DOWNBOYS.COM INTERVIEWS
Kimmie's Interview With Mike Fasano

Kimmi Interviews Mike Fasano, Drummer of Warrant

4/25/00

I interrupted Warrant Laundry Day in the middle of their "69 Tour" to talk with Mike Fasano, the newest member and drummer of Warrant.

Kimmie: Where did you get the nick name "The Sack"?

Mike: The Sack? Where did I get it from?... Let's put it this way I got this bag that I carry around and people gave me a hard time about having it and so they called me "The Sack". I have a new nickname. A new one as well that not a lot of people know about. It's "The Dean Martin of Rock and Roll". Jani Lane coined me that. It's the Italian mother in me. My father loved Dean Martin. He cried when he died. I'm actually honered to have that so, Mike "The Sack - The Dean Martin of Rock and Roll" Fasano, you don't get anymore Italian than that.

Kimmie: Are you going to get drum sticks with that on it too?

Mike: You know that's a great idea. I'm actually in a bit of a drum stick situation right now because I heard that they're not going to make my drumsticks anymore. The kind that I like. So there is actually going to be big changes, so I don't know. That could be a good thing to be in the fold.

Kimmie: Hey, you know I come up with a good idea once in a while!

Mike: Yeah, yeah, you're like an idea man Chuck. Did you ever see that? Night Shift? With Winkler and Michael Keaton?

Kimmie: Yes, excellent movie.

Kimmie: Now I know you are not married now, have you ever been married?

Mike: No way baby!

Kimmie: Any Kids?

Mike: Nahhh

Kimmie: That you know of...

Mike: Not that I know of (laughs).

Kimmie: What other bands have you been in?

Mike: Well, I dont know if you guys know about the band that I've been doing for a long time, which is Dad's Porno Mag DPM Website. So that's basically my baby and Ryan Roxie's baby. We've been doing it for a long time now. We love it. And we have a record coming out. But maybe the biggest claim to fame would probably be Gilby Clarke from Guns and Roses. His band is probably the biggest band. I actually did gigs with Stephen Pearcy in a band called The Band from Hell. I've played on a few records. I played for Eric Clapton played a little percussion. Played a little percussion with The Cult this summer. Played um... you know a couple of different things. I've done a few things. I'd have to think about it. Its early I just had my first cup of coffee!

Kimmie: Well I just had my first margarita. (Hey, it was noon!)

Mike: Oh hot! You dirty bad girl you!

Kimmie: How old were you when you started playing?

Mike: You know what, I started playing when I was... I mean geeze, I'm Italian right... So my mom had the pots and pans and shit, and the big sauce spoons, and I did that whole trip. I know a bunch of other drummers have too. But I used to beat on the pots and pans when I was a kid. I guess I was 8 or 9 or 10 maybe. I got my first drum at 11 or 12. So I've been playing for a little while. It's only taken me however many years to, you know, get a real gig.

Kimmie: Well the best talents are hidden talents.

Mike: I'm an overnight success story. The 20 year overnight success story.

Kimmie: Do you play any other instruments or do any singing or anything like that?

Mike: Oh I play jazz guitar. I love playing jazz guitar. I'm really into Wes Montgomery. I got these really great jazz chords that I play.

Kimmie: Who would you say is your biggest influence?

Mike: Who is my biggest influence? Oh God that's heavy. There is a lot of guys i'm influenced by. I really like... God I hate to say it, and he's a good friend of mine, but one of my favorite drummers is Matt Sorum. We've been friends for a long time. I just understand what the guy's doing. It makes sense to me. And one time, Slash heard me play. I was jamming at this rehearsal and Slash was jamming. I was jamming for like 15 minutes and he finally looked up at me and he went, "Wow! Fuck! Man, I thought something was wrong. That's the worst Matt Sorum impersonation I've ever heard!" It was rad! He totally ripped me. It was hot.

Kimmie: Awwww!

Mike: No it was great, I love it. I dont give a fuck. (laughing)

Kimmie: Okay, what are your favorite bands?

Mike: I really like a lot of punk bands. I like Rancid, Green Day, AFI and I really like this band called Jawbreaker but they are not around anymore. Really dark and heavy and just fucking powerful. Shit, there's a lot of bands. I'm just trying to think. You know I like a lot of friends that give me their cd's and stuff that are like home grown demos. There's a band called Portable that are really good. I mean obviously if you were to talk to any of the other guys they are going to say Van Halen, AC/DC, Zepplin and all that shit. Yeah, that's all great, I love that. That shit rocks. But I mean, you know I grew up listening to different stuff than that. I got turned on to that stuff later in life by the guys I'm playing in bands with. But then I like listening to Jazz shit you know. I like a lot of different kinds of stuff, there's a lot of cool music out there.

Kimmie: You're very ecclectic.

Mike: I listen to tons of stuff. Brian's turning me on to some other kind of Reggae stuff.

Kimmie: If we were to look into your cd player right now, what cd would we find?

Mike: You'd probably find.. let me think. I've been flipping shit in and out. Jawbreaker - Dear You. Its' a genius record. You know what's funny about this? All these fans are gonna go "This guys fucking lame!" All these Warrant fans are gonna be, "You dont listen to W.A.S.P or Dio?"

Kimmie: I think you would be surprised. A lot of the Warrant fans have different tastes as well.

Mike: Right.

Kimmie: How does playing with Warrant compare to playing with other bands?

Mike: The coolest thing about playing with Warrant is, first of all, I have a lot of respect for the band because they have been making records ever since Cherry Pie and they have done... They've kept touring. Sure the line up's changed. I'm supposidly the 7th drummer in the band and there has been a few guitar players and whatever, but they've been out doing it. They've changed with the times you know. Like Ultraphobic and Belly to Belly are kind of heavier and kind of like Alice in Chains kind of stuff. And there's great songs on those records. And we do those songs live. But back in the day when they were doing them and Alice and Chains was big, and bands like that, Sound Garden and stuff like that, Warrant's not gonna get a chance. Warrant is like a fucking pussy band. It's like that kind of the mentality amongst the people. Not the Warrant fans, but the people. And when I heard those songs I was like "these are great." And then all the new stuff, even the stuff like the Joneses and Bad Tattoo, the stuff off Latest and Greatest, those are great songs but those are more modern. We love bands like LIT and we do a LIT song as a cover. And we don't all have long hair. I think the band has evolved, that's all I'm saying. So being with a band that is growing and changing. Whether people like it or not. I like it. I love playing in this band. We've been on tour for 4 weeks now and I'm just really feeling like I'm doing my thing in the band. Because I've had 7 different drumers to try and top. Bobby Borg... Fuck! That guy's an amazing drummer. When I heard the Live album, when I had to learn the shit off the Live album, fuckin' blew my mind. The guy is fucking amazing. I can't play like that. I mean, I do what I do. This band isn't about the drums, its about the songs. Its about the unit. Its not about the drummer. Even though I think i'm a fucking great drummer in this band. And I think the band kicks ass. And everybody has come up and said "Wow what a great line up" and "This is like the best line up". And the buzz is great. If we play a 600 seat place and we don't sell it out, its 550. If we play a 3,000 seater, it's 2,500. The kids come out, they're into it. And I fucking love it. I'm into it. I love that if we stop in a song the fans will be singing the songs, like in the ballad section of the show. Fuck man I get goosebumps. Its awesome.

Kimmie: I do have to tell you that I've seen Warrant quite a few times, and the show in Columbus, I just went to, I have to say that that was probably the tightest I've ever heard Warrant. And I have to give you credit as well as Kerri and each and every one of you, but I, honestly that was the tightest I've ever heard the band.

Mike: Great. Well we've been working really hard on it believe it or not. And Kerri kind of lit a fire under my ass because, coming out of playing with Ratt and his whole, the way he looks at things he has been on my ass about nailing stuff and I think it makes everybody tighter. We played the other night in Birch Hill and one of the guys came up to me that had seen me play with Gilby and whatever and had seen Warrant a bunch of times. And he said "Man, the band sounds so heavy with you, with what you're doing. You're not playing any bullshit stuff." It was like, Wow, the biggest compliment. You know I get people after the shows that are all fucked up and they say "oh yeah you rock" and "oh yeah you're great" and they are all fucking drunk and its like "Oh hey thanks, thats cool." "Hey having a good time? Great. Killer", but for a guy like that, whose like, I guess he's a sound guy there, whose seen hundreds of bands. Whose seen all the attitudes and egos, and the great bands and the shitty bands. For him to say, "Wow you make the band sound heavy and you made Gilby Clark sound heavy." See what I mean? Because I dont know how to play anything. If there were any more drums or cymbals up there, I wouldn't know what the fuck to do with them. I just do what I do. And that is why Jani has me here. He knows what I do. He's a drummer. He's an amazing drummer. So, I dunno, this is a big deal for me and I'm stoked to be out here. And I want to be out here. And I want to be the drummer in this band. Granted Dad's Porno Mag is my band as well too, and we've been playing the waiting game for, like Ryan playing with Alice Cooper and Slash. Now Kerri playing with Ratt. Now they've gotta wait for me. But in the big picture, the Prono Mag will fly and sail on its own eventually. But its hard because we're a small band there's no money. It cost money to go on tour I dont think Ryan and Kerri are gonna want to get in a van and pull the trailer and set their shit up and go on tour, even thought that is what we should have done 5 years ago. But we're out here. Were surviving I'm happy to be a part of this thing. When I joined the band I said the to the manager, "Hey Obi, you know I feel like I'm gonna make a difference and I want to make a difference." And then he was like "Well this is what it is... We like you, you're great, whatever, but its what it is." The band is what it is. This is what were gonna do. But I'll tell you. It's kicking ass and it's doing way better than anybody expected. And I feel like I'm bringing something to the table. And obviously Kerri is too. But for me, personally, in my deal with Obi and what I cut, I feel like I'm doing something for the band and it makes me feel good. I'm in the band. I'm a band member. I'm not a partner, but I'm in. And I just want to climb the ladder. I think they're great. I have a lot of respect for them. And hopefully you know, rock is stirring around a little bit. I mean it will never be what it was, and hopefully we can keep doing this. It's a lot of fun. And it's a lot of hard work too, you know? I mean my gig ain't over until the last 2 hits of war pigs, which is our last song. I mean, my heads in the whole game. And then I gotta go out and say hi to everybody which I love doing.

Kimmie: Well I noticed and thought it was totally cool that at each of the shows you seemed to be the first person out there signing and the last person to leave.

Mike: Well I mean, when I was a kid going to shows I wanted to meet the guys in bands. And it's because of me getting to talk to the drummer of whatever band I met when I was a kid going to the shows, kept me going, as a drummer. You know, so I know what it means. And I know what it means to that girl that's on the computer that searchs around or drives fucking 400 miles to see the band or follows the band to 5 gigs in whatever area. Man it's great that they come out and I try to say hi to everybody. "Hey did you have a good time", whatever. You know, I apprecaite that. Because if it wasn't for all of those fans. And if it wasn't for you, doing what you're doing. You know, we wouldn't be doing as well as we are.

Kimmie: Hey thanks!

Mike: Well I ain't a kid anymore and I know what the fucks going on with shit and everything counts. Every fucking thing counts. And unless you are Ricky Martin and Pepsi is going to promote your tour. How may Ricky Martin's are there?

Kimmie: And how long are you going to be around?

Mike: And still, its a business. And so we're trying to do a good job so we can stay out here, so it's worth it to be out here.

Kimmie: What kind of response have you been getting from the fans?

Mike: They're into it. They say they love it. They love the line up. They think it's great. It's been all good. And that's what I want it to be. I mean every show whether it's a tiny place or a huge place, I have to kick ass every time for Warrant and kick ass for the fans. You know what I mean, regardless, big or small. You know? Sold out or not sold out. I mean I'm going to play my heart out. And I'm going to talk to everyone that wants to talk to me and sign everything that everybody wants because that is important. That's my job. Because there are these kids that are out there, and I was one of them, that music saved my life. Saved my fucking life. If I didnt have music, I dont know if I'd be here. I swear to God. And to meet somebody or talk to a fan and they see you up there. If you spend a few minutes to say hi or sign something. That means so much to them. You don't know what the fuck is going on at home for them. You don't know what fucked up "mom and dad situation" or whatever the fuck's going on, job situation. You know, and if Cherry Pie or Heaven makes them feel good and you're in the band supporting that for them? Fuck! That's Killer! You know what I mean? I'm totally serious about it. That is why it is important to me to do this shit. Because it helped me. And I've always wanted to be a drummer in a band. Always wanted to do it. I stuck it out and here I am. I got a break finally. I mean I got a break a few years ago with Gilby and what have you, you know that was kind of a yo-yoing around gig, but this is the gig. I'm the drummer. There's not another drummer they're going to use for the better gigs. You know? There is not another drummer they're gonna use for the shitty gigs. I'm the guy right now and I want to make it happen. And I really have a lot of respect for the band. And all the guys. I don't know if they know that or not but I do. I mean I think that these guys can still make records and I still think that we can tour every year you know. Because we have to to survive. Pepsi ain't gonna call us.

Kimmie: Talking about records. Are you guys going to be going into the studio after the tour?

Mike: Well me being the lowest on the totem pole. Rumor has it that they do want to try and record. But there is also a rumor about possibly going out in the summer you know, maybe July, maybe August because it has been going so good.

Kimmie: Well Warrant has been the kind of band that it seems like they are constantly touring.

Mike: Right. And that is why they are doing so well. I mean sometimes tours do well. There's a new band. There's new blood with me and Kerri in the band. There is new excitement. I saw Warrant with Rick and Danny and I thought this is so cool! This is Warrant! It's cool. And I thought it was great, but I think the band is way better now. You know. And its not.. Yeah maybe its because I'm in the band and Kerri is in the band, but if it was a guy like me and a guy like Kerri in the band and a freashness to it and I saw it I'd go "fuck that's killer". You know what I mean? I'm just trying to pull all my elements into the band. You know its like I listen to punk rock records before we play. I get all pumped up on it. Or I listen to like Elvis Costello you know? And like Erik will come in and go "Woah that's cool". Because I always hide in the dressing room and try to do my shit and not bug anybody and try and get pumped for the show. And he'll come in and go "Thats cool"! You know what I mean and I'm turning him on to shit you know, that he's always liked or likes cuz its good. Its like really cool to tour cuz I got to know these guys now you know?

Kimmie: Now I know that Kerri is only there for... how many shows?

Mike: Kerri is going to be here whenever we can have him until Ratt goes. I dont know whats up with that to be honest with you. To be honest it's going to be tough. There is a couple guys that I know that would be good for this gig, and its Kerri and like Ryan Roxie. But Ryan is gonna be wrapped up with Alice and Kerri's got to do Ratt. And its gonna be really weird when Kerri does go and we have to do this with another guy. Its gonna be weird. We gotta get a guy that kicks ass. But he's here and that's another bridge to cross. Because Kerri definitey is amazing, and kicks ass, and has a spark, and has a vibe, and has an attitude, and its killer. Its killer.

Kimmie: Has the band been actively looking for somebody?

Mike: No, not at all. That's not even an issue right now. Kerri is in. He doesn't know what Ratt is going to do. He doesn't know what they are't going to do. You know what I mean. Steven's not doing it right now. They are thinking about getting somebody else so. I mean I dont know, that's not an issue, but we're going to have to cross that bridge when we get to it.

Kimmie: What are your feelings about the internet with regard to the Warrant sites? I know a lot of bands fear it and some seem to embrace it, where do you stand on that?

Mike: The internet. Okay the internet is an amazing thing, but there is alot of crazy shit out there, like, I dont want to knock it but there is some weird web sites out there. Like the Metal Sludges and stuff like that, that got dick meters and shit like that. You know, how big's "so and so's" dick or wahtever. You know what I mean. And I don't know, there is weird shit and it seems like Warrant gets ripped on that. But then again there is fan sites and there is the Warrant site. The Dad's Porno Mag website is amazing. The girl who does it is amazing. You know, our site. That is the only site I really know. I haven't really checked out everybody's web site. I'm not really a computer guy. But I think it is really cool that the fans can talk about the shows and they can meet up at shows. I think its a great thing. But it's also a really bad thing in the same way because people say bad shit that might be true, might not be true and regardless of if it's true or not, it's put out there. It's out there and it may as well be true, even if it is not. It's like, there is a good side and a bad side to it. I don't know. I'm 50/50 on it. It's like anything.

Kimmie: And people like me. You know, there are a few people out there that have these honest websites that try really hard to put out a good vibe and it's kind of hard because there is that stigma of these other sites that are just tearing people down.
M: Right. I'm pretty straight forward and I try to talk to everybody and I try to be nice to everybody. But you just never know. I know that a lot of the guys in a lot of the bands are like "oh those are internet girls" and they get weird and they don't want to talk to them and don't want to be around them because they dont know if they are good or bad. It's a fucked thing.

Kimmie: Yeah, we're the pariahs man! (laughing).

Mike: Right, so its pretty... Its one of those things. You never know. That's like with anything. I try go to out there and do the same thing every night. It's a good show, I try and meet people. I try and treat people as I want to be treated. For me personally. And if somebody wants to write bad shit about me. Like, somebody threw a tampon at me the other night in a wrapper. I never had that happen before. I saved it. Its in my drum bag. My stick bag. I dunno, what are we a pussy band... or...?

Kimmie: I'm not sure WHAT that means. (laughing)

Mike: I dont know what that means. I never had that before. Its a great story. I got hit with a tampon. So I was like, well, wahtever its cool. So I saved it. Its my souvenir now. It's in the wrapper its not like, bloody or anything (laughing).

Kimmie: I was gonna say it could have been worse right? (lauging).

Mike: Tampon right? Thats the thing in the tube right?

[Break to discuss what the difference is between a tampon and a pad]

Kimmie: Well that is my 20 questions. Is there anything you would like to add or anything you would like to say to the fans on the net?

Mike: I'll tell you one thing, being out here, I met a lot of Dad's Porno Mag fans. And part of the reason i've met them beause we havent really toured at all, but because of the internet they know about Dad's Prono Mag which I think is really cool. So therefore because of Warrant they are going to know about me and being in the band and they are going to know about Dads Porno Mag. I just appreciate the hellos and the support and saying hey. I mean I appreciate the fans. I mean you know, like I said there is that whole other bad side of it too, the "Evil People" but that's with anything. If you're into the band be into the band. If your not into the band go ahead and rip it, I don't give a fuck.

Kimmie: If your not into the band, go find somebody you're into you know? Use your energy wisely.

Mike: Right!

Kimmie: Well thanks for taking the time out

Mike: Hey call me anytime! Thank you!