| The Bottletones are a prolific Rockabilly/Psychobilly/Surf
outfit that originated in the summer of 1992, located in Carbondale,
Illinois. Now playing as a four piece the band has seen some members
come and go and name changes over the years. Originally starting out
as Captain Rock and the Bottletones, the only original member and
core to the band was John Collins also known as Ace Bottletone. Now
in their 13th year and 4 records later, the band rocks
on. MSIG tracked down the prolific lead axe man to get the scoop on
the future of the band as they prepare to release their forth full
length album. MS 07/27/05 MSIG: What is the meaning or concept behind your band name? ACE: We're called The Bottletones. We chose that name because we noticed how a lot of bands in the 50's & '60's tended to be the "this-tones" or the "that-tones", so we liked that idea. We dug the Fuzztones. And, Bottletones seemed kinda alcoholic and rockabilly---two birds one stone. MSIG:Why did you choose that and why did your band mates decide to use synonyms? ACE: The whole pseudonym thing happened when the original lead singer--Captain Rock (we were Captain Rock and The Bottletones)--discovered this girl Jeanie who was cool, and could sing, and he immediately was calling her Blanch Bottletone. So, we each just came up with our own stage name, as well as this story how our family tree looked like a telephone pole. MSIG: When, Where and When did you form? ACE:Monday, August 3, 1992, at around 4:30 in the afternoon on the porch of the Lost Cross House in Carbondale. Chris McAtee, Morty(Captain Rock) Bustos, and I had been to Memphis over the weekend; visited Sun Studios; saw Little Charlie and the Nightcats at B.B.King's place; had a great rock and roll time. Sitting on the porch with our friend Jim Reed that Monday after work, we though "Let's form a rockabilly band!" Nobody else was doing anything like that in Carbondale at the time, and we were inspired by the music and our weekend. So we came up with the name, and raced inside to start practicing. We jammed a lot back then. MSIG: So you are the only original member? ACE:Yeah, I'm the only original member. MSIG: Did you think it would last this long? ACE: Well, I thought we were going to end it after one fun school year, when the bass player Hooch left. Then I discovered Morty had set up a gig on the strip. He wanted to cancel, but I called James B. Ricks III (Diet Christ, Nitro Jr., 420 in Progress, Swimming Pool Full of Dead People), who came over, and learned the material that afternoon. Then, whenever somebody left...well, I would just replace them. I've been lucky to get to work with really good players. No, I didn't think I be in this band for so long. This was our side project.
ACE: How much longer? Well we're old friends now, even more so then before. I'll play with these guys forever. Why stop? MSIG: You just lost your guitarist to a job relocation, are going to be a four piece, even though you have been a five piece for twelve years..or are you going to look for another axe man. ACE: There's a question. I've always liked the sound of two guitar bands, and a lot of our material was written from that plan of attack. Still, I have to admit that I am enjoying being the only plank spanker right now. I like the responsibility, the clarity, and sort of the Rawness of it. With nowhere to hide we all have to work a bit harder, but I think the sound is really cool. I don't know if we'll hire another guitarist, although we talk about it, and our friend Jason from The Stranger has jammed with us a bit. MSIG: Any chances of him jumping on board to replace Brady(Crash)? ACE: Jason joining the band? I don't know. Crash left some oh-so-large shoes to fill. Almost impossible to just "jump in." Still, Jason is a very good, talented young player. MSIG: What is your next release titled and when is it coming out? ACE: The next one is called "Alone and Rolling." Not too sure of the release date. It's all recorded and mixed, though. MSIG: How many tracks are going to be on it? ACE: Nine songs on it I think. MSIG: Is it similar to the last few releases or are you trying new sounds? ACE: It goes a bit further in the direction of Adult Time. Just trying to write "our" songs. MSIG: Is Crash on all the tracks? ACE: Crash plays on all of it. MSIG: What was the point in the bands existence that you knew you would be around this long? ACE: A few years ago, when Speed(Jeffery Hoffee) had moved to LA, and things were in some flux, I remember Scratch(Paul Cook) saying to me "Well John, I'm not going anywhere." So, we'd always play music together. It was and is a nice comforting thought. I don't spend to many thoughts on the passage of time. MSIG: You do most of the writing of materials, do you like to share the duty or is that just the way it is? ACE: Well, I have always written a lot. Back in C'dale we used to collaborate a good deal more, but that was a period where we were luxurious with time on our hands. We still all work on the songs, but it happens at practice. But I do tend to write a lot. My nature. MSIG: Are you a control freak or do not you like collaborating, or are the others just lazy, or crapy at writing tunes? ACE: Control freak? You must be joking. I love collaborating, and still do a good deal at practice, we just don't have the available time to work as closely as we often used to. MSIG: What was you most memorable show? ACE: Most memorable show? Opening for X at the House of Blues in Chicago. MSIG: Who was your favorite? ACE: My favorite show show was opening for X. It was a total dream come true. They were one of my favorite bands ever, and they were sooooo cool. We did a good, solid set, and Billy watched from the side of the stage. My wife Eva and I hung out with them after the show in their dressing room. It was sooooo cool. There was also a great show in Carbondale at the Copper Dragon, where we played with the Straightjackets and Horton Heat. I remember standing at the edge of the stage with Jimbo listening to this amazing version of "My Heart Will Go On" and just loving it and laughing our asses off at the same time. I think I had only recently switched to my Gibson guitar, because I was playing well, and Jimbo complimented me on having a better sound. All this and heaven too. MSIG: What are some of the big name acts that you have played with? ACE: X, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, The Blasters, Los Straitjackets, Horton Heat, The Misfits, BR549, Link Wray, The Cowslingers (our sister band from Cleveland), The Ventures. MSIG: Name a band(s) you would like to play with that you have not already? ACE: Southern Culture On The Skids, Dick Dale, Los Lobos... MSIG: What about Diet Christ? ACE: All they have to do is ask. Do you know those guys. I understand they are nortoriously hard to work with. The lead singer carries on like Liz Taylor throwing a hissy on acid, but the rest of them are fairly cool. That would be a fun show. MSIG: Any last comments? ACE: Last comments? Well, I've always been proud of this band. I think we put on the sort of show you want to see when you go out. Loud, wailing, tight, cool, a little drunken, sometimes reeling, smirking, shaking, jamming, and banging. If we are not millionaires, I don't care. We have a great band. MSIG: Has fame gone to your head? Or now that you are a soon to be father brought you down to earth? ACE: There are plenty of things in this world that keep me plenty grounded. I don't ever remember feeling famous--except maybe that time in the Dummy Room; that was cool. MSIG: What happened at the Dummy Room? ( Dummy Room was a cool record store, now defunct, located in Chicago....) ACE: I was at the Dummy Room one Saturday in '95 (I think) with the excellent Mr.s Laslow Corpuscle and Mikey Snot. There were like two other patrons in the place---awesome tiny record store, gone now---and the girl behind the counter. I went to buy this Man Or Astroman 7", and this other patron asked me if I was still doing my sorta Aussie punk trip with Nitrojunior. I was. He had seen us. Then the other customer chimed in, and the girl behind the counter. I'm like--what are the chances. This cool little Carbondale band I'm in; barely played in Chicago; this is a really tiny record store; everyone here seems to know me. I--repeat--I Must Be Great!!! Laz and Mikey had to grease my head with a whole tub of lard to get it out the door---no small feat. MSIG: How can fans or booking agents get in contact with you? ACE: Get a hold of us? That's a good question. Probably have to go through the talent buyers at one of the clubs in town, but for now, you could bug Mikey Snot and Email him at the address at the bottom of the MSIG Army site...  Back to TOP. |
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