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 It can become complacent and rest on its laurels. It can become cautious and just give fans more of the same thing they liked the last time. It can become cocky and not even care about what comes next. Or it can be like Buckcherry and go for the throat. TeenSpot.com recently got the opportunity to interview Josh from Buckcherry. TeenSpot: Hey guys, how're you doing? Before we get started here, I just want to put it out there that Anything, Anything is one of my favourite songs ever. Thanks for taking the time to sit down and answer some questions for the folks at Teenspot.com! TS: Your new album just dropped on Sept. 16th, it's called Black Butterfly - where does this title come from? Josh of Buckcherry: It was a song that didn't make the record, a really good song that Keith and I worked on. For this record, we had too many mid tempo songs and we had to pick which ones would make the cut. We just held that one until the next record. Actually, we had a different title and at last minute, Keith was like why don't we title it Black Butterfly.. and I thought it would be great for imaging, merchandising, and it would prove to be an iconic image. TS: Black Butterfly is rocking a few different vibes - from your usual hard-rock, to the funky Too Drunk..., to the ballad Don't Go Away - who are your biggest musical influences? Buckcherry: For everyone in the band, they have different influences. For me- I like so many genres of music. My roots and foundation are based around my being born and raised in Southern California, in and around Orange County and the punk rock scene. As a kid, I listened to bands like Minus Rent, GI, those were my foundation. Then I started getting into Metallica, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and I liked them all. I would also sneak into my sister's room and listen to Billy Idol, I really liked that stuff. Now, I'm a huge fan of heavy music like Slipknot, and pop music. I love Beyonce, I love Pink, and I love getting Prince records. He's so amazing live. Recently, I've been digging Thriving Ivory- they are Maroon 5-ish, and have a great sound. TS: What do you hope people will get from listening to your music? Buckcherry: We also want people to be satisfied - that's what we strive for. We make records to be listened to beginning to end, not a couple songs and then filler. We want people to take a journey from beginning to end and not have people skip over. TS: What're your thoughts on modern popular music? Do you like the direction things are heading? Buckcherry: I would like to see overall more musicianship in music, more soul. The one band that actually plays music, that's dance music that isn't electronic, is Maroon 5, and I wish there were more bands like that. Rock and roll and modern rock is so soulless and so asexual that it's such a drag, and I wish it could be more fun. I think technology is to blame for that as well. It's so easy for mediocre musicians to make a band sound great, and then they get on stage and they're terrible. I'd like to see more people working on their craft and get better. Singers should concentrate on being singers, and not singer-guitar players. If I see another guy with skinny jeans and a beard and his gut hanging out, I'm going to throw up. I think people don't think about the whole package, and that's what we do. We think about our whole career and the total package. TS: What's your favourite album (other than your own, of course) to come out in 2008? Buckcherry: I think Slipknot's All Hope is Gone was my favorite record of the year. Overall, I had really high expectations, but nothing really shown through. I do think Scott Weiland's new record Happy in Galoshes is great- it's totally growing on me. I'm listening to it more and more every day. I saw his performance on Jay Leno and then I went on iTunes and downloaded the record. TS: Name one album you think everyone reading this should listen to (again, your own albums aside). Buckcherry: As far as records as a whole- I think Slipknot is one solid record. It's a record I've listened to nonstop since I got it, and it's really incredible. In the rock genre, there aren't any other records that stand out like that. There have been a lot of good songs, but as far as records go, that's the one. TS: Did you ever expect Crazy Bitch to become the monster hit that it did? Buckcherry: "Crazy Bitch" actually sat on the cutting room floor for a couple of years. Keith and I wrote it, but never did anything with it during the transition of band lineups. And we thought it would be an underground hit and would be fun to play live, but we didn't think that "Lit Up" would be a huge hit either. I think as far as hits go, you never know what's going to make it until the last minute. The fans also determine what's a smash, and what's not. TS: You've been in the spotlight for nearly 10 years now, I bet you've had some interesting experiences with fans - what's the craziest thing a fan has ever said/done/given to you? What's the coolest? Buckcherry: Wow…oh god. You know, sometimes you have these fans that are very creepy. I have this feeling that if I possess something that a fan gave me, or if I put it on, then I'll get cursed. It's like the Brady Bunch, when they went on vacation, and they brought back a tikki doll and then they got bad luck. In Japan, we get stuff like that all the time. Buckcherry: What is the weirdest thing a fan's ever done... wow, I don't know if I have a great story like that. I mean, it's always weird getting some girl's used panties that she just had on. You'd think it'd be sexy, but it's kinda creepy. Once I had a fan say to me, a male fan from one of our shows down south, say "You guys were great! Why don't you come home with me and my sister will have sex with ya'll." That was pretty creepy. TS: Speaking of 10 years ago - there are several stories floating around cyberspace about where the name Buckcherry comes from (swapping the first letters of Chuck Berry's name, named after a drag queen, etc. etc.). What's the real story? Buckcherry: There are actually two stories about the there was a transvestite that used to come to our shows before we were signed. His name was Buckcherry, and I think he fancied Keith because he'd bum cigarettes from Keith after shows. Before our first record, we had to change our name and we couldn't decide on any. Every day we came in, and we never came to any definite name. And then one day, Keith was reading a Chuck Berry book, and it talked about how record companies make you do things you don't wanna do, like flip your name upside down and sideways. And we knew all knew that that was it, and it was a sign. TS: I've also read that you (Josh Todd and Keith Nelson, that is) met through a mutual tattoo artist and your love of AC/DC...any truth to that story? Buckcherry: It wasn't because of our love of AC/DC, but we did meet through a tattoo artist, Kevin Quinn. He's done the majority of our tattoos in LA, and I was between bands at the time. I went in and one day he said, "I've got this guy you have to meet, you would hit it off." One day, Keith was working across the street and he came in when I was getting tattooed. And at first, we were stand-offish to each other, feeling the other out. There are so many jerk-offs that you can't be sure at first. We started writing on a basic four track, and then we wrote "Close" and it never made it on any records, but it was the song that sparked the whole process of getting the band together and we knew we had good chemistry as far as songwriting went. The rest is history. TS: None-the-less, how did it feel to tour with AC/DC in 2000? Buckcherry: It was a rock n roll fantasy come true. It was the best rock and roll experience of my life. They were so nice and gracious and we got to hang out after the last show and sit in a room and talk to them. The guys were so cool and very accommodating and just real people, not rock stars with giant egos. Sometimes it's a letdown when you meet your heroes, and you keep the fantasy in your head, and you almost wish you hadn't met them. But AC/DC are the real deal. They set the foundation for us in terms of what we want to achieve. We wanted to model after their success and longevity, and how they approach their career. TS: And for the final word - what would you like to say to the Teenspot members that you wish someone had told you when you were their age? Buckcherry: I have a teenager, and my advice to her is to fine one thing that you are passionate about, and be the best at that one thing. That one thing could contribute to the world. Make sure you treat it with passion and grace, and you cover all angles. If you're involved in business, make sure you surround yourself with people who look out for you on all sides. Especially in the music business. TS: Thanks again, guys, for taking the time to answer my questions. Hope the rest of your tour goes great! Interviewed by Ashley Devine  
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