ZRock exclusive! Tesla : Jeff Keith Interview
by Jarrod Vrazel : zrock.com
Jeff Keith and Tony LaRussa
(photo by Stephanie Secrest)
Tesla vocalist Jeff Keith was presented the Evie Award by Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) founder Tony LaRussa at ARF’s 16th annual Stars to the Rescue gala on January 6, 2007 at the Dean Lesher Regional Center in Walnut Creek, California. The Evie Award is given to those who display excellence in the compassionate care of companion animals. You can help this wonderful cause by donating online.
In an exclusive ZRock interview with Jeff backstage after the event, he discussed winning the award as well as the upcoming Tesla 70’s cover album:
ZRock: Hi Jeff, congratulations on winning the Evie award.
Jeff: Thanks buddy, I appreciate that. It’s probably the most special award I’ve ever gotten in my life. And I mean that.
ZRock: It’s very nice that you are participating in Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation event once again.
Jeff: Oh yeah. Anytime he asks we’re here.
ZRock: How did the show tonight go?
Jeff: The show was fabulous. We’re down here having a blast. It’s a really great crowd for one of the greatest causes to help all of our four legged friends.
ZRock: I heard that you played some new songs tonight.
Jeff: We went to El Paso a couple of months ago to record, and then we went back there last month to mix the album. We did a covers record of a bunch of our favorite 70’s songs. We’re going to release the album, I think, in April. Tonight we did Signs and What You Give and a Led Zeppelin song called Thank You. It’s such a beautiful song. You can’t go wrong with it. So that was the song I think they we’re talking about. So it’s not a new song.
ZRock: Do you have a name for the new project yet?
Jeff: Yeah. I don’t know how much I’m supposed to be giving out, but I think we’re going to call it Real 2 Reel ( R-E-A-L to R-E-E-L) because we did it on two inch tape, which nobody hardly ever does anymore. We wanted that warmth of the two inch tape. That way it’s real. Because with Pro Tools, let’s face it you can make anybody sound like anything. When it comes to tape, you’re recording whatever you’re laying down, so you’ve go to feel it. We kept it real-like-live. We would do two or three takes and go in and pick the best take, maybe fix a little part here and there. Of course all my vocals were scratch and then when I would go in to do the vocals, I would do the same thing. Sing through it like three takes and pick the best one.
ZRock: It’s like the liner notes for Mechanical Resonance — NO MACHINES.
Jeff: That’s correct. That’s exactly what it’s all about. We take pride in being just a blue collar, blues-rock band, and we like to keep it as real as we can. Whether it’s good or bad it’s real.
ZRock: I’d also like to get a little background on your latest experience involving four legged friends.
Jeff: Well, Okie, one of my dogs that came last year, I got him when I went to a Raiders game. As a matter of fact, it was November 16, 2003 I’ve still got the tickets. Never made it into the game, but I brought home a buddy home. I named him Okie , because I graduated high school in Oklahoma and he was from the Oakland Coliseum. I went on the train, so at first everybody’s going you can’t take him home, so they said you can’t take him on the train, Frank helped me get a rental car and helped me name him Okie.
When we went to do this covers record, we went to the supermarket the day after we got there. I saw this female dog. I could tell she was the mother of some pups she was full of milk and just skin and bones. I fed her that afternoon and fed her that night. I went back the next morning and started investigating. And there, in this abandoned lot, on the other side of this short three foot chain link fence, was this hole with six pups. So, we finished doing all the recording in seventeen days, and the band flew home on the day before Thanksgiving. I got a rental van and a 50 inch flat screen TV cardboard box. I got Cali and the six pups in the van and we drove from El Paso to California.
ZRock: So you named her Cali?
Jeff: Yes. Dave, our new guitar player, said you keep saying I’m going back to Cali… going back to Cali… . You should name her Cali. So Frank helped me name Okie, and Dave helped me name Cali.
Dozer, one of the pups, went to a new home tonight. Michael Rosen, the guy who engineered Into The Now and the covers record we just did his brother in law is a fireman his name is Pablo he’s the new proud owner of Dozer. So Dozer’s going to be riding around in a fire truck.
ZRock: That sounds like a master plan in the works.
Jeff: It is. And it’s going fabulous.
ZRock: Was it this experience, the prior one, or both, that resulted in the award?
Jeff: From what I understand, I was already nominated for the award for the Okie story. And then we they found out about Cali and the pups… . I am just so honored. But like I told them I hope they didn’t take the award away, because I just can’t help myself. There was no other alternative on what to do – it just comes naturally. I am really honored to get the award.
ZRock: That’s what I consider good people taking care of good projects and good deeds.
Jeff: You bet. Well you, know, Jarrod, that’s what I sing about in all our songs. I don’t just sing about it I live it. I’m a nut!
ZRock: That’s a good kind of nut to be, though. Some people are consistently getting into trouble and doing things they’re not happy about. Between your music and some of your events I saw you at the Lisa Wales benefit in Phoenix musicians coming together to do the right thing and trying to help the cause the best they could. And you’ve also done the ARF Rocks! show last year.
Jeff: And the year before. Maria (Brunner) was down at Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding, which we did this year and last year. Maria has hooked me up with some great people to find homes for the pups. Good things are happening, man. I’m surrounded by good beautiful people. I’m just so fortunate. I just can’t believe it.
ZRock: Thank you for taking the time to share the stories. Congratulations on the award. I’m really looking forward to checking out the new album of old classics.
Jeff: Yeah, I think you’re really gonna dig it.
ZRock: Have a great 2007 and we ll see you soon out on the road.
Win an autographed copy of 3 Nights in August – signed by Tony LaRussa
To enter, email comments about your favorite Tesla song to contests@zrock.com. The winner will be notified via email on February 1, 2007. Good luck
Jeff Keith, Frank Hannon and Tony LaRussa
(photo by Stephanie Secrest)
Jeff Keith and Tony LaRussa
(photo by Stephanie Secrest)
Jeff Keith and Tony LaRussa
(photo by Stephanie Secrest)
Jeff Keith and Tony LaRussa
(photo by Stephanie Secrest)
Past Evie Award winners
1994 Gary Bogue and Rich Avanzino
1995 Peggy Taylor and Dave Duffield
1996 Doris Day
1997 Michele Ross and Victoria Schafer
1998 Emergency Medical Fund
1999 Operation Fix
2000 Terry Starr
2001 Safeway, Inc.
2002 Contra Costa Times
2003 Nestle Purina Petcare Company
2004 Glenn & Diane Colacurci
2005 Leroy Moyer
2006 Sue Underwood
2007 Jeff Keith
Funds raised from this fantastic fundraiser will used by ARF’s Adoption and Education Center to save the lives of loving dogs and cats who have run out of time at public shelters. ARF gives another chance at life to dogs and cats who would have otherwise be killed. ARF provides the care and attention they need, including spay or neuter surgery, until ARF finds them a new home of their own.
ARF’s People Connect programs strengthen the human animal bond for the elderly; residents of assisted living centers, teens at juvenile hall, high school students, grade school students and young children through programs that are national models of excellence. ARF programs allow people to experience the unconditional love and acceptance of dogs and cats. People rescuing animals… animals rescuing people.
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