Blacklist Union is unfiltered and in your face its raw and as real as it gets. BLU has had its shares of ups and downs throughout its almost 8 years of existence to say the least, but in the end they have always pulled thru to face another day and to write another chapter of their checkered and colorful lives. Mainman Tony West took the time to discuss their latest album and plans for the rest of this year.
1. Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Blacklist Union, and how long the band has been together.
Tony: Hi I am Tony West the lead singer and founder of Blacklist Union. We have been together since 2004.
2. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
Tony: We are located in Los Angeles. The music scene here unfortunately is very stale and dead and there are very few good bands out here. A few are great though. Goldsboro, Stitched Up Heart & Love & A 38 is a couple I would recommend. I think it is the promoters and the clubs fault why there is no music scene anymore. They expect bands to do all the work and the bands expect the promoters to do all the work. We should all be working together . When there is camaraderie again there will be a scene again. Most clubs and promoters could care less about talent or who is playing because it is mostly pay to play. So most clubs have lost their credibility.
3. It's been 4 years since we last spoke and then discussed "Breaking Bread With The Devil" can you tell me what the band has released and been up to since?
Tony: Well we released Til Death Do Us Part in June of 2013. We have done some touring and I am in the middle of writing and demoing the next cd which will be called "In This Moment"
4. What can you tell me about "Til Death Do Us Part".
Tony: Til Death Do Us Part is a virtual who's who of rock and roll and is our best release to date. I am very happy and proud of this CD.
5. Why did you want this release to be released physically?
Tony: Ummm....is there another way ? I like have a copy in my hands. I enjoy reading the lyrics and liner notes. I think that CD art is a lost art. It is a package deal.
6. What was it like to work with Chris Johnson what did he bring to the table for Blacklist Union?
Tony: Chris Johnson is the 6th member of Blacklist Union. He brings A LOT to the table. He allows us to be ourselves and captures what we do live on CD. I call him the rock n roll scientist. He is family.
7. You recorded this at the Skip Saylor Recordings and The Village why did you want to pick these locations to record this album and what was the experience like for everyone?
Tony: Skip's and The Village are legendary rock n roll places. They treated us amazing cos they are the real deal and so is Blacklist Union. We cant wait to go back.
8. Select two songs from Til Death Do Us Part and what inspired the lyrics.
Tony: Blown Away is in part written about 3 friends who I lost from drugs in one way or another. One is Josey Scott from Saliva who was my friend and hasn't been in a VERY long time, the 2nd is my friend Rocko who I have known since I was a teenager that completely lost his mind on Crystal meth and the other is Mike Starr my ex room mate and friend who died 3/8/11. Alabama Slammer is also about some chick from Rock of Love that I dated and completely slammed my heart on the ground. Granted I may have deserved it and was COMPLETELY insane at the time. She is also from Alabama.
9. Is there any story or concept behind the Til Death Do Us Part title?
Tony: Well I think Til Death Do Us Part is a phrase used with no meaning nowadays especially when people get married. It seems people just don't honor what they say. My ex vowed to me "Til Death Do Us Part' and then she was off doing her own thing shortly after. It really is about doing what u mean and meaning what u say.
10. Who did the cover art for Til Death Do Us Part and how much input did you have on it?
Tony: Dony the drummer from LA Guns did all the art work on the cd. I always loved the Damned's Phantasmagoria CD cover and that was the inspiration behind it. Besides I lost 2 of the most beautiful women in 2001 and 2006 and it is no secret that still pains me. It was also a tribute to them.
11. How has this release evolved, differed, and compared to your previous releases?
Tony: I have evolved as a singer and performer and writer 100 fold since the start of this band and I think the proof is in the music.
12. What are the upcoming plans that you guys have for the rest of this year?
Tony: Hopefully we are gonna get to Europe and we are gonna just continue to play and do out of town gigs whenever we can and as much as we can.
13. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?Tony: The songs.
14. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Tony: You can find us on the web. CDBaby.com, iTunes, blacklistunion.com, reverbnation, and Facebook. We are not hard to find.
15. Any final words of wisdom?
Tony: A friend of mine told me "If you don't have haters you are nobody". A lot of shit gets said about me as a person. I have had a gnarly history of life thus far. I am grateful to be where I am. If you need help coping, listen to Blacklist Union. I've been thru it to. You can make it thru the darkest times and hours with music. I love you all.
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