Talkin' Rock with Taproot's Stephen Richards
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00:01Rock, metal, prog, and everything in between.
00:04If you're into rock, you've come to the right place.
00:07Welcome to this episode of Talkin' Rock with Meltdown.
00:11Don't forget to follow the audio-only Talkin' Rock podcast on all podcast platforms.
00:15And now, it's time for today's conversation.
00:18Here's Meltdown.
00:20And there he is, Steve Richards, the legend from Taproot.
00:23You know, I almost wore my white Taproot shirt that you were nice enough to give me,
00:27but I thought, no, we can't have too much Taproot going on.
00:30Fair enough.
00:31I also saw you post something about the Red Wings for me, so I did the Blackhawks for you.
00:39We'll talk about that coming up here in just a little bit.
00:41But, of course, you guys are playing a big gig coming up Saturday at District 142,
00:46a beautiful new place here just outside of Detroit.
00:49First of all, you know, I think last time we talked, it was before the record had come out.
00:53I mean, talked as far as professionally like this.
00:55Of course, I saw you when you guys played the three shows at the Machine Shop when the record first came out.
01:01But what has it been like being back on stage after being off stage for all those years?
01:06It's been really cool.
01:10You know, I think it's weird that we're doing, like, you know, shows on a weekend, taking a week, shows on a weekend, then two weeks off.
01:18So every time we get together, it's kind of like relearning stuff because we're not rehearsing between the stuff.
01:22But we can, you know, get away good enough with the music side.
01:28But for us, it's just really cool to kind of reconnect.
01:30You know, we've known so many of our friends and fans for so long all over the country.
01:36So to kind of run in to see the familiar faces and share the same, like, you know, reminisce and here's Taproot again.
01:42And they're slightly old, but Steve's still going to find the highest thing in the room to jump off.
01:46Well, there's a little bit of that at District 142 coming up Saturday for sure.
01:52They've got a nice balcony up there.
01:53But so you're out there not only back out on stage, but back on stage with new music as well.
01:59So talk a little bit about that.
02:02It's really cool.
02:03You know, when I did the new record, it was kind of just me alone, just not wondering, you know, didn't plan on playing shows or teaching anyone some of the new stuff.
02:12And it's really cool to, like, actually perform the songs.
02:16I've known for, you know, a decade and have, you know, Taylor, our new guitarist, just step right in.
02:21Obviously, Jared and Phil.
02:22Phil's known the songs the whole time.
02:24But it's really cool to just kind of have the original lineup with an edition that's new and brings a whole new energy.
02:32So it's really cool to play the new songs.
02:35It's pretty sweet that a lot of the new stuff gets a lot of positive feedback, you know, not just from the shows, but just from reviews of the album.
02:44So playing the new songs is really cool because it's something that I never really planned on, you know, for sure.
02:50And it's really fun for us.
02:53Yeah.
02:53And so, of course, our favorite song, that video was shot at the Buffalo Bill House from Silence of the Lambs.
02:59Talk a little bit about that.
03:00I haven't really talked to you about that.
03:01Right.
03:02Well, that was kind of a last-minute hokey thing that kind of worked out to be pretty cool.
03:07It was, I think it was after our first show in Pennsylvania.
03:12They, Phil and our manager, Tom, they, it was a B&B.
03:17So instead of us going to the normal hotel for the night, you know, to chill out, it's like, oh, we got the Buffalo Bill's house.
03:24It was like, whoop-dee-doo.
03:26But it was a cool house and just, like, the different themes and stuff.
03:30And so it was random, just, like, five in the morning.
03:33It was like, all right, guys, we're shooting a video today.
03:35And we were like, what?
03:36What are you talking about?
03:37So there wasn't really any script or idea.
03:40We just kind of went along with the plan and, you know, it came up pretty damn cool.
03:44And then the really cool part is the footage, like, where Elias and we did the stuff at the studio here in Michigan up by Grand Rapids.
03:52Like, that facility is amazing and all the shots, you know, wearing my white hockey jersey with the same hat.
04:00But, like, the fake walls and all the lights, like, the real video shot, you know.
04:05Like, we had fun in the house and that was totally cool.
04:09But, you know, obviously it turns, the end of the video turns into a real music video and that's, like, pro style.
04:16I'm happy with it.
04:18Yeah.
04:18No, it's a really cool video.
04:20And thanks for the riff plugs in there, by the way.
04:21I appreciate that.
04:23Oh, hell yeah.
04:23And that's, like, one of the things, too, is it wasn't just me, like, oh, I still need to try to get through your guys' algorithm to get that song played at least once, maybe for promoting this show.
04:36There you go.
04:36But, no, I mean, that's literally, that's how I rock.
04:40That's just what I wore that day.
04:41Like, that's, you know, I always, you know, you've helped me out so much in life, so there's nothing I can do but promote you guys.
04:48Well, you know what?
04:49I'm trying to help you out in the same way, just trying to help you guys promote this show, promote the record, promote the band as well.
04:54Hey, how much added pressure has put on you?
04:57Because you've obviously, you know, like you said, this record, the latest one that you guys dropped back in September, you wrote, recorded, you did everything.
05:05And, you know, you're the face of the band.
05:08How much pressure do you feel?
05:09Not so much.
05:14I mean, it's just, at this point, it's, like, literally, it's me trying to remember words.
05:19And it's not necessarily just the new songs.
05:21Obviously, I can't know those.
05:23But we had to learn, because we did the machine shop shows three, you know, nights in a row, we didn't want to just play the same set list of 15, 16, same songs.
05:32So we learned, like, 25.
05:34So there was half-ass, you know, we tried our best to make it through those.
05:40But we've been pretty solid with the 15 or 16 we have right now.
05:44So it's not too scary.
05:47If the lighting's a little bad, some of the nights I might whip on some of my guitar parts.
05:51But I've never claimed to be a good vocalist while playing guitar.
05:54And I never claimed to be a good vocalist anyway.
05:57So that's why I spent half the time off the stage.
06:00Because I know the energy is what matters to me.
06:03I can hit notes, but, you know, I'm not, like, a classically trained professional singer.
06:07So I know I can sound like my normal whining voice.
06:10So I don't feel too much pressure.
06:12I just love being out there.
06:14Yeah.
06:15And since the last time you guys toured and really, you know, went across the country, your life has changed quite a bit.
06:21But so how has things been personally for you, you know, leaving the house, going out on tour, going to play?
06:28It's actually been amazing.
06:31It's kind of scary because I quit my day job that was at least secure.
06:36Right.
06:37Everything kind of up in the air and I'm scraping by enough.
06:42But it's really cool because just doing the weekend warrior stuff, when I come home, I get to daddy and I get to take the kids to school.
06:50And all the extracurriculars and hang out and play games.
06:53But then when it's weekend time, it's like, peace.
06:57I'm going out.
06:58I'm going to go have some fun away from home.
07:00And that's really cool, too, because, you know, obviously stuff at home gets after so long.
07:07But it's, like, really brought my wife and I back close as we were, like, in the beginning.
07:13And she's actually – she's never really gone to too many Taproot shows.
07:17She never heard of us, you know, doesn't really care, still kind of doesn't.
07:21But she's been coming out to some of these shows and she's, like, kind of getting the same, like, oh, it's actually pretty fun out here.
07:28You don't have to do crazy, crazy stuff.
07:31But it's a change of scenery, hotels, different people, meet the fans, a lot of drinking.
07:38But, you know, so she gets to see the other side of it, too.
07:41So she's having fun.
07:42Like, she's going to both shows this weekend.
07:44We have one in Ohio the night before.
07:46She's going to go.
07:47And then the one in Wyandotte is going to be pretty crazy.
07:51And she's – we do the whiteout thing.
07:54I'm a whiteout for the Wyandotte show.
07:57So we'll be doing the all-white from head to toe.
07:59And my wife actually found fun in that.
08:01She got herself a Dickies workout fit.
08:03And it's white.
08:04So we're all going to be rocking white.
08:06And she's enjoying adding to that, too.
08:09Well, I'm glad I'm not in the band because I don't have much white, as you know.
08:12I'm not even sure if I have a white shirt.
08:14But unless – only the one you get, right?
08:16So maybe I'll have to – maybe I'll have to wear that one up there that night.
08:19But I don't want to get dirty.
08:20I don't know.
08:20It's, like, it's so nice.
08:21It's so nice and clean.
08:23It is, yeah.
08:24That's why I don't wear – I wear this black one most of the time.
08:30But, you know, I need a Rift jersey, I guess.
08:34I'd rock that, too.
08:35Well, that makes two of us because I don't have one of those either.
08:38But, hey, how much has, like, touring changed since you went out on the road over a decade ago?
08:45Or is it all kind of still the same?
08:49It's kind of still the same.
08:50It's just weird how we're doing it right now because, you know, Phil and our guitar tech and camera guy,
08:59they're all in the Cincinnati area, and then Tom, our manager, and our drum tech are coming from Wisconsin.
09:10And then Taylor and Jared and I are obviously still here in Michigan, but we're all different places.
09:15So it's kind of – we're not renting a van and carrying a trailer.
09:20We're literally just showing up in, like, four different cars loaded up the ass full of our gear.
09:25So it's, like, we all have to kind of convene together and do all that stuff.
09:30So it's kind of weird.
09:30We're not all in a van together all the time carrying a trailer.
09:34We're all just on our own little missions and trips and join together and put stuff together and then go to the next place.
09:41So it's different than that.
09:43You know, it's not like a whole camaraderie, like everyone just goofing off in the van, whatever.
09:48It's, like, my wife and I, or usually it's Jared and I, we'll be shooting the shit together and then Phil's with the other guy shooting their own shit.
09:56It's not just all of us having the same conversation.
09:58It drives me nuts because I do not have an iPhone.
10:01Everyone else does.
10:02So if anyone sends one message that's slightly funny, my phone goes off seven or eight times, and it's just someone liking a message.
10:11Like, I don't need to know that your iPhone can like a message or dislikes a message or whatever.
10:17Just send an emoji, emoticon back, or ha-ha.
10:22Like, not, like, loved this message.
10:24So now just to be an asshole for my Android, I'll, like, go out of my way to say this and, like, make up words.
10:33Like, I don't know.
10:33It's just that.
10:34I guess I need an iPhone to fit in.
10:37I've got an iPhone.
10:38Your next record should be called Taproot.
10:40Get off my lawn.
10:41That's what it should be called.
10:43I'm a fan of that age for sure.
10:47I'm getting there.
10:48Closing in on 50.
10:49That's actually a good idea.
10:51Don't trademark that, please.
10:52I'll just get it.
10:53Get off my lawn for sure.
10:55So you're talking, well, just, I mean, I didn't plan on talking about this, but you're a pretty creative guy.
11:01So are you working on some new stuff right now?
11:03Not personally or taproot-oriented right now, but I did get submitted a song where a guy really wanted me to do some guest vocals on, so I've been working on that for the last couple weeks.
11:18I finally sent him a rough version of what I was thinking.
11:21It's kind of funny, because when I got the song, I'm like, it's all really cool parts, but it's not letting me be myself.
11:30Because instantly, just the tempo of it and the progressions, I'm like, how am I going to not sound like Chino?
11:36Like, I'm going to sound like me, but the only way I can write around this is, like, it sounds like it would have to be Chino, so he chose this for me, so I was like, here's what I'm going to do.
11:47I'm going to chop your song up left and right, put it how it makes sense to me, and then I'll do it my way, and then if we put it back into your structure, it might even be cooler, because I recorded it the way that I thought it sounded right, and it might just turn into a beast, but it's really cool.
12:03I've got some really cool harmonies. The topic is really dark and kind of creepy, so he has the first version of it now, so I'll see what he comes back with, how much he wants me to change, and I'm totally open to doing anything.
12:18But kind of cool, just working on someone else's stuff. I've done a lot of guest vocals, maybe harmonies on a chorus, or maybe a bridge or whatever, but this is literally a game song, and he's like, sing it.
12:29I was like, oh, okay, I'll get right on that, so I'm excited to see what comes of that, and I'll definitely let you know how that goes, but it's pretty exciting for me, so that's what my focus is on right there.
12:41And then I do plan on, at some point, kind of doing the customized music at some point once this initial taproot scissors run, I'm going to be moving on forward as Scissors Music.
12:56That's my personal website that I'm launching, but I'm going to do that type of thing.
13:01This guy, you know, he's paying me just to sing an entire song, I'm like, holy cow, but I used to do, like, parody songs for people, you know, I'm not trying to get a lot of money, it's fun, but, you know, just pay bills, maybe.
13:14But I'll be doing some more stuff like that down the road. I don't know if I'll sit down and write a taproot record, because I will have to get a job here in the next couple weeks.
13:22We don't play again until April, as of now. So I've got to find a job. So in my free time, or when I have time, I'll try to do just, like, some guest stuff, or, you know, like, reach out to people, like, hey, do you have, you know, poetry, but don't know how to play music?
13:37You know, like, you want me to put your poetry on a song, or do you have music but no lyrics, like I'm doing right now?
13:44So I'll probably try to keep busy like that, but I'm not going to sit down and write a taproot record until I know I'm okay financially.
13:50Yeah. Yeah, so how was your, how was it, how exciting has it been to reconnect with some people in the music industry that maybe you lost touch with since you came off the road several years ago? Have you reconnected with a lot of people?
14:04Not too many, mostly just, like, our, like, well-known fans. It was kind of cool for me, because I had to do a fundraiser to make this record, because I couldn't afford it, and I had to, you know, pay Tim at the studio at The Loft.
14:17So there was one guy that basically almost paid 10% of my GoFundMe was just one guy. So for me, that was, like, cool to get to meet him. He's a cool-ass dude. You know, I made sure to just, you get one of everything, like, anything and everything, you get one of them.
14:36So he was, like, still really appreciative. I'm like, here, you know, you have a pass, you can come back, whatever. He's like, ah, I already bought tickets. I'm like, oh, dude, come on, take advantage of me, please.
14:46My wife won't.
14:50She has. She has been. It's been great.
14:54She did watch the last one. She wasn't too impressed. But, no, that's, like I said, like, being away for the weekends and stuff, it's, like, I think brought more, you know, us back to where we should be for a long time.
15:06It's obviously hard raising kids and, you know, doing separate jobs and not having time. So I'll get back to that. I love my wife very much, and I'm very happy that she is starting to let me have more fun.
15:19There you go. Yeah, that's cool.
15:21You just talked about playing in April again. Is this, I think I read on the socials the other day, is this the first time you guys are back in on the West Coast? Is that right?
15:29Yep, yep. First on the West Coast. I'm pretty sure we added a show at the Whiskey right after it, but that's the first time we'll be. That's a big festival. We played it, you know, years ago, but the one in Vegas is always a big deal. So we're excited to do that.
15:46Yeah, so that'll, yeah, that'll be the first West Coast show and then LA show, and then, you know, we'll probably add some, you know, I know we're going to want to get to the Southwest, obviously the Northwest, but at some point we'll have to figure out if we can do, like, two-week-long trek or if it's still going to be weekend stuff.
16:04I think it's going to be weekend stuff for a while, unless it comes out being worthwhile. Like, for us right now, just doing the weekend warrior stuff's great because we get to take a couple shows, hang out with, you know, friends and fans, and then get back to reality, which is awesome, too. You know, I love taking my daughter to school and then, you know, picking her up.
16:24And then I get to go work at the studio since I'm unemployed right now, and I get to go do work on that song with the other guy's music. So it's a happy balance right now until after the wind-out show, and I have to go, what am I going to do for a living until April?
16:40Well, I mean, then you're going to have, you've got some shows coming up. You're doing at least one Danny Wimmer Festival, correct? Aren't you doing Sonic Temple?
16:48Yeah, we are doing that one. I just don't know when it is. I can't keep track of anything. Like, I still have to, like, when you, I knew this one was coming up because my wife's doing the white-out thing, but I don't know. That's the one in Columbus, right?
17:01Yeah.
17:02Yeah, I don't, I couldn't even tell you when that is. Is that, like, March?
17:07Yeah, it's in the middle of May.
17:09May, okay, so April is still early. Yeah.
17:12I know we're doing that and that, and then I think there's going to be another one or two festivals that are really cool, but, uh,
17:18that one, I kind of, my wife doesn't want the kids to come to any. They, they got to see one soundcheck at the machine shop, but they've never experienced live music at that volume, let alone daddy's annoying voice screaming.
17:30Um, but, so that's when I might want to try to get the girls to, cause, um, God, Bella, my oldest 13-year-old, she's, like, not a huge fan, but loves Slipknot.
17:45Anytime she hears Slipknot or sees him, you know, she's just, like, she knows it all.
17:49Like, she's now learning Guitar Hero just because I got her into an event seven-pull song, like, so now she's getting that for Christmas, and she'll, like, I taught her how to play it on real guitar, and so then she's all excited about that.
18:03So she would love to see, um, Slipknot and then Limp Bizkit's on right before them, too, so that's the same day as us.
18:11I still want to see what the hell we can do. If I can get out and guess with, with Bizkit, I think that would be hilarious.
18:16I mean, you know, obviously you guys have a history with them, and, uh, some good and some not so good, uh, you haven't talked to any of those guys, have you, since you, since you've been back out on the road and everything and putting out music?
18:26No, no, um, I mean, I'm sure he's heard stuff that I've said and knows that I, I never had an issue to begin with.
18:35You know, I just kind of found it funny that he left a voicemail on my mom's, back then, micro-cassette machine.
18:41Right.
18:42Um, but I'm pretty sure he's over it, and I'm pretty sure it would be kind of cool, like, if he actually thought it was cool to just have me come up and sing.
18:51Like, I think it would be, no one from Limp Bizkit camp would care, oh, here comes that tapper guy, but I think a lot of the media and stuff would get a lot of attention to Fred and Bizkit,
19:02as well as, you know, me and us.
19:05So, I think it would be, I think it would be a win-win and fun.
19:09Like, you know, I used to do that when they came around before we got signed, and it was always fun.
19:14And Fred was always, like, a cool, cool dude until he thought he got taken advantage of.
19:19But we didn't take advantage of him.
19:21We took, like, the best opportunity that we came across.
19:24So, it wasn't against him.
19:27Well, that's cool.
19:28Well, final thing here for you, Steve, then we'll let you go, by the way.
19:31Once again, Saturday, December, Saturday, this coming Saturday, as we record this at District 142.
19:37So, tomorrow night, as we record this, Patrick Kane will make his debut in a Red Wings jersey.
19:42So, what are your thoughts about that?
19:45That's awesome.
19:46So, he didn't play in Buffalo last night?
19:48No, he's playing tomorrow night.
19:50They said he's a go.
19:51He's ready to go.
19:52Awesome.
19:53Okay, because I heard that he might, you know, might play last night.
19:56And I was like, oh, that makes sense, because he's from Buffalo.
19:59Like, that would be kind of cool, too.
20:00But, no, I'm stoked.
20:02You know, my daughter, Bella, 13, she's a Wings fan, you know, kind of a, doesn't know much.
20:09But she got to go to one game, and she got the, Larkin got the, you know, player of the game.
20:14And she got the stick, and she's got the Larkin jersey.
20:16So, whenever they played the other night, I had Ginger Baby, the six-year-old, Rocka Blackhawk, Pink Blackhawks jersey with me.
20:22Because, I've got to say, Bedard's pretty damn phenomenal, too.
20:26Stoked on him.
20:27But, no, I honestly, I was so excited to hear.
20:31I root for the Blackhawks.
20:33I am still, I grew up a Red Wings fan.
20:35So, I'm stoked to see Kane here, for sure.
20:38Because I thought it was the Rangers.
20:40Like, I've heard that for, what, the whole entire summer?
20:42Like, ew, Rangers.
20:43Well, he played for the Rangers last year, and he was hurt, and stuff like that, you know, and he didn't.
20:50Yeah, yeah.
20:50Yeah, like, the comeback or whatever.
20:54But, no, when I saw it was Detroit, I was like, holy cow, like, even today, I play the Xbox hockey game.
21:03I only got 24.
21:05And so, today, I was like, ooh, where's the roster updates?
21:08Went to the roster updates.
21:10Sweet.
21:11Really?
21:12Kane's out there.
21:12Okay.
21:13Yeah, so I just, yeah, so I went, and I was like, change it.
21:16And, you know, he's a scratch, because he's a new addition to the team.
21:19So, he's not, like, automatically on the lines.
21:21But, I was like, F that.
21:22So, I went, and, you know, I was like, coach, pick, you know, pick the best lines.
21:26And then, boom, Kaner's there.
21:28And I'm like, sweet.
21:29And then, I had to get rid of Corey Perry, because that prick in Chicago, he's gone.
21:34Yeah, I don't know what to do with that.
21:35I've heard all sorts of crazy stories.
21:37And I don't want to speculate, because I don't know anything more than anybody else does.
21:41Yeah, I've heard the same rumors, I'm sure.
21:45But, man.
21:47By the way, that's pretty good parenting.
21:48Your 13-year-old is in the Slipknot and the Red Wings.
21:51I mean, you can't ask much more than that.
21:53No, no.
21:54And she's actually really good at school, which is kind of crazy, because she kind of plays dumb.
21:59But she's an all-A student.
22:01And then, my 6-year-old, at least I can force a pink Blackhawks jersey I made her last Christmas to wear it.
22:07So, she rocks that.
22:08She'll wear that to school.
22:10But, yeah.
22:11No, we're doing good.
22:12The kids are awesome.
22:12And, no, that's why I love the on-off things or the weekends and stuff, because I get to come home and be back with my family, which is what I'm used to for the last, you know, eight, nine years.
22:22Yeah, there you go.
22:23Well, I'll tell you what, man.
22:24Can't wait to see you in a press of flash once again on Saturday.
22:27I'll be up there, and I will lead you to the upstairs balcony.
22:32There you go.
22:34This is the new thing, by the way.
22:36And whenever we do meet and greets and take pictures, I refuse to do fist bumps or handshakes.
22:40I always just stick my fingers out.
22:42They have no clue what I'm doing, and I do this, and that's the new handshake.
22:45I'm changing the world.
22:47Well, I've seen scissors in, you know, different porn videos and stuff.
22:50But now, it's like, you know, now I got to, you know, I guess I'll do that.
22:54Yeah, exactly.
22:55Now you can say I fingered that idiot or fingered.
22:58Scissored that idiot from Taproot.
23:00All right.
23:01On that note, I'm cutting you off.
23:03Steve, we'll see you Saturday.
23:05Well, no, God bless you.
23:06Thank you, sir.