This week we interview DRIVE, the man formerly known as Mike Lee of Barren Cross.
Drive thanks for doing this interview, but before we get started we need to get something out of the way… "Do promise to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
Oui-oui, but-of-course!
First, Drive, can you tell us what you've been up to?
I have a new group, modern rock with electro influences, called: FASTDRIVE. We have just finished recording an independent, self-produced album entitled "The Reality Show." Excerpts from the album can be heard at www.drivelive.com.
Okay, you used to be called Mike Lee of Barren Cross, but now you have changed your name to Drive. Why the sudden change? Do you still listen to heavy metal?
I have a lot of ambition, will-power, and seemingly fast-circulating blood so people started calling me Drive. It stuck so I have now adopted it. As far as metal is concerned, on Feb. 11, I went and saw one of my favorite bands play a sold out show in my adopted home town of Paris France: a groupe called "RAMMSTEIN," so yes, you can say that I still love heavy music!!
How did it feel to hit the stage with Barren Cross for the first time in almost a decade at the Mardi Gras 2002 show? And with all the Christian rock reunions happening lately, like Stryper and Guardian, what is the chance of a Barren Cross reunion?
Well it's funny you mention it because in this very moment, I am about to board a plane from Paris to Zurich, Switzerland to play with the "BC" boys at a festival on Saturday night! Here we go again! As far as a reunion … why not?
You recently laid down vocals for a song you co-wrote with Justin for the Liberty n' Justice album "Soundtrack of a Soul." The song is called "Make Believe." How did you get involved with the project and what is the song about?
Justin brought me some lyrics and asked me to compose the music and vocal melodies. I also added a few words in there myself. So what is the song about? Sometimes the paths we choose in life don't turn out like we intended and at some point, we feel like or it seems like it's all "Make Believe" but in the end, there is always a reason for everything that takes place.
When can we expect the new Drive album? What style is it? Who plays what in the band?
"The Reality Show" from my new band FASTDRIVE is what I would describe as gut modern rock with electro vibes. The album is loaded with great drum grooves, a good melange of distorted guitars and sound effects, great rhythm vs. melody, and by far, some of my best vocal performances and songs I have ever written. The musicians are monsters! I am not publicly disclosing their names yet, but I will very soon. The album is not available yet in stores but IS available by mail order! Here's the info:
Send a check/money order made out to FASTDRIVE for $15 to:
FASTDRIVE
c/o Shawna Daigle
9311 Tanager Ave.
Fountain Valley, CA 92708The CD is shipped within 3 weeks. It features 10 new songs plus some hidden tracks. This album in its present version will be a collectors item next year.
By the way, a special note to Barren Cross fans: "BC" has now finally come out with the album: "THE VERY BEST OF BARREN CROSS"! But like FASTDRIVE (for the time being), we are keeping it "in-house" and is available by mail-order ONLY. To order, make check/money order out to BARREN CROSS for $15 and send it to BARREN CROSS c/o Shawna Daigle at the same address.
Name the 3 highest points and the 3 lowest points of your musical career to date.
The only low points I would say are just certain moments of inactivity for other important things in life. You know, life is all about learning … if you let yourself. Not to mention, what I said earlier: there is a reason for why everything takes place. As far as the 3 high points, it's every time I'm on stage, it's every time I'm in the studio, and it's every time I finish writing a new song!
What happened with Die Happy? Rumor had it that you were originally slated to be the vocalist on their first album.
This is a very weird situation. Yes, what you said is true, and not only that, but I wrote all of the lyrics and vocal melodies to the ENTIRE first "DIE HAPPY" album (which never got used and I still have them for that matter.) When I took the plane and showed up in L.A. to record, I arrived at the studio and there was already another singer doing the album. To this day, I still don't know why. Simple lack of communication I think. But also, it must not have been meant to be. By the way, the lyrics were some of the more innovative and story-like lyrics I had ever written.
Many artists would love the chance to work with the Elefante brothers, and your band "BC" did. What was it like to work with them? Have any stories?
Working with them was great and nothing but loads of fun. I have too many stories! One funny thing I always remember Dino doing was this: I brought over an album of a friend's band for them to hear. I won't mention who it was but the recording really sucked — and I mean really, really bad. Nonetheless, they were my friends and I held on to the album sentimentally. Dino, started listening to the thing, and it was SO bad that after 15 seconds, well … let's just say 17 seconds, Dino rips it off the machine, goes out into the parking lot, and flings it like a Frisbee over the next building! That pissed me off! ;-)
Why was BareBones only a one-time project? What about Sanxtion?
BAREBONES didn't get off the ground because of lack of management. Sanxtion with me on it was only meant to be a one album thing.
You moved from the states to France, what is it like over there and why did you move?
That's a whole separate interview. What I will say is this. I love France and Europe in general, not to mention, Paris, where I've been living for a couple of years, is the most historic, beautiful, and romantic city I've ever seen. Not many people know this but I have French nationality as well as American, and am the first generation in my family to be born in the States. My mother and her family are from France, my father and his family are from Belgium. They both came to Los Angeles, not speaking a word of English, met on the beach, and then I came along not long after! Throughout my childhood, I flew often to France to visit my family and simply fell in love very passionately with her and for many, many reasons. Too long to go into here.
I recall a few years back Drive released a song on a Heaven's Metal sampler called "True Love." I understand that it was from a Mike Lee solo release. Was the whole project ever released? What was it called? Is it still available anywhere?
The album was entitled "Studio A, The Acoustic Sessions." It was a limited edition never intended for mainstream release and is now out of print and very rare.
Has Doug Van Pelt's secretary figured out who you are yet?
You threw me a good one there. Maybe I should figure out who she is.
Spiritually what do you believe?
Uh, let's see — There was some kind of explosion that warped up a fish with big teeth that grew some legs and fur, turning itself into a monkey that eventually learned how to make a car bomb? Ha ha … Actually, I believe that there is one God. He made man, man makes his choice on what he does with the knowledge of God born inside of him, and at the end God judges him on that choice. Like He judges every man.
What does 2005 and beyond hold for the musician Drive?
I will not begin to assume what God has ultimately intended for me, but what I will absolutely never stop doing is writing, recording, and performing.
And finally, a Liberty n' Justice 4-ALL word association. We will mention a name or thing, and you give us your thoughts:
Jim LaVerde (Barren Cross)
General Gumby (inside joke) Great friend.
Pastor Bob Beeman
I don't feel comfortable (another inside joke) I love this guy.
Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
Innovative and original in his time.
Kai Reese (Bare Bones)
Cool weird skater surfer boy. One of my best friends in the last years I lived in the states.
Josh Kramer (Saint)
Judas Priest
Ray Parris (Barren Cross)
Silent intellectual. Great friend.
Michael Sweet (Stryper)
Respect for originality when they came out. But why didn't he play sideways like his brother? ;-)
Dale Thompson (Bride)
Only met him once. Seemed deep/weird like Jim Morrison, but a preacher. Couldn't tell you more though.
Michael Bloodgood (Bloodgood)
I wash my hands of this mans blood. Very nice guy.
Dino Elefante (Producer)
Spaghetti and meatballs.