The Darlings: Buddy Darling Interview

buddyFans of The Darlings packed out The Slidebar in Fullerton, CA for the release party of the band’s latest CD, Made of Phantoms. Headlining the show which also featured sets from Dime Runner and Burnin’ Goove, The Darlings treated the attendees to a glimpse of the album and a night of good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll with a bit of Americana, punk and country thrown in. The evening’s set list included seven of the new tracks along with old favorites and a special guest appearance by Jason Cruz (Strung Out, Jason Cruz and Howl) for a cover of Social D’s “The Creeps.” By the Barricade was on hand to celebrate the release as well as interview Buddy Darling, lead singer and guitarist. Find out more about him and the album in the transcripts that follow.

By the Barricade: Was there a catalyst for you becoming a musician?

Buddy Darling: I didn’t want to play sports so I started playing guitar around fourth grade. There was a movie called Crossroads in the eighties with Ralph Macchio and as soon as I saw that I wanted to play guitar. I think the next year Nirvana’s Nevermind came out and then it was, “Boom- explosion!”

By the Barricade: A real confirmation of what you wanted to do. To focus on why we are here tonight, to celebrate the album, where did the album title Made of Phantoms come from, it isn’t a song title or lyric?

Buddy Darling: It’s kind of Twilight Zone-ish. There is a Twilight Zone episode called, “The 7th is Made Up of Phantoms.” I wrote most of the songs real late at night. I would wake up and words and stuff would come. Made of Phantoms was like someone speaking through you. I’ve always liked the idea of writing and someone speaking through you.

By the Barricade: What was the recording process like?

The-Darlings-Made-of-Phantoms-coverBuddy Darling: It was really fun with this group of guys. We click so well and everyone is on the same page style-wise. There are so many styles of music these days. You can have one guy that is metal and one guy that is pop punk or Irish or something. We have all been on the same page for the past few years. We are a hard rock ‘n’ roll band with a cool dark edge to it with a little Americana mixed in. The record came out nice. The drums are really great and everything just flowed really well. Our producer works with a couple high caliber artists so he was on call a lot and that took some time. Other than that it was a really good experience and it is my favorite record of all of our records.

By the Barricade: Do you usually write both the music and the lyrics and is that simultaneous?

Buddy Darling: On some of the songs I would come up with a chorus bridge thing, but it usually starts with a guitar riff, then humming and when we get to practice I hum melodies over it. That turns into lyrics and then the guys add in their instruments. That was easy too; I didn’t have to tell them anything, especially the drummer. The process was just flowed and this is a big drum album.

By the Barricade: Tracks are a bit introspective and often dark. Which song is your favorite to perform and why?

Buddy Darling: There are favorites. “No Sunshine” is definitely the hardest one to play and sing because it is all over the place, but it is a fun one. I have a lot of fun playing “Little Teenage Thing.” That one is probably my favorite because there is a lot going on, I’m throwing little riffs here and there after every time I sing. It’s got a bit of a Chuck Berry vibe to it which I love.

By the Barricade: Who is “Mr. Morgan Crow” and what is the origin of that song?

buddy1Buddy Darling: It’s funny, I have had a few friends who have heard the record and they all ask me that. It’s kind of an abstract little thing. It could be a lot of things; it could be an alter ego of me, a darker thing. It could be someone’s name with the words rearranged; I am still trying to figure it out. It can be the old you, old times you are trying to erase.

By the Barricade: Most of the tracks have catchy sing along hooks, but “Unexplained …. And Worse” is a twist and one of my favorites. What can you tell us about your inspiration behind that song?

Buddy Darling: That was one of the last songs, but I had it written a long time ago. Not with the vocals but just the guitar stuff. We already had the cool instrumental Rue (“With Love, From Rue Morgue”) on there, so I thought, “Let’s do another weird curveball.” Kind of back to Nirvana, I keep saying that, but it was my generation. A lot people want to say The Damned. I love them too and they want to go for the glory, “The Damned, Black Flag!” I love those bands too but I grew up wearing flannel shirts. That song is a sporadic thrash song to throw on the record. I think albums need that so that the songs don’t all blend together. It makes people think, “Wow is that the same album?” It still sounds like us. I was worried that I couldn’t get my voice to do that. I really have to be on tour for a while and really blow my voice out to make it sound like that. But I was going to the studio and I was working my voice the whole way over there. I had to just turn on the mic and ended up doing it.

I’m glad you like that one. We have had a couple people say, “I love all the songs, but that last one, it is not my favorite.” This album was no frills and true to us. People are just trying to get on the radio now and it is too much business. Business is killing music. This album was an F-you to that and I don’t care if this album ever does anything. I would rather build a cult following of cool-ass people and have a cool underground scene.

jasonBy the Barricade: I saw in your email that you were asking fans where they wanted you to play. If you could play anywhere, where would that be and why?

Buddy Darling: I love playing here locally and in L.A. If we are talking about anywhere in the world, we are trying to get to Australia. I definitely want to check Australia out. Germany I hear has good taste and I would like to get there, to South America and Seattle too. We just played Seattle and it was awesome.

By the Barricade: Your Facebook page hints at an upcoming tour any updates that?

Buddy Darling: Everything is kind of in house. One of my best friends, Jason Cruz has been helping us do everything. He is routing some local shows along with Arizona, maybe Vegas and Reno. We’d like to get back to the east coast and I think Canada is in the works.

By the Barricade: So you would be with Jason Cruz and Howl, your other band.

Buddy Darling: I think so. I’ll be doing double time.

By the Barricade: You have been at this for a bit, do you have a specific person or event that you consider being a lucky break or game changer for you or the band?

_DSC7003Buddy Darling: Meeting Jason and having him have our back. He got us on a big Face to Face tour. It was Face to Face, Strung Out and The Darlings all through Canada and over two months long. He has become a friend and is someone I grew up listening to.

When we first started we were in the South Bay and got a lot of help from the Pennywise camp too and got to go on tour with them. Definitely have to give props to them because that was when we first started, 2007 era. We got to play some really cool shows. Some of their people got us to play with Social D a couple times and Bad Religion. We have been very lucky throughout the whole thing. It has been ten years-2004 to now.

By the Barricade: Anything else you would like to say to readers of By the Barricade?

Buddy Darling: We are trying to keep this organic rock ‘n’ roll thing alive. We don’t have a keyboardist or anything we are just trying to stay raw and true to the heart. If you haven’t heard us yet, go to our website; check out some of the songs. We are going to be making a couple videos and getting them on YouTube. We want to put it out there for people who may have the same values as us. We look up to bands like The Cult, Black Sabbath, The Cramps, X, ZZ Top, Stray Cats, The Pixies, Queens of the Stone Age, The Ramones, that kind of stuff. There is hope out there for real music.

Get your copy of Made of Phantoms on iTunes and stay connected with The Darlings on Facebook to learn more about upcoming shows.

Keep it on Bythebarricade.com for more punk rock interviews, reviews, articles, and photos! Also, “Like” By the Barricade on Facebook to never miss a post. If you liked this article check out:

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