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Army of Anyone gears up for live assault
When Filter anchorman Richard Patrick finally got to work on his group's fourth album, he tapped brother duo Robert and Dean DeLeo, both formerly of Stone Temple Pilots, to help him write some of the material. The collaboration left Filter on indefinite hiatus, and birthed Army of Anyone .
"We wrote one song together and it was like, 'Wow!'" said Patrick, who, along with bassist Robert DeLeo, spoke with LiveDaily following Army of Anyone's recent in-studio performance at Boston radio station WBCN. "It's the fourth song on the record, 'A Better Place.' It was just so elegant--and it was so quick. You can't pass those things up in life."
AOA marks a new beginning for Patrick, who reached a personal crossroads following the 2002 release of Filter's third album, "Amalgamut."
"Four years ago, I had to decide whether I was going to get help or leave this earth," Patrick said of his decision to cancel Filter's 2002 tour the day before its scheduled launch so that he could instead enter rehab. The move ended up being a significant factor when it came time for the DeLeos to embrace the prospect of forming a band with the now-sober singer.
"Richard's sobriety was really important to us," said DeLeo, who had many times seen STP's plans waylaid by singer Scott Weiland's ongoing battles with drug addiction. Patrick's four years of sobriety gave DeLeo the freedom to focus on music instead of drama.
"I've always been a fan of Richard's vocals," he said, "and he's a very different vocalist than Scott--Scott being a baritone and Richard being a tenor. I was real excited over the prospect of a tenor singing over the songs that we had."
After deciding to move forward with the project, Patrick and the DeLeos set out to find a drummer. Robert DeLeo explained that he and guitarist Dean DeLeo, who had spent years playing with STP drummer Eric Kretz, were inclined to put a new face behind AOA's drum kit.
"I think Dean and I were looking for something different, because we didn't want it to be the guys from STP," he said. "It's different when it's two of the guys versus three of the guys and another singer. And it's nothing against Eric. I still keep in touch with Eric, and Eric's doing really well with a recording studio that he put together. I just really wanted to consider someone else, and kind of expand. ... You never really grow unless you get other people involved and kind of mix the pot up a little bit."
The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when the DeLeos encountered former David Lee Roth Band drummer Ray Luzier.
"Ray was tearing it up," he said. "Dean and I were watching him soundcheck, and we just kind of picked our mouths up off the floor and said, 'That's the guy.' Because I had specified to Richard and Dean both, I said, 'I want someone whose gonna light my pants on fire,' and he's the man."
With all of the bases covered, Army of Anyone went to work on its self-titled debut, which hits stores today (11/14). Produced by rock veteran Bob Ezrin (KISS, Pink Floyd), the set features the hit single "Goodbye," a cut currently streaming at the band's official website.
After spending most of October playing low-key sets at radio stations around the country, the band is anxious to head out on its first full-fledged tour.
"I can't wait to really rock this thing out," Patrick said. "I can't wait to be on stage with a good thousand or two fans just right there in front. That's really what I've been waiting for."
"The first time we actually got together and played electrically and loud, man, I was blown away, because, I thought, 'Here I am between Richard Patrick and Ray Luzier,' and I just was a fan of listening to the music," Robert DeLeo added. "I told Ray, 'I think there's gonna be times when I'm playing live where you probably won't hear me playing because I'm gonna be watching you, or watching Richard sing.'
"I think the special thing about music for me is keeping myself in the perspective of being a fan and a listener, and that's what humbles you in the face of music," he continued. "I just kick back and go, 'Wow, I've got Richard up in front of me and I've got Ray behind me.' I'm pretty damn excited."
AOA--which, in addition to tackling material from its new album, also plans to slip a couple of STP and Filter songs into its set each night--kicks off its inaugural tour Saturday (11/18) in Philadelphia, and will work the club and theater circuit through mid-December. Details are included below.
On Wednesday (11/15), AOA will make an appearance at the Virgin Records Megastore in Los Angeles, where the rockers are scheduled to perform and also sign autographs. Additional information about the event is posted at the band's website.
