April’s Features: Deftones Interview, Jackie Boyz Interview, How To Score!, Understanding 4G (mobile networks) Final Fantasy 13, Concert Survival Guide Volume 1, School of Rock: The Musicademy, FREE REIGN (Dallas Cowboys), Warrant (the band) Interview, DJ STatic, and more!

Trainwreck is an ecclecctic rock ‘n’ roll band that has been together 7 years and are embarking on their first tour in support of their new release The Wreckoning.  We caught up with KG himself for a Q & A about his career, a possible sequel to the cult favorite Tenacious D & The PIck of Destiny, and all things Trainwreck.

I read recently that your first gig was for Coca-Cola. What did you do for them? What was it like?

What did I do? Really, what did I do?  My first job was a 7up commercial a million years ago. NO NO I DO NOT REMEMBER THAT!

I’m sorry I read that on a fan page.

Well, it must be true then. Haha.

You have made many cameos in several places from Music Videos (Foo Fighters), to Television (Seinfeld), even feature films (Saving Silverman), which has been your favorite cameo?

My favorite cameo is definitely in Elf.  It’s just that I’ve always wanted to be in a movie that’s played every year.  Every Christmas it’s on. It’s kind of like a new a classic.  Saving Silverman was fun one too.  But really all works is good.  No, that’s not true I was cut out of Idle Hands  and some other really bad movies like Dumb and Dumber. I thought to myself
”damn, I’m not funny enough to be in Dumb and Dumber? Which now is like the least funniest movie of all time.”  But I suppose if I had to be cut out of a movie it’s best to be cut out of the bad ones.

How did you feel about your appearance in the Video Game “Brutal Legend” as Kage the Cannoneer?

That was fun! I had never done anything like that.  But in all seriousness they (the game designers) do the heavy lifting on that.  Basically I just went to a sound studio and read all the lines they told me too.  It’s definitely a different genre to be a part of and well it’s nice to be in a video game all huge and powerful.

Is it true you taught Jack Black to play the guitar?

I Did! That one is true, he was a pretty accomplished singer but I was surprised he wasn’t able to play an instrument. So I told him “dude, you need to learn to play something to accompany yourself.”  So I began to teach him a few things on guitar and he picked it up right away.  He would just sit on my couch and strum the same chords over and over.  I’ve known Jack for about 20 years now.  Shit! I’m getting old how did that happen?

What can people expect from your new project Trainwreck?

Well, it’s not actually new it’s been about 7 years in the making,  we’ve just been hitting it off and on.  It’s just a kick ass rock n roll band.  We play music in a highly stylized entertaining fashion. We’ll melt your faces or make you smile and then the smile melts and you’re not even aware of it.  The good news is that we have a Trainwreck reconstructive surgery center just for that.

Tell us a little bit about your new music video “Brodeo.”

It’s an awesome song we put out just as a song for bros having a good time.  There are time when there are no girls allowed. It’s a time for having fun with your bros watching Jean Claude Van-Dam and playing beer pong. I think we really captured the Brodeo spirit.

This is your first tour, what are your thoughts?

Well, we just played Flagstaff, Arizona and we’re actually a few days into the tour and so far, so good.  We had a nice turn out and now we’re heading Albaquerque.  We wanna play every city in the US!  We wanna home deliver rock and it’s not really convenient but we’re gonna try to do it.  We’re kinda like the CENSUS OF ROCK! Time willing of course.

What can you tell us about The Wreckoning?

It’s truly a modern masterpiece produced by John Spiker. It’s basically like our greatest hits. If it wasn’t a great song we didn’t put it on this record.  We worked about 13-18 hours a day for 3 weeks. The record came out great and it was long overdue. It truly does feels good. We were waiting for an evil producer who shall remain nameless. If you don’t go on the Trainwreck with KG and don’t buy the record you’re gonna be out of touch with modern culture and music as we know it today. YOU BETTER DO IT. YOU BETTER. IT’S GOOD!

Does Tim Blankenship really have an ‘86 I-ROC Z28, with dual over head cams, holly headers, and center line rims?

Well it’s in the song!  Yeah we aren’t sure he really exists but you know what, there’s a little bit of Tim Blankenship in us all, the guy that didn’t grow up but he’s still a cool guy.

What is a barn burnin’ button ruster?

It’s just a fancy way of saying it’s a hot steamy jam! You get the flavor that comes on right before JB Shredmen it starts off hot, gets hotter, then it actually bursts into flames.

How hard is it being a 5 headed hydra of pleasure?
Well, it’s harder than being a 1 headed hydra, because we have all those other heads and they’re probably a bit annoying.  It’s a lot of fun The Wreck is a team! This is a team sport , so not to hard really.

Who would win in a fight Trainwreck, Tenacious D, or the Kyle Gass Project?

I’m going to go with Trainwreck just by numbers!  The D is only 2 guys and in Trainwreck Darrell Donald is mountain and he will not lose in a fight. As far as The Kyle Gass Project it’s just me so i’d be fighting myself in a mirror and I’d definitely lose that one.  But in all honesty we’re men of peace and we don’t believe in violence.

Of your 3 alter-egos (Kyle Gass, Rage Kage, and Klip Calhoun) which would you say scores the most ladies?

I would say The Rage Kage, ah you know the ladies love The D. What can you do? When they see us it’s like an aphrodisiac. But i gotta say Klip Calhoun has his own charm.  Kyle Gass is just on his couch watching Jersey Shore, but we all love the ladies.

You’re being featured on the Spring Break issue, What is your favorite spring break moment?

I guess that one night in Fort Lauderdale when I had five co-eds doing a video shoot on my jock!  What is Spring Break? Is that college time? I’m so old i don’t even remember college. When was that? I do like the idea of Spring Break.  I encourage all the kids to drink responsibly.  Isn’t that an oxymoron really? If you’re gonna drink, why drink responsibly?

I know you’re a big cannabis enthusiast, what do you think the world can gain from the legalization of marijuana?

Well I’ve calmed down a bit. I used to be alot heavier into it but I’ve noticed that the older I get the more attached I am to my brain cells but I’m not going to lie I do indulge a bit every now and again.  I mean, everyone can figure it out it’s common sense we need to get out of the state we’re in.  We’re all adults and it’s the land of the free.  If you wanna smoke a bit of hooch at home who the hell should be able to stop you? Does the government really think we really eradicate all the pot smokers.  Every one does it and it’s almost legal now you can go to California and buy it from a store for God’s sake! It’s a hell of a lot better than being drunk that’s for sure. What’s really weird is that the government openly allows cigarettes and alcohol.  Here check this out here’s something ten times more addicting try kicking this habit!

These are a few questions that were sent in from our readers via
Facebook and Twitter.

Kenny: How many of those “special” pushups can you do?
I tell you what, I can do about a dozen but i might be losing some firmness for sure one and half.  If there happens to be a super hot girl around I can probably do about 5 or 6.

Leo:  Will there ever be a sequel to the Pick Of Destiny?

Well, I think if people write their congressman or start a letter writing campaign to the mayor of Hollywood it’s possible.  It wasn’t the box office sensation we had hoped for in the business they tell you you’re only as good as your last one.  It is show business after all. It’s difficult but i think we’re going to make a cartoon and it’ll be the best one out there. I think it will be on ADULT SWIM or something like that I’m not even supposed to say. It will be out early 2012 it’s going to help prevent the world from ending.

Marco: Kyle, What’s it like playing with Jack Black?

It is truly frightening but sometimes very satisfying.  He’s a great friend and collaborator.  He’s just a really talented and funny guy. Creating is hard but we tried really hard. He’s an amazing friend and we’ve had a great time.

I recently had the opportunity to talk to Cory Procter, Drummer of Free Reign and Dallas Cowboy Offensive Lineman, about his budding music career and here’s what he had to say:

Tell me how the band got formed?
It started with Marc Colombo and I jammin’ out on occasion and then Leonard Davis joined in. We started off much like a garage band, but the jam sessions went well and we started doing charity gigs and small shows at places like the Rock Room. About three years ago we played a charity event at the House of Blues in Dallas and then the Grenada Room shortly after and that’s when we started getting a lot of press about it.

How do you find time for both football and the band?
We have time in the offseason. We workout five days a week, but mostly in the morning so we’re done by noon. Then we get some time to go home and rest and later on we’ll meet up and practice in the evenings and on the weekends.

Has being in a band helped you guys on the field?
I definitely think it helps us on the field because it helps us gel. Both on the field and on stage we have to work together as a cohesive unit. In football we need all guys working together and it’s the same as a band. We’re friends in football and in the band.

With football being first, would you say this is the thing you are second best at?
I would say so (he says laughing). It’s more than a hobby. Hopefully after football we can continue this as a second career. We love what we’re doing and want to continue after football.

Who are some of your influences personally and what are the bands influences?
We all come from very different musical backgrounds. Marc and Justin are more metal heads. Marc is really into Metallica and bands like that, and Justin is more into the newer metal like Killswitch.  Leonard has a jazz background but he’s an all-around musician.  Me, I’m a lot like Leonard, an all-around musician, but I come from a country music background with rock influences too.

You’ve played in some pretty big football games in front of 10’s of thousands of people, How does being on stage compare?
The rush is the same.  It’s different in the opponent you face obviously. You’re not going against 300 pound defensive lineman, but you are facing an opponent. You’re going against yourself, trying to play the perfect show to please the fans. Trying to please the fans is also something we’re competing with every night.

Switching gears and asking a football question, you’re a restricted free agent this year, what happens to Free Reign if you get picked up by another team?
We would try to do things from a far, and in the offseason try and get together as much as possible. We’ve done things like that before where Justin will send me a riff and I’ll listen to the track and lay some drums on top of it. It’d be difficult, but since this project has become more serious we’d make it work.

Has Jerry (Jones) ever been to a show?
(laughing) He hasn’t been to a show before, but he knows about the band though. He doesn’t mind he lets us do our thing and doesn’t say much.  Wade Phillips on the other hand likes to get a laugh out of it. During practice he’ll throw out a Free Reign show out every now and then.

Bob Lopez

Free Reign will be on hand to open for Sevendust

March 22, 2010 at the Las Palmas Race Park

www.ez-tixx.com for tix & info

Check out the all new MAGX #51 hot off the press. It features interviews with an up and coming R&B singer from Houston freshly signed to Capital records going by the name of Bertell.  We also sat down with a new local metal band called What Lies Between Us, who are opening for Emmure and Otep later on.  Also we have all the information on a newly opened bartending school and more all compressed into this tiny little digital package for your enjoyment. Thank us later. MAGX STILL AND ALWAYS WILL BE INDEPENDENT AND PROUD!