Chriz van Jaarsveld is currently the guitarist for
the Sleeze Beez. Besides being
a great guitarist he's a super nice guy! I had the chance to
meet Chriz and the rest of the band back in the days of their
first U.S. tour. They were a lot of fun. The band broke up in
1996 but reformed in 2010! I had the pleasure of interviewing
Chriz recently!
1. Any person (living or dead) that
you would like to meet and why?
My cat, coz I dearly luved that animal.
2. Who are some of your favorite
musicians?
Ritchie Blackmore in his Deep Purple
days, Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Todd Rundgren, Frank Zappa,
David Bowie, Pete Townsend, Mick Jagger (ultimate performer),
Yngwie Malmsteen, Phil Rudd, and many others.
3. What's your guilty musical
pleasure?
Country & Western, the tear jerking
ballads, heard many of those on the radio whilst being on tour
in the U.S.
4. Who did you idolize as a child?
I don't think I did really... I always
wanted to be like one of the big, physically strong guys in
the neighborhood - they always seemed to have it all, and got
a lot of respect. Later on a realized that being a guitarist
in a rock band is not much different really, it's even better
for that matter.
5. Stranded on a deserted island, what
3 cds would you have with you?
Yeah, I asked myself that question also at
times. Once, after a stranded relationship, I started a new
life with no money whatsoever in a crappy house with a small
hifi system and only 2 records: one was Reckless by Brian
Adams, and the other one Back in Black by AC/DC. I played the
hell out of those albums, over and over again, and they got me
thru that period. But since I have a broad taste in music, I
would say: Yes - Close to the Edge, Pink Floyd - The Dark Side
of the Moon, and last but definitely not least, AC/DC's Back
in Black. Hope there is electricity on that island then....
6. The difference between today's
music and the music of the 80's?
I like what's going on nowadaze, I can
sense a new turn in music, a lot of young musicians are
picking up on late 60's early 70's music - so nothing new
under the sun one might say, but I find that very promising
really. Although I luved the 80's, much of the music from back
then sounds 'dated' to me, with those big drums and all. I
always preferred a more natural sound. Some good bands from
that era though! (like Motley Crue for instance).
7. Favorite place to perform?
The Paradiso in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
8. What makes a good song?
To me a good song is a song you wanna hear
over and over again -sometimes the best songs are the ones
that have to 'grow' on ya, but when they do, you're hooked.
And speaking of hooks: I like songs with a good hook, catchy,
or haunting chorus, and a good sound. A song with a head and a
tail.
9. What are your hobbies?
My hobbies are close to wot I do for a
living, which is painting (as an artist) and making music. And
sometimes I like to indulge in some "bad" habits I have, with
good friends or female company - I won't go into details, but
I can reveal that staying up late is involved.
10. Favorite food to eat on the road?
My favorite food on the road is what I like
at home as well: pizza(!) and Mexican food. And my favorite
guitar is a Fender Stratocaster.
11. The first concert you ever went
to?
Black Sabbath in Amsterdam, with madman Ozzy.
Sabbath in their glory days, I woz totally blown away.
12. Who's the best person you've met
on the road?
That's a tuff question... most people one
meets on the road, besides fans, are people from the press,
media, or record company reporters, executives etc.. That's
all mainly about the business-side of making music. A lot of
those persons do not tickle my fancy, if u catch my drift ;-).
I did meet a lot of nice people of course (specially the fans,
and fellow musicians) but I think the best persons to hang
around with on the road are your fellow band mates. You have
to stick - and pull thru together, even when the odds are
against you. When touring abroad one has to rely on each
other, thru thick and thin. By the way, come to think of it:
Best person I met on the road must have been ME, myself
really... hahaha
13. Any current projects?
Right
now I'm working on a bunch of songs in my home studio. I do
have plans to bring some old mates in, and I'll take it from
there.
And as an artist I work together with my sister Saskya under
the banner PROFUNDUS - the website is under construction at
the moment (the English version is a mess ;-) but if u wanna
take a look, go to:
www.profundus-art.com (the new and refreshed site will be
online approximately around may this year).
