Shockwaves: What's your relationship like with Jerry, as part of the rhythm section?
DP: Jerry and I have been friends for over 20 years and know everything about one another.
We've never really had any problems. The only trouble we ever really had was in the beginning because Jerry grew up playing in bands with no bass players. He played a lot of weddings and things with his father and brother playing guitars. So as a result he never listens to bass, only guitar. I'm usually not in his monitors, even today. But it got to a point where I wanted him to play with the bass more so that's when I would demo the songs with a drum machine so he would play more with my bass parts. Now, it's a natural thing but back then I got frustrated. I just had to realize that that's how he learned and he just gravitated towards the guitar. I don't mind it anymore, it's what makes us what we are.
Shockwaves: How did you like playing with different drummers on the Pound Hound record?
DP: It was a both a nightmare and a lot of fun. Shannon Larkin was great. He came in and did all his songs in one take. Then I said "You want to do some more?" and I gave him a demo tape and he put the headphones on. Ten minutes later he's knockin' the next song out. But there was couple of other drummers that came in that I thought could do the job but they just couldn't. And that's when I began to appreciate Jerry. I've played with him for 20 years and I've never really played with anyone else. So, playing with these guys, I was quite aware of timing. Sometimes the kick drum was behind the beat, sometimes ahead. But with Jerry, he's so on. He's a drum machine. I could lay back as far as I want but Jerry is still right on the beat. But, with some of these other guys,
I would lay back and they would lay back right with me and before you knew it, we were all dragging. I thought, "These guys are listening to the bass player, oh no!"
Shockwaves: You got your wish!
DP: Yeah, and I didn't like it! (laughter)
Shockwaves: How did you like wearing all of the production hats?
DP: Well, I've been doing demos for the past 15 years so I was used to doing all of the playing and recording. My disappointment was that some of my demos sound better than the record...the whole vibe and recording. I wasn't used to this studio.
Shockwaves: This is the Pound Hound Studio that you've built, right?
DP: Yeah, I was in the middle of putting it together while I was making my record so I was distracted. After a while I just said forget it, it is what it is. And hopefully the songs will stand up for themselves.
Shockwaves: They do.
DP: That was very important for me to do. King's X would always painstakingly try to make the songs sonically perfect. I think a lot of times we would polish it until there's no heart left in the song. But this record I didn't care about polishing. I didn't get everything in it's place and the drums aren't the best they could have been, but I thought to myself, "We've been trying to polish these songs, thinking that's what will sell 'em." And you know, some of my favorite music is some of the worst sounding you've ever heard.
Shockwaves: Is Pound Hound something you'd like to do in a live setting?
DP: I already have. I've got a band together and we've done two shows. It was some of the most fun I've ever had. The guys in the band have a whole different attitude. We're just a bunch of guys playing for the sake of making music. It's such a freedom to know that I can go up onstage and no matter what I say, it's okay. And, the guys know that it's my thing and they're there to reinforce the wall of sound behind me so I can do my thing. As soon as I can make some time for it I'd like to tour with this band.
Shockwaves: But first you've got to let the world see and hear the new King's X record.
DP: Yeah, it's important and for me, it's a new beginning to King's X. I mean, we produced it all ourselves without an engineer and no one had heard any material or anything. We just went in, the three of us and came out with a pure King's X record for once. We're so excited about it, it's like starting all over again. Even when we get to the new songs when we play live, they just feel so different. I've never noticed that before until this new record.
Shockwaves: Different in a really good way.
DP: I'm thinking, different in a lighter way. It's not so deep and dark where you have to think about everything. Most of the lyrics for "Tape Head" were written about relationships. I just want to write about what's going on at that time. I don't know what's gonna be happening next time.
Shockwaves: I'm sure it will all be good.
DP: Yeah.