SKATEBOARDS & ASPHALT: THE
AMAZING TRANSFORMATION OF AN IMMORTAL CROWE
What do you do when you've toured the world as a member of one of the most
important rock bands of the past two decades, but something is still missing? According to
former Black Crowe Johnny Colt, "you buy a skateboard, get out those records that
aren't very cool but changed your life and remember why you started making music in the
first place." That's what Asphalt Blaster is all about. The Atlanta based hard rock
band has been rattling the dust loose in area clubs for the last year and are now
jockeying to take the scene by storm with the upcoming release of a 7-inch on Athens'
Pitch-A-Tent records. Bassist and singer Johnny Colt describes Asphalt Blaster as
"four wheels and a nose bleed," while guitarist Ted Lathangue adds that it's
like "Iggy Pop and Motorhead funneled through Zodiac Mindwarp." The two formed
Asphalt Blaster following the breakup of Colt's other amazing (and tragically
unheard) band, Brand New Immortals. After finding kindred spirits in drummer Reg Rogers
(Black Light Posterboys) and lead guitarist Jimmy Wright (Bitch), the quartet set off to
recapture the feeling of musicians just starting out which, according to Colt, was harder
than one might think, "I took a few years to get over the Black Crowe hang over. It's
really the same old song and dance. You find your big band that sells lots of records not
artistically satisfying, so you do the unthinkable and leave to the shock and horror of
family and friends. Of course there's a little guilt, but not too much to cash the check.
The big rock career would feel like a sell out except you're too strung out on drugs to
feel." Then even worse, he says, is when you "clean up and lose your edge. It
goes without saying that as an artist at this point you do a musical 180 and disappoint
the few people who might still care about your music." That's when the ever-important
skateboard saved a man's career and put him back in touch with that teenager that just
wants to rock. That inspiration led Colt to "Create Asphalt Blaster. Follow that
feeling and only that feeling. My past certainly cast a long and wide shadow. When the
music was truly great, that feeling was always there. Follow that feeling and you
can’t go wrong. That place is (now) the only place I want to spend my time."
(Chris McKay/concertshots.com)