SKANEWS Webzine - HEPCAT interview - july 26th 2000

HEPCAT INTERVIEW
of july 26th 2000

Dear Hepcat fans, please find enclosed an interview from Greg Lee, leader of Hepcat released last 26th july. Skanews is very disappointed because Greg don't want to answer to crucial questions.
Last news from 22th august 2000 : Hepcat will be on tour next october. The band still alive ! Hepcat split up was just a rumour !

Skanews : "The story so far of Hepcat"

Greg Lee : "Hepcat started in the summer of 1989 as a project. A few of us (Deston, Alex, and myself) thought that there was a need for a band that played Ska, Rocksteady, and Reggae the way we'd heard it on our records at home.. There were bands playing "Ska" at the time of course but we wanted to hear what the D.J. spun between the bands.. So, we three spread out
through the scene here in L.A. and found the players to do this.. Early on, we thought that we were doing exact copies of the vinyl greats, as time passed, we found that we sounded nothing like them, but like Hepcat..."

Skanews : "Line up of the band"

Greg Lee : "The original line up was Deston Berry ( keys ), Alex Desert (vocs. ), Dave Hilliard (sax) , Dave Fuentes (bass), Lino Trujillo (guitar), Greg Narvas( drums ), Raul Talavera (sax ), Greg Lee (vocs.)
Now we have : Deston Berry, Dave Fuentes, Greg Lee, Scott Ables (drums), Aaron Owens (guitar), Efren Santana (sax), Kinkaid Smith(trumpet)."

Skanews : "Musical influences"

Greg Lee : "This band's influences are the Skatalites of course, the many talented singers and song writers from J.A., American Soul, the music of Brazil (Samba, and their genius usage of Bossa Nova). We are also very influenced by the lives of, and stories our friends bless on us.."

Skanews : "Can you introduce your brand new album… This records is more "cool" than the 3 others…"

Greg Lee : " I think that we started in a good way, with a healthy love and respect for the music we play.. I think that, though a lot of other bands may have a decent amount of respect for the music , their reasons for starting a band may be different.. for example: we formed a band because we did'nt want to sound like the band on stage we wanted to play ' live ', what the D.J. played in between the bands. Mainly because, we like to dance.. A lot of other bands (not all) started when Ska began to be more lucrative and presented an easy way to fulfil a dream of rock n roll stardom.. get it? good.."

Skanews : "Can you talk us about guests musicians on your brand new album…"

Greg Lee : "I think that it is very important that i note that the guest we have on this album were never once members of Hepcat.. In past efforts, we would only use people from within our Hepcat camp... you'll hear the evil piano if you listen closely throughout our song about the effect of giving up on those you love, it's called ' Beautiful '.. the man playing that piano is Andy Kaulkin ( president at Epitaph Records). The sultry voice you'll hear as you listen to ' Prison of love (the return) is none other than Karina Denike of the Dance Hall Crashers. And if you get the spins while listening to ' The Spins ' you can thank saxophonist Mr. Vince Hizon..."

Skanews : "Why Alex Desert don't play more with Hepcat ?"

Greg Lee : "When Hepcat started dear Alex was but a boy... huge talent, still a boy, as were we all.. he'd come to L.A. (la la) to act, his first true love. From the beginning he made it clear that his first responsibility is to his love not to music. He found that he loved both equally as time passed and faced with this problem he decided to do both.. So he will be out with us sometimes and on your television screen at other times.. Either way, feel the love people..."

Skanews : "All the musicians writes the songs in Hepcat ?"

Greg Lee : "Songs are written by anyone in the band with heart enough to give them up.. and believe me, it does take heart."

Skanews : "This is the first time that Hepcat release 2 albums on the same label… Epitaph is a good team ?… Why have you left Moon Ska ?"

Greg Lee : "It's not about maturing always… It's about evolving… And it appears that a few people at Epitaph have grown through their evolution, good teeth ,arms, legs, but what is most important fully developed brains. Extraordinary..."

Skanews : "Have you some plans to do a U.S. and Europe tour to promote your new album ?"

Greg Lee : "There are plans for sure star… Check out our dancing mood site for updates…"

Skanews : "You turn with Dave Hillyard R7, can you talk me about this project ? Why don't you turn with Hepcat ?, Have you some plan to record with DHR7 soon"

Greg Lee : "Check the site boss..."

Skanews : "There are lot of rumours about the split up of Hepcat. Is it true, if yes why Hepcat split up ?

Greg Lee : (No answer from Greg Lee)

Skanews : "If it's true that Hepcat split up, what are doing now the members of the bands ?

Greg Lee : (No answer from Greg Lee)

Skanews : "What do you think about the 4 records of Hepcat. What is the Hepcat record you prefear ?"

Greg Lee : "Of all the records we've done they are all a part of my personal growth and i love them all.. still though, i think i'm in love with 'the region' in particular.."

Skanews : "What do you think about Ska and Reggae scene in U.S.A. & Europe ?

Greg Lee : (No answer from Greg Lee)

Skanews : "Have your others things to say to your fans ?"

Greg Lee : "Thanx for the questions be cool and keep your ear to the drum we're looking for you."

The brand new Hepcat album, "Push & Shove" (Hellcat / Epitaph) is out now

Interview released by J-Pierre Boutellier / Skanews.

Thank to Laure from Epitaph.