MOXY
ROCKNATION ISSUE 22
Interview with Nick and Earl
of MOXY by Tom Mathers
Hello Nick Walsh and Earl Johnson of Moxy and welcome to Rocknation. Nick
your band released two CD’s called ’40 Years And Still Riding High’ and ‘Live In
Toronto’ on Perris Records what was the Moxy rehearsals like for the first time?
It was a little bit different as I had never sung these songs before and quite honestly
never really heard them. I was called in for a one off show and learned 10 songs in 2
weeks and the result if ‘Live In Toronto’ HA!
Earl how did you pick what songs to records for the ‘40 Years And Still Riding
High’?
I wanted the CD to represent what MOXY really started out as which was a Heavier
Hard Rock band of it’s era. We had the most success with MOXY in Sweden and Texas
with the 1st and 3rd albums. I also wanted the songs to benefit from Nick’s power and
range and be heavier on the guitar sounds.
Earl on re-recording these songs what did you want to change from the first time
Photo by Cindy DeSousa
you recorded them?
Some songs we left alone and other I gave the guys free reign for input on rearranging them to give it a more modern edge.
We have had a lot of comments that the CD does sound like a more modern rock band now. I also wanted the songs to have
more edge to them and more attack on the guitars.
Nick how much freedom did you have recording the vocals did you think about how you could add your flavor to
them?
We had been playing in rehearsal for a couple of months with the songs and spent some major time doing pre-production. Earl
really wanted to have these songs come to life for the new Millenia so he gave us the permission to take them to where we
thought they would fit in with the times. Bottom line for Earl was that he wasn’t married to the old renditions and that was key
for us to feel like we could make it our own.
Nick on singing Moxy songs live what are some of the responses from fans do you get?
Well, one of the most adoring things that the fans are saying is that ‘Buzz’ Shearman would be
proud hearing me sing his legacy and that the
band finally sounds
like the true MOXY
again.
Earl what cool
memory stands
out the most about
playing San Antonio,
Texas?
Well when we were
there in late August
there were 1,000
people singing ‘MOONRIDER’ along with Nick
which blew us both
away. I remember him
looking at me and I
could tell it touched him
which was cool. When
we played there back
in the 70’s we’d have
5 or 6,000 fans singing
along to FANTASY so it
was a real caught
in time moment for me.
Photo by Ryan Abramowitz