ALLELE
10/24/2005
Interview w/ Wally Wood
by Todd, Blasting-Zone.com
Recently, charismatic Allele
frontman Wally Wood, hot on the heels of the
release of the group’s stellar full-length debut Point
Of Origin, was kind enough to speak with us regarding, among many
other things, the origin of their often mispronounced name…
Todd: How was Allele formed?
Wally Wood: “…Allele started in 2002... We had put the
band together with some people that we knew and learned a set worth of songs and
played a few shows. From there, we just started going through different band
members. We kept playing shows to keep the band’s name out there for what we
knew would eventually be a solid line-up. Kelly came into the band is 2004 and
the drummer and bass played came in at the beginning of this year.”
Todd: What was the main motivation behind the line-up
changes?
Wally: “Tim Tobin, our bass player is totally off the
chain…he’s just an amazing player. We needed that, ya know? The bass player that
we had was in the band for almost two years. We just had this mutual thing…he
just wasn’t ready to what we wanted to do. Besides, we needed a little bit
more…um…bass (laughs). We had this mutual friend that etched for Slipknot knew
Tim… …He knew we needed a new bass player and he brought Tim’s name up. Our
drummer…it’s so funny…he used to come to our shows, pay to get in and then leave
after three songs because everything just pissed him off so bad. One day, he was
like ‘…look…I know you’re band needs a drummer and I can play drums…’ It wasn’t
a cocky thing, because he’s not cocky. It was just a statement of what he could
do. …When we changed bass players, we realized that we might as well change the
drummer, too and these two guys have just worked out perfect.”
Todd: What inspired the name Allele? I have to admit, it
initially threw me off a bit…
Wally: “…We were looking around at so many band names. My
wife is a Biology teacher and the word Allele just came out somehow. …What is
means is so perfect, plus that’s just how we are with people socially. We really
like to connect with as many people as possible.”
Todd: Musically, what are your influences?
Wally: “We have many influences…as far as what influences
us to write and play what we do, I’m not sure if I can answer that. …Everybody
has natural influences. I can’t really speak for the rest of the guys in the
band, but for me personally, I’m into everything from Lionel Richie to Scott
Weiland to Sting, ya know?”
Todd: What are your current touring plans?
Wally: “We’re out with ourselves (laughs). We’re out with
label mates Trigger Point. The truth is, we could really bust our asses and get
picked up by a major tour…we’ve got lots of friends and we know everyone, know
what I mean? In fact, we’re not working all that hard to get picked up by a big
band. …We like what we’re doing right now because we can be right up front and
meet as many people as possible. If you’re on an arena tour, you don’t get to go
out there and meet the people. …Right now, we really get the chance to build a
family base of friends who get to go the show and get direct contact with the
band. For me, this is perfect…”
Todd: In your opinion, how have the audiences reacted thus
far?
Wally: “I can definitely say that we have been lucky to
not have had to play to an empty club. …Every band has to do it, but thus far,
we’ve had the greatest of luck. We played a show to about twenty people in the
middle of nowhere and that was awesome, ya know? It’s cool because it keeps you
humble… There really aren’t any ‘Rock Stars’ in this band anyway, so we don’t
really have to worry about anything.”
Todd: Do you think the reactions will change once people
have had more of a chance to hear the disc?
Wally: “I think it’s going to be a lot better because
people will have a chance to hear it without leaving their houses. …I think
people are less inclined to go see a band that they’ve never heard before.
Todd: You’ve obviously toured with some upper tier acts
over the past few years. What have you learned from these experiences?
Wally: “Oh my God! Yeah…we’ve learned what not to do. You
also learn what to do and how to carry yourself as a major artist from touring
with guys like that, ya know? You learn a lot of things…you get a lot of advice.
And who better to get the advice from. …We’ve learned a lot of things by
watching…like how to stay in a band for a long period of time. They’ve all told
me so many different horror stories…I know there is absolutely no trouble with
my band. …It’s taught me how to be grounded. Some of the bands have also taught
me how to never act, to be honest with ya. I’ve learned some good things and
I’ve also learned some bad things…”
Todd: I’m assuming you’ll be releasing “Closer To Habit”
as the first single…
Wally: “Yes…the add date is going to be November 14th…”
Todd: Really?
Wally: “Yeah, normally the add dates happen before the
album comes out, but we kinds have some things goin’ on, so it’s going to happen
afterward. …We don’t care, we’re just happy that we have an add date. A couple
of stations are already playing “Closer To Habit”… …We’re just grateful for
everything every single day.”
Todd: I would imagine that would be the best attitude to
have at this point…
Wally: “It’s a really good attitude to have…we just have
to make sure we maintain that attitude. …Being any other way just doesn’t get
you anywhere. It turns a lot of people off. The day you say ‘…I don’t give a
shit…’ is the day the feelings will start to be mutual.”
Todd: At this point, are you writing individually or
collectively as a group?
Wally: “Most bands have formulas…we don’t have a formula.
Either I’m half awake and a though pops into my head or Kelly or Lane will come
up to me. …The songs are written collectively…we all come up with different
ideas and give each other advice. Literally half of our songs have been written
by accident. Seriously, we’ll be at a venue warming up and someone will play a
riff that they had never though of before just warming up they’re fingers and
I’ll be like ‘…holy shit… what was that…’ That’s how we end up writing over half
of our songs.”
Todd: Judging by what I’ve heard from your debut, the more
accidents you can have, the better off you are.
Wally: “Yeah, we have like fifty songs and they’re all
accidents like that. I don’t know if that’s the right word…there just not
intentional, let’s just put it that way.”
Todd: So almost everything is improvised?
Wally: “Yes…and that’s what’s real. That’s just your
conscience coming out, ya know? you’re just warming upon and it’s like your
fingers are almost moving by themselves.”
Todd: Is it just my imagination or do most of your lyrics
have a positive angle to them?
Wally: “Life’s not depressing, ya know? It’s
not…everything is a moment. I had one of the worst childhoods that I’ve ever
heard of…stuff you can’t even imagine…but you’ll never heard me write about it.
Everyone’s different, ya know? I tend to write about other people’s experiences.
…I don’t have a writing pattern, but if you listed closely to my songs, you’ll
hear that some point, things start to turn around. …That’s how you should be
thinkin’ anyway…that’s just how I am. I don’t write anything about myself…it’s
all about other people. There is no ‘Me’ in this band, know what I mean?”
Todd: In your opinion, what is the most overrated aspect
of the music industry?
Wally: “…So many things are overrated. I think the
industry’s opinion of what sounds good is overrated. I think that people that
think they know what Rock ‘n’ Roll is when they don’t even listen to it is
overrated. …I think that trading a band that has a cool look but sounds like
shit for a band that is completely the opposite is overrated.”
Todd: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Wally: “Fat, bloated and on fire. …Broke and hopefully not
in prison. Kelly might be in Porno movies by then, too.”
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