RiotZine

-Hollywood Lies

Band members; Matthew - Guitar, Vocals Mike - Bass Johnny - Drums

When and why did you guys start playing together?

We started playing together about a year ago. Basically, I had just been asked to leave a band, and started writing my own music. Our old drummer had called me to see if I wanted to get together, and we just sort of went from there. Wrote a few songs, got together and recorded them. We really liked what came out, so we wrote a few more and finished our album.

Where did you get the name 'Hollywood Lies' from?

The name Hollywood Lies basically comes from the fact that I think the idea of celebrity is kind of bs, you know? Celebrities are just people like you and I. And people are worshipping them, and to be honest, I don't think it's right. So that's where that comes from.

If you could start your own religion and write 3 commandments, what would the religion be called and what would the commandments be?

Oh gosh, this is a tough one! The religion would be called Selfism, I suppose, and the commandments would be to be true to yourself, to love yourself, and to be unflinchingly honest with those around you.

Finish the following statements:

"You know you've made it when ..." I can live comfortably off of what I've established with this band and music, "It'll be time to pack up the gear for good when ..." I'm living on the streets and starving. "I'll never forget the first time I..." stepped on stage and fell in love with music.

What are you looking forward to most right now as a band?

Just to finally being able to play shows, have merchandise to sell to people, and to have a finished album that we are incredibly proud of. I feel like we've accomplished a lot of our personal goals, that would be something that will mean a lot to us.

If you could perform live or record with any famous musician, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Hmm. This is a tough one. I would love to perform live with Green Day, because Billie Joe is an incredible front man, and, in my opinion, puts on the best show I have ever seen. And recording, it would be Patrick Stump, because I love that man's voice, and would love to work with him in a studio setting. I think it would be incredible.

How do you go about writing a song?

To go about writing a song, I don't really know. I don't have a tried and true formula. It typically starts with a melody and some lyrics, and then I'll find the right chords that will go behind it. After that, I'll sit down with Johnny, and we'll write the drum parts together, and then we'll get together with Mike and work through the bass parts. Typically, Johnny and Mike will write their own parts, but there are places where they get stuck, so we'll sit down and collaborate on a part try to make it unique and interesting, while still complimenting the song.

If you could play any venue in the world, where would it be and why?

I think that if we could play any venue in the world, right now I'd love to play the Avalon or Axis in Boston. Those are two clubs that I grew up at, seeing all my favourite bands and meeting a lot of them after shows to talk and hang. So I would love to be able to play for a home town crowd there. It would make me a happy man. I'd feel like we'd really accomplished something when we can headline those clubs.

If you could go back in time, what band/song/album would you erase from history?

I don't think I would do that. I'm a big believer in the butterfly effect - everything that happens changes everything else that happens in life. So I wouldn't erase anyone.

If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your natural life, which song would it be and why?

If I could only listen to one song for the rest of my life, it would have to be "Hide And Seek", by Imogen Heap. I just think that song is tied to a lot of memories for me, and I remember how I felt and how it affected me when I first heard it. That song is absolutely beautiful.

If you could create the "ultimate super-group" with anyone from any band, dead or alive, who would you have in it?

If I could create a super group? Wow. I would have to stick with our drummer, Johnny. He's been one of the only musicians that I've been able to consistently work with, and I feel super confident in his abilities. As for another vocalist and guitarist, it would have to be Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy. He's just, to me, an incredible talent I'd love to work with. And for a bassist, my favourite player would have to be Eben D'Amico, the old bass player from Saves The Day. I've never heard bass lines quite like his. Very melodic, and I love his style.

Which would you rather have; all the money in the world but no music, or all the music you could play but only enough money to survive?

I would rather have all the music that I could play, but only enough money to survive. I don't need to be rich if I can get by playing my music. That's all I really need.