Whatchu talkin about Willis? Cleve Willis tells all
Atlanta is no stranger to Cleve Willis. Local musician and rock legend in these parts.
We recently caught up with him and found out how our Atlanta boy is faring the city of Angels.
1. Last time The Backstage Beat Atlanta talked with you, you were balancing work with two bands, filming a movie, and practicing Bikram yoga. How did you balance your schedule with the bands and shooting for the movie?
I was pretty slammed. Rockets To Ruin was finishing up a record we had just played with Cinderella slated to do several shows.. did one (that’s another rock n roll RTR story, ha)
we did a new video new tune which was really cool , played with Powerman 5ooo and couple other things, meanwhile as we started realizing the label we had a production deal with had split from their partners including “Lil Jon’s management , so we sorta got the brush off write off whatnot, so we ended hopefully in the RTR graceful manner well , or with a few F-U’s haha, The LA project we were writing and recorded a couple of tunes on guitar Nick Rozz and also Kieth Horne form RTR and a female badass drummer Tuesdai Lisa Murgia, and Atl based Bruce Butkovich did the studio bass who plays with The Futura Bold, (James hall), BNH bass player Kevin Anders was not around to record, so we recorded in ATLANTA and I was in LA doing some also, in between I was doing the trailer for Colbalt’s sky! great to b busy , wish i was right now! I always make time for the Bikram yoga, its my most passionate place to be next to the stage, want to get certified and teach sooner than not!
2. Is filming completed for the movie Cobalt Sky in which you were the lead character? Has a release date been set for the film? Have you gotten to preview it on the big screen yet – is it odd seeing yourself up there?
The movie Colbalt’s sky got funded to do a trailer and i was asked to play the lead , previous I had a speaking part in an Indy film called KERBEROS . . .
. . . you can see me for a moment at 1.59 for literally a second
Cobalt’s sky, I am the main character it was pretty cool a challenge and has set me up for some possible things in LA, who knows …great time hope they finally get funded for the movie, love to finish it!
3. Tell us about your newer band, Brand New Hate?
Brand new Hate , well Nick is touring with a national band. Meanwhile I have sung tunes in the studio for the Fantasy factory show Mtv , the music is pretty damn fun,very different for me , the production co. thought it was good enough to finance entire record, produced by Anthony Valli known for playing guitar with the band early 2000’s Crazy Town , he works with bands producing and also for tv shows etc, we are excited it’s actually done now so Kieth Horne from RTR and BNH myself, Carmine D’amico, who is a brain child with Anthony behind this whole thing, well we recruited Joaquin Revuelta whom has played with many bands from Stephen Pearcy to Papa Roach(filler) and Jason Barajas on bass we are called “L.A. STORY” with one song on Mtv Show and the record done getting mixed now ,we are under way very soon L.A. Story very Killers meets Bowie, punk pop, i am loving it! Please go check out a couple of tunes we put up here on The Backstage Beat, so you’re the first to hear and see it!
4. How is Brand New Hate different from Rockets to Ruin?
Brand new Hate was different from RTR with the less sleazy and less punk background and a bit heavier , I have the more straight ahead rock punk in my blood though, with L.A. Story it may be a bit commercial pop but has a rock/punk feel as in shorter tunes and extremely catchy songs, I am honestly just so stoked about this band , we had our first rehearsal which went great none of us have ever played these tunes , funny coz the album is complete!! Time to push L.A. Story
5. What’s going on with Rocket to Ruin right now?
I mainly answered this question in number 1, RTR has never fully broken up, Rob Hammersmith whom recorded everything with us even the songs that never came out via that bastard ex-manager of ours, was RTR drummer is in Skidrow now , he was and always will be RTR drummer as far as I am concerned, we were spoiled with his playing, we had a filler for a while Brent Addision who was great, talk of L.A. show having Tuesdai on drums ( a one-off show only) myself and Kieth are in LA working on “L.A.STORY” , he and I may do some acoustic stuff, Brand new Hate is on hold, who knows , and as far as any more acting goes I do like it and we shall see if I do anything with it, i have couple things that may take shape, but L.A.Story and Bikram are on the forefront ….
6. Tell us about L.A. Story…
