Interview with Brad

by David Jones

Tell us a little about Just Brad.

As a musician, collaborations are the center of my musical universe.  Just Brad is way of collaborating with myself essentially, while still "working" with others artist's recorded works.  It is also a fulfilling time killer on the road.

Do you see Just Brad as something that’s going to appeal to YLD/3eb fans, or a way for you to kind of branch out into an untapped genre of fans, or both?

As with all my musical endeavors, it satisfies a core need within myself initially and only in that way even become eligible for others to enjoy.  My great hope is that anybody and everybody can enjoy it only half as much as I do. 

It’s a pretty significant departure from your other music. How’d you get into it?

My interest in DJing I suppose has something to do with me being introduced to Run DMC's Raising Hell by my friend Craig Tomlinson in 7th or 8th grade.  (In fact I still quote one of Jam Master J'sbeats to this day, RIP) It was such a fundamental juxtaposition to AC/DC and Jimi Hendrix and  early Motely Crue, that it literally blew my mind. I then moved to Oakland, CA in 1991 and Dr Dre's Chronic again blew my mind. These were signposts alongside all the other music I was listening to and playing.  In 2000, I moved into a house and transformed the bar into a DJ booth and started buying $1 dollar vinyl by the bushel. In the back of my mind I always wanted to collaborate with a DJ but never had the opportunity. As DJing became digital in the last few years, suddenly I did not need to find someone to collaborate with, I could do it myself on my laptop...and play along.

I remember, a long while back, Arion talking about how much he dug mash-ups and how much respect he had for artists that created them. Did he have any impact on your interest in this field?

I got the impression that he did not get the big deal about DJ's, and maybe he is right. ha!

How do you find time for Just Brad between playing in two bands?

It is a really inspirational, musical use of free time on the road. I just kind of had to start doing it again recently and you always find time for things you have to do right?

What’s the significance of the 23 appended to your myspace profile (if any)?

When I got my first email address every form of my name was taken so I had to add a number to it.  Michael Jordan was performing his heroics at that time and I have always found him an inspiration in terms of his greatness, dedication and work ethic.  In a world consumed by fame, "personalities", and the media, he is a inspiring icon.  He is not famous because of his commercials, endorsements, and marketing. He is famous BECAUSE he developed the skill to  perform at the highest level. Everything else evolved from his play.  I like that.

You come from a jazz background. Does that impact you as a rock drummer at all? Do you ever see it coming through in certain songs in particular?

I know it has some from of influence on what  I do now, most specifically my ability to improvise and go with the moment(most the time) in musical situations. 

Many of my influences, John Bonham, Mitch Mitchell, and Charlies Watts to name a few, were influenced by some jazz music.  I would like to believe it helped me in the same way.