interview with PHANTOM-X
Have any of you played in other bands? Well. I've been in lots of bands over the years. but probably the only one people know is Omen and we will be releasing a new CD soon.
How is it that you started playing music? I started learning guitar when I was 13 yrs old. I was an avid dirtbike motorcycle rider at that age age I had an accident where I dislocated my left hip and while recovering I was in a body cast for several months flat on my back. So, with nothing better to do with my time, I learned how to play guitar. That was my start as a mucisian.
What are your names? / Who plays what? Kevin Goocher - vocals, Glenn Malicki - Bass, backing vocals, Reece Stanly -Drums, backing vocals Bill Engfer - Guitar, backing vocals
Have you had other previous members? Yes. Putting a band together is like putting a puzzle together. It takes the right pieces to be correct. It took us a while but we have the right pieces now.
Did you make music even when you were young? Yes. I had my first real band at the age of 15 and we made our first record at 16.
Where are you from? I am from Grand Prairie Texas which is a small city in between Dallas and Ft. Worth
What year did the band form? We formed in 2005
What's your style of genre? Hmmmm. I would say we are a classic sounding power metal band with hints of progressive metal
What inspires you? Lots of things inspire me. I like to write about dark ideas so inspiration could be a good horror movie to something in the newspaper to a good book. interesting stories are just that.
How often and where do you reherse? Our rehearsal is different since we are spread out in many directions. Reece lives in Houston Texas, I live in Los Angeles California and Glenn and Bill live in the Dallas Texas area. So, we have rehearsed using skype but more often get together just before shows and tours or when in pre-production for recording
How have you developed since you started with the music? I think the band has matured as a band, as a recording unit and as a live band. The last couple of CDs and the tours that coincided with them have been the best we've done so far.
Do you have other interests of work outside the band? My wife and I do Real Estate together. She is a Broker and we do investment properties together
Are you looking for a booking agency, and what are your thoughts around that? We are looking for a booking agency. We have booked all of the tours independently only with the help of promoters and smaller booking agencies. We are very proud of being able to manuver in this manner and are greatful for all the help we have recieved thus far, but yes we would love to have an agency take care of our booking.
Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that? You know, we've been on several different labels at this point. We are currently working with Pure Steel Records. They've been good to us.
What made you decide to make this music? As most people know my all time favorite vocalist is Ronnie James Dio. When I first heard him I knew what kind of music I wanted to do
What are your songs about? I write using themes of Science Fiction and Horror mostly. its what interests me.
Who does the composing and writes the lyrics?
I write the lyrics, with the exception of one song, Cries In The Night which they were written by Bill. The music comes from everyone individually. If a band member has an idea he will bring it to the band and we work on it from there.
Do you start with the music or the lyrics? For us, usually its music first. Then I use the mood of the song to influence the lyrics.
Do you compose in a certain invironment? Not really, For me its more about when the creative spark hits me. It could be anywhere or anytime.
Have you done any covers live? Yes, We do Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath and Wasted Years - Iron Maiden. We've done other songs in the past but these two seem to make their way in more often.
What language do you sing in? English. I don't know any other languages fluent.
What are the least and most people to attend one of your gigs? We've played for 5 people and 15.000 people in are career so far
What ages are most of your concert attendants? The range is wide, from 18 years old to people well into their 50's and 60's
Do you always play the same songs live, or do you vary? We have standards that we feel our fans and followers expect to hear but we do throw in other album tracks from time to time.
Do you have a regular place you play live often? In Dallas we have a home base club called Orileys. It was our starting out club and we still play there to this day.
What was your first gig like? hahahahahaha. Scary!
What was your latest gig? Our latest show was a memorial show that we headlined. It was to help raise money for the family of a Dallas musician that lost his life to lung cancer. It was a sad night, but it was a great night. We got to celebrate his life and accomplishments and we raised some money for a good cause.
Have you had to cancel a gig? Yes. A few years ago I had to have a hip replacement. Being a self employed musician, you don't usually have the best medical insurance. So, when I was given a date to have the surgery I had to jump on it or risk not getting another one for a long time. Needless to say I had to cancel shows.
Where do you plan to gig the comming year? We are on a hiatus for the time being. I am currently doing Omen right now.
When did you start to sell merchandise, and what do you have for sale? We have always had merch for sale at our shows and on line. Mostly we do t shirts. but have had hats, patches and other items in the past.
Where can people buy your merchandise? At shows and on-line
What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying records now a days? I don't like it. I think the quality of what you can download verses a physical copy is hugely different. Physical copies just sound better and I come from the time period when the album cover was as important as the music inside. Going to the record store and buying an album... it was about the whole thing. The music from one of your favorite bands, the art work on the cover, the cool pictures of the band, all the info about the album...just every thing about it was an event. Then you couldn't wait to see them play the stuff live. With downloading, music has become so despensable. Its made it less important. Don't even get me started about file sharing. Its wrong folks!
How do you think the music industry have changed because of this? Drastically changed! Bands are not making near the kind of money that they used too, which makes them have to up the price of ticket sales and merch to make up for it. Record labels aren't making it like they used to either. It just means that less good music will be produced because budgets to do so have been decressed. Please pay for your downloads people..if you want to continue to have quality products from your favorite bands!
What do you think of my work? Killer stuff man!
How do you think and know that this interview will help you in the music business? I know that we will get the opportunity to reach new people that don't know who we are or who have never heard of us. We owe a huge thanks to you and others like you who expose us to possible new fans....so Thank You!
Do you have any role models or idols? As mentioned before, RJD, but also Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy, Queen, Iron Maiden..... the list is endless!
Why do you think that they exist? Thats easy....because they are great, creative and inventive.
Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are more active today? No, I find inspiration from it all. I just listen to more older bands because thats what I grew up listening to, but inspiration comes from all directions.
What have been your biggest obstacles? A label that would totally get behind us with tour support and all that.
What advice would you give other bands or artists? Love what you do and do it well
How do you get psyched for a gig? Some good music and good friends do it for me.
Do you have any new material? We have the beginnings of 6 new songs so far.
What are your web sites? www.phantom-x.net and www.facebook.com/phantom-x
How can people reach you? Facebook is best. all the band members respond.
What are your plans for the future? Write, record, tour!!! More of the same.
Do you have something to add? Just, a huge thanks to all of our fans, friend and supporters. You are the best and we would be nothing without you! See ya on tour soon!
