Do you listen to contemporary music?
I definitely listen to contemporary music. There are lots of great bands that are huge and just coming up. I see so many inspiring bands at every show that Battery plays. My favorite band has to be Mastadon right now. They write mind-blowing music and are the epitome of Rock N Roll. Those guys didn’t start that band until they were in their early thirties. They have a real love for what they do and it shows. I have nothing but respect for those dudes. – Brent
Yeah you have to. All of these people on facebook who keep talking about Taylor Swift and shit need to take a walk outside for a moment and go to a record store or library. - alexander
What is your most disgracefully rock and roll moment?
"We were set to play a show at Arlene's Grocery in the lower east side, NYC, and I had been day drinking pretty heavily. By the time we got to the club I was pretty smashed and I was still on drums and singing for half the show. It was pretty sloppy with me on drums but when I got up to just sing and John manna, our drummer at the time, took over it went overboard. The microphone had fell out of my hand as I crashed to the floor and the sound guy ran up and put his hands around my neck. I immediately started shouting obscenities and being stupid. I was dragged out the side door, literally off the stage. Band was pissed at me, John the drummer tried to hit me with his cymbal bag, I almost killed him. Everyone was mad at me, but it happens. I've learned my lesson I'm a much nicer boy now. - Ron
Have you any unfulfilled musical ambitions?
I want to make my living off being a touring band. I wanna tour the world, play huge festivals, and always be out on the road. There is nothing that sounds better to me than living that lifestyle. It’s great to meet new people and connect with an audience. We have toured and done some big stuff in projects other than Battery. I wanna get Battery to that level. We have time so we will be working on getting there. – Brent
If you could compose with anyone living or dead who would it be?
We have a connection to Jesse Hughes of Eagles of Death Metal through our buddy Jim at Asbury Park Denim. I think it would be amazing to get him to produce something for us in the future.
What does the future hold for Rock bands? Have they stopped evolving? Will they ever stride the globe again?
Contrary to popular belief right now, I don't think rock ever died. All of our favorite rock bands are underground really, all still touring. Main stream rock kinda always sucked, with the exception of a good amount of stuff from the 60s and 70s.. Also rock n roll is defiantly not dead because Chuck Berry and Little Richard are still alive! - Ron
Rock music has never stopped evolving and it is still going strong all over the globe. Maybe it’s not getting the attention that Carley Ray Jepson is reaching but fuck that noise. Rock music will never die and music like that will be forgotten throughout the tides of time. – Brent
Can music still have the power to change the world in 2015?
Damn straight it can. – Brent
What are your plans for 2015 and beyond?
Touring, writing, and having a good time. - Brent
Thinking back to your early memories of music, what was it that first made you decide you needed to be in a Rock and Roll band?
I was an outcast in middle school. I found solace when I found punk rock. I made friends with the other misfits at my school. I started going to local shows, formed my own band, and booked my own shows. All the bands that would play local VFWs were my inspiration to play music. They had the energy, the fun, the connection, and the feeling that this moment is a once in a lifetime occurrence. I feel lucky to have grown up when I did and where I did. New Jersey in the late nineties and early 00’s had a great hardcore, punk, and Ska scene. Lots of legendary shit came out of it. Who knows when we will see another time like that again? - Brent
From what you’ve learned so far what is the most valuable advice you’ve been given so far as a musician?
My old bass teacher, Tony Cimorosi, told me “Learn how to hang”. Those four words have never left me. It can apply to lots of different situations. You need to learn how to talk to people. You need to make sure you’re on top of your game so you can play at your best at all times. You can’t get nervous when you’re playing to a big crowd. You gotta be prepared for your van to break down, that you might play to no one, and not everybody is gonna like what you do. Don’t take anything too seriously and keep on going when it might seem hopeless. You need to have a strong nerve. Gotta be tough if you wanna be in this industry. - Brent
If you could have been a ‘Fly on the wall’ for the creation of any great album from any period, just to see how the magic happened and it all came together, what would it have been for you any why?
It would have been cool to see what the Beatles Abbey Road sessions were like. Seeing a band that were on top of the world, and were making pretty amazing works of art. That’s a truly rare thing to see in pop music these days. Most bands that huge can’t be that prolific. Anyways, to see the drugs they were taking, the fights they were getting into, the women they were fornicating, and just the process of how they wrote. It would have been pretty good. “She’s So Heavy” is one of the best songs ever written. The building blocks of heavy metal were being mixed during those sessions. They and the world didn’t even realize it yet. - Brent
What is the meaning of life?
Get over yourself and don’t get it twisted. Lets all have a good time. - Brent
If you only listen to one new band this year let it be THE BATTERY ELECTRIC! - Mark Rockpit
The Battery Electric spoke to Mark Rockpit - March 2015 |