PISTOLS AT DAWN – AN INTERVIEW WITH DRUMMER ADAM JAFFE

Adam Jaffe is the drummer of the brazen Atlanta quartet, Pistols At Dawn. The band recently delivered a bold new take of their 2022 hit “Fly”. “Fly (Radio Edit)” powers through a more harmonious version of the track that automatically pulls the listener into a world of of hard hitting riffs and inspired orchestration. The band’s last full length was Ascension released in 2022 distributed by Megaforce Records. The 8 song album distributes fierce hooks, majestic vocals and hard hitting rhythms that completely destroy.

Pistols At Dawn has had a few lineup changes throughout the years but this current one is solid and tenacious. Besides Jaffe, the band is comprised of Will James (Lead Guitar), Gabriel Cuevas (Bass) and Jon Sookdew Sing (Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar). Separately, these musicians are masterful but as a whole, they are incendiary. PAD‘s sound is full of dynamic explosions and invincible grooves. They have amassed a huge following due to their constant touring with such bands as Fozzy and Sleep Theory and playing multiple festivals. Pistols At Dawn likes to break rules with their sublime music and will eventually ensnare the world at large. Enjoy the ride.

Adam Jaffe was kind enough to sit to AMP for this informative interview.

AMP: Pistols At Dawn has seemed to have had a few lineup changes in the past couple of years. What makes this new group of musicians exciting?

ADAM: With any elite international touring rock band, the reality is that there is going to be member changes. If you listen to Dave Grohl, he was like the fifth or sixth drummer of Nirvana. Well it’s the same with our band. We started with the original lineup in 2015. We’ve had everything from a former member dying of cancer to babies being born and members leaving to become parents. There have also been mental health issues. Basically the entire gamut of the band member experience has hit us.

We are currently on our fifth grouping and to be honest about it, this is the best one yet. Everybody is just a professional. Our 22 year old shredder guitarist (Will) is basically Eddie Van halen Jr. And he’s the nicest guy who can’t stop smiling. Our singer (Jon) has an incredible voice and is a dynamic rhythm guitarist. Our bassist (Gabriel) is cool as shit. What I like is the fact that we all have the same mindset.

Every single past and present member of Pistols At Dawn has been in the band for a reason and made the band better during their tenure. I feel we have gone all the craziness a group has to endure and now we are solely focused on taking over the world.

AMP: How would you categorize your sound?

ADAM: Mainstream radio hard rock with an edge. Modern music with an old school twist. We all grew up listening to bands like AC/DC, Van Halen and Pantera. But there are plenty of newer bands that have also inspired us. It’s an eclectic sound.

AMP: Speaking of influences, who are some of the band’s heroes?

ADAM: Like I just said, our influences are all over the place. On the progressive side you have Dream Theater, Sleep Theory and Rush. Also bands like Guns N’ Roses, Living Colour, Breaking Benjamin, Foo Fighter, etc. have molded our sensibilities. But the fact is, we use these influences to create our own unique flavor in order to construct something fresh and original.

AMP: Your new remix of “Fly” is superb. Why did you redo the track?

ADAM: Well, the original version of “Fly” has a lot of screaming in it. We love the original take but our radio team came to us asking for a new melodic rendition. It gave us a good incentive to do an updated track with our new singer and bassist. They went into the studio and in three days, they knocked it out of the park. It’s already charting on multiple playlists.

AMP: You’ve worked with several well known producers in the studio. How was it working with the likes of a Sylvia Massey (Tool/System of the Down)?

ADAM: Incredible! Just sending her our program prior into going into the studio and her telling us that she really wanted to work with us, is one of the most validating moments in our career. She’s worked with some of the biggest acts and some of the biggest records ever recorded. She was so easy to work with. We went to her because we truly wanted that platinum rock feel and she totally delivered. The band is indebted to her and really appreciates her contributions. To this day, we remain friends.

AMP: What do you want your fans to take away from your music?

ADAM: Our music is all about connection. When you see us live, you’ll see that we are extremely passionate players. It’s important for us to give everything we got, every night. That’s how we connect to our fans. The band was the most productive during the worse of times. During the pandemic, we put out 8 videos and an EP. In addition, our lyrics really seem to resonate with people. Now it’s about bringing that momentum to life and writing new music in order to further that relationship. Connecting to people through music is magical.

AMP: If you could support any act, past or present, who would it be and why?

ADAM: I think the entire band would like to go out with Metallica. They put on the most epic show. They’re the kings of metal. To play a stadium gig with them in the round would be amazing.

AMP: On a personal note, what got you into music?

ADAM: So, I was six years old and my dad’s first girlfriend after my parent’s divorce, brought me a kiddie drumkit to piss my mother off. That was my first taste of the drums. After that, I was hooked. I bugged my dad for electronic drum pads ad played them like crazy. I had a cousin who passed who was a drummer and I acquired his kit. Again, I was mesmerized. I always wanted to be in bands and they had to be rock bands. Music has been my whole life.

AMP: Is there any new material coming out soon?

ADAM: Yes! We are actively writing our next album. It will be done and ready for 2024. We just got off 2 tours with 40 shows, coast to coast. As soon as we got back, we starting writing the new tracks for the full length. As of now, it will have 10 songs and honestly, I feel, this is our best work yet. This lineup is putting 100% into these songs in order to make this album insane.

If you loved Pistols At Dawn before, we are hoping you really enjoy the new music we’re creating. It’s a diverse bunch of tunes with bangers, a ballad and even a cool cover. It will blow your mind and you won’t even see it coming. We also have headlining tours in the US and Europe coming up soon.

AMP: Where do you see the band 3 years down the road?

ADAM: Headlining arena! Joining other bands for stadium show! Playing every festival in the world! The coolest thing about this band is we never stop. We’re relentless. And fortunately, we can write some good music. We are grateful to everybody for their great support but there is no end in sight. We want to take this as big as it can go. The entire band is hungry.

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