EMQ’s with SCANNER

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EMQ’s with SCANNER

Hi Everyone. Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Pennsylvania based, Punk inspired, Hard Rock band Scanner. Huge thanks to them for taking part!
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
My name is Joe Brady, and I play bass and am lead vocalist for Scanner, a roots and punk inspired hard rock band from Pennsylvania, USA. Scanner was formed by me and Junnie Fortney (guitars) in 1979, and later joined by Ray Hawkins (drums).
Scanner’s influences encompass a wide range of styles, including the pioneers of 50’s rock and roll, 60’s hard rock and surf and 70’s hard rock glam and punk.
To date, Scanner has released “Exploding Heads in Harrisburg – Live Recordings From 1982”, “One foot in the grave, and more pissed than ever”, “Splat”, “Under The Devil’s Tail”, and “In Your Head”.
How did you come up with your band name?
The band name “Scanner” came into being when I read an article in a monster magazine in 1980 about a new movie coming out called “Scanners” and liked the imagery of heads exploding, and imagined it being the effect of hearing Scanner music!
What country are you from and what is the metal scene like there?
USA. I am amazed at the multitude of splinter sub-genres of not only metal, but of all rock and underground music. I’m sure that’s the case globally too, but the USA is so large and has an incredible range of cultural influences, the music really reflects practically every belief system, philosophy, religion, and political leaning. I think it’s a great snapshot into almost every aspect of humanity.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single or Video)
We released a five-song EP in the summer of 2018 called “In Your Head”, and have performance music videos out for the songs, “Frankenstein’s Flivver” and “TV Light”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLpaWGvd2nI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLVvpzVsYys
Who have been your greatest influences?
Our main music influences cover a wide and eclectic range of styles: Dead Boys, Ramones, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Alice Cooper, Flamin’ Groovies, Plasmatics, Stiff Little Fingers, Cock Sparrer, Nazareth, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Misfits, Devo, Link Wray, Stray Cats, Deep Purple, Motörhead, and on and on…
What first got you into music?
When I was a kid (at 7 years old in 1966), I tagged along with some of my older brother’s friends to a concert held at the bandstand of our state fair. I didn’t know anything about the band, or what I was listening to, but my little self was blown away. The band was Eric Burdon and the Animals, and I was never the same since!
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Iggy Pop or Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Riot Fest, because I attended the Chicago Riot Fest in 2014, and the atmosphere was absolutely electric!
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Both weird and wonderful was when a fan sent me a 1960’s toy Membrane Man dressed up as Santa for Christmas. We have a song called “Membrane Men” based on that toy, so I was extremely happy and grateful for that.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Thanks to everybody who has bought and listened to our music for all of these years, and thanks to our growing base of young fans from all over the world who don’t care if we are three times their ages, but just dig our noise!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
David Bowie
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I love the creative process of coming up with new song ideas, then putting it all together, and playing and recording with the band. I really don’t hate anything about it.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Oh, I don’t know. It’s evolving and devolving so fast anymore, I can’t keep up with all of it. In an ideal world, there would be more equity in revenue sharing with the artists who actually make the music.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Deep Purple – “Machine Head”; Alice Cooper’s – “Love it to Death”, “Killer”, and “Billion Dollar Babies”; Dead Boys – “Young, Loud, and Snotty”; and David Bowie – “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars”.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
I grew up with Vinyl in the 60’s and 70’s. In addition to the music itself, the art, liner notes, and extras in many LPs, bringing a new record home was an event and sometimes a party with friends.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
I’d have to say one of our early gigs in 1981-82 in Harrisburg, PA, when at one point in a song, the entire crowd on the dance floor dropped and did the worm. Everybody wiggling on the floor just looked incredible! I wish we had video of that.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
In addition of my full-time job, I’d be doing more art.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Assuming we can utilize a time machine, George Carlin, Ray Bradbury, Wendy O. Williams, Bruno Sammartino, and Alice Cooper!
What’s next for the band?
We are headed for the studio in a few weeks to record our next five-song EP entitled, “Living, Breathing Monstrosities”.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
https://www.facebook.com/Scanner1979/
https://www.reverbnation.com/scanner
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPkPGl8HtNFdn5C6UHPtSXQ
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Cake!
 
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

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