In the 1990s, the band L.A. Guns had a kind of revolving door policy when it comes to members of the group. One of the earliest replacement members of L.A. Guns was bassist Johnny Crypt. Crypt stuck with the band when they fired his long-time friend, singer Chris Van Dahl, and he stayed through several other replacement singers. When L.A. Guns decided they might reunite their original line-up, Crypt knew it was time to move on. What is Johnny Crypt up to these days? Read on…
KK: What's new with Johnny Crypt?
JC: Well it's pretty much the same, I've done a few projects (Chris Van Dahl- The Vow) and I was working with Jizzy until he left with Ratt... other than that just writing...
KK: Tell me about your new project, PLaZMaHoLiX -- How did you decide to do this project?
JC: I've wanted to do this since around the middle of being in Guns.. I was half-awake half asleep one night, and I had this dream or vision or whatever it was.. I was in this band, on a huge stage.. the band was called PLaZMaHoLiX.. it was so clear.. so I figured I'd just do it.
KK: I read somewhere that you recorded all the songs for PLaZMaHoLiX by yourself. Is this true? If so, why did you choose to do it that way?
JC: Well to be honest.. I never intended for it to be that way.. I started writing so I'd have a bunch of songs regardless.. I asked Chris Van Dahl to do it with me, but he was into his own thing.. so there I was..
KK: I also saw on your message board that someone said they saw PLaZMaHoLiX live. Who else is in the band when you play out? Are they permanent members and will they record the next release with you?
JC: Hmmm that must have been a joke... there is no band right now... it's all me. However, I am talking with my drummer/friend J.D. Florez (he was in ANGELUST, one of my first bands, with me) we're discussing putting it together.. he is AWESOME!!!
KK: I listened to the songs on your MP3 page and they are very cool! You seem to be going in a very Goth direction with this project. With a name like Johnny Crypt I sense that this is the true you! Am I at all right in this assumption?
JC: Oh yeah.. you should see my place.. skeletons, coffins, spiderwebs.. I've always been and always will be that way...
KK: "WiKKiD eViL"is one of my favorite PlaZMaHoLiX songs. You have stated that it is very Gary Glitter-influenced. I also think I hear Alice Cooper influences in there. Is Alice an influence for you and who else has made an impact, musically, on your life and work?
JC: I always loved that Gary Glitter song... Alice Cooper was a huge influence for me.. I used to listen to his albums and just lay on the floor at my moms house and stare at the pictures on the albums... dark, creepy, cool.
KK: Do you have any idea when the PLaZMaHoLiX CD "ViRuS" may be released and with what kind of distribution?
JC: Well to be totally honest.. PLaZMaHoLiX, since I have not put a band together.. is just me.. having fun.. making music I like... there are no boundaries for me right now... some of the newer stuff I'm doing is even more diverse but in the same vein.. a little less rock and a little more rock industrial.. it's cool.. and very fun.. so I am not even thinking about anything being released.. if it happens that someone hears it and likes it and wants to release it, then cool.. but if I wait for that to happen I'll just be disappointed.. so I don't think about it... I'm realistic.. right now it's me, in my apt.. no one knows about PLaZMaHoLiX.. and until it changes that's how it is...
KK: Before Jizzy Pearl decided to join Ratt, he planned to resurrect Love/Hate with you and Chris Van Dahl. Is that still a possibility or are there no plans for that now?
JC: Everyone I've dealt with in the music business seems to be doing it for a quick buck.. making money is one thing.. making a quick buck is another. The thing with Jizzy is, when we decided to do Love/Hate. I gave Chris all my bass gear, and he bought me over $4000.00 of guitar gear just so we could do Love/Hate.. I turned down a couple of money making situations (people called me to tour) as well.. learned all the back catalog.. worked on some new stuff, and then all of a sudden Jizzy says he's going with Ratt cause he needs the money... I don't think I'll be doing Love/Hate.
KK: What is your fondest memory of the L.A. Guns days?
JC: Probably when Chris and I first joined.. We were a band ready to take on the world.. Chris and I had struggled for years together.. and to finally have some sort of a degree of success was very rewarding.. sometimes we'd look at each other on stage and just smile... those were my fondest memories...
KK: What is your least-favorite memory of the L.A. Guns days?
JC: When Tracii took Jizzy and I into the back lounge of the bus and said we're doing the reunion.
KK: Any good L.A. Guns road stories you’d like to share?
JC: I got to be with 2 chicks at once.
AND NOW FOR SOME SILLY QUESTIONS...
KK: Do you prefer...
tattoos or piercings?
JC: Tattoos
KK: blood or wine?
JC: Red Wine
KK: playing bass or playing guitar?
JC: Both
KK: burial or cremation?
JC: Neither
KK: What is your favorite color of ©M&M??
JC: Blue
KK: What is your favorite ©Kool-Aid flavor?
JC: Orange
KK: If you were forced to choose, which is your favorite boy-band?
JC: Backstreet Boys
KK: What is your darkest secret?
JC: I'm a woman trapped inside of this body.
KK: Would you rather tour as a member of N'SYNC's band, or for a period of one week stab yourself repeatedly in the face with a fork?
JC: Tour and stab them with forks...
KK: On that note...anything you’d like to say to your fans?
JC: Basically what I always say.. music is supposed to be fun.. my fans and friends realize that, and we have fun together either making music or listening to it.. it's easy, just enjoy.. much love to you all.
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