Interview: Michael Caronia, Dead On

What do New York quintet DEAD ON, VANILLA ICE, WILSON PHILIPS, and TECHNOTRONIC all have in common? On the surface not much, but they all share the EMI distributed SBK label much to Dead On guitarist Michael Caronia's embarrassment.

"They were not, they were NOT a dance label when we signed to them. They were a brand new label. We were their second signing, and then, all of a sudden, it was Vanilla Ice and the Ninja Turtles. Can you believe it? Ninja Turtles became SBK's bad boys, and they didn't know what to do with us then."

Being bad boys can be a problem, as Dead On soon found out after their self-titled debut was released in '89. Everywhere they went on their three-month US tour with SANCTUARY and FATE'S WARNING, none of the record stores would have their LP.

"We told SBK, 'You guys have got to be kidding! How do you expect us to sell LPs if you haven't got them in the stores?' They got their act together for a while, but by then our LP was old and we lost out as far as that is concerned."

The album did eventually get enough sales to get in the Billboard 200 chart for six weeks, which Michael frankly admits was a shock. 

Then there were internal band disputes, which didn't help Dead On break as big as they wanted either. Two months before they came over to the UK as support for ONSLAUGHT's November 90 tour, the singer couldn't bother showing up for rehearsals.

"We started rehearsing a lot, getting ready with our new songs, and our singer had blown us off. He was missing practises, always doing the same stuff - not progressing and trying to get any better. He had a bit of an arrogant edge to him. He just didn't fit in."

They found a new singer immediately in Tony, the other guitarist's brother, Carl. After years of filling in when the vocalist wouldn't show up, Carl knew the material, and jumped in to complete the current line up.

Dead On with former singer Mike Raptis

Michael was very enthusiastic about the UK audience he encountered last year.

"We did 25 shows. It was action packed. Audience-wise, they are more accepting in the UK. In New York and California, especially, they stand around and go, 'Hey, this is different, I don't know about this?' Whereas here, they go, 'This is different, I want to hear more!' It's a little more easy going here."

Dead On have been described as speed/thrash by various music mags, but they prefer to consider themselves as a modern metal band. Not content with traditional, driven speed energy, Dead On are trying to get a progressive and innovative combination of speed, time changes, and mature vocals.

"Thrash was definitely a breakthrough, but speed could be your vice, it could be a bad thing. It is not that impressive if used all the time. I mean, where can you go from there? You are lost. Hardcore is like that, and I can't see us going into the hardcore stuff. I enjoy it, but it is so limited to play."

And probably in Michael's opinion more importantly:

"A lot of girls tend not to listen to it. Not that we wear make-up to get the girls at our shows. Now the CRUMBSUCKERS had the right idea. What they did on their second album a few years ago is what is going to happen in metal in a year or two. Our new EP slows and speeds up. It makes more sense that way. Our last album was pretty much constant, and the singing was boring. It gave us a one dimensional look, and now we are maturing and changing. Looking back I think it didn't change much."

In the UK briefly to promote Dead Ons new, improved sound, Michael, the appointed head of the band, was prepared to put the first album behind him and look to the band's European only EP release called All + You. The 4-song EP of new songs they wrote since the album, is being released through the German-based Mausoleum Records out on July 1st, with a video of the new song "Lost at Sea" slated to show on MTV, and then a two-week tour at the end of July! Dead on are ready to actively sell their new sound in Europe. Despite the short billboard chart success in the US, sales here have been considerably less.

In America, Dead On are currently fishing for a new label. Straight after Michael's UK visit, they have a gig lined up in New York and CBGB's with a bunch of labels set to attend. Michael made it clear the band was anxious to get away from SBK, even though they are still currently signed to them.

"They can suck it - it's expired. We can get out of it."

He hopes that the CBGB's gig will bless them with their second signing. Their original signing gig was at CBGB's. Not at the club but in the CBGB's record store and bar next door!

"We had a gig lined up, with labels coming down, and a busload of friends from Long Island for support, when they tell us on the day of the gig we can't play the gig at the club as the B-52S are shooting a video. We said, 'No way,' so finally they let us play in the record store next door on a stage as big as a desk. It was the worst gig we ever played - everything went wrong - but the kids went crazy, throwing bar stools around. They went wild! Afterwards, they said that was the best gig they had ever seen and signed us."

The new EP was recorded in January at Windmark Studios in Virginia. It took two weeks to complete, and features Carl singing 4 new tracks: "One 4 You," "Everyday on Earth," "Lost at Sea," and "Do What You Want.W It was produced by Stacy Heydon who was formerly DAVID BOWIE's guitarist. Better known for producing FLOCK OF SEAGULLS, LONG JOHN BALDRY, and recently SHERIFF's US single, "When I am With You." He seemed a strange choice for a band like Dead On.

"Stacy was a friend of our manager. I didn't know any Sheriff so I couldn't comment. The first mix he did of us was light. We said, 'No,; so he thickened it up and remixed it again. We like the way it sounds now, but it still doesn't capture us live!"

With their tour coming along this summer, and a possible Mausoleum Record label band package tour, including Dead On in October, the band will be able to prove how good they are live and if they're ready to move from support slots to headline status.

Marion Garden
Riff Raff
July 1991

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