Looking back at this interview:
In 2004 we interviewed John Corabi. He was playing rhythm guitar in Ratt (also featuring Warren DeMartini, Bobby Blotzer, Jizzy Pearl and Robbie Crane). Corabi is one of our favorite artists. He’s also a down to earth, no bs guy. If you missed some of Corabi’s career please go back and check out his records with the Scream, Union and of course the 1994 Motley Crue album. He’s also been featured on various projects. John’s currently recording and touring with the Dead Daisies. Parental Advisory in this one. Grown folks topics.<r/p>
Scream, Motley Crue, Union singer and Ratt guitarist
John Corabi
March 2004
Well John let’s just start off with updating us on what you’re currently working on. We’ve been hoping for a new cd. Can you give a run down on the latest developments in “Corabi Land”?
I’ve been doing some writing with Ryan Roxie(Alice Cooper) and Stevo Bruno so we can put a new original band together. We’re shopping for a record deal. I’ve also been talking with Gilby Clarke about doing a blues record with a bunch of friends. I’m going to be playing on the weekends with this new “cover band” featuring myself, Billy Duffy and Jerry Cantrell. I’m also about halfway finished completing my autobiography.
You were originally part of the Brides of Destruction project. What led to your decision to move on in another direction and part from the group?
Due to my son’s health at the time and my recent divorce, coupled with the fact that I was feeling less useful to the Brides as far as song writing and creativity go, I felt the best thing for both parties was for me to leave.
What’s the status of Ratt ? There were rumors of a possible live album at one time but we haven’t heard anything about it for a while. Does Ratt still have a future?
This question could be answered best by Bobby or Warren.
Let’s jump into the “Music Video Time Capsule”
Favorite music video you’ve been in:
There are two versions of the video “I Believe in Me” by The Scream. The original version was live footage from the road. It was my first tour, first record, and first taste of success. Looking back, I probably had the most fun doing that one. But the girls and the catering were definitely better on the Motley videos.
Least favorite music video you’ve been in:
Misunderstood, because the record label was trying to get us to shoot an edited version and I just remember it being a really miserable day with all the politics involved. Only to find that MTV wouldn’t play the video due to the fact that the lyrics to the song made a suicide reference and there was a gun sitting on a table in one of the shots in the video (I guess if we had been smart, we would’ve shot the video in a low rider bustin’ a cap to a rap beat…
You sang on the track, “It’s Just My Life”, on Bruce Kulick’s “Transformer” cd. Can you tell us a little about the recording of this track?
There’s really not much to tell. Bruce called me and asked if I’d be interested in singing the song. When I arrived at the studio, the song was already written and recorded and the lyrics were already done as well. I just sang it.
Of course that question segues into our “Land of the Obvious Next Question”. Union never officially broke up. Will we ever see another Union cd? Is there a possibility of you guys pulling it all together again and making another run?
I’m not gonna say that we wouldn’t record another record in the future, but we felt we had to take a break considering we got absolutely no support from TV or radio or a lot of the fans for that matter. Our second record Blue Room was heavily downloaded for free off of the internet. Unfortunately, this is a business, and it was a struggle making ends meet from a financial point of view, for the band. Which is the case for a lot of bands nowadays
It seems that the major record labels will never have any interest in any artist or band that was even remotely associated with the old school hard rock/metal scene. Why are they so afraid to invest in the very people that were their cash cows back in the day?
That’s a good question. I wish I could figure it out. Unfortunately, the music business has lost, in my opinion, 90% of its creativity. Between the actual record companies over-saturating the market with cookie-cutter bands and MTV and radio deciding which of those bands are “cool”, the audience doesn’t really get to pick and choose what they want to listen to and be loyal to. The corporations decide who you’re going to listen to. It’s sad but it’s got nothing to do with art anymore.
Nikki Sixx was quite frank about the misguided pressure that was placed on you during the recording of the follow up to the “Motley Crue” cd in the book “The Dirt”. In retrospect what did you learn from that experience?
A – I’m not a good businessman. B – Never trust anybody who smiles and refers to you as “kid”. C- Never bend over to pick up someone else’s soap!
In a nutshell, the one thing I did learn can be recapped in a quote from the movie The Godfather, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer”.
With all the ups and downs of being a musician, we’ve all had to have a few “odd jobs” along the way.
What was your worst “struggling musician” job?
Phone room. I worked in a phone room selling inflatable life boats. In two words – Generation Swine.
A Few Quick Hits:
First concert you ever saw:
Kiss
Most embarrassing album in your collection:
For many years now I’ve tried to black this out, but the most embarrassing record I have is one that I was unfortunately involved in. Just listen to “She’s So Young and Dumb” on the Encino Man soundtrack.
Favorite TV shows when you were growing up:
Anything musical. Don Kirschners’s rock concert, and Midnight Special.
“The Life and Times of “John Corabi” is being made into a multi million dollar movie. Who plays Crabby and how does the movie end?
For a twist, Vince Neil plays John Corabi. And the movie ends with our hero winning the California State Lottery. He buys a bordello in Vegas.
Having played with some heavyweight guitarists over the years (Bouillet, Mars, Kulick, DeMartini), what kind of tricks or ideas have you picked up from these guys that have affected your own guitar playing?
I’ve learned never smoke pot and always order your bagel toasted lightly.
The Scream was produced by the legendary Eddie Kramer. Being a young band back then, what was it like working with Kramer? What were you able to pick up from him in regards to recording/producing?
As a newcomer, I was in complete awe of the man and his history, considering I had most of the records he ever recorded. The thing that I learned from Eddie, as well as Steve Marriott, is that you can use all the studio tricks you want, but if you don’t start with a good song, it isn’t going to be worth shit.
Can you give us some thoughts, memories or anecdotes some songs. The first one we’ll ask about is “I Don’t Care”. We have it on our “Angry Mix Tape” that we blare around the office when we’re ticked off.
“I Don’t Care”-The Scream
My memory of this song is that in its original form it’s must faster. I just remember being really excited about its development in the studio and how well it came together.
“Man in the Moon”-The Scream
Listening to it in the studio and the first time seeing the video on MTV. Also going once to a club in Denver and watching a cover band do that song. Also having two of my idols, Steven Tyler and Robert Plant comment on the song and tell me they thought it was cool.
“I Believe in Me”-The Scream
I think if my memory serves me correct I was angry with a couple of A&R people in the music industry and my guitar player at the time Bruce Bouillet. Bruce had suggested that I be more like Sebastian Bach. Hence the lines “You believe in you and I’ll believe in me.”
“Father, Mother, Son”-The Scream
I remember writing that one after seeing a commercial on TV about a father who loses his son and I looked at my son Ian and thought about how horrible I’d feel if I was in the same position. So I wrote the lyrics but with a twist. In actuality, in the song, it’s the son’s spirit talking to his parents.
“Baby Kills”-Motley Crue
It’s Motley’s way of verbalizing about some of the psychotic girls we had been with or married…you know, they look good but they’re lethal.
“Smoke The Sky”-Motley Crue
I remember writing that one about an article Omni magazine. It was about these so-called benefits of smoking weed. They say that it actually helped people with focusing problems like ADD to focus better…
“Poison Apples”-Motley Crue
The lyrics to that are basically based on Nikki’s journeys to Hollywood.
“Old Man Wise”-Union
Old Man Wise is that voice in your head that tells you the difference between right and wrong and that unfortunately, most of us don’t listen to.
“Heavy D”-Union
Myself, and our producer at the time, Curt Cuomo. We both had friends that had passed away from heroin overdoses. So the lyrics are me speaking as a third party – a.k.a. Heroin
“Let It Flow”-Union
To be perfectly honest with you, this was written during a really f****d up time in ’96 when Motley was falling apart, my girlfriend was being weird, and my son was sick again. I just remember smoking some pot, getting really high, and writing those lyrics. So I think the whole song in general is about surreal escapism.
“Who Do You Think You Are”-Union
Basically a big “F*** You” to anybody that judges another person on their art or the way they dress.
“Dead”-Union
Kind of silly now, but I was still harboring some resentments towards some of the Motley guys and a few people that had passed judgments against me. So it was my way of saying – f*** you. You’re dead to me.
“Hypnotized-Union
The Union version of Hypnotized is a fictional tale based on some actual people and events. It’s a story of a girl that comes to Hollywood to be famous but takes a wrong turn and winds up getting caught in all the trappings that go with it and winds up committing suicide.
Note:John let us know this was loosely based on a true story
What’s the best decision you’ve made during your career?
I can’t really answer this question. I don’t regret anything up to this point but I think the best is yet to come.
What’s the worst decision you’ve made during your career?
One of the wrong decisions I’ve made was accepting a tape from a band and declining their offer to try out or join their band because at the time, didn’t believe in it, only to have it develop not a band called Skid Row. My second worse decision was not being able to read between the lines with Motley.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome during your career?
Learning to not take things so personally and unfortunately not being a little better with the business end of things.
What’s your favorite Jizzy Pearl story?
I can’t give you all the details, that’s up to Jizzy, but the ingredients are usually a bottle of wine, and a Kempo death grip
Every musician has their personal favorite jam songs. Whether it be the last call, open mic night, or an impromptu get together. So what are your top 5 all time “Jam Songs” ?
Oh Darlin’ (The Beatles)
Last Child (Aerosmith)
Helter Skelter (The Beatles)
And recently, Dam That River (Alice in Chains)
Love Removal Machine (The Cult)
You have 5 songs (spanning your entire recording career) to put into the “John Corabi Time Capsule”. What 5 songs are in the time capsule?
Man in The Moon
Father, Mother, Son
Hooligan’s Holiday
Friends
Do Your Own Thing
What’s the greatest life lesson you’ve learned over the years?
Don’t take life so seriously and don’t live your life just gaining monetary things. Money’s cool and you have to have it to survive, but family and good friends, people who are always there whether you’re high or low regardless of how much money you have or don’t have are the things that really matter.
What was your “Spinal Tap Moment”?
Read my autobiography…I’ve been having Spinal Tap moments my whole life!
You have only 5 albums you can listen to for the rest of your life. What are they? no greatest hits,
live albums, or box sets
Aerosmith “Rocks”
The Beatles “Abbey Road”
Led Zeppelin IV
Motley Crue ‘94
Alice in Chains “Dirt”
You get to put together the “John Corabi Dream Band”. Who is in it?
Drums – Tommy Lee or John Bonham or my son Ian
Guitar – Jimmy Page and Edward Van Halen
Bass Guitar – Either Paul McCartney, John Paul Jones or Tom Hamilton
Vocals – Mariah Carey 🙂
Thanks John. You are another Warrior keeping the spirit alive. Keep Defending The Faith !!
ARTIST UPDATE 2022 : John toured and recorded with the The Dead Daisies from 2015-2019. He regularly performs solo shows as well. He did a tour and live album commemorating the 1994 Motley Crue Album.
For the lastest info on John check out johncorabi.com
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