'METAL' MIKE CHLASCIAK: 'It's Obvious That AXL ROSE Has A Metal Heart'

MetalForever.com recently conducted an interview with guitarist "Metal" Mike Chlasciak (HALFORD, PAINMUSEUM, SEBASTIAN BACH). An excerpt from the chat follows below.

MetalForever.com: So Mike, on the Sebastian Bach "Angel Down" album, the band covered an old AEROSMITH classic "Back In The Saddle". Was this a bit of a departure for you?

Chlasciak: Well, it's funny that you mention this. When Roy Z (our producer),came in with an idea of covering "Back In The Saddle" and I heard the original version of the song, I was like, "Is Z out of his mind?" You gotta understand that, if I remember correctly, that song had a 12-string bass and you have all these sounds, whistles, grinds and pops in it and I'm thinking to myself… "Let's see how this one goes," you know. But I remember sitting down with Roy one time in the studio and we looked into the track, I got my routines down and I go — I think I got my head around this. To be honest, I love the way that song came out. And, I think Roy is a fantastic producer for always thinking outside the box. I remember recording the rhythms and finally doubling some choruses for "Back In The Saddle" and thinking that our version has got a slab of really heavy groove in it — its heavy, but at the same time still raw and pissed off kind of like MÖTLEY CRÜE's "Dr. Feelgood"… and then I go, wait a minute — the puzzle is solved! This early AEROSMITH sound is part of the blueprint for that whole U.S. Los Angeles metal. At that time, I went gimme my guitar because I know exactly what to do with it! And, after the rhythms were done, I added some textures by simulating a slide guitar with my Floyd Rose whammy bar and I just played how I play. Later I heard what Axl added to it and what Baz sang on it and I went, "It's done!" It sounds fucking great. I mean, although I am a full on metal lover, I do like different things in music as well, whether it's Gary Moore, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tina Turner or whatever. I think all these things come into play when you record or write as an artist, and it helps you understand music on a broader range. As a kid in high school, I would walk to school listening to MEGADETH's "Peace Sells…But Who's Buying?!" or METALLICA's "Ride The Lightning" and walk back listening to EZO, W.A.S.P., MÖTLEY CRÜE or VINNIE VINCENT INVASION. My peers through so differently about things. You know it was this; if you like METALLICA, you can't like DAVID LEE ROTH or MR. BIG, are you a PRIEST fan or MAIDEN fan. Like you know, why? You can't like both? Why the segregation. And, I was just sick of this type of thinking, you know. I think at the end of the day it gave me a better understanding of music, to be open-minded and listen to and like what I like.

MetalForever.com: You had the privilege of appearing on albums with some of the greatest vocalists in metal that include Rob Halford, Bruce Dickinson, Sebastian Bach and Axl Rose. Are there any others you would like to work with? Any memorable moments?

Chlasciak: Man, they are all memorable moments. I have vivid memories of recording guitar solos for the HALFORD "Resurrection" album. You have to understand, making the "Resurrection" album was the most important thing in my life at that time and it will always remain as a special experience for me. But anyways, while making the album Bruce would stop by the studio every so often just to say hey. And, I remember getting ready to do my guitar solos one day and into the control room walk in Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson and they stand behind me and I go, "Are you kidding me?! I'm supposed to play my solos now?!" Haha. It was an honor to hear Bruce sing on the track "The One You Love To Hate" from "Resurrection", it really was. I remember HALFORD playing "The One You Love To Hate" live in London and joining The Metal God on stage were Bruce and Geoff Tate. I'd say that's memorable. Standing on stage next to Rob Halford is an absolute honor. Without any trace of doubt, Rob is The Metal God. Recording Sebastian's "Angel Down" album had some great times, too. It almost had that energy of an artist making their first recording — excitement! Baz was rebuilding things and he was excited about the album. The band played in the same big room at Sound City Studios in California and I would hear Baz go for it in the vocal isolation booth. It was great to hear his determination and performances. The band would play live and cut it "directly to tape" like the old days, except we replaced the 2" machine with hard drives. Then to hear what Axl added to the songs when he did his guest spots, was just … I don't know how to describe it — it was special to hear him on it. I felt wonderful as a musician to have someone like him sing over something I had been a part of. And, you know, I hear Axl's voice and I hear the strength, his delivery and his attitude and it's obvious that Axl Rose has a metal heart. Needless to say, I'd love to opportunity to do something similar again, however small it might be.