The Teen Beat Interview with Bryan White

The following questions were culled from vintage Teen Beat interviews, circa mid-1980s. Xpress poses them to local music stars.

Mountain Xpress: How did you get into music?
Brushfire Stankgrass and jazz quartet Done for the Evening: I started playing bass in high school when I was a sophomore. My biggest influence (and good friend to this day) was (and still is) Jason Scheff, bassist and lead vocalist from the band Chicago.  They get a bad rap these days from people because folks only seem to know the 1980s pop-ballad period, but Chicago’s entire body of work and songwriting skill is incredible, all the way back to 1967. They are the reason I started playing music.

Q: If you weren’t a musician, what would you want to be?
A: Probably a luthier (musical instrument builder) or a recording engineer.

Q: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
A: To have more patience. I tend to be very impulsive, which is sometimes good, but mostly gets me into trouble.

Q: Tell us about your car.
A: My car is my 1992 Toyota Camry XLE V6 TRD edition. I’ve had it since I started driving at 16 years old … that car knows me better than some people do.

Q: Are you going to play a show in Tulsa?
A: If my travel expenses are covered, I’ll play almost anywhere.

Q: Who do you consider to be very cool?
A: Ron Paul: The only candidate with a clue.

Q: Do you have a crush on anyone?
A: Yes, my wonderful fiance’, Rachel.

Q: What was the most perfect gift you ever received?
A: A foot of snow on Christmas morning.

Q: What was the nicest thing you’ve ever done for your mom on Mother’s Day?
A: A nice dinner and a CD of music she had been looking for forever.

Q: What are some of your hobbies?
A: Running and weight lifting, reading philosophy books, and watching auto racing. I’m a car nut.

Q: Describe your perfect day.
A: Waking up without a care in the world, not feeling like I have a million things to rush into, yet still being productive and happy.

Q: What’s something you refuse to eat?
A: Meat.

Q: If you had to choose one word to describe your life, what would that word be?
A: Blessed.

Q: Do you have any messages for all your loyal fans?
A: Thanks for the memories …

—Alli Marshall, A&E reporter

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About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

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