Hair Metal Mansion Interview with Alan Krigger of Giuffria/Hollywood Allstarz

[Andrew]

I had the honor of talking with legendary drummer, Alan Krigger for an interview! You might know him for his time with the band Giuffria in the mid 80's, but he's also been involved with other bands such as London and even Tina Turner! He is currently with the super-group, Hollywood Allstarz...which also includes; Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot/Ratt), Chas West (Bonham/George Lynch/3 Legged Dog), Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath), Sean McNabb (Quiet Riot/House Of Lords/Great White) and Jimmy Bain (Rainbow/Dio), among other artists who make guest appearances. He's one of the most talented & respect drummers in the business.

In the interview, Alan talks about his time with Giuffria, the Hollywood Allstarz, working with Ike & Tina Turner, partying with John Bonham and much more!

So now, I proudly present to you, the EXCLUSIVE Hair Metal Mansion interview with drummer, Alan Krigger;

~~~
Hair Metal Mansion: Hey Alan, before we get started here, I just want to thank you for taking the time out to do this interview. I am honored and I really appreciate it. So, when did you first start to play the drums and what influenced you to become a musician?

Alan: Thanks for having me! I came out beating and even beating my mothers womb when I came out Andrew. No, I started playing on pots and pans with pencils at 2yrs. old. Which was a couple of years before Elvis came out . At 5 yrs. old my Dad bought me my first drum set for Christmas. Drummers are a differernt breed from your other musicians and singers.You have to be born with the skills of separating your body doing four different things, make it five when you also sing, try it it's hard!


HMM: Were you involved with any other bands before joining Giuffria?

Alan: Oh yes! Dozens of Garage Bands . Between New York and Florida. When I was sixteen my first recognition of playing was winning the Battle of The Bands in Florida. That was a big boost of confidence!
After High School I formed a band in Ft. Lauderdale called Savage. In South Florida we were pretty big! We had a single out and we were opening shows like Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes, Chuck Berry and
Mahogany Rush. When Savage broke up I moved to Las Vegas where I started with Ike and Tina Turner . Last four years of them from 1973 to 1976. First Album was Nubush City Limits which turned GOLD!
Aslo Beach Boy Carl Wilson from 1979 to 1983.Touring and recording both solo albums.


HMM: So how did Giuffria first come together?

Alan: I was introduced to David Glen Eisley and we bonded and were good new friends and to we still are great friends today! I was playing the Greek Theater with Carl Wilson and David Eisley brought Greg Giuffria down to meet me at sound check. That is when I met Greg but we didn't jam until a couple of months later . When we jammed that night there was complete MAGIC . We had a different bass player who was later replaced by Chuck Wright. Craig Goldy ( guitar ) David Glen Eisley ( Lead Vocals ) Greg Giuffria ( keyboards ) and we were born the night of January 15, 1984. ( Giuffria ). We opened for Deep Purple. One year later doing the Perfect Strangers Tour and on to Foreigner . After that the Agent Provcateur, tour when they had their first #1 song " I want to know what love is ."
Both tours were huge and we went on to headline in Japan that summer in 1985. As the tour went on it was one of the those shows the band exploded! There were bombs over Tokyo! The peace and harnmony of the band out of control !!! After the tour ended Goldy and Chuck left the band. Craig Goldy went on to Dio and Chuck Wright with Quiet Riot. That was how we all came together.

HMM: Giuffria was signed to MCA Records in 1984. Soon after that you guys released the debut album and it actually reached #26 on the Billboard Album Charts. The album featured two hit singles; "Call to the Heart" and "Lonely In Love". Tell me about that album and what was it like during that time? How did the band deal with all of the success?

Alan: We were signed MCA " Camel " Camel was the whole back bone of Casa Blanca Records. They had us and Night Ranger.They made sure are records were played. The recording aspect was incredible, which will do another interview some day. Our producer was Andy Johns from Stones, Zeppelin and he was the best! The drum sound is big on our debut album.


HMM: To go along with that album, Giuffria opened for big name acts like; Deep Purple and Foreigner. What was it like playing with them?

Alan: Deep Purple was very jealeous of us very harsh on us! They even wanted me take the G off my bass drum because they said it was too close to the the Deep Purple logo. We came out with a real hard kick ass set! They made us take out " Turn Me On " Goldys' guitar solo and couple of other things. Our dressing room was filled with girls and the arenas were filled so that part was great! Foreigner were great to us. That's a band that has no problems giving the opening act everything they need. Every arena filled with the choirs in every city! IT WAS GREAT!


HMM: Giuffria released their second album, "Silk + Steel" in 1986. Now even though it didn't do as well on the charts as the debut (peaking at #60), I really think that it's a solid album. I actually like it a lot. How do you feel about "Silk + Steel"?

Alan: Me pesonally I wanted to get heavier ! I didn't like the half ballads and half rock. I wanted to put on leather and kick ass! I did not like the Tuxedo look!

HMM: After Giuffria disbanded, you went on to join the band, D'Priest (London) and released the "Playa Del Rock" album in 1990. Tell me a little about that and what it was like for you during that time...

Alan: This album I came in to cut one song the ballad of course "Miss You". Nadir and the guys loved my drums and producer Richard Podolor. They asked me to cut the drums over in the whole album and I did! A tour followed but it was the last London album and Nadir decided to name it D' Priest. I have copies of the album under London. The video, "Ride You Through the Night:, was featured on MTV Head Bangers Ball back then.


HMM: You actually recorded & performed live with Ike & Tina Turner, how did that come about and what was it like?

Alan: Now that is another interview! 1973 I just moved to Vegas and Ike and Tina Turner was the heaviest band in town. I called Ikes suite and got through to one of the bandmates and he said Ike was looking for a drummer. I am making this short. I auditioned and landed the gig! My first recording with them was Nut Bush City Limits, which went GOLD! Which I found later was Brian Johnsons auditon song for AC/DC. Bob Seger also covered the song. I also had the honor of touring and performing in Europe with Ike Turner the last four years of his life. Which was great! Ike was the FATHER OF ROCK!
I was in his band The Kings of Rhythm which dates back to 1951. The Kings of Rhythm was formed way before I was born. The song "Rocket 88" is considered the first Rock N'Roll song that was recorded! The song has been recognized and archived in Dick Clarks file of history of rock! If you go to Ike Turner And The Kings of Rhythm on Myspace, you will see my name listed.

HMM: You are currently in a "super-group" called, the Hollywood Allstarz. The band also includes; Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot/Ratt), Chas West (Bonham/George Lynch/3 Legged Dog), Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath), Sean McNabb (Quiet Riot/House Of Lords/Great White) and Jimmy Bain (Rainbow/Dio). Tell me about this band, what it's like playing with all of them and how the Hollywood Allstarz first came about.

Alan: THIS BAND ROCKS! You have a bunch of great bands in one. You got Sabbath, Dio, Quiet Riot, Guiffria and Bonham. We recently worked up a killer version of Ike and Tina " Nutbush City Limits . Also two drummers! Vinny Appice is incredible. He is the best there is and one of my closest friends. All of my bandmates are close friends. This band has no egos which is a problem with lots of our bands! Hollywood Allstarz is coming up on six years now! The band got started when I was asked by the manger of Great White to put an all star band together to open for a benift for the victims of the tragic club fire in Rhode Island and for the guitarist Ty Longley. I asked Vinny first and he said yes and let's ROCK! I asked Chas West for vocals and at the time we had Jeff Pilson and Sean McNabb on bass, and Mitch Perry on guita. Carlos Cavazo came later to the Allstarz later about half year later and also Jimmy Bain. Today we have all the artists mentioned above come out and perform shows with also being on the road with us! HOLLYWOOD ALLSTARZ ARE ALWAYS FULL OF " A" ONE GREAT MUSICIANS AT ALL TIMES! That is how we got rockin and I plan to keep it going ! We are well received and the crowds are always on there feet just rockin!


HMM: Out of all the tours you've been on, which one was the most memorable for you?

Alan: So many great memories with each one. The one that realy sticks out is the 1975 European tour with Ike and Tina and on the side of the stage standing was Robert Plant and John Bonham. I was a nervous wreck! After the show John Bonham told me I kicked ass and invited me back to their hotel room after the show and we partied all night! I won't say any more!


HMM: What's the biggest highlight or most memorable moment of your career so far?

Alan: DOING THE INTERVIEW WITH YOU ANDREW OF COURSE!
There is a lot of memorable moments sitting in with Muddy Waters, Doobie Brothers, Sam Kinison, John Entwhistle, Slash... but mostly slammin and playing next to Vinny Appice.


HMM: Once again, thank you for taking the time out to do this interview. One final question now, what's on the horizon for you and the Hollywood Allstarz?

Alan: MORE ROCKIN HOLLYWOOD ALLSTARZ DATES! Thanks Andrew, you rock!
~~~

For more on Alan Krigger and the Hollywood Allstarz, check out the links below;

www.hollywoodallstarz.com

www.myspace.com/116878306

www.myspace.com/hollywoodallstarz

www.myspace.com/giuffria1000

~ Alan Krigger with Jason Bonham ~

~ Alan Krigger with Michael Anthony (ex-Van Halen) ~

~ Alan Krigger with Pat Benetar ~

~ Alan Krigger with Sam Kinison ~

~ The guys from Giuffria (present) ~

~ Hollywood Allstarz ~

[Rob Gainey]

Krigger RAWKS!!! Cool guy too!!!

[BRIAN ( GAS-CAN ) GASCOIGNE]

YES I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING AND MIXING KRIGGER. NOT ONLY IS HE A GREAT GUY, HE HAVE A GREAT TALENT ON THE SKINS.

[BRIAN ( GAS-CAN ) GASCOIGNE]

GREAT JOB YOUNG MAN

[PEARL HARBOR]

WOW! I AM STILL SPEECHLESS !! ANDREW IT IS FANTASTIC ! THANK YOU AND KRIGGER WILL LOVE IT ! IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU ! PICTURES ARE GREAT ! WHERE DID YOU FIND THEM ALL ! HAHHAHAHA ( I KNOW THE LITTLE BIRDIE)
I KNOW LOTS OF KRIGGERS FRIENDS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO READING YOUR WELL RESEARCHED GREAT INTERVIEW ! BANZAI !

[Mary]

Awesome interview, and pics! Great job Andrew!