In this exclusive interview w/Rock Zone Productions Markus discussed his band Miss Crazy, and also discussed his latest project Freakshow which is a band that also features Frankie Banali, Tony Franklin, and Jeff Lebar.
1. Rock Zone: – Where are you originally from?
MAC: – I am from British Columbia, Canada. I moved to the U.S. and traveled back and forth. I just came back from there.
2. Rock Zone: – Who were the bands/musicians who had the greatest influence on you?
MAC: – Oh man so many to mention. AC/DC, Kiss, Cinderella, Def Leppard, Quiet Riot, Kix, all that stuff. Loved it all! There are so many others that helped me become what I am!
3. Rock Zone: – How long have you been a professional musician?
MAC: – I’m professional? I always knew when I was in grade school that this is what I wanted to be. I’m a Pro rocker! LOL!
4. Rock Zone: – You are of course a Singer and Guitar Player…I was curious which of those roles are you most comfortable with? Are you more comfortable with your ability to play the guitar or your ability as a Singer?
MAC: – I think as a Singer. But I play and sing so it’s kinda trippy without my guitar when I sing so….I love to play guitar. I love doing it in Miss Crazy. In Freakshow it was real fun when we recorded the CD. I look forward to seeing how it goes live! I would love to just sing live on some songs and not play guitar!
5. Rock Zone: – What year was your band Miss Crazy formed?
MAC: – End of 2005
6. Rock Zone: – Of all the band’s that Miss Crazy has toured with over the years who have been some of your favorite bands that you’ve had the opportunity to tour with?
7. Rock Zone: – What’s the biggest audience that Miss Crazy has ever played for?
MAC: – 50,000 at Hemfest, Seattle 2007.
8. Rock Zone: – What is the craziest thing that has ever happened at a Miss Crazy show?
MAC: – Umm Miss Crazy actually playing every night in a different City across the U.S.
9. Rock Zone: – What is currently going on w/Miss Crazy?
MAC: – Freakshow is my main gig at the moment.
10. Rock Zone: – You are also in Freakshow, a new band which also features Jeff Lebar (Cinderella) , Frankie Banali (Quiet Riot) , and Tony Franklin (The Firm,Quiet Riot,Whitesnake)…Can you tell me how this project first came together?
MAC: – Well I was going to do a solo CD. I asked Jeff if he would play on it and he said he would. I always loved Cinderella so I asked him and it was on. He heard of me and liked MISS CRAZY and we knew we could rip together. Then I mentioned to Frankie what I was doing and sent him MISS CRAZY. After speaking to him on the phone I sent him some demo ideas and he was like “Fuc* yeah” I mean Frankie Banal is fuc*ing Frankie Banali right? MR. Bang Your Head himself, already a hero of mine. So he was in on the recording. So then I started saying maybe I should forget about making this a solo CD and this could be a really, radical band. I already wrote all these crazy, new songs and worked it all with Frankie when he flew in to record the basic tracks. We also arranged everything. Tony came in and killed it on Bass! Tony is one of the best and one of my favorite bass players. This guy played and recorded with Jimmy “fuc*ing” Page of Led Zeppelin!!!!! Tony was already friends with MISS CRAZY and was our bass player Kim’s A/R at Fender. Frankie knew him and I mentioned his name and Frankie said he would ask him. We really just wanted the best possible bass tracks. Answer? Tony Franklin! At this time in my life I’m fuc*ing spoiled as hell! I’m so glad to be a rocker at this point. Glad to believe in Arena Rock and live it. So we decided to have a new band because we all had a reason or three that our former and current bands were not playing or recording. So Freakshow was born! Bam!
11. Rock Zone: – While I understand that Bassist Tony Franklin does play on the debut Freakshow CD….I also understand that he will not be touring with the band….Has the band began looking for a replacement for Tony for touring purpouses?
MAC: – In these times you need to keep your job. Tony has done all the touring and he is pretty high at Fender and his job is secure there. We are so happy he recorded this CD. If he were to tour again it would most likely be with Blue Murder. So we have a long list of dudes when we decide to tour.
12. Rock Zone: – I was curious if before working with them in Freakshow if you were a fan of the work that Frankie, Jeff, and Tony had previously done in their respective bands?
MAC: – Oh yes totally. Cinderella is one of my favorites. I can sing all their songs in the shower perfect. LOL. Cinderella was the first to take an AC?DC vibe and add the commercial thing to it with some blues and they were kicking ass all over. Quiet Riot? Geez The Metal Health and Condition Critical are gold to me. I even got those early ones with Randy Rhoads! I need to get a fuc*ing copy of QRIII on CD! …..Frankie!!!LOL! Tony Franklin I saw in concert with The Firm when I was a little kid. I remember his blond hair. My friend took me with his older brothers and some rocker chicks. It was at the COW Palice in San Francisco. The older kids were saying things to us like: Do you even know who Paul Rodgers is? Jimmy Page is a God ya know! He’s from Led Zeppelin!!! I was just like fuc* off! I just wanna see a concert! LOL, I remember it smelled like total weed at the concert! LOL! I got wind of Blue Murder way later.
13. Rock Zone: – I know that Freakshow has been recording your debut CD for a while now…..How has the recording been going and how would you describe the overall sound of Freakshow?
MAC: – The CD is done and it looks like it should come out around Aprilish! The CD is fuc*ing ripping! Speaking to everyone involved including myself. We all agree that this is one of the best Cds that we have ever done. Sometimes it just happens like that. Playing with Frankie Banali is so crazy. He is so damn good. He’s like playing with John Bonham if he lived, the closest thing there is. When I listen to the tracks I still can’t believe I did this album with these guys. This CD lets everyone who loves hard rock know what time it is! Hard Rock is what we all do best. We did it all together right here on this Freakshow CD!
14. Rock Zone: – Does everyone in the band contribute to the songwriting?
MAC: – Well I wrote the songs mainly. Frankie and I Co-wrote two. It was everyone who made the songs rock. Everyone one the CD has their parts down. You can tell when you hear it. We all really nailed it hard.
15. Rock Zone: – Any idea when the freakshow CD is going to be released?
MAC: – Once again in April.
16. Rock Zone: – Has Freakshow signed with a label or will you guys be releasing the CD yourselves?
MAC: – We will be putting it out through Retrospect Records
17. Rock Zone: – Who produced the CD?
MAC: – Ronnie Borchert (Miss Crazy)
18. Rock Zone: – I really dig the Freakshow logo…Who designed that?
MAC: – Our friend Ken Knecht.
19. Rock Zone: – What plans do you guys have to promote the Freakshow CD once it is released?
MAC: – That is up to the label. I believe it will be through every rock provided avenue. A fan base has already formed in large numbers. The fans will help spread the word along the internet, radio, MYSPACE, websites, and individual fans of MISS CRAZY, Cinderella, and Quiet Riot.
20. Rock Zone: – What should fans expect from Markus Allen Christopher, MISS CRAZY, and Freakshow in the near future?
MAC: – I will do a solo CD some day. Freakshow will release this CD and hopefully do some touring and will go from there. Freakshow has broad horizons.
