Web exclusive: Interview with Biloxi lead singer Mark Allen Lanoue

By JUSTIN HOOKS
jhooks@sunherald.com

The following is a full transcript of The Sun Herald's interview with Biloxi lead singer Mark Allen Lanoue:

Q:What was the impetus behind making this album?

A"Well, Clyde typically would write a lot of the material himself. He would play bass himself and guitars. He was very talented. (For Biloxi III,) he wanted to try something new and interact with his band and bring me in as well. He knew he was bringing in another singer/songwriter, who he knew could be the Paul McCartney to his John Lennon. That's how it all started. We thought of the direction we wanted to go, and at the time we had a couple avenues open...There was this real famous producer, Roy Thomas Baker. He had worked with Queen and The Cars, and he was kind of interested in Biloxi at the time, and Clyde in particular was moving us to a certain sound. But we stayed true to the Biloxi sound. We didn't want to pull away from that.

"The album was delayed by the Katrina issue. That came along and wiped out pretty much everything that Clyde and I owned, so it delayed us for about a year in being able to finish the CD. When we finally got to a point where we were looking to finish the CD, (drummer Rob Gronkoski) and I were working on an outside project as well. We all got back together with Clyde and we got a place where we could record again. Then, after that, our buddy and friend passed away, which left us at another bump in the road. So, at that point, we were thinking about finishing it in honor of Clyde. We had all this material there and said it would be great, especially for the local fans and the world, that we finish it. Rob and I put the pedal to the metal and decided we were going to finish it. We decided to finish the material that wasn't written yet and I took over the lead vocals on it. I stepped up to the plate, but Rob has been a big help being there recording my voice and making it sound great. I can't say enough about Rob. He wrote some, too, so it's kind of a collaborative effort. I'm really pleased with the whole thing. I'd have to say worldwide, the fans were pouring in with support saying 'please finish it!' They really wanted to hear what what was left of Clyde's playing. I'd be in studio singing and I'd hear Clyde play and it was just so awe inspiring to hear him. He's gone, but there's his talent, shining through.

Q:Were there any certain themes you wanted to address in the lyrics?

A"Particularly, there were a few melody lines left over that he didn't sing but that I remembered him singing. I made sure if there was something I remembered from him, I would put it down. But the first song, 'Here Alone,' the chorus was written by Clyde. His melodies, his words. I wrote the song about my last meeting with Clyde in the studio and I framed it around his chorus. It worked out really well, but that song is kind of like, if I sat myself in his position, and looking back at his life, how would I feel and what would I say? Now that he's gone, if he could come back and say something, what would that be? That's what that song is about...When we write songs, we write about things that we feel and things that are happening now. There has to be some story behind it and each song has to do with when you were a child and how you perceived the world to be. You would hope that the world is going in the right direction, but that doesn't always happen. Bring back the world that I remember, the world I want to be."