So what was it that brought Life of Agony back together after all these years? Keith: This girl, Cathy from Metal Edge Magazine, was putting together a show and she wanted us to play. We agreed to do one gig. That whole idea fell through, but the band liked the idea of doing one show together, so we put up our own show and it sold out in like five minutes. We’re talking about a 3,500 seater and we were like, “Fuck, let’s put up another one.” That one sold out in like ten minutes. We did two nights in New York City and we’re still not a working band but as time developed, things started happening, we started rehearsing, and we put a demo together; we got a new life. I took Joey to a Velvet Revolver show, we met one of the guys from Epic who he wanted a demo. Then I had a solo tour to go out and do, I did a solo tour for a couple of months. I started August 8th and I finished my solo tour on October 11th and met the LOA guys on the 15th to start another reunion tour in Europe. That was fucking sold out tour as well. We were like, “Fuck.” As we were in Europe, Epic wanted to sign us, so that’s when the wheels started spinning.
Do you think that it’s a testament to the band that even after all these years, people are still wanting to hear your music? Keith: I think it’s a blessing, I think it’s so special. I think that this band has gotten an idea as to what kind of trip we’re about to embark on and it’s all positive. I mean there are a lot of bumps in the road, there always will be, but it’s exciting.
"Broken Valley" seems to have a very modern rock approach; some songs could easily fit alongside a Velvet Revolver song on the radio. Were you trying to craft a rock album? Keith: We weren’t trying to accomplish anything specific. We were trying to just be ourselves and create a record that we have never created before as a band. I think we definitely did that this time around. Completely viscous, elegant, heartfelt and organic; all the elements that I’m very proud of.
Your lyrics in the past seemed to be a way to cope with feelings of depression, anger, love and a palette of emotions. Does that still fuel the fire? Keith: Yes, that’s who I am. That’s who I am.
That’s the only way you know how to write songs? Keith: Yeah, I can write anything I think. Ask me to write a jingle for Starbucks and I will.
This album sees you return to heavier guitars, as opposed to Soul Searching Sun, which featured a lot of melody. Was it intentional to embrace the heaviness of the band from the first two records? Keith: Yeah, we definitely had a destination. We wanted to just kill with the tempos. We wanted to just… you know, I don’t know how to say it, I’m a metaphoric dude, I don’t wanna drift off. We wanted to create a viscous fucking record and the same time, I’m the paradox of the band and just how I react to music in general is like walking through the record planting purple flowers, blues, you know what I mean? You never think that these flowers will grow on this poisonous soil, but they do. If you understand where I’m going with that.
Do you think that you’ve taken your experiences with your solo recording and taken it with you into recording this new album? Keith: Definitely. Every day. All the different musicians, all the different studios, all of us, we’ve all had different experiences. Of course you bring that into the room, of course it goes into the mixing pot. How could it not? Good and bad.
What do you think that Broken Valley offers LOA fans? Keith: I think that it’s going to pump everyone up but I don’t really know what it contributes yet. I’ll know in a year or two what it has contributed. All I know is that it’s going to be here longer than I will be. I’m very proud of that. I’m very happy about that; without an ego, without sounding presumptuous. We’re very down to earth people; we’re real people and come from a very real part of town. It’s not about anything that tickles impulse or ego, it’s about making an incredible fucking song and living off the songs that we make. Everyone that is in this business, artistically speaking, knows that we live like Pilgrims.
Every album that you’ve released is different than the last. That’s what I like about Life of Agony. You refuse to remain stagnant. Keith: We’re very excited to grow, to learn, to be challenged. We have very positive attitudes. It’s heartfelt and aching and angry and a lot of positive energy went into it. That’s why I think that we got the results that we did.
To wrap things up, I was reading the autobiography of Tommy Lee and it made me wonder, if Keith Caputo were to write an autobiography, what would they have to include? Keith: I don’t know man. I can’t answer that question yet. I think that it would be touching. There are a lot of things that people don’t know. There would be a lot of things that would be revealed. I have and I’ve had a very interesting life. A very traumatic life and life filled with blessings and horrors. I think it would make a very interesting story.
Do you think you’d every write an autobiography? Keith: Perhaps. First I’d like to release many editions of my scattered thoughts and poems and then we’d get practical. I’m not a very practical guy.
Everything you are seeps into your songs and people can feel those emotions. Keith: To me, music is poetry. I try to make my poetry move. You have no idea what I have on file - on the music - the different movements of just vocals and a piano. I’ve been doing a lot of ambiance stuff. Over the years, there are a lot of genres that I’ve touched upon. There’s a lot that I’ve taken in my entire life that just comes out of me. There are a lot of different sides. I love music so much - you have no idea. [END]
