ADRENALINE MOB Guitarist: 'We're Having A Blast Playing Together'

Elliot Levin of the NY Hard Rock Music Examiner recently conducted an interview with ADRENALINE MOB guitarist Mike Orlando. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Examiner: Rich Ward [FOZZY, STUCK MOJO] was in the band at one point. How does going from two guitars to one change things?

Mike: Rich Ward was never on any recordings, and he really was only for that tour. Paul DiLeo [bass] as well. We came out as a five-piece, but what anybody ever heard was only [Mike] Portnoy [drums; ex-DREAM THEATER], myself, and Russell [Allen; vocals; SYMPHONY X]. That was always the core of the band. We brought them in for the tour, but, unfortunately, schedules and things like that, there were too many conflicts. And we didn't want them to get in the way of our touring, and vice versa, so we parted ways. And now the band is a four-piece and sounds better than ever, and we cannot wait to unleash it on the world.

Examiner: Last summer you and the band gave the first listen of ADRENALINE MOB at Hiro Ballroom [in New York City], and while you've released some videos and streaming songs online, [the March 12] show [at Hiro] will really be debut of the finished songs again. What made you decide that live shows were the best way to present the music, both last summer and this time around?

Mike: Because we're a live band. There's no doubt. The energy that comes between me, Russ, and Portnoy is just electric, and now that we have John Moyer [bass; DISTURBED] in the band, it's on fire. This is a live band. There is no shadow of a doubt about that. We take the songs to a different level. Energy-wise, power-wise, we feed off each other on that stage. People always say, "You look like you're having so much fun." We are! We're having a blast playing together. We just get each other psyched up on this. I've been in so many lineups over the years, and this is pretty magical.

Examiner: What's the long term plan for ADRENALINE MOB? You have John from DISTURBED on bass, and obviously DISTURBED is on hiatus for now, but are you guys planning more than six months or a year ahead at this point?

Mike: Without a doubt! I plan on talking to you on our eighth album! We plan to keep John in the fold as well and all write together and it's going to be incredible. We plan to build this... John said it perfectly in an interview he did. He said, "I plan to make ADRENALINE MOB have the same success DISTURBED did." That's the plan! I echo his words.

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Photo by Kellie Hoeke