Lonn Fiend
February, 2008
Lonn Fiend… The name alone is synonymous with the rock and metal world, blurring the line between journalist and fan, brining an extraordinary light to the life of the distant rock star. Lonn is probably best know for his seat at the helm of one of the finest music publications ever produced, RIP magazine, not to mention his stint on MTV’s HeadBanger’s Ball in an era where metal was metal and rock decadence was setting the standard for many future generations to follow.
More recently Lonn has taken pen to paper and complied a collection of life stories entilted "Life on Planet Rock" that involves every rock icon from Axel Rose and Lemmy Kilmister to Alice Cooper and Scott Ian as well as Skid Row and Metallica, just to name a few. The bookis a metal fans dream come true, an inside look at the 80’s and 90’s metal scene.
Many people know you from RIP Magazine and Headbanger’s Ball, but can you give us a little back story of your roots, you know the gritty old days stuff.
A piece of the back story is documented in Life on Planet Rock, in other words, the Hustler days. That's essentially where my journalist journey began. Larry and Althea Flynt were my bosses and I cut my teeth doing interviews with sketchy, fascinating folks dancing on the edge of society and pop culture. Porn reviews, sex parodies, and then eventually, rock n' roll revealed its calling.
Would you consider yourself more of a rock journalist or a fan?
I'm a fan who writes about rock n' roll. Even the term journalist is problematic because the bulk of my work has long come from first person POV, living the moment and translating it to 'paper.' This experience has translated to other mediums, TV, radio, the Internet, but it all feeds the same monster: to connect the fan to the rock and the rocker. When I stray from that sacred charge, I wander from the source, so to speak.
Agree or disagree?
Most rock journalism is people who can't write, interviewing people who can't talk, for people who can't read"
I'm not good at judging, however benign the situation. Spent too long the last decade in the valley of self examination to throw stones at someone else's life or how they live it. That being said, from a purely analytical perspective, a great deal of rock reportage is pedestrian, lacking insight and the courage to dig deep into the artist's soul and ask the questions beyond 'so how's the tour coming' or 'did you like working with producer X?' That's what made RIP the special magazine it was. My writers lived what they wrote, were all fans, sometimes (as in the case of Del James and GN'R), friends of the rockers. From that intimate locale, deep, fertile content emerged. Stuff that gave the reader a clearer picture of how his or hero's really ticked.
Paul Stanley Larry Flint Metallica
How do you feel the music industry has changed over the years since your initial involvement in it?
The music industry has not just changed, it's virtually disappeared as I knew it. The obnoxious expense accounts, idiotic bidding wars for bands based on buzz rather than true talent. The sense of greed and entitlement, hooker and blow driven radio promotion and executive dictation of an artist's craft--it's all been snuffed out by the digital domain, file sharing, and the birth of a brave new media fueled independent culture and mindset. Many of the people I knew in the record business back in the day have re-invented themselves into new gigs, some still work music in some web incarnation, and others are selling women's shoes and brokering real estate. Shit, I've written band bios, brochure copy for avant garde condominium developers, press releases for tattoo icons, human interest essays for local papers -- whatever it takes to stay creative and fiscally solvent.
Do you think an artist would be well advised to remain an independent artist or seek the elusive “big record deal”
As I eluded to in the previous question, there are no big record deals anymore. Major labels are still signing acts but for far less up front investment. The indie route is the most authentic. Build a MySpace Music page, utilize other social networking sites, get your ass out on the road and play for whoever the fuck will listen to you. If you're any good, and your songs resonate, you'll find your way into the career you dream about.
Lemmy Sabastian Bach & Axel Rose Ice T
Your recent book "Life on Planet Rock" covers a lot of your experiences and inter-workings with bands. What put you in the mind set to sit down and start committing these things to paper?
I've written my whole life. Never had an agenda or map for how the words would come out or where they'd appear. Planet Rock was an exercise in survival and closure. I wrote it in self-imposed exile from my hometown. Going through divorce, examining and evaluating everything about my life during a period of profound personal deconstruction. In the three years since I finished the manuscript, relocated back to L.A., done a lot of healing, and am immersed in a professional wave of renewed creative energy. I wrote a thousand pages for Planet Rock. There's a lot of material in folders on my hard drive. Not sure where, when or if it will see the light of day but given the fact that I am constantly living new chapters and adventures with incredible artists, both iconic and just starting out on their magical mystery tour of rock n' roll, I'm certain many more books will come in the years ahead.
What’s on your “iGod” ?
6000 songs that range from the most meditative, orchestral, simple and sublime to the loudest, face-melting thunder tunes in the history of modern music. It's a five year old iPod so I treat it tenderly and therefore, add no new material. It's like my sacred companion, my alter ego, that talks to me through song. I've got another 40 gigs of music on my iBook and external hard drive, constantly importing and enhancing the library.
It’s my understanding that you partake in some meditation, yoga and cycling? Which seems to be a in sharp contrast to the Lonn Fiend that we know and love. Is that an effort to bring balance to your existence?
The RIP/Headbanger's Ball heavy metal media warrior was a character, but was me. The Kundalini Yoga, hippie, peace, love and understanding morning mantra guy is a character. And it's also me. I just spent a rapturous evening seeing Iron Maiden at the old Forum in L.A. accompanied by Lars, Robert Trujillo, Kerry King, Ronnie Dio and other keepers of the flame. Three nights later I saw up 'til 2 am with Geoff Tate after a blistering Queensryche set at the House of Blues. Yesterday, I rode my bike to the Larchmont Farmer's market, bought my veggies for the juicer, talked to strange girls, came home, meditated for an hour, then drove to my daughter's to watch the Oscars. And when the song from the film 'Once' won, I teared up because that soundtrack deal was done by a old friend of mine at Sony, Steve Ralbovksy, and after seeing the film last summer, I emailed him and said buddy, you're going to be at the Academy Awards next year watching your band perform and grabbing a statue. A psychic, music loving, poetic, headbanging freak of nature -- it's all me.
Here at Empire Extreme we have fought a long hard battle to maintain our printed version, however the power of the internet has forced our hand to retool our business model to be a more web friendly endeavor. Drawing on your experience with RIP and knowledge of the publishing industry, have you seen this as a trend throughout the industry?
I don't examine the protocol or the medium, much to my detriment because I'd be far more prosperous from my archives if I did. I'm old school when it comes to content, a tech retard, who relies on the Skid Row youth of the world to help navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of new media. It takes tremendous energy for me to stay focused on the muse so I can remain in a state of creative surrender and embrace what's coming to me. Each day is a mystery. I threw away the script to my life. Call me fool or Friend. That's who I am.
Scott Ian, Sabastan Bach & Ian Dave Navarro Kerry King, Charlie Bennette, Dime's wife
Any advise you would give young bands who are trying to catch the attention of a publication or journalist?
In personal email and my space messages, I am constantly mentoring and dispensing advice. It's somewhat exhausting, but the kids are so real, so committed to the dream, that I am loathe to ignore they inquiries. This is the key: perform in your home town wherever you can as often as you can and build a following so that the local press comes out. Then take it on the road and do the same. Never stop writing and demoing. Forget about image and destination and let the music come through you. Express your truth and always write from the heart.
Do you have any new project or shameless plug you would like to throw in?
When I can afford a publicist, that question will be answered :) In the meantime, I'm certain only about one percent of the fans who'd really enjoy Planet Rock have yet discovered it. So to that end, plug the book. Here, there and everywhere.
Buy the book "Life on Planet Rock" from Amazon