Interview with Dirty Looks Guitarist Paul Lidel (99 Crimes)





By Mick Michaels



COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Paul! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.

CV: Band reunions are the kind of things fans long for...it's like capturing lightening in a bottle; a second chance for them to relive, re-experience and even revive that feeling as to why they fell in love with a particular band in the first place. Dirty Looks is finally making their comeback September 18 at Selinsgrove Speedway and fans can't be more excited. What sort of emotions does this reunion invoke for you? Has there been a major stroll down memory lane since the reunion was finalized?
Paul Lidel: Absolutely! Playing these songs again after so many years definitely brings back a lot of memories. It’s interesting how playing the songs with the guys puts me right back in the day, so many memories of the touring, recording and just how crazy everything was back then. Also recalling the feeling of going from being a band that played up and down the east coast, each member being paid five dollars per show, to becoming a national touring band, where people knew the words to our songs all over the country. All of those feelings come back to me as we're playing through these songs. Having not played with Jack and Gene for over thirty years, I wasn't sure what to expect when we finally got together, but as soon as we started playing I could tell that we were still all locked in like we used to be. 

CV: The band's upcoming reunion includes the original line-up and will feature Jason McMaster from Dangerous Toys on lead vocals. Jason is a very energetic and dynamic singer. What can fans expect with Jason filling the late, great Henrik Ostergaard's role as the band's frontman?
PL: Well first of all, Jason is a huge Dirty Looks fan, and a huge fan of Henrik. Henrik was also a fan of Jason's and would invite Jason on stage to sing every time Jason was at a Dirty Looks show, which was often because Jason would come to see us all over Texas; San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and Austin. I don't recall Henrik ever inviting anyone else to sing. Jason and I met when Dirty Looks was on tour and playing in Austin and Dangerous Toys was playing one of the first shows of their first tour. I was backstage and he recognized me, and we've been friends ever since. This must have been 1988, so we go back a long way. So I think people will relate to Jason because he is a fan and really loves the music just like they do. Even though he is considered to be a rock icon to many people, I think this is really special for him. His enthusiasm in rehearsals is very contagious; he's really fanning the flames.  It goes without saying that he is one of the best frontmen in the business so both the band and the Dirty Looks fans are lucky to have him singing in these reunion shows. 

CV: Paul, Dirty Looks was a band that had that special quality that fans immediately connected with. The band's debut album, "Cool From the Wire," continues to impact listeners still.  Why do you think Dirty Looks has that allure and was the band aware of its impact even back then?
PL: I think the allure was a combination of the songs, which were primarily written by the late great Henrik Ostergaard, Henrik's very unique voice, the groove that happened when we all played together, and the fact that the songs don't feel contrived. Back then I don't think we could really see the band through other people’s eyes; we just worked hard at doing what we did. But after being away from it for so many years. I personally have a new appreciation for the band and the music! 

CV: With the original band together again and Jason out front leading the Dirty Looks charge, can fans expect to see more shows coming in 2021? 
PL: Right now we're just focusing on the upcoming show, but I have to say that the rehearsals went very well, and I'm really looking forward to the show! At the moment we don't have any other shows in the works. 

CV: For you, how different is the music world compared to when "Cool From the Wire" originally released in 1988? How different are you compared to your 1988 self?
PL: Well obviously the music world is completely different than it was back then. Back then, every bands’ goal was to get signed to a major label and have your music played on MTV. Now the music world is much different with Youtube and Spotify and things like that. As for me, I'm really not any different from my 1988 self. I still live and breathe music and have been gigging and recording, playing in bands, writing songs. The one thing that is different is that I have gotten very comfortable in the role of being a lead vocalist and front man. For the past 20 years I've been the lead vocalist in several bands, and it's something that I love to do. 

CV: Paul, let's talk 99 Crimes... Having a throwback sound and style is becoming increasingly more and more popular these days as bands look to separate themselves from the countless copycat and similar sounding acts. Do you think younger bands that are looking for that early Rock sound, have a harder time achieving such a throwback style than musicians who experienced it first hand?
PL: I think there's a difference between trying to achieve a certain style and just doing what comes naturally. With 99 Crimes there is no attempt to sound any certain way, which is why people who have heard our songs all say the same thing which is that it sounds like its own thing. We definitely have a lot of influences from the late 70's and early eighties that shine through like early Van Halen, early Aerosmith, Rainbow, Dio, and Ozzy. But we've really never set out to have any particular sound, or to please anyone except ourselves.

CV: What do you feel separates 99 Crimes from other bands? Is less more when it comes to writing pure Hard Rock?
PL: The fact that we are a trio makes us different from a lot of hard rock bands. 

CV: In your opinion, what separates good songwriting from great songwriting? Is it a matter of luck or do you see it more as a calculated process of talent and artistic passion?
PL: I think that song writing is a thing that gets better the more you do it. You just write a lot and sometimes some of it turns out well. Most of the better songs feel like they just came to you from a different place, almost like you had nothing to do with it. Henrik said his ideas came from the “song master.”  


CV: In addition to the upcoming show at Selinsgrove Speedway on September 18th with Dirty Looks, what else can fans expect to see from you in 2021 and beyond?
PL: 2021 is shaping up to be an amazing year! Dangerous Toys, who I have played with since 1994 have several shows coming up. Here’s the list so far: 

Saturday 8/28/21 Houston, TX - West Winds

Saturday 9/4/21  Denver, CO - The Venue

Saturday 9/11/21 Hinkley, MN - Rocktember Festival

Saturday 10/9/21 San Antonio, TX 
- Sunken Gardens, Tierra Sagrror Festival 

Saturday 11/6/21 Fort Worth, TX - the Rail Club

Saturday 2/5/22 Austin, TX - Come & Take It Live

Feb 9-14th 2022 Monsters of Rock Cruise - Miami, FL


We are also working on a new album, and the new songs sound great! 

CV: Thank you again Paul for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success

Check out Paul at:
Dirty Looks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DirtyLooksOfficial/
Dangerous Toys Official: https://dangeroustoys.us/ 
 99 Crimes Official: www.99crimes.com
99 Crimes Facebook: www.facebook.com/99crimes

 

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, 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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