Crazy Lixx (Danny Rexon) Interview:

11 Questions with Danny of Craxy Lixx

1. New Religion - Definitely right up our alley. The sound is incredible and we can tell you guys left it all on the CD. But we have to know the story behind the title!

Compared to when we released our debut album, Loud Minority, we have a new line-up, a new record label, a somewhat new view on song writing, new skills and a whole new decade to play with. For us, a revival of the music we love is what we believe in, our new religion.

2. This album has received a lot of acclaim from Metal media and it seems that North America is ready for that hard edge sleazy sound again. Has the band always known that great music like this can't be held down for long?

We've always hoped. But deep inside I've always known that we couldn't possibly be alone in our love of 80's hard rock and as time progressed we've kind of felt like we were on to something here. But let me tell you, when we started this band we didn't know if we'd even have a single person in the audience understanding what we wanted to do and at some occasions, at the beginning of our career, that was the case. Nowadays you don't have to do as much explaining anymore, you just do your thing and people instantly start to think about the great hard rock bands of the 80's and early 90's that we've been influenced by.

3. Give us a brief history of how long you guys have known each other and how you met.

First there was Vic Zino (our previous guitarist) and Joél Cireae, who's still the drummer of Crazy Lixx today. They played together in a metal cover band playing music by Metallica, Pantera and bands like that. They've know each other the longest, it has to be more than 15 years now. Then, sometime in 1998 or 1999 me and a friend of mine joined forces with Vic and Joey and started a heavy metal band called Blindead that recorded two demos and was later disbanded in 2001. The year after me and Vic started Crazy Lixx and at the same time played in another metal band called Crucible along with my older brother and our current bass player, Loke Rivano. Crucible disbanded a couple of years later and Loke started playing the bass guitar in Crazy Lixx instead.

4. Any chance of North American tour dates in the coming year? Also a dream concert for us would have WigWam on the bill with you guys as well.

I sure hope so but nothing planned at the moment.

5. Take us through a typical day in the life of Crazy Lixx just before a big show.

Typically there's a lot of travelling involved. Then we usually get to the venue a couple of hours before the show and have something to eat. Then it's time to get dressed for the show and we usually start warming up for the gig, singing and playing guitar. We usually stay backstage until the show and concentrate on doing a good job on stage. We always try to stay focused on the show until we get of stage after the gig. After that you can relax and party but never until you've done your part the best you can.

6. One of your first major tours was with Hardcore Superstar and then it turned out they offered your guitarist Vic Zino a job, which he accepted. Any bitterness there or is it just business?

We were a bit disappointed but still we understood his decision and looking back on it now I think things turned out for the best for all parts really. I think he fits better in HCSS and our new guitarist Andy Dawson is perfect for us.

7. A lot of people have been comparing your sound to Warrant or Skidrow. Although flattering is it really fair to the band to have people dating your sound to a past era?

I think so yes, I see no problem with people comparing us to old bands. As long as they are great bands it's flattering. I know what we're doing isn't original but that was never our intention. I want to make the kind of music I love to listen to and that those bands (the ones that are still around) just don't do themselves anymore.

8. Give us some current bands you listen to for inspiration and on the same token, give us some bands from the past you listen to for inspiration.

When we started the band it was mainly Skid Row, Guns n' Roses and Bon Jovi but since then I've also taken a lot of inspiration from bands like Def Leppard, KISS, W.A.S.P, Alice Cooper, Whitesnake etc.

9. In 20 years when your still rockin' would you be offended if someone called you a "Heritage Act?"

It's not that I don't want to evolve musically it's just that I want to start our journey from where my favorite bands left of (right before the grunge wave hit the world). Why should I build on something that I feel shitty bands have taken in the wrong direction during the last 15 years? Go back, and do it right this time instead. It's that easy.

10. Tell us something about each member of the band that would surprise your fans.

Me, Joél and Andy are all teachers apart from playing in Crazy Lixx and all of the members in the band have non-swedish decent of some kind.

11. If someone came up to you today and offered you 10 million dollars to turn your back on your current sound and make a Country record what would be your response?

I'm not really very anti Country music really but I guess living in Sweden I don't get it shoved down my throat as much as Americans or Canadians probably do. It does depend on the deal. If I could do a Country album with another band name than Crazy Lixx and then go back to doing what we're doing now I'd take the 10 million but if the deal included never being able to play hard rock again I don't think I'd be up for it.

Thanks for doing this. The new album is excellent and has been featured on the site in the past. Take care and good luck. Hope to speak with you in person if you make it over to Canada.

Thanx dude, anytime!

We Love Metal Team


Crazy Lixx (Danny Rexon) Interview: 11 Questions with Danny of Craxy Lixx 1. New Religion - Definitely right up our alley. The sound is incredible and we can tell you guys left it all on the CD. But we have to know the story behind the title! Compared to when we released our debut album, Loud Minority, we have a new line-up, a new record label, a somewhat new view on song writing, new skills and a whole new decade to play with. For us, a revival of the music we love is what we believe in, our new religion. 2. This album has received a lot of acclaim from Metal media and it seems that North America is ready for that hard edge sleazy sound again. Has the band always known that great music like this can't be held down for long? We've always hoped. But deep inside I've always known that we couldn't possibly be alone in our love of 80's hard rock and as time progressed we've kind of felt like we were on to something here. But let me tell you, when we started this band we didn't know if we'd even have a single person in the audience understanding what we wanted to do and at some occasions, at the beginning of our career, that was the case. Nowadays you don't have to do as much explaining anymore, you just do your thing and people instantly start to think about the great hard rock bands of the 80's and early 90's that we've been influenced by. 3. Give us a brief history of how long you guys have known each other and how you met. First there was Vic Zino (our previous guitarist) and Joél Cireae, who's still the drummer of Crazy Lixx today. They played together in a metal cover band playing music by Metallica, Pantera and bands like that. They've know each other the longest, it has to be more than 15 years now. Then, sometime in 1998 or 1999 me and a friend of mine joined forces with Vic and Joey and started a heavy metal band called Blindead that recorded two demos and was later disbanded in 2001. The year after me and Vic started Crazy Lixx and at the same time played in another metal band called Crucible along with my older brother and our current bass player, Loke Rivano. Crucible disbanded a couple of years later and Loke started playing the bass guitar in Crazy Lixx instead. 4. Any chance of North American tour dates in the coming year? Also a dream concert for us would have WigWam on the bill with you guys as well. I sure hope so but nothing planned at the moment. 5. Take us through a typical day in the life of Crazy Lixx just before a big show. Typically there's a lot of travelling involved. Then we usually get to the venue a couple of hours before the show and have something to eat. Then it's time to get dressed for the show and we usually start warming up for the gig, singing and playing guitar. We usually stay backstage until the show and concentrate on doing a good job on stage. We always try to stay focused on the show until we get of stage after the gig. After that you can relax and party but never until you've done your part the best you can. 6. One of your first major tours was with Hardcore Superstar and then it turned out they offered your guitarist Vic Zino a job, which he accepted. Any bitterness there or is it just business? We were a bit disappointed but still we understood his decision and looking back on it now I think things turned out for the best for all parts really. I think he fits better in HCSS and our new guitarist Andy Dawson is perfect for us. 7. A lot of people have been comparing your sound to Warrant or Skidrow. Although flattering is it really fair to the band to have people dating your sound to a past era? I think so yes, I see no problem with people comparing us to old bands. As long as they are great bands it's flattering. I know what we're doing isn't original but that was never our intention. I want to make the kind of music I love to listen to and that those bands (the ones that are still around) just don't do themselves anymore. 8. Give us some current bands you listen to for inspiration and on the same token, give us some bands from the past you listen to for inspiration. When we started the band it was mainly Skid Row, Guns n' Roses and Bon Jovi but since then I've also taken a lot of inspiration from bands like Def Leppard, KISS, W.A.S.P, Alice Cooper, Whitesnake etc. 9. In 20 years when your still rockin' would you be offended if someone called you a "Heritage Act?" It's not that I don't want to evolve musically it's just that I want to start our journey from where my favorite bands left of (right before the grunge wave hit the world). Why should I build on something that I feel shitty bands have taken in the wrong direction during the last 15 years? Go back, and do it right this time instead. It's that easy. 10. Tell us something about each member of the band that would surprise your fans. Me, Joél and Andy are all teachers apart from playing in Crazy Lixx and all of the members in the band have non-swedish decent of some kind. 11. If someone came up to you today and offered you 10 million dollars to turn your back on your current sound and make a Country record what would be your response? I'm not really very anti Country music really but I guess living in Sweden I don't get it shoved down my throat as much as Americans or Canadians probably do. It does depend on the deal. If I could do a Country album with another band name than Crazy Lixx and then go back to doing what we're doing now I'd take the 10 million but if the deal included never being able to play hard rock again I don't think I'd be up for it. Thanks for doing this. The new album is excellent and has been featured on the site in the past. Take care and good luck. Hope to speak with you in person if you make it over to Canada. Thanx dude, anytime! We Love Metal Team	......... .........