[Music Feature]

Daredevils Don't Die, But They Are Human: An Interview with DDD’s Lead Singer, Tom McCrory



Daniel Galleno

Anybody who models his life after Evel Knievel's must possess at least two qualities: a constant desire for adrenaline and the brains to keep that adrenaline from killing him or his mystique. And more importantly, anybody who wears patriotic jumpsuits on stage must have a sense of humor.

Southern California's Daredevils Don't Die combined its Knievel-esque approach to music with a humor not unlike that of another daredevil, Super Dave Osbourne, to create its first album, Hot Dogs and Hamburgers. It is a pop-punk journey through the sounds of Social Distortion and Chip Trick that leaves you thinking about blink-182 as you ask your dad to explain the older days of punk.

Formed in 1997, Daredevils Don't Die has seen its numbers dwindle and grow about as often as most bands produce new albums. But with the solid core of guitarist Ajay Khatri, drummer Dave Rocha, bassist Joel Shunkey and former football hopeful Tom McCrory, the group is poised to release its second album in as many years. It promises to be something new, but the lyrics, chords and drumbeats will always have the punk attitude.

Punk works for Daredevils Don't Die because it creates the energy and emotion the band seeks in every performance. The band's sound is reflective of lead singer Tom McCrory's approach to life and his three loves: his family, his music, and a former cellmate named Bubba.

Galleno: The stylistic jumps on Hot Dogs and Hamburgers are probably best described by "27 Years" and "Step Out of Time." Why did the band put such strikingly different tracks on the same CD?

McCrory: You probably can't get two songs that are farther apart on the album with the exception of "Alice." We basically went with the strongest cuts and were not going to be locked into one kind of style. We went with what sounded good at the time.

Galleno: You are an artist and can do what you want.

McCrory: It is called being an independent artist that no one really cares about.

Galleno: Or not really knowing what you want to do.

McCrory: Exactly.

Galleno: The inside of your CD only credits three main members. What are your true numbers?

McCrory: Well, that's the beauty of being in a rock band. This week it could be five members and next week it could be two members. That's the story of Daredevils. We've had a rotating lineup since we got together in 1997. Ajay Khatri and I are the original members and we met through an ad in Bam.

Galleno: Don't lie. You really met through the personal ads, right?

McCrory: Yeah. Looking for love in all the wrong places.

Galleno: It turned out to be the right place.

McCrory: It did. Ajay and I have been through a succession of bass players, but we have been with [drummer] Dave Rocha for the past three years, which has really been the main stretch for the band. And we have had a number of guest players come in and fill spots for different songs. Right now we are a five-piece band, but by the time we play again we might only have four members.

Galleno: No offense, but why am I not interviewing Ajay? He seems to have done most of the work on the album: backing vocals, guitar, and bass.

McCrory: Ajay is the Svengali of our group. He is the puppet master; he pulls all of the strings, writes all the music, and, all kidding aside, he is a very talented guitar player. He is a great songwriter and he drives us musically. We go in the direction that he happens to be going in at the time. Ajay and I write a lot of music together and our bassist Joel Shunkey has begun contributing a lot of music as well.

Galleno: "Fragile Diseased" seems to be one of the more popular tracks on Hot Dogs and Hamburgers. What is going on behind the chords and lyrics?

McCrory: That song is our ode to Social Distortion. Ajay and I are big fans of Social D and the first CD is heavily influenced by punk sounds and attitude. Lyrically, it is about being imperfect and admitting it. It is saying, "Hey, trust me, I am fragile diseased."

Galleno: It was a personal therapy session?

McCrory: It is an open letter of admission on my part. I am definitely not perfect, but I don't want to give up on trying to attain a better standard for myself. The CD has a lot to do with my life and goes through some of the highs and lows that I have experienced.

Galleno: So, what is the biggest high for you so far? Is it related to music?

McCrory: I just had a son about a year ago and it has been a mind-blowing experience. You really rediscover the world and your own naiveté, and your excitement for the little things by looking at the world through the eyes of a one year old. That would definitely have to be one of the highs in my life, one that I shared with my beautiful wife.

Galleno: Congratulations. And where will Daredevils Don't Die take us with its pending release?

McCrory: We are recording the follow-up to Hot Dogs and Hamburgers, but there is no title yet.

Galleno: You are not going to alienate any more vegetarians with the next title?

McCrory: We are not going to upset the PETA people.

Galleno: They are actually knocking on my door right now.

McCrory: I am sure they are. The new CD will be very different from the current album because as a band we don't try to over think things. We just flow with where we are at the time and try to have fun.

We all have regular jobs and music will always be fun because it doesn't pay the bills. The new sound is more mature and moves away from the pop-punk feel, although we love that stuff and I love to play those songs live.

Galleno: It makes for a wild show.

McCrory: Definitely. We decided early on that we would follow the footsteps of Evel Knievel.

Galleno: And Super Dave Osbourne?

McCrory: Yeah, and Super Dave. We used to wear red, white, and blue jumpsuits on stage and the key was to have fun. In Los Angeles, you see a lot of bands that have the Korn and Limp Bizkit style where everybody is angry and standing around the stage pissed off. If I want to see people standing around angry and pissed off, I will go to the DMV.

We wanted to go back to a Van Halen style with David Lee Roth jumping around and having fun with the audience.

Galleno: You definitely have to play for the fans.

McCrory: Yes, and I think a lot of bands have forgotten that part of it. They are so wrapped up in themselves that they don't realize they have to go out and perform. Fans want an escape. It's the same reason you go the movies. You want to see something larger than life.

Galleno: Let's face it, some bands suck and some don't. Where does this band fit in?

McCrory: Ninety percent of the time we suck, but it is the ten percent of the time when it doesn't suck that keeps you coming back.

Galleno: At least you are honest. Can you be honest about a not-so-glorious moment in your life?

McCrory: I went back to my college to attend a wedding and learned a lesson many college kids have learned. Alcohol and cops don't mix! Let's just say I had an all-expenses-paid hotel room in the local jail. I did make a great pen pal named Bubba, though. I think he was serving 15 to 20 and we had a great romantic interlude, but I finally told him to stop sending the Valentine's cards.

Galleno: Daredevils Don't Die, but they do get arrested.

McCrory: Very true.