Interview with Platinum Overdose Bassist and Producer Lance V.
By Mick Michaels
COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Lance! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it’s greatly appreciated.
Lance V.: Thanks for having me Mick, it’s completely my pleasure.
CV: Why do you feel people are still so attracted to 80's Metal? What makes it so alluring to both artist and listener even today?
LV: I think bands did a great job of separating themselves from the fans and living an almost impossible legendary lifestyle (if we believe in every tale). I loved being young and guys like Nikki Sixx and Axl Rose we’re untouchable to me. We put them on pedestals which at that point is where they belonged. I think that’s what keeps the people coming back, that need to look up to something and believe in something and be a part of something that was a movement that lasted a decade. Wanting to be like those guys in the 80's whether as a musician or a fan will always be a special place for all of us that followed and were a part of that era.
CV: Resurrecting that 80's vibe has become more of a common development in the last few years. More and more artists are attempting to capture some of the decade's musical essence. Do you see it as something that can make the sort of comeback we only get from a Rocky movie or is it destined to live out its years as a nostalgia niche to an aging 80's population?
LV: Attempting is the key word and it hasn’t gone well for many. I think it’s something that can make a comeback but it’s got to be a young band that gets it done. Black Veil Brides came close and still do very well but fell short of the Motley Crue type fame but from what I saw they had the attention of a lot of young people. Rock has always been about rebellion and always will be at its core so there is always a chance of a band breaking huge with the 80's vibe, Greta Van Fleet seems to be doing pretty well with the 70's vibe, I think I saw they were opening for Metallica.
CV: Following trends is not something that is always recommended by the experts. How does Platinum Overdose find its drive to create, but still maintain its sense of self and staying true to what matters most...the music, without coming off as a collective carbon copy of a past era in modern times?
LV: Following trends is silly in music, by the time you get to it; it’s already on to something else. Platinum Overdose has a mission to do what we want to do and make the music we want to make, we don’t care what trends are going on. It’s easy for us, we all grew up listening or playing this type of music and will continue to do so as long as we can do it. Fame and money seem to drive the bands towards trends, once you get past needing that it’s easy to just do what you want and let the chips fall where they may and honestly it’s more fun doing it this way then trying to catch a one in a million star.
CV: “Hair Metal” has become the catch all phrase for the later part of the 80’s decade. Some artists have taken offense by its use and stereotypical implications. Does the term bother you at all Lance? Is there a concern that its moniker may pigeon hole a band musically?
LV: It personally doesn’t bother me, they had great hair! LOL, but in all seriousness, I was not in a band at that point and I read a couple days back that Tom Keifer didn’t like it, I think I can understand where he’s coming from. When you’re doing the thing in 1986 and 30 years later everyone is lumping it into one catch phrase I could see bands getting upset with it, Motley Crue and Bon Jovi we’re worlds apart in what they were doing as Cinderella was worlds apart from Warrant, so I do think it’s a little frustrating for them at times but overall I think it’s great to be remembered in any capacity no matter what it’s called. Many artists are not that lucky.
CV: Tell us a little about Platinum Overdose’s new debut album “Murder in High Heels.” The album has already become one of Bandcamp’s top selling releases as well as garnishing the band a massive Spotify following. How is the band handling all of the success?
LV: First I want to say this album would not have been made without the time, sacrifice and passion from our singer Steve Philbrook, guitarists Matt Thorne & Rick Mead and my dear friend Aeriel Stiles and my late great mentor Chester Olsefsky and his daughter Tiffany for her support. I consider them our 5th and 6th band members. As for the album and the response, it’s been a bit of a surprise and a whirlwind, we really broke our backs making the album and staying as true to the vision we had to get a particular feel and sound. I thought when we finished mixing we had made a pretty solid record and it’s always up to the listener to take it wherever it’s going to go. We’ve been more then enthused with the response and are just staying the course and are very appreciative to all the people that are enjoying our work. I also want to thank my dearest friend Shane Martin for believing and pushing the album out there as hard as he has from a promotional stand point, there are a lot of people that deserve credit that may not play on the record but are as important to me as anyone else.
CV: Many bands from the decade of decadence era walked the edge; living and breathing what they wrote about in songs: sex, drugs and rock n roll. The fantasy was their reality. Is it still like that today for bands looking to carry the flag of the Sunset Strip?
LV: Well, the drugs and rock n roll part probably will never die but I don’t think there are as many groupies out there today as there was in 1990 but I do think if you’re going to talk the talk you need to walk the walk and go all the way with it. Artists are artists and are always going to be messed up in their own way as I don’t think people understand what it’s like to make the art and then give it over to the world and have it picked apart, analyzed, criticized or heralded, either way it’s gonna mess with your mind and it takes a certain type of person to have the guts to put it out there and most times we’re all a little crazy and need to deal with it all in different ways. Sex and drugs are just two ways of doing it.
CV: With so many “Classic Rock/Metal sounding” bands springing up these days, do you see such a surge as the music coming full circle or as artists becoming lazy and looking for an easy ace in the hole to build a fan base?
LV: I don’t think they are being lazy, I think a lot of new bands were introduced to the music of the 70's and 80's by their parents and they are just playing that type of music as it’s what they know and enjoy. I personally appreciate them for carrying the torch of Rock N Roll forward and it’s ok to have one foot in the past. You’ve got to get inspiration from something and if it’s a classic rock band, that’s great.
CV: Lance, what do you feel separates a good band from a great band? What's that special ingredient? Is it more than just good songwriting?
LV: That’s a tough question, I think it depends on what you’re looking for, when I was young I wanted the in your face, screw the world type band and I found it in Motley Crue’s first two albums. I think Kiss did a great job of trying to bring it all together as a group rebellion type thing, that we are all one army of rebels. Of course you need great songs but the message of the people playing it and what they stand for is what in my opinion makes a great band.
CV: Does the music reflect the times or can the times reflect the music as would be the case if Hair Metal were to get a massive revival in popularity in today's music market? Are the fans calling for its return? Can lightening strike a second time for the genre?
LV: Sure, it’s all up to the younger generation, if they keep wanting to listen to Drake and Billie Eilish that’s their choice, if they want 4 or 5 guys playing real instruments and pouring their guts out in the name of Rock then they can bring it back but at the same point the bands releasing music need to give them a reason to want it, get creative, make it mysterious, capture their hearts and minds just like the bands of the 80s did and yes absolutely lightning can strike twice.
CV: How does being both an artist and a producer affect the way you make music? Does it give you a different perspective when it comes to how you write and arrange songs?
LV: It doesn’t necessarily change the writing process, you need the chords and the melody to write a song, the production of how it’s played and with what tones, etc., are in the back of your mind but you must separate the two jobs. If you’re thinking too much about production during the writing process the song will suffer. Write from the gut and let it fly and then I can get into producing it.
CV: Do you feel that what the world needs now is more Hair Metal?
LV: I think if it’s done correctly yes, we need to get back to the Rock Stars and lifestyles of that time, bands today are way to over saturated on social media in my opinion, not much left to the imagination. I think Ozzy sat down one day and told Lady Gaga to get of the internet for a while as she was gonna flame out from over exposure, I couldn’t agree more. Hair Metal (as we’re calling it) in the beginning was great as every band had their own type of vibe (you had no idea what was coming) and what they were doing, when bands like Skid Row need to be sequestered in another state to record an album to keep them out of trouble then things are getting good again in my opinion.
CV: Many critics believe that physical albums, regardless of format, are dead...there is no argument that digital is the medium for today's music fans. But do you still see a demand for a band's music on CD or other physical forms?
LV: Great question, the fallacy of physical product being dead is just insane in the Rock world. The 4 major label gate keepers want you to think that, they own 40 percent of streaming so for every 10 dollar subscription per month they get 4 dollars. In the end they are getting 3 to 4 billion per year for streaming, why would they want to make a physical product? As usual the numbers don’t lie and Tool just released their new album and week one they move 270,000 units and 240,000 were in traditional album format. That’s a pretty good chunk of CDs and Vinyl moving of the shelves in my opinion. As they said Punk is dead, Rock is dead and now physical product is dead, all of them are alive and well in my opinion.
CV: What's next for you and Platinum Overdose?
LV: For me, Platinum Overdose is my baby and I’ll be at it for a long time, We’re going to keep releasing music and are already working on an EP as we speak to hopefully have out by the end of the year and it will be in the exact same vein of what we just released. We will stay true to our vision and hopefully the listeners will continue to support us. It’s been great so far and we thank every fan who buys the album, downloads and streams the songs and sends us great feedback, we could not be more thankful!
CV: Thank you again Lance for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. I wish you all the best and continued success.
LV: Thank you again for having me and keep up the great work Mick!
Check out Lance and Platinum Overdose at:
Official: https://platinumoverdose.com/
My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.
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