Here's a band that doesn't mind answering weird questions! We got answers from not only one member but two, vocalist Danny Rexon and the "new boy", guitarist Andy Dawson. These youngsters, they've got so much energy! And they like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...

What's going on in the world of CRAZY LIXX right now?

Andy: We are about to release or new album called New Religion on march 19 th (in Europe) and April 6 th (Japan and USA) so we’re currently doing lots of promo stuff.

Danny: Really excited about the album release, all feedback so far has been great so we’re looking forward to getting it out to the fans.

What possessed young men like you to start playing this sort of "retro" music?

Danny: For me there was never any question about it. This is the music I love so that’s what we wanna’ play. Some may say it’s out of fashion but I figured if I enjoy listening to it so much, there has to be others out there who like it as much as I do and given the response we’ve had I think there is some truth to my statement.

Andy: Ever since I was a young boy I’ve had this kind of music around me, band like Guns n’ Roses and Aerosmith etc. Hearing guys like Steven Tyler or Slash doing what they do created a huge obsession for me and playing rock n’ roll was all I’ve ever wanted to do.

Am I wrong thinking that with the new album, you've somewhat moved away from the glam/sleaze scene towards more traditional hard rock?

Danny: I would agree with you, we definitely broadened our horizons on this album but I think it has a lot to do with the fact that me and Andy are more in tune when it comes to musical influences than perhaps me and our previous guitarist Vic Zino was. At the same time we don’t set boundaries like we used to, if it’s a good song it’s a good song.

Andy: We wrote a lot of song for this album and they all sounded very different from each other and when finalized the track list the best ones were chosen. This album has a bigger sound and a lot more groove to it than the first album had and maybe those things aren’t all that common in the traditional sleaze rock music.

What would be your 3 desert island albums?

Danny: How the hell are we supposed to play the albums on a desert island? I guess we could look at the covers but in that case I’d rather bring pictures of naked ladies or perhaps album covers with naked ladies on them, hehe. No just kidding. From the top of my head I’d say: Bon Jovi – New Jersey, KISS – Crazy Nights and Def Leppard – Hysteria.

Andy: This is almost impossible but perhaps Aerosmith – Pump, Guns n’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction and Yngwie Malmsteen – Eclipse.

What's your favourite nineties' album?

Andy: Aerosmith – Get a Grip

Danny: Guns n’ Roses – Use Your Illusion II

What is your favourite song on the album and why?

Andy: I think Children of the Cross is my favorite song on the album. Mostly because of the ageless feel to it and secondly I think the lyrics are fantastic.

Danny: That keeps on changing for me from week to week. Depends on my mood but right now when spring is finally coming after a long cold winter I’d have to say She’s Mine. Sounds like summer to me.

Which song do you think has the biggest "hit potential"?

Andy: I guess I would have to say Children of the Cross on this one too. I just think it’s a master piece that can appeal to people with different tastes in music.

Danny: No real surprises here either. I go with She’s Mine or perhaps the power ballad; What of Our Love, that’s a real “panty wetter”. Chicks dig it and guys dig that chicks dig it.

Do you have single releases or videos planned?

Danny: Nothing yet but hopefully we’ll start planning for that in a couple of weeks.

Do you ever want to snatch people's mobiles or cameras at gigs and smash them?

Andy: No, I think it’s cool that people make their own live clips and post on the Internet, it’s not always the best quality but what the hell.

Who do you think is the most overrated band/solo artist ever and why?

Danny: U2 or R.E.M. Not that they’re really bad any of them but there just not that great either. And based on the stuff they’ve put out during the last 15 years also Metallica and AC/DC. Great bands back in the days though.

How did you get involved in music?

Andy: Both my uncles play and they inspired me a lot when I was growing up. I started playing guitar when I was around 14 years old and heard guitarists like Slash and Yngwie so all I did was play guitar in my room, looking at posters of my guitar heroes.

What song (not necessarily yours) do you identify with the most?

Danny: Tenacious D – The Metal

Who is the sexiest person in Rock?

Danny: Nowadays I don’t think chicks in the rock business are particularly hot. Back in the 80’s though. Check out videos of Robin Beck back in the days.

Andy: Luke Rivano of Crazy Lixx =)

What has been your most embarrassing tour moment?

Danny: I guess we have been spared from strange and odd stuff ‘cause I can’t think of a single thing. Maybe there are some things that someone with no touring experience would find embarrasing that I just don’t see as anything out of the ordinary. Once I tripped while jumping backwards from a monitor and flew straight into Joéls drum kit with my back first. I guess it must have looked funny from the crowd’s point of view. I got away with a few bruises and a lesson learned. I’ve jumped from many monitors since then though so I guess I didn’t learn anything after all…

We know that every town is "The best EVER", but what town is really the best for you?

Danny: Malmö, home sweet home.

What's the best thing about being a musician?

Andy: You never get tired of doing it. You can have your ups and downs but at the end of the day you just want to keep on going.

What's the worst thing about being a musician?

Danny: Let me tell you, it’s pretty hard work and a lot of risk taking before you get to the point where the music covers all your expenses. You have to be darn good at it, there’s a lot of competition around and a lot of strange people trying to gain from your success.

What/who are your influences and heroes (musicwise):

Andy: The list is long and my personal influences are quite varied. Everything from rock bands like Def Leppard, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Deep Purple to guitar players like Ritche Kotzen, Yngwie Malmsteen and other artists like Lady Gaga.

How did you get your band name?

Danny: It was taken from my first instrument that I had as a kid. It was a Japanese toy guitar that played metal riffs when you pushed it’s buttons. It was actually called Hot Lixx but it wasn’t until later that I realized my error and by then we had already been using the name Crazy Lixx for quite a while.

What song do you want played at your funeral?

Danny: Joe Satriani – Crushing Day

Andy: Queen - Show Must Go On

What is the best TV theme tune ever?

Andy: Baywatch

Danny: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! No contest!

What are your plans for the next 6 months?

Danny: I’m gonna’ watch a lot of TMNT now, great stuff! Other than that I’m just waiting for the album to be released and then we’ll take it from there.

Andy: I think I may play some guitar…

interview by Rapinaldo Fire, the man of mystical questions.
Photos courtesy of Crazy Lixx
31 March 2010
(c) 2010 RockUnited.Com