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AMERICAN HEADCHARGE
by Jeff Muendel
American Head Charge is a seven-member band from Minneapolis, recently signed by Geffen Records to a lucrative deal. Their first release will be in
stores in June. Now based in Los Angeles, the band will be a part of the Ozzfest tour, which slides through the Midwest in early June. Dates include June 8 at the World Amphitheatre in Chicago, June 9 at Alpine
Valley and June 16 at Float-Rite Park in Somerset, WI. Max Ink had a chance to ask Chad Hanks from the band a few questions about their career, music, and upcoming tour:
Maximum Ink: Your website mentions
that your recently replaced your original drummer. What was the catalyst for that decision?
American Head Charge: The basis for that decision was just basic physical playability. We had
always known
there were certain "problems," per say, inherent in our ex-drummers playing. But, when you get under the high intensity microscope that is the modern recording studio, the blemishes can really start to
show. We are a rock band. A rock band needs to propelled by the drummer, not the other way around.
MI: You're originally from Minneapolis, but moved to L.A. Did this benefit your career/improve chances of
getting signed?
AHC: The band moved after we were signed so we could record up at the Houdini mansion. I am from Los Angeles and Martin (the singer and my writing partner) is from the <San Francisco> Bay
area, so it was nice to be back on the West Coast. As of right now, we are based out of Los Angeles.
MI: How was working with Rick Rubin?
AHC: Working with Rick was a great experience. Most of his
contributions were arrangement things, trying different ways for a song to work and flow better. And, he was very involved in the mixing process. He knows what he wants to hear, and luckily, it was the same thing we
wanted.
MI: Can you compare the Midwest music scene to the L.A. music scene and discuss some pros and cons for each?
AHC: Sure. There is no scene in Los Angeles. That's the difference. The place is
so scattered, and it seems like so many of the bands are just killing themselves trying to get signed. A lot of the music seems very forced and geared towards catching the ear of some A&R guy. There doesn't seem
to be the same unity and genuine feeling for making music that exists in Minneapolis. Don't get me wrong, I love Los Angeles, but the music scene just doesn't exist in the same way people in the Midwest
think it might.
MI: Do you have any suggestions for bands in the Midwest to improve the music scene here?
AHC: Don't copy other bands. Do something different. Anybody can grab a 7-string guitar and
write a heavy half-step riff. Be as original as you can.
MI: We've heard 2 songs off the album that were on a pre-release CD. Can you describe the album as a whole? Is it all heavy, or do you come down on
some songs?
AHC: The record is a sonic roller coaster. Rarely do two songs have the same feel. Each song has a definite identity to it. It's not like some records where after the first 3 songs you turn it
off because you know the rest of the record sounds all the same. Unfortunately, there are quite a few of those types of records out there.
MI: What bands have been the biggest influence on your band?
AHC: Ministry, Public Enemy, Kiss, Skinny Puppy, The Jesus Lizard...the nice thing is that even though we are influenced by bands, no influence is immediately apparent for the most part.
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