Uncle $am - Michael Bechtel
By: Dominick A. Miserandino
DM) How was the band formed?
MB) The band was formed in 1985. Ken & I met while playing
in a band called APATHEE. We played in that band from 1984 through
1985, when the band got on shaky ground I left the band and started
a new one called Mike Trash and the Barking Ratz. We played a
lot of Covers like Van Halen, Judas Priest, ZZ Top and all those
fun 80's Songs. Then through a series of personal problems and
the breakup of APATHEE, I started writing songs with Ken while
playing in the MIKE TRASH AND THE BARKING RATZ band. The unfortunate
problem with MTBR was that we got caught in a battle of egos
with a competitor's band and we ended up getting each other blacklisted
from different clubs. Then drugs and alcohol finally finished
the members of this band off, leaving us frustrated. They wanted
a harder style and I wanted to work on a new, fresh project consisting
of more original music. Ken & I then formed THE BARKING RATZ
as a Computerized ROCK Band in 1986. We played the Children's
Miracle Network Fund Raiser and a bunch of Charity things in
the beginning while refining our sound. In 1991, we finally got
to where we thought was the start of something good. We hired
my younger brother to play guitar and was an opening act for
a band called Area 51. We decided that for the type of music
we were playing and the type of clubs we wanted to play, we needed
to change our name. we were looking for a name that was easily
recognized. We considered CLC for Compusive Liars Club, and ALC,
but finally decided that Uncle $am was a cool name and pretty
much would not type cast our music.
DM) Wow. That's a long road. Where to now?
MB) We finally got a commitment out of our Label (J-Bird)
to release our CD nationally on July 98. I have been working
on getting more airplay, and reviews. And we are putting together
a full band to support the CD We may also have a deal in the
works to have one of our songs appear in a soundtrack. If that
happens we will see things move very quickly because of the people
involved on the soundtrack.
DM) What soundtrack?
MB) When we were finishing up our CD our Producer got a call
from Nashville from a friend in a past life. They were looking
for a song about an accident. Our song Mile 67 Marker has everything
they needed with full sound effects and all. My producer sent
it to them and they loved it. Ironically we had just finished
the song the night before and had already had all the sound effects
in the song already. They apparently loved the song as it was
presented. The Movie is called "Mach F-13". We have
our fingers crossed that it will come to fruition
DM) What will you do if it doesn't come to fruition?
MB) If it doesn't come to fruition we will keep making
music and pursuing this as far as we can. So far the CD seems
to be well received. What we need is for more people to hear
it. We got an 800 number for orders and we will continue to market
our music in record stores as well as on the net through our
website. We believe in our product. If I ever stop believing
in it, then it is time to quit.
DM) That's a good philosophy to have. Back to the story of
the band, what's the meaning behind the name?
MB) We thought that we could capitalize on the ALL AMERICAN
theme. Plus I write a lot of songs about living in the American
Dream. The Good, the bad, the whole gambit.
DM) Why the focus on "the American Dream"?
MB) Well, it's been a long road for us. We have come
from modest backgrounds. I didn't have running water in
my parents place till I was about 12. That was in the late 60's
& 70's. I personally have worked for everything I have ever
gotten, and have pretty much gotten to a point in my life that
I have achieved more than most people could have dreamed, and
definitely more than I thought I could. Not necessarily musically,
but in other parts of my life. I believe that you can achieve
your own American dreams as long as you set your sights and focus.
That and the fact that we already wrote a song earlier with the
name Uncle $am in it.
DM) What's your favorite track on the CD?
MB) My Favorite track it probably REMEMBER ME because it is
about my father passing away in 1986. I woke up in the middle
of the night and wrote it. Ken claims that his favorite changes
on his mood. Let me know what else you would like to know. Sorry
for the long answers.
DM) What were some of your biggest successes?
MB) I graduated and started college at 16.
DM) That's pretty impressive. Were your parents disappointed
that such a bright man chose "rock star" over being
a doctor?
MB) Good question. The truth to that answer is actually part
of the reason why I write music the way that I do. I grew up
in a household where my family was never supportive of anything
I did. Even today it's like that. Nothing I could do would
interest my family. For instance, we got this CD last summer.
At Christmas Time, no one in my family even had a CD, nor had
they even wanted one. It's pretty bizarre. Back to your
question. I think my mother is only disappointed in that she
can't manipulate me. My father passed away in '86. I wrote the
song "Remember Me" about him dying. He told his best
friend that he was proud of my achievements. He never told me
though. It was definitely some emotional baggage that he didn't
tell me. It will be the same way with my mother. As far as being
considered a "Bright Man", I would not really consider
myself Overly intelligent. Just full of common sense and able
to see things from different perspective. I guess I wouldn't
consider myself "Book-Smart" but rather "Street-Smart".
I hope some day to become the "Rock Star" that I strive
to be.
DM) Has this unsupportiveness of your family always been there?
MB) Unfortunately, yes. I haven't spoken to my mother,
Younger Brother or sister in several months. My younger brother
and sister are holding grudges that can't be resolved since they
wont share with me what they are. My mother is unable to resolve
whatever problems she has. I finally made a conscious decision
this year that I will move on with my life and not be concerned
with them anymore. I am too old to be playing games where the
rules change by the moment. I remember that in High School my
parents wouldn't drive me to Marching Band practice because
it was too much of a bother. Same with Boy Scouts and other extra
curricular activities. Looking back on it, I realize how strange
it was. Back then it didn't seem that way. Even when I graduated
at 16, my parents made this big fuss. They had always told me
that when and if I wanted to go to college, that they would make
sure that opportunity was there. When the opportunity came, their
only reaction was, "We can't afford to help you. If you
want to go, you are on your own. Why don't you just stay in High
School". So I did what any red blooded American would do.
I took care of myself with loans and scholarships and made it
on my own. Don't anyone ever tell me that this world isn't
fair. I did it with hard work and risk. I took advantage of the
School Loans and scholarships and paid it all off. I dragged
my butt out of living in a van to a semi-respectable guy. I know
that this line will probably anger a lot of others who think
I am self righteous and all, but I believe in everyone's
ability to achieve their goals, if they plan to succeed and not
fail.
DM) Which mean more to you, the personal or professional successes?
MB) The Professional could bring personal success, but I don't
think that the personal could bring much in the professional.
Professional could also bring personal disaster. I guess I would
have to say Personal Success would be more important to me. Its
like the old saying "Be careful what you ask for, cuz you
may not like it when you got it". The Professional Success
could be from the sacrifice of your Personal Success. My Personal
Life is pretty complete. I have a great Wife, decent job, roof
over my head, and live every day with no regrets and best of
all, can sleep at night, knowing I haven't gone out of my
way to make anyone's life miserable.
DM) You spoke before of your mother's disappointment. Does
that keep you up at night?
MB) You know there was a time in my life when it did bother
me. It's funny though. I can't keep awake at night
over anything with her because I am over any disappointment she
could ever have of me. Actually if anything would bother me about
my relationship with my mother, or my younger brother or even
sister for that matter, it would be their inability to see anything
beyond their own selves. For instance, I got married in February
'98. My whole family knew of it. We flew to Disney and got married
in Orlando. When we got back, our friends gave us all kinds of
nice gifts. People, who I would have never guessed, contributed
to our reception. But my own family.... Not even a card or a
phone call. I paid my mother $150 to watch my dogs for 4 days
in my house. She would show up at 9pm, stay the night and then
go home. Pretty good pay for that job huh? Well we didn't
even get a card from her. I gave up trying to please my mother
a long time ago. As far as any of them disappointing me? Well,
if your expectations are none, then if anybody does anything
for you, that's great, if not, oh well. I have always worked
for everything I ever got. It's funny. I am not your typical
rocker. We would go on stage to a crowd that would make fun of
our appearance. That same crowd would be cheering us by the end
of the first set. That is to me one of the best compliments you
can get. Respect from an audience. I guess I got a little side
tracked. Would I like things better if my family was supportive...
absolutely. My older brother and I seem to be getting along better
since we are the two outcasts in the family. He s a man of little
words. He and I have been friends and enemies in our lifetimes.
Over the past couple of years he has been the only family member
who consistently been supportive.
DM) Have you ever thought of quitting?
MB) I think all musicians have thought of quitting at one
time or another. This is a frustrating business to be in. If
you play what you want to play some would say that you are too
abstract or if you play what everyone wants to hear you are too
commercial. In many ways its a no win, but in the same sense,
when you are doing your own stuff and you get a good review or
put on a good show or hear the stuff on the radio or hear someone
talk about you who didn't know you would hear it, it makes
it all worth it. For the most part I try to write meaningful
songs so that they will always hit a nerve or emotion. When I
accomplish that, then I get a high that would never make me want
to quit. The most frustrating part is the political part outside
of the music. Unfortunately, I have always been the one to promote
and push the product. I would like, more than anything, to be
able to just write and play, and not have to worry about all
the extraneous stuff, like booking, promoting, getting the CD's
to market, copyrights and all the garbage that goes with the
territory. Will I ever give it up for good? Probably not. I may
walk away for a little while, but I will never be able to totally
get out. Anyone who is really in it for life understands the
"Music Demons" that are forever inside you motivating
you to be better and never allowing you to walk away.
DM) Well, thank you very much for the interview.
MB) No problem.
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