Q : Were your parents musically inclined in the sense that they played instruments or sang while you were growing up ?
A : No . Well the thing is , I was born deaf . I had some deformities in my ear canal , and my lungs were underdeveloped so they couldn ’ t operate to fix them until my lungs were strong enough . The first few years of my life I was deaf , so my parents would lean my head against the stereo speakers . From what they said , I was singing Italian opera before I could even talk . So music has always been my first communication .
Q : Do you remember the first show you ever played ?
A : I was in some little band , I forgot the name , and we opened up for a really big band . The place was packed , but they weren ' t there to see us . I was about 17 years old at the time . I remember I was so nervous that I ran around the block 5 times . The show went great though , and that ’ s when I knew I wanted to perform for the rest of my life . I moved into Dash Rip Rock a few years later , which was a great experience in hindsight . In the middle of it , it was pretty frightening . There wasn ’ t a single week that went by in that band that I didn ’ t think “ I could die , I mean we could really die here ”. That
MUSIC INSIGHT five years old I asked my parents for a garbage can just like his for Christmas and they gave me one . They thought it was a great present until I turned it over and started hitting it .
Q : Were your parents musically inclined in the sense that they played instruments or sang while you were growing up ?
A : No . Well the thing is , I was born deaf . I had some deformities in my ear canal , and my lungs were underdeveloped so they couldn ’ t operate to fix them until my lungs were strong enough . The first few years of my life I was deaf , so my parents would lean my head against the stereo speakers . From what they said , I was singing Italian opera before I could even talk . So music has always been my first communication .
Q : Do you remember the first show you ever played ?
A : I was in some little band , I forgot the name , and we opened up for a really big band . The place was packed , but they weren ' t there to see us . I was about 17 years old at the time . I remember I was so nervous that I ran around the block 5 times . The show went great though , and that ’ s when I knew I wanted to perform for the rest of my life . I moved into Dash Rip Rock a few years later , which was a great experience in hindsight . In the middle of it , it was pretty frightening . There wasn ’ t a single week that went by in that band that I didn ’ t think “ I could die , I mean we could really die here ”. That