By Jens

Bugsy Siegel's old desert town maybe the gambling center of the universe with tacky family entertainment like Wayne Newton and Siegfried & Roy, but fortunately there's also a healthy unclean underground rock'n'roll scene. The Black Jetts has been around for 5 years and created a lotta buzz with two outstanding albums "Bleed Me" (2003) and this year's "Right On Sound" and intense touring to spread the gospel of trashy rock'n'roll. The gospel is hugely inspired by the holy trinity of rock; The Stooges, MC5 and New York Dolls. And on top of that their sound is generously flavored by 60s r&b. Frontman Gabe Stiff (lead vocals, guitar) was kind enough to let me in on the secrets of Black Jetts. Other members are Roy Page (guitar, harp), Thomas Choi (bass) and Gary Wright (drums, organ). Roll the dice!

LC: You've toured the West Coast, how did it went? Which bands did you play with?

Gabe: The tour went great, no disasters along the way, we played with a lot of great bands like The Golden Gods from S.F. Murdock from Seattle and The Weaklings up in Portland

LC: Craziest incident on the road/or on the stage?

Gabe: We got into a pretty nasty street fight in New Orleans with some locals cause we were hangin out with the wrong girls. There they go gettin us in trouble again

LC: You got two new members since the "Bleed Me" album, tell me about them?

Gabe: Thomas Choi (Asbestos Death, Sleep) plays bass now and it's added so much to the sound aiming it more in the direction I wanted to go he also lives with me so he can't quit. Gary Wright did the record and some touring with us and was fucking great but unfortunately he had to leave, so now we have Chad on drums who also played in another band with Thomas when I stole them both with promises of fame and fortune.

LC: The "Right On Sound" album feels a bit less loose and sloppy compared to "Bleed Me", or am I wrong?

Gabe: "Bleed Me" was recorded more as a demo to be sent out to labels to hopefully have someone pick up so we could re-record but that's not the way it worked out. Dead Beat liked it and put it out as is, it's pretty loose, as "Right On Sound" we spent a little more dough and time on I think it's a little to clean for me but were real happy with it. We recorded "Right On Sound" at the best all analog studio The Distillery in Costa Mesa and were planning on doing the next album there.

LC: You play organ on the album?

Gabe: I play organ and piano on a couple tunes but Gary did most of it.

LC: Tell me about "All Sexed Up" music video, directed by Jackie Simms?

Gabe: Well it worked out pretty good we found a couple film students from UNLV (next to my house) that needed a project for there final and we needed a video so it worked out great they brought all the film equipment from the college to are friends record store Balcony Lights and Frank the owner gave us complete run of the store for a few hours most of the dancer girls were friends and students who just wanted to hang out. And as far as the video concept that's what happens when you watch old tapes of 'Shindig'!!

LC: What's "You Cant Kill Whats Already Dead" about?

Gabe: Its about girls doing what they do best....cheatin.

LC: Whats the Las Vegas r'n'r scene like nowadays?

Gabe: Las Vegas is pretty slim pickins as far as rock & roll. I mean it's gotten better now that rock & roll is more popular now but time will weed out all the imposters and we will be left standing on the graves of Johnny Come lately.

LC: Your heroes, musically and otherwise?

Gabe: Musically I would say Roy Orbison all time favourite. I think he was more the King than Elvis. I mean he wrote and performed his songs with serious power in his voice. I think he wasn't the looker so he got left out. Pete Townsend and of course The Funk Brothers (Motown Studio Band)

LC: If Black Jetts'd endorse a product what'd it be?

Gabe: Soul Bowl. Its a brand new product invented by Motown Legend Smokey Robinson its actually frozen soul food that you microwave

LC: You have plans of a tour in Japan?

Gabe: We leave July 19th and won't be back till August 3rd and I cant fucking wait, I was over there in October and had a blast

LC: Anything to add?

Gabe: You Cant Get Down If You Cant Hear The Sound

http://www.blackjetts.com