How'd you get started in music?
Stephen Taylor Huey, lead vocals:
Piano lessons, started singing and writing some original material in 2000...started singing rock/hr in 2010
Brad Thorne, lead guitar:
I always loved guitars from an early age, we used to make guitars out of cardboard and pretend to play along with my Beatles albums. I took some guitar lessons for a while at age 12, then got started again more seriously around 15 and started playing in my first band soon after.
Ray Terranova, drums:
Ever since I was little, I was always interested in drums, but i guess I was too shy or whatever to pursue it. Then, when I was 12 years old, music became such a big part of my life that i just said "screw it! I want to do that! I COULD do that!" I was totally convinced that I could make a good run at getting to a pro level! So i saved money, bought a cheap kit and just tried to imitate what i saw on MTV.
Frank Oquendo, rhythm guitar:
In 1976 Mother was in love with 50’s and 60s Rock and Roll; Always loved the heavier grind of Elvis Presley myself but Beatles took it a step further listening to AM Radio seemed more of a way of life than a pastime; I couldn’t wait to hear what came next. My life’s soundtrack in the 70s was a mix of Beatles, Hendrix, Supertramp, but most of all Kiss.
Rod Viquez, bass
I played in school band from 8 years old. When I was 14, bought Led Zeppelin four and bought my first bass a month later. Knew I would want to play the rest of my life.
Who are your main inspirations or influences?
Stephen Taylor Huey:
God first, then musically Guns N Roses is what got me singing
Brad Thorne:
My first love was the Beatles, but it was Kiss who really got me playing in a band. We used to play most of the songs on the Alive album, and then we moved onto bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Deep Purple, Aerosmith.
I'm definitely a hard rock guy; I also love southern rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top. I always felt the Skynyrd guitar players were under-rated. My first concert 38-Special and Foreigner opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Springfield Civic Center on June 15, 1977. Man, what a show.
Ray Terranova:
I've always liked heavier music, but it was difficult to seek out all of the time. So, my earliest influences were R&B and disco...Stuff you could hear on a cheap radio...Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, KC & the Sunshine Band and so on... Then AC DC on up to Journey, Asia, Van Halen and here we go onto Def Leppard, Quiet Riot, and of course, Crue and Guns...All of the drummers in all of these bands are ones that I REALLY tried to study and learn from. I'd seen KC and Kool & the Gang at Great Adventure before I was 10 years old! I was just blown away! What great, great shows! And when we were able to finally get MTV in our house, that was kind of like home schooling right there!
Frank Oquendo:
Kiss, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin
Rod Viquez:
I'm a huge Maiden fan and Steve Harris showed me that the bass doesn't have to take a back seat to anyone. I also was influenced by Geezer Butler and John Paul Jones. Another bass player I think is underrated is Frank Bello from Anthrax.
How would you say music has impacted your life?
Stephen Taylor Huey:
Performing is a high to my life..love to entertain people and would like to perform for more charitable events to help people that could use help in different ways.
Brad Thorne:
Well, there would be a big hole in my life without music. It is really the thing I have always wanted to do ever since I was a kid. I have a recording studio in my basement and I practically live down there. I'm always recording new music, and I'm about to release my third album.
Ray Terranova:
Music has meant so much in my life. Its the air I breathe...the blood in my veins... Its all I think about... Its always in the background. There's always a relate-able situation for music to fit into. Music is a healer.
Frank Oquendo:
It’s made it far more colorful, in the late 70s I was so desperate not only to hear it but to be part of its makeup, play it perform it, produce it. In the early 80s when I could finally afford my own instrument I made it so and it has been a wonderful ride especially now that I found musicians that are willing to move forward it as much as I do .
Rod Viquez:
Music helped me overcome a tough period when I was just getting into high school. It helped me by having an outlet to deal with the trouble I had fitting in with kids my age. It's given me a way to express myself as a person and just has been a huge part of my life.
What advice would you offer aspiring performers?
Stephen Taylor Huey
If you love to play or sing....itll hit you sometime...let it rip.
Brad Thorne:
Well, one big thing is that I let my parents convince me to play it safe and go to college; have a back up plan. But I should have had a back up plan that was parallel to my love for music, not instead of my music career. I should have majored in music or become a sound engineer, because that is what I'm really into now in addition to playing guitar - I love recording and mixing my own music.
To aspiring songwriters and recording artists, I'd highly recommend the music collaboration website Kompoz.com. I highly recommend it. But beware, it can become addictive!
Ray Terranova:
Quit. Music is a hard life! But if you don't heed that advice, then try this... Don't even THINK about a "fall back on career"... If you REALLY want to make it, then your ENTIRE focus should be on music!
Frank Oquendo:
The Music industry is a difficult market but if you love being part of the music it will give you the strength to fight and move forward it has made me overcome a great many things, being a musician allows me the ability to make something beautiful out of frustration. In the end you become better at your craft and fame or not you still win !
Rod Viquez:
Focus on practicing fundamentals. Learn to care and mantain your instrument. Listen and learn to appreciate bassists from more than one style of music. Be a team player and focus on the music and business, not on the parties and lifestyle.
Any new gigs or works in the future?
Stephen Taylor Huey:
If it wasnt for gigging...it would be no fun for me...all about playing live and making people smile..so yes...gigs are always in the works?
Brad Thorne:
Paradise Rose has shows on (All Saturdays):
May 19 at Dingbatz opening for Slayer Tribute No Mercy in Clifton NJ;
June 2 at AquaMania Music Festival in Hopatcong NJ;
June 9 at Debonaire Music Hall opening for Jane Lee Hooker in Teaneck NJ;
July 14 at Paul's Tavern in Belmar NJ;
August 18 at Bar XIII with in Wilmington DE;
Ray Terranova:
There's always something to do. We're constantly trying to get out in front of people to show them how great we are...and hopefully we impress enough people that they keep coming back and keep bringing more and more of their friends!! GnR music is just so much fun to play; they're probably the last great American rock band and the people seem to really dig how we represent them so that's the focus right now. To sharpen and improve our show.
Frank Oquendo:
We are looking at some theaters and larger venues, our fans respond well to the band and it only makes us work harder to please them
Rod Viquez:
We got some great shows across the area and looking forward to building a fan base across the region. I'm also hoping to record some more tracks and keep putting out a high quality product.
So here's to Paradise Rose & I wish you luck on all your success. So until then be radically righteous!
So here's to Paradise Rose & I wish you luck on all your success. So until then be radically righteous!
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