December 22, 2024

Skylight Webzine

Online since 2000

ALEX MITCHELL….Circus Of Powerman !


Interview with Alex

1. Hi Alex, you ‘ve been mostly known about your CIRCUS OF POWER days. Can you give a brief biography for the guys that don’t know your previous band at all ?

What’s up, I’m Alex Mitchell. I used to sing in a band called “Circus Of Power’ late eighties, early nineties. We played hard rock, like ‘the four horsemen’ or “the cult”. We put out three albums on R.C.A. and Sony. The first two were good and the third one sucked except for a song or two. We played gigs with Danzig, Ramones, Dead Boys, Alice In Chains, Masters Of Reality among others..

2. What happened and the band parted ways ?

I don’t know, life is full of strange surprises.

3. What are the other members doing right now ?

Ryan the drummer is working construction in nyc. I talk to him a lot and consider him a great friend. Marc the bass player is a bartender and musician in Austin, Texas and remains one of my best friends despite turning into a republican. Rick the guitar player buys and sells vintage gear in Hollywood. We talk once in awhile. Gary the guitar player manages a ‘hustler’ store in Florida and has been in different bands. I play music, work construction and in three weeks will be a published writer. My book is called ‘life is a phantom kmart horse starting up in the middle of the night’. It’s on Yahara press and will be on amazon.com. then I’m sure you’ll find it in every seven eleven around the world, right next to Jessica Simpson’s Christmas album.

4. You have a new album and band, right ? So introduce us the new
members.

Fat Nancy’s new album is called ‘pure American muscle, baby’ cos that’s what it is. It was recorded in five days for six hundred bucks. It is a no bullshit rock punk blues album that nobody else does. There will be a million records that come out this year and almost all of them will suck. Our’s doesn’t. in the band, at least for now, is billy tsunis on guitar, steg von hientz on guitar, sharkey on bass, tony portillo on drums…chris roy is the guy that plays bass on the album, he is amazing.

5. What are the similarities and differences between FAT NANCY and CIRCUS OF
POWER ?

The similarity to c.o.p. is there on some material and not on others.

6. The new album sounds to me a mix of punk, rock n roll and metal. Please
tell me about your music influences.

Influences? Jesus, there are so many. I’ll tell you five rock albums I love, but I love all kinds of music, soul, jazz, gangsta rap, lounge…’Ace Of Spades’ by Motorhead, the Blue album by Queens Of The Stone Age, (who blow me away), ‘Nachine Gun Etiquette’ by The Damned, ‘Rock In The Fillmore’ by Humble Pie, and ‘Sticky Fingers’ by the Rolling Stones.

7. How do you feel for this album ?

I like the c.d. a lot, listen to it all the time.

8. What about the lyrics ?

Happy with the lyrics, I’m older and better as a writer, or maybe just different.

9. Are you satisfied with Perris Records ? Do you have any different
deals for other parts of the world ?

Yes, we just got signed with perris, so all is well. No other deals.

10. Do you see any comeback of the “hairy daze” from late 80s?

I don’t care about trends, I’ve seen them all come and go. I like only a few of the hair bands anyways. Bury the dead! Thank you for the interview, brothers and sisters…AL