Interview '07 - Danny Vaughn
05.03.07 - Thursday
For Danny Vaughn his artistic talents have always stood in the face of adversity through the merging of sheer will and determination that over the last twenty years have helped him garner a deep respect throughout the melodic rock community. From the first time Danny got his taste of stardom with the band Waysted to the formation of one of the last brilliant groups of the arena rock era, Tyketto. A unique style and variety has remained due to the continued exploration into the inner spirit of an artistic songwriter.
This past February Danny unveiled his latest effort Traveller on the world and through several emotional writing sessions brought out some of his deepest material to date. At the time that The Island wanted to sit down and discuss this new album with Danny he was in the process of traveling to a new crossroads in his career being given the chance of lifetime to open for one of the most successful groups to grace the rock genre. Even though this interview took a couple months to come fruition the final result is something that features a wide-array of insight ranging from the artistic meanings behind Traveller to the evolutionary progression that all musicians go through over a career. Shipwreck Island Studios is honored to bring everyone our latest interview with one of rock's true visionary - Danny Vaughn.
Photos Courtesy Of:
www.frontiers.it
Danny: I think that every musician feels the need to write about "the road". I didn't want to do that nearly as much as I wanted to write about "my road". After all, we all travel it differently and writers and players are observers as well as participants. So there have been songs on previous albums that would have fit in well here, like "Million Miles Of Road" for instance. I feel that each album I've done has tried to dig a little deeper. The further I dig the more I have come to realize that the Traveller is who I am in it's good and bad aspects. I'm adaptable. I try to understand the culture that I'm in rather than ask it to become more like my own. But, I also see the very lonely side of never quite feeling at home anywhere. Someone once described human beings to me as "Spiritual travellers that have taken on physical bodies for a while to see what the experience is all about." That is a little beyond my scope, but the experience is what I love to write about.
Island:
Taking an artistic sabbatical over time is essential for
musicians to adapt to different occurrences that challenge songwriters
and give their interpretations a more lasting effect. This latest album
sees you exploring different topics and looking at the final product how
would you say your method of writing on this album varied from that of
previous works? Also after working on the From The Inside project in
2004 was it more of a challenge to recapture the drive of your solo work
compared to doing a collaborated effort with outside talent?
Danny: I would say
that after "From The Inside" (which was very well received) I wanted to
do something that would be seen as instantly better. It was throwing
down the creative gauntlet to myself and to my band. What was different
is that these songs all had hugely different origins and the task was to
make them sit comfortably together on the same CD. Overall, when I look
at Traveller, the 2 main subjects that keep recurring are Love and
Death. Pretty basic, eh?
Island:
These days very few musicians can leave an indelible mark
with material that can capture people in a moment and make them feel
every emotion out there. However it should be noted that songwriting has
changed with every passing decade or so and while songs that were
written 10 or 20 years ago do feel somewhat nostalgic in the
contemporary world its material the likes of that which still has a
certain flair which remains significant. When Tyketto released Don’t
Come Easy in 1991 the songwriting on that album contained not one but
several tracks that once you heard them they were a testament to youth
and life which nearly everyone who has heard that album can relate to.
Every songwriter dreams of writing material that will touch many people
in one way or another and when you broke the mold with Tyketto songs
like Forever Young and Standing Alone defined the band. Looking back did
you ever think material the likes of that would be held in such high
regards and how they have held up even better as time goes by?
Danny:
Personally, I don't think ANY writer realizes that
they've made something that would be deemed a "classic". Or at least
something that others would use to paint the backdrop of their own
lives. I can't imagine that Led Zeppelin, or David Bowie, or Peter
Gabriel really grasped the effect they would have on so many individuals
in the entire world. When you're writing, you are writing for yourself,
and then perhaps later you refine it to hopefully appeal to others. I
have no illusions that I can stand with greats like that, however, I
have touched some lives and they have touched back. And nothing beats
that experience to a writer. Nothing at all.
Island:
While we’re on the subject of Tyketto it has to be said
that Standing Alone was and still is one of the most powerfully written
ballads in the history of rock ‘n’ roll. Everything about that
particular song was done to sheer perfection from the haunting acoustic
introduction to the build-up to some of the best harmony vocals ever
recorded, even the video for that song left a potent image which
interpreted the meaning behind the lyrics amazingly. Usually when the
opportunity comes to make a music video most bands/musicians will avoid
any literal translations through a visual image and might use over the
top production values to fill several minutes of video footage. With
Standing Alone all of the visuals were filmed completely in black and
white and in turn that really brought out a different atmosphere to an
already emotional piece of music for example it added a somber affect
that can rarely be established in a music video. How did the decision
come about to film in black and white? And are there any fond memories
that come to mind when reflecting back to that video as it definitely
leaves a lasting impression.
Danny: You're not
going to like this, but that video was never meant to be seen. The band
hated it and, after it was all over, had a massive falling out with the
director (who went on to get an Oscar nomination in the short film
category years later) because he used every shot that we didn't want and
filmed the whole thing in the exact same setting as the "End Of The
Summer Days" video. I can still remember Michael screaming at him over
the phone when we got the rushes. And, I have no idea how it ever got
seen or released as we never sanctioned it. The black and white motif
certainly suited the starkness of the song's message, but everything
else was decidedly disliked by us. Shows what we know, eh?
Island: Many who have a strong devotion to the melodic rock scene feel that Danny Vaughn never quite got the full respect from a merciless industry however retrospectively a mutual respect was still attained with the release of Don’t Come Easy even if it was for a brief instance Tyketto were able to leave their mark on the rock genre. Looking back at 1991 it was certainly a tough year for any genuine rock acts trying to break out in a business that was starting to adapt to a different climate but astonishingly as this movement was reaching its peak Tyketto continued to slowly build a fan base that would span the world. Here is a hypothetic question – Timing has always been vital to building careers so if the release of Don’t Come Easy would of came a year or so later do you think the impact of that release would of reached such a cult following?
Danny: Probably not. However, in turn, if it had been released a year or two earlier, I think we could have been huge. The funny thing about Tyketto is that our reputation went on and on long after we did. I think this is because we delivered on stage. We were always known as a live band that really gave their all for the crowd. Consequently, we get mentioned in the same company as bands that sold a whole lot more albums than we ever did. It's a cult but we'll never ask you to give away all your possessions and sit on a mountain waiting for the rapture!
Island: Since returning to the music scene in 2000 it seems every year sees you involved in some project or collaboration whether it be a solo album or lending your vocals to the Gary Hughes project Once and Future King to more recently being involved in the Richie Zito venture Avalon. The last few years have also seen you tour Europe with several bands including Pride and FireHouse while a reunion tour with the original members of Tyketto happened in late 2004. When you really sit and look back at what has transpired over the previous seven years it has seen an exceptional musician come around full circle and not be held back when it came to artistic diversity. How would you compare the evolutionary process from when you started a new chapter in your career up to the point you reached with Traveller?
Danny: I think it's all a lot like throwing darts blindfolded. You attempt whatever angle that comes along that you feel would be worth trying, having no idea what the result will be or how it will be perceived. I love working on other projects. I'm not addicted to being the creative force behind everything that I do. So when someone like Richie Zito comes along and asks if I want to try writing together, I jump at the chance. My father says that all we can do is to keep dancing. I may have 2 left feet, but I dance, nonetheless.
Island:
When the decision is made where someone goes “Ok, I’m
going to be a musician…” its from that very day onwards that numerous
obstacles will appear on the pathway whether its overcoming stage
freight and stepping up to a microphone and sharing your voice with an
audience or the very first time sitting down with band mates and writing
the first song of their career. As this question was taking shape Danny
Vaughn began perhaps the biggest undertaking of his career opening for
one of the largest stadium rock bands to grace the genre – Journey who
returned overseas for a European tour. Any artist out there today would
most likely give their right arm for an opportunity like this. However,
it was revealed that Danny and his band would open these shows without
being paid, making ends meet through t-shirt and album sales. This is
certainly a different approach for the opening act to put on a show
without some financial support for their performance. Does the passion
for sharing your musicianship with a wider audience make these gigs more
emotional and symbolic than the traditional standards?
Danny:
Passion comes from a lot of places. For us it was the
sight of so many people each night, most of whom didn't know us. We
would be politely received and then, maybe only one or two people would
scream out "Go on Danny!" and then I knew we had friends. From that
point on it was all heart and no skill for me! I had 30 minutes to
deliver and I gave everything I had. On the subject of payment, well,
yes, that has changed. Smaller record companies like Frontiers offer no
tour support whatsoever. It's sadly shortsighted as they failed to
acknowledge that our playing in front of 3,000 new people a night would
generate more record sales for them. Also, Journey never really intended
to have an opening act. Journey doesn't need an opening act. They would
have sold just as many seats without us. Well, maybe 4 less. Anyway, we
weren't asked to buy on the tour which, lets face it, hundreds of bands
would have jumped at that chance. So, playing it this way was still a
blessing for us and we are absolutely gratified that we were able to do
it.
Island: Amazing vocalists are not an overnight sensation in this line of work it takes many years of commitment to maintaining a voice over the span of a career. When you stepped away from Tyketto in the mid-90s the singer that came into the fold was another phenomenal singer by the name of Steve Augeri who had fronted the group Tall Stories, another band that was lost in the chaos of the industry. Augeri would have the dignified honor of going on to front Journey from 1998 to 2006 and would assist in building a new age of arena rock. When looking at vocalists like yourself and Steve both of you bring a sense of class in your diverse styles that will always remain two of the world’s most dignified voices. If the opportunity came to be were yourself and Steve could sit down on collaborate on a project would you be open to such an idea? Since many would most likely not object to a pairing of two artistic minds.
Danny: I've known Steve for a very long time now. We both know where we came from and we have a healthy respect for the other's style. He's always been an absolute gentleman and there is no question about his talent. So sure, I would work with him in a heartbeat. It would be really interesting to see what we could come up with.
Island: With every album a musician puts out they can paint different landscapes and offer everyone a different array of emotions. Sometimes common music fans don’t take into consideration the time and effort put into a work of art and understand that it’s an artist interpretation of what he or she has observed and offering insight by their lyrics. If there was any one thing that you would want anyone who listens to Traveller to get when they walk away from it what would you want it to be?
Danny: If I answer honestly, my ego would want people to think, "man, that guy can really write songs and lyrics". I think, no matter how big we get, we are still all striving for some kind of acceptance and vindication of our gifts and how we use them. So that's what my ego would want. If there's another part of me, I hope that people would walk away and say, "I'm gonna listen to that again". I would hope to make an album that would stick around and not go into that dusty pile that never gets played anymore.
Island:
Well that about does it for our questions. At this time
we’d like to thank you Danny for taking time away from your busy
schedule to answer these questions and to share your thoughts with every
one of our readers. 2007 certainly looks like a very prospective year
for you and we wish you the very best for an amazing year full of great
music. Are there any final words of wisdom or anything you’d like to say
to your fans and our readers as this interview wraps up?
Danny: I never know
what to say here. Ummm "run with the scissors once in a while"!!!
(Laughing) I guess what I mean is, try and remember that we really
aren't going to be here long. Be careful, but don't hold back.
And thanks.
All the best,
Danny
For more information on Danny Vaughn make sure to check out:
www.dannyvaughn.com / www.vaughn.de / www.myspace.com/vaughnband