BALANCE
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 11th March 2009.
Balance were a well loved American rock act from the early 1980's. They released a couple of albums and even achieved Billboard chart success. Now, well over twenty years later, they are back with a new album, 'Equilibrium', and the chance to impress a whole new generation of fans.
Singer, Peppy Castro, steps forward to answer questions.
Hi Peppy, thanks for taking a moment to answer these questions. Hope all is well?
Peppy: My Pleasure Jon. Life is good.
It is, amazingly, over 25 years since the last Balance album... Scary! What made you do another one now?
Peppy: Over the years we have all spoken and talked about it, because there was always someone asking us if we would. Frontiers seemed to be enthusiastic about it, so we decided to give a go.
You enjoyed some Billboard success with ‘Breaking Away’ those many moons ago. Did you feel at the time that Balance was going to be huge?
Peppy: At the time I felt that Balance had a lot to offer and was very special. However I would never project because the business is always too unpredictable.
What happened to make the band break up? A few of you ended up working together on other projects like Michael Bolton’s excellent ‘Everybody`s Crazy’ album... so you can’t have hated each other too much :)
Peppy: There was never any hate. More like a lack off real communication. We were fighting a label and management that ran out of steam. They believed more in the first album that the 2nd one. The label was falling apart and fired their promotional staff and were down-sizing as the 2nd record was being released. In addition there were no offers of touring etc.
You seem to have recaptured the bright, fun vibe from the first albums, perhaps with a slightly heavier edge. Was that a deliberate decision?
Peppy: Probably for Bob as he and Frontiers were the catalysts. This record for me personally was a short trip down memory lane and Bob Kulick's baby. Frontiers was adamant about us keeping it in some sort of boundaries and a time capsule. I went along with it under protest after some convincing. I wasn't happy having restrictions imposed. In the end I went along with it realizing that it was now or never to step back in time.
You weren’t tempted to do a death metal album...?
Peppy: Haha... Hardly. Balance was always a very hooky powerful band.
Is Balance a full band that will play tours and record more albums, or was this album about finishing the final chapter of the book?
Peppy: This album was more like an experiment. I'm glad we attempted it as it was a big challenge. However, I wouldn't repeat the process in the future. I would consider doing another record under different circumstances. More in line with the way we originally used to record. This was more like a project produced by Bob Kulick. At this time there's no plans for touring etc.
What’s your favourite song from the album? We rate ‘Who You Gonna Love’ amongst the best songs of the year, by anyone.
Peppy: I wrote "Who You gonna Love" and had to fight to get it on the record. So thanks for the validation. I do like Breathe and Liar for personal reasons. Footnote! That's Joey Kramer playing drums on "Who You Gonna Love"and my son Jesse playing drums on Liar.
Bob’s bio is pretty well documented, but what have you and Doug been up to? As far as we can tell, Doug has been busy in Broadway and you have been writing songs and jingles. Is that along the right lines?
Peppy: Bob's been very consistent over the years and is a fabulous guitarist. Doug is about the most amazing musician I've ever worked with. Doug and I spent many many years in the world of music production in New York. Everything from Network Sports music, to jingles etc. A very hard business to survive in. It allowed me to have a family and be home to enjoy it.
Did you try to get the other original members back onboard for this recording?
Peppy: As I said, this was record was recorded under very different circumstances and there's wasn't a budget nor a lot of opportunity to be a band like the old days.
We had a chat with Michael from Coldspell the other day, another band with an album cover by Carl-Andre Beckston. You must be over the moon with the look he created for the Balance album?
Peppy: Actually, I've never met Carl, nor was I aware of his credits. I'm honored to know now that you've enlightened me. The cover is beautiful for sure and Coldspell are pure bliss.
Bob’s work has gained massive exposure – notably in recent times with ‘Sweet Victory’ (with David Glenn Eisley) featuring in the Spongebob Squarepants movie. Does it always amaze you the random ways in which songs become big?
Peppy: Without a doubt. It's wide open!
Do you despair at the number of throwaway songs in the charts nowadays?
Peppy: I despair in general how the record industry over decades has taken all the fun out of things and broken everything down into categories. The old days had it right. Where you could hear great diversity one right after the other and there was only one main chart for all the hits. I do enjoy the freedom now for new acts to promote themselves over the internet. The record business got caught asleep at the wheel.
Do you have a good rock ring tone on your cellphone? At Rock Realms we recommend the Ten Masked Men cover of ‘Easy Lover’... although the start of ‘Liar’ by a band called Balance might be getting a look in soon!
Peppy: Between Facebook, Youtube, MySpace and cell phones who can think? It's funny. I wrote Liar as well. I think Doug jumped in with some lyrics. When I wrote it, I remember saying to myself I have to write a guitar lick Bob will like and is a throw back to 80's rock. Liar's drums and Joey's drums were the only drums recorded out of Bob and Brett Chassen's studio in L.A. Brett and Bob have been a working team for years and Brett is a killer talent in many directions.
Joey's drums were recorded in his house and engineered by Paul Santo (http://paulsanto.com/) I recorded the 'Liar' drums with my son Jesse in our house. Then Brett went to work and did his thing.
What is the future going to bring, either as a group or as individuals? Any projects you would like to divulge?
Peppy: As for Balance? I think we'll take our cue from whatever level of excitement happens. For me? Many things. I've turned into the reunited king. Barnaby Bye is a band I had in the 1970's With The Alessi Brothers and Mike Riciardella. We've been at it again and sell out shows and tour etc. Totally different from Balance. Lots of videos on youtube of us: http://www.barnabybye.com/
Then there's "The Blues Magoos" My first band to give me a hit record. I was 18. We're in the studio as well. Only 42 years later! haha.
My son Jesse has a few projects that keeps me busy and last but not least myself. My wife past away 3 years ago from cancer and I made a promise to myself to enjoy life and make a cd for myself. Drum roll..."Peppy Castro's Therapy Tour" is almost finished. There are some sneak peaks on http://www.myspace.com/peppycastro
Are there any other bands out there you think people should check out?
Peppy: Way too many! There's a band in every household these days.
What are you up to once you finish answering these questions?
Peppy: It's 11am in New York and my studio is booked for the next 2 days. So I'm cranking it up and doing what I love.
Anything else you would like to mention?
Peppy: I think I've covered a lot. I would like to thank all the well wishers now and in the past that have embraced and enjoyed what it is I try to do. It's great to feel appreciated and there's no end to my heartfelt thanks.
The new Balance album, “Equilibrium“ is out now. Check out the review on Rock Realms for further details... it'll be worth your time!
