Interview — The Deadlyz

Skratch Magazine

New York rock band, The Deadlyz are a prime example of Rock and Roll debauchery at it’s finest. Johnny Murder (Vocals) Burton Gans (Guitar) Mark Mastellone (Drums) and J.Ethan Hanley (Bass) are some of Brooklyn’s best. Making music with a sound self-admittedly akin to horny circus monkey’s, The Deadlyz make heavy rock music with a smattering of unique elements that make for an original sound.

Skratch: How did you become interested in music?

Murder: When I was a kid Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad worked with me on guitar and vocals.
Gans: I was molested by a flute teacher, and got the itch for music.
Hanley: My best friends started a band in middle school and I didn't wanna be left out, so my parents bought me a guitar .I then picked up the bass very soon after.
Mastellone: I would watch my older brother play with his band in the basement, I was amazed by his skill so when he would leave the house to go out I would hop behind his drums and wail. My mom would yell, “Your brother is going to kick your ass!” I would laugh and still play. My bro would come home and see his sticks not in the place he left them and whammo he would beat the shit out of me. This went on for a few months. Finally he said, “Come on I will show you a song to play,” He taught me, The Police “Every Breath You Take” and from that point I had this passion. Thanks Bro!!

Skratch: What is your song writing process like?

Gans: Most of the time I will have a couple of parts on guitar and Johnny will improvise with vocal melodies that are polished later. Then we arrange it in our studio and polish up the rest of the song.

Skratch: What artists or musicians inspire you?

Gans: Old Kiss, Miles Davis, Tool, etc.
Hanley: The first band that really influenced me was Stevie Ray Vaughan and his bass player Tommy Shannon and later I got into progressive rock like Dream Theater. I'm also heavy into Indian and Middle Eastern music like Ravi Shankar. Which does influence me a lot on bass .
Murder: The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Smashing Pumpkins, White Zombie, Depeche Mode and The Cure.
Mastellone: My Bro, Scott Rockenfield, Tommy Lee, Neil Peart and a handful of others that would take up too much time ...

Skratch: Where do you take musical inspiration from? Your environment? People? Explain.

The Deadlyz: From our every day life ...Asshole...LOL.

Skratch: What is your musical background?

The Deadlyz: You ever heard of coke, vodka and weed ...

Skratch: Tell us about how you got started as a band.

The Deadlyz: We met at band camp.

Skratch: What is the most rewarding part of playing in a band?

Gans: Hitting the stage and afterwards watching Mark and Ethan load up the equipment while me and Murder leave with HOT chicks and drugs.

Skratch: What challenges have you faced as musicians?

Murder: Keeping my fucking sanity. (SERIOUS MOMENT)
Gans: He's not kidding.

Skratch: What would you say is your best song to date? Why?

The Deadlyz: Sick, Retox , Fabulous Disaster and Fly. Great songs to play live.

Skratch: Do you remember the first album you ever bought? What was it?

Gans: I am recovering from last night, I can't remember.
Hanley: Marilyn Manson. Whatever album had Sweet Dreams.
Mastellone: I think it was Rush 2112.
Murder: Stryper.

Skratch: Where do you see your band in five years?

Gans: Rehab.
Mastellone: Being successful in rehab.
Hanley: Playing arenas.
Murder: A six-page spread in Rolling Stone

Skratch: Would you say your goals as a band are long term, or short term? What do you ultimately hope to achieve? Explain.

The Deadlyz: We want to make this our career. Selling a shit load of records and selling out big venues.

Skratch: How has your band evolved since when you first formed?

The Deadlyz: We are deeply bonding behind closed doors. LOL.

Skratch: How often do you practice? What is your rehearsal time like?

The Deadlyz: 5 days a week. We have a room with purple walls and silver glitter. We put on our disco ball and dance light and ROCK THE FUCK OUT!!!

Skratch: What would you say is your band's motto? Explain.

The Deadlyz: As our lyrics say: DRINK, SMOKE, FUCK, WE’RE A FABULOUS DISASTER.

Skratch: What shows/album releases/plans do you currently have set up? Tell us about them.

The Deadlyz: We have the 4 song demo we just put up on our myspace page ....go check out the dates on our my space page.

Skratch: Where have your preformed? Tell us about the experience.

Gans: We played The Whiskey in California and I fisted a girl while feeding her a burrito. LOL. And recently we played The Trash Bar in New York and I jumped off the stage to lick a girl, then jumping back on the stage I fell off. LOL.

Skratch: What sets your stage show a part from all the other bands making the rounds at venues?

The Deadlyz: We rock the stage like we own it.

Skratch: Anything else you think we should know about the band?
The Deadlyz: We are the real deal and we are here to stay.

To get more on The Deadlyz go to www.myspace.com/thedeadlyz.

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