Deen Castronovo got his first, big gig as the drummer in Bad English and is the current man behind the kit for the legendary Journey. We’re all familiar with his stick handling skills but he is also one heck of an incredible vocalist.
His latest project, Revolution Saints, gives him the chance to show off those pipes. Along with Jack Blades and Doug Aldrich, Revolution Saints are cranking things up with their classic, melodic rock style on their self-titled debut record for Frontiers Music. Deen was kind enough to chat with us and fill us in on this terrific new band as well as update us on what’s going on with Journey. Please join us to find out the details.
KE: Hello Deen! Welcome to backstageaxxess.com and thank you for taking the time to talk to us today. How are you today?
DC: Thank you Kris. I appreciate it. Everything’s great. I’m just getting ready to do a lot of interviews this morning so let’s have fun.
KE: OK, great. You’ve a brand new project out, Revolution Saints with Jack Blades and Doug Aldrich. Can you tell us how this project came together?
DC: Well, yeah it was the brainchild of Serafino, the president of Frontiers Records. He had called Journey’s manager and asked if I’d be interested in doing a record. I said sure, you know. I really didn’t think about it too much because I was on the road with Journey. They started throwing out names and asked Jack Blades to be the bassist and other vocalist and I thought that was perfect. I’ve known Jack since I was 17 and it worked out fantastic. He was a no-brainer and then they started throwing guitarists around and they gave out Doug’s name and that was another no-brainer. Gosh, that was perfect. The guy’s a monster. So that’s how that came about. We did the drum tracks and sent files back and forth because due to our schedules we couldn’t all get together as a band and we recorded the stuff and I did the vocals and I didn’t really think much of it. It was in the back of my head after that and now it’s coming out and it’s just, we’re getting a great response. I didn’t expect this at all. I don’t think any of us expected it.
KE: The album drops next week and it’s a great mix of everything you’d want in a melodic rock album.
DC: Thank you!
KE: How did the writing process work? Were you able to get together as a band?
DC: Honestly Kris, it was kind of a strange thing. A gentleman named Alessandro Del Vecchio, who is one of the producers at Frontiers Records, he had the songs already written and ready to go, lyrics, music, everything and just sent them to us. He sent us some demos and then once we put our spin on it as a drummer and as a bass player and a guitarist, just what we wanted to do. We made it come to life so we didn’t really expect it to be this massive thing that it’s becoming. It’s just pretty darn awesome.
KE: Deen , for this record you’re not only handling the drumming but your also singing lead. What has that experience been like for you?
DC: It was fun but it was also really scary Kris, honestly. Yeah, I’m a drummer that happens to sing. That’s basically what I see myself as so for me to have to cover an entire record was scary because I didn’t know what to do. It’s my first time ever so it’s like I needed Alessandro and Jack to really walk me through it because I didn’t know how to approach it. So Arnel from Journey, he’s one of the most amazing vocalists out there and he’s just got that lead singer thing. I don’t know if I’ve got that lead singer thing but I gave it my best you know. It’s my first time so please go easy on me people. (Laughter)
KE: Well, I think you have it. I think you’ve got it covered just fine. I wouldn’t worry about that.
DC: Aw, you are too nice. I appreciate that.
KE: You do a duet with Jack on “Turn Back Time.” Did you enjoy that?
DC: That was incredible. To be able to sing with Jack Blades, gosh. I grew up with Night Ranger. I grew up with their music. It was pretty damn cool Kris. I was like, Wow.
KE: Will you get the chance to take Revolution Saints out on the road at all? I know you all have so much else going on.
DC: There’s nothing set in stone yet. It’s one of those things where if schedules are permitting between all three guys, we’ll do some stuff. Of course Journey is my priority and Night Ranger is Jack’s and Doug’s a busy guy too so it’s gonna be hard to get us all together. But if we can, yeah we’ll do something, of course we will.
KE: Would you be looking forward to doing something a little bit different, doing vocals for an entire tour?
DC: Honestly, I’m not looking forward to it because it would take me out of my comfort zone. And my comfort zone is behind a bajillion drums and cymbals. If drums and cymbals were attached to me, I could move around that way. As far as being a frontman, I don’t really know if I can. I’m gonna try it and if it doesn’t work I’ll just sing behind the drum kit. I’ve done that for eons now. That’s one of the things I’ll have to analyze in rehearsals when we rehearse for the show.
KE: Can you give us a little update on what’s going on with the Journey tour?
DC: Sure. We’re getting ready to leave on Tuesdays to start rehearsals and then we go out I believe March 4th or 5th with Tower of Power and Steve Miller Band. We do maybe ten or twelve shows and then head home. Then we do a residency in Las Vegas for a month which is gonna be a lot of fun and that starts April 26th and then we do a Canadian run in July and then we’re done for the year.
KE: Are you going out with Steve Miller on the Canada run too?
DC: Not that I know of. I haven’t heard anything about that Kris. Actually, I have no clue who the support act is on that tour. I haven’t heard much. I’m sure we’ve got somebody. I just don’t have any idea who it is. (Laughter)
KE: Understood, understood.
DC: I guess that’s on a need to know basis and right now I don’t need to know. (Laughter)
KE: What about new music from Journey? Any plans for a new album?
DC: Nope, there’s nothing planned as of yet. But I know that Neal is a prolific writer and Jonathan too. Both of those guys write and write and write. That’s all they do on their time off is write music so I’m sure there will be something but not just yet.
KE: Did you have fun bringing in Arnel and Neal for the Revolution Saints record?
DC: Oh honestly Kris, that was a huge shot in the arm. Having Neal, he’s my big brother. Honestly if it weren’t for him, I’d have no career. I owe him a lot and to have both of those guys, there art on that. And Neal is just amazing. I’ve worked with a lot of shredding guitarists and he’s just a monster. Neal’s playing, he plays with such passion, a lot like Doug. He’s just one of those fiery players so to have him on the record is wow. And Arnel, he’s a lead singer Kris. I’m not a lead singer. I’m more of a drummer that happens to sing like I said. Arnel is a real lead singer. He’s a true lead vocalist and I love it. You can hear it, he’s just got that thing.
KE: He nails it every time.
DC: Oh, totally nails it! It’s frightening how good he nails it. Makes me not want to sing. I’m like, why am I doing this? (Laughter) Let these guys do it.
KE: Well, then it would be more of a Journey record right? You got to mix it up.
DC: (Laughter) Journey with Jack Blades and Doug Aldirich, yeah.
KE: You never know right? Can’t rule anything out?
DC: (Laughter) We’ll see what happens on this tour, who knows? (Laughter)
KE: Not that you’re not busy enough, but you’ve drummed for so many people. Do you have anything else going on right now?
DC: No, this is it. It’s Journey and Revolution Saints and when I’m home I’m a father and a husband and that’s what I want to be. When I’m home, I don’t touch my drum kit. Yeah, I just play with my kids and be with my family. That’s the most important thing for me.
KE: You’ve worked with so many fantastic musicians. Aside from Journey and Revolution Saints, who was your favorite to work with?
DC: Wow, let me think. Bad English was my first band. I’ve got to admit John Waite and Richie Phillips along with Jonathan and Neal it was just a dream come true for me and it was my first really major shot as a musician. It was just huge. I’d done other records and worked with other people but Bad English was it. So I’d probably have to say that one was the dearest to my heart.
KE: Deen, as a drummer, who were some of your biggest musical influences?
DC: Now, you’re gonna love this. I’m a KISS freak. I love KISS. KISS were my favorite, when I saw them I knew I was going to be a drummer and knew I was going to do that. So it was Peter Criss, he was my first drum influence. From 7 years old on, that’s who I listened to. I listened to RUSH, Neal Peart, such an innovator and he was a major influence on me. And then I heard Steve Smith and Terry Bozzio and those two guys just took my to the next level of drummers. Just listening to those really great, great drummers, all these monster players. So those are it. I wasn’t so much influenced by Chambers or those guys. I just went to watch them and be in awe but Steve Smith was probably the catalyst for me as a player. I did all his stuff.
KE: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us today. Revolution Saints is a terrific new project and I know you said go easy on you but really the vocals on “Don’t Walk Away” and “Better World” are just fantastic
DC: Thank you so much Kris. It’s so scary. I’m not gonna lie. It takes a different breed to be a lead vocalist and I’m gonna have to find a way into that. (Laughter)I have no choice. Thanks for a great interview Kris. I really enjoyed it.
KE: Thank you Deen. Take care.
We would like to thank Kevin Chiaramonte from PFA Media for setting up the interview with Deen. For more infromation on the new project and CD titled “Revolution Saints,” please go to: Revolution Saints. If your looking for Journey info, then click here: Journey.
