Rick Altizer is a multitalented instrumentalist who has released a number of excellent albums. He has worked with the amazing Adrian Belew, and has produced music with Johnny Cash, Russ Taff, Mike Roe (77s), Steve Mason (Jars Of Clay) and Mark Stuart (Audio Adrenaline) as part of the Soul Lift project which is a pretty cool piece of work on its own. My first experience with Rick's music was through a Daniel Amos tribute project. His contribution was wicked, and sparked my interest in his music.

Recently I managed to contact Mister Altizer (he's a big rock star you know, and deserves some respect) asking (begging) him for an interview. Being the consummate professional, he arranged for my people to contact his people and after submitting a series of suitable questions I was granted an exclusive interview.

The first album I bought was Blue Plate Special which received a five star rating. At the time of this interview it was the only album I had, I have since fixed that problem by catching up on his back catalog. Which is as strong as or better than his debut. He is definitely someone to watch for.

Check out Rick's site. There's usually something of interest.

Official Site | banophernalia.com review

This interview is from May 2003

1. Rick, I've got to ask how you managed to snag Adrian as a collaborator co-producer? This is Mister Belew for crying out loud. Not only is he one of the most influential guitar players in the world, he's toured with David Bowie, is a member of King Crimson, and has played with everyone from Laurie Anderson to Frank Zappa. Did you just called him up? Go for a coffee and ask him to help out? He's helped out on not one, but all of your records to date.

I've been a HUGE Belew fan for years. I had recorded the record and played all the instruments and the record company didn't want it to seem like a "home made" record (which it was). They wanted me to get some musicians to record a few of my parts. I didn't want it to sound like anybody else so I suggested Adrian. My record company called him and he said he would have to hear it. Fortunately for me he liked it. He recorded over 6 of my solo's (I was impersonating him and I got the real thing). We mixed it in his studio so we asked if he would mind if we called him a "co-producer." We thought it would help us at retail. It did help us a lot on radio. We had over 120 AAA radio stations playing it (mostly Make A Monkey) on the strength of his name. Riding on his coat tails all the way! Ha Ha!

2. I heard a little about the pros and cons of the radio play from the first single. Lots of interest, but no one could find the album. What a horrible position to be in.

As a hack musician who is too lazy to join a band (besides no one wants to play with me) I've always had a real respect for other musicians who like to play everything on their records. One of the best things is that in the studio you have total control and what you hear in your head gets on tape (or nowadays encoded into a bunch of ones and zeroes) the way you want it to sound. One of the dangers is that it can be boring too, no energy to play off. You manage to keep it full of energy. Do you do everything out of necessity? Or is it because no one wants to play with you.

I do everything for two reasons: Firstly, because I'm cheap and I don't want to pay anybody with money I don't have. Secondly, because I can't find anybody out here to play the way I like (except Adrian of course). Mostly because I'm cheap.

3. Cheap is good. But if I pushed a bit I'd bet it's just a control issue born out of an unpleasant "sharing" experience you had in kindergarten. The big kids all took the triangles leaving you with a chipped woodblock. So you vowed to never let anyone interfere with your musical vision. (watch for the segue) Speaking of musical visionaries. Terry Taylor comes to mind. For those in the know, this guy is probably one of the greatest unsung heroes in music. I notice he's listed as executive producer on Blue Plate Special. How is it you came to work with him? I've heard (I'm making this up now) that he's a studio tyrant and will only work with tube amps, and thinks that detuning your guitar is for ninnies - and he insists on playing the triangle

Terry is none of those things. He is a wonderful and pleasant man. He was an A&R guy at my label KMG when my record came out. That's how I met him.

4. I'll choose to ignore the rest of your last response and just glom on to the "Terry is none of those things" comment. I knew it. He is a studio tyrant. That would explain Tim Chandler's odd behaviour and why he moved to Nashville to hide.

In my review of Blue Plate Special I made a comment about you sounding like a more accessible version of Adrian Belew (which is a compliment, and not a bash against Adrian) - does this comparison bother you, or is it just a natural occurrence given the collaborative process?

Doesn't bother me at all. We are both guitar based, melody driven pop guys. Thanks for the compliment!

5. You're welcome. It must have been very weird and somewhat intimidating to actually have him play and contribute to your projects initially. It was probably like an early Christmas everyday in the studio too.

One of the things I really noticed was that you've got an ear for great pop. Are there any specific influences you can pick out as being instrumental in creating the Altizer sound? I'll go first if it helps. I'll admit to being a huge Toto fan, as well as really liking progressive rock dinosaurs like Kansas. Then there's Norman, Stonehill, Keaggy, Heard, and DA (in all its iterations). Combined with a real respect for The Smothers Brothers (I'm not joking - Tom is a great player, when I saw him goof around with Chet Atkins I knew he was better than he ever let on) and of course Harry Belafonte.

I try to have interesting chord arrangements (using weird open tunings) with complex rhythmic backgrounds all tied together with a very strong, melodic hook in the vocal melody. The hook melody ties it all together and you don't realize how complicated the music is. On my second album the song "Disco Ball" has every chord in it but you'd never know it. Paul McCartney is my hero. Hook GURU!

6. Paul is definitely one of those rare talents. I don't have a lot of his stuff, but like any good kid from the 70's Band on the Run was hard not to notice. As was Live and Let Die. Not to give Sir Paul a hard time, but Ebony and Ivory and the Girl is Mine are pretty low water marks. Everyone's entitled to an off day I suppose. I noticed that you're on a major label now, as you call it. How have things been going in terms of better distribution and radio promotion?

I have dozens of fans and sell dozens of CD's. My last CD just went Linoleum.

7. No kidding? Did you get a commemorative tile or anything from the record company? Just think, you release enough albums you could redo the floor in the bathroom. Since things are going so well what are your plans for world domination?

Trust and obey, for there's no other way.

8. Resistance if futile …

I may as well step in it here. The debate rages on about Christian music. Is it a ministry, is it a calling, is it a job, are you a musician or are you a minister? Should I consider you a Christian musician, or a musician who is a Christian. There really is no right answer, and I know some people only drink milk from a Christian cow. This is a soapbox question ...

I know what I am. You can call me whatever makes you comfortable. I'm just a guy who loves God who happens to write and sing some songs. What I do doesn't define me. What I believe and how I live are the things that define me.

9. I'll just call you Rick then if that's all right with you. Given the seriousness of society today, is there still room for bathroom humour in the world? I know that as an adult I'm supposed to put away childish things, but I'm at odds on what to do with my whoopee cushion collection.

I have two boys and between them we have seven whoopee cushions in my home! My wife, on the other hand, has had just about enough of that.

10. Seven! No kidding. I am in awe. I've been working with the kids on the "Accept No Substitutes" philosophy, but I'm running into so real resistance from the wife. The kids, especially my daughter, are fully on board, but I think I'll have to go back to the cushions.

I'm kind of out of questions, I think the fart (whoops, I meant to say stinker, dang there goes my certificate of good standing in the Christian music reviewers union. Dang!) question kind of put an end to my creative run. Anything you want to ask me?

(pause for effect)

Uh, okay I guess not, best of luck on the new stuff, and here's hoping people don't suffer from Altizimers (come on, if Greg Kihn could make a career out of punning his name, I thought there was at least one in there for you).

Thanks, this has been a real gas!

Rick Altizer ladies and gentlemen. Go out buy some of his stuff.

He's good. I'm gushing, and I'm proud of it.

Jevon the Tall
banopernalia.com
May 2003