Image courtesy of Ian Tomele
Seven hundred shows is quite the feat, but for politically driven punk rock group Voice of Addiction, touring feels like home. Pounding the pavement on both coasts of the US and Canada, the band has expanded way beyond their Chicago base. Their latest release, Modern Day Meltdown, came out spring 2014 and was accompanied by another joint US and Canadian tour. Ian Tomele, aka Johnny X, Voice of Addiction's founding member (bassist, vocalist, and producer), discussed his stance on recent political protests, his production company, and what life on the road is like.
How would you describe your sound to those who haven't heard Voice of Addiction?
How have you changed as a group over the decade you've been together?
Voice of Addiction has played 700 shows coast to coast in the US and eastern Canada. What is it like for you guys on the road?
What can you tell us about your booking company, Wrecking Ball Production? How did that come about?
Wrecking Ball kind of started from necessity. As Voice of Addiction started touring more, I found myself putting on more and more shows that VoA wasn't playing. "Wrecking Ball" is actually the name of one of our most famous songs, and contrary to popular belief, I didn't name it after Miley Cyrus. It officially became a thing for a tax break, to write off all the flyers that I was making. Now, it's evolved into its own thing. If I'm not playing a show, I'm putting one on these days. Since, essentially, it's just me, I focus the scope to strictly punk-based bands. I'm just trying to give back to the scene that has done so much for me throughout my life, especially through my formidable years. I went through some tough shit when I was younger and turned to drugs to cope. It was playing in punk bands and going to the shows that got me off of that. I know it sounds cliche, but punk rock saved my life. And in all these years of playing and putting on shows, if I can just help one kid, it's been worth it.
You're a politically charged group. How do you feel about the current police brutality and human rights protests occurring throughout the US?
No one should misuse power and authority like in these cases. It's despicable, and there needs to be accountability; [the offending policemen] should at least be taken to a trial with a judge and jury of their peers. People need to be careful, however, not to lump all police into this stereotype as well. Just like in all walks of life, there are good people and assholes. My dad was a cop in Cleveland most of his life, and I would spend two hours every day as a child in the police station until he got off. I met some amazing people there. As I got older, I was victim to a few abuses. The guilty should be tried, but if you think all cops are bad, evil, and malicious, you're just ignorant. These cases have been happening forever and have been major underlying social issues; these recent cases in Ferguson, MO, and New York are simply the sparks that lit the flame.
There are assholes in the protester ranks as well. These are the people who smash the local shop which is probably run by their neighbor. If you want to hurt the power structure at hand, focus on who's responsible. Don't alienate the exact people you want and need to join your cause. By blocking traffic and making working people late to work, you'll only make the working class hate you. These protests are warranted, however, and it's time for action on this issue. It's sparked widespread debate on the whole police state issue. I just hope a proper social shift can happen before more people get hurt. The biggest advantage we have is the enormity of the masses.
When did you decide to start using Sonicbids? Through your time using the platform, what have been your favorite gigs?
What's coming up next? Any big releases?
Of course! I'm always working on the next thing. Modern Day Meltdown, which came out last year, was meant to be a first installment of four EPs. During the summer of 2014, however, I abruptly lost both other members, so that's postponed the process just a bit. This winter, I'm actually simultaneously getting the touring machine back up and running while finishing the next installment of the series with Scott Fritz and boutique Chicago recording house Stranded on a Planet. So expect us to be touring in support of this album in the spring of 2015.
