It’s not often that an artist enter the rhythm gaming scene the way Loren Dircks has. Loren posted a music video on Youtube for his single “I Hope You’re Happy (Guitar Hero Gone),” and within a short time, the rhythm gaming community discovered the video, and a YouTube fracas between Loren’s fans and Guitar Hero/Rock Band fans ensued in the comments. While tempers were initially high on both sides, once the controversy subsided, Loren was approached and made the decision to offer his song on the Rock Band Network.

I had a chance to catch up with Loren and find out about his music, his motivation for the song (which is not what you think), and his impressions of the rhythm gaming revolution. Check it out!

RockBandAide: For some of those in the Rock Band community not familiar with you, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Loren Dircks: I am a songwriter and guitar player from Tucson, Arizona. My band, Gila Bend, has been playing in Tucson for over 20 years. We pioneered our own Country Metal sound and made two very popular (still) CDs, “Kim Chee Cowboy” and “Natureburger.”  I got back into songwriting a few years ago, and have been writing more than ever before. I just released “Killing the Magic” last November and I am currently working with about 50 new songs for two or three different CD projects. I have done some film score work in the past and I am hoping to do much more of that in the future.

RBA: How would you describe your music to people who have never heard it?

LD: I try to write music and lyrics that resonate with all people. Musically, I am really a guitar player first, and I put a large emphasis there in the songs.

RBA: Who were your early musical influences? What album do you remember listening to growing up that had the biggest impact on you?

LD: The most influential record that impacted me when I was very young was Johnny Horton’s “Greatest Hits.”  We listened to The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Roger Miller, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, Burt Bacharach, and much more. When I was old enough to really start picking my own favorites, I really liked all kinds of stuff… punk, metal, rock, and much more.

RBA: I’m always intrigued about the song writing process for musicians. What’s more fun for you to write, the lyrics or the music? And when you create a song, which comes first?

LD: When I am writing my best stuff, they almost always come together. The feel, the melody, and the meaning and message are all one big creation/inspiration. Other times I will start with music… a riff or a beat, or a bass line. Or a title. I have a good friend who has given me some titles, “Dogs with Bandanas” and “Quitcherdadburnedbellyachin”‘ and both turned into very well received songs.

RBA: Where do you find inspiration for your songs? What has been the oddest source of inspiration?

LD: I find inspiration everywhere. Grocery store, friends, family, total strangers, a random phrase, a big deep abstract concept, a book, a movie, ANYWHERE. Oddest source of inspiration? Other than rhythm based video gaming? Probably abused dogs. “Dogs with Bandanas” and “Song for Max” were both on Natureburger. The former was a more tongue-in-cheek piece, with the latter being a tearjerker ala Red Sovine.

RBA: Which one of your songs has the most meaning to you?

LD: “More Than Life Itself,” or “I AM.”

RBA: How often do you perform live?

LD: Between one and three shows per week.

RBA: What is your favorite song to perform live (originals or covers)?

LD: Usually whichever one the crowd likes best. Probably “Big Blue Ford” which has LOTS of guitar. Or “I Hope You’re Happy(Guitar Hero Gone).” We also used to love to play Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper.” It is always fun to catch a crowd off guard.

RBA: What can your fans expect to see, or more importantly experience, when you perform live?

LD: Hard rocking, head banging, missing link between country and metal. Energetic, unpredictable and funny. A genuine good time will be had by all.

RBA: What has been your favorite memory as an artist thus far?

LD: Sharing the stage with some of my musical heroes like Billy Joe Shaver, Chuck Prophet, Al Perry, Brad Brooks just to name a few.

RBA: Is there any aspect of your musical history that you would change?

LD: That is a really tough thing to think about. If anything, probably some of the outside projects that I played on, I would have definitely skipped, in hindsight. Or the publishing deal I signed that took half of my royalties and did nothing to get my music out there. I am doing much better on my own. But we all learn our lessons through the mistakes we make. All the rest of it has been a musical journey that has landed me where I am now. So very few regrets.

RBA: Any advice for aspiring artists?

LD: It is never too early or too late to start. If one can observe, ingest, and translate what you see into art through music, then you need to be creating more for all of us to enjoy.

RBA: How did the opportunity present itself for putting your music in the Rock Band Network?

LD: Our video for “Guitar Hero Gone” on YouTube (see above) created a bit of a stir when the gaming community discovered it. The video had performed very well from day one. It was there for about two months and then the views skyrocketed. Some of the people who were leaving comments had suggested the idea of putting the song in the game. I think Frankie Boombatts (@FrankieBSH) and Toymasheen (@Toymachinesh) had a hand in referring Rockgamer Studios to us. We were approached by Miguel at Rockgamer. I must admit I was a little nervous about the idea, but after talking to Miguel a few times, I loved the idea. Irony is KING. And Miguel has been a pleasure to work with on the project.

RBA: I’ve heard that “Guitar Hero Gone” is actually an ode to the late Jerry Reed… is this correct?

LD: That is absolutely true. It is sort of a multilayered song with many themes and messages, but that is a central one. He is my “Guitar Hero.”

RBA: I recently had a conversation with someone that digital distribution of music via iTunes and Amazon seem to be killing the concept of albums, with labels putting more emphasis on the single. Do you think we will ever see an epic and iconic singer/songwriter artist or band again… you know, bands like Nickelback (j/k)?

LD: Nickelback… very funny. I think that the honesty of the artist/art can shine through and will still continue to produce some of those “greatest ever” artists. I think that the landscape is a little overwhelming, due to so many more people being able to get their music noticed. American Idol is included in “I Hope You’re Happy (Guitar Hero Gone)” because of this. I have argued that if we had American Idol in the fifties, we never would have had Johnny Cash. That is probably an incorrect statement, but I am trying to point out that American Idol is an obvious attempt by the “suits” to regain control of an industry that has been impacted by the freedom of the internet. If the corporate power structure can continue to control the mainstream consumer base, then they will continue to have a market for homogenized manufactured mainstream art. They are now using “random” people next door to create these new celebrities, while ultimately still calling the shots.

RBA: I gotta admit I’m confused on this… What is the “big fat Pokemon” referencing in the chorus?

LD: That is the apocalyptic theme in the song. Karaoke, American Idol, and Guitar Hero (game) are referred to as the “plagues” and the reference to Pokemon is to illustrate “the beast” from which the woes on mankind have emerged. Pokemon represents that all of these said “woes” have emanated from Eastern sources. Pokemon is also representing the corporate control and beneficiary of all of the mass marketing that has caused the “plagues” to spread. The cost of these “plagues” in our society has been the loss of the last thing that has separated us from the rest of the world… our pop culture. It is no different than when we eat at Olive Garden, but lament the loss of our favorite mom and pop Italian restaurant. We shop at Walmart, until we put ourselves out of business and are forced to don the blue vest and be a slave to said Walmart.

RBA: There was some heated debate on the YouTube comments for “Guitar Hero Gone.” Did you get a chance to see any of these, and what did you think when you found out about the “controversy?”

LD: I saw them. At first, I felt attacked. Then I actually felt bad, because I had not intended to hurt anyone with any of the strong imagery in the song and video. Then I began to understand. This is why I refused to engage in the banter. It was an education for me. I was unfamiliar with concepts like “flame war” and “troll”. My good friend and graphic artist/tech support, Kevin (Teratoma), helped me to understand what was going on with my channel. I stood by my art and my message, and bit my lip as it was completely misunderstood by most of the commentators. Toymasheen understood it very well from the beginning. After Frankie and Kevin talked directly I started to understand that it was largely in good fun. Although there were some malicious acts like viruses being sent through email (staved off) and a vague threat or two.

RBA: The imagery from video (“Slash” holding a sign saying “Traded Soul For Toy Guitar”, graves of “George,” “Jimi,” and “Dime”) and the lyrics from the song (“Come along with your gay little Metallica song, pushing them buttons but chord you don’t know one…”) portray a negative message to fans of the music game genre. Do you think that games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band are bad for music in general?

LD: The “Slash” bit was in response to an article in Guitar Player magazine that referred to Slash as the “Last Guitar Hero”. The piece was all about his work recording stuff for the game. I felt like the message they were unintentionally conveying was that Slash took his money and shoved our art over the cliff, thus making him the LAST one. That said, it was still just a joke, not meant to be malicious. The graves just represented favorite guitar players of mine, hence the zombie kids with the guitar controllers (irony in “guitar controller”, too) dancing on their graves. One of the markers is a tribute to a great player and close friend of mine, Mike Hyde. The “gay” little Metallica song was more irony. I am not a big fan of Metallica. But they are the picture of metal-machismo and I just liked the irony of that line. Once again, no harm meant. And it is obviously not any sort of reference to anyone’s lifestyle.

I do not think that guitar themed video games are harmful to real music. Real music has to be strong enough to stand on its own. And if it is, it will. There will always be watered down mainstream stuff (like Nickelback) and that only creates a demand for more of the real thing.

Unless I am wrong, and things turn into a Mike Judge “Idiocracy” type of scenario.

RBA: What about games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero having an impact on a player’s interest in playing a real instrument at some point… do you think fans of the game would be more or less inclined to give the real thing a shot after playing these games?

LD: Whatever inspires someone to play, whether it be as inane as how cool they think they look with a guitar, or because they heard Hendrix and had to learn how to squeeze love out of six strings and a loud Marshall, whatever the case, if they are inspired to play and actually do it, then that is a wonderful thing. I don’t think that the game will make anyone more or less inclined to actually pick up guitar. People have to be willing to invest a great deal of time and dedication. It MAY, however, save some of the less serious would-bes a few bucks if they satisfy their urges with the game.

RBA: We’re becoming more and more a nation and culture of immediate gratification, wanting everything without putting in the effort. Could your viewpoint on the music game genre be a symptom of this larger problem?

LD: That is actually part of the commentary in the song. We do it to ourselves, over and over again. Just like the people aboard the ship in the movie Wall-E. We are controlled by corporate powers through marketing and convenience and if we continue down that path, we could just become like maggots that consume ravenously and then cease to be. Never affecting each other, never leaving a positive mark on anything. But that has little to do with the game, the game would just be, as you say, a symptom.

RBA: Being that your music will be featured in Rock Band, have you played either game? Would you play your own song in the game to see how it is?

LD: I have played Rock Band. I actually really liked the drums, because they are very much like the real thing. But the guitar controller was just misery for me. I was wanting to actually play what I was hearing and the confines of the buttons and the trigger thing were uncomfortable. My song? Sure, I will at least try the drums. Nick is a great drummer and it would be very fun to try the game with his drums on the chart.

RBA: Is there anything that you would like the Rock Band community to know about you that we haven’t touched on yet?

LD: First, I would like to say THANK YOU to all who have watched the video, and taken interest in my music. And a HUGE thank you to Miguel Molinari and everyone at Rockgamer Studios. Also, big thanks to Frankie Boombatts, Toymasheen, Teratoma and all the other good sports that got involved with this. Second, to anyone who was offended in any way by the song or the video, that was never my intention and I think the real message might clear that up. Lastly, I hope that everyone enjoys the song in the game and I would love to hear any comments that they may have. I can be reached through my website at http://www.lorendircks.com

Thank you, and I hope YOU’RE happy!

RBA: Absolutely! Thank you, Loren!

For more info on Loren Dircks, you can check out his website or on Facebook. His song is currently in peer review in the Rock Band Network, and should be available for purchase and download soon. Below is a preview of his song in Rock Band.

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