The 90’s were the era that rock was the real king in music industry with bands like The Prodigy and System of a Down ruling at the music charts. California, at that time, was the place that every musician wanted to live and if you -by any chance- were lucky enough to be living already in L.A., you were considered to be of the privileged ones.
For three childhood friends from the Northwest outskirts of Los Angeles, 1993 was a year to remember. Not only did they form Boy Hits Car, but they also begun an interesting journey they could never before imagine. The Los Angeles based rock band, without wasting any time, went off to their first national tour quickly after they decided to join forces, an experience that proved challenging but also completely addictive. A few years later their first complete album was a reality and performances in music festivals in the US and Europe were coming one after the other.
Sharing festival stages with musicians like Iggy & The Stooges and Eminem forged them to what they are today. Now, they have already released their fifth complete album All That Led Us Here which is available at their website and at the same time they are making plans for their spring/summer tour starting from Las Vegas and going through all the United States. Until we have the chance to hear them live, let’s see what they have to say as they are Rock Revolt’s Indie Band of the Week.
Boy Hits Car beim Open Flair 2014 in Eschwege am 06.August 2014. Foto: Rüdiger KnuthYour musical journey started back in 1993. Tell us in a few words the highlights of this amazing journey.
Well, it actually began in 1989 with our first band, but that’s another story. With Boy Hits Car… Initially forming a group of young men who shared a similar vision of creating passionately heavy, yet melodic music was certainly one of the first highlights. From their, being booked on our first national tour in 1995, getting an Indy deal and recording our first full-length album in 1997, showcasing and being wined and dined by some of the top labels in 1999 before getting signed again to a larger label/deal in 2000. Recording our second full length in Vancouver Canada, before supporting that album throughout the US and Europe, our first trip to Europe as a band, feeling that our songs were resonating with fellow music lovers, and as a result of that our base (The World Wide Lovecore Alliance), was slowly growing, hearing our songs being played on commercial radio for the first time, etc… Umm, hope that’s considered a few words.
Wow, that’s a lot! So, how did the four of you meet and decided to form the band?
The original lineup actually consisted of three childhood friends. In addition to surfing and skating we used to go to local underground shows together, and formed a sorta crossover/ hardcore band. But when the drummer quite, I discovered that I felt the need to write and perform a different style of music. We found a new drummer through an ad we placed in the classifieds section of an LA based paper called “The Recycler”, and Boy Hits Car was born.
Boy Hits Car – Man Without Skin
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I’m really curious, whose idea was it to name the band “Boy Hits Car” and how did you come up with it?
After forming in ‘93, we wrote four songs fairly quickly and recorded our first demo tape; Boy Hits Car was the title of one of the tracks. To actually use it as our bands name came to me in a dream…
Where your influences lay on more… classic rock or modern day music?
Well, there’s certainly some classic rock influences, as well as original punk rock & thrash. I’m not sure what modern music is, but our goal early on, was to meld heavy and melodically dynamic music, with influences like Helmet & Jane’s Addiction.
Ever since the release of your first album My Animal in 1998 a lot of things have changed, including your record label. Do you believe that being “independent” gives you the freedom to express the way you like without the boundaries a record label might want to put you?
For the most part, yes. It seems these days that many bands and artists are making their own albums, and it’s really never been easier. The problem is having the possibility to properly promote a release without label, ya know? One could have an amazing record, that’s sonically superior to 90% of what’s out there; but if no one knows about it, it’ll get lost in the shuffle…
Your fifth in the row album with the title All That Led Us Here is out now and available only at your website. What do you mean by this title?
Well after 20+ years, and the fact that it’s our 5th full-length, the title just seems to fit.
What kind of songs the album includes?
A bit of everything I suppose. The album has upbeat driving tracks, as well as more eclectic songs, and even a cover. We feel it’s fairly well rounded, and ROCKS!
All these years you toured a lot, in music festivals both in US and Europe. Would you like to share with us a few interesting stories from your travels?
Whoa, too many. A few that comes to mind would be when our guitarist missed the flight to Europe for our first tour there, and having to meet him in Paris days later. Or in ‘95 when we proceeded to drive towards Florida, but unknowingly had a gig in Agusta, GA that night. This was before cell phones, so when we stopped to fuel up, I called the agents home from a payphone, and after his answering machine greeting, I heard: “O, and if this is Boy Hits Car- DO NOT GO TO FLORIDA”! We turned around and attempted to make it, but to no avail… In addition to driving hours in the wrong direction, we missed a show with the Meatmen that night.
You teamed up with some big names in the music industry. Which collaboration of this all left you with the best memories?
Supporting Stone Temple Pilots in Europe, playing festivals that were headlined by names like Iggy & the Stooges, Eminem, or The Prodigy, gigging at LA clubs in the mid 90’s with bands like Incubus, System of a Down, and Linkin Park before they really broke, then supporting em all years later, generally sharing stages with so many great artists and bands in general…
From what I know, you are currently planning your 2015 spring tour. Are any tour dates you can announce?
We’ll be at The Dive Bar in Las Vegas on 5/30, & Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa, CA on 6/13. We’re planning a full U.S. run in July/August to support the official domestic release of All That Led Us Here.
What do you like the most about playing live?
In one sentence- the moment you’re sharing with others who desire that unparalleled connection through music.
Other than music, what are your interests?
Surfing, and interacting with the natural world as much as possible.
What is your personal life motto?
It is what it is.
Is there any new stuff you are working on?
Yes, we’ve completed a track for the upcoming David Bowie tribute album, as well as a new BHC song that will be featured on official release of ATLUH.
