R.C.A. Recording Artists “Le Roux” are causing quite a stir with their new album “Last Safe Place.” To date, the album has sold a more than respectable 340,000 copies and produced the hit single “Addicted.”
Whether it’s been the Governor’s Inaugural Ball, playing at Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam or opening for Bob Seger, Journey, or The Doobies. “Le Roux” always seems to fit the bill.
Strangely enough, last year R.C.A. signed only two acts to its rock n roll roster, Syracuse’s own “805” and “Le Roux.”
We talked with “Le Roux” member Tony Haselden.
Q – When a group finally lands that all-important record deal, they probably think it’s smooth sailing from that point on. In actuality, isn’t it just the beginning of a lot of hard work?
A – You go, well we’re gonna go in and make an album as good as we can, and then 15 minutes later you’re saying, well, this could be platinum. You think of all the things it could be, and then at the other end of the scale you’re going, at least I have a record deal, at least I get to make a record. And after that one’s done, you go at least I get to make another one. It’s exciting with R.C.A. because in knowing more about the business, we realize there is a plan and it is a business and once you get the music down, that’s only the beginning of it. It’s starting to get more exciting, ’cause we know more about it. That initial, naive excitement you get from getting in the record business I guess at probably 19 or 20, which none of us experienced, we were all older, but it’s not that type of excitement. It’s just an excitement of pretty much anything else you do, like today’s work was great, and I’m looking forward to doing tomorrow’s.
Q – When you go out and tour with a big act, how do they treat you?
A – This is going to sound like one of those brother ‘n law situations. We’ve toured with Seger, Heart. Journey. Kansas, Z.Z. Top and down the line, you can name almost anybody. And all those people are great as long as you go along with the attitude that I’m just here to play, we don’t want to step on your thing. Give us what you will give us and everything will be all right. It’s kind of like any other situation, you get what you give. If you go in there thinking you’re somebody and start demanding, I have to have this, we need these monitors, we need to sound check by six every day, those people are going to step on you. You don’t do that. Those people have worked too hard to get where they’re at. They’re not going to have some rookie like us or anybody else come up and tell them what to do. It’s just, there’s a peck order out there and as long as you follow that, most everybody is real good. It’s like, as long as you don’t say anything, you end up getting more than you want. They’ll give you all the sound, as much as the lights, as they can possibly do without ruining their show. I think people get into the music business and all of a sudden they get a record and think they’re as hot as they can get. They don’t realize that they’re no better than anybody else. You just go out and do what you do. I think that the attitude means everything.
Q – Then you would agree with Johnny Thunder (ex-“New York Dolls” member) when he says “Rock n’ roll is simply an attitude. You don’t have to play the greatest guitar.”
A – Oh, exactly. You don’t have to be the greatest singer. In fact, a lot of times it’s a hindrance to be better than average. You do not have to be a great player to be recognized as one. A lot of kids think guys are great players who are barely average. I think it’s a shame as far as the quality of music, ’cause people will go see a Larry Carlton on one hand and turn around on the other hand and go see the Ramones and think that both of those guitar players are equal. That’s absurd. I agree with that statement. I don’t like it, but it’s true.
