GUNNAR NELSON Discusses SCRAP METAL Project

BlastMagazine.net recently conducted an interview with Gunnar Nelson about his SCRAP METAL project, also featuring his brother Matthew Nelson, Mark Slaughter (SLAUGHTER),Kelly Keagy (NIGHT RANGER) and Eric Martin (MR. BIG). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

BlastMagazine.net: Who came up with the concept for SCRAP METAL?

Gunnar: It's something that Mark and I had been threatening to investigate for about five years, after we'd done a couple of acoustic shows together in the three states surrounding Tennessee (we both currently live in Nashville). We'd just had such a great time playing and singing together and we were on one of the long drives up to a duo show, and the conversation just turned into a 'Hey, wouldn't it just ROCK if....?"

BlastMagazine.net: The name is perfect. Whose suggestion was it?

Gunnar: That was actually mine, I think. I remember hearing the name years ago as the punch line of a slag from someone who was wearing a lot of flannel at the time; it was 1994, I'd guess. They meant it derogatorily; I just loved it! I think it perfectly describes what we're going for; it's descriptive, yes, we're all key remnants of other bands, and it lets you know we're the first ones in on the joke, especially with so many other groups out there taking themselves way too seriously. Don't get me wrong, we take the music and the fans verrry seriously, not just ourselves, and that's what makes us work. Without a profound sense of humor, you could never have up to eight multi-platinum lead singers in the same room at the same time, let alone in the same band!

BlastMagazine.net: The line-up is an incredibly impressive combination of talent. Who are the core members of the band?

Gunnar: Well, if you mean who are the cats who take care of the logistics and funding, that would be me, Mark, and Kelly. But it's important to note that I believe that everyone who was on stage the other night is crucial to the magic, and therefore an important part of the 'core'. I know that both Eric and Matty went in kind of wide-eyed and somewhat skeptical, kind of like "Oh, God... is this going to be a total trainwreck or ego nightmare?" After that show, they were completely different people, totally on a high, asking "So when's the next gig?!" We're all so pleased. They did so well, we consider them an integral part of SCRAP METAL from this point on. Lord knows I love looking over to my left and seeing Matty looking back at me with a mile-wide grin on his face. And I've been humbled by Eric's voice, both as a fan and a peer, for fifteen years.

BlastMagazine.net: Can you tell me a little about the other musicians involved in the project, and why they were chosen?

Gunnar: Well, the intention at first was to have a core that could be counted on to be there for every show. As I'd mentioned, Mark, Kelly, and I all live close together and have the same strength of belief in the project, so that was a given. Then we were going to have a revolving door policy for our visiting "cast members"; yes, we consider "THE SCRAPS" to be much more than a band; we consider it an ongoing theatrical production, before, during, and after show time. Our visiting cast members all had to fit certain criteria first, and that still holds true:

1) People have to know who the hell you are. You had to have been a lead singer for a band from 'our era' that had real hits... I'm talking about the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, not just the Rock 40 Chart. During the decade of decadence, there were a ton of bands who had 'hits' on the rock chart that no one knows or remembers now, because that chart was for a niche market. If you had a top ten song in the Hot 100 Pop Singles chart, that means you made the big time. It means that people in the real world, not just hardcore rock fans, know who the hell you are.

2) You have to still look like you give a damn. Looks are important. No one wants to see their favorite star from their high school hit parade looking like bloated road kill onstage. It reminds fans, too starkly, of their own mortality. We're here to help people escape and feel unstoppable, like they did during the best times of their lives when the promise of their futures were down the road ahead, and they were rockin' out to our tunes in their spiritual convertible Ferrari.

3) No substance abuse issues are tolerated in THE SCRAPS, whatsoever. That eliminates about half of the potential candidates, right off the top. Oh well; life's too short. Same thing goes for being known for being an asshole. If you're famous for being a prick with "Lead Singer Syndrome," you AIN'T gonna get a call to play with SCRAP METAL, regardless of how supposedly talented or marketable you are. We want everyone, including ourselves, to have a blast doing this, you know? I also believe that above all, ATTITUDE is King. Talent is Queen.

Read the entire interview at this location.

(Thanks: Fullshred)