antiMUSIC - Rocker Turned Writer

Rocker Turned Writer - Billy McCarthy

What? Coverage of a book at antiMUSIC? It’s not a rock bio, so what’s the deal? Glad you asked. While this book isn’t exactly Rock n’ Roll, it’s author is and anyone interested in the inner workings of the entertainment business will find a lot to related to with this story. The book is “The Devil of Shakespeare” and the writer is Billy McCarthy—a man that is no stranger to Rock n’ Roll as the former drummer for D’Molls, a band that released two major label albums. But even before D’Molls, Billy—then Billy Doir— was a key member of Screamin’ Mimi’s, a band that featured none other than CC Deville. Billy has even been rumored to have had a hand in the writing of Poison’s breakthrough single “Talk Dirty To Me”. Although Billy won’t comment on that rumor, it’s a story that got some play earlier this year on antiMUSIC when someone sent us a video of Screamin’ Mimi’s performing the song and excerpts from a radio interview with Billy and CC, where CC acknowledged that Billy should have received credit on the 1st Poison CD. All that aside, we are here today to talk with Billy about his new book. So without further delay, here is antiMUSIC's interview with Billy McCarthy.

antiMUSIC: Going from a rock n' roll drummer to a novelist, that's quite a jump. How did that come about? Did you always want to write or did the inspiration come later?

Billy McCarthy: It would seem like quite a jump, but I’ve always had a passion for the written word. Throughout my career in music, I always found time to write, whether it be press bio’s for different bands I played in or short fictional stories, here and there. I wrote extensively when I was 10-years old, till 15, and then put it on the backburner to pursue music. The inspirational premise for The Devil of Shakespeare came several years ago, but I always knew I’d get to a novel one day, just didn’t know when.

antiMUSIC: Just so our readers that may not be familiar with the name Billy McCarthy, but rather your old stage name, can you give us a little of your musical background?

Billy: In D’Molls and my radio days, as well as producing, I was under the pseudonym of Billy Dior for like 12 years. D’Molls recorded two albums for Atlantic Records. I worked with a lot of great people in music, from unknowns back in 1983, like CC Deville to legendary producers such as Eddie Kramer, a lot of great gifted people. I wouldn’t want to list my music bio here, but if you visit my Web site (www.billymccarthy.com) and click the author page, there’s a section called music chronicles, where you can get a glimpse of my music career.

antiMUSIC: As a part of promoting "The Devil of Shakespeare" you did something I believe is unprecedented and put out a theme song! Where did that idea come from? Who was involved in the recording of the song? And where can people hear the song?

Billy: I’m proud to say it is unprecedented. The song was an idea of one of my managers at the time. I co-wrote it with Chip Z’Nuff, who plays bass on it. Jani Lane from Warrant is singing lead, “JY” from Styx is playing guitar, and Ron Flynt from a great power-pop band 20/20 is doing the keys/piano. I’m playing drums. It’s a power-balled. The song is what I call a kid-glove to the novel. It relates to the overall theme in the book. Radio stations nationally are playing the song right now and we are getting great feedback. Tourbus.com just added it to some markets, and other stations jumping on each week. Anyone who buys The Devil of Shakespeare online (www.amazon.com) or in bookstores gets the CD single as a bonus. I’m going to keep the song to a novel on each of my novels. To me, it’s another for me to express my artistry through music, and the synergy of music within a novel is to me an extra shot of adrenaline I believe the world of fiction has been long overdue for. Hard-core and new readers alike are ecstatically embracing the idea of a song to a novel. It’s innovative; a unique book with a unique song. I’m all about that.

antiMUSIC: I'm sure your background in the music business, having been with a major label band etc, and see all sides-both glamorous and the dark side-helped you when it came time to write a thriller. In the end it really makes the book standout, because you are able to capture the underside of Hollywood, fame etc and especially tell the tale of a blue-collar person making it into that world and what can happen. The book is being billed as believable fiction. So how much of it was drawn from personal experience and how much came from imagination?

Billy: The Devil of Shakespeare is drawn from my experiences and my observation of others throughout my life. Every character is a shadow of real-life situations, people, and places from small-town to Hollywood. I twist and mold all my characters for better or worse, but always make them believable. There’s nothing worse than a sugarcoated story or a phony author. I suffered nowhere near the pain growing up that my character David Faulkner experiences. David’s determination and drive bare resemblance to me, but only some of the manipulations placed to him or on others, whether good or evil, are not. Was I trapped in blue-collar America with my drumsticks looking to get the hell out to Hollywood for a record deal when I was 20-years old? Of course. However, when all is said and done, California may be a state of our union, but it’s a different world, no doubt about it. It will chew you up if you let it. I’ve seen the blood spilled in Hollywood. I’ve seen the valedictorian girl or boy from Ohio or Nebraska arrives with their bags and big smiles, only to end up on a street-corner hustling their ass within weeks. And I’ve seen the cold and ruthless tactics of the recording and motion picture industries first hand. Few people have “friends” in this part of the world and these parts of professions. They have acquaintances. They’ll never admit it, but that’s one of the biggest themes throughout The Devil of Shakespeare. Hypocritical, denial. We all do it, everyday. My book is believable fiction.

antiMUSIC: Can you give us a little background on the story?

Billy: It’s the bitter consequences of small-town America and Hollywood. You can’t help but to get strapped in emotionally to my character David Faulkner and his struggle to break out of his dismal surroundings and into the glamour of Hollywood. Once he achieves his dream as the greatest actor to ever live, David, now Darian Fable, feels he may bow out and pursue the normal life he never had as a child. His sudden decision threatens the lives of the most powerful people in Hollywood—including his own. David Faulkner is an underdog, which is why I believe my readers connect with him. America loves an underdog. On the other hand, The Devil of Shakespeare is far from just the story of a boy’s pursuit to conquer his dream. Darian Fable is a hero, and celebrity so you have both worlds. It’s a social tease and reminder of how obsessed today’s society is with celebrity. Today, you don’t have to be loved or admired to be a celebrity. You just have to be remembered. Sometimes it’s for the wrong reasons.

antiMUSIC: One thing that will strike anyone reading "The Devil in Shakespeare" is the villains. Having met a few in the entertainment industry myself over the years, I think you captured them perfectly. No need to name, names but were these characters based on any real people or are they composite sketches of the less than savory individuals you will find in the entertainment world?

Billy: They’re a combination of both. As the book opens one reads, “We are all the greatest actors; it’s just the lucky few who are grossly overpaid for it.” I think I’ll leave it at that.

antiMUSIC: What I particularly loved about the book is the fact that the heroes are so human, warts and all. For a book about Hollywood, it is particularly un-Hollywood in that respect. It really gives the book an authenticity that you won't find in a lot of novels. Was that a conscience decision on your part or was that just the way the characters came out?

Billy: I think it has to do with my approach as a writer. I believe in any artistic sense, in order to be heard loud and clear you have to be original. I am not a textbook writer, I write from the gut—and I follow no rules, yet keep it sensible and always with an understanding pulse. I like to think my book has a raw vibe to it. Take Gun’s and Roses. When they first came out, bands like Bon Jovi (whom I loved) and Whitesnake were all concentrating in the studio on things like, “oh, wait, fix that bad note, fix that flat vocal.” What made Gun’s and Roses above and beyond any since them or before, was honesty. They didn’t appease to what everyone expected. They went the opposite in everything they did. They were the freight train that roared out of a dusty garage. That’s originality. I’ve had more hits on to my Web site from new readers who never read fiction that enjoyed the understandable suspense in The Devil of Shakespeare. Again, this book is crafted and written to appeal to everyone from 18 to 81.

antiMUSIC: Everyone that dreams of rock n' roll stardom has certain ideals and expectations of what it will be like to make it. Then when they do, some are really surprised at how different it is from their expectations. You pick up a little of that in the book. Was that the case for you personally? If so what were some of the biggest preconceived notions you had that turned out to be totally wrong?

Billy: Loyalty. Most in my case came in for the monetary advances and the glamour of it. The carrot for many musicians is the chicks and the glamour. But -- believe me -- it surpassed quickly for me, and it was a comfortable living without returning to my day gig—painting houses. To me, the chicks and partying was a perk, but I don’t think I ever let it get too far in my head. My advice to any band is to take a good look at every member of your band. Do each of you have that “thing” that combined will make you successful? In a whole lot of cases, you have what I call the silent bullet. That one guy, that’s in it for oddly, not enough of the glory. He’s the guy that will sabotage the whole dream of others. You think being married to one person is easy, try being married to four or five band members. We had that one bullet in an individual that brought down an entire ship. He simply didn’t want it, nor need it financially. It was a hobby. Imagine that, a major recording contract. To play it as a hobby—is simply ignorance. Yet I have no regrets, I’d take storytelling over music if there ever were a choice.

antiMUSIC: To carry that further, did you have any preconceived notions about the book publishing business that turned out to be totally wrong?

Billy: It is extremely hard to get published on a large or even independent house, so I’m very fortunate. I think the publishing world has a lot of senseless, ridiculous procedures for new voices that want to crack into the world of literary—and there are some very good ones out there sadly unheard and collecting dust. Publishing needs to reset their rules, because politics do not belong in art.

antiMUSIC: You thought you were done with touring, but now you have the look forward to the publishing industries version of touring to support the book. What are you most looking forward to in promoting the book?

Billy: Well, it will certainly lack the sex and drugs, but that’s fine with me at this stage in my life. I look forward to always seeing anyone light up and get excited about my book. That’s what it’s all about—my readers. I had a call from a drummer in one of the biggest rock bands in the world. His alias in hotels is now Darian Fable, since reading The Devil of Shakespeare. Makes you feel good. Sharing the work of this book, which took me six years to piece together is the greatest high.

antiMUSIC: Not to jump the gun, but I'm sure a lot of people will want to know this after they read "The Devil in Shakespeare", what's next? Do you have another novel planned?

Billy: I have three novels in the works. My next one is Funnyman Jack Smack. Although, I’m not going to pump out a book every year. I’m not that kind of writer. I’m only into writing great books. I am very hard on myself. Writing fiction is in a funny way, along the lines of telling a joke. You have to set it up, keep the suspense, and have a worthwhile pay-off. I have talked to quite a few readers who are routinely disappointed with some of the biggest writers in today’s fiction. One or another of these mega-sellers, somehow wins the reader with one book and fails them on the pay-off of another. I want to be consistent, because it’s neither funny nor amusing when you let your reader down with a weak or predictable payoff some 264 pages later. It’s called a waste of time and money for both parties. You will not predict the payoff in my books. You’ll get it at the end. I guarantee it.

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