June 28, 2014
Friday night I got a chance to sit down with JC, Seth, Josh, Duane and Marc of Nine Mile Drive before their set at Rack’ems to find out what makes this band tick. Never before have I seen so much tragedy strike a band since Def Leppard…and these guys keep pushing forward. How do they do it? I found out from the early beginning Nine Mile Drive has believed in themselves, their brotherhood and their music. This democracy of a band is the quintessential format of not only some of our areas most celebrated musicians but they are family 100%. I was able to ask them some questions not only that their fans wanted to know but some encompassing and emotionally hard questions to answer. I will tell you this these guys are the most down to earth guys you ever want to meet. Their on stage presence is defined by who they are off stage. And Ladies I can tell you standing next to JC the whole time I did this interview…well lets just say I was fanning my face after the interview was over…That man is just HOT!! Anyway…before I am unable to continue typing…let’s get to the nitty gritty of Nine Mile Drive.
When asked to describe the bands first show as their current line up they all said the same thing “It sucked”. It was Marc Raissis (Drums) first show with NMD and right after the passing of Kyle Wells. They had 2 weeks rehearsal and they were up on stage at Rocktoberfest in Port Charlotte. Duane Ward (bass) goes on to say, “It was October so it was Breast Cancer Awareness month. We all wore pink on stage”. Then to have this whole quintet chime in and announce, “We love tits!! We want to save them!” Well I just about lost it laughing my ass off.
What is your song writing process? (This answer was most amusing)
JC – “King Asshole (Seth Lester/Lead Guitar) writes the riff. I write the lyrics then Josh writes the rhythm guitar part. Duane and Marc write the rhythm section until Marc has made up his mind and then we vote on it as a democracy…Until Seth (King Asshole) refuses…then we just start all over. However, if you convince Seth that he thought of it first…then we’re good to go.”
Why did each of you choose the instruments you play?
JC – I played guitar for 6 years and I used to sing in the car and karaoke a lot. People would come up to me and ask why I wasn’t singing for a band. So one day I decided to give it a shot and it worked.
Seth – First time I picked up a guitar I was 12 years old. My dad bought it for me and I never put it back down <Well…I say thank god for that!! Have any of you readers ever seen Seth play?>
Josh – My Dad bought me an acoustic when I was 8 years old. I’m 14 years of self-taught.
Duane – I didn’t choose bass life…Bass life chose me. I started out on guitar and back vocals. I switched to bass because it was needed.
JC – Duane and I have been working on the back vocals he’s really come a long way with his harmonies.
Marc – My Dad told me I couldn’t play drums…so I did it.
Have you always played the music you play now?
JC – I started out playing Hard Core / Emo / Alternative rock.
Seth – I started out in Punk Rock. I switch to Hard Rock…Hard Rock treats me well.
Josh – I have always been in Alternative Rock
Duane – Metal…
Marc – I started out with Punk covers. I’ve been involved in Metal and Jazz as well” <I can definitely tell his jazz influence through Marc’s playing…remember…I’m a percussion girl>
Who/what has influenced your music the most?
JC – Shinedown and Breaking Benjamin has been the biggest artist 
influence on our band. Bands that are self made. They worked hard to get where they are and that’s an admirable trait as well as being talented.
What music artists do you admire the most?
Well this was a joint effort if I ever saw it on answering a question. They all shouted out whom they admired and I just wrote it down really fast giggling the whole time. So here’s a list because I don’t remember which one of them said what…
Mudvayne, Alter Bridge, Sevendust, Black Stone Cherry and many more.
If you weren’t musicians what would you ideally be doing for a living? <brace yourselves for the answers>
JC – Porn…I would most definitely be doing porn for a living! <fanning face again>
Duane – I think I’d like to be a Stock Broker <I raised my eyebrow to this one…didn’t expect that>
Marc – I would be bored out of my fucking mind!
Seth – I would definitely be a paleontologist. <huh??…A what?>
Josh – I’d build motorcycles. Always wanted to do that…maybe someday I will
What is the first song you ever played as a group with this line up?
Everybody – Same Old Story
Where did you meet each other?
Chris Monaco (Stage Manager)- We found JC off of craigslist, yes…good things can be found on craigslist.
JC – You found me on MySpace!!
Everyone – No…We found you on craigslist! MySpace is gay!!
Me – <Laughing My Ass Off!!!>
Mark – I was running sound for NMD at the Battle Of The Bands. They came to me after and asked if I wanted to audition. I said sure why the hell not.
Josh – I worked with Seth’s brother at Winn Dixie and in turn got introduced to Seth and we started jamming together.
Duane was in Sixteen Penny and we found him on the side of the road… <Really guys? Did one of you just say that?>
Where did the name Nine Mile Drive come from?
Seth – I was dating this girl and she lived exactly nine miles away. One time we had a fight and I was driving home and my buddy called me and asked what I was doing I said – I’m taking a Nine Mile Drive home. So as I said it I thought one day if I ever had a band I would call it Nine Mile Drive…It sounded good
Ok guys…here’s the bomb question…
Duane – “Yeah…the question none of us wants to answer but, we know we have to”
Me – “People want to know…”
In The wake of the recent tragedy of Axie Hodges’ passing and before with the passing of Kyle Wells…What would you say is the glue and the driving force that holds Nine Mile Drive together?
Duane – Alcohol…No, seriously… We’ve been together for 5years what are we going to do? Say fuck it? No…This is a unified bond, a brotherhood that never fails. We are our best support system. Between all of our personalities we keep the balance and the flow of Nine Mile Drive going. We aren’t just a band…We are family. We are a team…when one of us can’t handle it we band together help support. And we focus on the music…It’s the best healer of all.
There really wasn’t much I could say after that profound statement that Duane made. Nine Mile Drive never ceases to amaze us. In the wake of such tragedy the band is celebrated by fans all over. A band that perseveres and makes it through unthinkable trials and tribulations and always manages to wow us! Nine Mile Drive is the next big thing. I will follow this band until the end of my days. These are five of the most fun loving, easy going, humble and intensely talented men I have ever met in this scene. I am the one who is honored…not only every time I listen to their music or even see their show…just by the fact that I know them and understand them off the stage.
If you ever want to listen to a band that is destined for greatness…Check out a Nine Mile Drive show…You leave wondering what hit you…and you’ll know exactly what rocked your face off!.
Peace Love and Rock & Roll
~Christina
The SoundCheck 