We showed up early at a recent ROCKBOTTOM gig and found Joe at the bar having some laughs with a few friends. Luckily, he was in a talkative mood.......

Hey Joe, the new record kicks some serious ass!
Right on, Thanks.

You got a favorite?
Favorite what?

Favorite song, from the new record?
Oh man, that's tricky. Each one is personal, so I don't think I could choose.

What about live on stage, are there certain songs you prefer?
I love doing "Brother" and "Going Home" live. But for me, "Say It Again" is where it's at on stage, it just goes and goes and goes, and it always leaves the audience with their jaws on the floor, which is what it's all about!

So I take it you would rather be on stage than in the studio?
I love being in the studio, I mean, creatively it's a blast, especially if you love the guys your in their with, but it's very important to get in and get out, don't pick it apart because after about a month or so, drumsticks are flying, everyone starts pointing the finger and you know it's time to get the hell out of there. Some of the greatest fights I have ever seen have been in the studio, that's why we always bring our friend Jack! On stage, you can deviate all you want because the template is already there and when the people are digging it, there's nothing better.

On the first record, you played bass. But now you're on guitar, what's up?
I write everything on guitar or piano so I thought maybe I'll just stay on guitar for a while and get the grooves the way they were written, but I do miss the bass, don't tell anyone.

When you write, which comes first, the music or the lyrics?
Each song is different, it's about 50/50.

The new record is a lot heavier than the first, was that your intention?
Well, it has a lot to do with Chris. He has a way of taking the "Wimp" out of my songs, he hits em' hard and fast, when I give him a song, I just gotta hold on for the ride man.

How long have you been writing?
I've always written, but the best stuff came after my divorce 7 years ago. What can I say, people really eat up that "BABY YOU DONE ME WRONG" thing. They identify with it so well and make it their own, it was hard for me to pull my pants down for everyone to see and especially at gigs, everyone would shout for "Sweet Baby" which is an extremely personal song. Watching people sing along, knowing the words, what a trip, I wrote it in a dark empty kitchen with a bottle of Jack Daniels and a box of Kleenex, but hey, that was a long time ago. Now I write more about moving on.

Have you?
Absolutely.......I just focused on my daughters, they are everything to me and I remember thinking that I had to pull it together for them. It wasn't their fault and I had to make sure they knew that. Ironic thing is, they don't even realize that they probably saved my life. Man, you're getting too heavy for me, lighten it up, huh?

What about growing up, was music big in your family?
There was always music being played somewhere, my parents always turned us on to the good stuff.

The good stuff? Like what?
Motown, Tom Jones, Motown, Frankie Valli, Motown, Elvis, Motown..... I remember Stevie Wonder was always on somewhere in the house, then on roadtrips, it was Lotsa Stevie, The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, it was great!! And then the whole singer songwriter thing happened, Carol King, Jim Croce, James Taylor, Carly Simon, they were all huge in the mid 70's before the disco thing.

What about the heavier stuff?
My sister Linda turned me on to Heart and Fleetwood Mac and my brother Mike turned me on to Bowie and Schenker. My sister Liz was all about Al Green and Marvin Gaye.......I'm telling you man, I had it coming from all sides. But John Lennon's death was the turning point for me.

How so?
After Lennon's death, I discovered The Beatles, I mean really discovered them. I immersed myself in everything I could get my hands on, I was absolutely blown away by their progression from the early days, through Sgt. Pepper to Abbey Road and even after....their solo stuff was incredible, I think that's when I discovered the bass. Paul left my jaw on the floor with some of those bass lines.

Elvis or The Beatles?
The Beatles, but Elvis is a close second, he was the coolest.

Favorite Elvis song?
Separate Ways or The Wonder Of You.

Abbey Road or Sgt. Pepper?
Abbey Road.

When did you start playing?
My dad bought me my first bass at 13. Then Joe Bonuito and I learned "Suffregette City" by Bowie while everyone else was learning "Stairway To Heaven", which seemed to be a requirement back then if you wanted to play.

What about women in rock, who's your favorite?
All time would have to be Janis Joplin or Ann Wilson.

Who's your favorite all time guitar player?
Hmm, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Michael Schenker.

Who do you listen to today?
If I'm a little down I listen to Sam Cooke, that always does the trick. I listen to AC/DC, Motley Crue or The Scorpions when I gotta get moving. If I'm with a chick, it's Al Green. Around the house it's The Beatles, Jimi, Stevie, Zeppelin. If you're asking me about todays rock & roll, I think it all sucks except for Aerosmith or The Black Crowes.

Can we get personal?
No.

Okay, who would you most like to jam with, dead or alive?
Great question! I would love to play bass for Jimi Hendrix with John Bonham on drums. Man, could you imagine that?