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Psychedelic L.A. Underground Online Magazine 

M. Wesley Heads into Hollywood this Labor Day to Sit Down with Whitney Fassbinder of “Rocking Horse People” to Shoot the Shit about the Upcoming Tour, Politics, the Recent Album Release, Drugs and More. 

“His Hollywood bunker was nothing like I’d imagined.  I saw not one machine gun nest…  I looked him in the eye.  I was able to get a sense of his soul.”—M. Wesley commenting on Whitney Fassbinder.

M. Wesley:  Whitney, your band “Rocking Horse People” recently released the debut album “Nothing for the Road” after some holdups and delays.  Now that a physical copy of your first album with this band is available, are you satisfied with the album on a whole and does this album speak truthfully to the core of what “RHP” is about?

Whitney Fassbinder:  Yeah (laughter).  It did seem to take forever to come out, didn’t it?  That was mostly our fault, I think.  You know, to be honest with you—I was a little hesitant at first about the way the record came out, but I think that is the nature of the beast.  You know?  But after about 4 or 5 listens, I was able to remove myself from it enough to start enjoying it, and several months removed—I love it.  I’m extremely proud of it.  Does it speak to the core of who I am and the rest of the band?  You bet your ass it does; we play it for real.

MW:  Talk to me about this continuing trend where Christian and neo-Christian bands seem to be overtaking the commercial airwaves in The States and with major record label baking, are we watching the death of rock and roll, or is this just a hiccup in American culture?  Is rock and roll under attack and should the populace be taking sides and holding hostages?

Whitney:  Wow, if that question was a shotgun, I would call it loaded (laughter).  I think it’s a hiccup—just a rash reaction to a president receiving a blowjob (laughter).   I always laugh at the infomercials for, "Now that’s what I call Christian rock 10” or whatever (dismissive laughter).  All of them singing along to, "I can only imagine", with their hands in the air and eyes closed (brief pause).  As far as it being under attack—its way more insidious—throwing their faith-based message in my rock and roll; all that bullshit will be gone in November.  And always take sides when it comes to music.  As for hostages; shoot first, ask questions later.

MW:  Hey, out of loaded guys come loaded questions.  OK then.  Is Los Angeles a victim of its past successes?  You’re about to go on tour of the West coast and play before audiences in Portland, Oregon and San Francisco for starters—towns with thriving music scenes just as it is here in LA.  Is it a curse to be based in Los Angeles, or does it matter?  Is all music local—just like it’s said of all politics? 

Whitney:  (Laughter) Los Angeles is a victim of so many things.  I’m not sure success has ever been one of them.  L.A. is very over saturated with bands.  I mean, everyone I know out here is in one, but that being said, I have heard some of the best music out here in our little tight-knit psych scene.  We are about to go on tour, and I’m exited to play for audiences that might be moved unlike most L.A. audiences who wouldn’t give a fuck if you blew your head off on stage and covered them in your brains.  So, I’m not sure if this answers the question, but I’m exited to play in any city with an actual music scene.

MW:  Is RHP based in the right city? 

Whitney:  To a degree, I would say yes.  There is a lot of opportunity here, and I have met amazing people here with really great ideas about music.  And it is a rush to meet a musician you respect in the flesh.  Now on the flip side of that coin, I would like to build a studio in room 8 in the Pioneertown Motel and drink all day at Pappy and Harriet's and record all night—the desert—I love it.

MW:  Were you meaning to refer to the Joshua Tree Inn’s room 8 where Gram Parsons died?

Whitney:  Nope.  That would be too far of a walk to Pappy and Harriet's every morning.

MW:  How much drugs does it take to be a Rocking Horse Person?  Let’s face it.  This is not a musical ensemble consisting or prohibitionists.  There’s been rehabilitation and kicking of various addictions.  Does drug usage contribute to the creative force behind the music, and if so, to what degree?

Whitney:  Well, all I will say about that is I have had my problems with drugs.  I was writing songs off and on them.  All it takes to be one of us is to be in the band and to have a love for the type of music we play—a strong constitution helps, also.

MW:  You’re one the two titans in the band.  Is it a plus or minus to share creative control and leadership with founder and co-captain [Aaron] James? 

Whitney:  It’s definitely a plus.   He (Aaron James) fills in where I leave off and vice versa—and I love the guy to death.  He’s like my brother.

MW:  And how did you and Aaron James meet?  How did you come to leave your home and travel cross country to find yourself as one of two front-men in “Rocking Horse People”?

Whitney:  I had a band on Myspace called “The Fassbinders” and Dwayne of “The Stevenson Ranch Davidians” discovered my lil’ band and told Aaron about it and we began a correspondence.  Then I was out in L.A. visiting my girlfriend and gave him a call and said we should get together and write and record some songs—so a few handfuls of Vicodin and some beer—and we had the rough mixes of our first two songs done.  I moved out 3 weeks later.

MW:  And now that we have 8 long years behind us with a man at the helm immune to blowjobs, what do you think the future holds for “Rocking Horse People”?  Where do you see the band going after November?  I mean, are you planning to record?  Tour more?  Play locally?

Whitney:  Well, it’s hard to say about the future.  I always was more of a past-dweller, but we already have a 2nd LP in the works.  It’s almost all done being recorded, but then comes mixing, and (laughter) we all how long that can take Aaron and me.  We will be playing shows till we are old and sad, my friend.  (Pause)  Who knows?  Maybe decadence and early deaths are in the future for all of us.

MW:  Is RHP country?  Psychedelic?  Garage rock and/or folk?  How do you answer this question, as I’m sure you’re often asked?  If you had to slap the god damn label on, what does it read?  Let me put it this way.  I’ve never heard your music, and I’m asking you to describe it.  What do you say to me then?

Whitney:  (laughing) Cosmic-American music!  The musical achievements of the people of this country are the only thing I take any sense of national pride in—our foreign policy might be shit, but our fucking music—as Americans—you can’t fucking beat it.

MW:  Can music remain profitable in the coming years?  Let me put this question another way; your kid tells you he/she is going to devote their life to music—with all the corporatism in the industry.  Is Whitney Fassbinder going to encourage this, or what words do you offer that young person with dreams of rock-stardom?

Whitney:  I encourage art in every living thing I encounter, so it would be hypocritical of me not to encourage one of my own or a younger musician.  The only reason to get into the music business is to pay the fucking rent—maybe die someplace warm.   The negative (Whitney pauses) Well, I would say that it is a total negative.  Once you let the money changers into the temple, you have corrupted all that is holy about the creative process.  As for advice for younger musicians; if you need drugs to create, then you should look for a good day job—and don’t try heroin.

MW:  Would you ever consider or could you ever fathom cutting a political album or single?  Is RHP Political?

Whitney:  Well (pause) I’m political in the sense that—Bush is a fucking cocksucker, and I am very much a liberal—you know, feed the poor and things such as this.  I have always had respect for people who could write political songs like Bob Dylan used too.  I would hear “Chimes of Freedom Flashing” when I was younger and cry—even though I didn’t know what the song was about, you know?  That’s power.  A power I just don’t posses.  So I guess to answer your question; we aren’t political, except I think you could call us Obama supporters.

MW: I’m going to give you a question submitted by a fan now.  And that question is, “Whitney, what is your favorite song on the album and why?  And, do you have any plans on touring Wisconsin?”  This question is from Chrissy in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Whitney:  Well, Chrissy, that’s a tough one.  I love “552” just because of the groove we were able to get going in the studio.  Also, I love “Already Dead”, because of the amount of harmony singing that went into that song, and I also got to play the mellotron on that song.  I would love to come home and play some shows.  (Pauses) I haven’t seen home in a while...

MW:  Are you bringing anyone along on the tour, or will you be meeting folks along the way? 

Whitney: Yes. We are going on tour with a band from L.A. called “Spirit Vine”.  We’re also playing one show of the tour with “Ojos Rojos” and “The Digs”—all great bands.  You should do yourself a favor and check them out if you haven’t already.  And rumor has it that we may be playing in Oakland with “Spindrift”.  I’m pretty sure that we will play with some great local bands along the way as well.

MW:  How much planning goes into organizing a west coast tour, or does “Rocking Horse People” fly by the seat of the britches?

Whitney:  You know a lot of planning went into this mostly from Aaron and I think Gabe and Jackie from “Spirit Vine”.  I’m always the type of person who flies by the seat of my pants.  I just show up and play.

MW:  And in closing, Whitney.  Knowing then what you know now, would you have picked a different name for the album if you knew you'd be touring it?

Whitney:  (Laughter)  That name actually came from a lyric to a song I wrote called “Mirror Man”  The lyric is "nothing new, its all been bought and sold.  I brought it all back home and left nothing for the road,” and that song was not written about us (laughter).  I wrote it about all of my heroes whom I’ve seen killed by being on the road too long.  So no, I wouldn’t change a thing.  I liked the way the words sounded together and I still do.  And I think I was feeling a bit burned out at the time.  But in this town, under these circumstances, who doesn’t feel burned out?  At least some of the time.  May the road rise.

MW:  Good luck on your tour, Whitney.

Whitney:  Thank you.

The album is called “Nothing for the Road” by “Rocking Horse People”. Sample some of the tunes by clicking on the album

 

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photo:  Mandy Gattenby