DIGITAL JOURNALIST
Travis Barker will be signing autographs at the Tilly’s at the Galleria at Tyler. (AP Photo)
One of the Inland Empire’s most famous sons, Travis Barker, returns to the area on Saturday, Jan. 26 for an autograph session at the Galleria at Tyler.
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blink-182 plays during Epicenter Twenty Ten music festival at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. (2010/File Photo)
The new blink-182 EP “Dogs Eating Dogs” is up for pre-sale and the band has released a stream of track “Boxing Day.”
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Valeria Ramos, 19 turns after placing a candle near a memorial for Jenny Rivera at a vigil outside Divina Realty Sunday in Corona. (Terry Pierson/Staff Photographer)
We’ve been following the tragic news today as officials found wreckage of Jenni Rivera’s plane in Northeast Mexico.
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Around 10 a.m., a few people are gathering at the on-site Ticketmaster windows for Day 2 of the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio. The festival announced at the end of March that single-day tickets were sold out, but they’re on sale for today’s event, at $120 for general admission. No word on Sunday.
Today’s acts include the Killers, MIA, and plane crash victims Travis Barker and DJ-AM performing together.
—Fielding Buck
–fbuck@PE.com
As I mentioned earlier, we’re T-minus 24 hours until Coachella and I have a special treat in the form of e-mail interviews with Travis Barker and DJ AM.
Their project, TRV$DJ-AM, will be at the Sahara Tent at 7:20 on Saturday. See the previous entry for Travis’ answers. DJ AM, birth name Adam Goldstein, talks about what it’s like to create with Barker, his new gig in Vegas and more.
Many thanks to Travis and DJ AM for responding during this crazy busy time and to Jenni for setting it up.
The Press-Enterprise: Why decide to do Coachella?
DJ AM: We were asked! Its BEYOND an honor as I am a fan who goes and loves it.
PE: What makes it such an important festival?
AM: It’s an “all you can hear, musical buffet.” Sounds delicious right?
PE: How did the two of you first start collaborating?
AM: Trav had seen a drummer and DJ collab and he hit me up. We had one jam session and I was like, “Oh yeah. This … will work.”
PE: What can fans expect to hear at the Coachella set?
AM: No genre is untouched, but we make it all our own with Trav’s style and my style. I personally promise you we won’t disappoint.
PE: Have you been working on new music? If so, will we hear it at Coachella?
AM: Yup! We have some new stuff that should be perfect for the Sahara tent fans.
PE: What do you love about performing together? What makes TRV$-DJAM special to each of you and how does it push you creatively?
AM: I love what Trav can add to an existing song or sample. He makes it extra funky 🙂
PE: How does the creative process work for you? Does it start with a drum beat, or a hook?
AM: It starts with us picking what songs work and what we can both add “our own” style too. We just have a jam session and stick with what sounds good.
PE: What drives you as artists?
AM: Making crowds get hype, that’s why I do what I do.
PE: Has the way you approached music changed at all?
AM: Nope. I listen to what sounds good.
PE: What made you know you wanted to pursue music as a career?
AM: It was actually the opposite. I had another job in a mailroom and I was DJing for free. Then people started paying me, so I quit the mailroom.
PE: What’s next for TRV$DJ-AM?
AM: Only G-D knows, I am just so happy were still here to make music.
PE: What are you the most proud of so far?
AM: The fact I can be a loving son to my Mom. Hey, you asked MOST proud of!
PE: What do you still want to accomplish?
AM: I was given a second chance at life. maybe a 3rd chance. I want to give back all the love and wisdom I was given.
PE: Tell me about the move to Rain. Are you excited?
AM: I have always been a fan of The Palms since day one so to be a part of their dynasty is an honor.
PE: What about Las Vegas makes it such a great place to DJ?
AM: People want to PARTY! They are there to have fun so they are more willing to go on a lil’ musical genre journey.
PE: I know you are a sneakerhead. Have you gotten any pairs you’re really excited about lately?
AM: YES! I just got the Union Dunks. They are so amazing. I also have a dunk of my own coming soon 🙂 Look out for the “Rivals Pack.”
Many thanks to DJ AM. I’ll be at their Coachella set on Saturday and I’ll be blogging live here all weekend. You can also follow me on Twitter.
We’re only a day away from Coachella and I have a special surprise for you!
Travis Barker and DJ AM will be at Coachella on Saturday, but they both took the time to do an e-mail interview with me.
If you don’t know, Travis is from Fontana and lived in Corona for a while.
Check out TRV$DJ-AM in the Sahara Tent on Saturday night at Coachella.
Many thanks to Jenni Weinman for setting this up as well as to Travis and to DJ AM for taking the time to answer.
Also, the interview with DJ AM will be posted here later today.
There’s a print story running in the paper on Friday, but here is the interview with Travis. He talks about Coachella, Goldenvoice, his solo record, and his favorite spots in the I.E. He also alludes to the plane crash that he and AM survived last September. However, he didn’t talk about the blink-182 reunion.
Enjoy!
The Press-Enterprise: Why decide to do Coachella?
Travis Barker: Because they asked and it’s the coolest festival ever.
PE: What makes it such an important festival?
Barker: The diverse bands, dj’s and artists make it different, everybody waits all year for it.
PE: How did the two of you first start collaborating?
Barker: I approached Adam a couple years ago with the idea and the rest is history. We got in a studio and never looked back.
PE: What can fans expect to hear at the Coachella set?
Barker: Everything from Justice to Michael Jackson, The Who, Biggie, Queen….the list goes on.
PE: Have you been working on new music? If so, will we hear it at Coachella?
Barker: I have begun working on my solo record again, as for AM and I, we rarely play the same set twice. We always keep it fresh.
PE: What do you love about performing together? What makes TRV$-DJAM special to each of you and how does it push you creatively?
Barker: I mean there is only really US in our own genre, there isn’t a lot of drummer/dj’s that do what we do. It’s such a breath of fresh air. I play things I’d never play in a band when I play with AM, really different for me.
PE: How does the creative process work for you? Does it start with a drum beat, or a hook?
Barker: We just listen to music, jam out on it, see how we can flip it or make it different and then starting putting things together depending on tempos. AM is amazing.
PE: What drives you as artists?
Barker: Life, living, breathing, the opportunity to play music, fashion, the world, everything I come in contact with.
PE: Has the way you approached music changed at all?
Barker: Being able to play music period after my 16 surgeries has made me appreciate it more now then ever.
PE: Travis, you had the surgery in February on your ulner nerve –how did it go? Did you regain feeling in your left hand?
Barker: My hand is still numb and I’m hoping eventually the feeling will come back. I’m still supposed to be resting but I couldn’t pass on Coachella.
PE: What made you know you wanted to pursue music as a career?
Barker: I loved music since the first time I heard it. The Beatles, Elvis, The Beach Boys, Run DMC , Slayer. I was exposed to all of this at a young age and I never wanted to do anything else besides play music and ride my skateboard.
PE: What’s next for TRV$-DJAM?
Barker: More shows, more festivals, good times.
PE: What are you the most proud of so far?
Barker: That I’m alive and I have my family, my music, my friends.
PE: What do you still want to accomplish?
Barker: The list is too long. You will see as the time goes on. I can’t rest or not do anything . I am a person that likes to stay busy and creative and continue finding ways of expressing myself.
PE: Growing up in the Inland Empire–what are some of your favorite places out here–restaurants, hangouts, stores?
Barker: Miguels and WaHoo’s are my favorite. Anytime I’m out there those are my jams.
PE: You were living in Corona for a while, what made you decide to move out to L.A. full-time? Do you ever see yourself moving back out here?
Barker: My wife and babies at the time lived in LA so I couldn’t not be with them . I live out in LA cause that’s where I end up working a lot being in studios usually 10-12 hours a day. However other business’ of mine still live in the IE. My FAMOUS STARS AND STRAPS BRAND as well as KILLER DISTRIBUTION are in Ontario and Corona. I love it there
PE: Do you still come back to the I.E. at all?
Barker: Yes, once every couple weeks, I have family out there still as well.
PE: With the new arena in Ontario and restoration projects of the Fox in Riverside and the recently completed Fox theater in Pomona, is the Inland Empire becoming more of a draw for entertainers?
Barker: I hope so, our music scene as a kid was always thriving thanks to 98 Posse and Goldenvoice. I had amazing venues and concerts every week / weekend. I saw so many of my favorite bands play growing up out there.
Remember, there are more Coachella interviews and goodies to be had at our special online Coachella section.
I will be posting the interview with DJ AM later today, so check back. Also, I will be blogging like ca-RAZY from Coachella this weekend. It’s the best of the fest without risking sunburn. Keep checking here or follow me on Twitter.
Coachella just confirmed it–Amy Winehouse is out.
“Yes it’s true. Amy Winehouse has canceled her appearance at Coachella,” stated a post on the site’s official news page.
Her absence leaves the top billing to be The Killers and then Thievery Corporation, judging by the poster.
I think someone has to step in. Here are my thoughts:
-Green Day
On a day with the KROQ-friendly Killers headlining, Green Day could easily become the big headliner. The band’s new album drops in May, which makes them a perfect fit for Coachella. What better way to debut new material?
-No Doubt
The band is back together for the first time in five years. Again, with the Killers, a KROQ fave. However, their upcoming tour is through LiveNation, which is not Goldenvoice owners AEG Live. And with three Irvine dates this summer (in addition to a San Diego one in May) it might be too much.
-Blink-182
Travis Barker is already going to be at Coachella with DJ-AM. Blink has said they’re getting back together. Could they be ready in time for Coachella?
-Pearl Jam
I don’t know if they’d do it, but I think it would be a massive win for Coachella.
Anyone else want to venture some guesses?