Brandon Gibbs (ex Devil City Angels)

  Brandon Gibbs 

 00:00- Intro / YouTube Channel
   01:45- Flakey People Rant
   03:55- Brandon Gibbs Backstory
   07:15- Brandon Gibbs LIVE Intro
   08:00- Growing Up in Iowa
   08:55- Musical Influences
   10:35- Playing Blindfolded
   12:15- Brandon's Twin Brother Brent
   15:15- Playing With Big Bands at a Young Age
   18:00- Drugs and Alcohol
   20:12- ESPN Picks Up "This Town" 
   22:34- Cheap Thrill 
   25:12- Formation of Devil City Angels 
   29:25- Relationship with Rikki Rockett 
   33:15- "The Special Guests" with Rikki, CC and Bobby
   37:25- New Single "Rain Whiskey" 
   40:30- Guitar Solos
   42:10- Singles, Albums, Vinyl and CDs
   45:10- Meet & Greets
   47:43- Rockstars
   49:40- Hair Metal
   51:18- Austin and Nashville 
   53:00- Advice From George Thorogood
   54:03- Working Past Adversity 
   55:40- Chess
   57:20- Ric Ocasek & Eddie Money
   58:00- Newer Styles of Pop Music
1:00:10- John Corabi
1:02:10- Vince Neil
1:03:45- P90X & Boxing
1:04:22- Free 2 Luv Program- Anti-Bullying & Anti-Suicide
1:07:20- Wrap Up and Social Media

Chuck Shute Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/chuck_shute/

Brandon Gibbs:
http://www.bgibbsmusic.com

Brandon Gibbs Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bgibbsmusic/

Free 2 Luv Program- Anti-Bullying and Anti-Suicide:
https://free2luv.org

Transcript

Chuck Shute: 0:25

[inaudible][inaudible] welcome to the Chuck Shute podcast. How's everybody doing today? Hopefully. Good. So it's been awhile since I've had an episode. Um, I actually got a little bit of a story about that or Rant, I guess you should say. Uh, but first off, I do want to mention we do, we are going to have Brandon Gibbs on today. Um, so he should be calling in pretty soon here. Um, if you haven't heard our last, uh, I don't know why I keep saying our and we, it's just me. It's just me. Uh, my last, uh, eight episodes, check those out. I've, I had a leap Perrera a Phoenix based musician, uh, does kind of bluesy soul rock stuff, really good stuff. Um, he performed live, um, and we had a, an interview and then I also recorded a couple of the songs and put them on Youtube. Um, same thing with Eddie Eberly being next space musician. Um, actually we have like five songs that he did. Uh, two covers, three originals. Uh, it's all on my youtube channel. So if you go to the chuck shoot Youtube Channel, you can see all that stuff. Um, I also recorded a clip of the Donnie v interview that I did with Donnie v from enough's enough. Um, great story that he told about taking a horse or burger king drive through. So check that out. It's pretty funny. Um, good interviews. So check out my old interviews. Um, yeah, we're going to have some, uh, more interviews, but, uh, people just flaking is what's going on and I've noticed that's kind of a trend. Um, I don't know if that's just society now. I don't know if it's always been that way and I just never noticed. But it is weird that, uh, people are so seem to be so flaky these days. Um, not only with podcast guests, but I mean, if you look at trying to apply for jobs, you send out so many applications and you know, most people just don't respond and that's fine. Um, that's the same with podcast guests. If I, you know, I send out, you know, 20, 30, 40 invitations, probably most of the people that I'm reaching out to or feel like they're too big to do the check shoot podcast, which I understand, that's fine. So you're just not going to respond. Okay, great. Don't waste my time. I won't waste yours. If you had the time to reply and tell me why you don't want to do the show, that would be awesome. But that would be like going above and beyond. I don't really expect that. I mean, but the thing is is if you say like, yeah, maybe I'll do it and then I prepare and I get already and then you don't do it. Um, that kind of waste my time. Or if you say, yeah, I'm going to do it, and then I reach out and then you're like, oh, sorry, I was busy your reply three days later. And uh, that kind of stuff is just, it's driving me crazy and I think I'm talking to other people. I think it's not just, um, like I said, not just podcast guests, but you know, you're applying for jobs or you know, dating with girls and, and those kinds of, hopefully it doesn't happen with your friends and family as much, but sometimes that happens too. So I dunno, that's just my, uh, not to get too preachy, but I feel like people just need to be direct with one another. Is that so hard? That's such a hard thing to just say if you don't want to do my podcast, if you don't want to date the person, if you don't want to hire them, just tell them. And then if you can even take the time to tell the person why in a nice, positive way, you know, you don't want to be an asshole about it. But if you can give them a straight answer when that one that just make the world a better place. If we could just be straight with each other and honest with each other, but, and direct, but in a respectful way. Is that, is that so much to ask for? I Dunno. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe it is too much. But anyways, I am excited. I try not to dwell too much on the negative. I'm trying to be grateful for the guests that we've had. I've had some great guests on here and I'm really excited today to have Brandon Gibbs. Um, so for tuning in to listen to that, he'll be on shortly. Um, Brandon Gibbs, if you don't know who the hell he is. I didn't know who the hell he was until about five years ago, but there was a super group that was formed. Uh, it was, uh, the bassist from Bangkok called Cinderella, the drummer from a band called poison and the guitars from La guns. Um, and these three band la guns poisoned and Cinderella, where three of the biggest rock groups in the 80s. So when I, and I, I was fan of all three of those groups. So when I found out there was a super group formed with those, the three of the members of those bands, I got really excited. I was like, Oh wow, that sounds awesome. Um, and then, but the, the fourth person was a, was this no-name guy. I'd never heard of Brandon Gibbs. Who the hell's Brandon kids? I don't know how the hell this is. Um, checked out the song. I think the first single was, it might've been all my people and I was like, wow, okay. Yeah, this dude can sing. And uh, I think he played, he plays guitar. I don't know if he play, I think he played maybe rhythm guitar and Debby s devil city angels, but uh, his songwriting and is singing top-notch guitar. Plane's good. Um, top-notch as well. Um, I think I got to ask him, say, think he does the solo on his new single. Um, but he fronted that devil city angels band and they were great. I never did get to see them live unfortunately. I missed it, um, when they came here. But definitely you know, he fit right in with those guys. Cause again, I'm going, who's this guy? And now I know who he is and it turns out he's been in the music business for a long time. He actually started in like 2000. Um, so he had been in the bay in the business for like 14 years, started at a very young age and open for all these major bands like Creedence, Clearwater, Peter Frampton, Jeff Healey, Kansas, poison, Cinderella, all this stuff. He played with a couple of the guys in Cinderella in a band called cheap thrill that Kinda did covers. And um, I think maybe some originals too, but, um, had been in the, again had been in the business for awhile, um, before the devil city angels. I was kind of his big break I think. Um, but then since then I think that band has kind of been, I don't know, you'd say call it inactive or a quiet. And so he's now he's branched out into his solo stuff and uh, I'm excited he's got a new single out, it's called rain whisky. And so I'm definitely gonna ask him about that. And I'm sure, I'm assuming there's going to be an album coming out too. Maybe this is just the first taste of it, but, um, the single's great. And so we're going to talk to him about that and talk to him about, you know, his history and playing with all these bands and opening for all these people and kind of what happened with the devil, devil city angels. Cause I did really like that band. I never did get to see him live, but, um, I did like the one album they put out and um, so we'll definitely have to ask him about that. And the future's bright for this kid. I think he's a, he's a, he's a younger guy. So a lot of those guys that in the devil city angels, you know, a little bit older. He was kind of younger and um, so I think he's still got a bright future ahead. I think there's a lot more music to come from this kid. Um, and maybe some, uh, more super groups or maybe he'll get back with devil city angels. I'm not sure. But we'll definitely ask him about all those things. So just hang on tight and uh, hopefully he'll be on the line shortly. Hello. Okay. Hello? Oh Hey. Oh, oh, there we go. Let me get Ya. Are you on now? Hello?

Brandon Gibbs: 7:11

Can you hear me?

Chuck Shute: 7:11

Yeah, there we are. Sorry. Technical difficult every time for some reason it goes to the wrong thing. How are you doing Brandon?[inaudible]

Brandon Gibbs: 7:17

I'm doing well. Is it, is it chuck or Charles?

Chuck Shute: 7:20

Chuck. Yeah, it's a chuck shoot podcast. Uh, yeah, my email says Charles, but yeah, it's chuck.

Brandon Gibbs: 7:26

Okay. I just didn't want to call you the wrong name by accident.

Chuck Shute: 7:28

Oh No. They appreciate that chuck. Yes. Yes. Alright, Gotcha. How are you doing

Brandon Gibbs: 7:33

man? I'm doing really, really well. Um, I'm at a home now. Last couple weeks I did some work in the, on the west coast and um, had a good time and I'm home right this minute and just working on day to day, uh, things with my label and, uh, wanted to make sure we, we got in touch. I appreciate you reaching out to us.

Chuck Shute: 7:56

Yeah. Appreciate you following up with me. So, yeah, let's just start at the beginning. So you're actually, uh, you were born in Quincy, Illinois, but you grew up in Iowa near the quad cities. I guess that's what it's called. Davenport and Bettendorf and is that right?

Brandon Gibbs: 8:10

Yeah, very, very close. Uh, like, uh, the southeast corner of Iowa. We are actually from Burlington, Iowa. That's where I kind of grew up around. OK. Format, style area, boring Quincy and I don't know, proud Midwest boy. I had moved to kind of see a while back. And then after, um, we got our first record deal, I decided, well after we got a first record deal, it almost then was when my daughter was born and, uh, so I decided that we would move closer to where I, uh, closer to where my parents live and brother and sister. So we could, uh, well just be honest so we could have so I could have some help.

Chuck Shute: 8:47

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, no, that makes sense. So, but so yeah, you grew up in Iowa, um, you started playing guitar at eight. Um, and so it's interesting because you know, I got to know you from devil city angels, but it looks like your musical influences were more kind of blues and then rock. You actually really like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Allman brothers there clapped and Jeff Healey, Hendrix, BB king, right. It wasn't until later that you got into stuff like poison and stone temple pilots and

Brandon Gibbs: 9:13

all right. Really, I, you know, my, uh, my influences were almond brothers, Stevie ray, BB king. I mean, I was just hooked on the blues and, um, absolutely love. I still love the blues. You know, my first, uh, my first show was it's, um, whenever one of the greatest guitar, Peter Frampton, you know, and, uh, so I mean, I, I was just obsessed with blues and, um, when it got time to start, uh, really looking at what do I want to identify as, uh, as a songwriter, I went just a little bit of a different direction. And, um, my, uh, twin brother, he was always more of a rock guy, rock metal guy or whatever. And, and, uh, so all of a sudden we combined the influences and I started opening for bands like poison and, um, and, you know, I'll, I'll send around all those guys. And so I just Kinda took it all in and just said, well, I like rock. I like blues. And I like songwriting and the country a little bit has, has some songwriting. I have some country influences, influences as well old school country that, you know, they storytell. And, um, so I just took all three of those things and uh, and it just Kinda, it feels natural to me.

Chuck Shute: 10:28

Yeah, it sounds natural too. Absolutely. It sounds like there's a lot of soul and, um, uh, emotion coming from your songwriting. Um, so, and I think, uh, so actually you started when you were 13, one of your first show. Was this your very first show or one of the first shows you, uh, you played blindfolded? Can you tell us about that?

Brandon Gibbs: 10:45

Well, okay, so when I, when I say one of my first shows was with Peter Frampton, it's not altogether accurate. Um, we, we did the, uh, and ended after we did a lot of the bar circuit for, you know, four hours a night when we were, you know, uh, 11 and 12 years old we hit, we had done that, uh, as many people that would let us play, you know, cause we were under age and whatnot. But um, it's funny cause the same festival that we played with Peter Frampton the year prior, they had us at the south end of that festival on I guess what would be considered a smaller, well, a lot smaller stage, but that stage opens up early in the day and um, the local bands and things would play there. And so we did that. And for whatever reason we decided to do the last song, uh, sorry if it's allowed. Um, I'm trying to walk away from the noise, whatever reason. Uh, the last song was, uh, we decide to do blindfolded and the next, well, the next year they inquired about having a Spec and we just assumed it'd be the stage again. Oh No, no, no. You're doing a, you're doing the big one. We liked your work. And so, uh, that's really kinda how all that happened.

Chuck Shute: 12:01

No. So was it just you playing blindfolded or did the whole band play blind? Folded?

Brandon Gibbs: 12:06

It was me and my, uh, my twin brother.

Chuck Shute: 12:09

Yeah. Yeah. So they're happy.

Brandon Gibbs: 12:12

Two high school friends come out and just,

Chuck Shute: 12:14

yeah, that's interesting. I don't know why I thought, um, it was interesting when I do the research cause see when I just first heard you about, about you, the devil city angels, but you've been in the business for like 14 years and you guys started the band in 2000, um, with your brother who is like, he's like a really flamboyant drummer. And now is he a police officer now or is he back in music?

Brandon Gibbs: 12:34

No, he's, he's a full time police officer. He's a sheriff's deputy now. Um, he, we disbanded in 2010 or right.

Chuck Shute: 12:43

But he didn't like that. Does he ever come back and just play with the solo stuff or,

Brandon Gibbs: 12:49

uh, yeah, actually he was my, um, I was with Michael McDonald and Alice Cooper. Um, last year I think it was, and, uh, I invited my brother to come out and, and saying, um, you know, he's still, he's still, he's crazy talented and you always will have that. He, he's, he's a natural when it comes to drumming and rhythm and, uh, so it's one of those things, you know, he can, I let him as his brother, I let him pick and choose which ones he wants to come and do. Um, and we kind of cater to his schedule and, and it does him good cause he, uh, you know, when, when he quit the band, um, you know, we were, we had been going for a long, long time and uh, you know, I don't know if he wasn't seeing the light at the end of the tunnel where, or what. It was time. It was time to regroup and unfortunately, instead of regrouping and, and maybe taking a break, um, it, we just went our separate ways. I'm, I'm real proud of him though. He's, he's a good man.

Chuck Shute: 13:51

That's a little bit of a comedian too, isn't, I saw some of his youtube stuff. It was pretty fun.

Brandon Gibbs: 13:55

Oh, he's a fun. Yeah, he's like, he's a lot of a comedian. I always tell him that that's his calling. Uh, I tried to get him to do it occasionally like professionally or open up a show, even if it's one of my shows stuff cause he's a, he can impersonate anybody within minutes of being around him. And so like I funny story, we were in the lake of the Ozarks and you know, I decided that I was going to buy our uh, our family, like a, you know, a pontoon boat thing for the day. So me and him are in this office and there was a former police officer, retired police officer that's running this jet ski boat rental place and he had a real strong like Wisconsin accent. And like as soon as we pull away from the thing, my brother is talking just like this guy in, in character, the guy. And I instantly knew who the hell he was doing. But my family, they weren't in the office one west Pan Sports. They had no idea. And I'm not kidding you. I hit the deck of the boat laughing because it was instantaneous. Uh, like he transformed into that, that guy, you know, so, yeah. He's a hoot.

Chuck Shute: 15:12

I love the, I love impersonations. Like it's always great. So, yeah. So you, but anyways, getting back to the band. So you open you guys up in front of a credence Clearwater, Peter Frampton, Jeff Healy, Kansas, poison center, all this stuff. So this was at a really young age. So did you ever think, did you start to develop an ego at that point? Start thinking you're better than everyone else because the, these kids are out studying Algebra and going to pep rallies and you're getting to play on stage with some of the biggest bands ever. Did you get a big ego? I mean, I would, I don't know.

Brandon Gibbs: 15:40

Uh, I, you know, I hope we didn't,

Chuck Shute: 15:43

cause I would rub that in people's faces if it was me, if I had that kind of talent.

Brandon Gibbs: 15:47

The thing is, it's like a, I mean, we were, you know, it was good for us. I mean, we had a, uh, we had a lot of luck as they say, but there was also hard work in that, but it was different for us because as kids, you know, the other kids had homecomings and, and the football games and prom and all the, all those exciting things. And we literally couldn't relate to them, uh, because you know, when the weekend would come, we would be with, you know, Kansas or somebody like that. And, um, and so we actually had a difficult time, um, making friends like in the community or hanging out with people that were not necessarily pro, you know, that we didn't kind of know what we already did. And so that was kinda tough, you know, missing a few, a few of those, those, uh, high school moments.

Chuck Shute: 16:35

So you feel you kind of missed out on some of that stuff?

Brandon Gibbs: 16:39

I personally don't feel like,

Chuck Shute: 16:41

I mean, I knew what I wanted to do. I'd rather be in your shoes personally than I did the other stuff. I miss anything the other rest of high school soc. So,

Brandon Gibbs: 16:49

yeah. Well, I just knew I knew what I wanted to do and, but I also knew that there was, um, there was a huge difference in personality, uh, from, from like I dated my next door neighbor and, and she was big into school sports and things like that. And, uh, you know, anytime I would go out with her to parties or whatever, like kids didn't know what to say to me or how to, um, how to, you know, cause we just didn't, I, I was not interested, uh, in with the same things that they were, you know, we could talk all day, but as far as the games in school, I was just, well, I'm a guitar player and I would be happy to tell you about what I did, you know, a few nights ago. But it's almost like, you know, it's almost unbelievable. Like at that point you almost feel like you're name dropping about what you're actually doing on a day to day basis. And so you had to be careful with that, cause you could, you could take some people off. Like what? Yeah, I just, you know, I scored a touchdown. Well, I played at 10,000 people.

Chuck Shute: 17:48

Yeah, absolutely.

Brandon Gibbs: 17:50

But you also don't wanna, you don't wanna, you know, make them feel like they're less than,

Chuck Shute: 17:54

cause they're not, you know, what we just started to do with their lives. It's just different. Yeah. So, so during that time, like you said, you're not even 21, so you're not even allowed in to some of these venues, but are there, are there drugs and alcohol flowing backstage for you guys? Was it, was it raining whiskey, so to speak? Is it, or this,

Brandon Gibbs: 18:11

uh, well, you know, I will say this, everyone that we've worked with, to be honest with you, have really been mature and, you know, the, the, there's a reason that these big names that, that we've worked with are still big names. You know, reo Speedwagon is still, and a lot of it's because they did what they did in the early days and then they moved on. And so we kinda got in the sweet spot of where everyone's grown up and professional for the most part. Um, you know, him and I were curious with drugs and alcohol, I guess, uh, not like hard, you know, we, we would like any other kids would smoke pot or whatever, but really the, the thing that we just enjoyed was crack. I mean, we enjoyed the taste of having a cold beer before you play the show. Um, but it never really,

Chuck Shute: 19:02

that's what I wrote. I never really worked

Brandon Gibbs: 19:03

a pinnacle of, you know what we, it wasn't a ritual,

Chuck Shute: 19:06

right. A lot of the bands that you, you played with, they probably already gone through their party phase. A lot of those guys at this point, they had to clean up cause they're, they're old. I mean you can't be, they can't be party and part of her in their fifties and sixties usually. So, I mean[inaudible]

Brandon Gibbs: 19:20

and we found out, you know, if we, if we turned it on real, you know, or, or had a hotel after party the next day, we kind of felt bad, uh, that we were so damn rowdy and, and, and one of the, any, the other thing I'll say is that one of the reasons we got so many of these opportunities is because we knew, you know, early on our parents as Henri as we were when we, when we were at work, when we were working, uh, we stayed out of everybody's way. We did our show and you didn't see us again. And so that's why I, you know, minding your p's and q's professional banner, you know, there's time to cut up and trust me, we still do. But, you know, we want people to walk away going, okay, you know, Brandon and Brent are the gifts brothers at that time were a pleasure.

Chuck Shute: 20:09

Yeah. You want to be invited back next year. Yeah, correct. Yeah. So yeah. So then you did that solo album. This was even before the devil city angels into the ocean. And ESPN actually picked up that one of your songs, this town, which I think they, they play on. It was like the, not NASCAR, but some sort of car racing. It was like they kept it, it was a repeated song, right? You,

Brandon Gibbs: 20:30

yeah, it was the NHR right.

Chuck Shute: 20:32

And HRA. Sorry. Yeah. So did you get a big cut for that or, I mean, is that like a big money maker still or was it,

Brandon Gibbs: 20:39

um, I mean it w I mean from, you know, to be honest, I have never, I've never really dove into my business as far as what we make and what we make there. I know that we've always been fine. I can't tell you what, uh, thankfully we've always been fine. I know that that was a good one.

Chuck Shute: 20:55

Well, it's good one. Yeah. So yeah, I can give you a ballpark. That's a lucrative thing. Cause I ha I talked to somebody last a couple of weeks ago and he, he was a musician and it's interesting how they do those. So he said they picked eight of his songs for TV things, but it's, they don't get paid until they actually use it. Right. So they actually used your song though.

Brandon Gibbs: 21:14

They use the, um, it was funny, Courtney for her, you know, she's with the famous John Force racing team. He's, she's his daughter. She just used the video as a youtube ad for her getting ready for, um, for a race, a very important race to her. And it was kind of a comical video. She gets all, you know, all dolled up, but she drives a car that's got, you know, a thousand horsepower. And, uh, anyway, she used my song and we had a mutual friend that, um, I don't know she gave her, it was my little business manager. I don't know if she gave her the song or, or shared it at some point, but the funny part is they thought, they actually thought there was a, they sent it to another artist saying, hey, you know, we're going to strike a deal with you. And he goes, oh yeah, it's great. What, what song are you talking about? Oh No, ESPN this, it's this town, isn't it? Oh, he goes, oh, you got the wrong guy. That I think they reached out to the wrong guy. And so anyways, I mean it worked out for me, but it was, you know, it was a really great moment cause I just moved to Tennessee and still, you know, as a solo artist, still building my brand and to be there, you know, after two months and have a song on national television was, uh, was a blessing.

Chuck Shute: 22:31

Yeah. And so, and this also during this time for a few years, you were in this band, which I, again, I had never heard of until I did my research, but you were in a band with a guy, two of the guys from Cinderella called cheap thrill. And also, I think it was, was the guitarist from collective soul.

Brandon Gibbs: 22:45

That band was the drummer.

Chuck Shute: 22:48

I'm sorry, the drummer. Yeah. And it was Jeff Labar was, was guitar, and then Eric Britton Ham was the bass. So, and then you guys did your solo stuff, but also like covers and Cinderella songs. And so, tell us about that band.

Brandon Gibbs: 23:02

Uh, well I had known Eric Brittingham for a long time. He actually played in the Gibbs brothers for about a year. And, uh, any who. So when I moved down there, um, Cinderella had just, I think wrapped up their last run together and, uh, I was invited to, uh, or was it a sunglasses store of high end sunglasses store to do with, to do a, a benefit to sing two songs that the benefits it with the toilet Keta from Tesla. And you know, Eric Brittingham was there and, um, we, you know, hit it off as we always do. And then, uh, Jeff was there and I thought, well, you know what, you know, I have a concept of a touring band where we do my, my, my thing, we do what you guys do because there's, uh, there's, you know, a lot of people love Cinderella and, uh, I still do. And Yeah. And then we'll get this Guy Cheney, uh, who I knew was free. I'd never met him, but I knew he's free and we'll just, you know, we'll go hit the, hit the road and, and boy did we,

Chuck Shute: 24:04

we hit the road. And, um, did you guys decide, I know you toured nationally. Did you tour outside of the country as well?

Brandon Gibbs: 24:12

Yeah, yeah, we actually did. We did like 26 days and 26 shows in 30 days in Europe, all different parts of Europe. And, um, everyone really liked that bad. And it was just a fun, like you just partied when you went to that show. And it made us, we kind of had that reputation too. I mean, we would just throw down with the audience and, um, you know, you'd get an original song from me and then you'd get, uh, you know, Gypsy road or, or shine or something like that, uh, and just kind of pay homage to everybody's background. So it was pretty, it was pretty gnarly. And we put on a lot of freaking miles. I mean, we were always on the road. We never recorded together, um, ever. And I, you know, it's just one of those things where we just, we hit the gas pedal on touring and that's what we decided to do. And three years of that I believe. And um, by a great, great times.

Chuck Shute: 25:10

Yeah. So then 2014, a Tracy guns and Ricky rocket, uh, see each other to jam and someone, they joke, oh, you guys should form a van guns and rockets. And they think, hmm, maybe we, uh, we should form a band. So they form devil, devil city angels and they give you the call. And you said it was Kinda like that movie rock star with Marky mark or Mark Walberg or whatever. But you said it was Kinda like getting that kind of call where you're like, oh wow. Like I'm going to be the front man for this band of like basically a supergroup with Eric is wa or Britton Ham was also in that subsequently replaced by Rudy SARS though. But, um, so tell me, what was that like? Was it really the, I mean, cause you're already playing with the guys from Cinderella and collective soul. But that was like, I felt like that was more of a step up being in devil city angels.

Brandon Gibbs: 25:53

Well here's the deal. I mean I did, we toured so much in cheap thrill and I got to a point where I'm going, okay, you know, like I said, we didn't record it. I record it on my own, but the band record and it was nothing against any of them, but I was ready to take the next step in my professional recording career and a and as Brandon or, or, you know, just, and it was time. It was time to honest to God. It was time to put to, uh, to close the book on that, that, um, and, and not, you know, there was no backstory. It was just time, time for me to move on. And, um, anyways, so I remember doing this, my parents came down to Tennessee and at my house and I remember, you know, quitting the band and it was sad. I mean, I was almost in tears saying that this is it cause it's something we built and the miles that we put on. But sometimes you just know that it's time to turn the page and there's no drama or anything behind that. You just know that it's the next step. And, and we made a good living doing that. And so I was in the house and I told, uh, I, the powers that be, that, um, I'm done. And my parents went out to my SUV to get in and I was going to take them downtown Nashville. And I was scared. I thought, man, that I really just do this. Okay. So I jumped in the car and trying to act happy and I go, oh, well I forgot my cell phone, ran in the house, grabbed my cell phone, and I had a message from Ricky, a rocket who I've known for many years. And he was, hey, you, me, Tracy guns, let's talk. And so, um, when I got home, if Ricky and I started talking and he's like, do you know Tracy? And I said, well, I, I've been on show bills to Tracy, but personally, no, I have not. I don't know. I know of him, but I don't know him. And he goes, well, he's actually a real smart individual and, uh, he likes your voice and we don't know what we're doing yet, but we want to put something together. Are you interested? And I said, well man, you caught me at the right time. I am definitely interested and do you want, you know, are we doing recording? He goes, we just, you know, if we like the way you look and I've known you forever and I think this is, I think this could be good for you and it could be good for us. And at that time, to be honest with you, the bad part was there was no mention of Eric Brittingham. Right. So, so I'm in all these talks and I'm like, this is tough. Cause I hadn't, I had been playing with Eric for so long, you know, now we're going to go our separate ways. I'm going to miss him. And uh, any who, Eric, I told Eric about the whole deal and I think he was Kinda like Ugh, but sucks. I mean, cause we're pretty tight. And uh, anyways, we're at him. And I took him to like a car dealership where they have all these muscle cars, things just hanging out, no music, talk, no nothing. And uh, rocket called him and said, hey, why don't you think about joining this thing? We got brand Brandon in and he agreed. And so it was like a week later, him and I were, you know, we were flown out to Los Angeles to start the meeting and um, that's really how the whole thing started. It was kind of, it was actually pretty easy.

Chuck Shute: 29:10

Very cool. Very cool. Yeah. I love that album. You guys sold a song to Monday night football against. So there's more money coming there and then you toured are all across the country unfortunately. Didn't get to catch it. So, um, maybe you guys will get back together. I don't know. But I got to ask, I don't want to go full TMZ here, but I got to ask, are you and Rikki cool now because there was a little bit of a Facebook, a battle between the two. Were you, you just said the band was inactive and he was saying it's inactive, because I got cancer and then you guys kind of went back and forth, which seems out of character for him. Um, I mean out of character for you too. I mean for both of you it seemed like, this is kind of weird. So do you guys kiss and makeup or what's the story there?

Brandon Gibbs: 29:46

You know, I mean we're both passionate individuals and I, I hate almost being asked sometimes about the group because it, the band was kind of lightning in a bottle and it, and it went away, um, rather quickly as it came in. And there is sometimes no, no easy way to say it, that it's inactive and you have to do things. It comes out, it comes across like a slam, you know what I'm saying? And it isn't meant to be that way.

Chuck Shute: 30:24

No, that's exactly, that's what I thought when I saw it. You seemed very a matter of fact, like the band's inactive, so I'm going to go do this. It didn't seem like you were slamming it and, but I think he took it as like you saying, like, you know that, yeah. Like he took offense to it basically. Right.

Brandon Gibbs: 30:40

He did. He took offense to it and you know, that's the computer, and it’s texts, I mean I had been, you know, since, since the Devil City Angels kind of stopped. I have been doing nothing but my own thing and enjoying it. So it really, to me, it didn't seem like it was something that was that surprising, I guess, that, that, you know, it's inactive and we have to, like, I'm working on this right now and I truly didn't mean it to upset him. And when he, uh, when he read that, I think it did. And um, and you know, it's a bunch of garbage cause him and I are, you know, we're, we have so many common interests and things like that. We just, uh, we just put it to bed and it's like, alright, I misread you. Hey, what's, I mean, him and I do that a lot. And that's, you know, when you're around, not a lot, but you know, we're passionate people. It could be about a UFC fight. We’re both big MMA lovers

Chuck Shute: 31:39

Really? Oh, ok.

Brandon Gibbs: 31:42

Yeah, he's in, he's in the throws of Jujitsu and a real good at that. And so, I mean, it's just, it's kind of a Rockett Brandon thing if we didn't, if we disagree, we, we, it takes a minute for us to each one of us to go, okay, well I'm wrong or whatever. And, and usually we're just, I dunno, we're just kind of like a, I don't know, brothers in that, that regard. And the next, you know, the next day it's like, hey dude, um, let me ask you this, what do you with Blah, blah, blah,

Chuck Shute: 32:12

So you guys don't hold grudges? You guys... You moved on..., Okay. So that's, that's all I was trying to make sure you guys are cool.

Brandon Gibbs: 32:19

We both felt a little foolish because it wasn't, it didn't have, I felt bad because I knew that, that it, it definitely made, when he woke up and read that I said that it was, you know, I'm doing this because it's inactive. I think, I think it made him upset and that truly wasn't my intention. And so anyway, to answer your question, uh, him and I are, you know, perfectly fine. He actually texted about music and bands and, and who knows. I mean, he asked me the other day if we ever get devil city back, you know what's up. And I was, shit man, I just like working with you.

Chuck Shute: 32:54

Absolutely. Tracii is a little busy with LA Guns, but yeah,

Brandon Gibbs: 33:00

yeah, no, he's doing his thing and you know, you never know. Um, I just think that you always keep, uh, you always keep doors open and when everybody has the time, uh, could, could be a perfect time to hit another round or, or, you know.

Chuck Shute: 33:16

Yeah. What about The Special Guests? That whole, it was like basically Poison with CC Bobby and Rikki from Poison and then minus Brett Michaels. But then you were fronting it and you had talked at one point about recording new music with them. Is that something that could still happen or have you kind of moved on from that idea?

Brandon Gibbs: 33:33

Um, well, you know, that'd be up to Bobby, CC and Rikki. Really, uh, we, we had multiple talks about doing, you know, Bobby and I talked about writing music and several times actually he had some ideas that he was, you know, Kinda sending me and um, just a lot of talk about stuff. And it was actually Kinda nice because to hear those guys kind of perk up about new music and have me be involved in that, because that's, that's been a request from their fans for awhile.

Chuck Shute: 34:02

Right. And it's cool too, because Brett Michael's like, isn't like, he's not like, screw you guys, what are you doing without me? He's like, he's sending you a video. The other day I saw that. He's like, Hey Brandon, you rock man. Like he loves you too. So it's like, it's cool that you're good with all those guys. And it sounds like maybe they just want to do something for some reason Bret's kind of more. I think he's more focused on his solo stuff right now. Right.

Brandon Gibbs: 34:24

Well, you know, the thing is Brett, Brett, the friend of mine and I, you know, I met Brett and rob, I met them all at the same time. And uh, I've, I've worked with Brett, I've played guitar for his band a few times, um, in a pinch, you know, he's a friend of mine. And when I took that Gig to be in The Special Guests, you know, I just, I was like, well, I'm not going to mimic, I'm not going to be, you know, a Douche that way. These guys have a legacy. These people that are here tonight are here to see these guys. Okay. So I know that, let me give them the best show I can while singing their material, you know what I mean? And, um, so I just took it like that and I think fans really dug it because I wasn't trying to pull, pull away from their, their memories of what they were and are still, I was just, you just saw four guys who wanted to book some gigs and it kind of, it really kind of was that simple. And I just watched everyone have a real good time with it. And you know, it's one of those, uh, kind of, uh, you know, a bookmark in a my career because the song, I mean, song after song after song, whether I grew up listening to them or not ever, you know, they have so many hits and so many wonderful songs and people just, you know, singing every rose or something to believe in. You just watch people kind of go back time where, you know, it was all good man, you know? So it was kind of, it was kind of a thrill, I'll be honest.

Chuck Shute: 35:55

You just need a different name. I never liked“The Speical Guests”. Call it Cyanide or something.

Brandon Gibbs: 36:04

Special guest, a special guest as we, the problem was we couldn't come up with a name

Chuck Shute: 36:09

because everything's taken all the poisoned cover bands and tribute bands and

Brandon Gibbs: 36:13

well, again, I didn't want, I didn't want them to do that. Anything to do with, you know, poison ish I guess, but don't call it that poison or don't do that cause I don't want to be in that spot. I'm going to do my thing when we all get home. So the promoter or the guy that helped us kind of start it, he said, all right, your special guests. And then it was like within an hour of Ricky had a drum hit printed with a question mark on it. I never was a fan of it. I thought we could do better because we had gigs booked and were like, it was crunch time. So like,

Chuck Shute: 36:52

yeah, well yeah, I mean if you did do go forward with it and record music, I'm sure you guys had come up with like an awesome name. I love this. The name devil city angels. I don't know who came up with that, but that was great. Um, swelling.

Brandon Gibbs: 37:03

It's actually Angel City devils or some crap. And uh, we just started, I mean, none of us were going, none of us were doing back flips over it. And I don't know if it was Tracy or someone we had just spit it backwards and we go all right. That's it.

Chuck Shute: 37:17

Yeah. And I like the logo. The logo is very cool too. I like that. So, but speaking of cool names, I love the name of your new single rain whiskey. So now I was always really bad at like literary interpretation. I got a C in English lit and all that stuff. So I just got to ask, is a song about drinking whiskey or is there like a deeper meaning? Like the whiskey? Is the metaphor for the blood of life or is it just about partying and drinking whiskey? Mm

Brandon Gibbs: 37:44

hmm. Um, it's, you know, rainy whiskey. When I wrote that song, seeing my friends, uh, this guy, the guitar tech me for a little bit and he goes, you know, you, um, you've covered a lot of ground musically. Uh, you're emotional songwriter, you know, and you can get, you can get down and do real well with your words. He used for one thing that you're, that you need to do. In my opinion, he was, you're a likable guy. Uh, you know, you like to party and hang out with the, your buds and, and you're, you're fun to be around. He goes, have you ever thought about that? And I said, Oh, I never considered myself that, that funny or fun, I don't know. And he goes, no, it's your, you know, people like you because of your personality. And, and it's so stressful at times where you got the nine to five and paying bills and getting the kids where they need to go and, or whatever, a holidays. And sometimes people just get so wrapped up in the day to day thing with it. When they put their feet on the floor, they're instantly going, here we go, you know, and uh, and I try and in my daily routine is I try and check in on people that I love by a joke or whatever and, and basically just cut the tension. I think it's a perfectly okay. Like my concept was we're going to pull into a town where everyone got the suit and tie on and give them permission to, uh, to let loose. And it's okay if you feel bad the next day cause you only live, you know, we're not here for a long time. We're here for a good time. And I just think if people, you know, if they let their shoulders down, loosen the tie, get a drink or whatever your fancy is that makes sure that you enjoy the moment and have a good time. Um, it, you know, it, it takes the stress off. You can get them get through the work week or man, that was something I had fun. I truly did have fun. It's not necessarily about selling booze. Um, but um, it probably will sell booze.

Chuck Shute: 39:39

Yeah. What's your favorite kind of whiskey you are your whiskey guy?

Brandon Gibbs: 39:44

Um, not as much as I used to be, but I'm telling you this last run I like before I go on stage, I just like a good Jack Daniels and sipped that thing down, Kinda warm up the pipe. And uh, unfortunately I can have quite a bit. I can have quite a few, but uh, you know,

Chuck Shute: 40:06

you're still pretty young. I'm only 34. Right? So yeah, you got, you can still, you still got a few more years of partying and I think before you kind of slow down,

Brandon Gibbs: 40:15

I try and keep it between the lines. I'm actually not that much of a hard alcohol drinker. I really like, I'm a, I'm a Midwest boy so a beer is perfectly fine but, but we, we gotta tune ourselves up real quick and get in the mood. Usually a Jack Daniels is, is right on the money.

Chuck Shute: 40:30

Awesome. So now is that you doing the solo on the song? I was gonna ask you that cause it's it, there's a good, a really good guitar solo on that single.

Brandon Gibbs: 40:40

Yes. That's me.

Chuck Shute: 40:41

Oh very cool. Yeah. Cause I, I saw a video of you, I think this was right when you were doing youtube on Youtube. It was you playing van Halen eruption and it was like spot on. I was actually really impressed because that is not an easy song. It's not like Hotel California or something. I mean you were doing right. Was that you doing the tapping and all that?

Brandon Gibbs: 40:59

Oh I don't know. Maybe. I mean, the thing is like, the thing is I've been, a lot of people forget, you know, because I front, I fronted, uh, that was the job I fronted devil city angels and I was more or less rhythm, right. Uh, so Tracy could do his thing. Um, I, you know, I still here and they're down the set, but really he was the lead guitar player and I was, I was just making sure I was putting texture on what he was doing. Um, so a lot of people just forget that that was my first love and I was a guitar player in the gifts brothers. I was not a singer.

Chuck Shute: 41:35

Right. Was your brother with a singer? He sang from the drum kit?

Brandon Gibbs: 41:39

He did.

Chuck Shute: 41:40

Yeah. That's a hard thing to do. That's, I'm very impressed with people that can do that.

Brandon Gibbs: 41:44

It's a hard thing to do. And, and visually it kind of looks a little weird, but uh, you know, cause people are used to like The v Center Guy, but to me it just kind of showed an extreme amount of talent. So yeah, that was, that's my guitar playing. And, um, you know, I, I very much enjoy that my shows, showcasing what I learned over the years and, and, um, I dunno, making sure everyone hears it.

Chuck Shute: 42:12

Yeah. So when is, when can we expect the F is there, I'm assuming there's going to be a full album, this is just the single,

Brandon Gibbs: 42:18

no, they're, what we're trying to do with, uh, my way we'll go and robot is, you know, they, they truly believe in a single market and, um, you know, I've, I guess I'm gonna let them do what they do best and direct, you know, direct what we need to do. But right now, as I've kind of re surface as Brandon Gibbs, the solo artist and songwriter right now what we're doing is we're releasing a song here, really some song there, and it all will go up to a full album, uh, where you can buy a physical copy of it. But right now we're going to put in, hey, this is what he's doing now, you know, devil city is, is in this category and this is what he's doing. And so, yeah, we actually have a followup song that I'm really excited about and I can't wait for everyone to hear, um, crazy, crazy stuff happening on the followup as well. So.

Chuck Shute: 43:12

Very cool. Okay. Yeah, cause it's interesting like, you know, I think when music rock started, it was the singles like the Beatles, it was all about the singles in the fifties and sixties. And then kind of the 70s eighties, it was about the albums and now it's going back to the singles. So, yeah, that makes sense.

Brandon Gibbs: 43:25

Yeah. I, you know, to be honest, I wish that we, I wish people, um, you know, I mean I, I wish people still about cds. I thought that was cool cause you get the pamphlet with the lyrics or the pictures and I just remember being so excited when I was young to, you know, go buy like a velvet revolver CD and unwrapping and whatever. And um, now it's, everything's digital. I'm trying to go with the time, but it's, it is what it is and we'll just see.

Chuck Shute: 43:54

Well, I think there's other cool, like, I think part of the, the appeal of vinyl is kind of coming back. I think part of the appeal to that is just like you said, like having like a pamphlet or packaging and the thing with the vinyls, you get this giant, you know, peace. Uh, you know, it's a lot of packaging and stuff and maybe people don't really actually listen to the records. They listen on the digital, but they like having all that, uh, you know, material to look at the pictures and, you know, all that kind of stuff is my thought. I Dunno.

Brandon Gibbs: 44:18

Yeah. I mean, now it's like you've got the single is on download and then you've got this older social media for the pamphlet, you know, but, uh, I still, you know, I still enjoy, uh, someone getting of CD booklet and going through the cds are out, you know, I have some albums and stuff. I still story all of that. And I hope actually with devil city, they did a real good job. They put our record on vinyl and they had different colors. Uh, I think one was an orange one. I got my dad one for Christmas. I don't even have one.

Chuck Shute: 44:50

Wow. Yeah. Let's see. Are you going to go

Brandon Gibbs: 44:53

[inaudible]

Chuck Shute: 44:53

you know, something like that. That's it.

Brandon Gibbs: 44:55

But they did a real good job with that packaging. And so I, I hope that this, uh, this venture with this label, maybe we could look into that at some point.

Chuck Shute: 45:03

So do you, do you look into the other kind of marketing aspect of being a musical artists nowadays because you only sell so much from the, the digital stuff and you only get so big of a piece from digital, the iTunes. I don't think it's very much so. Do you look at like merchandise, like t shirts and bumper stickers, and then are you doing like the meet and greets? Do you charge for that or,

Brandon Gibbs: 45:22

uh, you know, yeah, we, we here, here's my thoughts on the meeting and Greets. Um, I don't personally enjoy people paying money to come and hang out with me. Uh, I don't have that kind of a, I just don't have my brain wrapped around it yet. And that doesn't mean that whoever's doing it is wrong cause they're not. Yeah. Cause like you said, either you know your, some of your main incomes have been stripped either stripped away or or nailed down very in a, in a very narrow way. So you have to do something. So what concept I came up with on this tour I put together called planet x is if you're going to come to the meet and greet, you know, we're going to get out the acoustic guitar and we're going to sit and talk with you and we're going to play a song that will not be in the set. And so for your, whatever the package, let's just say it's$20 for your$20 you get your photo, you get a poster of the group signed, you get to hang with the group and then you get to hear something that everyone else out in the audience won't, won't be hearing. And it could be an old, you know, an old song from your catalog or

Chuck Shute: 46:27

well I don't use very much like a bonus. Okay.

Brandon Gibbs: 46:30

Yeah. I just try and make sure everyone gets some, some bang for their buck. And it helps us too. I mean,

Chuck Shute: 46:36

yeah, absolutely. That's a thing is like, cause if we post a picture with you and then I post, hey, here's Brandon Gibbs, like I'm advertising for you. If I have 800 friends on my Facebook, then 800 people saw, got a free advertisement. So I always think that smart. Yeah, 20 bucks is, maybe some of those things are just like, they're so ridiculous where you're just going really$100 for this. Like that's, that's a lot of money. So.

Brandon Gibbs: 46:58

Yeah. And don't, and our fans are so great because they, you know, it's, it's something that they want. Like we had, I was in Vegas last week, I believe, or two weeks ago, and you know, people, people that have paid for these meet and greets, um, and which we performed and hung out and gave them our time. You know, they have no problem buying a ticket to go to Las Vegas and just take their wife and hang out. Um, because now they feel connected with you. And, and, and in a way, when you do it as much as we and are gone, they kind of become family. It's like, ah, you know, and so, um, it's just a cool, you know, meet and greet. I just, I just enjoy giving them everything we can for that short amount of time.

Chuck Shute: 47:41

Yeah. I noticed that a lot of people kind of shy away from the term rock star, but listen to interviews you've done, you're not afraid to embrace it, which, which I think is awesome because I grew up with rock stars, so I think people in rock bands are rock stars to me now. Who, who do you think are the hottest rock stars right now besides Brandon Gibbs Of course.

Brandon Gibbs: 48:00

Oh, you know, I was just seeing the thing, uh, the other day someone posted all these things about these great artists, you know, leaving and yeah, we've had some great, some really, really great, amazing teachers and, um, it's hard for me to, for me to pin it down. Um, but you know, obviously I'm, I'm a, well, I'm a huge foo fighters fan. I think Dave Grohl is, is the, just the perfect example of what a rock star on stage should be entertaining. Uh, energetic. He's funny. You know, I laugh it, I'm able to laugh at some of, of, you know, I've never actually been to a show and my friends have, I'm, I'm looking at videos, I'm laughing with him and like he's got a sense of humor. Um, and I think, I think at the end of the day too, he's got a good heart and a, I seen somewhere where he was grilling for some, uh, some emergency workers, you know, grilling burgers and helping them out. That's cause that to me is a rock star. That's, that's a good man up there. He's a bad ass and all realms. And so, you know, Dave Grohl would be my, probably my top pick for what I would call a rock star. And I know a lot of guys are not, they don't like that term. And sometimes I kind of shy away from it, but at the same time it's like, it's so funny listening to kids, like my daughter, um, she doesn't know what to say to her friends about what I do. Oh, well he's a rock star. You know, my dad's a rockstar. I don't take it too serious, I guess is what I'm saying. That's what people call it then didn't call it that. Sure. So, no, that's your thing.

Chuck Shute: 49:42

Yeah. So speaking of other terms and not being too serious, what do you think about the term hair metal? Because there was a big discussion on Twitter the other day with Eddie Trunk and Rikki Rachtman. They were kind of chiming in, and They both said they hate the term. It's offensive now you offended by that term because you played with guys in Cinderella, La guns and poison. So I mean, that would definitely be considered hair metal. I mean, what do you think about that term?

Brandon Gibbs: 50:04

I really don't think it's that bad. I, uh, you know, that was, there was just a way to group it all together. You know, I don't think it's a Slander on their, their songs, um, or anything like that. I mean it kind of was hair metal to be honest, you know? Well look there, their music was great. And along with the music, they were pushing fashion at the same. Yeah.

Chuck Shute: 50:28

This would be the most ridiculous. Yeah. And I mean poison is the epitome of hair metal, is it not? I mean but I loved it, I thought it was great. I mean, it was fun. It was fun times.

Brandon Gibbs: 50:40

How's your hair?

Chuck Shute: 50:41

Yeah. It really wasn't nothing but a good fucking time. Like it was just great. So I love it.

Brandon Gibbs: 50:45

So cool. And I, you know, I don't, when I'm with him I will not, you know, I'll never chalk it up to that. But I think a lot of the guys, I mean, let's face it, like they'll say, uh, we're going to go take it back to the strip. Uh, people can use that term, you know, Hollywood strip it just like it was on the Strip back in the day. I don't think that's offensive. You know, I guess if someone, I don't know, I mean you can look at me and go, yeah he's tattoo metal or something.

Chuck Shute: 51:13

I don't know. I just probably roll my eyes. Um, so, you know, Hollywood is kind of one scene. Um, so a couple cities that I had been to recently, I got to get your opinion on this. Um, cause I know you live in Nashville and I, we went to Nashville for the NFL draft and it was insane. I loved it. I've also been to Austin. Um, how do you, what do you think the music scenes compare an odd cause? Austin, that's where Stevie Ray Vaughan is funk a your hero, but then you live in Nashville. I think Nashville was like Austin on steroids, right? I mean cause I went to these bars and there were four stories and every story was different. Live band. Is it always like that or was that just for the NFL draft?

Brandon Gibbs: 51:47

No, it's always like that. Always like that. I mean, I would actually prefer, uh, you know, when people ask me where do I go to, to get into a scene? Um, of course Nashville and Austin has always had a scene. I remember cc Deville when I was like 15 years old because you gotta get down to Austin and just been, just check it out. And we were, you know, we would eventually start doing like little festivals and I think we did a twin testable near Austin at one point, like with this moment. And of course, Nashville, I mean, Nashville is so huge now. Um, you know, a guy can, you know, the big little city and you go there and you start making connections and writing with people. It really just the big old food, you start to become small, you know, and of course, uh, all those older guys in playing different bands, you know, they're, they go out to bars. I mean, they're really, the bar scene is kinda where you start your networking. So it's a, it's a beautiful thing. It's the town Nashville is built is I hope if I get here, there's enough people in the scene that I can start rubbing elbows with and we'll see where this goes.

Chuck Shute: 52:58

That's really cool. Yeah. Very awesome. So the best advice that you got, uh, you said was from George third grade. He told you, here's the formula for Schizo success, make it happen. And in other words, you kind of explained it as, get off your ass, stop feeling sorry for yourself and go get your dream. Do you feel like that advice still applies?

Brandon Gibbs: 53:15

Oh, absolutely. He actually said, he pulled me back stage and he goes, uh, you, you want to know how to make it not like, oh my God, he's going to give me a set of golden keys when I leave here. When I leave this meeting with George Uncle George surrogate, I leave this meeting. I'm going to have the two, I'm going to have a number to an agent. I'm going to have a number to the label, the right manager, and I'm going to get here yet. Please tell me. He goes, go figure it out. And I go, oh, and he told me a story about, you know, he was in his mom's basement and, and she basically said, hey dude, it's now, or never go, go, go make it happen. And he did.

Chuck Shute: 54:01

That's great advice. Yeah. Because there's, there's gotta be those times where you definitely get down where you're like, oh, maybe this isn't going to happen. Or, you know, maybe that was the end and you just want to give up, but something pushes you to keep going. Right?

Brandon Gibbs: 54:15

Yeah. I mean, you know, we all have it, uh, ever. It's just like any other business you have, you got a hot streak, right? Product is selling real well, and then all of a sudden everybody's used to it. And then now you're just kind of a soft, a soft punch in the shoulder for right this second and that time when that happens. And it's happened to me several times, I mean, uh, after the special guests, and it's like, alright, now I need to start doing this. And it took a second, uh, for me to, to figure out where I wanted to go and, and anyways, so yeah, it happens and it can be depressing and you can find yourself, you know, going on and all this, you know, I made money in the past. I'll just watch Netflix all day. And that's when you can get real depressed. And so you need to, if you're not in front of people making things happen, then at that time you need to go behind the scenes and create your next thing, create your next how come out swinging again and reinvent. And if that means taking a break from being in the public eyes and that's what you gotta do, you just gotta keep coming at them. And, and when you feel down and out and then no one cares or anything like that, it's just their, their attention span is, is not that long. So it's up to you to bring them back to, you know, bring it back to your field. It's actually kind of a fun game to be on. They can be scary, but it's a little bit of a chess match.

Chuck Shute: 55:41

Exactly. Well, you know, I was going to ask you about that. Are you, are you play chess? Are you on the chess with friends app?

Brandon Gibbs: 55:49

Yeah, I can imagine.

Chuck Shute: 55:50

What's your score on that?

Brandon Gibbs: 55:52

Oh, it's been, I actually haven't, I don't have it on my, my new phone. I have it on my old[inaudible]. Oh, okay. And uh, which I essentially gave to my daughter and within Oh, 30 minutes she had the screen completely blown to pieces. I am, and I got to say is, I mean chess was the chess was a great way for me to learn discipline and patience cause I'm, I'm not, the strongest thing in mind is patience. And if you can kind of your opponent out and see what's going on and even sacrifice a few so you can get to the bigger picture. Uh, it almost kind of applies in my daily life and I really miss the game. I'm not near as good as I was when I was a young man. I had the big, big devotion, you know, I was the voted, the voted is the right word to a when I plugged the guitar in, uh, well my car was at my cousin's house and he had a guitar and he hit the distortion button on his amplifier and I go, oh damn. Okay

Chuck Shute: 56:58

Jeff. Yeah. Or that I gotcha. Yeah. If I had that talent, I took guitar lessons for a couple of years, but I could just, I couldn't get as good as you guys, but I'm always jealous of that. Um, speaking of jealous too, like, uh, uh, I'm jealous of, uh, these, these two people that will sadly passed away. I don't know if you had an opinion on this Riko Casick from the cars and Eddie money just recently passed. Where you fans of them at all or do you have any interactions with them or,

Brandon Gibbs: 57:24

um, I, I had interaction with the co or, um, who was it? Uh, Elliot Easton from the cars, but I never met, I never met Rick and I never met Eddie. And I know Eddie had for this radio DJ we used to go on, he would just sing his praises about the first time that Eddie money and how well you treat everybody and treated the kids. And um, so unfortunately never had the pleasure to meet those two. And uh, I know that, you know, their music, um, their musical live on. That's pretty, that's for sure.

Chuck Shute: 57:56

Yeah, definitely a lot of hits. So I'm a, I'm a big music fan. I try to keep up with the newer bands and new styles of music. Um, what do you think, it seems like a lot of music now is electronically based and not as many true musicians playing real instruments. I think that's like, again, why I really like Austin and Nashville and seeing live bands and live music. What's your take on the newer styles of pop and electronic dance music?

Brandon Gibbs: 58:20

Oh, well, uh, you know, um, I keep my ear to the ground on it. I've been listening to Billie Eilish or Elish or however she spells her name. Um, you know, I think making B, um, like they do is a, is a real big talent because it's a hook and it's just a whole different world. Uh, you know, I do get disappointed when I see nobody up on stage playing anything. Um, that, that kind of messes with my head a little bit, you know, and um, you know, I'm sorry. It does.

Chuck Shute: 58:59

Yeah, no, absolutely. I agree.

Brandon Gibbs: 59:01

Um, I'm a singer and guitar player and it took time and, and not take away from her talents what they put on the records. But yeah, I wish people would, would play their instruments. I think that's kind of what we, you know, that's what I signed up for it. And the other thing is people may say, well, you're just, you're just jealous because pop stars the pop news. I mean, they get on a almost different level of fame I'm sure. Or you know, it's almost, it is a TMZ kind of thing. You know, they have a different level of fame because of the, they, they kind of grabbed the right audience with the beats and what's current. And, uh, you know, I guess I just, uh, I all fall where I fall. Um, I don't want to insult anybody, but I do see, you know, foo fighters, perfect example, you know, rocking and it's fun and, and it's encouraging kids to play music and pick up the guitar and pick up the drum.

Chuck Shute: 59:54

Yeah. And they're selling out arenas, so,

Brandon Gibbs: 59:57

oh yeah, no, that's what I, that's what I want to do. I want you, if you found my show interesting, I want you to pick up a guitar and learn how to play it.

Chuck Shute: 1:00:05

Speaking of shows, you got some shows coming up, I think. Now, did you already do the show with J ohn C orabi or is that coming up? I c o uld, I thought I saw that and then I couldn't find it again. It w as that, did that already happen?

Brandon Gibbs: 1:00:18

Oh, um, you're talking about October 11th.

Chuck Shute: 1:00:21

Oh, is that what also it hasn't happened. Okay.

Brandon Gibbs: 1:00:23

It hasn't happened yet. We're doing a benefit, uh, in Green Bay I believe. And um, the Riverside ballroom I think is what it's called. And so, yeah, we've got a real nice group of people. The, they call themselves the rocker chick, um, out of green bay. They put shows together. They put shows together for me for many years. And I know they've done work with John and, um, and I've known John for a long time as well. So yeah, it'll be real fun. There'll be a real good show. And, and um, we hope, we hope to fill it up.

Chuck Shute: 1:00:58

Have you ever thought of teaming up with him either like you guys forming a band together or at least going on tour and, and having a kind of a two for one solo deal or you could get, see both of you guys together. Cause I'm a fan of his too.

Brandon Gibbs: 1:01:10

Yeah. Oh yeah. No, he's a real, I mean, he's an, he's a nice man and uh, yeah, we've talked about it. You know, we've, we've exchanged, hey, we did some shows together because honest to God when we go out acoustically and John was actually playing in cheap thrill for a little bit. I forgot to mention that. After Jeff left, um, John was our guitar player for, I don't know, three months or something and then then devil city started. But, uh, there's a lot of similarities in our solo show and, you know, he likes, he's a storyteller and, and kind of a jokester and I'm the same way. So I think it'd be a real interesting, uh, night of music for people cause you get the, uh, you know, we, we truly, the both of us truly try and entertain laughter, uh, whatever. And so, yeah, I mean we thought we'd definitely have spoke about it and, and who knows, maybe it'll happen someday.

Chuck Shute: 1:02:05

Yeah. And speaking of a motley crew singers, you're also have a show in November with Vince Neil. Right. Have you ever met him or that's going to be exciting show, right.

Brandon Gibbs: 1:02:14

Uh, you know, I know I'm kind of friends with, um, the band more than I am vans events and I, I've done, we've been on the same shows all three or four and uh, you know, in passing, you know, I don't, he kind of comes in and kind of goes real quick. But, um, you know, the guys from slaughter and everything, I mean it was, they've always been real sweet to me and

Chuck Shute: 1:02:37

hello. Oh, now I've got to ask you about this then. So you're friends with his band, so have you seen his drummer Zoltan chaining that guys, one of them, the most craziest drummers I've ever seen.

Brandon Gibbs: 1:02:47

Oh yeah, he's insane. I remember one of the shows we were doing with a special guest in Phoenix and it's like, where the hell cc to bill? Where is he? And anyways, he was like in that he didn't care who saw him. He was so enamored with the drummer. Like he, I think he went and asked for a pair of drumsticks.

Chuck Shute: 1:03:06

Yeah.

Brandon Gibbs: 1:03:07

What if like, what a big fan he was. Uh, so yeah,

Chuck Shute: 1:03:11

he's one of my favorites. He's like a animal from the muppets or something like if you, if you're listening to this right now, go youtube Zoltan Cheney drum solo or I mean, he just does, he jumps off these giant, you know, amplifiers and falls into the drum kit. I mean, it's insane what he does. It's very visually appealing. It's really cool. So

Brandon Gibbs: 1:03:29

it's kind of inspiring. I mean, it's like I, you know, I like, I love working out and you know, I have tried on the stage, wow, that was a workout. And then you see a video of him and you go, okay, I need to up my game a little.

Chuck Shute: 1:03:43

Are you still doing the peanut, the x? I used to do that too.

Brandon Gibbs: 1:03:47

We did the Pina dx Ab ripper for a long time. We recently started boxing again. I used to box when I was younger and so we started boxing again just to, you know, just for cardio. And I got, uh, my wife's doing it and actually have my parents doing it. Um, uh, ne I've had neighbors doing it with us. I just really enjoy it. Just the workout. And you know, sometimes it's not all about hitting the weight. You can still tone up by doing other things. And I found that, that I liked that more than being in a weight room.

Chuck Shute: 1:04:20

Absolutely. So, okay, well I like to always end on a charity that is you're passionate about. And you told me that the free to love program, which is an anti bullying and anti-suicide program, that you're kind of involved with that. Can you tell me more about that?

Brandon Gibbs: 1:04:34

Yeah, so I, I'm an ambassador for free to love. And you know, I started recently going around to, uh, high schools and speaking to students about my experience, uh, my ups, my downs, uh, and basically just talking with the students about more or less feelings and expressing feelings and, and, and also just telling them, you know, that, that this is a season and this too will pass. And I just try to give them as much hope and security that is, they're gonna do, they're gonna move on to do big things. And these, these, you know, bullies are, are, um, they're just, they're, they're gonna, they don't mean anything. And, uh, and we just need to rise above it and also take care of our, you know, if you see a problem happening, don't let it get out of control. Don't let you know, we're not all made equally. We all are scent that we all have different sensitivity levels. We all have different things about us that make us unique. And so don't just assume that a kid or adult or whoever can take the same beating every single day verbally or, or physically or whatever it may be. Don't assume that, uh, cause some, eventually it's going to have a breaking point. And I'd like to intervene before that breaking point happens. And so, um, way before. And so when I go to these schools and talk, I, you know, I hand out free to love bracelets and just let everyone know, hey man, the, the wonderful thing about us is we're different. So embrace our differences and, uh, and just, you know, let them know you can do it. Look, um, I came from a small town in Iowa. Okay. Everybody thought it. I mean, there were literally cyberbullying about, okay, I'm going to be flipping burgers in two years, you know, all these nasty things that you read about yourself. Oh, I mean, just, yeah, anybody, anybody who could, uh, who really want, I mean anybody who wants to can, but whatever they want on the Internet. And I learned that in the early days and, and I got real tough with it for a long time. And then sometimes it does get you and then you're like, all right, uh, you know, I need some, need some strength here. And so, um, now I just want the kids to be, you know, school is a spot for them to, to plan their future, make friends and, and that's it. It doesn't, you don't need to be afraid to ever go to school. You shouldn't ever be afraid. And, um, that's what I'm trying to bring back. If I, if I can and I will do my best.

Chuck Shute: 1:07:04

I think that's great. And um, just for the record, I'm like, I would not bully you. I'm actually really jealous of your life. I think it's awesome. You're friends with the guys. And poison. You've performed with all these great bands you've written and performed some great songs in my opinion. Um, you know, you've created some really good music. Um, so is there anything else that your new singles out? Um, we want to make sure we promote that it's on iTunes. I'm assuming Spotify, I know it's on youtube, everybody else. Um, and you're on all the social medias, Facebook, Twitter, your website, uh, youtube, all that stuff, right?

Brandon Gibbs: 1:07:37

Yeah, you can find me on Twitter.[inaudible] Gibbs music. You can find that Instagram, he gets music, Brandon Gibbs music on Facebook. Um, you know, and as much as I can, I really try and personally, uh, reply to fans as often as I can because I just appreciate the support so you can find me in all those please. Uh, please like or follow. And, and in return I'll do the same.

Chuck Shute: 1:08:02

Very cool. Will you be sharing this interview with your face on your fan page?

Brandon Gibbs: 1:08:07

I would love to. Can you tell me how to

Chuck Shute: 1:08:09

yeah, I'll send you a link.

Brandon Gibbs: 1:08:11

Okay.

Chuck Shute: 1:08:12

Yeah. Once you're, you know, I'll upload it and I'll send you the link. So very cool. And then, um, are you, is there gonna be more tour dates added? Is there any chance you're coming to Phoenix? So that's where I'm based. I didn't know if there would be a show here.

Brandon Gibbs: 1:08:23

Well yeah, we are coming to Phoenix for coming to Phoenix and I think it's January 11th.

Chuck Shute: 1:08:27

Oh, okay. Awesome. I didn't even see that on the website.

Brandon Gibbs: 1:08:29

The thing is since this, um, music, since I signed this deal and I had to get in the studio, I actually put several shows and things on hold so I could one, finish my deal and get in the studio and create new stuff. So to be honest with you, like this last two weeks have been more talk about shows, so they'll, you know, we did Vegas and Colorado and, and um, they're just, they're just now coming in and we're, we can pay more attention to it now that we've, we've put in some work and can release, you know, new brand. It gives music. Very cool. You'll see more to answer your question.

Chuck Shute: 1:09:06

Awesome. Okay. I can't wait. Well, thank you. I want to PR. Uh, thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. I hope you enjoyed it. I enjoyed having you on here. Awesome. Very cool. So yeah, if you could share this, that'd be great. Um, everybody go check out fall. Brendan Gibbs A, his new music is single. A rain whiskey is out now. Um, anything else that you want to promote or talk about?

Brandon Gibbs: 1:09:28

Uh, no. I just want to say thank you for thinking of me and, uh, I hope to see you guys, uh, on the road or, or meet you officially. So have a great one. And again, keep rock and roll alive.

Chuck Shute: 1:09:38

Okay, thanks Brandon.

Brandon Gibbs: 1:09:40

Okay. Take care.

Chuck Shute: 1:09:43

Okay, so that was Brandon Gibbs, a solo artist also from, uh, the band devil city angels that's currently inactive, but you never know when that may, uh, come back around. So check him out, uh, online. Follow his social media, go to his website and check out, uh, for tour dates cause he's probably gonna be coming and planning your city. I would highly recommend seeing him. I've, I've seen, I haven't seen him live, like I said, but I've seen youtube videos and the kids really talented. He's got a great voice, uh, and performs live. It's not him pushing a laptop button, like some of these djs out there that we kind of joked about. But other than that, you want to check out. Um, we have a lot of great interviews on the Chuck and Josh Podcast, my other podcast with my podcast podcast partner Josh, and we have like 50 episodes on the chuck and Josh podcasts. I've got, I think this is, uh, not episode number nine on the chuck shoot podcast. So there's eight other episodes of that. Um, I'm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, all that stuff. So, oh, we also have a new youtube channel that I just launched a, I've got a lot of, uh, live music there for the people that are performed on my podcast and a couple sound clips of shows that I've done. So, uh, check all that out. And, uh, thank you so much for listening. Until next time.