Hello to M.C.P. - CHRONIC PAIN is a band based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. After playing with different guitar players for over 3 years, we finally found that missing piece and myself (Dave MacDonald), and Bill Parisien (percussion), started CHRONIC PAIN bringing back our bassist Pete Kraus, and adding Haijo Edwards Van Muijen on guitar. I am the primary lyricist for the band, and the lead singer- I am lucky enough to be able to convey my 'wants' to the band simply through vocals- and the band creates music that I easily can put lyrics to- Since JUNE (and adding the right guitarist), we're a well tuned machine now! I do all the Social Media work for the band as well, (you need that, these days, I'm sure you'd agree!) I am home 24/7 as I have M.S. (many surgeries-so on)-hence the band name "CHRONIC PAIN". Obviously, though I'm not always that healthy (have bad days)- it's easier for me to do the 3-4 hours a day on the P.C.- I NEVER USE MY HEALTH AS AN EXCUSE!
2.When did you decide you wanted to be in a band?
Personally, I played in bands or sang my entire life- I am trained as a tenor in choral work- and in Jazz vocals- (took classes), played in a great band in the 90's called LIQUID BONE DANCE, and did 'covers' then walked away as life sometimes takes over, A child-home etc.-then after one particular surgery, I decided that if I didn't get back to music, I never would- and I was determined to write my own stuff (as I'm a published poet-big deal-LOL)- so when the opportunity came I grabbed it!
3. What is different about being a musician than you imagined?
I believe the biggest difference is a multi-faceted question- Times have changed since I was doing covers and now the ROCK scene is just beginning to climb back out of the hole labels, record companies, and digital music, put us in, as they supported the rap-pop- scene- to death! You know that when some of these acts (Rihanna, comes to mind A.T.M.) have cancelled World tours from lack of ticket sales! One huge thing about difference, than I imagined, is that it takes EVERYONE in the band to be emotionally, creatively and intellectually involved in all your music for it to work- and it's amazing how many people CAN'T work as a team!
4.What gear do you use and why?
I use a SHURE SM58 beta microphone, as well as a Sennheiser E-935- a T.C.Helicon Voiceplay Live vocal box- (for a few things)- Our Drummer uses a Yamaha Kit, w/ a mix of Sabian and Zildjian cymbals, and does back vocals LIVE, our bassist uses PEAVEY-guitar, head, speaker- our guitarist uses Hextrom (I'm sure I've spelt it incorrectly) guitar -w/ amp and a Yamaha Speaker- We have a Yorkville P.A. with 2 1000 watt monitors- and 2 Tascam portable studios- (which we record right off the floor with a hanging mike for rehearsals, and riffs-to remember-LOL, as we only practice once a week-but just because the guys work, they're in for the long haul! All the gear we use is personal preference from all our combined years of experience- budget plays a factor, but we wanted to make sure we're 'self-sufficient' for anything that comes our way. We have a deal to record our first album (CD-I'm old-LOL)- but, if we wanted, we could easily record properly into the portables, and get someone to mix it properly! A well equipped band has more open doors we feel.
5. What music do you listen to that would surprise people?
Personally, I believe people would be surprised at my `vast`music collection (very eclectic)....but I`m a Billy Joel freak, and a fan of piano concertos by most classical composers.
6. How do we find your music and merch to buy?
A.T.M. we don`t have merch (we`re waiting for our album release, to pull that trigger), our music can be found on SOUNDCLOUD- https://soundcloud.com/user-844863282 - Free to Download on ReverbNation https://www.reverbnation.com/chronicpain9 - and our F.B. page once in awhile. We`re also on Bandcamp.com -our music is free to DL simply because it`s rehearsal stuff we recorded from a hanging mic. so if people are turned on by it- they shouldn't have to pay for it! Once our Album is done, we`ll charge a nominal price for it, or the songs!
7. How did you get a record deal? Or do you want a record deal or are you DIY?
We were offered a pure deal by UNIVERSAL CANADA (under the POLYGRAM label)- but it was a simple 360 deal- and if we were all 20, we might have signed it- but I`m not re-mortgaging my house to sign on a label (in case tour $ or album sales or bad)- Then out of pure chance, a gentleman came to a gig we were playing- and said I want to record you! We worked out a deal with him and now we have a bonafide 30 year vet recording and mastering us! We will shop our album around for a label, (I have been working on a P.K.), but on our terms to a point, as I said we aren`t wide eyed kids anymore. If not, we`ll just register our own licence for the release. Obviously, we do want a deal, but that`s not why we record and play.
8. What bands do people compare your music to?
Oddly enough, weève been compared to many bands- but most people really have a hard time putting a name to us as far as who we sound like- my vocals have been called-you sound like Ozzy- then in a different song, Scott Weiland....? Our drummer is a pure METAL freak, but plays in a myriad of styles- same with Bass- and on Guitar, we've had a pure Rythem player that made us sound dull as hell (see soundcloud early work!), now we have a player who moves from rythem to lead to ambient sounds and we're happy with his progress (he began in JUNE/18)....so I would say, you tell me?
9. Are you pro Spotify / streaming services ? Or do you think it hurts sales?
We are on Bandcamp, simply for the exposure, but I feel the 'streaming services' have hurt music as a whole. Remember the days of the pure joy of buying that piece of vinyl -opening the plastic and looking at the sleeve- the album art- everything- PICTURE DISCS....even C.D.'s -just having that whole disc! Now, some people don't even buy the whole album (thats their choice -and their right!), but I feel people are missing out on the so called B-sides of entire albums, as they get no air-play- so no-one buys them unless they really support the band. Digital music changed the whole game- it hurt record companies and labels, studios, as the DIYers don't need or want to pay for something they can do them-selves-and that is what killed ROCK and METAL (if there's a separation), as players, we can't just mix loops together put vocals to it and call it a song- we have to play our instruments and use our vocals to make real music.....I could go on all day :)
10. What’s the ultimate goal for the band?
The ULTIMATE GOAL....is to make music full-time- tour....the ROCK'N'ROLL dream....but to have fun! As myself and my drummer put this band together, we decided that if you're coming to practice and it isn't fun anymore- it's not worth it! We want to make music people love and dig....because we love and dig it so much.
11. Will we see you tour?
We'll see if we sign to that type of deal, but yes, we're talking already about even financing our own mini-tour into the U.S. as the majority of our fans are American- and I keep a keen eye on all the locational stats of where our music gets most air-play- California, Texas, Tennessee, are all bigger audiences for our music, (at least thats who seems # wise who listens most)
12. Who would you love to tour with?
Personally, I'd love to tour with GNR or Soundgarden- our drummer is a massive Metallica fan- so I know his answer-and our bassist is a KISS/Motorhead freak....and our guitarist-? He's like me very eclectic music tastes....Either way, I'd tour w/ most anyone in our ROCK/METAL genre....and make sure I pumped the sh*t out of them as I'd promote my own band!
13.What is your favorite song of yours and why?
That is a hard question....We have over 50 originals- now re-teaching them to a new guitarist, I love them all simply because I write (seriously) from the soul....so they all have their separate "love affairs" with me in their own way! It's not a 'cop-out", it's the truth! "JUICY LUCY" is a fun song to do...."MOTHER" and FALLING DOWN" and "HURTS TO BE ALONE", "NEVERMORE" are very personal (they all are), so it's a hard one to nail down!
14. Why should people take the time to listen to your band over the thousands of other bands?
People should take a listen to our music simply because it's all REAL- right from the heart and soul of every member, and I truly believe that since we've created our own "BUZZ" from our rehearsal tracks, there is really something to us....I feel it's a persons loss if they pass us by- I can't say enough about all the talent out there that no-one will ever hear, but we're putting it in your face-because we believe that we're that good! As we move along and our new guitarist learns the tracks, you'll hear a more "Heavy" version of alot of our songs....we are who we are- and we're fuc*in proud of it!
15.What are your favorite music websites labels podcast etc?
Way to many to mention....As I try to promote our local scene, I find pages and pod-casts every day-(happily like yours!), I belong to Nightrain (the GNR site), a great podcast out of Chicago run by Bernadette Parisien (no relation)- and maybe found a home at yours since it's been awhile since I've hooked into some great metal on-line. I believe SoundCloud is a decent site because anyone can use it for free, and there are many talented bands on there-same with ReverbNation, for selection, but as an artist, its a cash grab site!
16. Is imagery important to you? Do you judge albums by the cover?
Imagery is not a seller to me, so I never judge a bands music by there cover, but I love the idea of using that space for art-lyrics- it makes the buying of it a little more 'special' if some work went into the cover etc.
17.If you could choose a cover song your band mates would hate what would it be?
ANYTHING by Justin Bieber if you mean as a whole band- if you mean one I'd like to do that they'd hate, it would be something off "CHINESE DEMOCRACY" by GNR-LOL-
18.Is the record or live show more important?
I'm a firm believer that what you produce on an album, you'd better be able to pull it off LIVE- So the LIVE show is way more important.
19. Name 3 people dead or alive you would want to play your music for.
Billy Joel/ Rob Halford/ Izzy Stradlin (yeah-not Metal enough for ya' LOL)
20. Lemmy Ozzy Dio and Rob Halford in a cage match who wins?
Easy....Ozzy would be too confused even in his early days-(first to go down), Rob Halford-2nd to go down, as Lemmy would take him out right away- then it would be Dio vs. Lemmy- and Lemmy would smash him I believe even at the end of his years!
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