Pick Up Your Cross With...
Solid Mind is one of the High Desert's best kept
secrets, but not for long. They are definetly on the
move towards recognition with
their extreme and in your face rap-core style. With a heart for God
and mind set on His word, they are reaching out to their generation and making
an impact.
Part One: Chris Centola (Guitar)
Part Two: Ken Klein (Vocals) and Tony Aiello (Guitar)
Part Three: Vic Mendoza (Bass)
Part Four: Pete Centola (Drums)
Solid Mind Interview:
Part One
GILBERT: We are at Calvary Chapel the High Desert, and today we are
here interviewing, Chris Centola guitar player, lead guitar player, am I
correct?
CHRIS: Yes
GILBERT: of Solid Mind. Chris, Im going to ask a couple questions
here, please answer to the best of your ability. First question: how and
when did the band form?
CHRIS: We formed in September of 1998 when a bunch of us musicians
from New Life Chapel Youth Group and Calvary Chapel decided to get together
and form a rap-core band.
GILBERT: Awesome. How would you say Solid Mind has changed since
the beginning?
CHRIS: Id like to think weve gotten a little more professional. I think that really we havent changed too much but weve grown alot spiritually.
GILBERT: Who came up with Solid Mind?
CHRIS: My brother Peter, our drummer.
GILBERT: What does it mean, does it have any purpose?
CHRIS: Were saying that through Christ we can have a solid
mind, that we have that solid assurance in our mind that we have salvation
through Him.
GILBERT: What is the purpose of Solid Mind as a whole band and as
an individual, as a guitar player in a band?
CHRIS: I would say they are both the same, to go out and minister
to the people of this world. And to use our music to bring as many people
as we can to know Jesus.
GILBERT: Is there any record deals in the works for Solid
Mind?
CHRIS: We just cut a compilation deal with Rescue Records thatll
be out on August first that will have our song, Upside Down along
with P.O.D.s Snuff the Punk and various other artists.
And otherwise, no real big deals.
GILBERT: We at RHYTHMSTX understand you guys are endorsed by BC
RICH, is this a rumor, or whats going on here?
CHRIS: Yes, we are hooked up by BC RICH.
GILBERT: Is there any further more endorsements by anybody
else?
CHRIS: Nope, no other endorsements.
GILBERT: Chris, can you tell us how many times Vic has seen The
Prince Of Egypt?
CHRIS: Enough to wear out the tape. (laughs) Probably about
12.
GILBERT: So, as a musician Chris, how would you rate yourself from
1 to 10?
"Were saying that through Christ we can have a solid mind, that we have that solid assurance in our mind that we have salvation through Him." ...Chris Centola
CHRIS: Right now, I would rate myself a 5.
GILBERT: A five?
CHRIS: I feel I need to pursue my musical studies more to better
myself as a music minister. This is something Ive been convicted of
lately.
GILBERT: Chris, could you tell us who is your inspiration, in the
band, or lets say someone who motivates you such as maybe a wife or
maybe an idol of some type.
CHRIS: Yeah, my wife Becky keeps me pretty motivated. Shes
always helping to keep me in the right direction I should go with the band
and everything else.
GILBERT: So Chris, what do you think of Out Of
Place?
CHRIS: Out of Place is a very cool punk rock band. They
have awesome ministry, awesome music, and pretty funny jokes.
GILBERT: Thank you Chris. Thanks for the interview today.
Solid Mind Interview:
GILBERT: Today we have Ken Klein and Tony Aiello the Italian Stallion
in the Studio for RHYTHMSTX.
TONY: Who are you?
GILBERT: I am the PR, my name is Gilbert Hernandez, Public Relations.
Wed like to ask you a few questions about Solid Mind. The first question
you can answer individually or as a group. I want to know how,
CHRIS (in the background): Are we going to go get something to
eat?
KEN: (to Chris): Yeah.
GILBERT: Thats Chris Centola, hold on. Ken, tell me
how and when did the band start, form? Chris basically gave us a brief
description about it.
KEN: What do you mean?
GILBERT: How did the band start, how was it formed?
KEN: Its better to ask Tony, because Tony has it like memorized,
the foundation of Solid Mind.
GILBERT: How did the band start and form?
TONY: Well, like...
GILBERT:
And when did it form.
TONY: When did it form? It was almost about a year ago probably.
GILBERT: What motivated you to form too, like I know you were telling
me about...
TONY: Well, like it was wierd because, like Gods been telling
me to start a band like for a long time. I mean Hes been raising me
up in music just to do this. And um, I knew Ken way back in High School,
its kind of like a big story. I mean, Peter and Chris, they went to
New Life where I went and I asked them if they wanted to start a band, and
they were like, sure. And right around the same time God showed me to go
to Calvary Chapel and talk to Ken and see if he wanted to start a band. And
I asked him and I said hey, would you be interested in starting a band, and
he says, yeah. And at the same time Vic was sitting there next to us and
Ken was saying, why dont you pray about it Vic, maybe you never know,
God might want you to play in the band, you know playing bass. And at that
time we had another bass player, but that obviously didnt work.
GILBERT: And he stunk I heard.
TONY: Well, I wouldnt really say that.
KEN: No comment.
TONY: No comment. But God just put it together I mean it wasnt
me at all, nothing, it was just, God just works in wierd ways, you know,
mysterious ways.
GILBERT: Do you have anything to say about this Ken? What motivated
you besides Gilbert Hernandez of Out Of Place?
KEN: I was sick of all this weak music, and all these bands that
never would preach the gospel. And to go into these shows, and no one would
be preaching nothing, and just sick of watching Christian music be a bunch
of, a parade. So with me, I took the opportunity to do things like the way
I thought they should be done, like praying before the set, opening up the
Bible during the set, you know...God allowed it to happen. So, it kind of
motivated me, like other peoples weakness, while God was my
strength.
TONY: God saw our hearts, you know that we didnt want to go
out there just to become famous and to become rock stars, but that we wanted
to do it for ministry.
KEN: Like Out Of Place, because theyre rock stars. (laughs)
GILBERT: How would you say the band has changed from the beginning,
since the beginning?
KEN: Well, Tonys gotten cuter. Hes lost like ten
pounds.
TONY: Ive got an eyebrow ring now. Well, Id say God
has shown us a lot of patience and faith, patience. Weve learned,
Ive learned patience and faith. Trusting God in everything, I mean
hoping for things we have not seen, you know.
KEN: Yeah. Amen.
GILBERT: What about Ken?
KEN: What was the question?
GILBERT: How do you think the band has changed since the
beginning?
KEN: I see a brotherhood instead of a band. I see accountability
in Christ. And I see uh, I see a unit instead of like individuals. So I see
like a lot of, I guess the best word is a bond. A better bond, you know and
I see growth through everybody in the band. I see growth through certain
people that, well through all of us, you know.
GILBERT: How has Solid Mind changed like in your life, like practice
wise and show wise and like road wise?
KEN: Well, basically it took my eyes off of God. No, Im just
kidding. No.
TONY: Its actually helped me like to stay more focused, like
accountability you know. There are kids out there looking at me and Ive
got to be for reals, you know. I cant be no fake out there.
KEN: Could you have picked a bigger tape recorder? (laughs)
GILBERT: Hey, this is our band recorder, dude.
I was sick of all this weak music,
and all these bands that never would preach the
gospel"
...Ken
TONY: Thats fine, Im sure it will work great.
KEN: Im just kidding, Im just trying to break the ice,
ok go ahead.
TONY: But you should have pressed record. Im just kidding.
KEN: Go ahead Gilbert.
GILBERT: Ok, Chris told me that Peter came up with the title
Solid Mind is that true?
KEN: Yes.
TONY: Yes its true. We had all kinds of wierd names, but like
Peter, he found it in the video store. (laughs)
KEN: He found it with the video games.
TONY: Yeah, he found like the name solid or something and then then
we put mind together, I dont know, Solid Mind.
KEN: Its off actually a Metal Gear. The new Metal Gear
game.
GILBERT: Really?
KEN: Yeah.
GILBERT: Metal Gear.
KEN: It said solid something and then he thought of solid mind.
TONY: We were really praying on a name, like a cool name, that was
just straight out and God brought it.
GILBERT: Thats way cool.
KEN: Yeah, I agree.
GILBERT: What is the purpose of Solid Mind as a band, and as an
individual as like yourselves.
KEN: Ok, wait wait, there are two questions there. You gotta ask
one at a time.
GILBERT: Ok, what do you think the purpose of Solid Mind is as a
band?
KEN: Music thats a little more harder, but with a Godly message
behind it. And for them to see the more liberal side of Christ, not saying
that were like promoting liberalism or nothing, but to see the more
of the reality of a walk through us, you know by people talking to us at
the shows and stuff. And I see it just as more of just an alternative for
anybody you know that likes the harder scene, you now to really hear the
Gospel and to really see how I think Christ would have done it.
GILBERT: What about you Tony?
TONY: He said it all."
GILBERT: Amen.
TONY: I have to agree totally with everything he said right
there.
GILBERT: For the band right?
TONY: Yeah, for the band.
GILBERT: What about individually? Lets start with you Tony
first.
TONY: What our purpose is?
GILBERT: Individually, youre purpose.
TONY: Um, just to reach this world, because I mean, they are dying
and going to Hell basically and I mean, we have to be bait on a hook I guess,
and we have to draw them in. Sometimes it takes hard-core music or whatever
our style is to bring them in. I mean, if they like a certain style and they
will say hey, I like that band Solid Mind you know, and then we preach to
them, you know. Not throw it in thier faces but just say it in a loving
way.
KEN: Whats the question again?
GILBERT: Individul as in a band.
KEN: Meaning what?
GILBERT: As an individual how do you feel you like, whats
your purpose as an individual as a lead singer in a band, because you are
the front man basically.
KEN: I think my purpose God has me there for is to bring a, like
I said again, like a reality to Christianity, not like the plastic image
that people portray, you know but the real life day to day struggles that
like our generation faces. You know its more of, I feel my job on stage
is to really to break it down and show them a reformed heathen, you know.
And let them see Christ in me glowing you know, as well as my other band
members. But its more or less my position in the band, is more or less
just to be an ambassador for Christ. Just to tell it like the Gospel say
it.
GILBERT: Does the band have any future plans, now you guys are getting
big now?
TONY: We hope to get signed, yeah. That would be cool.
KEN: Yeah. We plan on going on tour some year.
GILBERT: Any record deals?
KEN: No.
TONY: Theres this record compilation.
KEN: And a lot of shows.
TONY: A lot of shows.
GILBERT: This question is for Tony. Tony, we at RHYTHMSTX are very
proud to have you as a guitar teacher. Can you tell us some of the stuff
you teach your students? No lying now.
TONY: What I will be teaching to the students.
KEN: He will be teaching them the every day riffs of Solid Mind,
see its four easy professional chords with a couple triplets.0
TONY: Well I will be teaching basic theory on the guitar and like
scales and modes and a lot of weird excercises in chords and um stuff to
do with rock guitar, maybe a little classical, a little jazz.
KEN: Rock guitar? (laughs)
TONY: Rock guitar is what we play. If you dont like it
thats too bad. Punk rock is rock, so its rock.
KEN: Punk is not dead.
TONY: Excuse me, Ill say it Kens way, hard-core.
KEN: Punk is not dead.
GILBERT:
Amen. Can you guys tell us how many times Vic has seen The Price
of Egypt?
KEN: No man knows.
TONY: Well, probably about nine or ten times probably. It might
have been like twelve.
KEN: Twelve maybe.
TONY: Because Ive seen it with him once and I think hes
seen it with the rest of the band.
KEN: I think hes infatuated with the songs.
TONY: He knows the songs by heart, hes got the soundtrack.
KEN: And he sings along with it because he feels happy when he hears the songs.
"I feel my job on stage is to really to
break it down and show them a reformed heathen, you
know"...Ken
GILBERT: How would you guys rate yourselves as musicians from
one to ten? Tony first.
TONY: Um, its hard for me to say because Im not like
a prideful person, and I dont think Im that good, but Ken, Ken
I dont know. Id say like eight and a half.
GILBERT: What about you Ken? As vocals, you know getting the real
rap beat in there with your beanie on stage and your mic around your neck
and all cute looking?
GILBERT: How do you rate yourself from one to ten?
KEN: As a male model, or?
TONY: As a singer.
GILBERT: As a singer.
TONY: As an experienced singer.
KEN: Id say uh, seven.
GILBERT: Ok.
TONY: I got a higher number.
GILBERT: Do you guys enjoy being on the road with each other?
KEN: What? Say that again.
GILBERT: Do you guys enjoy being on the road with each other?
KEN: I find it very comfortable being around a lot of sexy musicains
such as Tony Aiello.
TONY: You know, this is going to be on the internet.
KEN: Oh (laughs)
TONY: Well, I hate it. No, its pretty fun. Its just
like you got a cool road trip where were like heading down to a show
and its really really fun. I enjoy it, its like something Ive
been wanting to do my whole life. I want to do it for the rest of my life.
KEN: So do you Tony, plan on being single, as Paul says it best?
TONY: Not really.
TONY: At least for a couple more months.
KEN: Months, (laughs)
TONY: Or years. Ill have to smile more.
GILBERT: I know you guys eat at Dennys alot. What would you
guys order usually at Dennys when you get there, because I know you
guys hang out with Out Of Place a lot. And what do you guys think about Out
Of Place?
TONY: Out Of Place, they are pretty cool guys, I knew them before
they were Out Of Place.
KEN: You know they put themselves out of place.
TONY: You know, they are good brothers, I love them very much.
KEN: Yes.
GILBERT: So, back to the food question. What do you order at Dennys a lot?
TONY: Oh my gosh, like a chicken ceaser salad or something. And
one more, theres one more, actually I had it last week, I get like
the super burger. Its the only thing they serve.
KEN: A super burger (laughing).
GILBERT: Chris Centolas back, we didnt ask him. Chris
Centola, what is the main dish you usually get at Dennys because I
know you eat out at Dennys a lot with Out Of Place.
CHRIS: (In his best Southern Preacher voice) Well, my brutha. I
usually get mmmmm...
KEN: UH-HUH!
CHRIS: Can I get an amen!?"
KEN: UH, AMEN!
CHRIS: The meat lovers skillet, mmmhhhmmm
KEN: UH-HUH!
GILBERT: Thats all Im saying dude. Alright. Thats
all the questions, guys. And would you guys like to add anything here?
KEN: Id like to say that the guys from Out Of Place are...
TONY: Very attractive.
KEN: Very attractive.
TONY: Is Johnny going to listen to this? Well Johnny (starts beat-boxing
Run DMC style). See ya Johnny.
KEN: Ive got a message for Johnny too. Johnny, your video,
I saw at Vics house encouraged me to be a bold Christian. Your jet
black hair lavishing in the wind, it touched me. (Blows kiss).
(laughter all around)
GILBERT: Solid Mind
Solid Mind Interview:
GILBERT: Today were interviewing Vic Mendoza from Solid Mind.
Most known as Poccahontas, for his beautiful hair and his conditioned silky
skin. Vic, we at RHYTHMSTX would like to ask you a couple questions.
VIC: Ok.
GILBERT: How and when did the band form?
VIC: How did it form? Thats kind of a long story and when was like almost a year ago.
GILBERT: Could you basically give us like your testimony? Maybe a little short brief testimony of how you joined the band.
VIC: Uh, yeah. Its kind of a really long story. I guess to put it in short, I was kind of pretty much doing my own thing about a year ago and uh, I kinda like almost fell away and ended up jamming for a secular band and stuff and then uh, I got kinda tired of it and then God convicted me and I ended up quitting the band and the Tony came over to my house and he asked me if I wanted to play bass and I then asked him if he needed a bass player so it was kind of weird how God set that up. So sure enough not even like a week later or so I started jamming with them, and it was kind of a weird thing.
GILBERT: Way Cool. Whats the purpose of Solid Mind as a band,
what do you think?
VIC: I think theres a lot of reasons. I think its number one I think its to tell people about Jesus Christ, but one of the major things for me is to really just to encourage other Christians and to like, even just you know other bands just to stay bold and you dont have to be a flake or follow the crowd or whatever, just follow Jesus Christ. You know, so.
GILBERT: Whats your um, everybody in the band has different goals for Solid Mind. Basically they are all the same, from all the interviews I mean, but, what is your goal as a bass player, and you know, being so rock-star-ish?
VIC: Rock-star-ish? (laughs). I dont know, I dont consider myself as that. Gods given everybody a specific gift and Im just using that for His glory. I think as far as what my goal is for the band, is just to, like I said earlier, I want to be able to set an example and just show people that you know, you can play hard music and still be saved. You know and just to encourage people and you know with the gift that you have and stuff. I mean, its not about just trying to rush out and trying to get a career for yourself because I dont think thats one of the reasons. I mean, theres nothing wrong with playing music and to have a career for it, theres nothing wrong with that. But I dont think thats my major goal for, why Im in Solid Mind you know. I think its just because I have a gift and I want to use it for God, and I just want to show people that you could do that too, and just watch God just open the doors you know and just because your band dont go good it doesnt mean you have to quit music and stuff you could just always play and glorify God.
GILBERT: When you are on stage, what are some of the things that go through your head?
VIC: Ah, probably, wow look at the crowd. (laughs) Are they liking us, do they like us? I dont know, its just, I try to keep my focus on God while Im up there and just, you know. Because if I dont dude, I just start losing it and then get all scared. I always get scared before every show. Thats because Im always worrying about things, like if things are going to go right, or you know if something, am I going to break a string or whatever and stuff. I shouldnt have to worry about stuff like that, but. You know thats just the main thing I just want to just concentrate on God and just let God work. Its amazing to see God work in the crowd. You know, because if the crowd likes it then, you know its just a blessing to us and then it encourages us to make better music and you know and just to go out there and put on a show for the kids and whatever, and just to tell them about God. I mean you can totally see the crowd and how the Spirit hits their heart. Its just amazing.
GILBERT: I know there are no record deals right now for Solid Mind,
but if there was, what record company would you like to be signed with?
VIC: Dude, a major. (laughs) I would like to get on a major label, but thats just up to God. And it depends on how, um good we play I guess as far as a musician. You know, I mean I would like to get on a major label, but thats just up to God, and how spiritually tight we are with God. Because if, I mean if you get rushed out there and get on a major label you can totally loose your focus off of God and just like getting business into your head and stuff. Because Ive seen a lot of good you know musicians loose it just because of business you know. So I mean, wherever God leads. I mean I would like to get on a big major label, but um as far as Christian label you know anythings fine for me as long as its in a you know world wide distribution or whatever. It could be Tooth-N-Nail or anything. I mean whatever God has planned, its pretty much open to that.
GILBERT: As a musician how would you rate yourself from one to
ten?
VIC: Ah, dude Id consider about a five. I mean, I know Im alright, but then again I know I dont suck, but still I think as far as a bass player I think you cant, I think theres more to learn. Even like for a drummer or a guitar player or a singer I think, I dont think you could really reach a limit of you know being the best or whatever. I think that you could go more, you know just keep getting better and better and better and learning different styles and you know learning your own style and stuff, so. I mean as far as myself theres a lot I need to learn. Totally a lot. And the style that I m doing now is really different than what I was doing before because before I was doing death metal and stuff and now Im like playing this rap-core stuff. So it was like a different lead and I still dont even know how to write rap-core you know. I just throw in death metal riffs sometimes you know and fills and it doesnt really match but I have to improvise sometimes.
GILBERT: How is it working with so many different people, like I know Ken is like hard-core and rap and Tonys death metal and Chris likes Joy Electric and stuff like that?
VIC: And Peter liking punk.
GILBERT: Peter liking punk and how is it working together at
practice?
VIC: Its a struggle a little bit like as far as writing you know everybody wants to throw in their little ideas. Which is cool, I mean there needs to be a point where there needs to be unity. I mean if you are in any band there needs to be unity, and whatever goal you are trying to go for, for that style of music, like whatever band you are and whatever style you have to aim for that style and not try to get too on one persons decision. It needs to be a unity thing. But I mean as far as us it gets kind of hard a little bit because one person wants to play punk and one person wants to play death metal and one person wants to play Pantera or whatever, you know and um it gets a little hard, but we need to like humble ourselves and just let God control it, you know. But everything we end up writing everyone likes anyway so. But at first it is kinda hard.
"Gods given everybody a specific gift and Im just using that for His glory"...Vic
GILBERT: We at RHYTHMSTX, we would like to know how many times you have seen The Prince Of Egypt.
VIC: (laughs) I think I lost count after nine, dude.
GILBERT: Why do you like the movie so much?
VIC: Its cool dude, Im totally as far as, I mean I love movies dude, I totally love movies. Ive dreamed about being a film maker. I want to go to film school and stuff. And when it comes to like, even like Disney films or animated and musicals and I love that kind of stuff. And I think what they did with Prince Of Egypt, I think thats like a total masterpiece because they were able to take something thats Biblical, even though its an adaptation, all of its only maybe fifty percent of its accurate, but theyd be able to take it and do something with it, and for the kids you know and still leave God in it. I have total respect for the movie, just because they um added you know, you can find the story of Moses in the book of Exodus, and that totally gained my total respect. Thats why I love it so much, you know. Its art, but then again its Biblical and you know it still glorifies God to me and it still touches me and stuff, so thats why I like it so much.
GILBERT: What do you think of Out Of Place?
VIC: Out Of Place? Uh, dude, only because they are good friends of mine, I think they are cool. But if I were to see them somewhere like at Reflections playing with Sacred Faith or something then you know, Id probably think they were, just kidding dude. No.
GILBERT: Most people think that the lead singer is drunk on stage,
um what do you feel about that?
VIC: The lead singer? The lead singer is,
GILBERT: Or the bass player.
VIC: Oh, the bass player, or the guitar player?
GILBERT: Yeah, the guy with the earrings.
VIC: The guy with the earrings, dude, hes a hottie dude. I think all of them are hotties dude. And I think you know, they need to shave all of their heads off and keep their shirts off and just you know, play good music.
GILBERT: Vic, bass player, Solid Mind, thank you Vic.
VIC: No problemo.
Unfortunately we were unable to catch up with Pete Centola, Drummer of Solid Mind.
But here is a picture taken at the Christian Headshop in Victorville, California.