MUEN: WELL HERE WE ARE, DOCTOR BIZARRE! OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT YOUR REAL NAME. WHY DO YOU GO BY DOCTOR BIZARRE, AND HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THAT NAME?
Dr. Bizarre: Well when I first started recording my solo project with a friend of mine named Jake Samson, a jazz bass extraodinaire. The sound that came out was quite unique, fierce and strange. I immediately recall saying " this is quite bizarre" so hence the name Bizarre was born. After months of recording I decided to get my PH.D
in Abstract Abnormalism therefore the sobriquet Doctor was added to my title and there you have the Doctor of Bizarre.
MUEN: HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED PLAYING THE GUITAR? AND WERE YOU GIVEN LESSONS OR ARE YOU SELF TAUGHT?
Dr. Bizarre: I started playing guitar at the age of 12. At first I was self taught then after a year or so I decided to seek further knowledge of the instrument. Lessons began with an older gentlemen and rebel rouser named Clem Furnia who did his time in the country circuit in Texas. He would teach me some country "pickin and grinin" then immediately following lessons we would break into a boxing session. He said "if your going to be a musician your going to have to learn how to fight too". So as well as learning the guit-fiddle as he would call it, I would also learn a few things about boxing which has payed off in the long run. After studying with Clem I decided to step it up a notch and pursue Jazz Guitar lessons from Carmen Carmonica who was the touring guitarist with Lou Rawls in the 70's. Carmen taught me a wealth of knowledge about jazz, guitar, and music. He is an amazing musician and I thank him for everything he has taught me. I started teaching other students at the age of 16 and still do to this day.
MUEN: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RECORDING MUSIC AND WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU WANTED TO DO?
Dr. Bizarre: Since I was a young lad I have always admired musicians and their ability to play and record these brilliant masterpieces known as Albums. I started recording with my Band "Simon" back in the mid 90's. We were an indie/punk style band. We recorded in a couple of studios and released an EP. Following that I bought a Macintosh computer and with the help of my good friend Tom Schmitt, put together a modest recording setup. Years of recording and fine tuning has given me the knowledge to record in my own studio and release a viable product.
MUEN: WHEN I FIRST TALKED TO YOU, YOU ASKED ME WHICH SONG OF YOURS IS MY FAVORITE, I SAID I REALLY LIKE "OPAQUE" - WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SONG AND WHY?
Dr. Bizarre: That is a difficult question. Every song has a different meaning to me. For every style of music I do it is almost like an homage to that style. Some styles lend themselves better to express myself in a certian mood or idea. Whether it be Metal or Jazz or Classical. I plead the fifth. I love them all. Although Opaque does have a special meaning to me because it was a song I wrote in memory of my late father and his ghost that has been with me as a reminder of his great soul.
MUEN: EACH SONG HAS IT'S OWN STYLE. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC TO SOMEONE IF YOU WERE TO SUMMARIZE IT IN THREE WORDS?
Dr. Bizarre: If I were to pick three words to explain my music i would have to say Eclectic, Diverse, Intense and Inventive. Four is a better number than three so I named four.
MUEN: NOT ONLY ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTSTANDING GUITAR PLAYING BUT YOU ALSO DO THE VOCALS AND THE OTHER INSTRUMENTS ON THE TRACKS WHICH CAN INCLUDE: DRUM PROGRAMMING, BASS AND MANDOLIN. DO YOU PLAN ON EVER PLAYING LIVE, AND IF SO, DO YOU HAVE MUSICIANS IN MIND FOR THE BAND?
Dr. Bizarre: Well I have had the priveledge of collaborating with some amazing musicians on the new release which gave me more time to focus on the guitar alone but there are a few instances on this album where I played some bass
and programmed some drums and of course sang, but I trully owe the musicians that collaborated with me alot of credit. They are listed on the album as well as on the Doctor Bizarre myspace page. Right now i am really busy with recording and teaching guitar, but in the future I do plan on putting together a mix of eclectic musicians to play my hybrid style of music. The only person I have in mind so far would be my buddy Jake Samson on bass. The rest will follow in due time. If you build it they will come.
MUEN: YOU COLLABORATED WITH SOME VERY TALENTED MUSICIANS ON YOUR SONGS INCLUDING A JAZZ TRUMPET PLAYER FROM RUSSIA. HOW WAS THAT ALL POSSIBLE? DID THEY HAPPEN TO BE IN THE AREA WHILE YOU WERE RECORDING?
Dr. Bizarre: No i met these musicians through a website called www.macjams.com. We basically traded files and wrote songs via the internet. It's a new wave of recording and collaborating and I highly recommend it to anyone out there looking for a new experience. It has given me the chance to find truly talented musicans across the globe to work with and I owe them a huge thanks for being a part of this release with me.
MUEN: WHERE DID YOU RECORD YOUR CD, AND WHO WAS YOUR PRODUCER? ALSO DID YOU HAVE SOMEONE HELP YOU WITH MIXING AND PROGRAMMING?
Dr. Bizarre: I recorded my CD in my own studio and the musicians that played on my album recorded in their own studios and sent me their tracks via the internet. I produced the album and for the most part mixed the entire CD. Dave Rockower a talented musician and sound man did a wonderful job with the final mix and mastering of the album. I also photographed and designed the album art work and had a friend, Mark Boyce Art Direct the project.
MUEN: WHERE CAN SOMEONE GO TO PURCHASE YOUR CD "BLASPHEMOUS CACOPHONY"?
Dr. Bizarre: The album can be purchased right on the Doctor Bizarre myspace page through my label The Lost Records. www.myspace.com/doctorbizarre
MUEN: ASIDE FROM BEING A MUSICIAN, WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO? DO YOU HAVE A "DAY JOB"?
Dr Bizarre: I am a freelance Photographer and Photo Illustrator and also do photography work for a mid sized newspaper. At the moment I am working on publishing a book of my own photography and art work that should be out soon.
MUEN: WHAT ELSE DO YOU ENJOY TO DO? DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR ANYTHING ELSE OR DOES
YOUR JOB AND YOUR MUSIC PROJECTS TAKE UP ALL YOUR TIME?
Dr. Bizarre: I teach guitar lessons on a regular basis. I mountian bike and hike in my free time. I tend to a collection of various indoor plants including Bonzai trees and tropical plants. I have a toddler at home so i spend alot of time teaching my son Gavin Miles how to rock out. It's not easy i tell you!
MUEN: SO WHAT'S NEXT FROM DOCTOR BIZARRE? ARE YOU CREATING MORE MUSIC FOR ANOTHER CD? WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2008?
Dr. Bizarre: I am working on shooting a video for the song "Anger and Rampancy" from my new album with the help of a talented artist named Mark Boyce. It's going to be a wild Sci-Fi video and an audio-visual assault on the senses. I also have a bunch of songs and am writing new material for the next release which has no foreseen release date as of yet. The next album will have a sort of concept album feel. That's all I can tell you so far.
MUEN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
Your welcome and hope you enjoy the music. Stay tuned for the new video.
Interview by Lissy MacMillan