GHOST TRAIN

Interviewed by Gordon Taylor of Infectious Unease radio

The members of Ghost Train have been involved in music since the early 1980’s and all have been instrumental in developing the music subculture in the USA. Coming from such bands as Dark Shadows, Desmo Donte, Hellbound Hayride, Nice Boys, Wreckage, Spahn Ranch, and Screams For Tina. All member of Ghost Train are multi talented in music. There sound could be described as a combination of psycho-Billy, surf, punk, punka-billy, country and blues, death rock and spooky fun. Full of foot tapping energy, passion, and hard work. The lyrics have many themes expressing an imagery of the 50’s and the 60’s, horror, surf, hotrods, surrealism, stories of noir like characters. Ghost Trains music, and live performances are tight and explosive. The beautiful thing about ghost Train is, that they are unique and original in their sound. Take an express ride with Ghost Train and discover more about this wonderful band.

BAND MEMBERS:

Tony Lestat: Vocals
Zambo: Drums and Percussion
Kento Bancroft: Guitars
Mike Castellano: bass
Paul Postal: Guitars

BANDS DISCOGRAPHY:
Smash It Up - from Children Of The Damned: A 20th Anniversary Tribute To The Damned CD comp - Wreckage Productions / Apollyon Records-1996

The Hard Way (Motherf**cker remix) - from Tales From The Vault CD comp- Alligence Records-1997

Viva Las Vegas - from Haunted Heartbreak Hotel: A Tribute To Elvis Presley comp - Wreckage Productions - (Coming Soon)

Nice To Creature "Original Version" / Viva Las Vegas "Lucky Seven Mix" Limited Edition 7" Vinyl & CD Single - Wreckage Productions - 2003

Amazing Colossal Man - from Night's Lament CD comp (limited edition) - Dark Horizons Radio - 2004

Songs For Swingin' Corpses - 5 Song EP - Train Wreck Productions 2004

INTERVIEWEES

Tony:
Zambo:
Kent:

DATE: 23/10/2004

Gordon: You all have been involved music for a very long time, at what age did you start playing music and where did you all meet?

Tony: I started late I guess. I had messed with song writing in the early 80s, but it wasn’t until about 1986 that I started fully writing and singing. Kent and I first met in 1988 when we started doing the band LIKE WRECKAGE (which would later turn into WRECKAGE). Zambo joined WRECKAGE on drums in 1990 after we met at a performance of THEATRE DES VAMPIRES out in long Beach, California. Mike I met more recently when he joined GHOST TRAIN and Paul I first met in 1989 when he replaced me as the vocalist for LIKE WRECKAGE.

Zambo: I started banging on trash can lids and buckets to KISS albums back in the late 70’s. From there, went on to High School marching band, yes, a band geek! I met Tony through a mutual friend in the late-eighties. His band “Wreckage” needed a drummer. I joined them, and developed my skillz………

Kent: I started playing electric guitar when I was about 13 years old. After a year of making noise, I took some lessons since I didn’t know anyone who knew how to play who could teach me. I met Tony through Billy Budd, who was playing bass in Screams For Tina at the time, in ’87. Billy was looking to put together his own band and he had met Tony through an ad I think. We formed Like Wreckage in the beginning of ’88.

Gordon: What previous bands have you been involved in? What styles of music did you play in these bands?

Tony: LIKE WRECKAGE (hard edge Goth – do you agree Kent?) and WRECKAGE (deathrock – punk – Industrial).

Zambo: Wreckage was my first “real” band. They were considered gothic when I joined them, but we quickly morphed into a harder dark rock band. After Wreckage, I joined a local LA band named “Nice Boys”. We released some demos and appeared on some compilations. We were a typical Hollywood rock band. After that, I went on to play with “Desmo Donte”. We were a kinda dark vampire rock band, and released a CD as well as played the Anne Rice Coven Ball in New Orleans! Then, along came Tony once again, and I joined the new and improved “Ghost Train”!!!!!

Kent: I played in some bands with friends in high school and met Paul Postal through an ad shortly after. We played together for a year or so before Like Wreckage got going. Then I moved on to Screams for Tina for a few years. After that I played in Spahn Ranch for about 6 months, doing two U.S. tours with them. Paul and I wrote and recorded some songs under the moniker “Sub Tongue.” Then Ghost Train started rolling again…


Gordon: what instruments and equipment do you use when producing and performing your music?

Tony: Whatever is needed to get the best sound. This is more a question for the rest of the band!

Zambo: I use a 5 piece silver sparkle Ludwig kit. It’s from the 80’s, but still looks cool.

Kent: Live: Peavey Delta Blues 1x15 amp, Gibson ES-135, Warmoth custom Les Paul, various effect pedals.

Gordon: Zambo could you tell me who are your favourite drummers are, do you have interests in other percussive instruments from around the world?

Zambo: 1 name for ya……DAVE GROHL! He is an awesome drummer, as well as an incredible musician/songwriter/vocalist. My taste in drummers is as varied as my musical tastes. I like the classics as well as the heavy hitters. As far as other percussive instruments, I tend to lean toward the bongos. They are small, and you can really get into the vibe.

Gordon: Kent Who is your favourite guitarist?

Kent: Jeez, there have been a few that have been influential. Steve Jones and Eddie Van Halen for the big, heavy crunch chords. Reverend Horton Heat and Steve Bartok (of Oingo Boingo) are great for interesting runs and licks. The horrifying simplicity of the Stooges are always a favourite.

Gordon: Tony what singers do hold the most respect for and what is it about there vocal technic you admire?

Tony: There are so many. I love Sinatra and Elvis Presley. But I also admire Wayne Hussey, Gene Autry and Neil Tennant amongst others. Of course I’ll always love Dave Vanian’s vocal stylings! More recently – thanks to a friend who turned me on to him - I’ve come to adore Scott Walker’s great voice from both THE WALKER BROTHERS years and his solo albums. All of these artists a sense of originality in their vocal performances…

Gordon: You have released the five song EP "Songs for Swinging Corpses.” I really enjoyed the lyrics and music. What was the inspiration behind the music and lyrics? What creative process’s do you go through to produce the music and lyrics?

Tony: To take the best of the 50s and 60s style of music and to bring it into the hear and now via a spooky dark delivery that doesn’t take itself TOO seriously. But we also have a serious side of course. I’d like to feel that we combine psychobilly, surf, punk, country and blues and a little deathrock and make it our very own sound. Creative process? We just plain write. Sometimes lyrics first, sometimes music first. Whoever has a good idea, we just take it from there.

Zambo: The members of this band really have a great time creating music. Each song starts a little different. Sometimes, Tony will come in with some lyrics and a melody in mind, other times, we just start jamming on a riff, and throw in some structure, and the monster is born….

Kent: I think we were going for something dark, but with energy and rhythm. I really spent a lot of time with Michael Rozon (who produced the EP) to try and get all of the guitar hooks right and sounding great. I really tried to have the bass, and two guitars playing different parts that were complementary and that layered together well. We’ll all play the same riff or chord progression together for real power, usually during the choruses. The writing process is pretty spontaneous. We’re usually screwin’ around in rehearsal and we’ll land on something that sounds really cool and see if we can work it into a song.

Gordon: How has the response been for new EP “Songs for Swinging Corpses”?

Tony: Awesome! We are all very proud of the EP and the response has been wonderful.

Zambo: The response has been amazing. Our producer did an outstanding job.

Kent: The response has been fantastic. We’re doing our best to get it to everyone we can, sometimes not an easy task to undertake!!!

Gordon: You have released the 7inch record/cd Nice To Creatures/Viva Las Vegas which I really enjoyed, how has the response been for it. and have you been performing these two songs at your gigs. Do you think you will be doing any other Cover versions of Rockabilly bands or singers?

Tony: The single was received quite well. Well the CD version of it is now sold out, so I guess we did something right! We do perform Nice To Creature, but not Viva Las Vegas. We have been talking about possible covers including an old 50s classic, but it’s more fun to take more recent songs and do them GHOST TRAIN style.

Zambo: We release the 7-inch for nostalgia. I love getting 7 inches and think that others do too. We may be pulling some covers into our live show in the future…..

Kent: Again, the response has been great for the 7-inch. It’s a tough format to get out to people, a lot of younger fans have never owned a turntable! We do play Creature at every show. We don’t plan to play Viva Las Vegas, although the recording turned out great, we want to focus more on harder, original material for the live show. Other cover songs are possibilities though.

Gordon: To people who may not of heard of Ghost Train how would of you describe your sound to them?

Tony: See my answer above!

Zambo: Rocka-surfa-punka-billy.

Kent: We’ve combined a few styles that we really enjoy to create a powerful, stylised sound. We’re a psychobilly/punk/surf/death rock blitzkrieg.

Gordon: Apart from playing music what other things do you and enjoy in life.

Zambo: SEX!

Kent: Travel, hunting for reptiles, the beach, and karate. I’d like to get a dirt bike and ride out in the desert. I’ve done it a few times in the past and it is a blast!

Tony: Many obvious things, but most of all the experience of living, communicating, caring, understanding life as best I can and giving love and receiving it back. Yeah, sounds weird I know, but these things to me are more important to me these days than the “hobby” approach.

Gordon: Tony you have produced and released many compilations could you tell me how you go about selecting bands for the compilations you produce. How do you go about choosing a theme for your compilations? And will you be releasing any compilations soon?

Tony: I pick bands that are just plain good, interesting or different from the norm. Theme? Whatever turns me on… I have put a hold on the comps for now (along with WRECKAGE) while I focus on GHOST TRAIN. The last comp I did, a dark tribute to Elvis Presley was never released. My arrangement with Cleopatra as distributor fell apart, so it’s available to anyone who wants to release it…

Gordon: Tony you are also a film historian and journalist could you tell me when did become involved in this profession. What are your top favourite films and is there particular period of film history you enjoy the most? And do have a film director that most admire. Or particular actor?

Tony: I been a journalist since the late 70s and a film historian for as long as I can remember. I love music, but film will always be my first romance. I enjoy too many films to list favourites! I enjoy all periods of film, although I have a special place in my heart for the 1930s – 50s. Directors? I like Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, Nicholas Ray, Orson Welles and many others. Actor? Well my favourite movie stars are Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart and John Wayne. People I respect as serious actors include Spencer Tracy, Bette Davis and the like.

Gordon: Tony I understand you are a published poet and writer. What subject matter do write about? Where do you find your inspiration? Where have you published your work? Have you perform your poetry and writing anywhere? Where could we purchase your work? Have you or are you planning on releasing any spoken word CDs?

Tony: I write about whatever I feel at the time. I use to perform a lot, but that was many moons ago… I haven’t written any poetry for some time now, but my first collection from the early 90s as a small run chapbook is available – I have a few left. Those poems are very dark in nature. No spoken word CDs planned!

Gordon: Kent could you tell me about your experience in art school, and working at Larry Flint Publications?

Kent: I had left Screams for Tina and was working as a house painter through some contacts Billy Budd (Screams for Tina bassist) had and needed a career change. Painting was tough work for not too much money so I figured I’d follow in my old friend Greg Lindy’s footsteps into graphic design. Greg had designed the Screams for Tina album for us and I really liked the process. He also designed Wreckage’s “Crawling from the Wreckage” album artwork. My original plan was to design music CDs after finishing school. I ended up in publishing, designing magazines because that’s the job I was offered after I graduated. My first job out of college was on Video Games magazine, published by the infamous Larry Flynt. I never worked on any adult magazines during my stint there. I was able to take a leave of absence to tour with Spahn Ranch while I was there.

Gordon: Kent you toured with Spahn Ranch how did this all take place?

Kent: I ran into Matt Green (Spahn Ranch keyboardist/songwriter) who I hadn’t seen in a few years at a Lords of Acid show. I went up to him and said “Hey Matt, it’s Kent from Screams for Tina how ya doin’?” He got real serious and said, “I need to talk to you…” I thought an old friend of ours had died or something. Spahn Ranch was on Cleopatra records, as Screams had been. He explained that he was familiar with Screams and had seen us play a few times. He really liked my guitar sound and wanted to see if I would be interested in playing with Spahn Ranch. I was and played with them for 6 months or so. We did a North East US tour followed by a full US tour a few months later as Special Guest with Electric Hellfire Club. It was great, playing almost every day for a month and a half. I ended up having some differences with them, over songwriting and musical styles. I ended up leaving on good terms. They were very talented and great to work with. They’re back in NYC now; they were living in LA at the time.

Gordon: Kent you have interests in Herpetology, Vintage Music Equipment, Karate, Travel Real Estate would you like to tell me about them.

Kent: I’ve been obsessed with reptiles and amphibians since a very young age. When I was a little kid I was fascinated by these creatures, they seemed like little monsters you could have in your house in a cage. I take a couple of trips every year to various places to look around for different kinds of snakes, lizards, salamanders, frogs and toads. I’ve run across a couple of desert tortoises out in Mojave too. Very cool animals. When you’re in a good area, it’s kind of like fishing; you never know what you’ll find! Finding something rare is always cool. I like talking to other enthusiasts about what they keep at home or what they’ve found in the field. The variety of captive bred herps out there now is amazing. Breeding reptiles and amphibians is a big industry now. I also take Karate, mainly to keep in shape. I have a great group I train with, Zentokukai. Check out www.zentokukai.com for more info.
I had planned to get into Real Estate investing, fixing up older homes in the LA area, but the market exploded and homes here are very expensive now. I’ll probably still do it, but it will take more time. I really like the style of the older Craftsman home here in LA. They don’t make them like they used to!!!

Gordon: Kent with collecting Vintage Music Equipment what sort Equipment do you collect, and how do come across this type Equipment?

Kent: I’m drawn to 60’s instruments mostly. I’ve had quite a collection over the years, most of which has been sold off now. I’ll buy an old amp or guitar and play it for a while, and realize that maybe it’s not quite what I was looking for. Then I’ll sell it and try something else. Vintage gear has gotten pretty expensive now too. Fenders and Gibsons are ridiculously high and unaffordable for most people. I’ve always liked Silvertones, and I’ve had quite a few. I’m looking for a Silvertone electric solidbody with lipstick pickups now. They’re shaped like Fender Jaguars. Very big surf sound. I might get a late sixties Fender Jaguar. They’re relatively low-priced, look and sound great. That would be a keeper. I look around for decent quality instruments that don’t cost an arm and a leg. There are quite a few American and Japanese manufacturers from the 50s and 60s that made decent instruments: Alamo, Coral/Danelectro, Domino, Elk, Kay, Kapa, Magnatone, Mosrite, Silvertone, Standel, Wurlitzer, etc. The weirder it looks, the more I’m drawn to it. There’s some really bizarre vintage Italian guitars I’ve been looking at recently. I usually find stuff on Ebay or in local ad papers like the Recycler.

Gordon: When you get the time what music, do you enjoy listening to?

Tony: All kinds really. Right now I’m tuned to a radio station that plays classic pop – Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, Tony Bennet and so on…

Zambo: Lately I’ve been into punky stuff, TSOL, Distillers, Rancid…..

Kent: Big Star, Bowie, Cramps, MC5, Stooges, the Young Gods are all listened to regularly. I really like Mazzy Star and Portishead when I’m in a mellow mood.

Gordon: What gigs did you enjoy the most and what was the audience response?

Tony: I’ve enjoyed them all to some degree.

Zambo: All gigs are fun, but the best ones are when we’re playing to a crowd that is not familiar with us.

Kent: In LA most fans stay back from the stage, unless the club is crowded. I really like it when people are up close, more involved. It makes us play with more enthusiasm and connect with the audience much more.

Gordon: Is there anything special incorporated within your performances?

Tony: Ask the other guys about that! I’m in my own strange world when I’m on stage, somewhere between reality and an episode of The Twilight Zone..!

Zambo: Just to put on the best performance possible.

Kent: We have a burlesque dancer that would like to perform with us. We’re seeking the perfect venue (adults only I’m afraid).

Gordon: What Emotions do you go through your mind when you are performing on stage?

Tony: Ecstasy. Fear. Fascination.

Zambo: GOD, I hope I don’t F up!

Kent: When we’re playing at full volume to a packed house it is like nothing else. It is tremendously energizing and satisfying to have played a great show. When you’re up there, you’re focused on playing your parts and hitting the accents. It goes by so fast! Sometimes it’s just a blur, especially if it’s dark or the fog machine is working overtime. You can feel the audience, but you can’t really see them.

Gordon: What memorable experiences have you had when playing live?

Tony: Well, there was that time I was abducted by a UFO while performing Nice To Creature and Kent had to cover while I was away with a really, really long guitar solo…

Zambo: I don’t know if I’d call this memorable, or miserable, but one time I was in this band and played a backyard party. I got WAY too drunk before we went on, and I couldn’t keep the sticks in my hands. I didn’t have any extra pairs, so I had to keep stopping the song to pick them up. Very embarrassing. The lesson has been learned!

Kent: The first live show with Like Wreckage, back in ’88. Tony will remember that during our first song and huge slam pit erupted right in front of the stage and many of our friends that came down to the front to see use were thrown all over the place. It was the first song of our first show and the place just exploded! I’ll never forget that.

Gordon: Have you got any up and coming tours if so where will these take place?

Tony: I don’t know – any ideas or plans fellow ghosts?

Zambo: The Tour of Italy at the Olive Garden.

Kent: Full-scale tours are tough for us right now, we all have various commitments outside of the band that make it difficult in the immediate future. We will be making jaunts around the Southwest US. I would imagine that we’ll play San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, and we’d really like to play Las Vegas soon.

Gordon: Do you have any funny or interesting experiences you would like to talk about?

Tony: Have? Yes. Talk about? No… ?

Zambo: HECK NO! I try to forget!

Kent: One kind of funny experience while touring with Spahn Ranch. This was the second tour. We all lived in LA and our first show on the tour was in NY. Because of various scheduling conflicts, we didn’t end up leaving until two days before the show. We had to drive straight through from LA to NY; we made it in 46 hours. We got there one hour before soundcheck. This was the tour as special guest of Electric Hellfire Club. We get to the club and it’s some crappy little biker bar in Hoboken, NJ. Turns out that they booked our tour package to open for a Black Sabbath tribute band! We knew they wouldn’t pay us, or get us dinner like it specified in the contract so we drove to the next gig. All of that driving straight through to NY for nothing!

Gordon: You received press, electronic press, radio airplay, and DJ airplay. What countries, radio stations, and DJ have been positive about your work?

Tony: We have had a great response from all over the world. Spain, Italy, Australia, England, France, Germany and Mexico amongst others. We are grateful to all the DJs and reviewers to have been so supportive to us.

Zambo: I’ve been talking to this DJ in Argentina who really enjoys the CD and plays it on his local radio show.

Gordon: What is the music subculture like in your area?

Tony: Interesting and varied. But Los Angeles still has a long way to go (in my opinion) to be as musically rich as it was in the 1980s.

Zambo: I live in Orange County California, the popular music in my area is punk rock.

Kent: It’s very mixed. Pretty much anything you’ve heard of exists in LA, you just have to find it. In Highland Park there are a surprising amount of Punk Rock kids. I’m talking about young teens into the Sex Pistols, Misfits, Crass, all the stuff I listened to when I was their age. Really cool.

Gordon: Through out year there have been many developing styles of music some becoming very large and having there own subculture of fans and others styles of music methamorphosising into another. In what Direction do think music will go?

Tony: To Hell in a handbasket. But hopefully not too soon as we have a few albums to record first… ;-)

Zambo: I think that the metal glam 80’s hair bands is coming back! No, I’m serious!

Kent: I think the latest alternative rap/metal Korn-style music is going to fade quick. All of the “shouting” bands will eventually disappear, losing out to bands that can play more than just deep riffs and screaming. Big production has taken the place of great performance and songwriting. We’ll see a return to great songs with interesting musicians playing them.

Gordon: What are your future plans?

Tony: To finish this interview and get a cup of freakin’ tea…! I’m sure that the rest of the merry men can fill you in on the band’s plans though ?

Zambo: To keep writing and recording music that WE like.

Kent: Definitely to record a full album in early 2005. We’re almost ready now; we just need a few more songs.