1. OK. Armand. If I get married, will you wear your silver leather pants to the reception?? Pretty please??
Normally I wouldn't wear my skintight silver leather pants to a wedding, because of all the attention they warrant, and I'm not the kind of guy to take all the attention away from the bride on her wedding day, but since it would be your wedding, and since you asked so politely, I would definitely wear them. You realize those pants have a history of driving women all over the world sex crazy! They just can't seem to keep their hands off my buttocks, so don't be surprised if you find me with the bridesmaids.
2. Everyone knows (or should know) that your silver leather pants say "Pretty Suicide" down one leg. Are you going to get new shiny leather pants with "Future 86" written down the leg? How about altering the existing pants to say "Future 86" down the other leg?
Yup, those skintight sexy silver leathers have Pretty Suicide written down the back of the right leg and I would never consider altering them to say FUTURE 86 instead of Pretty Suicide. Altering them to give me a little more waist-room, now that's a different story. I don't really see any reason for having those pants not say Pretty Suicide. That's like you changing the front of your Cowbell Junkies t-shirt to say Future 86. My pants, just like the Cowbell Junkie shirts, are from the Pretty Suicide era of the life of the band, so why change it? I've never said no to a pair of tight pants, especially tight leather pants with my band's name down one leg. So of course I'll get another one that says Future 86, all I need to do is decide on the color... maybe purple to match my custom Smith drums.
3. Over the last year or so, your collection of drum sets has grown significantly. I especially like the transparent orange "John Bonham" set. However, you never seem to bring any set other than the same silver one that you've been toting around for years. Any chance of getting that orange set out of your basement and out to a show?
My Transparent Orange drum set has been out of my basement and to a show, at the Ramapo Valley Brewery. Those are some monster drums and I'm sorry you missed that show. See, when you don't attend every show, you never know what you're gonna miss. Future 86 shows are a lot like Miss Nobe's math class in high school -it was worth going just to see what she was wearing that day. Especially at John & Peter's, you may miss me playing Larry's bass, or me jamming on a toy accordion, or calling girls onstage to play the cowbell. No two Future 86 shows are the same. In fact, just last weekend I bought my vintage Ludwig transparent blue drums which are very similar to the orange set to our show at John & Peter's. The orange drum set you are referring to is a mint condition vintage 1970's Transparent Orange Ludwig Vistalite made popular by the legendary John Bonham.
This set is in mint condition,
a true collectors drum set, and the last thing I want to be doing it
hauling it around in a crammed up van with amplifiers and guitars
crashing into it, scuffing it up, then bring it into a smoke filled
bar which will stain the pristine finish with ugly tobacco yellow.
This drum set is bigger and louder than the average set and occupies a
lot more space both in the van and on stage. Space that in Vache's
opinion is better used toting around his arsenal of Greg Bennett and
Gibson guitars. On rare occasions, like at the smoke free RVB, I may
bring the set out again. These drums are one of my favorites, in part
because of the massive 26" kick drum, and the guys at Smith are making
me a 26" kick as well.4. What's your favourite beer
My favorite beer? Are you kidding? Picking my favorite beer is like asking me to pick my favorite pizza, ice cream, or chocolate chip cookie. Famous Amos holds a place in my heart, yet there's also something to be said about Entenmanns's... And how about David's Cookies, or the one's at Dunkin Donuts? Different beers suit my different moods and different beers suit different occasions.
Hoegaarden: It has that distinct flavor common to white beers, almost sweet. Besides, it's from Belgium and has "ho" in its name. You don't bring a case of Hoegaarden on a camping trip with your buddies in the Catskills, but it's a great beer to drink if you want to impress a metro-cosmo-sophisticated chick.
Milwaukee's Best: They don't call it "Armand's Beast" for nothin'. This is what me and Gretchen Wilson drink when we ride our quads in the mud.
Lowenbrau: Most Americans forget Lowenbrau even exists, but thanks to my immigrant family, I practically grew up around this stuff. Lowenbrau was the beer of choice for my dad and Uncle Berge at the Lake George family weekends growing up. To this day, I still think no beer goes better with barbeque shish kebab.
1664 & Kronenbourg: Two great beers I was introduced to last time in Paris. While visiting the Palace of Versailles, Vache and I discovered a tiny outdoor food stand that sold the coldest and most refreshing Kronenbourg ever. Kronenbourg along with the two Belgium girls we snatched away from their parents for a few hours made our stay at the Palace a time we would always remember.
Molson: Molson Golden was the first beer I ever had. We were up in Canada for some family outing and my cousin Raffi and I kicked back a few Molson's in the tele. That night comes back vividly every time the taste of Molson Golden hits my lips.
Kodiak: Brewed from fresh spring waters in my mother country of Armenia, Kodiak allows me to connect with the native land of my ancestors while grilling shish kebab and kuffteh in my own backyard.
St. Pauli Girl: A great German beer I admire not only for its great taste but also for its ingenious marketing plan. While the standard companies like Budweiser and Coors spend millions of dollars on ads with hot chicks, St. Pauli Girl doesn't need to because they were smart enough to put the hot chick on the label.
Michelob Ultra: I know what you're thinking. "Sissy-ass-lala" beer. Like I said, every beer has its appropriate place in life. After having my mothers delicious spicy garlic and onion filled Armenian hamburgers, its tempting to wash it down with the appropriate Lowenbrau or Kodiak, but the burps those beers tend to produce are found offensive by some people. The solution is Michelob Ultra. It's the one beer that doesn't make me burp.
5. What is your favourite song to play live?
Well I'm glad picking my favorite song to play is much easier than picking my favorite beer. Actually my favorite song to play is the song that gets the most audience response. "Should've Said Goodbye" tends to get a great response. It's a great song and I also get to throw in little "crowd pleasers" like flipping sticks in the air, and smashing cowbells. Likewise, "TNT" is one of my favorite covers cause there's something about getting a room full of people to pump their fists in the air and shout "Oi!". Hell, some even bang their fists against their heads like I do.
6. What is your fav horror flick?
Watching Texas Chainsaw Massacre on the big screen propped up on the Forest of Fear stage huddling around a campfire on a misty October night with Chief Red Cloud. Halloween runs a close second.
7. Did you have any bands before "Eve's Design"?
Great Question, and I think you may be the first to ever ask it. I
used to play in a Speed Metal band, Disciple (see picture). I got my
first cold sore from Disciple groupies (also see picture) Disciple
was one of those metal bands whose members all had foreign names like
Vladimir, so naturally I fit right in. Their popularity grew beyond
anyone's expectations in all those eastern European countries like
Hungary, Ukraine, and especially Bulgaria, where most of the others
guys were from. I was in high school at the time and there was no way
I was able to keep up with their touring schedule overseas and not
drop out of high school. Or perhaps the real reason they didn't want
me in the band anymore was because I proudly rocked my mullet and my
double bass licks were not up to European metal standards. You can
probably dig up old pictures of us in obscure European rock magazines
from the early 90's.
I kept busy after Disciple playing in bands like Flannel and Fiddler's
Elbow with Larry and my cousin Raffi. Then around the time my cousin
Raffi left and was replaced by Vache, Eve's Design was formed, which
became the nucleus of the band Courtney joined.8. How many cowbells do you own?
EIGHT! Any drummer should always own more cowbells than drum sets. Remember, cowbells, like people, are not all alike. They come in different shapes, sizes, & colors, all of which affect their tone. My favorite one is the ceremonial chrome one which new Cowbell Junkie inductees chug beer out of fraternity style.
9. Where do you like to play the best?
Any place our fans are at is the best, you know that. I like places that have their own unique atmosphere, and where the people know how to party. Good times have always been had at John & Peter's, Northshore Cruefest, Forest of Fear, etc.
10. What's the best comment someone's made to you after a show?
I can go on forever about this one, but being the last question, I'll keep it short. I remember playing a show somewhere in Queens, and some guy came up to me holding a copy of Led Zepplin IV in his hands, put his arm around me and said, "Man, that's been the best drumming I've seen since this." But I'm not sure if that tops Dezzy's 30 minute rant of, "Shit man, y'all bad. Y'all be killin' them drums man. Sheeeeet, I don't think you know how bad you is." Of all the wild things girls have said to me over the years, the best I've ever had was, "If you make love the way you play the drums, you must make the ladies really happy."
Coming up, 10 Questions with Courtney!
Email your questions to future86@gmail.com and put 10 Questions in the subject line.