LUCID FORGE

Having been together for 4 years with basically the same group of four, Rocketlauncher’s old school ways are really starting to get noticed.  Each and every show that they have they manage to gather new fans up into a little basket which seems to spread like a grapevine on a hot summer’s day.  Consisting of members Dave Stacey the brilliant guitarist, Mike Tipoulow, who is the drummer and seems to be hidden in the background of every photo that myself or friends take, Ben Wakefield the bassist with definite personality, and who can forget Mike Medeiros the front man and singer who also writes the lyrics for every song.  Prior to a loud and brilliant rock and roll show and unreal performance by Rocketlauncher at the Corktown on Thursday September 4th, I sat down with this group of old school rockers to have a chat.  And I must say, a lot was revealed. Rocketlauncher’s members like to joke around as you will come to understand, but it’s all in good fun and gives a definite understanding of who this bunch is and what they are all about.  There are no qualms here, they are simply a handful of rockers that just want to rock.

Lucid Forge: How long have you guys been involved in the Hamilton Music Scene? Ben Wakefield: I’m 33 this year and I’ve been playing in bands since I was 16 so I’ve been involved for a long time. Mike Medeiros: I’ve been playing for I guess 13 years running in various bands, mostly with members of this band. Dave Stacey: I’m the baby of this band I’m 22 years old, and I’ve been playing for 2.5 years. Mike Tipoulow: I guess almost 15 years with reincarnations of the same things.  Always with friends! Though one may believe this, Dave is not 22 years old.  The interview started off with jokes and just kept going from there.  If I were to guess I would probably say that Dave is 33 considering the ages of all the other members, this seems to fit the profile and look of him.  Dave has also been involved with all the members of this band for a long time running.

LF: What various bands have you been involved with?

MM: Uh, to name some… 72 heavy, Stoneage Wizards, and Rocketlauncher.

BW: First band I was in was a little punk band called Metal Duster, and right now I am in this band Rocketlauncher, and a Fumanchu cover band called Macho Grande with a couple buddies of mine from high school.

DS: this is my first band, and I’m excited as hell to be here today.

Yes, again, Dave with his antics.  This is what you get I suppose when you are friends with all the members of a band.  They simply don’t want to be too serious with you, even though you are trying to make them.  Seems to come with the trade I suppose!

LF: All in all, you all have been involved in the Hamilton Music Scene for awhile.

MM: You could say, around the city mostly.

LF: So what is your opinion then of the Hamilton Music Scene?

MM: It’s there, defiantly, there is a music scene in the city. People tend to think it’s not there but it’s pretty vibrant.  If you look into the core of the city there is a huge scene with various genres of music.

LF: Where are the main venues?

MM: I guess Absinthe, The Casbah, Hess Village, Lazy Flamingo, The Doors Pub and of course the Corktown.

BW: There are a few places on the mountain as well, Whiskey Joes, and a couple others.   There are a few down by Stoney Creek way as well.  I think the scene is great.  A lot of people look at Hamilton and wrinkle their noses because it’s the armpit of Ontario and there are a lot of things that go on here that people don’t want to know about.  But this town is defiantly a punk rock town and we have had a lot come out of it as a result.  Bands like the Forgotten Rebels, St Lawrence Five, there are too many.  When you live in a city where there is a manufacturing base that corrupts city council, you get punk, and good punk at that.  (Ben acknowledges this comment with laughter).

LF: How would you describe Rocketlauncher?

MM: Best way I would describe us is between Zeppelin and Sabbath, its dirty rock.

DS: I would describe it as rockin roll launcher.

MT: We are the Fuzzy Warm Heavy Band.

BW: We are the heavy band you would not be afraid to take home to your mom.

(It’s true they are.)

LF: What about the lyrics, the songs… who writes the lyrics BW: Mike writes the lyrics.  Everything pretty much comes together organically, we start out with a riff and the lyrics come over top. LF: Where do you gather the inspiration for the lyrics Mike? MM: I guess the inspiration comes from life basically.  You know, you get your experiences in life and you write about them.  Sometimes you write about BS, and the rest is just sex, drugs and rock n roll… basically And the band all collectively said, ``oh ya, and coffee!!!`` LF: Is there any song that stands out that means a lot to you? MM: They all mean a lot to me.  I’ve had a say and contributed to writing the songs, they all feel good to play, no real favourite. LF: Do you plan on having any recordings done in the near future? BW: We need to get everyone together at the same time to record.  We have 10 hours of studio time available for it.   I think we should do a single or a three song EP.  We have a lot that we want to do; it’s just a matter of time. LF: Have you thought of any specific songs to include on the three song EP if that is what you collectively decide on?

BW:  Not really, but we have a bunch.

LF: I know you guys did have a song that was on the go and being recorded.  What happened with that?

MM: That was at CBC studios in Toronto. Black Liquor Project was the song.  But that whole experience was just a big let down and all I have is a burned copy of the unfinished song.  There was not a lot of effort that went into it and a lot was lost unfortunately.  It was lost in the airwaves.

BW:  We have all had our time in studios recording, so it’s nothing new to us.  It’s simply finding someone who knows what we are about and does not tell us what to do.  We don’t want to be told what to do; we want to tell them what to do, because we are paying them to do it.

LF: How long has Rocketlauncher been together?

MM: About 3.5 or 4 years, and this is the longest, serious running project and the tightest we have been.

BW:  They went through troubles with keeping a bass player for awhile, until they found me. First time I jammed with them I was all over it.  It was actually after a massive explosion of my previous band so the timing was perfect, but then I didn’t hear from them for three months and they called me out of the blue and asked me to come out and jam one night.  Big amps, crazy room in a warehouse at the North end of town.

MM: That was a killer room with big windows to rattle, it was awesome.

LF:  How often do you play and where is the venue you normally play at?

BW: Mostly the Absinthe because we are on good terms with the management.

MM:  Recently we have been playing at the Lazy Flamingo and do a special appearance there for a friend.

BW:  This is kinda funny because the room is so small and we are so much louder than we should be but its fun.

LF:   So you normally stick around Hamilton?  Are you gonna venture anywhere else?

MM:  Ya pretty much.

BW: The party bus stays here.  We have been out to the Red Rooster as well though in Burlington.  The sound system they have is incredible.

LF:  So you are tight in Ontario.

BW:  Pretty much because everything else costs money.

LF:  Well hopefully you guys get signed sometime soon so that you can venture out and expand your audience.  Thanks for the interview and the time.