4 Questions with Bull Lee (2009)
Bull Lee is another repeat offender in the No Lip compilation series. Their true and decadent song “Fairfax Ave.” is an cautionary tale, named after the street in LA of the same name where many a people have gone to party for years to erode their better judgment. Co-writers John Dissed and BC Furtney took some time to chat with us about No lip Vol. 2 and their plans for 2009.
1) Tell us a bit about your song on the No Lip Vol. 2 compilation.
“Fairfax Ave”, like all the Bull Lee songs, existed as lyrics only before the music was written. The story of the band began in the early ‘00s with some blurry Hollywood barroom talk between friends and collaborators John Dissed (guitar) and writer-horror director BC Furtney. The nights would often end up at Canter’s Deli or the Nova Express Café on Fairax.
John Dissed: “Whenever we’d drive by the Fairfax Avenue sign we’d shout out the chorus “Fairfax Avenue’s bright at night!” and laugh our asses off. Consequently, a year later when I finally set the words to music, I played the demo for BC who said the verses were too lighthearted and poppy. He used Guns and Roses’ “It’s So Easy” as an example of the ideal tone. Annoyed by the rejection of my hard work (out of over 50 songs, it’s the only one he asked me to fix), I literally lifted the riff from the GnR song (although it’s inverted). I brought it back to him and he loved it. He was right to have me re-do it; it’s one of the best we’ve got.
BC Furtney: “The song’s about any one of these Hollywood rats who paints themselves into a corner and then one day isn’t a bad ass anymore.”
2) How is the music scene doing in your town? What can be done to improve it?
The LA music seen (as in “where can I be seen”) is non-existent in 2009. It’s mostly white collar weekend warriors begging their overweight, married co-workers who never go to clubs otherwise, to check out their bands. Promoters book purely based on draw, with absolutely no regard to style or talent. Consequently, no one expects good music at local band venues, so no one wanders into a club to see who happens to be playing that night.
It could be improved if shows were booked based on like-styles and good quality. We are starting to book shows ourselves, with bands we like that play a similar style as us, so people walk into a night of good music that belongs together rather than an eclectic mix of amateurs begging friends for support. If more venues took chances and developed things over time, there’d be a snowball effect. Nice boys don’t play rock n’ roll. It shouldn’t be about who has the most friends. The real thing will get squashed every time.
3) Why did you decide to go with Mohawk Bomb Records on this comp?
We were on the No Lip Vol. 1 comp and thought it was well put together so when given the opportunity to be included this time, we jumped at the chance.
4) What are your plans for 2009?
BC has left the band to direct full time. His next feature, a bloody psycho-thriller called New Terminal Hotel, starring scream queen Tiffany Shepis, Fright Night’s Stephen Geoffreys, Ezra (Hills Have Eyes) Buzzington and Corey (Lost Boys) Haim, will surface soon. Our new bassist Mo is working out well and his brother will produce our next recording which is loosely scheduled to begin in March. Bull Lee’s 85th show will happen in Las Vegas at the Double Down Saloon on March 21st. BC will be in town and a reunion of sorts is rumored to be in order… Then it’s back to the bars.
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