LYONS is R.S.P. - rock sensory perception ® - PRESS CLIPS

May 2000 - East Sider - Interview

Miami, it's time to rock and roll

By Laura Sánchez Ramirez - Staff Writer

Running a little late is a worry in the minds and hearts of all professionals who wish their days were just a few hours longer than the mere 24 hours we count with. It is no different for Lyons, a Miami rock 'n' roll voice and group leader, who cuts down his sleeping hours in order to accomplish many assignments in his busy schedule.

Here, in an exclusive interview with this weekly paper; he pours his heart out and tells me about his life, rock 'n' roll bands, musical accomplishments and present-day endeavors.

EASTSIDER: Why music?

LYONS: It's something I've loved my whole lif~. There are a lot of things that started me. I first liked the violin, then the Spanish guitar and later the electric guitar.

EASTSIDER: Tell us about your beginnings.

LYONS: It was in college, after working hard and long hours of practice and persistence, when I formed The Gunnar's Revenge, my first rock 'n' roll band. We played in places like street parties, beach parties, skate board ramp parties, local clubs. That's when I started to write my original songs.

EASTSIDER: What happened to the guys who you played with in your beginnings?

LYONS: A few years later, they all went their own separate ways. It was at the end of college.

EASTSIDER: What did you do then?

LYONS: I was asked to sit in with different bands. I just took advantage of this phase and focused on writing and recording my originals.

EASTSIDER: Did you form any other bands after your first one dismantled?

LYONS: Yeah, then Walrus came along and we played in bars and at a number of events.

EASTSIDER: We understand that during one of your performances at Hooligans you received a standing ovation. What did you do there?

LYONS: Yeah. I lifted the guitar and kept on playing with it behind my back.

EASTSIDER: What happened to Walrus?

LYONS: Well, we all had different dreams and different goals.

EASTSIDER: However, you lived on and you finished your debut album, correct?

LYONS: Yes, Thank God for Music was officially released in 1998 and it received a great review in Rag Magazine.

EASTSIDER: This album, not only was welcomed by rock 'n' roll music lovers, but also by pop fans. How do you explain the mixture in fan club?

LYONS: It was because of the lyrics.

EASTSIDER: How do you get inspired?

LYONS: A lot of things, I can't seem to stop.

EASTSIDER: Talk about Lyons the writer.

LYONS: I get ideas and I tape, like the gist of it, and then put it aside. And there is so much....I have plenty of material to record a new album.

EASTSIDER: What comes first the lyrics of a song or the music?

LYONS: Sometimes it's music, sometimes it's the lyrics; it depends. If music starts coming first as I'm playing, then I put what belongs there.

EASTSIDER: What do you think about other rock 'n' roll bands?

LYONS: Well, what I can tell you is that the good ones are not living in Miami. But, I want to show Miami that we can also do rock 'n' roll.

EASTSIDER: Do you have a role model, someone who you learn from?

LYONS: I learn from hundreds, from rock 'n' roll, classical, the blues. I play blues too, you know.

EASTSIDER: By September 1998 your single Going Blind reached 3,000 radio stations nationally and that same month, and to your fans delight, you had your debut concert. Tell us about that experience.

LYONS: Guests Bobby Thomas Jr on drums and Felix Pastorius on bass joined me on stage. Also, George Rizov, a former sheet music writer for Warner Brothers, was featured on keyboard. Dorian Vaz, the novelty from Venezuela on guitar and Christina D. Villaverde, a rising star in\the opera world, performed back up vocals.

EASTSIDER: After that invigorating event, you appeared at the Coconut Grove Banyan Festival in November and at a fundraiser for Hepatitis in December. In January of 1999, you opened the Taste of the Grove Festival and kept performing locally at places like Bayside and Fête de la Musique. Not satisfied with that you went internationally. Tell us about your trip to Spain?

LYONS: We went to the city of Villajoyosa last summer and I played in a hotel and outdoors concert. I try to make everybody happy by playing with my heart and by bringing rock 'n' roll back to Miami.

EASTSIDER: Who are the members of your group?

LYONS: The band is called Lyons and we have Rodrigo from Venezuela at the drums; on base guitar Jim Lichter and on keyboards Josh Hartman.

EASTSIDER: If people hear your music, whom do they often compare you with?

LYONS: People compare me to Zeppelin and Hendrix and say my music is kind of 'Beatlesque', I guess because of the guitar, the style, the lyrics.

EASTSIDER: What are your plans for the future and what message do you have for your fans?

LYONS: I will continue to bring rock 'n' roll to Miami, but I ask them to support a home town performer, singer, song writer, guitar player. What's happening here is that a lot of bands are putting a lot of time and effort and they don't play their music on the local stations. Com'on, Miami finally has a rocker, support him, he's born here, he's giving his heart. We try to put on a concert everywhere we play.

home

fact sheet - the basics on Mike Lyons bio - musician's brief history audio - discography video

photos press - print / radio / tv gigs - show date calendar & locations fans - join the club

bookings / show types - hire the band / hire the band technical rider

merchandise - bumper stickers, caps, cds, key rings, posters, t-shirts

SITE MAP