DÉTENTE
PRESENT YOURSELVES OUR READERS...
I am Steve Hochheiser Bass Player and core song writer of Détente. I am also the responsible party for reissuing Recognize No Authority through my Cognitive Label.
WHO ARE DETENTE AS BAND MEMBERS?
Detente is Dawn Crosby (RIP) - Vocals
Steve Hochheiser- Bass
Dennis Butler- Drums
Ross Robinson- Guitar
Caleb Quinn- Guitar
WHEN DID YOU HAVE FOUNDED THE BAND?
Detente was founded in 1984 by Dawn Crosby and Dennis Butler.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE VERY FIRST BEGINNING OF BAND...?
Ross and I had responded to a request in a local music magazine to play a few shows in San Francisco, CA. The previous Guitar and Bass player had either quit or were fired and Detente had several shows lined up and only about 4 or 5 weeks. I showed up and they had literally only 3 or 4 songs ready! But I was bored and said okay. Ross, Dawn, and I wrote Losers, Widow's Walk, and Murder Inc (an unreleased track) in about a week. We played the shows with Blind Illusion and Control, two very popular bay area bands at the time and were quite a hit.
WHAT'S ABOUT YOUR PREVIOUS RECORDING-EFFORTS?
I had previously recorded for Metal Massacre 3 with Lizzy Borden; I was kicked out of the band for my aggressive playing, songwriting, and personality!
WHAT WAS YOUR FOLLOWING?
We had a good following in Los Angeles and San Francisco; mostly young aggressive street kids who were heavily into punk, speed metal, and thrash.
THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTS IN YOUR HISTORY?
I believe Dawn’s presence in the band is the most important fact. Anyone who takes the time to read her lyrics, hear her pure aggression, and understand that here is a female front person competing with and making her male peers sound so weak in 1986? This was amazing for the time. Even today I am proud to have been in a band who took the high road of talking about important issues while others were singing silly songs about the devil!
ANY INTRODUCTIVE WORDS TO THE RE-ISSUING OF "RECOGNIZE NO AUTHORITY"?
I have been approached by several reissue labels and decided to handle it myself for control of the quality. The release coincides with the 20th anniversary of its initial release and the 10th anniversary of Dawn Crosby passing away. I felt the recording was worthy of a second listen and might allow Dawn and the band to find its place among the founders of the genre.
THE SOUND IS ICONOCLASTIC AND WITHOUT MERCY…
The sound was formed around Dawn’s uncompromising style. It was easy for Ross and me to write the music because whatever we brought in no matter how aggressive or wild, Dawn could add to the intensity with her lyrics and vocals.
THREE OR FOUR WORDS TO IDENTIFIY YOUR SOUND?
Uncompromising, Intense, and Honest.
THE BEST ISSUES OF YORU SOUND?
I think what made us unique was that we were all capable musicians but the attitude was very punk, almost Metal core in sound. It was very layered and defined; you could here all of the components but must listen to a song several times before understanding it.
ANY PARTICULAR CONCEPT CONCERNING THIS ALBUM?
The songs were written without following a concept but when we put together the Art we followed the theme of our music; the cop beating a young punk and the title “Recognize No Authority” encapsulated the meaning of the band perfectly.
WHAT'S THE MOOD OF IT?
The mood was of getting the aggressiveness and attitude of the band on tape while presenting the layers of the music in a very short time with a budget of 10K USD.
THE MOST SALIENT ASPECTS OF THIS ALBUM?
The samples opening the songs are very haunting now that Dawn has passed away. When I hear her voice speaking out of context of the music I remember her as a person; a difficult person to work with but a true artist who would never judge another soul.
WHAT'S ABOUT THE FEEDBACK?
The feedback was always somewhere between very promising to leaders of a new genre depending on who was listening. I think even now the sound was hard to pin down, I have heard that we were Death Metal before it became a term to Melodic Metal to Metal core. I think people latch on too one song and their interpretation of the whole album follows suit. This is why I refer to the layers; you need to spin the recording a few times to understand the breadth.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR SOUND?
The music was honest; we did not follow any trend or purposely ignore any trend, we played the music and wrote the lyrics as our instincts directed us. Dawn was trying to uncover the truth and expose elements of her surroundings that people ignored.
TOURING PLANS IN THE FUTURE?
Maybe a reunion show next year in Europe; it almost happened this year but schedules did not permit it. Obviously Dawn is impossible to replace; but I would like to take the stage one last time with Dennis, Caleb, and Ross.
YOUR LIFE'S PHILOSOPHY?
I often wish I had one. After the band I have spent many years developing a successful career and raising a family yet I still feel the rebellion of Détente; I still question all intent around me and find it hard to “Recognize Authority”.
NO FUTURE FOR THE BAND?
Other then a possible festival or two in the coming year I think the Détente Chapter was closed by Dawn’s death. While re-mastering the recording I thought of her often and had such a desire to turn back time so we may have a drink and a laugh but as we all know this is not possible.
ANY LAST REMARKS?
I think anyone who has respect for metal should take a listen to not only Détente Recognize No Authority but also Within the Veil by Fear of God. I believe anyone who commits the time to listen to these recordings will come to find great respect for Dawn and realize that she was so ahead of her time as an artist; she deserves the recognition.
Emanuele Gentile
<<< indietro 
Scheda
di adesione
© RAW & WILD 2000 / 2008 - P. IVA 03312160710
MSN: rawandwild@hotmail.it
