Island: I wanted to start right off with something many fans might not know about "Cinder Road." Originally the band was called "Plunge" and was started in 1995. With a following behind this group already, what prompted the name change?

Mike: We were contacted by another band who owned the rights to the name therefore we had no other choice but to make a change.

Island: Keeping focus on the new name, who came up with "Cinder Road?" I see this title going hand in hand with say the rock band "Cinderella."

Mike: Cinder Road is the street that I and Chris grew up on. It’s also where the band was formed.

Island: Another part of music history for those who like connections, as we do. Mike you are directly tied to the rock band SR-71, bass player. SR-71 in my opinion was ahead of its time in terms of musical performance and direction. Butch Walker has been busy these past few years releasing his own solo material. Even Mitch can be found sharing tunes via his MySpace page these days. How difficult was it to go from working with those 2, to working on new material with another set of guys and still be able to keep things fresh?

Mike: In SR-71 I actually did not do much writing. Our writing styles differed a bit and I still had Plunge going on the side so we basically kept things separate.

Island: Let’s take a look at your debut album which will be available soon. What can music fans expect from this release?

Mike: This record is a return to the records I grew up listening to. My first cassette was Def Leppard's "Hysteria" so I wanted to make a rock record that had up tempo arena rock tracks but also showed a more mellow side with a few ballads ala Love Bites kind of tunes.

Island: Was the band involved in the writing process? The reason I ask this question is that in today's mainstream music guild it seems that many artists are not writing their own material. Also what is your take on that side of the music industry?

Mike: The band was not really involved in the writing process. I have always basically written on my own until this album. When Marti and I got together and wrote for the album something clicked. I knew we had touched on something different and I really like what he brought out of me as a musician. I think any time you bring writers together it is a good thing. Plus when you get stuck on an idea, someone else can bring you out. This formula has worked in Nashville for years, maybe the rock industry will catch on and start selling a few more records.

Island: Available via your Official Website is a graphic of an eagle with its wings spread & a drip at the end. What does this graphic represent (any symbolization?) as far as your music is concerned?
 

Mike: The graphic is a Phoenix and it represents rising from the ashes. In other words we are hoping that we as a band can rise above and reach the people.
Island: Looking over the band bio available on your MySpace page I see you worked with producer Marti Frederiksen on this upcoming release. He has worked Aerosmith, Def Leppard & Ozzy Ozbourne. I have to admit that just listening to the new audio clips I can hear the "Classic Rock" influences. How was it working with Marti & how did you guys hook up?

Mike: Working with Marti was an awesome experience. Like I said, I truly feel he brought out the best in me. He pushed me like I have never been pushed before. As a producer he is great, as a writer he is equally as great. The ideas he came up with meshed perfectly with where I wanted to go. I feel we really complimented each other as a team. We met through our Manager John Greenberg a couple years ago.

Island: Mainstream genres Pop & Rock in recent years have seen a resurgence of new talent. But many of them seem to have a similar or same sound as other established musicians in those genres. This might be a difficult question to answer but it is one that many music fans would like to know as I've read it often on various music websites/forums. If someone were to come up to you & or your band and say "I think you sound similar/same as 3 Doors Down/Nickelback." How would you respond to them?

Mike: I would say thank you for the compliment. Any time someone compares our band to a successful band it is a compliment to me.

Island: Staying on the same track as the previous question, what is your take on the music industry these days? With the use of digital technology one can simply purchase (or in many cases download for free as some do) music these days. Has digital technology in your mind hurt or helped musicians and or the industry?

Mike: I think the digital revolution has both helped and hurt the music business. Unfortunately when people download music it really hurts the music business and the bands directly. When people download for free the record companies make less money and it turn sign less bands and fewer acts get their shot at releasing a successful record. The up side is that companies like Apple have made downloading music legally a lot more accessible with itunes, which I think is an awesome program. Also the technology advances in the studio have done wonders for the recording process. You can make a major label quality record in your living room.

Island: Let me hit you up on a few personal notes. I'm sure music fans out there would like to get to know you a little better. What bands/musicians do you look up to and why?

Mike: I am a huge Elvis fan first and foremost. I think there will never be another frontman like him. He was the worlds first Rock Star. I am also a really big fan of Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and Motley. All of the 80's bands are the shit!

Island: If you weren't doing the "music thing" what job do you think you would have right now?

Mike: There is no other option than music for me. If I had to choose, then maybe a TV or radio personality.

Island: What CD/Mp3's are you currently listening to?

Mike: Daughtry, great rock record. Hinder, also a great rock and roll record.

Island: Cinder Road is on tour with Daughtry at the moment. How is the tour going?

Mike: Touring with Daughtry has been amazing. The guys in the band are super cool and the fans have received our band exceptionally well. It's a perfect match musically, we appeal to the same demographic.

Island: How did you manage to take on a tour such as this?

Mike: Our manager played the guys in Daughtry our record and they liked it. Next thing you know we are on the tour, loving life!

Island: Now once the tour ends with Daughtry what are your plans for the rest of the year?
 

Mike: We are talking about doing an old school acoustic press tour directly after this tour is over. Playing at every radio station across the country for a month and then getting back on another tour playing concerts. I plan on staying on tour until they make me go home. We want to play a show for everyone in the world.

Island: If you could pick anyone, who would you like to tour with next?

Mike: Aerosmith.

Island: To bring this interview full circle I’d like to go back and touch on the new album again. The new album will be titled "SuperHuman," who came up with the title and does it have any special hidden significance to you?

Mike: I named the album SuperHuman. While we were making the record and actually over the course of my entire career we have been faced with a million different challenges. Every time we got one step forward, we were thrown two steps back. My Dad and I were talking about this on the phone and I said "you have to be SuperHuman to survive in this business" and then it clicked that this was what we needed to call the album.

Island: What does the song "Should've Known Better" signify to you?

Mike: Sometimes you have something or someone in your life that you take for granted and when you lose them you sometimes have to recognize that you're an idiot.

Island: I made sure to ask this one toward the end because it isn't an easy question. The new album isn't out yet but what is your favorite track or tracks?

Mike: I honestly love every track on the album but some of the ones that stick out are "Back Home To You", "Learning To Love", "Sorry"... hell I love them all!

Island: Going hand in hand with the previous question, what is your favorite song to play live?

Mike: "Get In Get Out" and "Back Home To You"

Island: To round out this interview, where do you see Cinder Road going in the next 5 years?