sit down with Grady...

here is a little friendly interview I did with Grady, to let you know yes hes back and still alive...

Jeff: First off, I am very happy to say this, so welcome back to will haven my brother....

Did you miss us at all while you were gone?

Grady: A little

Jeff: We played some benefit shows for our brother Chi (Deftones) last year, you did most of those shows with us and then one amazing show in San Francisco, I know for the band it felt really good to have you up there, how was it for you walking on stage after 5 years?

Grady: Playing the benefit shows were alot of fun and it was nice to play a few oldies and see some friends I haven't seen in a long time. However, the show in SF was awesome. The flame to play music for me was reignited. It felt natural, like I had never stepped aside at all.

Jeff: Yeah the shows for Chi were special, I never wanted to have to do a show like that for a friend but everyones heart was in a good place. It was good to see all the old school friends come together for our brother, we even had the OG will haven line up, Mike on bass and Wayne on drums for one song, that was rad! love you cheng! The SF show was insane, definately brought back that feeling back to me as well.

Jeff: You and I have been best bros since we were 12 but I can honestly say along with alot of other people that you are by far one of the most amazing frontmen in the game, your charisma, style and voice, no one comes close. How do you feel onstage when your up there? is it confidence or are you just in the moment letting it all go? because it is all heart up there...

Grady: We have been friends a long time..I just drove by Alice Birney (our elementary school) the other day, it brought back memories. As for being on stage, it would have to be a combination of the wall of sound surging through me, the emotional landscapes, the lyrics paint in my mind.

Jeff: What is one of your favorite memories with will haven?

Grady: Justin and I were reminiscing the other day. He reminded me of the trip we took down south and played a garage in San Diego, 50 plus kids sweating to the Haven in a carpet lined garage, good times...

Jeff: Yeah that show was interesting, our "manager" at the time said he had a show for us in Chula Vista (just south of San Diego) we show up and its some dudes garage in the middle of a residential neighborhood, turned out to be a rad show, kids stagediving on top of us, breaking our shit, good times indeed..I think that night actually sucked for Justin, I remember he was hella sick and slept in the van while we played, then while he was trying to sleep someone egged our van!! I love Justin but he was the tiki doll (bad luck charm) of will haven.

Jeff: What is your favorite song to play live?

Grady: I'll throw a few at ye...Ego's Game, I've Seen My Fate and Carpe diem.

Jeff: Stick up Kid for me...

Jeff: You have a favorite will haven show that stands out in your mind?

Grady: I'd have to say every show we played in England. Man a pint sounds good right about now..

Jeff: I will have to speak up for Mitch and say a kabob as well.

Jeff: You and I are big AM radio fans, but what have you been rocking music wise lately?

Grady: Lately I have been forced to listen to the Chimpmunk soundtrack. Hot Snakes and Barkmarket are always in heavy rotation.

Jeff: You excited about recording another record?

Grady: Yes! I'm definately excited about recording another record.

Jeff: Yeah me too..the first thing I think about when I hear back the demos is "man I cant wait to hear Grady over this" so im pretty stoked how its coming together, Going to be good...

Jeff: So there is the Grady trademark that no one else can duplicate, its the "no shoes" policy on stage. Do you remember first doing that? and why some nights with shoes and others not?

Grady: Well that is a very interesting question. Unfortunately, the answer is not. I think we were on tour and I was wearing boots and did not want to break my ankle. So I doffed my boots and went barefoot. After that if the mood struck me I'd go barefoot. Now I'm thinking about it, its a bit of a primal feeling playing barefooted. Im grounded to the floor and can feel the vibrations of the drums and the amps flowing from the floor up through me.

Jeff: I never really noticed it until one night I walked off stage and saw just pools of blood everywhere, I came around the corner and saw you sitting on the counter with your feet in the sink just covered in blood. I said "what happend?" you said there was broken glass all over the stage, I remember saying "why the hell werent you wearing shoes?" thats when Wayne said "he never does!" so after that I would look over and there you were with no shoes, I thought it was pretty rad..

Jeff: Well my friend, im not a journalist, just a stupid guitar player so my ass is out of questions, but im stoked, along with the rest of the guys, to have you back where you belong, cant wait to finish this new record and play it live, you stoked or what???

Grady: Fuck yeah!!! I cant wait to take my place behind the mic and trigger the tsunami that is will haven.