
Kimmie Interviews Joey Allen, former guitarist of Warrant
5/10/99
Q: So where are you living now?
A: I live in Anaheim Hills, California.
Q: I heard somewhere that sometime along the way you became a bachelor? Are you seeing anyone now?
A: I filed for divorce in 1993. I do remain to be good friends with my ex-wife Kathy. I have a girlfriend named Shari, she's a sweetheart.
Q: What about your baby -- Kylie Jo... how old is she now?
A: Kylie's 71/2 years old. She is in second grade and attends a private Catholic school near the beach in Newport Beach, CA. She is in the top 5% of her class and is a very smart little girl. She truly is the love of my life. I don't know what I would do without her. She looks a lot like her mom but she's going to be taller. She's already 4'6" tall.
Q: Do you get to spend much time with her?
A: I see Kylie Jo on every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and every other Sunday. I have a great relationship with her mom. There is no tug-o-war for time with my daughter.
Q: What are you doing now - career wise?
A: I work for a large Software Company that develops ERP software for Mid-Tier Manufacturing companies. My official title is 'Remote ERP Consultant'. I have my MCSE, MCP in Windows 95/Window NT and I'm thinking about going back to school to get my Bachelors Degree in Business Administration in 2000. In short, I've been a very busy boy.
Q: Do you like it?
A: Better than what? I love my Job!!! I get a tremendous amount of accomplishment from it. I can tell you one thing. I miss playing in Arena's and Amphitheaters. I do not miss clubs and that whole lifestyle at all.
Q: For the record, considering there is confusion out there as to whether you quit or were let go, was it your decision to leave Warrant and what made you decide to do so?
A: I quit Warrant in April of 1994. It was solely my decision, period. There should be no confusion. I called Erik and Steven first; both of whom told me not to go. I then phoned Jerry, whom I do believe had seen it coming so he wasn't as surprised as the first two. I did not call Jani. I really hadn't seen Jani until we started talking about a reunion late in 1998. We've both played golf together a few times since January 1999 to discuss the possibility of a reunion. My decision to leave the band was due to a few reasons.
I had gone through a shit load of crap, not unlike the other four guys, and I just simply had to get the fuck away from everything (family, friends, California, etcÉ). I didn't want to be a part of the 'Ugly Years' where the band was into clubs again, struggling to make a buck. I don't miss that shit at all. Nobody in the band or any fan should take that personally. It's just the way it is.
I needed to make a very important decision. Struggle in the band and hope it hits again or go back to school and guarantee a good life for my daughter and myself. I know I've made the right decision. Believe me, I miss being in Warrant. I miss all of the fans tremendously. I miss jamming with my friends Jerry, Erik, Steven and Jani. It's just not what Warrant was all about to me anymore.
Q: Have you worked on any projects "musicwise" lately?
A: I have been writing and recording for the last two years on and off with a friend of mine. His name is Pete DeMarzo. He is a very talented guy. Just recently I have decided to self produce my own CD. I hope to have the material done by December.
Q: Pete DeMarzo - His name sounds familar to me. Is there any reason I would know him (i.e., used to be in any band I would know of, etc.)?
A: Pete DeMarzo is just a close friend. He hung around Warrant during the lean years. I have known Peter for about 20 years or so.
Q: The cd that you were working on, what style of music is it? What kind of sound are you going for?
A: It is along the lines of Dog Eat Dog with a little more guitar work on it. It's just straight forward rock.
Q: I know that you did something on the Rod Stewart tribute album with C.C. Deville. How did that come about?
A: C.C. was getting sober and he was living down in Orange County (where I live). When I found that out I called a few friends to get his # and we just started hanging out a lot. I would go over to his parent's house and we'd watch the fights on TV together and just hang as friends. We have a lot in common. A friend of mine, Shelly B, called me and asked if C.C. and I would play on this Rod Stewart compilation CD she was producing, we both hadn't played in a year or two and it sounded like fun. So we went for it.
Q: What song(s) did you cover?
A: 'Stay With Me' from the early years of Stewart/Woods.
Q: Whose decision was it to cover the song(s)?
A: I think it was a split decision. We got together one day at Cecil's Condo, on the beach, and went through about 4 or 5 of Rod's CD's.
Q: I know you also did some work on Hollywood Underground? What is that?
A: That was basically a lot of the stuff we recorded while we were searching for a singer after Jani left the band. It was only meant to be demo shit. I guess someone wanted to make a buck or two. It's actually a pretty shitty recording of pretty shitty songs. No offense to anyone.
Q: How did you get involved?
A: I was still in Warrant at the time that stuff was recorded. I think it was in '93 sometime.
Q: How did you contribute to the project?
A: I wrote a few of the songs and played rhythm/lead guitar on all of the tracks listed with my name on them. Again, this was just a 16-track demo.
Q: Do you plan on working with Jerry and/or Erik on any upcoming projects?
A: I love these two guys like brothers. What we went through as friends nobody can take away. I'm sure working together in the future would be welcomed by both sides. We did play a few thousand gigs together, you know.
Q: What about past projects? Aside from the ones we have already spoke of, are there any other projects that you have worked on that you would like to mention?
A: After quitting Warrant I did a demo for MCA records that turned out great. Unfortunately it was during the Nirvana/Seattle Music Explosion. Maybe I'll include one song from that demo on my CD.
Q: So, did you catch the VH1 "Where are they now?" special?
A: Yes I did.
Q: I thought that they didn't spend quite enough time on what you guys have done musically as they did on the "groupie girls"!!! What did you think of it?
A: I think that 'what you see is what you get'. Warrant was never about any large statement or political message. It was about partying, girls and having a good time. This is Rock 'n' Roll not Rocket Science. Unfortunately Viacom goes for the throat sometimes. I have read a few comments on some of the bulletin boards out there saying, 'They forgot about the current lineup..." People have to remember this little fact: Original Warrant = 6+ million records. Current lineup = 200,000 (if there lucky). Enough said.
Q: It has been said that the reunion is pretty much on hold indefinitely. Is there any truth to that?
A: The reunion will happen if someone steps up to the plate with enough greenbacks, otherwise it won't. Plain and simple. It's not about anything else.
Q: What happened -- why didn't the reunion work out?
A: One reason. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. It has nothing to do with anything else.
Q: That, the money, is obviously not the only reason you were/are involved in music - I just thought we should clarify this?
A: Let me simplify/clarify this. This is basically everyone's motive. It does not, however, mean that this is the only reason why I got involved in music. It just simply means that I would like to do a reunion when we could get a major label involved and do a full blown arena tour. That's why they call it the Music BUSINESS. If I was into music for the money I would still be in Warrant today. I wouldn't have quit before the CMC deal. I worked just as hard as the remaining three members of Warrant to make a name for the band and I walked away from some decent cash. When I left Warrant it was for the right reason. If I would have stayed it would have only been
for the money. My heart was not into it at that point. With talk of a reunion coming around and six years away from the industry it sounded like it might be fun again, that's all. It would simply have to be worth it business-wise for a reunion to happen. Unfortunately, during the time we were discussing a reunion, no major label was interested. That is the main reason the original line up has, of yet, not gotten back together. I hope this helps. And by the way, I don't NEED the money. I doing VERY well for myself these days.
Q: Any plans musically for the future?
A: As I stated earlier, I hope to have enough good material to produce my own CD by December. I might possibly play a few gigs here or there. I'm have not said 'never' or 'no' to a reunion. The timing just has to be right. Unfortunately for some of the fans that prefer the original band that's not now. You never know what the future holds, right?
Well, thanks so much for taking the time to answer this for me. I really apprecaite it!