In a new video interview with music journalist Joel Gausten, Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X discusses his forthcoming album with his long-running band, Phil X And The Drills (POW! Right in the Kisser), his work with several notable drummers, including the late Taylor Hawkins, the key to Bon Jovi’s decades-long popularity, and much more.
When asked for his thoughts on what continues to make Bon Jovi relevant after 40-plus years, Phil credited frontman Jon Bon Jovi’s work ethic and the loyalty of the group’s fans.
“Jon’s made a lot of excellent decisions, but I think it’s the songs that’s kept him relevant to the whole thing. I believe he approaches songs with the audience in mind …] When there’s a new song, he goes. ‘Okay, this one’s going to be great live. We’ve got to do this, and this, and this, and this at the end, and we’ll get the audience going.’ He thinks like that, and I don’t know if a lot of people do. It’s a really short list of people that can headline Wembley Stadium that were around in the ‘80s. He has a command of that power, and he always had it. He’s an idea guy. He gets up early, and he’s got ideas, and he’s got to get through them. And the band, we all watch it happen. When we’re on the road, he’s got his regime – he’s gotta do this, he’s gotta do this, he’s gotta do this […] He’s got it down.”
“He understands the superfan,” he adds. “I didn’t know what a superfan was until I started playing with Bon Jovi. A superfan fan to me is someone who goes to multiple shows. I don’t mean three – I mean 20, 40. We’ll be out somewhere, and someone will hold up a sign that says, ‘This is my 200th show.’ […] There was a moment where Bon Jovi either changed their life or saved their life. Maybe it was a song, or maybe it was a performance, and they just want to feel that feeling again and again and again. There’s something to admire about that, if you can do it.”
Phil X & The Drills are back and ready to blow minds with their electrifying new album, POW! Right In The Kisser, set for release via Frontiers Music Srl on March 28. Known for their unique fusion of punk, classic, and modern rock infused with guitar virtuosity, Phil X & The Drills have carved out a distinctive spot in the rock world – and they’re kicking it into high gear with this upcoming release.
The band – featuring guitar hero Phil X (Bon Jovi) on lead vocals and guitar and Daniel Spree on bass and backing vocals – is pulling out all the stops on POW! Right In The Kisser, with an all-star lineup of guest drummers including Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe), Ray Luzier (Korn), and Tico Torres (Bon Jovi), among others.
About the album, Phil X shared: “POW! Right In The Kisser was a good 10 years in the making. ‘Battleship’ was tracked in 2014. I just kept writing & we’d record & then kept the whole ‘different drummer on every song’ thing going. It became a very special collection of songs & vibes. It’s very exciting for me to share something like that with the world.”
The journey of Phil X & The Drills is one of relentless passion and perseverance. From their early days stirring up the Hollywood rock scene in 2003, to their breakout EP Kick Your Ass in 17 Minutes (2009), the band has always kept fans hooked with their high-energy sound and jaw-dropping performances. As Phil X became a YouTube sensation through his work demoing vintage guitars for Fretted Americana, the band’s visibility skyrocketed, eventually evolving into the powerhouse known as Phil X & The Drills.
Over the years, the band has worked with an incredible roster of guest drummers, including Josh Freese ( Sting, Foo Fighters), Abe Laboriel Jr. (Paul McCartney), and Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), among others. Their most recent release, Stupid Good Lookings Vol. 1, showcased the band’s knack for pushing boundaries and delivering unforgettable rock tracks.
In 2024, Phil X & The Drills hit a new career milestone, opening for Mötley Crüe at Summerfest in Springfield, IL, where their performance left 10,000 fans and industry professionals in awe. Now, with POW! Right In The Kisser, they’re set to take the next big step in their musical journey.
Pre-order POW! Right In The Kisser here.
POW! Right In The Kisser tracklisting:
“Don’t Wake Up Dead” (Drums: Ray Luzier)
“Fake the Day Away” (Drums: Tommy Lee)
“Heal” (Drums: Brent Fitz)
“Find a Way” (Drums: Tico Torres)
“Moving To California” (Drums: Jeremy Spencer)
“You Sunk My Battleship” (Drums; Brian Tichy)
“Seemed Like a Good Idea” (Drums: Tosh Peterson)
“Broken Arrow” (Drums: Liberty Devitto)
“I Love You on Her Lips” (Drums: Gary Novak)
“Feel Better” (Drums: Ryan Macmillan)
“Way Gone (Beam Me Up, Scotty)” (Drums: Kenny Aronoff)
“Moving To California” visualizer:
“Don’t Wake Up Dead” lyric video:
Phil X & The Drills lineup:
Phil X – Lead Vocals & Guitars
Daniel Spree – Bass & Background Vocals
Brent Fitz – Drums & Background Vocals
The post BON JOVI Guitarist PHIL X On Band’s Longevity – “Jon’s Made A Lot Of Excellent Decisions; I Believe He Approaches Songs With The Audience In Mind” appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
When asked for his thoughts on what continues to make Bon Jovi relevant after 40-plus years, Phil credited frontman Jon Bon Jovi’s work ethic and the loyalty of the group’s fans.
“Jon’s made a lot of excellent decisions, but I think it’s the songs that’s kept him relevant to the whole thing. I believe he approaches songs with the audience in mind …] When there’s a new song, he goes. ‘Okay, this one’s going to be great live. We’ve got to do this, and this, and this, and this at the end, and we’ll get the audience going.’ He thinks like that, and I don’t know if a lot of people do. It’s a really short list of people that can headline Wembley Stadium that were around in the ‘80s. He has a command of that power, and he always had it. He’s an idea guy. He gets up early, and he’s got ideas, and he’s got to get through them. And the band, we all watch it happen. When we’re on the road, he’s got his regime – he’s gotta do this, he’s gotta do this, he’s gotta do this […] He’s got it down.”
“He understands the superfan,” he adds. “I didn’t know what a superfan was until I started playing with Bon Jovi. A superfan fan to me is someone who goes to multiple shows. I don’t mean three – I mean 20, 40. We’ll be out somewhere, and someone will hold up a sign that says, ‘This is my 200th show.’ […] There was a moment where Bon Jovi either changed their life or saved their life. Maybe it was a song, or maybe it was a performance, and they just want to feel that feeling again and again and again. There’s something to admire about that, if you can do it.”
Phil X & The Drills are back and ready to blow minds with their electrifying new album, POW! Right In The Kisser, set for release via Frontiers Music Srl on March 28. Known for their unique fusion of punk, classic, and modern rock infused with guitar virtuosity, Phil X & The Drills have carved out a distinctive spot in the rock world – and they’re kicking it into high gear with this upcoming release.
The band – featuring guitar hero Phil X (Bon Jovi) on lead vocals and guitar and Daniel Spree on bass and backing vocals – is pulling out all the stops on POW! Right In The Kisser, with an all-star lineup of guest drummers including Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe), Ray Luzier (Korn), and Tico Torres (Bon Jovi), among others.
About the album, Phil X shared: “POW! Right In The Kisser was a good 10 years in the making. ‘Battleship’ was tracked in 2014. I just kept writing & we’d record & then kept the whole ‘different drummer on every song’ thing going. It became a very special collection of songs & vibes. It’s very exciting for me to share something like that with the world.”
The journey of Phil X & The Drills is one of relentless passion and perseverance. From their early days stirring up the Hollywood rock scene in 2003, to their breakout EP Kick Your Ass in 17 Minutes (2009), the band has always kept fans hooked with their high-energy sound and jaw-dropping performances. As Phil X became a YouTube sensation through his work demoing vintage guitars for Fretted Americana, the band’s visibility skyrocketed, eventually evolving into the powerhouse known as Phil X & The Drills.
Over the years, the band has worked with an incredible roster of guest drummers, including Josh Freese ( Sting, Foo Fighters), Abe Laboriel Jr. (Paul McCartney), and Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), among others. Their most recent release, Stupid Good Lookings Vol. 1, showcased the band’s knack for pushing boundaries and delivering unforgettable rock tracks.
In 2024, Phil X & The Drills hit a new career milestone, opening for Mötley Crüe at Summerfest in Springfield, IL, where their performance left 10,000 fans and industry professionals in awe. Now, with POW! Right In The Kisser, they’re set to take the next big step in their musical journey.
Pre-order POW! Right In The Kisser here.
POW! Right In The Kisser tracklisting:
“Don’t Wake Up Dead” (Drums: Ray Luzier)
“Fake the Day Away” (Drums: Tommy Lee)
“Heal” (Drums: Brent Fitz)
“Find a Way” (Drums: Tico Torres)
“Moving To California” (Drums: Jeremy Spencer)
“You Sunk My Battleship” (Drums; Brian Tichy)
“Seemed Like a Good Idea” (Drums: Tosh Peterson)
“Broken Arrow” (Drums: Liberty Devitto)
“I Love You on Her Lips” (Drums: Gary Novak)
“Feel Better” (Drums: Ryan Macmillan)
“Way Gone (Beam Me Up, Scotty)” (Drums: Kenny Aronoff)
“Moving To California” visualizer:
“Don’t Wake Up Dead” lyric video:
Phil X & The Drills lineup:
Phil X – Lead Vocals & Guitars
Daniel Spree – Bass & Background Vocals
Brent Fitz – Drums & Background Vocals
The post BON JOVI Guitarist PHIL X On Band’s Longevity – “Jon’s Made A Lot Of Excellent Decisions; I Believe He Approaches Songs With The Audience In Mind” appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
