Interview with The Cosmick View Editor & "When We Rock" Co-Author Mick Michaels
The Cosmick View: Hello, Mick and welcome to The Cosmick View! We greatly
appreciate you taking the time to talk with us.
Mick Michael: Thank you! It's different being on this side of things.
CV: What drove you to write “When We Rocked?”
Mick Michaels: This has been an idea of
mine for years, even long before I started interviewing artists with The
Cosmick View. I always felt that Philly was so often overlooked especially when
compared to the Sunset Strip and all those L.A. stories. Sure there was a lot
happening there, but there was lots happening here too. No one outside of the
area seemed to ever talk about. I wanted to document what took place here on
some level and considered several different formats but decided a book would be
best. It took some time to get there but I finally made the leap to go full
steam ahead and at least begin to get the Philly story on paper. This is
definitely a personal piece for me, something that just had to be done. Without
the inclusion of the book’s co-author Antonio Aloia and our editing consultant
Pamela Marie from Blossom Consulting, I don’t think I would have gotten this
far. But beside having the opportunity to talk with a number of Philadelphia
artists, who they themselves made the scene back than what it was, it was also
such a learning experience for me…that’s priceless. It definitely was a trip
back in time.
CV: Why these particular artists/bands...what led you to
choose them?
Mick Michaels: When we started to
outline the book and what we wanted to cover, we quickly realized that there
were several different avenues we could take. Earlier on we decided to work
from the top down, meaning we knew we had to include the names that people
recognized, not just in Philly, but nationwide, even worldwide. We felt that
was a good way to start. Then we began to pepper in the next tier of artists
and so on. This offered a more realistic cross section of what it was like from
several vantage points, not just those at the top. It also didn’t hurt that a few
of the artists who are in the book are people I know and people who I admired
even back then. This gave me the chance to explore my own interests to a
degree. Unfortunately, not everyone who we wanted to be in the book is in
there, for a variety of reasons…some could not be located, some are no longer
with us, while others never responded. Some started the interview process then
quit midstream while there were others who outright said they wanted nothing to
do with the project. So we are so grateful for the artists who are in the
book...for sharing their experiences and telling their stories. That’s what the
book’s about. Their support has been immense.
CV: What's one thing from “When We Rocked” that stands out to you?
Mick Michael: It’s the behind the scenes stuff that takes
place in a band that is most interesting to me. As fans we only get to see the
exterior flash. Most are never privy to the inter-workings. But behind the
scenes; that’s where the real stories are…the challenges and hurdles a band faces
just to play a show or get the music heard is often more time consuming that
the writing of the music. That “never say die” type of approach is what keeps
any band pushing forward. That’s inspirational in my opinion.
CV: What did you learn from writing “We When Rocked?”
Mick Michaels: I quickly learned that
there is a bit of sentiment among some artists who believe that Philly never
actually had a music scene of its own. This was shocking to me, to be honest. I
was a kid back then and from my perspective, Philly was alive with all these
incredible bands. Every show seemed like an event. I even had the opportunity
to have a small part in the scene during that time with my own band. Most of my
favorite bands back in the mid to late 80s were Philly bands, both those on the
national scene and a handful of locals acts. To me, Philly was the big time. So
when several artists made that reference, I was taken aback. We actually included
that perception in the book and used it as a jump off point for how the
information we collected was finally arranged. Much of that sort of belief
kinda depends on when you came into the scene and what your overall goals were,
in my opinion. But there was definitely something happening here back then.
CV: Are you a fan of all these artists/bands that appear in
the book?
Mick Michaels: Absolutely! This book is
a fanboy piece as much as it is a historical account and homage to the city and
the time. I listened to many of the bands that are in the book as well as
others -even performed with some as well. To have the opportunity to do this
book and include many of them is a way to really honor my roots and influences.
Artists are products of their environment and When We Rocked demonstrates that unique influential lineage that
takes place as artists and bands cycle through a music scene. Influences are
there whether you realize it or not…it’s unavoidable.
CV: Is there one life lesson that an artist in the book taught
you after interviewing them?
Mick Michaels: The life lesson I took
away from this project is more so a collective attitude to always go for your
dreams, no matter what. Dreams aren’t forever, they are moments in time and if
we never go for that dream, that moment we seek never happens and then becomes
lost in time. It’s gone after that. That’s the part that’s forever… we can
never get that moment back. Dreams are about taking chances. One artist said to
me, “Go big or go home.”
CV: Will there be similar books in the future, maybe a
series?
Mick Michaels: We would love to take
this book to the next level. We’ve already been discussing a future edition of
the book that would include more interviews, more stories, more photos…But the
goal right now is to get the When We
Rocked word out to as many people as possible…Philly and beyond. From
there, the sky is the limit.
CV: Where can people get the book?
Mick Michaels: Everyone can go to www.WhenWeRockedPhilly.com as well as finding the book on Amazon!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FGFBHNB5
Official: www.WhenWeRockedPhilly.com
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