SHOCK! – pretty new to the scene; a young troop of metal rockers who surprised us with more than one of their answers in the XXQ’s. I mean, they started out in Japan! HUGE bands dream of making it out to Japan to do anything, and these guys got it all started in the land of the rising sun! And if Jonny, Pat and Dirty weren’t surprising us… they were showcasing a pretty good sense of humor. Just listen to how the name SHOCK! came about:

“Well when we first started out, we called ourselves ‘That Rockin’ Band’. But after countless shows where all we would hear were chuckles from the audience after introducing ourselves, we decided we needed to change. Hence, SHOCK! was born. I wanted a name that would be easily remembered and something that we could play off of.”

Hey, it’s working. I’m not going to forget about this band… but it’s not just due to a name. They say their sound is “a combination of all our favorite bands. We write about simple things, like… sex. Because music is a language and people relate to things they can understand.” Not a bad way to put it, but I see their style as a metal that more than metalheads can get into. Try and prove PEV wrong – give a few of their tunes a listen and let us know! Before you get to that however, keep reading for all the answers to the XXQ’s. 

XXQs: Shock!

PEV: How did you first get started in music?

PW: What made me want to play music is the movie “School Of Rock.” My dad took me to go see that movie when I was in 8th grade and once I saw that, I asked my dad for a guitar right away. To be able to move people with my music, to make them jump up and scream their f’in heads off, is my dream man.

PEV: How would you describe your sound and what do you feel makes you stand out over the others in your genre? 

Jonny Malaun (Vox/Bass): A combination of all our favorite bands.  We write about simple things, like… sex.  Because music is a language, and people relate to things they can understand.

PEV: Tell how the name SHOCK! Came about.  Why did you decide to run with this?

Pat Wrath(Guitar): Well when we first started out, we called ourselves “That Rockin’ Band.” But after countless shows where we all we would hear were chuckles from the audience after introducing ourselves, we decided we needed to change. Hence, SHOCK! was born. I wanted a name that would be easily remembered and something that we could play off of.

PEV: What can fans expect from a live SHOCK! show?

Dirty-D!(Drums): More than they will find at any other live show in the industry now. We make our shows more of a SHOW than a “sit and watch” type thing. People just really need to come see one for themselves because a lot of times, its just hard to describe by words.

PEV: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you step on stage?

JM: Am I gonna see boobs?

PEV: What is your creative process like when you sit down to work on a song?

PW: Usually Jonny will come up with the lyrics and most of the guitar parts on his own. He’ll come show the songs to me and I’ll maybe add a couple parts here and there then figure out a solo. We rarely write a song while “jamming” but when it does happen, it’s usually badass.

PEV: What was the underlining inspiration for your music? Where do get your best ideas for songs?

DD: Haha, the best ideas from our songs come from the things that just entertain us— sometimes things that people want to pursue themselves but never do, such as well… being a porn star.

PEV: Thinking back to when you first started out, do you ever look back at your career and think about your earlier days and how you’ve arrived where you are today?

 JM: Yeah.  Before music I was a good student.  But when music came into my life, it was the only thing that mattered to me.  Since day one, my “career” has always been about preaching rock to the audience.  And as long as I can sing and play, I don’t think that will ever change.

PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about the members of  SHOCK!?

PW: You’d probably be surprised to hear that our band started out in Japan. When we tell people that they’re always like, “Cool! Is it true that they have vending machines with beer in it?” Hah. I mean it is pretty awesome having that experience of living and playing our music in a foreign country. Not a lot of bands around here can say that. And yes, there are beer vending machines in Japan in case you guys were wondering.

PEV: Was there a certain point in your life when you knew that music was going to be a career for you?

DD: Yes, when I first picked up my sticks and got in  a band. The effect has only been enhanced since then. Just the adrenaline rush from being in front of hundreds of people and making them all scream with the show is better than anything. And the fact that its just fun as crap to be with your friends and live such a thing. There’s nothing else out there for us—Just ROCK!

PEV: What one word best describes SHOCK!?

JM: Rock.

PEV: How is life for you in the music world? Best and worst parts?

PW: It’s pretty damn hard. It’s not like back in the 80’s where labels will actually work with the band to develop them and invest a lot of money in them. Now-a-days bands have to do all the stuff on their own man. But hell, it’s a fun lifestyle. You drive for hours in a packed van with your best friends to get to a show where you might be only playing for two people. It’s exciting not knowing what’s going to come next and that’s probably the best part about being in a band.

PEV: Is there one area you wish you could travel around and play that you have not yet?

DD: Anywhere that appreciates loud rock and epic shows. We’re all about traveling because it’s just fun as crap to wake up and know you have a big ass show that night in a new town.

PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your career? What’s it like when you get to play at your hometown?

JM: A lot of people think I’m a joke.  I suppose dreams of becoming a singer of a famous rock band is kinda … out there.  But everything starts as a dream.  My parents are really proud that I’m following them.

PEV: What can we find each of you doing in your spare time, aside from playing/writing music?

PW: We all have different hobbies. Throughout a normal day though you can usually find us playing video-games (Tekken!), surfing the internet for naked ladies, and driving around looking for food. Sometimes you’ll even find us in the gym. SHOCK! does like to look good for the ladies ;)

PEV: Name one present and past artist or group that would be your dream collaboration?

DD: We like everything from Blink 182, to Dream Evil, and Lordi, so to us its really anyone that would bring that epic rock atmosphere out and make it fun.

PEV: Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?

JM: Yeah … SHOCK!

PEV: If you weren’t playing music now what do you think each of your careers would be?

PW: Since we’re all young, we’d probably all be in college right now. Jonny would be pursuing football, I would be studying to become a teacher of some sorts, and D… is still in high-school so I’m not sure about him.

PEV: So, what is next for  SHOCK!?

DD: Getting famous as hell.