I LOVE RICH By Alex Zander
Declaring themselves "The Worlds Sexiest Band,” I LOVE RICH have been rocking their hometown Chicago and the Midwest with their over-the-top rock show since 1995. As 2000 was coming to a close ILR decided it was time to follow up their critically acclaimed 1997 release "Live, Wet, Drippin' With Sexx.” So they decided to record what would be called the "Greatest Rock N Roll Album Of All Time!” Led by singer/bassist Rich, a 247-pound package of red-haired, spandex clad, sex appeal, ILR marched into Attica Studios to record their masterpiece. The result, 12 tracks of pure rock n roll laid down by a trio that was completed with Drew Blood on drums and Eider Ferrari on guitar. The album and coinciding club tour, (they wanted to get closer to the fans) sent women and girls into a sexual frenzy. And it did the same to a lot of men too. ILR are now on a mission to bring their big rock n’ roll show to the world that wants it and even to some places that don't.
What makes you the sexiest band in the world? I would really hope the day will come when I can get past this whole "RICH as a sex symbol" or a "RICH the sex GOD" talk and people would just talk about me as the brilliant artist/musician that I am. But I am cursed with my overwhelming sex appeal.
It's strange that your debut record was recorded live, what's with that? Our debut full length record was recorded after a bootleg demo of ours was released over in Cambodia (which is where our first disc was recorded). That bootleg went on to be the biggest selling cassette in the history of the third world (which isn't all that many, since very few people over there have electricity let alone stereos) , and we recorded the disc at the height of "ILR Mania" over there. We are considered just like the Beatles over there, only we don't suck.
Is ILR a novelty act or do you really like 80's rock that much? We're NOT a novelty act! There is obviously a lot of humor in what we're doing, but you can put on our album and dig it without being ironic or funny. Just because there's humor involved in what we're doing doesn't mean we're a comedy act. And I want to be too cool and tell you that I don't really listen to 80's rock/metal that much, but as I sit here I'm listening to Black and Blue's "In Heat" album and I know every word to "Get Wise to the Rise" I can't exactly deny it, can I? But to be honest I actually see us more along the lines of the early 70's New York rock bands like the the Dictators and KISS than I see us like sounding like Bon Jovi or Night Ranger, but maybe that's just my opinion.
How much of an influence is KISS? Who? KISS? Never heard of them. Just kidding. I've heard of them. Weren't they Vinnie Vincent's first band? The Invasion ruled...
Sum up your punk rock past. It's not like I used to be in Fear or anything (although that would be a great lie to tell). But when I Love Rich started we were musically a lot closer to the Ramones pop punk thing than we are now, though the Ramones are still a huge influence on us. When we saw that the Lookout Records / pop-punk trend was starting to wane, we decided to go for the over the top metal-punk thing in a last ditch attempt to sell out and get signed to a major label contract, which may or may not pan out like I had hoped.
Why do you write so many songs about yourself? I want our music to celebrate the life and times of arguably the most important person in the world, me! A wise man once told me to" leave modesty for those who deserve to be modest", so I do. Humility is a very over rated quality.
Who/what is Hot Chocolate? (The bands biggest hit is Hot Chocolate) Hot Chocolate is a drink which main ingredients consist of a mix of milk and coco. It is best served hot and most people enjoy either whipped cream or some marshmallows with it. All kidding aside, please let the record show that I do indeed dig black girls.
What is your favorite past time? Well, my friends and I like to get together and play chess while we discuss Shakespeare and the history of the Catholic Church in Guatemala. And if you get Drew and Danny involved in a game of "Hungry-Hungry Hippos" they'll be occupied for hours.
What are your thoughts on "Nu metal" I don't really dig a lot of it. I hate the bands with blonde white kids trying to act like they're from the ghetto. I want to note that Limp Bizkit are the 2nd worst band ever (System of a Down are easily the worst - there's just no fucking excuse).
Who loves Rich? Everyone with good taste. Probably even a few people with bad taste too...