Added by Administrator | 02 August 2010

Jean Beauvoir

Interview at Melodic Rock Fest 2, Eligin IL Saturday, May 1, 2010

An artist with associations that include Paul Stanley, Steven Van Zant, Jon Bon Jovi and Lionel Richie usually needs no introduction. However, mention Jean Beauvoir to the uninitiated and you might just receive a blank stare. Beginning (still a teenager) with US Gary Bonds (of which started his friendship with current Crown of Thorns bandmate, Tommy Lafferty), then enticed by the burgeoning NYC punk scene and playing bass in The Plasmatics, Jean’s vast exposure to music of all styles has shaped his unique career and is considered by many as one of the most respected talents in the industry. After witnessing their stellar performance at Firefest VI, I was more than ecstatic to see them reprise their role at MelodicRockFest2. I am pleased to report that they not only exceeded my expectations, Jean was kind enough to field my questions…and in my rookie performance, I present you with my debut interview with the affable and genteel Jean Beauvoir:

Q: Since the release of “Faith” on Lost Cathedral Records, have you made a break with Frontiers?

A: Frontiers had the record in Europe and Lost Cathedral is just confined to US distribution. Two separate territories

Q: Is it safe to assume then that the next record be handled by Frontiers?

A: We don’t know. It [Faith] was a one album deal. We’ll see what happens with the next one, we’re not sure yet.

Q: It’s my opinion, as I get increasingly familiar with the CoT catalog that Faith is a nice cross between Lost Cathedral and Breakthrough

A: OK!?

Q:…or at least that is how it seems to me.

A: We don’t really plan it out, we just do what comes. And at the same time, we do go back and listen to the records and try and get an idea of what you like yourself (as a band), what you like from the different records that you’ve done…and it just comes out. It is not really planned…it’s not like a strategy

Q: Right, when you make a record it is a reflection of a person in that moment, in that particular period of time

A: That’s right. What’s going on in the world, what people are going through {in life}. I think writing songs in a lot of ways is supposed to be a reflection of people’s lives from what you see going on {in the world}. And I’m just telling people what I see. Watching what’s going on in the world and interpreting, filtering it through your eyes…that’s what it is really about. That is my way of expressing myself.

Q: Since all of the import CD’s are so expensive these days, not withstanding all the digital downloading and other types of piracy, have you seen a bigger interest in Crown of Thorns domestically as a result?

A: Well, there has been actually, a bunch of interesting things that have happened. One of the songs on the new record, “Rock Ready” has been picked up by Polk Audio…they have a speaker they are putting out called the Hit Master…it’s a speaker that they are targeting for Gamers…people that play Rock Band and other similar titles…a speaker that looks like a stage monitor…So they took “Rock Ready” as the song for the campaign, and the game Rock Band has just requested the song for the game. So, it’s not like we’re seeing tons of sales, we’re seeing some interest…it’s not going to be anything major, believe me, but we’ll see where things take us.

Q: Do you have any plans to record or are there any formal ideas with the band for a new record?

A: I don’t know about a new record right away but we’re working on some ideas. One thing that is for sure is we feel that we missed some things…we took a break after we finished the record and haven’t played that much and need to put the bug back in us, you know what I mean?

Q: You guys really kick ass…I’m sorry, you were my favorite of Firefest VI.

A: Thank you. Well, just doing that and seeing the audience and getting that response and feeling that connection just makes you realize that it is something that you really miss. Ever since then, we’ve been talking about other things to do and we are going to try and play out as much as we can and, you know, we’re working on some new things.

Q: Great. How about you as a solo artist? Are you still going to pursue that aspect of your career?

A: Um, I don’t know. I’ve had some requests to do some things, but we’ll see how that goes. Right now, I think my focus is on Crown of Thorns.

Q: Are you working with any other artists as a Producer or in any other role?

A: Yes, I am actually… I’m producing two Joey Ramone tracks right now…The estate had some other material that they had never released and I just finished writing and producing a track for Rob Marcello and a track for another guy named Angus Karlsson…so I’m doing more of that as time moves on.

Q: The Ramones thing…a throwback to the days in the Plasmatics?

A: Yeah, I like that…that’s part of me. It’s just like with the Plasmatics, I’ve known the Ramones for years and of course, they passed away and I’ve always kept in contact with Johnny’s wife and Micki Free and they had some other material and asked me to mix it and produce the tracks. I’m finished with one already and next one will be completed soon.