OZZ THOTZ
"Wait! We can't stop here! This is bat country!"
Raoul Duke
Here it is, the second half of the Shaftdrive interview:
OZZ: Its pathetic the way the industry works, because of this, bands like BNL's, and Our Lady Peace, are seen as "the best" Canada has to offer.
SHAFT: There was a funny comment from one of the radio station personalities out of St. Catherines who had a theory that listed 8 or 10 of the Top 40 bands as all having the same lead singer. Sad but true, all these guys sing like they have lockjaw. And this is the standard that the industry is setting, you follow the formula or you don't get airplay.
OZZ: Speaking of tattoos, I've noticed yous have some good ink. Who does them?
SHAFT: You really wanna open up that can of worms!? O.K. Here comes the list: Anne has had work done by Dave C and Katja O at Tattoomania in Montreal and by Scott McEwan in Toronto. Mostly traditional Japanese and Old School American. Larissa also has work from Katja, Chris and Eugene from Tatarama and Eric Von Eric at New Tribe (plus others she can't remember.) Indy's list is pretty much the same as Larissa's plus Jay from Passage. Laura's is Toby (RIP) from Accents of Skin, Stuart from Lucky 13/New Tribe and Eugene from Tatarama. More to come!
OZZ: How would you say the Toronto scene compares with NYC?
SHAFT: We all agree that some of the local bands that play regularly in Toronto would get eaten alive in the circuit in NYC. It’s the cutting edge down there, high competition and anything goes. On any night of the week in the club scene in NYC its like an all you can eat buffet. Grab a copy of the Village Voice and pick what you want.
SHAFT: We love Johnny Cash, the original Man In Black. Hey, pick a song and we'll do a cover! It'll save us some time; you know what its like trying to get four chicks to agree on one thing!
SHAFT: Ozzy, hands down. Larissa has pointed out that Ozzy probably has no sensation left. Laura notes that anyone who would snort ants through a straw is not someone you wanna mess with. We won't slag Metallica though, since Shaftdrive is the "hold music" that you hear when you call their studios in San Fran.
SHAFT: Another list! The rhythm section's got a seventies two-stroke smoker, an old RD 400 and a 700 cc four banger. Anne's into vintage cafe racers and has a '71 CB Twin and a '78 CB Four. Laura has a V-Twin 1100, a bunch of ratty old dirt bikes up north and is on a search for an 80's FXRS, torn between a Shovel or an EVO.
SHAFT: If you added it up, we'd have 52 years of riding experience between the four of us. Some of us are newer than others, Laura and Indy are the long time riders. Laura still has her first 50 cc mini-bike in her basement; we ride it around the pool table in the wintertime for fun. Bugs the hell out of the dog.
SHAFT: It's a 70's 2-stroke race bike that we picked up from an old timer who doesn't have the use of his legs anymore. It was sitting in his shed up near Fenelon Falls for 20 years and was in sorry shape and needed restoring. Indy and Larissa spent the winter (and half the summer!) stripping it down to the frame, rebuilding the seized engine, sandblasting, replacing just about everything that moved, you know the deal. It’s still not cool to mention the words "wiring harness" around Indy. Har. With alot of painstaking effort and some advice from some knowledgeable wrenches, the bike is now tear-assing down the road. Not bad for a first-time project. We would encourage everyone to try doin' it yerself. Its all part of the biking experience. Rock'n'roll!
OZZ: Righteous! Well good luck to ya’s, and I hope to see ya on the road again sometime.
SHAFT: Thanks again Ozz, hope all is going well for ya out there.
As I write this, we’re smack in the middle of my favourite time of year. You can smell death in the air. Nature is on its annual deathbed, leaving us with a brilliant array of colours. Don’t get me wrong, I love summer, but its just that this is the time as everything is preparing for the white death. Talk a walk in the bush. The skeeters, flies and other crawlies are long gone, thus leaving you free to enjoy the scenery. Bring a date, or make it a solitary trip. Get out yer camo, jacket, knife, pack, and a stick. Don’t forget the flask, or your copy of the Necronomicon. G’head, you can do it. Better yet, get out the leathers, and walk to the sleeping beast in the garage. Not the wife, the other beast. The weapon of iron, and steel. She’s been waiting. The bark of the exhaust reverberates off the surroundings, and yer off. You notice how well she performs, as the cooler air makes everything run that much nicer. Steer her in the direction of yer favourite road, it is now that you see it in its completion of the circuit. The monotone greens of summer have been replaced with reds, yellows, and dull grays and browns. The livelihood of the outdoors is now eerily silent. Nothing to distract you from the machine, and the scenery. What are you waiting for? Death is good.
I’ve always felt that certain music goes with a certain time of year. Try these:
Remembrance Day (Nov. 11) is around the corner. Take a minute to remember those who fought, and died, whether they fought in WWI, WWII, Korea, or Vietnam. Tell them "Thank-you". Remember the POW/MIA’s. They are NOT forgotten.
Thanks Dad. (RVN – 65-68)