David Chastain interview 18/11/22
MM: Chastainum has been recently released how pleased are you with the feedback so far?
David T. Chastain: There are actually 2 versions of this title. Chastainium and Chastainium V2. V2 has just been released and it is a collection of the more obscure tracks from the CHASTAIN albums thru time. We felt these were great tracks but had just been "under the radar" so to speak because the "hits" of the albums they were released on, dominated the coverage when those albums first came out. I think the true fans are happy with the release. We didn't really promote it to the press per se other than just a press release that it was available.
MM: I love proper album covers and yours are always killer..how pleased are you to see vinyl returning in such a big way?
David T. Chastain: Obviously that is definitely the best way to see the album covers. Any physical format for recorded music that is popular is a big plus in today's world of streaming. In the US I think streaming is something like 90% of the music business as far as income goes. I definitely prefer the old days music business. When we sell Cds/Lps we make $s per sale, downloads are pennies per sale and streaming is fractions of a penny per stream. I am certainly glad I am not a new artist and was part of the Cd/Lp/Cassette era of the music business.
MM : You have been in the music scene a long time what keeps you motivated and keeping Metal alive?
David T. Chastain: I guess it is "in the blood" as the last Chastain studio album was titled "We Bleed Metal." I do enjoy many styles of music and really listen to classical music 95% of the time when I am not listening and working on my own music. If I listen to too many other metal bands their styles will influence my own music which I don't want to happen.
MM: Over your career, you will have many highlights but if you can grasp on outta the sky now which one would you choose?
David T. Chastain: Not sure I would have just one highlight but I guess it would be the "first" time certain things happened like: first time hearing your music on the radio, first time seeing your photo in a magazine, first time playing a large arena, first time seeing one of your videos on MTV, first time selling out your hometown concert venue, first time being on a magazine cover, first time touring Japan, etc...
MM: Tell me one of the most outrageous things you have ever done on tour?
David T. Chastain: I am pretty straight laced so I don't really have any tales of debauchery and the like. We usually were so pressed for time in playing the show and getting to the next show that we didn't have time to get into much trouble. I remember one tour we did with Black Sabbath and I never even saw them play until the last night of the tour where we didn't have to load up and hit the road. Of course there were some tours where we did get to see the sites such as in Paris, Tokyo and Mexico City. I do remember one show we did with KISS and they told us not to run out onto their ramps but Leather did so anyway and they were watching on the side of the stage and Gene and Paul were not happy. However they were nice to us otherwise and it was a great show.
MM: If you could make up a supergroup of musicians dead or alive who would u choose including u of course?
David T. Chastain: Fortunately I have been lucky to have a lot of great musicians and vocalists in my own bands so I never really lusted after other ones. With that said, I would have loved to have at least written an album's worth of music for Ronnie James Dio to sing on whether I played on it or not. I have always admired Steve Harris of Maiden on bass and his songwriting. As far as drummers go I don't think I could have much better than I have had thru years on the Chastain albums: Fred Coury, Ken Mary, Dennis Lesh, Larry Howe and Stian Kristoffersen. That is an all-star lineup right there.
MM: Metal has seen many changes over the years but still keeps going strong why do you think this is?
David T. Chastain: I believe there will always be a male-dominated metal fan-base. It is just more aggressive music than any other. It is loud and in some cases "bigger than life." I don't think it will ever be as popular with the females in large numbers unless a band like LOVEBITES becomes a huge band or it goes back to 80s style "pretty boy metal."
MM: Who in your eyes is the ultimate metal icon?
David T. Chastain: Dio. But if you are asking "living icon" it would have to be Metallica. Obviously they are and have been hugely successful and have carried the torch for nearly 40 years. There are others such as Priest, Sabbath and Maiden but they never had the commercial success of Metallica.
MM: What would you like David T Chastain to be remembered for in years to come?
David T. Chastain: Someone who was a versatile musician and songwriter who tried to be an original in a crowded landscape. I am not a good self promoter so it is best for others to do the "remembering."
Final Words for your fans our readers
David T. Chastain: Enjoy yourselves while you can as you don't know what tomorrow brings. We have more in common than differences and negativity is your own choice... resist it! Love your music but don't let it dominate your existence. There are plenty of other things in life to seek out and enjoy.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
David T. Chastain
Leviathan Records Music Group
http://www.LeviathanRecords.com
Available Now!
DAVID T. CHASTAIN "Odd Ball"
