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EVERY MUSIC SCENE HAS THEIR BEGINNINGS. EVERY
SCENCE HAS THEIR OUTCASTS AND EVERY SCENE HAS
THEIR ORIGINALS. WHAT HAPAPENS WHEN A BAND IS PUT
TOGETHER AND EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF TO
DESCRIBE THIS BAND CAN’T DO IT JUSTICE? IT HAS ALL OF
THE RIGHT MOVES, BALANACED SOUND, PERFECT
CHARISMA, MOVING LYRICS, POUNDING BEATS, BETTER-
THAN-SLASH GUITAR PLAYING, UNYIELDING DESIRES AND
GENUINE PERSONALITY. THERE’S NO OTHER WAY TO
DESCRIBE A BAND THAT FITS ALL OF THIS AND DOES IT
WITHOUT ANY EGO, BUT WITH GENERAL PURPOSE TO
CREATE MUSIC THAT IS HARD TO THE CORE BUT HAS A
LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE INVOLVED. FOSTERCHILD IS THE
BAND CREATED A BASIS MOST BANDS NEVER SEEM TO
FIND, AND WALK A LINE THAT FITS SOMEWHERE IN
BETWEEN PERSONAL AND UNYIELDING. THEIR VERY NAME,
FOSTERCHILD, SPEAKS OF AN IDEAL THAT BROUGHT THEM
ALL TOGETHER FROM VARIOUS PLACES IN LIFE TO CREATE
A HOME TOGETHER AND BE KNOWN AS “THE BASTARDS OF
ROCK N ROLL.”
SCENCE HAS THEIR OUTCASTS AND EVERY SCENE HAS
THEIR ORIGINALS. WHAT HAPAPENS WHEN A BAND IS PUT
TOGETHER AND EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF TO
DESCRIBE THIS BAND CAN’T DO IT JUSTICE? IT HAS ALL OF
THE RIGHT MOVES, BALANACED SOUND, PERFECT
CHARISMA, MOVING LYRICS, POUNDING BEATS, BETTER-
THAN-SLASH GUITAR PLAYING, UNYIELDING DESIRES AND
GENUINE PERSONALITY. THERE’S NO OTHER WAY TO
DESCRIBE A BAND THAT FITS ALL OF THIS AND DOES IT
WITHOUT ANY EGO, BUT WITH GENERAL PURPOSE TO
CREATE MUSIC THAT IS HARD TO THE CORE BUT HAS A
LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE INVOLVED. FOSTERCHILD IS THE
BAND CREATED A BASIS MOST BANDS NEVER SEEM TO
FIND, AND WALK A LINE THAT FITS SOMEWHERE IN
BETWEEN PERSONAL AND UNYIELDING. THEIR VERY NAME,
FOSTERCHILD, SPEAKS OF AN IDEAL THAT BROUGHT THEM
ALL TOGETHER FROM VARIOUS PLACES IN LIFE TO CREATE
A HOME TOGETHER AND BE KNOWN AS “THE BASTARDS OF
ROCK N ROLL.”
M4M: YOU GUYS HAVE A HISTORY AS INDIVIDUALS COMING FROM OTHER BANDS OR SINGLY LIKE MOST BANDS
BUT HAVE A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK ON THE PROCESS. YOU’RE DOING IT YOUR OWN WAY AND EVEN THE BAND
NAME SPEAKS VOLUME, HOW DID THE NAME FOSTERCHILD COME ABOUT?
DANNY: YEA, OUR DRUMMER KEVIN, ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH IT. EVERY MEMBER HAS THEIR OWN HISTORY.
KEVIN CAME FROM FUEL, WHILE BRIAN AND ERIC CAME FROM OTHER BANDS AS I WAS A SOLO ARTIST. WE ALL
KINDA CAME FROM DIFFERENT FAMILIES SO THAT’S HOW THE NAME FOSTERCHILD CAME ABOUT. KEVIN AND I
WERE TALKING ABOUT IT AND EVERYONE WAS KIND OF LAUGHING BUT THEN WE STARTED TO THINK ABOUT IT
AND WERE LIKE THAT’S IT! WE’RE JUST SO OLD SCHOOL ROCK THAT THE WORDS BASTARD, ROCK, ETC ALL
WORK TOGETHER.
M4M: IT HONESTLY DOES SEEM IT WORKS TOGETHER (both laugh). IN TODAY’S MUSIC SENSE, IT’S SOMETIMES
HARD TO GET MUSIC IN THE “CORRECT CATEGORIES” BECAUSE EVERY ONES MIXING SEVERAL TYPES OF
GENRES TOGETHER AND THE ORIGINAL SOUNDS ARE GETTING LOST IN THE BACKGROUND.
DANNY: THAT’S THE HARDEST THING FOR US, IS THAT NOW THAT WE’RE HITTING RADIOS NOW; PEOPLE ARE
LIKE, “WHERE THE FUCK DO WE PUT THEM?!” BECAUSE WE’RE OLD SCHOOL ROCK, AND I’LL STAND BY THAT
AND NEVER CHANGE THAT, BUT I THINK THAT GIVES US LONGEVITY I HOPE. WE JUST STICK TO WHAT THE FUCK
WE DO BEST. SOMETIMES I GET SICK OF TURNING ON THE RADIO AND HEARING THIS SHIT AND WONDERING
WHERE THE FUCK DID ALL THE OLD SCHOOL ROCK GO?
M4M: EXACTLY! YOU TURN ON THE RADIO TO HEAR SOMETHING GOOD AND THAT’S WORTH THE TIME TO
LISTEN TO AND MOST OF THE TIME, IT’S THE SAME RE-INVENTED MUSIC THAT MAKES YOU TURN THE RADIO
OFF.
DANNY: IT’S LIKE THERE’S NO OTHER WAY TO GO. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT OLD FASHIONED ROCK IS, PICK AN
ARTIST LIKE LED ZEPPELIN, YOU CAN’T EVEN COMPARE THEM TO ANYONE AND I NEVER WOULD, THEY ARE JUST
BAD ASS…THEY CAME OUT WITH A BALLAD AND IT’S LIKE BAM! YOU CAN EVEN FIND SONGS THAT ARE KIND OF
EMOISH LIKE BUT TO ME OLD SCHOOL ROCK IS EVERYTHING.
M4M: THERE ARE A LOT OF BANDS OUT THERE THAT START OFF WITH THE MIND SET OF STICKING TO THE
TYPE OF MUSIC THEY LOVE BUT EVENTUALLY VERVE AWAY FROM IT AND WIND UP “SELLING OUT” IN A WAY.
YOU WANNA TELL THEM TO GO BACK TO WHAT THEY WERE LIKE WHEN THEY STARTED BECAUSE THE MUSIC
WAS THAT MUCH BETTER.
DANNY: TO ME IT’S LIKE, I’VE BEEN DOING THIS MY WHOLE LIFE, SO WHY SELL OUT NOW? I AM BEING HONEST,
SO WHEN I GO SEE BANDS PERFORM, I DEMAND HONESTY AS WELL YOU KNOW? IT’S JUST ONE OF THOSE
THINGS. WHEN I WRITE SONGS, I’M NOT LIKE “OH THIS ONE SUCKS” (both laugh) SO IT’S AN HONESTY THING THAT
DOES IT FOR ME.
M4M: NOW THAT YOU’RE ON TOUR, HOW DOES IT WORK OUT THAT YOU HAVE 2 MEMBERS, KEVIN AND ERIC,
THAT ARE NOT ONLY IN FOSTERCHILD BUT IN TANTRIC AS WELL?
DANNY: WELL IS ACTUALLY GOING VERY WELL! WE’RE ALL UNDER THE SAME RECORD LABEL ALONG WITH
FRAMING HANLEY THAT’S TOURING WITH US, AND WE ALL WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER. IT KIND OF CAME
ABOUT A LONG TIME AGO WHEN FUEL WAS TOURING WITH TANTRIC AND KEVIN AND HUGO (OF TANTRIC)
BECAME CLOSE FRIENDS. SO WHEN FOSTERCHILD CAME AROUND, HUGO WAS WORKING ON A SIDE PROJECT
AND HAD ASKED HIM TO DO A COUPLE OF SHOWS AND IT WOUND UP BECOMING SOMETHING ELSE. THEN ERIC
CAME ABOUT AND THEY PICKED HIM UP AS WELL. HE’S AN UNBELIEVABLE SINGER AND IS EXTREMELY
AWESOME. THE COOLEST THING IS THAT I CAN GO HIGH WHILE ERIC HAS THIS CRAZY MEDIUM, ITS BEAUTIFUL.
THEN YOU HAVE HUGO WHO JUST CRUSHES IT! ITS FUCKING INSANE! MY LOWEST LOW IS LIKE HUGO’S HIGHEST
HIGH YA KNOW? (both laugh)…BUT BACK TO THE QUESTION (laughs again), WE PLAYED A SONG WITH HUGO AND
THE LABEL LOVED IT. SO THEY SIGNED TANTRIC ONTO THE LABEL AS WELL. SO THEY JUST KEPT USING KEVIN
AND ERIC FOR THIS WHOLE THING. IT’S REALLY HELPED FOSTERCHILD ALONG THE WAY. AT FIRST WE DIDN’T
KNOW HOW IT WAS GOING TO WORK, BUT NOW, IT JUST WORKS PERFECTLY. IT’S INSANELY WEIRD HOW WELL
WE ALL GET ALONG. THEY’RE ALL LIKE MY BROTHERS. THERE AREN’T ANY EGO’S OR ANYTHING, SO IT WORKS
OUT SO WELL.
BRIAN: INITIALLY FOR ME, IT WAS AWKWARD AT FIRST BECAUSE I DIDN’T KNOW HOW IT WOULD WORK. BUT
ONCE WE GOT ON THE ROAD, IT WAS US AND TANTRIC. WE GET ALONG SO WELL THAT US AND TANTRIC ARE
ALL THIS BIG FAMILY. IT’S DEFINITELY OFF THE CENTER, BUT I LOVE IT AND IT’S WORKING. WE’RE SELLING THIS
PACKAGE. IT REMINDS ME OF THE OLD DAYS WHERE THEY USED TO DO THE MOTOWN TOURS WHERE ALL THE
BANDS WOULD BE ON THE SAME BUS TOGETHER, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? OLD SCHOOL SHIT (everyone
laughs). I AM TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH IT, IT’S BAD ASS WITH MINIMAL DRAMA AND EVERYTHING.
M4M: WHEN ALL 4 OF YOU PLAYED TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME, WAS THE INITIAL REACTION THAT YOU
GOT?
DANNY: GOOSE BUMPS IS THE BEST REACTION I CAN I GIVE. THE THING IS, IS THAT WE WRITE EVERYTHING
TOGETHER. LIKE BRIAN AND I WILL WORK SOMETHING OUT WHEN WE’RE BACK HOME IN PHILLY, WE’LL SEND IT
TO KEVIN AND ERIC AND THEY’LL ADD SOME CRAZY MIX TO IT THAT MAKES EVERYTHING WORK. SOMETIMES
KEVIN WILL COME IN AND SAY “I’VE GOT THIS SONG” AND WE’LL ADD TO IT. SOMETIMES ERIC WILL COME IN AND
DO THE SAME. THE FUNNY THING IS, IS THAT“DON’T LET GO” WAS WORKED OUT LIKE THIS. KEVIN AND BRIAN
WERE IN KENTUCKY WITH HUGO AND ERIC AND I WERE HOME. IT’S ONE OF ERICS OLD SONGS THAT HE HAD,
THAT WE WORKED A CHORUS OUT FOR. SO WHEN THEY GOT HOME, WE ALL GOT TOGETHER AND THE SONG
WAS MAGIC. ONE OF OUR OTHER SONGS “ON MY OWN”WAS KIND OF LIKE THAT TOO. IT WAS WRITTEN IN
KEVINS GARAGE AND THAT GOOSE BUMPS FEELING IS EXACTLY WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT SONG. IT WAS THIS
PROCESS OF KEVIN ADDING SOME PARTS, ERIC JUMPING IN AND LAYING PIECES DOWN, BRIAN COMES IN
COMBINING HIS TOUCH. THE SONG BASICALY WROTE ITSELF. IT WAS INSANE. I HAD THESE WORDS FLOATING IN
MY HEAD AND ADDING THESE TO THE SONG MADE EVERYTHING WORK OUT. I WAS SO HAPPY THAT THAT SONG
BECAME OUR SINGLE. THE RECORD LABEL LOVED IT. THAT’S LIKE ONE OF THE HIGHEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE.
I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED (both laugh).
BRIAN: IT JUST COMPLETELY MADE SENSE. THERE WASN’T ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT. THEY BROUGHT IN
THESE 3 DUDES AND IT WASN’T LIKE AN AUDITION TYPE THING AT ALL. WE HAD LIKE 3 SONGS WRITTEN BY THE
END OF THE DAY. IT WAS WARM AND FUZZY! (everyone laughs)
M4M: HOW DOES IT WORK FOR KEVIN AND ERIC TO PLAY 2 SHOWS IN ONE NIGHT? YOU’D THINK THAT AFTER
ONE SHOW, THEY’D BE EXHAUSTED!
DANNY: I THINK I CAN ANSWER THIS ONE (everyone laughs) AT FIRST WE WERE PLAYING, THEN ANOTHER BAND
THEN TANTRIC, BUT IT ENDED UP WORKING BETTER FOR THEM TO PLAY RIGHT AFTER. IT’S KIND OF LIKE A
WARM UP FOR THEM IN A SENSE. WE’RE STRAIGHT UP ROCK N ROLL. IT HELPS TO WARM UP ERICS VOICE AND
HELPS HIM FOR THE SECOND SET. PLUS, THEY GET PAID TWICE (everyone laughs)!
M4M: WE’VE ALREADY MENTIONED A FEW SONGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ON THE NEW RECORD “INDEPENDENCE
DAY,” WHAT IS/ARE A SONG(S) THAT CALL OUT TO YOU MORE THAN OTHERS OFF OR ON THE RECORD?
BRIAN: OFF THE RECORD, OUR SONG STRONGER. WE RECORDED LIKE 22 SONGS FOR THE RECORD AND IT
WAS ONE THAT DIDN’T GET PUT ON THIS ALBUM BUT I THINK IT ENCOMPASSES THE WHOLE “INDEPENDENCE
DAY” RECORD AS A WHOLE. IT’S THAT ONE SONG THAT MAKES US FEEL LIKE WE’RE GETTING OUR LEGS
UNDER US.
DANNY: I’M GOING TO SAY ON THE ALBUM, “MISSION.”
BRIAN: ON THE ALBUM, “RATTLESNAKE” I FUCKING LOVE THAT SONG!
M4M: BEING AROUND THE SAME PERSON OR PEOPLE FOR THAT MATTER CAN GET TO BE MUCH AT TIMES BUT
IN THE SAME TOKEN, WORTH SO MUCH MORE AS STORIES AND MEMORIES ARE MADE. WHAT ARE SOME THAT
YOU’VE ENCOUNTERED?
DANNY: THERE WAS THIS ONE TIME THAT OUR BUS BROKE DOWN AND BRIAN AND I WERE “STUCK” IN LA WHILE
KEVIN AND ERIC WERE IN LAS VEGAS. IT WAS THIS WHOLE, “WE MIGHT AS WELL ENJOY OURSELVES WHILE WE’
RE HERE” MENTALLY YOU KNOW? WE HAD A BUDDY THAT’S IN A BAND FROM LA THAT LIVED LIKE 4 BLOCKS
AWAY FROM THE STRIP THAT LET US STAY THERE UNTIL OUR BUS GOT FIXED. SO IT WAS AWESOME TO BE
LIKE “SO, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO TODAY? WANNA WALK TO THE STRIP?” IT WAS AWESOME TO BE ABLE
TO DO THAT AND SEE EVERYTHING DOWN THERE. WHAT BETTER WAY TO SPEND A FEW DAYS OFF RIGHT?
(Everyone laughs)…
DANNY: DUDE, (to Brian) THAT’S A SICK SHIRT.
BRIAN: YEA DUDE, I DON’T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM, I ACQUIRED THIS. IT WAS IN MY LAUNDRY AND I WAS
LIKE “NICE! NEW SHIRT!” (everyone laughs) HOW DID I GET IT? IT WAS LIKE IN MY LAUNDRY!
DANNY: IT LOOKS GOOD ON YA THOUGH! (Laughs) SEE, (points to his jeans that have a whole in the knee) WE EVEN
DUCK TAPE OUR JEANS!
BRIAN: YEA, WE’RE TOTALLY LIVING IT! (Everyone laughs)
M4M: WHAT IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THE BAND? WE KNOW YOU SHARE
A DRUMMER AND A BASSIST WITH ANOTHER BAND, A TOUR BUS AND NOW EVEN SHIRTS (everyone laughs)
DANNY: THAT WE’RE AN HONEST, STRAIGHT UP ROCK BAND. OUR LIVE SHOWS ARE PRETTY MUCH SELF
EXPLANATORY. WE HAVE OUR CD, OF WHICH WE’RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF AND LOVE IT, BUT SEEING US LIVE
AND PERFORMING IS A WHOLE OTHER BALL GAME.
M4M: LISTENING TO AN ARTIST/BANDS CD IS ONE THING, BECAUSE YOU GET THE EMOTION TO A CERTAIN
EXTENT AND YOU IMAGINE WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE SONG, BUT SEEING IT LIVE BRINGS ANOTHER DIMENSION
TO THE MUSIC AND ARTIST/BAND ITSELF. THERE’S MORE OF EVERYTHING AT A LIVE SHOW AND YOU’RE ABLE
TO GRASP MORE OF SOMETHING YOU LOVED BEFORE, NOW YOU LOVE IT EVEN MORE.
DANNY: YEA, MOST DEFINITELY! IT’S THE BEST 45 MINS OF YOUR LIFE! (everyone laughs)
M4M: GROWING AS A BAND AND TOURING RIGHT NOW, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS OR GOALS THAT YOU GUYS
HAVE SET OUT PERSONALLY OR AS A WHOLE THAT YOU SEE AS BEING AN ACCOMPLISHMENT ON IT’S WAY?
DANNY: FOR ME PERSONALLY, I’D LIKE TO JUST GET OUR STUFF OUT THERE, GET IT OUT THERE. WE’RE IN THE
SITUTATION NOW, THAT WE’RE DOING IT, WE’RE GETTING ON THE RADIOS AND GETTING OUT THERE. WE’RE
NOT JUST SITTING IN A BAR DOING SOMETHING, WE’RE ACTUALLY OUT THERE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
GET IT. I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO HEAR US AND SEE WHERE IT GOES YOU KNOW?
BRIAN: I WANT TO CONQUER EARTH! (everyone laughs!) NAH, I’M TOTALLY WITH DANNY ON THAT ONE, JUST GET
OUR STUFF OUT THERE.
DANNY: YEA I WANT TO CONQUER EARTH TOO! WELL, IF I CAN GET MY FOOT IN THE DOOR, THEY’LL ACCEPT
ME! (everyone laughs)
BRIAN: BASICALLY, JUST STAY ON THE ROAD, AND GET MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO HEAR US. GET THE WORD
OUT ON FOSTERCHILD AND MEET AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.
DANNY: GET OUR STUFF OUT THERE, GET THE VOICE OUT THERE, GETTING ON THE RADIO, DOING INTERVIEWS
LIKE THIS THAT ARE, WOW! WE LOVE THIS! YOU’RE THE REAL THING AND THIS IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING!
M4M: NO, THANK YOU! THIS IS THE REASON WHY WE’RE HERE AND WHY MUSIC IS HONEST, BANDS LIKE
FOSTERCHILD ARE WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR YOU GUYS
AND WE’LL BE THERE THE ENTIRE WAY!
DANNY AND BRIAN: NO THANK YOU! (everyone laughs) WE CAN’T WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO HEAR US AND
BECOME PART OF YOU SOMEHOW!
BUT HAVE A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK ON THE PROCESS. YOU’RE DOING IT YOUR OWN WAY AND EVEN THE BAND
NAME SPEAKS VOLUME, HOW DID THE NAME FOSTERCHILD COME ABOUT?
DANNY: YEA, OUR DRUMMER KEVIN, ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH IT. EVERY MEMBER HAS THEIR OWN HISTORY.
KEVIN CAME FROM FUEL, WHILE BRIAN AND ERIC CAME FROM OTHER BANDS AS I WAS A SOLO ARTIST. WE ALL
KINDA CAME FROM DIFFERENT FAMILIES SO THAT’S HOW THE NAME FOSTERCHILD CAME ABOUT. KEVIN AND I
WERE TALKING ABOUT IT AND EVERYONE WAS KIND OF LAUGHING BUT THEN WE STARTED TO THINK ABOUT IT
AND WERE LIKE THAT’S IT! WE’RE JUST SO OLD SCHOOL ROCK THAT THE WORDS BASTARD, ROCK, ETC ALL
WORK TOGETHER.
M4M: IT HONESTLY DOES SEEM IT WORKS TOGETHER (both laugh). IN TODAY’S MUSIC SENSE, IT’S SOMETIMES
HARD TO GET MUSIC IN THE “CORRECT CATEGORIES” BECAUSE EVERY ONES MIXING SEVERAL TYPES OF
GENRES TOGETHER AND THE ORIGINAL SOUNDS ARE GETTING LOST IN THE BACKGROUND.
DANNY: THAT’S THE HARDEST THING FOR US, IS THAT NOW THAT WE’RE HITTING RADIOS NOW; PEOPLE ARE
LIKE, “WHERE THE FUCK DO WE PUT THEM?!” BECAUSE WE’RE OLD SCHOOL ROCK, AND I’LL STAND BY THAT
AND NEVER CHANGE THAT, BUT I THINK THAT GIVES US LONGEVITY I HOPE. WE JUST STICK TO WHAT THE FUCK
WE DO BEST. SOMETIMES I GET SICK OF TURNING ON THE RADIO AND HEARING THIS SHIT AND WONDERING
WHERE THE FUCK DID ALL THE OLD SCHOOL ROCK GO?
M4M: EXACTLY! YOU TURN ON THE RADIO TO HEAR SOMETHING GOOD AND THAT’S WORTH THE TIME TO
LISTEN TO AND MOST OF THE TIME, IT’S THE SAME RE-INVENTED MUSIC THAT MAKES YOU TURN THE RADIO
OFF.
DANNY: IT’S LIKE THERE’S NO OTHER WAY TO GO. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT OLD FASHIONED ROCK IS, PICK AN
ARTIST LIKE LED ZEPPELIN, YOU CAN’T EVEN COMPARE THEM TO ANYONE AND I NEVER WOULD, THEY ARE JUST
BAD ASS…THEY CAME OUT WITH A BALLAD AND IT’S LIKE BAM! YOU CAN EVEN FIND SONGS THAT ARE KIND OF
EMOISH LIKE BUT TO ME OLD SCHOOL ROCK IS EVERYTHING.
M4M: THERE ARE A LOT OF BANDS OUT THERE THAT START OFF WITH THE MIND SET OF STICKING TO THE
TYPE OF MUSIC THEY LOVE BUT EVENTUALLY VERVE AWAY FROM IT AND WIND UP “SELLING OUT” IN A WAY.
YOU WANNA TELL THEM TO GO BACK TO WHAT THEY WERE LIKE WHEN THEY STARTED BECAUSE THE MUSIC
WAS THAT MUCH BETTER.
DANNY: TO ME IT’S LIKE, I’VE BEEN DOING THIS MY WHOLE LIFE, SO WHY SELL OUT NOW? I AM BEING HONEST,
SO WHEN I GO SEE BANDS PERFORM, I DEMAND HONESTY AS WELL YOU KNOW? IT’S JUST ONE OF THOSE
THINGS. WHEN I WRITE SONGS, I’M NOT LIKE “OH THIS ONE SUCKS” (both laugh) SO IT’S AN HONESTY THING THAT
DOES IT FOR ME.
M4M: NOW THAT YOU’RE ON TOUR, HOW DOES IT WORK OUT THAT YOU HAVE 2 MEMBERS, KEVIN AND ERIC,
THAT ARE NOT ONLY IN FOSTERCHILD BUT IN TANTRIC AS WELL?
DANNY: WELL IS ACTUALLY GOING VERY WELL! WE’RE ALL UNDER THE SAME RECORD LABEL ALONG WITH
FRAMING HANLEY THAT’S TOURING WITH US, AND WE ALL WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER. IT KIND OF CAME
ABOUT A LONG TIME AGO WHEN FUEL WAS TOURING WITH TANTRIC AND KEVIN AND HUGO (OF TANTRIC)
BECAME CLOSE FRIENDS. SO WHEN FOSTERCHILD CAME AROUND, HUGO WAS WORKING ON A SIDE PROJECT
AND HAD ASKED HIM TO DO A COUPLE OF SHOWS AND IT WOUND UP BECOMING SOMETHING ELSE. THEN ERIC
CAME ABOUT AND THEY PICKED HIM UP AS WELL. HE’S AN UNBELIEVABLE SINGER AND IS EXTREMELY
AWESOME. THE COOLEST THING IS THAT I CAN GO HIGH WHILE ERIC HAS THIS CRAZY MEDIUM, ITS BEAUTIFUL.
THEN YOU HAVE HUGO WHO JUST CRUSHES IT! ITS FUCKING INSANE! MY LOWEST LOW IS LIKE HUGO’S HIGHEST
HIGH YA KNOW? (both laugh)…BUT BACK TO THE QUESTION (laughs again), WE PLAYED A SONG WITH HUGO AND
THE LABEL LOVED IT. SO THEY SIGNED TANTRIC ONTO THE LABEL AS WELL. SO THEY JUST KEPT USING KEVIN
AND ERIC FOR THIS WHOLE THING. IT’S REALLY HELPED FOSTERCHILD ALONG THE WAY. AT FIRST WE DIDN’T
KNOW HOW IT WAS GOING TO WORK, BUT NOW, IT JUST WORKS PERFECTLY. IT’S INSANELY WEIRD HOW WELL
WE ALL GET ALONG. THEY’RE ALL LIKE MY BROTHERS. THERE AREN’T ANY EGO’S OR ANYTHING, SO IT WORKS
OUT SO WELL.
BRIAN: INITIALLY FOR ME, IT WAS AWKWARD AT FIRST BECAUSE I DIDN’T KNOW HOW IT WOULD WORK. BUT
ONCE WE GOT ON THE ROAD, IT WAS US AND TANTRIC. WE GET ALONG SO WELL THAT US AND TANTRIC ARE
ALL THIS BIG FAMILY. IT’S DEFINITELY OFF THE CENTER, BUT I LOVE IT AND IT’S WORKING. WE’RE SELLING THIS
PACKAGE. IT REMINDS ME OF THE OLD DAYS WHERE THEY USED TO DO THE MOTOWN TOURS WHERE ALL THE
BANDS WOULD BE ON THE SAME BUS TOGETHER, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? OLD SCHOOL SHIT (everyone
laughs). I AM TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH IT, IT’S BAD ASS WITH MINIMAL DRAMA AND EVERYTHING.
M4M: WHEN ALL 4 OF YOU PLAYED TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME, WAS THE INITIAL REACTION THAT YOU
GOT?
DANNY: GOOSE BUMPS IS THE BEST REACTION I CAN I GIVE. THE THING IS, IS THAT WE WRITE EVERYTHING
TOGETHER. LIKE BRIAN AND I WILL WORK SOMETHING OUT WHEN WE’RE BACK HOME IN PHILLY, WE’LL SEND IT
TO KEVIN AND ERIC AND THEY’LL ADD SOME CRAZY MIX TO IT THAT MAKES EVERYTHING WORK. SOMETIMES
KEVIN WILL COME IN AND SAY “I’VE GOT THIS SONG” AND WE’LL ADD TO IT. SOMETIMES ERIC WILL COME IN AND
DO THE SAME. THE FUNNY THING IS, IS THAT“DON’T LET GO” WAS WORKED OUT LIKE THIS. KEVIN AND BRIAN
WERE IN KENTUCKY WITH HUGO AND ERIC AND I WERE HOME. IT’S ONE OF ERICS OLD SONGS THAT HE HAD,
THAT WE WORKED A CHORUS OUT FOR. SO WHEN THEY GOT HOME, WE ALL GOT TOGETHER AND THE SONG
WAS MAGIC. ONE OF OUR OTHER SONGS “ON MY OWN”WAS KIND OF LIKE THAT TOO. IT WAS WRITTEN IN
KEVINS GARAGE AND THAT GOOSE BUMPS FEELING IS EXACTLY WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT SONG. IT WAS THIS
PROCESS OF KEVIN ADDING SOME PARTS, ERIC JUMPING IN AND LAYING PIECES DOWN, BRIAN COMES IN
COMBINING HIS TOUCH. THE SONG BASICALY WROTE ITSELF. IT WAS INSANE. I HAD THESE WORDS FLOATING IN
MY HEAD AND ADDING THESE TO THE SONG MADE EVERYTHING WORK OUT. I WAS SO HAPPY THAT THAT SONG
BECAME OUR SINGLE. THE RECORD LABEL LOVED IT. THAT’S LIKE ONE OF THE HIGHEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE.
I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED (both laugh).
BRIAN: IT JUST COMPLETELY MADE SENSE. THERE WASN’T ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT. THEY BROUGHT IN
THESE 3 DUDES AND IT WASN’T LIKE AN AUDITION TYPE THING AT ALL. WE HAD LIKE 3 SONGS WRITTEN BY THE
END OF THE DAY. IT WAS WARM AND FUZZY! (everyone laughs)
M4M: HOW DOES IT WORK FOR KEVIN AND ERIC TO PLAY 2 SHOWS IN ONE NIGHT? YOU’D THINK THAT AFTER
ONE SHOW, THEY’D BE EXHAUSTED!
DANNY: I THINK I CAN ANSWER THIS ONE (everyone laughs) AT FIRST WE WERE PLAYING, THEN ANOTHER BAND
THEN TANTRIC, BUT IT ENDED UP WORKING BETTER FOR THEM TO PLAY RIGHT AFTER. IT’S KIND OF LIKE A
WARM UP FOR THEM IN A SENSE. WE’RE STRAIGHT UP ROCK N ROLL. IT HELPS TO WARM UP ERICS VOICE AND
HELPS HIM FOR THE SECOND SET. PLUS, THEY GET PAID TWICE (everyone laughs)!
M4M: WE’VE ALREADY MENTIONED A FEW SONGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ON THE NEW RECORD “INDEPENDENCE
DAY,” WHAT IS/ARE A SONG(S) THAT CALL OUT TO YOU MORE THAN OTHERS OFF OR ON THE RECORD?
BRIAN: OFF THE RECORD, OUR SONG STRONGER. WE RECORDED LIKE 22 SONGS FOR THE RECORD AND IT
WAS ONE THAT DIDN’T GET PUT ON THIS ALBUM BUT I THINK IT ENCOMPASSES THE WHOLE “INDEPENDENCE
DAY” RECORD AS A WHOLE. IT’S THAT ONE SONG THAT MAKES US FEEL LIKE WE’RE GETTING OUR LEGS
UNDER US.
DANNY: I’M GOING TO SAY ON THE ALBUM, “MISSION.”
BRIAN: ON THE ALBUM, “RATTLESNAKE” I FUCKING LOVE THAT SONG!
M4M: BEING AROUND THE SAME PERSON OR PEOPLE FOR THAT MATTER CAN GET TO BE MUCH AT TIMES BUT
IN THE SAME TOKEN, WORTH SO MUCH MORE AS STORIES AND MEMORIES ARE MADE. WHAT ARE SOME THAT
YOU’VE ENCOUNTERED?
DANNY: THERE WAS THIS ONE TIME THAT OUR BUS BROKE DOWN AND BRIAN AND I WERE “STUCK” IN LA WHILE
KEVIN AND ERIC WERE IN LAS VEGAS. IT WAS THIS WHOLE, “WE MIGHT AS WELL ENJOY OURSELVES WHILE WE’
RE HERE” MENTALLY YOU KNOW? WE HAD A BUDDY THAT’S IN A BAND FROM LA THAT LIVED LIKE 4 BLOCKS
AWAY FROM THE STRIP THAT LET US STAY THERE UNTIL OUR BUS GOT FIXED. SO IT WAS AWESOME TO BE
LIKE “SO, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO TODAY? WANNA WALK TO THE STRIP?” IT WAS AWESOME TO BE ABLE
TO DO THAT AND SEE EVERYTHING DOWN THERE. WHAT BETTER WAY TO SPEND A FEW DAYS OFF RIGHT?
(Everyone laughs)…
DANNY: DUDE, (to Brian) THAT’S A SICK SHIRT.
BRIAN: YEA DUDE, I DON’T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM, I ACQUIRED THIS. IT WAS IN MY LAUNDRY AND I WAS
LIKE “NICE! NEW SHIRT!” (everyone laughs) HOW DID I GET IT? IT WAS LIKE IN MY LAUNDRY!
DANNY: IT LOOKS GOOD ON YA THOUGH! (Laughs) SEE, (points to his jeans that have a whole in the knee) WE EVEN
DUCK TAPE OUR JEANS!
BRIAN: YEA, WE’RE TOTALLY LIVING IT! (Everyone laughs)
M4M: WHAT IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THE BAND? WE KNOW YOU SHARE
A DRUMMER AND A BASSIST WITH ANOTHER BAND, A TOUR BUS AND NOW EVEN SHIRTS (everyone laughs)
DANNY: THAT WE’RE AN HONEST, STRAIGHT UP ROCK BAND. OUR LIVE SHOWS ARE PRETTY MUCH SELF
EXPLANATORY. WE HAVE OUR CD, OF WHICH WE’RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF AND LOVE IT, BUT SEEING US LIVE
AND PERFORMING IS A WHOLE OTHER BALL GAME.
M4M: LISTENING TO AN ARTIST/BANDS CD IS ONE THING, BECAUSE YOU GET THE EMOTION TO A CERTAIN
EXTENT AND YOU IMAGINE WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE SONG, BUT SEEING IT LIVE BRINGS ANOTHER DIMENSION
TO THE MUSIC AND ARTIST/BAND ITSELF. THERE’S MORE OF EVERYTHING AT A LIVE SHOW AND YOU’RE ABLE
TO GRASP MORE OF SOMETHING YOU LOVED BEFORE, NOW YOU LOVE IT EVEN MORE.
DANNY: YEA, MOST DEFINITELY! IT’S THE BEST 45 MINS OF YOUR LIFE! (everyone laughs)
M4M: GROWING AS A BAND AND TOURING RIGHT NOW, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS OR GOALS THAT YOU GUYS
HAVE SET OUT PERSONALLY OR AS A WHOLE THAT YOU SEE AS BEING AN ACCOMPLISHMENT ON IT’S WAY?
DANNY: FOR ME PERSONALLY, I’D LIKE TO JUST GET OUR STUFF OUT THERE, GET IT OUT THERE. WE’RE IN THE
SITUTATION NOW, THAT WE’RE DOING IT, WE’RE GETTING ON THE RADIOS AND GETTING OUT THERE. WE’RE
NOT JUST SITTING IN A BAR DOING SOMETHING, WE’RE ACTUALLY OUT THERE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
GET IT. I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO HEAR US AND SEE WHERE IT GOES YOU KNOW?
BRIAN: I WANT TO CONQUER EARTH! (everyone laughs!) NAH, I’M TOTALLY WITH DANNY ON THAT ONE, JUST GET
OUR STUFF OUT THERE.
DANNY: YEA I WANT TO CONQUER EARTH TOO! WELL, IF I CAN GET MY FOOT IN THE DOOR, THEY’LL ACCEPT
ME! (everyone laughs)
BRIAN: BASICALLY, JUST STAY ON THE ROAD, AND GET MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO HEAR US. GET THE WORD
OUT ON FOSTERCHILD AND MEET AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.
DANNY: GET OUR STUFF OUT THERE, GET THE VOICE OUT THERE, GETTING ON THE RADIO, DOING INTERVIEWS
LIKE THIS THAT ARE, WOW! WE LOVE THIS! YOU’RE THE REAL THING AND THIS IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING!
M4M: NO, THANK YOU! THIS IS THE REASON WHY WE’RE HERE AND WHY MUSIC IS HONEST, BANDS LIKE
FOSTERCHILD ARE WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR YOU GUYS
AND WE’LL BE THERE THE ENTIRE WAY!
DANNY AND BRIAN: NO THANK YOU! (everyone laughs) WE CAN’T WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO HEAR US AND
BECOME PART OF YOU SOMEHOW!
Interview by: Chelsey Goraczkowski
Edited by: Joshua Koloski