Rocco DeLuca and the Burden

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Rocco DeLuca and the Burden
Origin American
Years active 2005–present
Genres Rock and Roll
Labels Ironworks (USA)
Members Rocco DeLuca
Ryan Carman
Dave Beste
Greg Velasquez
Website(s) World
UK
Germany

Rocco DeLuca and the Burden are a four-piece American alternative and non-conformist rock and roll band from California whom formed in late 2005. Previous to this Rocco DeLuca himself was a solo artist who opened for Taj Mahal, John Mayall and John Lee Hooker, and played with Johnny Cash. He is also the son of the travelling guitarist for Bo Diddley and from 2003 had a setup at the Gypsy Lounge in Lake Forest, California nearly every Tuesday for around three years.

In 2005 DeLuca was recognised for his "real music" talent, as opposed to the commercial artificially created bands churned out today, by the independent record label Ironworks and subsequently formed a band with drummer Ryan Carman, percussionist Greg Velasquez and bassist Dave Beste.

The band's first single was Colorful, from their debut album I Trust You To Kill Me and their influences range from Mississippi John Hurt, Ravi Shankar, Pink Floyd and Mahailia Jackson.

Contents

[edit] Band members

  • Rocco DeLuca - guitar (Dobro), vocalist, lyricist, and songwriter
  • Ryan Carman - drummer
  • Dave Beste - bass
  • Greg Velasquez - percussionist

[edit] Rocco DeLuca

Rocco DeLuca (born 1976) is a half Italian, half German rock artist represented by a label, Ironworks, created by actor Kiefer Sutherland and Jude Cole. DeLuca was born in Torrance, CA and grew up in Lake Elsinore, CA and Long Beach, CA [1]. Rocco DeLuca and the Burden's debut album "I Trust You To Kill Me" came out March 21, 2006. DeLuca is known for his use of the Dobro, a trade name now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar. Rocco DeLuca is the son of Bo Diddley's touring guitarist. [2]

[edit] History

Rocco DeLuca gained early cult success in the mid 1990s as front man for the blues trio Smuggler's Point. Band played famed Sunset Strip nightclub The Roxbury and other smaller venues throughout Riverside County before disbanding amid rumors of interpersonal conflict. DeLuca is now the vocalist, lyricist, music writer and Dobro quitarist for his band, Rocco DeLuca and the Burden, formed in late 2005. DeLuca's bands debut album is entitled I Trust You To Kill Me which was released on CD on March 21, 2006.

"The blues died when they took the 'fuck' out of it," explains a seemingly shy and unassuming Rocco DeLuca. "The music I was raised on had heat. Energy. That feeling of aggression. The music of today seems so washed out and generic. To get 'em back we need to stick the real soul, that punk element back into it. It's the only way I know how to play it." It's with that ferocity and determination that DeLuca's debut album, "I Trust You To Kill Me", challenges the listener to dive head first into the heart and soul of a musical revolution.

Music has been a part of DeLuca's makeup from the start. "My dad was the touring guitar player for Bo Diddley and I remember he and my uncles would have these late night jam sessions and I would hang out with them and then end up crawling into Uncle Joe's bass drum and falling asleep to the drone," smiles DeLuca. As he got older, he discovered the Dobro(steel guitar) and it wasn't long before primitive folk music from both the south and the Appalachian Mountains made their way into his world. "Most of my friends were into punk and my family's roots where in blues, so the two extremes were really all I listened to," he explains.

After playing out at parties and penning songs, Deluca spent the next decade honing his musical craft and after a series of eye-opening experiences in Europe; he returned to the States and landed a 2-year residency at the famed Gypsy Lounge just outside of Los Angeles, where Rocco, as a solo artist, has opened for Taj Mahal, John Mayall and John Lee Hooker, and played with Johnny Cash. The bar was known more for its local biker crowd than a breeding ground for talented musicians. Yet Rocco used the nonchalant stage as a writing and rehearsal space to continue honing his unique craft on the DOBRO® steel guitar and to experiment with his impressively wide vocal range[3]. DeLuca was introduced to Johnny Cash by Cash's grandaughter, Tiffany Lowe. DeLuca says that his "experience was organic and casual." and that he'll "Never forget my Grandma calling Johnny and June to make sure I got enough to eat."

As with many artists, the road from the past to the reality of today is rarely an even journey. DeLuca's was no exception. With a traveling musician for a father and having not met his mother until just 3 years ago, he'll be the first to tell you that he's spent a few cold nights on a park bench. It was through those years that DeLuca found the strength to keep his creative drive unyielding. "You've gotta die a few times and be fierce enough to fall. I've fallen on my face many times. Whether it was on stage or with my family, but it's those times and battle scars that make my music what it is today," confesses DeLuca.

You can find those scars all over this riveting portrait of an old souls quest for honesty, growth and inner awakening.

Born the son of Bo Diddley's touring guitarist [2], Rocco spent his youth on the road with his dad where joining in with band practice seemed preferable to sleeping in the tour bus.

It was this life on the road and the absence of an atypical upbringing that have given Rocco an edge and an attitude that has served him well, and no doubt played some part in the attraction for Sutherland, himself one of Hollywood's non-conformists.

After years of performing and touring, the time came for DeLuca to take his experiences and lay them down in the form of a demo, but not without a certain amount of hesitation. "I always thought of the ‘music industry’ as this drunk girl at a party who forgot who she came with." "I loved making music, but being a cog wasn’t for me. At the same time no one was putting out the kind of music I wanted to hear, so I cut my demo and tried to keep it as honest as possible."

[edit] Ironworks

Rocco DeLuca and the Burden: I Trust You To Kill Me
Enlarge
Rocco DeLuca and the Burden: I Trust You To Kill Me

In early 2004, Rocco DeLuca's demo tape was passed along by Mark Walbaum (a.k.a. DarkMark, a fixture on the LA music scene since the early 1980s and a crew member on the TV show 24) to actor Kiefer Sutherland and fellow musician Jude Cole. Sutherland and Cole had started the Ironworks record label, and they signed Rocco as their first artist. [2] DarkMark went on to become the first A&R representative hired by the fledgling Ironworks.

Sutherland and Cole went to hear Rocco play at the Gypsy Lounge, and the performance was so moving that they offered DeLuca the company’s first record deal. He accepted because they assured him he could “make the record I wanted to make. I said fuck it and accepted because if nothing else, I’d have the best record I could ever make and I would never have to explain or apologize ever again for not having it.” [4]

“I was completely mesmerized,” Walbaum says. “He just absolutely blew my mind. He had everything—the songwriting, the singing, the unbelievable guitar playing and this incredible energy. The whole package.”

Once in the studio together, Cole helped DeLuca flesh out arrangements and lay down tracks. It was through this process that they realized in order to deliver the intensity of the music live, it was going to require a full-on ensemble. And so "The Burden" was born. "This band has taken this material to such a great place,"” he says. "It’s intense and aggressive live; we put a lot into simplicity, like those old masters did."

From the haunting and alluring build of the first track “Gift,” to the primitive and heartfelt honesty of songs like “Speak To Me” and “Favor,” DeLuca locks you in with a tender vulnerability and inner strength that’s unparalleled. The disk also suggests the influence of artists as singular as Jeff Buckley. The fact is, Rocco’s music is a colourful and remarkable as the journey he’s been on, with stops along the way at the junkie corners (Dope), the London pubs of the ‘60s (Swing Low) and Sao Cal coffee-houses (Bus Ride).

DeLuca's rich DOBRO forms the sonic foundation of his music and his lyrics lie at the heart of it. Rocco's use of the beautiful Dobro steel guitar give his songs a distinctive and rich foundation evident from the first chords of album opener Gift. The jubilant singalong of first single "Colorful" (released June 5th), the country-tinged Mystified, and the six-string workouts of Swing Low and Gravitate have drawn comparisons with the likes of Jeff Buckley, Pearl Jam and Led Zeppelin.

The band features drummer Ryan Carman, bass player Dave Beste and percussionist Grey Velasquez. "These are some of my best friends, my family really... and we all share the same concept of what a live performance should be; a fusion of passion and clarity. As a fan, that’s what I would want to see." DeLuca's backing band, 'the Burden', as he points out, are called such but "not because they’re a hindrance", DeLuca insists, but because they’re partners on a journey. "Anything you hold precious is a burden because there is a deep responsibility that comes along with it whether you ask for it or not," he says. "It’s a weight that carries with it a lot of sorrow and joy. It’s a burden. And our burden is doing something that matters and something we believe in. And being on TV or the radio is fine with me because I believe in the music. I mean, why wave a flag if you don’t want anyone to see it?" [4]

[edit] I Trust You To Kill Me album and documentary

Rocco DeLuca and the Burden's debut album, I Trust You To Kill Me was released on CD on March 21, 2006 on Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland's record label, Ironworks. The album was produced by Jude Cole and mixed by Florian Ammon, except for tracks 2, 7 and 10 which were mixed by Dave Reed. The album was engineered by Florian Ammon and Dave Reed.

However, I Trust You To Kill Me is also the name of the bands' two hour Sky One behind-the-scenes rock and roll documentary. [5] [6] It coincided with the release of their debut album of the same name, where they travelled the world promoting the band in 2005, embarking on the trials and tribulations of their very first European tour. It was believed that the album would be released on the same day as the documentary. [7] [8]

On Friday May 5, 2006 Kiefer Sutherland appeared on the UK chatshow Friday Night With Jonathan Ross to discuss 24 and his behind-the-scenes rock documentary I Trust You to Kill Me. The band toured Europe from late 2005 to early 2006. They played in venues in London in the UK, Dublin in Ireland, Reykjavík in Iceland and Berlin in Germany. The documentary was aired at 10.00pm on May 8, 2006 after being talked about by Kiefer Sutherland on Jonathan Ross the Friday before.

Kiefer Sutherland introduced the world premiere of I Trust You To Kill Me documentary at the Nashville Film Festival at 07:30pm on Saturday April 22, 2006 [9] [1]

The Motion Picture Group, Inc., a film and entertainment financing and production company, announced on March 27, 2006, that the company has finished production on the documentary. In the company's first feature film, Kiefer Sutherland took his independent record label act, Rocco DeLuca and the Burden, on its first international tour. From Tokyo to Los Angeles, London, Dublin, Reykjavík and Berlin, this rockumentary film chronicles a highly personal journey of a rock band and their less than qualified road manager (Kiefer Sutherland) and shows the hopes, successes and disappointments of a band trying to get their music to their audience. The film's director, Manu Boyer, takes viewers on a rock tour that becomes much more than the sum of its parts, it is honest and rich, with in-depth life sketches.

"This project was a perfect first opportunity for us to produce an independent film with A-list talent", says Pliny Porter, the Company's CEO and the film's producer. "And The Motion Picture Group will be receiving company presentation credit." The theatrical release is scheduled for spring 2006.

Henri Kessler, President, stated, "We look forward to an ongoing relationship with Kiefer Sutherland. He is an exceptional actor to work with and has a great team surrounding him."

According to the film's official website, public screenings of the film will be held in New York City, West Hollywood, California, and San Francisco in September 2006. Sutherland and Boyer will both be present for question & answer panels after select showings.

[edit] Reviews

[edit] Album

I Trust You To Kill Me:

[edit] Documentary

I Trust You To Kill Me:

[edit] Promotion

Kiefer Sutherland, along with Jude Cole, through their co-owned record label Ironworks, has been the biggest promoter of the band, also being the tour promoter and manager, including helping produce the TV documentary I Trust You To Kill Me, where they travelled the world promoting the band in 2005.

The band and Sutherland hit the United Kingdom in the first week of May of 2006 to promote the band. Rocco performed Colorful on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross on May 5, 2006. On May 8, 2006 the band played live at London's Bush Hall - the night the band's documentary, I Trust You To Kill Me premiered on Sky One in the UK.

[edit] TV

They have appeared live on the Jimmy Kimmel TV show [10], the Late Show with David Letterman, the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Friday Night With Jonathan Ross. [5] and Kastljos in Iceland. [11]

The band appeared live on Top of the Pops in the UK on May 22, 2006. [12]

[edit] Radio

Rocco DeLuca was interviewed live on Synthesis Radio in February, 2006. (MP3 Audio) and on May 16t 2006 he was interviewed live on The Backstage Pass (M3U Audio)

[edit] Controversy

It has been said that "'Rocco DeLuca and the Burden have only become successful'" because of who their "promoter" was, Kiefer Sutherland. [2] However, other critics counter this by simply stating that their detractors should simply listen to the music to make up their own minds, stating also that once done this band will take off simply because of their talent and non-conformity. DeLuca himself was recognised for his "real music" talent, as opposed to the commercial, articifially created bands churned out today. Additionally, although Sutherland was the tour manager and predominent promoter, he made a point of staying well into the background and keeping his distance as best he could. On top of that, Sutherland's and Cole's label is a small, independent label and, as such, their publicity is minimal - hence the reason the band is referred to as the band no one knows but everyone has heard of.

Prior to this, DeLuca's first band, Smuggler's Point, was rumored to have disbanded in the aftermath of the allegation the band's drummer, Phoenix Richardson, made stating DeLuca is the father of a child Phoenix had once believed to be his own.

[edit] Sutherland sacked as tour manager

Around April 21, 2006 [citation needed] Kiefer Sutherland was sacked [13] as the tour manager of Rocco DeLuca and the Burden, the band he signed to his own record label. The 24 star and best friend Jude Cole hit the road with rock group Rocco DeLuca and the Burden last year (2005), after signing them to their Ironworks Music label, but now the act has no use for Sutherland's management skills. Sutherland explains, '"I toured with the band last year. I was their road manager. I had to get them up on time. . . . In all fairness I only did it for 10 days, but it was the scariest thing I've ever done in my life. . . . I was fired. I was never happier to come back to 24 — I felt safe there. Musicians are nuts." [citation needed]

However, this is far from a sore issue between the band and Sutherland as they often heartily joke about it both between themselves and on live international TV. An example of this was live on 'Friday Night With Jonathan Ross' in the UK. Kiefer jokes about this with Ross [14] referring to the way he was in the band's documentary, I Trust You To Kill Me which is also the name of their debut album.

[edit] Miscellanea

  • It wasn't until 2003/2004 that DeLuca met his mother. [2]
  • DeLuca is known for his use of the Gibson Dobro steel guitar which is one of the most difficult guitars to master to get the right sound.
  • DeLuca's father was the travelling guitarist for Bo Diddley. [2]
  • DeLuca started to play slide guitars at the age of seven. [15]
  • Since 2003, DeLuca has set up at the Gypsy Lounge in Lake Forest nearly every Tuesday for the past three years, forming a band with drummer Ryan Carman, percussionist Greg Velasquez and bassist Dave Beste. [15]
  • The band has a mascot, a human-sized pink bunny who drinks and chain-smokes at his gigs, seen exclusively in the documentary "I Trust You To Kill Me." [1]
  • DeLuca's backing band, 'the Burden', as he points out, are called such but "'not because they’re a hindrance,'" DeLuca insists, but because they’re partners on a journey. "'Anything you hold precious is a burden because there is a deep responsibility that comes along with it whether you ask for it or not,'" he says. "'It’s a weight that carries with it a lot of sorrow and joy. It’s a burden. And our burden is doing something that matters and something we believe in. And being on TV or the radio is fine with me because I believe in the music. I mean, why wave a flag if you don’t want anyone to see it?'" [4]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

I Trust You To Kill Me, Ironworks records, 2006

I Trust You To Kill Me album cover
  1. Gift
  2. Dope
  3. Colorful
  4. Bus Ride
  5. Swing Low
  6. Speak To Me
  7. How Fast
  8. Gravitate
  9. Mystified
  10. Draw
  11. Soul
  12. Favor
  13. Dillon (bonus track)
  14. Daybreaker (bonus track)

[edit] Singles

[edit] Charts

Albums:

Released Album Record Label US Album Charts UK Album Charts
March 21, 2006 I Trust You To Kill Me Ironworks

Charts performances in the world.

Released Single UK Singles Chart German Top 100 Australia U.S. Hot 100 New Zealand Chart Ireland Singles Chart France Top 100 Dutch Top 40 Portugal Chart Italy Singles Chart Swedish Singles Chart Canada Singles Chart Austria Singles Chart Slovakia Airplay Chart
June 5, 2006 Colorful

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Beers, Joel (2006). Dream On. http://www.ocweekly.com/.+Retrieved on 2006-05-16.
  2. ^ a b c d e Foley, Jack (2006). The story behind Kiefer Sutherland backed artist. http://www.indielondon.co.uk.+Retrieved on 2006-05-15.
  3. ^ The True Burden of Killing Time.
  4. ^ a b c Dream On: Rocco DeLuca’s new record, new band, new bunny and old soul.
  5. ^ a b unknown (2006). Friday Night With Jonathan Ross – Kiefer on 24 and Rocco DeLuca. http://www.24weblog.com.+Retrieved on 2006-05-15.
  6. ^ unknown (2006). Jack Bauer Says "I Trust You To Kill Me!". http://www.aintitcool.com.+Retrieved on 2006-05-15.
  7. ^ Simon, Jane (2006). I Trust You To Kill Me. http://www.mirror.co.uk.+Retrieved on 2006-05-15.
  8. ^ The Motion Picture Group (2006). Kiefer Sutherland To Star In I Trust You to Kill Me. http://www.movieweb.com.+Retrieved on 2006-05-15.
  9. ^ unknown (2006). Kiefer Suthland premiering "I Trust You To Kill Me". http://www.youtube.com.+Retrieved on 2006-05-15.
  10. ^ unknown (2006). Jimmy Kimmel Live - Kiefer Sutherland. http://www.youtube.com.+Retrieved on 2006-05-15.
  11. ^ Kastljos (2006). Iceland’s Kastljos interviews Kiefer and DeLuca. http://www.megaupload.com.+Retrieved on 2006-05-15.
  12. ^ BBC (2006). BBC’s Top of the Pops “coming soon”. http://www.bbc.co.uk.+Retrieved on 2006-05-15.
  13. ^ Kiefer sacker.
  14. ^ 24 weblog.
  15. ^ a b Beers, Joel (2006). Back Door Man. http://www.ocweekly.com/.+Retrieved on 2006-05-16.

[edit] External links

[edit] Articles

[edit] Interviews

[edit] Images

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