VWMusic

All images courtesy of John Thayer

By Andrew Daly
andrew@vinylwriter.com

A seasoned songwriter, skilled guitarist, and able studio engineer, John Thayer’s impact on music runs far deeper than the average fan might know.

While some may recognize John as the older brother of KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer, for those in the proverbial know, John represents one of the untold gems amongst a bustling Portland, Oregon, music scene.

With stellar albums such as Letting Go (2000), Idealogy (2007), and Take it Back (2015) already on the books, supporters will be happy to know that Thayer continues to release quality music, the latest being his three-song EP, Don’t Look Back.

From his home in Portland, Thayer recently joined me for a chat where we run through his long and winding career in and out of music.

Andrew:
As a young musician, what was the moment which first sparked your interest in music?

John:
The Monkee’s T.V. show really sparked my interest. I loved Mickey Dolenz, the drummer singer for the band. When my parents came back from Palm Springs with his autograph, I was hooked!

Andrew:
Who were some of your earliest influences that first shaped your style? 

John:
My early musical influences were a number of British bands. Of course, early on, it was The Beatles. My mom took me to the local record store in 1965 and bought me my first record, a vinyl Beatle’s single with ” Eight Days a Week,” and on the flip side, “I Don’t Wanna Spoil the Party.” And then later, Yes, ELP, Jethro Tull, Queen, Wishbone Ash, and The Who were mainstays in my collection. Later on, I loved the flowing harmonies of American artists like Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, America, The Doobie Brothers, Loggins and Messina, and Dan Fogelberg.

Andrew:
How would you say that style has evolved as you’ve moved through your career?

John:
Vocal harmonies are definitely an influence from those early years that permeates my music – good melodic hooks and grooves as well. 

Andrew:
What were some of your earliest gigs where you first cut your teeth? 

John:
The Whisky in L.A. was one of the more memorable and than many local clubs in Portland over the years.

Andrew:
Let’s dig into your most recent E.P. Don’t Look Back. What are the origins there?

John:
The Don’t Look Back E.P. conveys a bit of a heavier guitar edge than my previous number of releases. I love guitar rock, and these songs were written with more of that style in mind. The songs are still very pop and melodic in their orientation, but definitely have the edge that I love in my brother Tommy’s playing style. The song “Do You Believe in Me” has a very strong, somewhat dark, and heavy intro, which kind of sets the tone for the whole E.P. The song “Wars of Roses” is kind of a tongue-in-cheek relationship narrative with the battle being the protagonist who just wants a casual non-committal relationship versus the other partner who is quickly falling head-over-heels in love. The heavy guitars in the second verse really elevate the song to a new level – I love that verse! The final song on the record, the title song “Don’t Look Back,” is an emotional journey with the message that holding on and never letting go of your resentments, failures, and grievances is a recipe for a miserable, self-absorbed journey through life, “Learn from the past but don’t keep the hurt inside.” 

Andrew:
From a songwriting perspective, how have your collective experiences affected your music?

John:
I think relationships and other important experiences in life have shaped my musical messaging; those are the emotional feelings that tend to creep into my songwriting. Many of my songs are personal in nature, but other songs are stories about other people as well. Some of my songs have nothing to do with me but just tell the tale of pure fiction. People ask me, “What is that song about?” And I say, “I just made it up!”

Andrew:
What themes would you say are best represented in your music?

John:
Social justice, inclusion, politics, and my aversion to armed conflict have always been lurking out there in a few of my songs. I wrote a song called “Hypocrisy” that asks the question, “Would you die for me, in a world across the sea – can you justify the ends to meet your greed? Can you look me in the eye, tell me there’s no lie, would you send your own child instead of me to die for oil and greed?” Very provocative lyrics, but that’s how I felt at the time. I also wrote a song called “The Waking Hour,” “For those who can’t remember the past – are all condemned to repeat it.” The song is an indictment of war in general. This week I’ll be releasing a new music video. It’s a one-off single called “Make It Together.” The song is about freedom, inclusiveness, compassion, and love. With all of the divisiveness in our country, we need to come together and spread more kindness and love in the world. Maybe I was meant to be a hippie in San Francisco in the late 1960s. [Laughs].  

Andrew:
How about the production mixing side of things?

John:
I’ve been fortunate to be associated with two very talented producer engineers in my music career in, Rob Daiker from Portland, OR, and Micah Tawlks from Nashville, TN. I worked with Rob many years ago on two or three of my early releases and then again more recently on my last two. In between, I worked with Micah on a couple of dozen songs – many of which will be released on a series of three-song EPs over the next year or two. Rob brings a more classic rock sound influence to my music, whereas Micah brought me a more indie pop sound. I also need to credit my cousin Bobby Krier, who is a very talented singer-songwriter with influenced my music in a big way during my years working with Micah. Bobby helped me to craft many of the melodies and arrangements during this period and was also instrumental in introducing live strings into the production of many of my songs. “Time Waiting For You” and “Breathe” off of the Laurel Street E.P. are two great examples.

Andrew:
How do you feel you’ve progressed since your debut record, Letting Go?

John:
I think my songwriting skills have progressed, although I love many of those older songs. Lyrically, I feel more confident. Lyrics can be challenging. I feel like my “cheesy lyric” filter is now pretty good. When I look back on some of my early songs, I sometimes cringe at my lyrics, although I do feel that most of them still pass the test of time. Overall, I feel like my songwriting is more diverse. I’ve tried to introduce new sounds and concepts over the years, but for the most part, I still write melodic pop songs with a hook. That’s my signature.

Andrew:
What needs to happen for you to remain vital and take the next step in your career?

John:
I need to do a better job promoting my music. I own two businesses that take up a good part of my time and energy. I was recently married and settling into a more family-oriented lifestyle. But with the pandemic limitations coming to an end, I’m looking forward to playing more live shows and putting more time and energy into my songwriting, and releasing new material.

Andrew:
How do you go about self-marketing your music?

John:
In a sense, I think it is easier than ever to self-market and self-promote, but there is so much competition that the music space is very crowded. And that’s not a bad thing. There is amazing talent all over the world – I’m continually being humbled – but that is what drives me to continually improve myself as an artist. It only takes one song to make a name for yourself. You have to continually step up to the plate and keep swinging.  

Andrew:
Where do you see yourself in ten years?

John:
I want to keep my musical juices flowing and keep writing new material. My goal would be to travel the world and be fortunate enough to do live shows along the way with an audience that enjoys my music enough to come to see me play.  

Andrew:
Does the lack of revenue through streaming services scare you? To that end, would you prefer to be indie or under the umbrella of a major?

John:
Being an indie artist is great in that you truly control your own destiny in every way. The downside, of course, is not having a formidable sales and marketing organization that can build the foundation, open new avenues, and provide opportunities you wouldn’t have otherwise. If a major label were interested in an “older” accomplished songwriter/performer, that would be a fun ride for sure.

Andrew:
I last wanted to hit on your brother Tommy Thayer. How would you say you’ve most influenced him as a player and a showman?

John:
Tommy has always been a great supporter of my music and always encouraged my progress as a songwriter. We both have a strong work ethic, and maybe me seeing that in him and him seeing that in me helps drive us to be successful. Our musical styles are quite different, but I did introduce him to Coldplay a few years ago, so maybe that has influenced his listening habits a bit. [Laughs]. He is pretty old school, as I am, having been influenced by many of the bands and artists that I listed earlier, but he definitely was into the more heavy stuff like Montrose, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, and a band called KISS. [Laughs].  

Andrew:
In Tommy’s early years, did you play any role in getting him jumpstarted in music with Black N’ Blue, etc.?  

John:
I was a big fan of Tommy’s back in the early days when he was instrumental in starting The Force, Movie Star, Loved By Millions, and of course, Black N’ Blue. I would show up at all of his local shows in Portland in the early 1980s and have the unceremonious role of introducing the band. [Laughs]. I followed them to L.A. and attended many of the early Black N’ Blue shows with Night Ranger, Guns N’ Roses, and Ted Nugent. I’ve had the pleasure of touring with KISS as a loving brother all over the world – you can call me a KISS groupie. [laughs]. Other than being a big supporter and fan, Tommy was on his own mission from the start. I’m very proud of him.  

Andrew:
Would you two ever consider working together once his time in KISS is done?

John:
Yes, I think that is possible. I would like to collaborate with Tommy by writing music and performing, and maybe there is a music-related business that could provide an opportunity for us to work together.

Andrew:
Last one. What’s next for you in all lanes?

John:
Continuing to grow my business products companies, nurture the relationship with my wife and our families and friends, and make a hit record!

– Andrew Daly (@vwmusicrocks) is the Editor-in-Chief for www.vwmusicrocks.com and may be reached at andrew@vinylwriter.com