Interview with John Speck of the Band, HiFi Handgrenades: Keeping the Faith

The music business is indeed a fickle beast. In literally the blink of an eye one can become the toast of the town on Monday and by Wednesday you are yesterday's news and the masses have forgotten just who you were and what you did. In this age of downloading music, the creation of singers and bands on reality TV and the overall decline of the record industry it can be difficult to find a band or an artist with true integrity and heart.

Guitarist/songwriter John Speck represents the last of a dying breed; a guitarist/singer/songwriter with emotion, depth and above all faith. Faith is not just the word tattooed across John's knuckles; it's a mantra, a punk rock manifesto and a state of mind, a musician must have when shooting for musical success. He has been in his share of bands (Hoarse, The Fags, and now punk rock upstarts, Hi-Fi Handgrenades) and has heard his share of empty promises in the record biz. Faith is what John has had to rely on while making music he can be proud of.

Speck got his first taste of success in the late 80's/early 90's in a band called Hoarse. "We put out two 7 inch singles and one of them got a ton of radio airplay. After that we released our first full length disc on RCA records, we did one of the early Warped Tours, etc..." After his stint with Hoarse John wound up in a tumultuous musical project with the drummer from Hoarse in 2003.

"The goal of this project, (the inappropriately named band) The Fags was to try and make guitar driven music that was commercial enough to get on the radio." When asked why this was the main goal of the aforementioned group Speck sighs and simply states, "When we would listen to rock radio at home in Detroit we just thought to ourselves, man this stuff sucks!!

My friends and I would ask ourselves what happened to artists like (early) Elvis Costello, The Replacements and The Jam. I mean I get the idea that everyone is trying to write a hit but we just thought that we could make something that was better than what was on the radio but what could also be a throwback to really catchy music filled with hooks and depth".

The band did not disappoint. The Fags debut "Light Em' Up" was a critic's choice last year and the disc itself was a classic piece of power pop that owed more to Cheap Trick than Fall Out Boy. Even with critical accolades however, support for the disc and commercial success proved hard to come by. "We got a record deal with Sire Records but when we delivered the disc it just sat on the shelf for a year while we played shows here and there.

The disc eventually came out on the Texas based label Idol Records but by that time, the guys were done with the band. They didn't see themselves driving around in a van playing shows trying to promote a record that was not getting any support and then of course, there was a bit of tension in the group".

When asked to elaborate on the type of tension that split the band John replies, "Jimmy Paluzzi is a very talented drummer and I respect him as a musician but in a band everyone has a role to play and he was not satisfied with his role. He wanted to do everything...we had a very turbulent working relationship.

I was the songwriter, bassist Tim Patalan was the producer and Jimmy is a good arranger but he wanted to do it all in the band and that is not how it works. Some musicians can really thrive on that type of tension but I can't. Like I said, he is a great drummer and I respect him as a musician but I will never work with him in another band again."

At that point most folks would just call it quits. When Spin Magazine and the Village Voice both proclaim your disc is one of the top fifty cds of the year and things still don't fall into place that might be a sign to pack it in. "After that whole situation I thought I was done with music", confesses Speck. "I had no money, no credit card, and no job. I owed several people a lot of cash...I had to get a real job." Just when things seemed the bleakest for Speck however, another musical opportunity reared it's ugly head.

"Robby Graham, the bassist from Hoarse and I have been friends since we were teenagers. He wanted to know if I was up for doing something musical. I was burnt out on the music scene but the more I thought about it the more things just took off...we hooked up with guitarist Tony Vegas and drummer Ryan Vandeberghe who was part of The Suicide Machines...It just seemed to come together quickly.

We started rehearsing, writing songs...we recorded a four song ep...then we started printing up T-Shirts and stickers. By the time we played our first show as Hi-Fi Handgrenades, people had our disc and were wearing our swag and wanting to hear more of our stuff." For Speck this part of the story is all too familiar and John readily admits he has been down this road before.

"The difference this time is that we have a ton of support from a good friend of ours, Gus Brandt. Gus has kind of been our guardian angel (HA) He's an old school punk rocker from Pensacola and he has been in the business as a tour manager working for Nine Inch Nails, Cypress Hill, Eminem and The Foo Fighters. He saw the band, he knew us and he told us he was gonna help us out in anyway he could."

The first type of help Brandt was able to provide was a studio in California for the band to record what will become the Hi-Fi Handgrenades first full length disc. "Gus has worked with The Foo Fighters for over 15 years and he arranged for us to record in Studio 606 which is David Grhol's studio and rehearsal space. We were listening to the playback and in walked David Grohl himself!! He liked what he heard, asked to hear more and then asked if we could open shows for the Foo Fighters this fall for the first leg of their tour!!"

The Handgrenades have wrapped up a few weeks with the Foo Fighters, done some shows with Punk veterans Bad Religion and they are gearing up to release their first disc. As he speaks about the future with Hi-Fi Handgrenades you can hear the excitement in John's voice. "The tour with the Foos was great. The guys in the Foo Fighters are really down to earth and their road crew are also very nice people...Gus has hooked us up with record labels to distribute our disc in Australia, Japan, the UK and Germany." When I sheepishly ask what about the US, John laughs and answers back "Have you heard what US Radio stations are playing (HA)? Seriously, we are probably going to release the disc here in the US ourselves and sell it at our live shows which means lots and lots of touring for us in the very near future."

John sounds optimistic at this moment and he contemplates big things on the horizon for the band. I ask John what has kept him going after many years of blood, sweat and tears. I wonder out loud to John if it has all been worth it? "It has been worth it...there have been some tough times...like I said I had to get a real job...I became burnt out for a while but It has been worth it and I am especially happy about being in this position with this particular band...with these particular guys...we are gonna hit the U.K and open shows for Saosin and then we are off to Japan...we also may have some shows with the Foo Fighters in the new year back here in the states." When asked to speculate on his feelings at this moment with so much happening Speck simply says, "Right now at this point its all about being able to enjoy the success and luck that is coming our way and being able to make the right choices."

If nothing else Hi-Fi Handgrenades and John Speck are true examples of how and why we all need to keep the faith when the struggles and pit falls of life bring us to our knees. For John Speck and the 'grenades life is not about how hard you fall when you get knocked down but rather how quickly you dust yourself off when you get back up.