3rd Strike

Gigz with Jim Korthe and Eric Carlsson from 3rd Strike @ Post-Gazette Pavilion @ X-Fest

05/17/02



RC: We're chillin', literally with the guys 
     from Los Angeles, kind of chilly out, on
     the tour bus. This is 3rd Strike , debut
     CD Lost Angel on Hollywood Records,
     if I'm not mistaken.
Jim (lead vocalist): That's it.
RC: Now we just played the single "No Light", that's a pretty intense
     video. Where did you guys shoot that, was it just a place where 
     you like to chill?
Jim: Yeah, we live down there in the harbor area of LA, it's just a 
     place where people like to go and party. I got busted there a 
     couple of times.
RC: Oh really!
Jim: Yeah, it was 2 diferent days one was in Tomecula at the Metal 
     Malicous Compound and one day at a place called Sunken City  
     from the 30s, it fell down into water, there's a lot of concrete
     and broken stuff...
RC: Yeah I saw the ruins of artwork. This is Jim lead vocalist, we
     just saw them, these guys were eminating cynergy off the stage.
     The crowd really seemed to be digin' yah. They were gettin' down
     out there, is that a rush for you?
Jim: That's my new rush.
RC: Have you been in any bands before this?
Jim: The other guitarist Todd and I started a band in 88 called 
     Dime Store Hoods. We came up with Downset and 
     Rage, Manhole and Deftones, back then we played with 
     Korn and Deftones a long time ago on they're one tour.
     This band has been together about 2 years. We found the right 
     guys and it's really clicken, it's workin.
RC: Where did you pick Eric up at?
Jim: I'll let him answer that.
Eric(guitarist): Rehab.
RC: Rehab?
Eric: Yeah, I was living up in San Fransisco and getting into a lot of
     trouble up there. I moved back down to LA and went into sober 
     living in St. Peter and that's kind of where we're all from and
     that's kind of where I met up with these guys through friends of 
     friends, it's kind of like that.
RC: Stayin' sober?
Eric: Yeah, I do my best, we don't really party too much on the road.
     When I get home I like to party a little bit but we're really not
     home that much so I keep it tight on the road so there's no
     problems, yah know?
RC: How did Hollywood Records catch word of you guys?
Eric: We recorded a demo at a place called Skull 2 owned by the guys from
     Pennywise and Fletcher remembered Todd and I from the old band
     that we were in and liked the music and said he was gonna help us 
     out and the next day the manager came through and we worked a 
     deal with him and then like a month later we were signed. They had
     this big showcase for labels, 5 or 6 diferent labels. Then 2 weeks
     later Hollywood  came to our practice and pretty much said what we
     wanted to hear, that they needed a band like us to break and help
     they're label. They kept thier word and they're doin' a really 
     good job.
RC: The video promotions department really wants to work it. Where as a
     lot of labels have so many acts they just throw stuff at you.
Jim: Thats the thing we could have gotten lost in the mix but for the
     rock end of Hollywood Records  we're it, pretty much, so we knew
     we'ld be pushed really big. And if Hollywood is Disney it's
     Disney's money, it's pretty good to throw around, it's workin'.
RC: Plans for a new video?
Jim: We definately have plans for a new video we just don't know the
     second single yet. It all depends on how this one does and how
     the record does. There's a couple things  they're talkin' about
     cuz we definately have a couple singles on the record I think. 
     So we'll see, if it's a heavier one or a mellow one I don't know.
RC: Now you're doing a remake of "Paranoid"?
Jim: We originally did it for a soundtrack. The movie Ultimate X the X 
     games movie,it was supposed to be called paranoid and we were
     supposed to do the title track for it.We went in to the studio
     to record it and brought DJ Mugs in from Cypress Hill. He 
     came in and cut on the song and changed up a little rhyme in 
     the middle, added to it. They ended up not calling it that and
     using the original "Paranoid" in the movie. They still use ours
     a little. It came out really good and we were really positive
     about it and using it on our record  as a kind of tribute to
     Sabath done in a new metal style. We get a lot of old metal 
     people trip on that but whatever.
RC: I listen to commercial radio and if I heard the original version
     of "Paranoid" AGAIN, I don't know, it's like the 1st guitar rif
     I learned, what about you Eric?
Eric: Well we were kind of skeptical , but it came out so good and we
     think we did it justice so why not throw it on the record and see
     what people think about it.
RC: Yeah, right.
Jim: It goes over well live.
RC: Your on Ozzfest this year aren't you? 
Jim: Yeah, at least half.
RC: Comin' through Pittsburgh?
Jim: Yeah comin' back, hope it won't be raining then.
RC: No tarentual downpours like X-Fest.
Eric: It's not that bad.
RC: I know you like the weather warmer, but I wish you the best of 
     luck with the new CD Lost Angel. Does it have any meaning? Where
     you kind of feeling lost in LA?
Jim: Yeah, it's a reference to LA. Growing up where I grew up I ran 
     with a gang for about 7 years. The things I saw... people say
     oh your from LA, Baywatch and all that, well that wasn't a
     reality for me.
RC: They haven't seen the miles of ghetto.
Jim: Yeah, to put that out, LA is a "Lost Angel" to me.
RC: How do you break away from gangs? From what I understand it's
     like the mofia once  your in you can't get out.
Jim: I'm pretty much affiliated til I die. I'm not active any more.
     I got the respect from a lot of high up dudes, they pretty much
     told me to make them proud and do this music thing for real.
     Most of my partners were locked up, doin' life or getting 
     killed and I was next, I knew I was next.
RC: That's smart to know when your #s are up.
Jim: Hell yeah, theres no future in it, it's a bad life.
RC: Congrats on getting away, I've known people fall into it. You're
     out here doin' something positive and if it takes negative
     experiences to get to that... yah know.
Jim: I have a lot to write about, a lot of singers don`t have that
     experience.
RC: Not even the ones that pretend, and there's a lot out there. 
     Well we're gonna cut to the video check these guys out they 
     rock, they rage, and they're a hell of a bunch of musicians.
     Thanks guys.

For More Info on 3rd Strike go to www.3RDSTRIKE.com

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