Tony Montana | Great White | May 2000 |

 

This month I had a great interview with Tony formally the bass player for Great White,

 I found his new solo stuff on the net, and was amazed at his singing talent! so please..check out the interview..then check out his site...then go BUY THE CD!!!!you wont be dissapointed! 

p.s...let him know MusicMayhem sent ya!

Enjoy...

 

J-Ok..first lets rewind..everyone wants to know about the good ol days'

How did you hook up with Great White..back in the day?

T-I was teaching at a music store where Stephen Williams, the co-writer of "Save Your Love", worked. He told me of the audition and set it up.

 

J-How long were you in Great White?

T-I started n the Spring of '87 to Feb. 1992.  About 5years or so.

 

J- How did everyone get along?

T-We got along as well as five guys locked in a steel tube night and day for 5 years can.  Good most of the time, sometimes not so good...

 

J-How importmant was the look back then..and do you ever look back at pictures

and think "what was I thinking?"

T-I never consciously thought about a look, my hair was long, and to me that was indicitive of my devotion to my music and the type of music.  I'm a metal head, what can I say?

 

J- Whats the craziest thing a fan has ever done to meet  you?

T-There are some "standard" fan type stories that I've heard and that also happened to me, and I'm sure are still happening to bands like Korn...  The most unusual thing to me is when fans travel to date after date sometimes covering several states!  Wierd gifts,"personal" pictures etc.  I love it all, I've keptjust about everything.

 

J-Whats the biggest crowd you have played for? and where?

T-The Monsters of Rock in Europe is pretty big, 80,000 or something like that.  There's a picture on my site in the gallery of one of those gigs.

 

J- What was your favorite tour you have done?..any good stories?

T-Again, stories and stories, too many to tell.  I loved touring with Whitesnake.  Pros to the bone.  I loved watching Tommy Aldridge every night, he was amazing!

 

J-When did you decide to leave the band?

T-I was fired due to a lack of enthusiasm, which I guess

kinda qualifies as quitting.  It was time for them to

go their way and me to go mine.  I've never regreted

it.

 

J- Do you still talk to the guys?..friends with them?

T-Only recently have I re-established contact. I finally

went to see the guys in Seattle, and actually got up

and played.  It was good to see them.  I missed them.

 

J-After Great White what side projects have you done?

T-I've done a few live projects, done some studio stuff for friends, and my own CD.

 

J-Now the present... you have just released your first  solo album...you sing and play guitar on...tell us about that...

T-Well, I've been doing this since I was a small kid.  I have a voice, and it's nice to finally use it.  I will likely play drums on something on the next CD.  I love to play. Period.

 

J- Who writes the songs?

T-I wrote 90% of the Tombstone CD.  It's a very personal piece of work.  I really look forward to writing with other people on my next project.

 

J-How would you explain the cd to someone who has never heard it?

T-It's rock and roll Dude!  It's definitely bluesy. 

It's straight from the heart, no doubt about it.

 

J- The cd sounds amazing...I had no idea you could sing so good..is a solo thing something you have always wanted to do?

T-Thanks!  The answer to that is, yes.  I don't necessarily want the spotlight, but I do love to sing.I would love to work in a band where different people do the lead vocal chores, like the Eagles, Queen,etc.

 

J-Where can you get the cd?

T-Apparently it's available through CDnow, Amazon.com,and CDuniverse.  Hopefully, we will have a US label distribute here in the states as well, at a better price.

 

J- Any touring plans...?

T-I would love to play some major cities, but we would definitely need the support of a US label.  I've done some dates in Japan, and will likely travel to Europe before the end of the year.

 

J-Out of all the songs you have written..old or new..whats your favorite to sing..or play live..or just came out great!?

T-I really love "Prayer" and "Thunderbird" off of Tombstone Shuffle.  "Prayer" was done with a full string section, gives me the chills everytime I hear it.  "Thunderbird" just kicks ass!  It really shows off the drummer, Bryant Markovich.  He is a truly great drummer.  As a typical musician, I'm always in love with the latest thing I've written.  Go figure.

 

J-And on the otherhand..whats one that didnt turn out as well as you had planned?

T-There's a piano based song I wrote that I've attempted to record several times.  It's one of the greatest songs I've written, just can't get it right.  Maybe on the next CD...

 

J-How do you see your music going in the year 2000?

T-My main concern is trying to get a label in the US to offer the CD here so that fans have a reasonably priced product to buy.  I will finish out the year in Europe most likely.

 

J- Now as far as the rest of the things your into..do you like any of the new bands that are out? what would be in your cd player right now?

T-I love STP, Foo Fighters, Oasis, I like R&B, and some rap too.  Gotta get that Creed CD!  The new Pearl Jam sounds good too. That's one thing I never saw eye to eye with Great White.  I love new stuff

 

J-How has the internet changed you..do you get alot of fan mail? do you have a website people can get your merchandise at?

T-I put up a web site in response to a host of imposters out there, and it turned out to be the very best thing I ever did.  I am so blessed that people still remember, and that new fans are downloading my MP3's and giving me some great feedback.  The site is http://www.tony-montana.com Feel free to visit, take a few MP3's and pix.

 

J-Well thats about it Tony..thanks so much for your time..and I hope the cd  does well..Is there anything you would like to say to your fans reading this...?

T-To fans from my Great White days I would like to say thank you, I have some great memories of you.  You have made such a huge difference in my life, I hope you enjoy my own music, and I look forward to seeing

all of you again.To the new fans, thanks for listening, and dropping by the site.  They can expect some great stuff in the future.

 

J- Thanks again Tony..good luck with all you do!