Rick Steel of Kill Van Kull INTERVIEW

Whether or not youÕre a fan of Heavy Metal music, you canÕt deny that Kill Van Kull is everywhere! This mega-macabre, dark and devastatingly cool metal band has crept up from the gates of Hell and saturated the L.A. music scene like no other band this year. Since November is National Drummer Month, I got a chance to sit down with KVKÕs own super slammer, Rick Steel, co-songwriter ŌnÕ the mastermind behind these tasty tunes that are old school influenced heavy metal with a 90Õs twist.

Sheena Metal: So, how did this all start, Rick? When did you pick up
your first stick?

Rick Steel: In 1974. I was 14.

ROCK CITY: How did you know that drum was your instrument?

RICK STEEL: My brother had an air band, and they chose me to play air dums. WeÕd play along to KISS songs, and I just seem to instinctively know what to do. We decided to start a real band, so I started taking drum llessons.

ROCK CITY: What bands were you in before Kill Van Kull?

RICK STEEL: When I lived in Northern California, I did a lot of top forty work and sometimes commercial jingles and studio demo work. I was running five of my own bands: two top forty, a 70Õs band, a motown band, and an original project. Then I met an instructor named John Xetoleas who turned me around. If I hadnÕt moved down here, I wouldÕve been playing old-time music for the rest of my life. So, I quit of my bands, dropped forty drum students, had a huge garage sale and moved to Santa Monica.

ROCK CITY: Did you move to L.A. with KVK in mind?

RICK STEEL: I play keyboards as well, and IÕd already written some of the melodies for the songs before I came to L.A. My life changed when I started my TV show.

ROCK CITY: YouÕre a T.V. start as well?

RICK STEEL: My show is called Drumst6. ItÕs a half hour drumming show that airs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, and places back east. ItÕs a visual drumming magazine that covers every type of drumming.. I host it and do the video drum lesson each episode. Modern Drummer magazines sponsors it. WeÕve had guests like: Carmine Appice and Bill Ward, some big time people. IÕve done over seventy shows. Because of the show, I was asked to film the Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship Concert in Las Vegas in 1993. That prompted me to start a company called Drum TV, which produces drum videos for sale in stores.

ROCK CITY: Was Bill Ward an important part of Kill Van Kull?

RICK STEEL: Yes, and my life. . BillÕs really helped out KVK with song
structures, with producing, and with the business. HeÕs so wise, and
heÕs always someone I can talk to. HeÕs like my second father. HeÕs the grandfather of heavy metal drumming, in my opinion. Bill saw me play and asked me to go on the road to do clinics called Connecting The Years. In 1992, we were on the road all over. The clinics are about drumming from the beginning of the universe to modern times. Bill explained the feel of drumming and I explained the technical aspects. Through these clinics I started getting drum endorsements.

ROCK CITY: What endorsements to you have?

RICK STEEL: IÕm endorse by Ludwig drums, Zildjian cymbals, Aquarian drum heads, Dauz electronics, Gibraltar racks, and Trueline sticks. Trueline makes a Rick Steel signature stick, hat they let me go down to San Diego and design.

ROCK CITY: So how did KVK come about?

RICK STEEL: All the time I was working on my show, I was writing music. In 1994, I began working with Bill WardÕs guitar player, Keith Lynch. We wrote Vlad The Impaler for a low budget film that never came out. We started putting more songs together. I met KVK bassist, Catman, when I ran an ad for a bass player to jam with at my drum clinics. We recorded the Kill Van Kull album before weÕd ever played live together.

ROCK CITY: How did you come up with the name Kill Van Kull?

RICK STEEL: I ran across it when I was doing some research. ItÕs the name of a river in New York.

ROCK CITY: And what about the idea for your little reaper mascot Van?

RICK STEEL: Van represents the band and our image. You see him and know where weÕre coming from immediately. People recognize him right away and think of KVK.

ROCK CITY: Desceribe the bandÕs sound.

RICK STEEL: WeÕre heavy metal with a dark sinister vibe. Imagine pouring Black Sabbath, Megadeth, King Crimson, and Rush in a blenbder and youÕve got Kill Van Kull.

ROCK CITY: When did you get the idea for Heavy Metal Nights?

RICK STEEL: I was looking at locals rock magazines in July of 1996, and I
noticed that nobody was doing any metal shows. No one was using those two dirty words. I thought I could I alleviate the ebb and flow of crowds in clubs by putting together a whole show so that the dudes who likes heavy metal could stay there all night. I thought up having giveaways, of decent prizes so the fans would remember KVK and also create a mailing list anda fan base. Also, to make each show an event.

SN: how do you feel working it on the L.A. scene with a metal band in an alternative age?

RICK STEEL: ItÕs tough. ItÕs hard. YouÕve got to have a positive outlook.

ROCK CITY: WhatÕs it like to work it in L.A.Õs local music scene?

RICK STEEL: ThereÕs lots of opportunity living in L.A. There area lot of places
to play in a lot of areas. ThatÕs a positive. The hard thing is that in a smaller town there are not as many bands, and itÕs easier to get a following.

ROCK CITY: With KVK, youÕve played House of Blues, and the Palace. You headline your own shows, youÕve been contacted by labels, youÕve been nominated for awards É What do you think youÕre doing right?

RICK STEEL: Music comes first. The tunes. We focus on our fans, always trying to broaden our fan base. Most club owners donÕt care who you are, only that youÕve got to have a following and theyÕre buying drinks. WeÕve worked on a program of attraction rather than promotion. Asides from that, work hard, spend a lot of money, and put yourself out there.

ROCK CITY: What do you know fans to know about Kill Van Kull?

RICK STEEL: The fans have been great. They buy our albums, go to gigs, and really support us I challenge my fans to listen to KVK and try to get into touch with the darkness inside of them. If you have the courage to go into your own darkness, you may discover your true self because within the darkness and the pain, the black and the suffering we believe the true human being exists. Also, weÕd like to introduce our fans to our new vocalist Sebastian Black. HeÕs from Romania, just like the real Vlad the Impaler.

ROCK CITY: What you say to people who think metal is dead, you drum kitÕs to big, you should cut you hair, and give this heavy metal thing up for something more marketable?

RICK STEEL: Fuck off!!! As long as you create, perform, and epitomize what your true self is, honestly, you can never go wrong.

ROCK CITY: Rock on, dude! Kill Van Kull is a band with convictions, depth, brains, and some kick-ass heavy metal music! If youÕve never seen them live, donÕt miss their special Heavy Metal Halloween show on Saturday, October 25th at the Rock in Canoga Park. For more info on KVK call their hotline: (213) 957-4994.