The Obelisk Questionnaire: Tony Reed of Mos Generator
You’d probably need a week to sit down and list all the bands and projects to which Tony Dallas Reed has contributed in one form or another over the better part of the last two decades. From playing drums in death metallers Woodrot to self-recording all-instrument Pentagram covers in his “spare time,” Reed‘s substantial body of work is the result of a genuinely restless creative spirit. Over the course of the last 10 years, he’s bounced between the heavy rocking Mos Generator and more specifically ’70s-minded Stone Axe while also embarking on the side-project HeavyPink and building his own HeavyHead Studio, where he’s done not only his own recording, but tracked Saint Vitus‘ comeback album, Lillie: F-65, among others, as well as mixed and mastered outings from Wight, Trippy Wicked, Alunah and many more from the US and Europe, often between or while on tours.
Reactivated following a run focused on Stone Axe, Mos Generator released the full-length Nomads (review here) on Ripple Music in 2012, two live albums in 2013, and will shortly issue a follow-up, Electric Mountain Majesty (review here), as their first outing on Listenable Records. Reed is also recently returned to his Port Orchard, Washington, home after a trip to Australia to record Seedy Jeezus and remixed/remastered Mos Generator‘s 2007 Songs for Future Gods album for reissue through Ripple, available now. Mos Generator also has splits with Copenhagen’s Doublestone and Washington’s Teepee Creeper coming soon.
The Obelisk Questionnaire: Tony Reed
How did you come to do what you do?
As a musician I started when I was 12. After years of mimicking KISS and Rush in my bedroom I figured that I should actually learn how to play. I borrowed a guitar from a guy up the street and the first song I learned was “Iron Man.” I started playing drums around the same time. I just wanted to take it all in.
As a recording engineer I guess you could say it was around the same time. I started recording everything with a boom box from the get-go. I have a recording of the first time I played drums. Over time I collected a few mics and got a three-channel Radio Shack mixer and two cassette decks and I was into overdubbing. When I was 20 I got my hands on a four-track and the rest is history.
Describe your first musical memory.
I actually think it is “Papa was a Rollin’ Stone” by The Temptations. I used to love that song. I also have recollections of the album cover for “Paranoid” being around the house and when I got that album in sixth grade I somehow already knew the songs on it, so I am assuming it was played frequently when I was a child. My mom also has a funny story of me stealing a “Nights in White Satin” 45 from K-Mart when I was two years old. She let me keep it.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
I would say that it would be 26-date Saint Vitus/Mos Generator European tour in 2013. It was a lot of hard work but we got to play for some rabid audiences and travel in style. Being on the road is all about making memories and of course later down the line you only remember the good bits.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
I believe that there is really no ending point to a musician who is driven and passionate. Growth is constant and sometimes moves faster than other times. Sometimes it would appear to move backwards and hopefully something can be learned from that too.
How do you define success?
I define success by respect. Someday I would like to be well respect as a musician and songwriter and recognized for the passion and dedication that I put into the music I make.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
My grandmother’s eyes the day before she died. I think she had moved on already because I didn’t see her in there anymore.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
I would like to create and album or song that moves people the way that certain songs move me. Sometimes I am so humbled by the songs I love that it makes me want to stop writing music because I believe I may never achieve these emotions in what I write. I also look at it as a goal and a challenge.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Even though this is musical in its subject, it doesn’t directly affect me musically. I am looking forward to watching the musical journey my son is going on. He has the passion in his blood and it’s great to see him doing things to make music his life.
Mos Generator, “Breaker” from Electric Mountain Majesty (2014)
Mos Generator on Thee Facebooks
Tags: HeavyPink, Listenable Records, Mos Generator, Ripple Music, Stone Axe, Tony Reed
I know for a fact that Tony is already well respected as a singer/songwriter and his pure dedication to rock and fuckin roll, not just in Washington but across the pond as well. To me Tony has written a song that has moved me the way he mentions being “moved”, which is “Sam Always Rains” by 1230 Dreamtime, when I was about 16 I heard it for the 1st time and it just rang true to me, I was lucky enough to be at a party around that time and he showed me the chords.
Tony’s always given me the time of day in whatever I was up to musically and I appreciate it to the fullest and have always held him and his music in high regards.
Thanks for all the great interviews.
Sincerely,
Jon Unruh
Please ,,PLEASE don’t stop Tony. I know you most likely wont but that answer above while metaphoric I hope, Electric mountain Majesty is quite literally white hot from top to bottom up one side and down the other. I’m proud to say I got it a week ago from Europe. I need to buy more stuff from your Heavy Head Store too.