Utter Trash--Lazerwolfs

Call of the Wild

An interview with Chris LaTray and Jimmy Rolle of Lazerwolfs

By Bob Ignizio

“I think that we play the music we want to regardless of any-and everything. I won’t lie and say I wouldn’t like to be made filthy rich by rock, but it isn’t the be-all, end-all of what we’re doing. We play music because we can’t NOT play music, you know? But I will say that I won’t play a style of music just because I think it could get me “a deal” or make me famous. That doesn’t seem very fun to me. If I wanted to do that I’d put on a cowboy hat and do that country pop bullshit that’s so popular. Of course I’d still need a good boob-job and a back-waxing to pull that off and that ain’t happening either,” says Lazerwolfs bassist/vocalist Chris LaTray. The Missoula, Montana based band also includes guitarist Jimmy Rolle and B. Henning “Bubba” Warne on drums. Chris says, “The Lazerwolfs have existed with this lineup for almost two years or so, I guess. Bubba and I have played together since the mid ’80s. We spent most of the ’90s out of Rock, but got back together again in ’99 or so. We were in a different band that another guy started, and then we started the Lazerwolfs as a side project with a different guitar player. Things didn’t work out with him, and two weeks later we were opening for Spirit Caravan with Jimmy as our guitar player. Things have been pretty good ever since.”

That’s despite the fact that Chris recently had to move to Ohio for his new job. “Well, this Ohio thing is only a temporary situation, at least that’s what I’ve been telling myself to survive it,” says Chris. “Oddly enough, though, it’s been a very productive year for us. When I was faced with the job offer I had to think of lots of stuff and a big part of it was the next steps I wanted to take with the band. If I had eked out a living in Montana, I would have gotten on my feet eventually, but we wouldn’t have been able to put the album out, at least not this year – and we were beyond ready to. Getting that thing out has been very helpful to spreading our name. It is just odd how things work out. I move away, and yet the band has probably its most productive year ever as far as spreading the word about who we are and what we do. And it’s only because of the internet, brother. So that’s pretty cool.”

The Lazerwolfs play a style of hard rock that lies somewhere between classic metal and stoner rock. Explaining how they arrived at their sound, Chris says, “Bubba and I are actually 10 years older than Jimmy, so our band influences are really a blend of two eras of music. We grew up with Maiden, Priest, KISS, all that stuff, while Jimmy was sucking on a pacifier. I also listen to some punk too, so you throw all that stuff into a practice room and what you get is what is on our record. Fu Manchu is probably where our paths cross.” Jimmy adds, “I think we all bring different pieces of influences in, and then play off one another once the vibe of a song is laid out. There isn’t a conscious decision to sound the way we do, but our influences show through in the end.” I also noticed some similarities to Robin Trower in Jimmy’s guitar playing but he says, “I wouldn’t cite Trower as an influence, but I think he must like some of the same artists we do. There have been two or three people who have used Trower to help describe our sound, so it must be on the money.” Jimmy also says the band draws inspiration from other sources besides music, stating, “Cool art in general, from paintings to acting, and even dance. Anything that stirs emotion can give me inspiration. A lot of times a certain tone or sound I want to pursue ends up leading to a riff or song. I think we draw a lot of inspiration from each other in song writing.”

Lyrically the band tries to strike a balance between hard rock’s traditional wine, women, and song subject matter and more socially aware topics. Chris says, “I wrestle with whether or not politics and the like are appropriate in the style of music we play. Anger is fine, but I don’t want to be pissed off all the time either. Sex? Definitely . . . Life and Rock alike – Rock IS Life – ultimately boil down to getting laid. Nonetheless, we do live in a period of our history where I really think our liberty and personal freedoms are more at risk than they have been for some time, and I’m not talking about threats from beyond our own government. I read an article that said something like 70% of Americans are willing to trade a certain degree of personal freedom in order to be “secure.” That troubles me, and I think something needs to be said about it.” Jimmy adds, “We basically say what we want to say. There isn’t any editing for the sake of not offending people. What I want people to understand is that they need to think about issues. Not what to think, just that they need to make choices, not just roll around in apathy. Ignorance is not bliss. Truth is not necessarily merely what one chooses to believe.”

When not rocking out, the Lazerwolfs lead pretty laid back lives. Jimmy says, “I like to do a lot of hunting and fishing, especially in the early fall. September in Montana is as good as it gets, of anywhere I’ve ever been. Pursuing the mighty Wapiti with the bow and arrow is what it’s all about. Then slaying a couple of trout for dinner in the evening. We are all family men too, so a lot of our free time is spent with our wives and kids. I do some recording in the off time, but prefer to record bands I know or am involved with.” Chris is pretty much on the same wavelength, saying, “Get out in the woods, man. Go get on a river or jump in a lake. Get away from the world. Hang out with family. Maybe see a movie. I do a ton of reading. Real basic, in-bed-before-eleven-type stuff. I wish I had something wild and crazy to tell you, but I’m a pretty mellow guy. I don’t live the party life, and I don’t ever intend to. You don’t need to be a fucking inebriate or junkie to Rock.”

The Lazerwolfs plan to do some touring this year out west, hopefully including a spot on Portland’s “Stoner Hands of Doom” festival. Chris says, “If we can make enough noise, maybe we’ll be rewarded with an invite to play Emissions in Youngstown next year, but I’m not holding my breath.” As for the band’s goals, Chris says, “If I could make $35K or $40K a year playing music, I would be stoked. You know what would be the ultimate? To be huge somewhere else, like Japan, or Australia or South America, and only moderately known Stateside. That would be cool. Make enough to live on, enough to be able to bring friends and family along for weeks at a time, but not compromise the ability to have a normal life. I don’t care about ever having my ugly mug on a banner in Times Square, but it would be cool to have a gold record someday, somewhere. Who wouldn’t want that? If you don’t want people to like your music, or listen to it, then why the hell are you taking it to the people in the first place?”