It was probably "Rocket to Russia" by the RAMONES. I think that was the record. The older kids in my neighbourhood were all KISS fans and so I was kind of indirectly brought up on KISS and QUEEN. I love both of those bands. I kinda stumbled onto the RAMONES by myself and I saw them as a more obtainable version of Rock n Roll. I would run home after school and I had a few hours before my parents came home from work and I would play my drums to "Rocket to Russia" pretty loud. That was essentially how I learnt to play the drums.

Yeah Yeah. I think content is more apt but I strive for happiness. I was lucky enough to grow up with music all around me. One of the things that gave me security. It had such a positive effect on me and I put all I had into it with no real plan to be successful at it. I literally just held onto it like a safety raft in the ocean. And I somehow turned it into a career. I've definitely done the work though.

Well I think. I definitely didn't strategize but I relate to jazz and blues musicians in the sense that they just go to work. Music is what they do and as Duke Ellington said... well he didn't have a plan B. There was just no plan B. It's almost like my survival instinct to figure out how to keep doing it and make it work for me. That's it. Persistence. I just don't stop. Figure it out as you go.

Well, I haven't listened to that album in a long time. I do kind of look at "Jalamanta" as the beginning of me pursuing the music that I have inside me with no other motive than I have to get this out. The creative process of getting that out was the beginning of me being able to make music. A certain amount of naivety involved.

They are very different in that "Black Power Flower" was me returning to solo work after stepping away for some years and in returning I was impatient and frustrated and there was an angst there. I related the feeling to being a kid and skating and listening to punk rock and I just wanted to just scream and shout. It was written all pretty quickly and it was more about representing that experience and it was a satisfying thing to make. I felt like I got this thing off my chest and out of my system. In the process I developed a really good relationship with my band. What stuck was something awesome and they've ended up being the best band I've ever worked with and this record reflects that arrival. They do the thing that comes naturally to them and you just roll with that. With all the power I have as a solo artist I could inject myself back into a band situation.

For sure. I'm always pretty critical of what I do but they are able to take an idea and run with it.

It depends. I do believe in destiny. There is a destination there. You have specific idea in mind. I may come in and say I have an idea and I want it done like this but you know authenticity is key to me. The destination and the concept is what we're aiming for. Here's the start. How we get there is open to interpretation.

I think the musician's personality is important. Take the BEATLES for example. There is such a harmonious, joyful sound but when you look at the mechanics of the band. For example, John Lennon seemed like the kind of person who might flip if you said the wrong thing but that worked for them. That music perfectly represents the band they are. I think that is something that I try to create with this band (THE LOW DESERT PUNK BAND).

I try to have a vision but I try to give them the room to be the drummer they naturally are. I want to get to a place rhythmically but it wouldn't be fair of me to ask someone to get there if they clearly can't or are struggling. Now I have the drummer who can do that (fulfil his vision) I just cut him loose. I don't have to really think about it.

It's just a title. I mean this is a Rock N Roll record and it has a confidence to it. I try and force myself into situations that make me feel a little uncomfortable because I want to evolve, I want to grow. Really my solo work is a chance to hear me grow as a person. On this album, you can see what I've learnt and what I'm able to do.

I love to jam so improv music is something I was brought up on. Not everyone wants to listen to a long jam though. I try and think what will still be exciting for the listener. With "Dave's War", we had ideas that we fleshed out but I think we edited it a whole lot. There's probably a very long demo version of that song.

I didn't really have an idea but what I was singing sounded a lot like "Green Hee" and it just kinda stuck.

I kind of just follow my instincts. I do talk to the band and I tend to ask Ryan (Gut, drummer) what he thinks and he'll give me an honest answer.

Yeah. Well say in 2005 through to 2007, I was touring for 7 to 9 months of the year. Now that I've got a family, I'm in a place where I don't want to be doing that so much. I want to be with them. I'm still gonna play and tour but like I took the summer off. That meant I could spend time with the family.

I've been lucky enough to have had quite a few mentors. I feel like they have all affected my experience. I've looked to individuals in many areas of my life but the one that sticks out. Of course, I didn't know him personally. But the one was Muhammad Ali. I can't say enough about who or what he was as a person. His philosophies were simple but he was a genuinely amazing human being. His ideas have certainly helped me at various points in my life.