In today’s A-Z challenge, Stone Horses tells us all about the band through 26 fun questions!
A song that made you want to make music?
Teddy: “Cold Gin” by KISS. Anything Ace Frehley played just made me wanna write and turn it up loud!
John: Probably the first time I heard “Smoke on the Water” vibrating through the walls of my parents’ house when I was a little kid. The neighbor’s older sons were trying to form a band and of course that was one of the songs they were playing! Lol. That riff is something I will always remember hearing as a kid.
Best rider you have had?
Teddy: Any one that gets approved, ha!
John: Usually the best rider’s are provided by colleges. They think they have to cater to every whim. When I was still playing drums, the band I was in decided to tuck something in the rider deep in a later paragraph just to see if anyone actually read it… It said something about providing for 3 reasonably attractive women (I was married, so presumably the joke was that it was for the other 3 guys). Needless to say, that was never fulfilled and long before the #Metoo movement. Ha!
Craziest moment in the band?
Teddy: When our first single “Reckless Ways” took off out of nowhere. We went from 0 to 100 very fast and haven’t looked back.
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
Teddy: For me, personally? “I always thought that I was gonna die young” from the song “Die Young” off our new record ‘Redemption Chronicles’.
John: I don’t like to ever think of anything I write as too deep or analytical, however, a while back in my deepest depression I wrote a song called “End of the World”. It’s hard for me to watch the video now. I have a real gun in the storyline that involves suicidal ideation.
Easiest song you wrote?
Teddy: “Broken Hearts Broken Bones” went together pretty quickly, it just felt right. “End of The World” is another.
John: Hmmm, are any really easy hehe? I think “Free” and “Broken Hearts Broken Bones”. Those two are the ones that, for me, were inspired by cool ass guitar riffs. Some things inspire and other things do not. You can’t force things and those two songs just lit a fire under me to write the best lyrics and melodies I could.
Favourite song in your set?
Teddy: Probably a tie between “Flirtin With The Devil” and “Broken Hearts Broken Bones”. And “FAFO” is fun to jump around to, Ha!
John: Oh, I can’t just pick one! “Free” and maybe “FAFO”.
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
Teddy: Slash, for me, 100%.
John: Jimmy Page!
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Teddy: The unknown. But at the same time, that’s what makes it so very special.
John: Dividing up responsibilities!
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Teddy: We’re all an interesting bunch of guys haha! One’s a vice principal, one drives trains, one was a “Hunk of the Month”, and the other has a passion for drinking tequila (or do we all?) I’ll let you guess who is who…
John: One is a vice principal!!! I’m serious!
Jokes you have in the band?
Teddy: Mostly inside jokes. “Thanks a little!”
John: Well, the band van does this weird thing after driving it about 5 or 10 minutes down the highway at about 70 mph… the side door “pops” but it sounds like something hits the side of the van. It happened Saturday and our soundman was like: “What was that?” I was surprised he hadn’t experienced our “Door Ghost” yet.
Key to writing a song?
Teddy: Keep it simple, Powerful, memorable and to the core and essence of what you’re trying to say musically and lyrically. From the heart, from the gut!
John: 10% inspiration 90% perspiration.
Longest distance you’ve traveled to play a show?
Teddy: To Spokane, Washington opening for Greta Van Fleet. 3,000 miles or so? No sweat!!
John: Japan.
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Teddy: For me, personally, as far as well-known musicians I’d say Slash for sure. Of the more underground, Jaron Gulino.
John: Jay Buchanon
New band you’d recommend?
Teddy: Ace Monroe, Big Iron, Des Rocs, Dirty Honey
John: Reignwolf
Opening for this band would be ideal?
Teddy: If I had to choose, I’d say Dirty Honey or Des Rocs. But my goal and focus is to headline, we want to write our own story.
John: Rival Sons, Black Crowes, AC/DC
Place you’d most like to tour?
Teddy: Japan would be amazing. But any place where there’s a passionate crowd is where I wanna be!
John: Europe
Quote that you’d like to pass on to our readers?
Teddy: “Actually, I’m a Plumber!” –Ace Frehley
John: “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience” – Mark Twain
Reason for the title of your forthcoming release?
Teddy: The way I personally take it is, It’s redemption for all of our mistakes, the full journey of the band up to this point, the good the bad and the ugly, all here for listeners to hear. We’ve been through it all and have made it out the other side stronger than ever. It’s a great moment to reflect a bit, but at the same time, it’s the beginning of the next musical journey and era, full throttle into the future!
John: Well, the album is a compilation of tunes since the inception of the band, so we wanted a sort of “Best Of’ type of package but I wanted a more original title than that.
See us live at?
Teddy: November 9th at The Purple Moose in Ocean City MD, but we have a bunch more in the works that I can’t talk about yet. But be on the lookout!
John: Baltimore!
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
Teddy: In many ways I do agree, I really miss the danger of the old days of music. But we have no choice but to strive forward, we have to write our own destiny! And I don’t plan on obeying the rules!
John: No doubt that the rock landscape has changed. I love the dangerousness of say, Guns ‘N Roses! But so much of rock these days is kind of sanitized. Oh my! The singer said “Fuck”. When pop music is grittier in its lyrics and themes than rock music you know something has changed…
Unusual merchandise?
Teddy: Great question! We need to up our game on weird and bizarre merch haha! For now, we have each band member’s individual shirt designs.
John: Beer Koozies!
Variations you’d like to do on one of your songs?
Teddy: I love to jam out at the end of “Broken Hearts Broken Bones”.
What do your fans mean to you?
Teddy: Everything. Without them we are nothing, and all we work for means nothing. They are our lifeblood. And they are insanely loyal and passionate. I love them all!
John: Fans mean everything. The first single “Free” is a tribute to them.
X-rays or any other treatments needed for band injuries?
Teddy: Nothing yet, thank god!! I almost fell off the stage once, but caught myself. John says I need to commit to a full face plant next time haha!
John: I suffered a broken hand while on tour with my first band. I broke it on my guitarists head or a door frame (I’m not entirely sure, but one of them is the culprit).
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Teddy: Probably mine hahaha!
John: Our drummer… He’s almost always late.
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
Teddy: A wild stampede of horses, and maybe a tiger.
John: A howler monkey!