I want to thank Billy for taking time to talk to us. I think lots of great things are in store for The Vacancies. I have been a fan of Joan Jett for years so for me this interview was a lot of fun.

Barbara: We heard about The Vacancies about a year ago, when we received the press kit from your record label, Blackheart Records. Tell us how The Vacancies got started.

Billy: Oh, well myself and Michael James, the guitar player, we’ve been playing together since 1998. We had started a band which was early forms of Vacancies. I was actually playing guitar, we had a different singer. Then I ended up moving on to vocals and didn’t play guitar anymore and that was pretty much when the Vacancies started. We went through a few different member changes but that was pretty much how it started. I met Michael and we had a similar interest in music and had some ideas of what we wanted to do and then we recorded an album in 2002 called “Gutpunch” at a small label called Smogveil. He was nice enough to put a record out for us; the record didn’t do too much for us obviously. You’ve probably never heard of it. When we came together with Angelo on drums and Bo playing bass was shortly before everything happened and Joan Jett offered the Blackheart deal. So that’s pretty much the history of the band and how it started. Micheal and I from back in the day did the Cleveland Circuit and we’ve a band in the local Cleveland scene for about 8 years now.

Barbara: That’s cool. How did you come up with the name The Vacancies?

Billy: It just had a certain kind of ring to it like there was this…Vacancies you think there’s an opening or a space available so it was just kind of like a certain space we wanted to fill which was for ourselves personally or just music in general, we had something to say. Or it’s this inviting place, it was something different and we thought it had a good ring to it. We didn’t put too much thought behind it but that little bit of meaning there is kind of what it means to me. Our old singer at the time, when Michael and I started to play together, he had a publishing company called Vacancy Music where we used to publish songs through so it kind of stuck. We just took the name from that.

Barbara: You are signed to Joan Jett's record label, which by the way is a long time favorite of mine and my daughter’s. I even own her first album on vinyl. How did you get hooked up with that?

Billy: We did as much as we could in Cleveland and that involved trying to get as many national opening slots as we could. Anybody that we liked or thought our music fit well with we would try to get on a bill and play for their audience which is pretty much the best way to go about it when you’re an up and coming band and no one really knows who you are. We found out about a promoter who was putting together a show about 45 minutes away from Cleveland which is our hometown. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were playing, we thought it’d be a great show and maybe a chance to meet a legend like Joan Jett, somebody we’ve been fans of for a long time. So we sent our CD, “Gutpunch” to the promoter which ended up in her hands. We got the opportunity to play and it was a great show and her audience did respond to us pretty well, we got to meet her and she was really cool. So all together it was a good show. Some of her band members said she really liked that CD, we’ve been playing it before gigs. So we kind of stayed in touch. Kenny Laguna we were able to meet him as well and he was Joan’s long time producer and manager and we kind of stayed in touch with him and we ended up playing with her a second time like a year later. That was when she said I don’t know what you guys have going on as far as a record label but I would like to put your record out. It was perfect timing and it was a perfect situation. We felt comfortable with her and trusted her. She is just genuinely a music fan and for someone like her to take a liking to us was just an honor. It was such a great opportunity just to work with her. It was really exciting and of course we said yes and we had all the songs written and sent it to them. They liked the new stuff and that is kind of how it all happened.

Barbara: Your song "Hey Man" was featured in the "Failure To Launch" film and "Zathura". How did this all come about?

Billy: That is one of the things that is a benefit of being on Blackheart Records they have a history of having connections in the movie business there have been quite a few movies some I know of that feature Joan Jett songs. That’s one of the many things they are good at. They just know the right people. It is actually a very cool thing that we would have never been able to accomplish without them. Failure to Launch was one of those things because we had 30 seconds during the paintball scene. It was exciting for me because I play paint ball and my wife is a huge fan of Sarah Jessica Parker so it was ironically cool. It really didn’t have anything to do with us other than writing the song we lucked out with the producers of the movie feeling the song fit in with the scene. I know they have lots of songs to listen to so we were really blown away.

Barbara: Do you feel that these films helped The Vacancies get recognized by people?

Billy: Not really, NO. We are at the beginning stages of a career and we have been playing music for a long time but it is not an easy business. Cleveland is just not a city that people take notice of. There are great clubs to play at and great audiences but not a lot of record labels in Cleveland. That is one of the reasons we are vocal about being from Cleveland. We are breaking out of just being a local band. We are hitting a national circuit with college radio and touring and the movies everything else. As far as being recognized or noticed not so much. We are gaining fans. We have definitely noticed a big difference a definite growth there. Especially with the help from the internet with PureVolume and MySpace it is easier to get people to hear about you and to let us know they are hearing about us. It is a good way to communicate with people. We have noticed on the tour we have a few people that actually know who we are. It is still early in the game we are at the bottom of the food chain at this point.

Barbara: You will get there. I am sure of it.

Billy: It would be pretty funny if we did, partly because it is hard to imagine. We are not looking for any kind of commercial success but it comes our way it would be great. It is really just about the people that like our music. Even if just 2 people appreciate the music that is a great feeling.

Barbara: For people that have never heard of The Vacancies, how would you describe your style of music? Give us your best sales pitch on your music.

Billy: Our influence and the music we like is widespread. We like all kinds of music. We like music that is good and music we can relate to. We like punk, rap, rock, metal, Motown, funk. If it is good it is good. To describe our band it is taking everything we like about music from over the years. There is honesty from stuff back in the day such as the song writing of The Beatles. There are lyrics from Bob Marley and Joe Strummer really influencing to us. Then there is the other side of it. The intensity from bands like Minor Threat and bands like Pennywise. Our influences come from a wide range. We are big fans of the Deadboys, The Clash, Ramones, Elvis Costello and Devo. Musically I think they are big influences to us. A wide range of influence comes from all over the place. We just write music that we like. We don’t try to fit into any certain Genre. It just so happens that we are pretty much considered a punk rock band. Which is a good thing. A lot of our favorite bands are punk rock bands. That is what we like to play live and that is what we do. It is hard to say we sound like a certain band because we just try to do our own thing. We are not reinventing the wheel but we are not exactly trying to follow it either.

Barbara: You've shared the stage with some pretty impressive people. Do you feel that you have learned things from these bands?

Billy: Oh yes, Every time. If we are doing a tour or just opening up for bands we learn something from everybody. Especially people who have been doing it for a long time. You have to be open and you have to be willing to learn. It is a constant education. When I think back to the beginning I was clueless and naïve to all of it song writing and performing just all of it in general. The more you play and the more you play with the ones that are down to earth those are the ones that are cool. They want to share that knowledge with you. To let it go in one ear and out the other would just be a waste. We have a lot to learn and it is one of those things getting to work with Joan Jett. We have learned a lot from her. We have come along way as a band in the last year and a half.

Barbara: You're on tour at the moment. How is that going? Any good Juicy stories to tell us?

Billy: Okay, now we are only 4 shows in with 26 to go so maybe I should call you after the tour but the other night there was this rule that said no dancing at one of the clubs. It is the Adolescents and the Street Dogs. For some reason they had this rule, no dancing for the kids. A lot of the kids were like what do you mean no dancing! They just wanted to have a good time. The Adolescents have been around for a long time and it was the first time seeing them for lots of the fans. The Street Dogs have an intense live show and it is just hard not to move. The bouncers and staff at one of the venues were ready to enforce it and anyone caught dancing or bumping into each other were going to be thrown out. Sure enough and I’m sure there are reasons for this but some of them started throwing their muscle around and a couple of kids ended up getting hurt and they were just trying to have a good time. There were fights out front and it was just chaos really. The cops showed up and an ambulance it was really just a shame to see because they were just there to have fun. I realize everyone has a job to do but kids did end up getting hurt. We are a band that is anti violence and don’t necessarily agree with war. You see people that want to abuse authority and throw their muscle around. These are the rules and you follow them or I am going to kick your ass it just doesn’t make sense to us. That stands out in my mind as being one of those nights where you just go Uhh. There is really only so much you can do and you are at the mercy of the club. You want to keep the peace as much as you can but it is a tough thing to watch. I wish I had a fun story for you though.

Barbara: Being that we are an internet publication, how do you feel the internet helps publicity wise for your band?

Billy: It is something that in my day, not that I am an old guy or anything. But I am a little older than some. The internet was something that I wasn’t all that educated on. I could have really cared less about it. I think the internet is great as far as being able to find out about a lot of things. The internet makes it really easy for that. It is a whole different day and age in music because of it which is a great thing. They don’t need anything but the internet and can make an entire career out of it. But as far as music itself it is hard for me. I like to go to a record store and hold a record in my hand. I like to look at the album cover and read everything inside the book. Those are just things I like. I like a record collection, whether it is vinyl or CD’s. As far as downloading music it is something I personally don’t do. I do realize that is where things are going. The internet is a great thing and it has helped us out. It is a nice way to communicate with fans. It is the way of the future I guess.

Barbara: Describe each of your band members in one word.

Billy: I’m thinking…I would have to say driven. We do work hard and that is something we pride ourselves on. Someone has to have a doctor’s note if they are missing rehearsal. I think it all comes from hard work and we definitely don’t take anything for granted. We are really excited for what we have been able to do.

Barbara: Being able to do what you love.

Billy: Yeah, we are really not at a point where we are making any money. We are not even able to pay our bills. But it is not about that. It is being able to make records and have someone believe in us. It is about being on the road and spreading what we do and to have some people enjoy it. It is a great feeling. We are definitely having a great time and we are excited to be able to do it.

Barbara: Your CD is titled, A Beat Missing or a Silence Added. Very interesting title. How did you come up with it?

Billy: Our guitarist Michael has a friend that is a poet. We’re friends with a lot of beat writers. I’m a huge fan of Bukowski and so is Michael. This friend of Michael’s is a writer as well, he’s really influenced by the beat writers and Bukowski and things like that. It was just a line from something he had written. Michael was always a fan of this particular poem and one of the lines was a beat missing or a silence added. It just made sense, it went along with the contents of the album. It’s a long title but it’s a thinker. Like I said it just fit with the songs on this album, I’m sure it wouldn’t fit with the songs on the next album.

Barbara: With that one it worked.

Billy: With that one it just made sense. As soon as we were considering that as a working title there was no question we liked it. It stuck.

Barbara: What is your favorite song off the album to perform?

Billy: “Save Yourself” is my favorite. The lyrics explain what I was feeling at the time even though Michael wrote those lyrics. That’s what is great about our band too; we all contribute to the writing process. I write the majority of verses and lyrics and things like that but we all bring everything to the table. With the song that Michael had written, we’re on the same page like that. He was feeling that, basically it’s the pressures of government and religion on people. It hit home with me as well. Joan Jett has the backing vocals on that song that I just love. He did some harmonies with Michael and the backup stuff. It’s my personal favorite.

Barbara: Well this probably goes along with that, if you were to recommend a song off of your album to introduce your music to someone, what song would you recommend?

Billy: I guess it would be “Save Yourself”. Our first track on the album which is called “Children of the Century”, that pretty much sums it up as well. It opens the record, I screamed Cleveland to kick the song off with all I had. I got a little light headed and saw some stars after we recorded it. It was just mostly talking about being a smaller city rock band without the glitz and glamour like so much of the world is offering. The lyrics in the song are about everything in Hollywood and if you’re not, you’re forgotten. Just to kick off the record like that I think it definitely sets the stage for the rest of the album and to get an idea of where we’re coming from. That song was written for our hometown and anyone else who can relate to not being what you’re expected to be or what you think you have to be.

Barbara: Right. Well, now we’re going to ask some fun questions. If you were stranded on an island and could only bring 1 CD with you, what CD would you bring?

Billy: That’s a good one. Just one, that’s tough. It would have to be The Clash, London Calling. To me that’s a perfect album, I think it would take me a while to get sick of it. I’m sure that I would, as good of an album as it is. That’s a personal favorite and I know the other guys in the band would probably say the same album. It’s one of those bands that we can all agree on and relate to.

Barbara: Yeah, my son likes them a lot.

Billy: Yeah, they’re one of those bands. They didn’t sound like anyone.

Barbara: A lot of artists have a very eclectic taste in music. You’ve already mentioned a lot of bands you like, are there any others you’d like to throw out there?

Billy: That’s the thing about our band; we all have our music that we like that’s not punk rock. I firmly believe you have to be open-minded especially if you’re a song writer. If all you listen to is punk rock music and that’s it you tend to sound like those people. I love to hear about what influences everybody so when I hear what influenced Joey Ramone, I want to hear that music. A lot of that is stuff we know but maybe a lot of people don’t realize that’s where it came from. That old 50s pop, that kind of stuff. 50s and 60s there’s great bands, great music. Buddy Holly, The Beatles, and the Rolling Stones…huge influences. For me personally I’m a big fan of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath I love that 70s hard rock. Even the glam side of it like T-Rex is great stuff. I know that the guys would agree. Angelo listens to stuff you probably would have never in a million years imagined, he’s really into p-funk and funkadelic, he loves that stuff. Otis Redding, Barry White, Marvin Gaye. With Bo and Michael they’re junkies for 80s new wave.

Barbara: I love the 80s too.

Billy: Yeah, I think it’s important. You like what you like and there are no rules. That’s the beautiful thing about music. There are people like Billy Bragg and Bob Dylan, that kind of folk stuff. I may not have liked it as much when I was 19 but as I’ve grown and gotten older you just start to appreciate more things I guess. I wish I would have been a little more open-minded when I was younger. I wanted fast and I wanted angry *laughs*, in teenage years that’s what you can relate to. Our stuff we like is all over the place.

Barbara: That’s cool. What is the one thing you truly miss from your home while you are on tour? I know family is probably one of them.

Billy: Sure, my wife would be obvious.

Unfortunately the tape cut off on me and the last answer was cut a little short. The last thing Billy asked me before we ended the interview was would I attend one of their concerts. If you make it to SC I will be there!! So hold me to my word. I look forward to seeing you guys and meeting you!! I wish you all the best.