't picture myself doing anything else.
Jo: Favorite band/musician?
Steve: I would have to say that my favorite band of all time was the Ziggy Stardust Era of Bowie. Mick Ronson on guitar, Mick Woodmansey on drums and Trevor Boulder on bass....and of course that red haired dude!

Jo: Are you listening to anybody right now?
Steve: Here and there when I am working on the internet stuff for the band. I am really into this new band called The Shocker. Jennifer Finch of L7's new band. Really, really good stuff. So that's pretty much what I have been listening to.

Jo: If you were stranded on a desert island what three items would you want to have with you?
Steve: That's a good question. This comes to mind, Starbucks. But, realistically? I would say I would only want one thing. I would want a helicopter fully fueled up so that way I wouldn't be stranded.
Jo: Hey, good answer!

Jo: What made you pick up a guitar for the first time?
Steve: hmm, I think it was the desire to express myself and the desire to emulate my idols like Mick Ronson of the Spiders from Mars and Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols. I also wanted to start writing songs and I had been singing for quite awhile, but once I started getting more into the writing aspect I really found that I needed to learn how to play something and why not let it be guitar.

Jo: How old were you?
Steve: 14 I think? 13, right around there.

Jo: Where do you see Trashlight Vision in five years? What if the Murderdolls start back up in two years?
Steve: They could start up sooner than that we don't know, right?
Jo: Obviously you would continue.
Steve: All of us fully understand that Acey is in the Murderdolls and we are all completely ready for him to go back in and fulfill his commitment. But I'm convinced he will keep both. I totally see us continuing to move forward even after the Murderdolls do the next record. This really is Acey's baby and it such a priority to all of us. The idea of not continuing with Trashlight to me is ludicrous.

Jo: What is your best quality? What do you believe your best quality is?
Steve: Wow, well I don't talk with my mouth full (chews in mic). Um, my best quality. That's a tough one. What do you think my best quality is?
Jo: You have a sweet personality.
Steve: Hmmm
Jo: I think I called you a "love bug" on the message board.
Steve: awww
Jo: I mean I think all of you guys are super nice. I like you all for different reasons. Other than your face!
Steve: awww
Jo: You know what I mean. People don't always look beyond the face.
Steve: I think I'll get my self off the hook a little bit and turn that into the best quality of the band in general. I think we are all real and we are all personable. It is a cool environment to be in because everyone is on the up and up and I am just working with three other guys that are just real straight up with who they are.
Jo: Yea, and genuinely nice, not phony, that is my opinion.
Steve: Yeah, we are not about putting on heirs and being someone we're not. We all know enough people collectively in the business that are like that and we do not want to be like that.
Jo: Best concert you ever attended as a fan.
Steve: OH! Last weekend was pretty good, Saturday night, who was that? Oh, that was us, but I wasn't a fan! Actually, I was a fan that night, that was so much fun. God, I destroyed my guitar!
Jo: That was AWESOME.
Steve: I would have to go with KISS at the Spectrum when I was in third grade. Completely mind blowing seeing Ace Frehley live, ohhhh. That was definitely one of the reasons I picked up a guitar too. That was my first concert.
Jo: Yea, me too.
Steve: Second was Blondie with Rock Pile at the Tower Theatre that was pretty cool.
Jo: How do you feel right before you go on stage? I guess you don't get nervous since you have been doing this awhile.
Steve: You know what? I do get a little bit nervous, yea, and I think it is a good thing. I guess the difference now is I don't look at it as nervous, I look at it as excited. Nervous and excited are really the same thing. I just get so pumped up I can't wait. I just get my guitar all ready to go and I sit there and count the minutes. It is a great feeling getting out there and letting it rip. It is a great experience.
Jo: And watch everybody go crazy.
Steve: That's always cool!

Jo: Acey gave us information on his typical day during his interview and you were mentioned. Something like when Steve comes to.
Steve: When I come to Acey is usually knee deep in website work or recording and we get together and just work at the task of the moment. There are usually ten of them at the same time. A lot of it is recording of the demos which is done mostly at the Trash Can, our facility. A lot of times it is us just working on the internet stuff like I think you mentioned from that interview. It has been cool you know we've got a cool working environment and we work really well together.

Jo: If I could grant you three wishes, what would they be?
Steve: (Short silence) To have three hundred more.
Jo: Good thinking. You come up with good answers.
Steve: giggles

Jo: If you could tour with any band tomorrow, which one would you choose?
Steve: hmm, that's a good one. I would actually have to say I would love to tour with The Shocker, Jennifer Finch's band. Great band, they would probably be a blast to tour with. Of course Bowie, that would rule. I would love to meet Bowie, let alone be on tour with him.

Jo: What impact do you want your music to have on your fans?
Steve: I think music at its best just makes someone relate to you and kind of understand what you are saying yet still have that interpretive side to it where they can turn it into their own experience. I think that is where a lot of the connection comes from and of course playing live and having that energy is just mind blowing. But I think that is probably one of the best things about being in a band is just having that interaction within the live show and the lyrics that people can relate to.

Jo: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
Steve: hmmm, this isn't bad. (looks around)
Jo: Yea, in a Starbucks. Put a tent up.
Steve: (after a short silence) I would actually love to someday have a flat in London, a little house in Sweden and maybe a little house around this area.

Jo: Give me one word to describe yourself.
Steve looks at me
Jo: (laughs) don't ask me!
Steve: Perplexed.

Jo: What do you do in your free time? Or do you have any?
Steve: I don't have free time, nothing is free.
Jo: Sleep?
Steve: I sleep a little.
Jo: Very little I am sure. Hey that is a good question. How much do you guys actually sleep? Think about that, I mean really on an average night.
Steve: When Acey and I are really putting the nose to the grindstone, maybe three hours if we are lucky.

Jo: First job?
Steve: Hmm, that is a good one. Exxon gas station. Gas station attendant.
Jo: A lot of girls coming through? (laughs)
Steve: Oh yea, I pumped a lot of gas in those days.

Jo: If you were a cartoon character, who would you be and why?
Steve: (Short silence) I'd say Bugs Bunny.
Jo: Bugs Bunny? How come?
Steve: I think Bugs Bunny is a comical genius, not that I am but, I mean I would more aspire to be a comical genius like Bugs Bunny is, but I just always related to Bugs as a kid. Just very clever yet very funny and I think that is a pretty good combination. That was a good question!

Jo: Ok, let's get some Steve information. Favorite TV show?
Steve: I don't watch it much, but you know what? I saw DA Ali G show on HBO which is hysterical. So when I get time to watch TV, I like watching that show.

Jo: How about movie?
Steve: I can never pick one, let's see. Today I would pick, today's picks are "The Hunger" with David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve and let's not
forget Susan Sarandon, she is in that too. Greatest vampire movie of all time. Absolutely fantastic." City of Lost Children", "Pele the Conqueror" which is a Swedish film if you are ever in the mood for subtitles...... and pretty much anything with Wilem Dafoe. I am a big fan of Wilem Dafoe.

Jo: Ok, a funny one. Are you a breast, leg or thigh man?
Steve: Yea. Yea.Yea. The answer is yea!
(We both laugh)

Jo: Favorite cartoon?
Steve: Actually the few times I have seen Sponge Bob it was just awesome.
We chat back and forth about Sponge Bob for a few minutes.

Jo: The question every girl on the board and in the audiences wants to know…are you single?
Steve: Drum roll please. Absolutely.
Jo: Ok! Yes ladies, you heard it here first.
Steve: It's true, the truth is out. Let's make that very single, you can underline the VERY.

Jo: Another silly question. Your favorite Star Wars character?
Steve: I am going to have to go with Darth Vader. He gets to wear all black and gets to be pretty bad ass. Yea, I will go with Darth.

Jo: How about a little box of Steve Stats?
Steve: Yea, that is fine. Box 'o stats is good.

STEVE HALEY'S BOX O' STATS!!

Steve: Nov 30th is my birthday.
Steve: The height today is 6’5” with these boots.
Jo: But, normally what? 6’3”?
Steve: Actually closer to 6’4”.
Jo: Are you really?
Steve: Actually 6’3¾”.
Jo: Let's see if I can guess your weight. I got Acey’s within 5 pounds.
Steve: Did you? What does he weigh?
Jo: I said 160 and he said 155. He said he does fluctuate.
Steve: Yea, between 155 and 155 ½.
Jo: I am going to guess…6’4” ...
Steve: Be nice, I did just eat a chocolate chip cookie.
Jo: Well you are thin. You did, so I am going to have to guess 175-180, but that is just because you are tall.
Steve: You are close. Very close 170, but it goes between 170-175. Pretty good, pretty good.
Jo: Ok, shoe size,12?
Steve: Yup, 11 1/2 or 12 depending on the shoe.
Jo: Blue eyes right?
Steve: Blue eyes, right, yes.
Jo: Natural hair color? Brown?
Steve: Natural hair color is blonde. Not this blonde, it is actually dirty blonde.
Jo: Favorite food? Don't say sushi, UGH.
Steve: Actually my favorite food probably is filet mignon.
Jo: Me too.
Steve: Is it really?
Jo: I might just have to make that for you.
Steve: Jo a little more crushed pepper please. I love that! There is one other
dish I like called steak a pauve which is a really good cut of steak with crushed
pepper sauce, they flambe table side. I have actually only seen that on a menu
two times in my whole life.
Jo: Well, I know you like chocolate chip cookies and brownies already.
Steve: Absolutely. I have definitely got a chocolate weakness.
Jo: Well, you will be getting a lot of them now. But they won't be as good as mine.
Steve: Never, that's right Jo they can't touch your brownies. Nobody can touch them. I remember when I saw them at Abilene's..I was like mmmmm.

Jo: Is there anything else you want people to know about you?
Steve: Gear, I am all about guitar stuff. So, why don't you come outside with me for a quick cigarette. We can actually bring this if you want (picks up recorder).whispers in mic "we are going outside to smoke now, but I am notgoing to give Jo a cigarette" That is one of the only things I don't like about Starbucks, they don't have a smoking section for me.
Jo: Then you are not going to like Delaware.
Steve: Uh oh, you can't smoke anywhere in Delaware?
Jo: Nope, not in the club.
Steve: We are now outside and we are now putting this down on a pole where I hope it will be safe.
Jo: Yea, Delaware clubs, no smoking.
Steve: NY too.
Jo: Ok, so you won't kill me.
Steve: oh no no, that is fine, I don't mind.
Jo: You won't kill me because I am making filet mignon for you.
Steve: Yea, that will make up for it.
Jo: Seriously.
Steve: As long as it is bloody.
Jo: Is that how you like it?
Steve: I like it medium.

Steve: Ok, we were going to talk about gear. My main guitar, my baby is a ‘69 Les Paul custom, black beauty. Love her to death. I have got a Gretsch black falcon, that I really love too....Got a couple of other guitars, but that Les Paul is really my main and I think it will always be my main ax. And the amp you saw today that just came out of the shop that is a 1972 100watt Marshall head....I play that through a couple of 4x12's, couple of stomp pedals. Acey and I don't use a lot of effects on the guitars, which is one of the things I like the best about the band. We keep it pretty straight forward as far as that goes. A little bit of delay here and there on the lead, but other than that it is pretty cut and dry, straight forward.
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I have seen Trashlight Vision perform five times already and they continue getting better and better with every performance. I am not quite sure how that is possible, since they are fantastic every time, but trust me it is true. This band has a remarkable stage presence both individually (with front man Acey Slade leaving us all gasping for air) and collectively. Trashlight Vision is on top of their game. Mark my words, over the next year TLV is poised to explode onto the scene: BE PREPARED!

I hope you have enjoyed reading this interview as much as I enjoyed spending time with one of the pivotal members of Trashlight Vision. Thanks again to Steve for taking time out of his busy schedule and for being such a fantastic person. I totally admire you and wish you all the best!! And thank you to my pals in TLV, you guys totally ROCK and I adore you all!!!

~jo~