Artist : Luck of the Draw Interviewed By : Big Daddy Clay Date : September 13, 2002 Site : www.lotd.com

BDC : Could you tell us a little about the origins of Luck of the Draw and just why you guys are claiming to be from Claremore, Oklahoma?
TB : I started the band in 1994 and now I'm the only remaining original member. Right now we have Chris Blackavar on drums, Eddie (Von Headache) Kasper on lead guitar and Rikky (Sixx) Reyes on bass. As for the Claremore connection, we have said we are from just about everywhere. It's been a running joke with the band since the beginning. For a long time, we told people we were from Shamrock, Texas. Most of the towns we claim to be from are towns we’ve played in. The whole hometown thing started out as a joke, every night I would say we are from a different town, now it's kinda unstoppable. People expect me to say we are from somewhere else. I even get people asking me before we play if I'll say I'm from their hometown…it's pretty funny to me. We just got off a tour that went to Salt Lake City Utah, maybe I'll say we are from there now.

BDC : I have had the chance to catch one of your live shows, I have to say that it is one of the most energetic, unpredictable and dangerous shows I've ever seen. Is there any thought before a show or is it just, “let's get out there and take no prisoners?”
TB : Well thanks…I remember the show you were at too. We had a blast that night! There isn't really a plan that we go by when we play. Most of the time we won't even have a set list, we just feel the crowd and play what we think they want to hear. The live show is completely spontaneous.

BDC : You have had the chance to play with a lot of good bands, is there any one that really sticks in your mind as a fun band to play with?
TB : Being an old punk rocker, I was thrilled to play with the Gears. Once we played with Dez Cadena's (formerly of Black Flag) new band, called the Mysteries. Those were both club dates and they were super cool! I would have gone to see them even if we weren't on the bill. We had a good time playing with Los Infernos. Usually when we play bigger venues with bigger bands or at festivals, I never get to see the headliner. We play to a lot of people who might be unfamiliar with us and after we play I work the merch booth or just talk to people and get feedback from them. Once when we played with the Reverend (Horton Heat), after our set a girl asked me for my autograph on her ass. After I signed my name, she went out and got it tattooed on her. I got pictures of it too. I'll never forget that night!

BDC : I know how much abuse your guitars take at a show, how many guitars do you go through a year? And, is there any truth to the rumor that you won't pay more than 100 bucks for one?
TB : I wouldn't pay much for guitars a while back, but it really hindered my sound, you play on crap, you sound like crap. So, last year I spent some money and bought some good guitars. I treat them a little better now, but they do take a beating. I've only broken one guitar beyond repair in the last year, all the others I was able to fix.

BDC: You guys have a really nice mixture of influences that come out in the band, could you tell us about hem?
TB : The way I see it is different than the way the next guy might see it. I'm influenced by late '70s/early '80s punk like MC5, Bad Brains, Black Flag and the like. I'm also influenced by early country like Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and all of the outlaws. There is a big rock 'n roll sound and influence to LOTD too, loud and fast guitars.

BDC : Is there one show that really sticks out in your minds as one of those "Damn, we tore the roof off that place!"?
TB : We played a Cinco de Mayo festival that we co-headlined with the Paladins. There was something like eight bands on the bill that day and a car show. It was packed in, Ed threw mexican candies to the crowd and we said we were from Chihuahua, Mexico. Some people after the show said we blew every band away. I had a great time and we played real well, but the Paladins are a great band, I'm not going to say we were better than them.

BDC : How many injuries have you sustained as the wildman/frontman for Luck of the Draw?
TB : Well, I just about broke my foot in Claremore, I think it ended up being a fracture. I couldn't take my boot off that night because my foot swelled up so big. I've dislocated my shoulder, cut my hands and sprained my wrist. I've hurt my back on a few falls too. Most of the injuries are feet, knees or ankle. I like to climb on top of stuff and jump off, I've got the jumping thing down it's the landing part that needs work.

BDC : Any word on when the new record will be out?
TB : It's almost done, we have recorded everything and have mixed all but one song. Once that one is done, then it's off to get mastered. We started recording in January 2002 and I'm real excited about getting it out to everyone. We really took our time with this one and hopefully it'll show.

BDC : What kind of music are you listening to currently? Any new bands we should be on the lookout for?
TB : In my truck right now is Monster Magnet's “God Says No” record. I bought it in Europe, so it has some cool bonus tracks on it. I haven't bought any new bands records in awhile, most new bands don't interest me much. I don't like rap-metal and I don't like pop-punk either. Most everything I listen to now is Robert Earl Keen, Steve Earle or 16 Horsepower. I really like the Old 97's a lot too. I listen to a lot of early metal, like Judas Priest. My favorite lesser known bands right now would definitely be the Devilheads from South Lake Tahoe, California. You should get in contact with them, you would dig 'em! Also there is the Unlucky Boys from Provo, Utah those guys rule! I love it when we get to play with either one of those bands.

BDC : You’re quite the hotrod collector, tell us about your bad ass rides.
TB : Well, I currently own a '63 Ford Galaxie 500XL that is my daily driver, but I'm doing a lot of custom work to it. I just shaved all the trim and door handles and I'm getting ready to put on a new exhaust. I also own a '62 Chevy 3/4 ton longbed truck with a 350 in it. It's basically just a ranch truck, it stands real tall and is covered in surface rust. I'm real happy with it, but I do want to lower it and paint it. I recently sold my '63 Lincoln Continental, that was a cool car. I own the LOTD tour bus as well, it's a '76 Chevy Cargo Van with a brand new 350 in it, as well. Ed just bought a new van with cruise control and AC and a TV and all the bells and whistles, so if we tour in that I'll be selling the van I own. I might pull the motor and tranny out of the van and put it in something real cool like a '27 Ford Truck and make it a rat rod, no paint no windshield, just a buckboard to sit on and a steering wheel. I'm also on the lookout for a Harley, I want a bike real bad right now, but we'll see.