WILLIAM YAGER – AN INTERVIEW ABOUT LIFE
William (Bill) Yager is an extraordinary guitarist who graces the stage with the formidable King Kuel. Bill is an amazing guitar player whose musicianship and flair is edgy and totally brazen. On stage, he is dramatically manic and compliments his bandmates perfectly. Bill‘s playing is either sublime with stellar guitar licks or gutsy with explosive barrages of sonic intensity. His interactions with lead singer Ray Wheaton, bassist CJ Kennedy and percussionist Fran Mynahan creates a typhoon of savage energy.
Not only is Bill a great musician but he is also a steadfast person. He is constantly supporting the prospering Northeast music scene. He can always be counted on to be there, encouraging established and new acts. Not only that but he is a resolute family man, balancing his devotion to music with the love of family.
William Yager was kind enough to answer a few question for AMP.
AMP: AMP is a huge King Kuel fan yet we don’t know how the band was formed. Give the AMP readers a quick rundown how the band came together?.
BILL: First of all, I’d like to say thank you to AMP for considering me for the pages of your publication. I’m honored to be included amongst the many talented individuals you’ve interviewed over the years. So, I’m an upstate NY native, transplanted to Connecticut via Hollywood, Ca. I was in a band called Virgin from the Albany area which many Ct. rock fans would remember seeing live at The Infinity or Bridges Café. Then my LA band was called Bless where I was fortunate enough to play all the big famous rooms such as The Whiskey, Roxy, Troubadour, Viper Room, etc.
The King Kuel story starts when I moved to Ct. from LA in ’99. Upon my arrival here I wasn’t playing and really didn’t know anyone. My wife’s brother was in a local rock and roll outfit that many may be familiar with, namely Society’s Children. When I met those guys, I casually mentioned to singer Ray Wheaton, Hey man, I play guitar…If you guys ever need someone, let me know! Turns out, after a few years, Society is facing a lineup change and needs a guitarist! Essentially it started as me replacing the guitarist but shortly after starting rehearsals we started writing new originals. We made the decision that this band would longer be Society’s Children…this band would be something new. We went unnamed for quite awhile and eventually landed with the big double K’s!!!
AMP: What led you to a life as a musician and what keeps you there?
BILL: Life as a musician started for me with my grandmother and my dad. As a young boy, Gram would sit me down on her piano bench with her and play and sing to me. It was such a joyous thing for me. Hell, just that prompted me to be in chorus in school literally every year from second grade through twelfth! As for dad, he was a lead singer/guitarist who fronted his own country band for some 40 years. My start in performing came at around 9 or 10 years old, singing with his band on Saturday night. I owe my love of music to them both. Music to me provides a feeling of connection…whether it be those moments between band members, or those moments with our friends and fans where we’re all just happy to be together having a good time!
AMP: If you weren’t a musician, what other profession would you probably be involved with?
BILL: If I weren’t a musician, I think I might like to be involved in stage/concert lighting design or recording production. Photography, filmmaking and graphic design are also things I could see myself in…porn maybe….?
AMP: Who are some of your major influences?
BILL: As for influences…I was born into old school country music. So I love that ole’ honk…Buck and Dwight and such. As for rock music, it started when I heard Kiss and then that was it! The 70’s kings…Kiss, old Scorps, UFO (Schenker is a huge influence), Rush, Nuge, Boston, Aerosmith, VH, REO and so many more. This is where I developed my blues based rock style. My biggest influence, however, was a local Saratoga Springs, NY guitarist named Jeff Toma (JT Lewis). His band Snowblind played our high school auditorium when I was 12 or something. I remember standing there pressed against the stage watching this dude playing Schenker solos note for note and just rocking the shit out of it! That made me want to play guitar! Years later I got to play in bands with him and he taught me so much! Thanks Jeff-fry!!
AMP: We know King Kuel is in the studio. What are your impressions of the new songs in terms of musical growth?
BILL: King Kuel is currently working on new music and while our songs are generally a collaboration with us all, this first batch of stuff definitely has a lot of my fingerprints on it. I bring a slightly different flavor than the rest of the guys and it’s coming through in what we are doing. I’m shooting for accessible, melodic hard rock songs that are at the same time raw and relatable. I want that sing along moment that will connect with the crowd. Melodic, aggressive hard rock is where we live but I want it to sound fresh and new. I think we are achieving that with the new stuff. We’re currently playing a couple in our live set and they continue to take shape as we feel them out. Can’t wait to have it all down and get it out to the people!. It’s going to RAWK!!!\
AMP: Can we expect an extended tour in the near future?
BILL: We’d love nothing more than to be able to take the show on the road! Look, from the get-go we’ve always been about putting on an energetic rock show. We’re not interested in being a generic bar band. You will not catch us wearing cargo shorts and sandals. We are the show! Those of you who have seen us know it. And those who haven’t, need to. We want people to be able to come and leave all the daily bullshit in their lives behind, and sing, dance and party like fucking crazy people!! We’re all fucking rockstars! “Dress for the job you want” is what they always say..and we do in all manners of speaking. We will continue to seek out higher profile shows while still hitting our favorite Ct. spots!
AMP: Best gig? Worse gig?
BILL: I don’t think we ever had any “bad” shows..at least I hope not. If so, the audience haven’t told us! I will say I think some of our best shows were playing with our good friend Jimi Bell. We’ve played a few times with him in House Of Lords and the energy at those shows was intense. Also, recently, our first show back from the Covid shutdown with Jimi’s band Beyond Purple was off the chain! We occasionally do a set at our shows with Jimi as the “Five Kings” and that’s always a spectacular. Can’t wait for next years Enfield, Ct. Town Green Fourth of July celebration where we will be opening for him in Autograph, along with Vixen and Slaughter!!
AMP: Favorite cocktail?
BILL: I’m not a drinking guy. So my utterly boring answer to the favorite drink question has got to be a nice cold Ginger Ale! Cheers mate! Raise a glass!
Thanks to my compadres Fran Mynahan, CJ Kennedy, and Ray Wheaton (and original bassist Marc Deshaine) for having me along for this ride. We’re having a hell of a time! Of course a special thanks to my beautiful wife, Shannon, for always believing in me and taking me places in life I might not otherwise been. Thanks to our family, friends and fans for supporting us. And to friends like AMP, Jimi Bell, Michael Cansdale, Joe Natale, Tim Dickinson, Lea Caffery, Gail Corrow and countless others who have helped push us along to new heights. We love you all! Thanks and be good to one another. See y’all out there under the bright lights. Peace, love and good happiness stuff!!
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