The Fuzz Drivers
Interview by Tony & Bill @ The Dedicated Rocker Society
The Fuzz Drivers' sound is based on the Classic Rock of the 1960s and ‘70s, Blues/Rock and Southern Rock and features strong melodies and meaningful lyrics. It is pure, heart-pounding Rock ‘n’ Roll! The Fuzz Drivers are: Marcelo Viera, vocals, Duarte Carvalho, drums João Lopes, bass, Sérgio “Mad Mag”, guitar. Together this quartet of rock and roll mercenaries deliver a slab of rock music that pulls no punches and holds nothing back. The band have released their self-titled and self produced debut album to rave reviews. The Rocker and I wanted to find out what all the "Fuzz" was about. So we went straight to the source and got the lowdown from the band themselves. Here's what they shared with us....
FUZZ DRIVERS: Choosing a band name is never a simple task. After some suggestions from all of us I think it was Sergio who came up with the best idea. The idea for "Fuzz" and "Drive" came from two popular guitar effects which were first used during the 60's and 70's, two decades of music that have influenced the way we sound and write music. On the other hand, Fuzz stands for something that is not well defined, which is also a good representation of our music: a mixture between vintage and modern sounds.
How long have been together as a band?
FD: Sergio, Duarte and João have been playing together in different projects for quite some time now. Marcelo joined the band in 2011, after answering an ad the guys had posted in an online forum searching for a vocalist/lyricist.
A. How long did it take to record?
FD: The recording sessions were spread out between most of 2012. We took our time and focused on achieving the best results we could. There was no
pressure for us to rush it.
B. How many songs did you actually write for the album?
FD: There were quite a few that didn´t make the album. I would say that by the time we chose the ones that did make it, we had written about 20 or so.
C. Are you satisfied with how it turned out?
FD: We are really happy with the end product. Although we recorded and produced it ourselves, we couldn't have achieved the same results without the help of our good friend Tiago Santa Rosa who mastered The Fuzz Drivers album, and helped us bring it to another level.
FD: There are different bands and music styles that influence us, ranging from Soundgarden to Queen, Led Zeppelin and The Allman Brothers, Atlanta Rhythm Section and The Black Crowes. Our music has a bit of classic rock of the 60's and 70's mixed with southern rock, 80's glam and 90's grunge . We then blend it all in and the result is our sound.
Are there any new bands out right now that you like?
FD: Not really new, but a band we really like are the Rival Sons. We also recently discovered The Temperance Movement, Screaming Eagles and Monster Truck.
As a band, what goals have you set for yourselves?
FD: Our immediate goals are to tour extensively in and out of Europe, build a solid fan base and work on a new album.
Are you satisfied with the response your band is getting so far?
FD: We are truly amazed and thankful for all the positive feedback and support we are receiving from media and fans. The reviews have been great and we feel people genuinely like and can relate to our music. This is very rewarding for us and helps us spread the word as more and more people get to know us.
When you are not recording or touring, what do you like doing?
FD: We all like to spend time with family and friends and we like to have fun, party and so on. Beside that we all have our hobbies: Marcelo is a runner, Sergio is a motorcycle fan, Duarte likes the outdoors (mowing the lawn and taking care of the land) and Joao is into sports.
What is the music scene like in Portugal? Are you getting radio play there? ( We do hope so)
FD: There isn't a lot of support for bands playing rock in Portugal, nevertheless there are lots of awesome bands out here doing their thing. As far as radio is concerned, same thing happens. We only have airplay in one: Super FM radio. They discovered us and have been supporting the band and playing our music from the beginning. We have been featured in several podcasts and online radio shows here like Simbiose, Templo do Rock, SFTD Radio and Antena 3 Rock just to mention a few.
For the reader who is reading about The Fuzz Drivers for the first time, how would you describe your band?
FD: We are all about passion, fulfilment, happiness, fun and Rock'n'Roll. Our music is pretty much classic rock mixed with blues, country, southern rock, grunge with a melodic and modern approach. The most accurate description about our music could be the review of our self-titled album, made by Erika Thomas, for the Screamer Magazine on February 26th, 2013. Starts like this: 'Southern Rock from a Portuguese band? That would be correct! Influences from music of the past, three decades is heard, however, the result is a definite Southern Rock jam not to be denied."
Plans on coming to the U.S. as far as touring goes? When you do come over, who would you like to tour with?
FD: We are a live band, so YES, we foresee a tour in the US, however the logistics behind a tour preparation requires plans and resources not available to us yet. We know it's the most kick ass experience any band can have and we are willing to work hard to make it happen. (Hint, hint to anyone in the US willing to work with us!) Rival Sons, Black Stone Cherry, Buckcherry, Tracer... The list goes on and on :-)
Any parting comments for your fans?
FD: Thank you for the awesomeness support so far and we hope to see you all on the road soon! Please, keep spreading the word. We need your help to be able to make things happen!
Oh, make no mistake The Rocker and I will definitely get the word out on The Fuzz Drivers. If you like rock music, do yourselves a favor, check out this band. You'll be glad you did. - Tony & Bill
For more info on The Fuzz Drivers:
http://thefuzzdrivers.com/
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