Rawkin’ Interview with
By JP Rawk
I met STARSKREAM vocalist VEX when I was in Philadelphia in August of 2013, checking out a couple of other bands.
He was introduced to me by a band manager from Philly and current StarSkream manager, MICHAEL BILINSKI. Vex
passed off a StarSkream CD for me to check out and one to pass along. On my long drive home, I checked out the
CD and wanted to do something to cover StarSkream. It’s been 8 months and Vex and I decided upon an interview
for ION Indie Magazine. I’m psyched to introduce you to one of Philadelphia’s finest Hard Rock outfits, StarSkream.
JP: Vex, first of all thank you for taking the time out for the interview. As most of our readers know very little about
StarSkream, if you would, could you tell us a little bit about StarSkream? Who are the members of the band and
what instruments do they play in the band?
Vex: No worries at all, Jere, thanks for giving us this
platform to showcase the group. Our lead guitarist and
Musical Director is KING SAM--the two of us have been
writing and performing together since we were teenagers.
Our bass player is CHRIS “Cupcake” MCKEEVER, he’s been
with the band for almost five years now, and our most
recent addition is JIM “Gunz” CONNELLY--a HELL of a
powerful drummer who is two years in with us. I’m Vex and
I’m the mouth (laughing).
JP: How would you describe your sound? Is there any band
out there that you would say you sound like?
Vex: We like to describe what we do as straight-up,
knockdown, drag-out American Rock ‘n’ Roll. We became
StarSkream in late 2003/early 2004, and at the time were
trying to blend the bombast and loud guitar style of say,
1987 GNR, with the vocal style of something along the
lines of STP--and soon after the world was introduced to
VELVET REVOLVER. Sonically, that is a fine comparison, but
to be honest--especially with the new LP, we’re in the
throes of writing (with 9 songs completed, by the way),
Photo credit: Lance Wolbranski