Five Finger Death Punch

Jason Hook first picked up the guitar at age 6. He also trained on drums, piano, and violin. Jason has worked as a solo artist releasing two instrumental albums, the first of which, Safety Dunce, won an L.A Music Award for Best Instrumental Record of 2007. He also works as a sessions artist and has appeared alongside Vince Neil and Alice Cooper. He is currently an active member in the band Five Finger Death Punch.

Maximum Ink: What was it like to begin guitar lessons at the age of 6? You also trained on several other instruments. Why do you think you chose to become a guitarist?
Jason Hook:  I was obsessed with KISS when I was 6 years old. My next door neighbor brought over the destroyer album and I couldn’t stop staring at the cover while we cranked the music. That was it. I begged my dad to get me a drum set and an electric guitar. I was such an eager spaz I wanted to be Ace Frehley and Peter Criss!

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Five Finger Death Punch

Five Finger Death Punch has exploded onto the metal scene with a power and vengeance that has not been seen since the likes of Pantera when they kicked the “Grunge Scene” in the teeth in the 90’s.  Recently I was given the opportunity to sit down with Ivan Moody (vocals), Chris Kael (bass), Jeremy Spencer (drums) and Jason Hook (guitar) and pick their brains about the new album and random thoughts. 5FDP sat down with Mike Smith of Maximum Ink Magazine to discuss their new album, what makes them tick and what pisses them off!

Maximum Ink:  Who wants to tell me about the new album?
Ivan Moody:  American Capitalist out Oct 11th of this year.  For me lyrically it was probably the most painful and personal album I have done yet and I know the guys put their heart and souls into this. I am sincerely proud of this one and I know a lot of musicians say that, but I truly believe this was our best work of art up to this point.
Jason Hook: You know we work really hard on these records and all I can say is that, to me it sounds like an extension of “War Is the Answer”. It seems like a logical side 3 and 4 if you were to put them together.  It has only been since October of 09 and we started recording this December 2010 and we are pretty much the same people and not a lot has changed, so we just pounded another one out.

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Flogging Molly

They’re back. This seven piece ensemble has been packing venues full of Irish traditionalists and punk rockers all over the world. And now they are setting off across the United Sates on their annual Green 17 Tour. So, grab those dancing shoes and check out the show in Milwaukee on March 12th or check out their website to see when they’re coming through your city. I had a chance to talk with my old friend Dennis Casey (guitarist) about the new CD/DVD and Tour. Do read.

MAXIMUM INK: It seems like so long since you’ve toured through the Midwest. What have you been doing in the meantime?
DENNIS CASEY: We did our first ever full tour of Canada, from Halifax to Vancouver. We usually just play Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Took a month off, then we played a New Years show in LA. Took another month off. So I’ve been hanging out at home for a while.

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Colt Ford

Colt Ford was introduced to country fans on his debut album Ride Through the Country, which included a unique take on Gene Watson’s “No Trash In My Trailer.” The album also featured appearances by artists Jamey Johnson, Bone Crusher, Adrian Young of NoDoubt, and Jeremy Popoff of Lit. Ford has three albums to his credit and three singles that reached the Hot Country Songs charts. The single, “Country Thang,” off his upcoming studio album titled Every Chance I Get recently debuted on the country singles chart. Maximum Ink had a chance to catch up with Ford in a very honest one-on-one interview.

Maximum Ink: What was it like growing up in Georgia?
Colt Ford: Georgia was the best place in the world for me and where I will always call home. I had everything I needed there— great hunting and fishing— and a great place for sports. Just good country living.

MI: Do you have any amusing stories from your childhood to share with our readers?
CF: I have so many. We would never finish this interview. I have amazing parents, great friends, and great family. My early life was really special. Now, I have a wonderful wife who is my best friend and two great kids. I guess every day is special for me.

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Four Twenty

420 is not a band with a story of California glitz and glamour. 420 is not a band recounting brutal management dramas or record label feuds. 420 is not about image. According to vocalist Mike Kerry, 420 is about limitless musical boundaries, finding truth in life, and following a dream out of the Midwest into the great beyond.

Formed in early 1998, Mike Kerry, Tom Parrott, John Pond and Mike “Bunj” Bunjan have been causing quite a stir in their hometown of Rockford, Illinois.  In 1999, the group won the Rockford Area Music Industry’s Critic’s Choice for “Composer of the Year” for their debut EP “In Four Twenty”. Another RAMI followed the same year for the song “Hands or Time”. Although the band is fairly new to the music scene, Mike and Tom Parrott have been expressing their passion for innovation for over a decade.  “The thing about the members of the band”, Mike explains, “is that we all either own businesses or have huge responsibilities to them. We want to succeed, but we have lives too.”  This has kept 420 fairly localized for 3 years.

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Ace Frehley

Legendary lead guitarist Ace Frehley is no stranger to playing Madison, Wisconsin, having appeared here no less than seven times with his former group KISS, but November 7th’s Majestic Theatre show will mark the first time Frehley has played MadTown as a solo performer. In fact, the Majestic gig will be only the fifth live performance he’s made since the release of his long awaited CD Anomaly this past September. Wisconsin’s Frehley fanatics are also lucky enough to witness a November 6th appearance at Potawatomi’s Northern Lights Theater in Milwaukee. I asked Ace about his recently postponed Australian tour, which will be another first for Frehley as a solo performer.

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Guns n’ Roses

Richard Fortus has graced the stage with artists like Rihanna,The Psychedelic Furs, Nena, Love Spit Love, Honky Toast, The Compulsions, Thin Lizzy, and most recently Guns N’ Roses, with a stage presence that is nothing short of amazing. His work with the music production company Compound has seen his work featured in various tv, film, advertising and videogame projects. Fans of the former television show Charmed have enjoyed his work on the theme song as well. His work ethic and drive led to his being one of the most sought after first call sessions artists in NYC.

Maximum Ink: Who were some of your earliest influences?
Richard Fortus: The Beach Boys, Beatles, Stones, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, T Rex, Neil Young.

MI: As someone who has studied music professionally do you recommend formal training to others? What advice would you offer the musicians of tomorrow?
RF: It really depends on what you want to do. It’s definitely not necessary, but I always wanted to gain all the skills possible to be as good of a musician as possible. I always wanted to learn everything I could about music. You never stop learning.

MI: You started playing the violin and drums as a child. What made you want to become a guitarist?
RF: There were always guitars around the house when I was growing up. I was always pretty intimidated by them because they had 6 strings and I had my hands full with 4! I always loved guitar though. Guitars are just so sexy! 

When I was about 12, I used to jam with other kids and they started showing me stuff. I became fairly adept very quickly. I always hung around older kids that were much more advanced. They hung out with me because at a very young age, I was a pretty solid drummer and they all played guitar.

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