All images courtesy of Jim Crean

Image credit: Big Time Photo/All images courtesy of Jim Crean

Recently, we caught up with veteran frontman, Jim Crean of the Appice brothers Drum Wars and Scream Taker. Among other things, we touch on Jim’s early years on the Buffalo Rock circuit, his early ties to Billy Sheehan’s Talas, making headway as a solo artist in the 90s, recording and touring with Carmine, and Vinny Appice, the infamous Vinnie Vincent, the formation of Scream Taker, and a whole lot more.

If you would like to learn more about the work of Jim Crean, you can head over to his website, and dig in, and if you would like to learn more about Scream Taker, you can head over to their Facebook page here. Once you’ve done that, check out this interview with Jim. Cheers.

Andrew:
Jim, thank you for taking the time. How have you been holding up?
As a young artist, what were some of your earliest memories which influenced you as a musician going forward?

Jim:
Things are going great my friend! Well, I was exposed to music at an early age. My Dad was a drummer, and I was always around music.

Andrew:
Take me through your early years playing the local Buffalo club and bar circuits.

Jim:
I started playing in the club scene at a very early age. I was in High School and would play out a lot. The Buffalo Music scene was thriving back then. Every night of the week you could play live! 

Andrew:
You’ve got a deep connection to Talas. How did you come in contact with them in your early years, and subsequently, begin opening for them?

Jim:
The first time I saw Talas was the three-piece and I was blown away. Then I was given the opportunity to start opening up for the four-piece version with Phil Narobecause, as we had the same management, Starstruck Productions. Phil and I instantly became best friends! Phil took me under his wing and we started writing and recording together! Talas was by far the BEST band ever in my opinion!

All images courtesy of Jim Crean

Andrew:
I wanted to dig into some of your early bands such as Strutter, and Blackstar. As you moved through the 80s, and into the early 90s, how difficult was it to break through such a saturated market. Given your talent, why do you feel major labels have often overlooked you?

Jim:
Man, Strutter was a cool band! That was my High School band and we did some amazing shows back then and had a great following! I joined and toured with Blackstar right out of High School! I feel that the scene was rapidly changing in the late 80s early 90s. The LA scene had blown up so big that there was nowhere really left to go but change!

Andrew:
The 90s was a particularly tumultuous time for Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Looking back, how much of an effect did Grunge really have on the genre of Rock music? What were your thoughts regarding mainstream acts such as KISS, Poison, and Mötley Crüe “going Grunge,” so to speak?

Jim:
I had some really good opportunities in the early 90s! I released my first solo record, produced by Phil Naro, and had a video that was frequently played on MTV! The video made it to the finals in an MTV unsigned artist competition only to be beaten out by Fuel. It made a lot of sense looking back now, as the Grunge movement was really taking over by then.

Andrew:
Let’s dig into the recording of your debut solo record. What do you recall regarding the sessions?

Jim:
It was very exciting! We had a decent budget and we recorded the record in Toronto, Canada! Phil Naro produced it, and it was a very cool time because in the weeks coming up to the sessions, myself & Phil spent a lot of time together writing all the songs. We had some major label interest, and MTV would air a single off the record for the song “Running On Thru The Night!”

Image credit: JustAfan Photography/All images courtesy of Jim Crean

Andrew:
For over a decade, you’ve been working with Carmine and Vinny Appice for their Drum Wars project.
After so many years on the circuit, what’s it been like finally have the opportunity to showcase your talents on some of the biggest stages with Carmine and Vinny?

Jim:
I have been with them for over ten years now, and has been a great experience! They both are like brothers and family to me! We have played countless shows together, traveled all over, and met some amazing people and fans! The show is a retrospect of the brother’s career, so it’s not a drum show. It is a full concert as we perform all the hit’s from their amazing careers from Rod Stewart, Ozzy, Black Sabbath, Dio, Blue Murder, etc. It’s dream come true! To be in a national recording/touring band is what all musicians thrive for!

Andrew:
I wanted to touch on Vinnie Vincent. During Carmine Appice‘s and Tony Franklin’s near run of shows, you were brought in as vocalist after Rober Fleishman backed out, right? Take me through the experience, and your recollection of how things went down? Had you met Vinnie prior?

Jim:
I was contacted to audition for the band after Robert backed out. I demoed out a few songs for Vinnie, and he ended up really liking me and picked me from a few other big-name artists. We had everything in place and had a few dates scheduled. Everything was going well, Carmine, Tony, and I were learning all the songs, and had scheduled rehearsals in Nashville, TN a few days before the shows. Carmine and I were performing in Anaheim, California at the Metal Hall Of Fame event during NAMM when we received the news that Vinnie Flaked out, and wanted to cancel everything. I was literally on the Red Carpet being interviewed by Jimmy Kay from The Metal Voice when Carmine came up to me and said, “Vinnie flaked out, and blew out the shows and the whole event.” A lot since has been said, but the bottom line is that this was a shame, because we would have been an AMAZING band and would have really put Vinnie back on the map! My thoughts of the whole thing were to help make Vinnie look good as a backing band, and show the world what a great guitarist he really is. It wasn’t about us, it was his thing, and I really wanted to help him look good. What could have been, was a great band.

All images courtesy of Jim Crean

Andrew:
What other vocalists were you up against when trying out for the Vinnie Vincent/Carmine Appice/Tony Franklin shows?

Jim:
There were actually a few other big-name vocalists that were being discussed who demoed out songs for Vinnie. He liked my demo’s and the agent, Derek, said he liked mine the most and wanted me.

Andrew:
There are a lot of rumors about Vinnie’s ability level at this time after being away for so long. Can Vinnie still play?

Jim:
I really have no idea. Carmine had asked Vinnie if he could still play, and Vinnie reassured him that he could and that he was the best guitarist on the planet.

Andrew;
What are a few of your favorite albums, and why?

Jim:
The first Talas album and Talas Live Speed On Ice are by far my favorite albums of all time! They influenced the way I sing and perform. Other albums would be Dio’s Holy Diver, Scorpions’ Animal Magnetism, Sweet’s Desolation Boulevard, Aerosmith’s Toys In The Attic, White Lion’s Pride, and any Cheap Trick’s Album!

All images courtesy of Jim Crean

Andrew:
What other passions do you have, and how do those passions inform your music, if at all?

Jim:
I love sports! I have played sports since an early age, and they’ve helped me to work with others, along with still keeping a competitive edge.

Andrew:
You’ve got a new band in Scream Taker. What’s on the horizon there? Tell us more about the upcoming album, and what else is next on your docket, Jim.

Jim:
Hair Nation has officially been around for twenty-two years! The Jim Crean Band headlined The Whiskey A Go Go in Hollywood, California, and we recorded it for a live album/DVD package that we plan to release this year! I have a new solo album I’m working on. Appice has a new album we are writing for.

As for Scream Taker, this album is really going to kick ass! It has a Sabbath/Dio vibe and has a lot of very cool songs on it. Artie Dillion, my bandmate from the Appice Drum Wars band, is producing it. The album is in the final production stages, and we hope to have it ready for release in the upcoming months. Scream Taker is me, Steph Honde, and Vinny Appice. We are planning a tour of South America with the Brazilian band Sunroad as our direct support band, and then we will be touring the US as well.

All images courtesy of Jim Crean

Interested in learning more about the work of Jim Crean? Check out the links below:

Dig this interview? Check out the full catalog of VWMusic Interviews, by Andrew Daly, here: www.vinylwritermusic.com/interviews

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