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Scottie Griffin is one of the top musicians to emerge out of the Hollywood rock scene. He is best known for playing bass in the ultimate party band Hookers n' Blow. This talented musician has mastered not just one instrument, but is trained in guitar, bass, and drums. He, along with drummer extradonaire Troy Patrick Farrell, is the backbone of the HnB rhythm section.
In addition to playing in Hookers n’ Blow, Scottie also performs in his own band Liars n’Cheats. The band is getting ready to release a new CD called "All Our Heroes Are Dead." This CD features special guest appearances by Dizzy Reed and Steven Adler on the GNR cover songs "It's So Easy."
Hookers n' Blow will be embarking on a spring tour which is slated to begin May 25 in Florida. I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Scottie Griffin to discuss the upcoming HNB Tour, the recent HNB accident, Liars n’ Cheats, and all of his latest projects in this exclusive interview for GlamMetal.com TM .
Hi Scott. First of all the Staff at GlamMetal.com TM wishes you, Jizzy Pearl and Alex Grossi a full recovery from the terrible accident in Danvers, MA on April 9. How are you? How is the band doing?
Luckily, we're all alive. Alex got banged up the most. I'm still feeling it in my ribs, neck, etc. It was definitely one of the scarier moments in my life.
I saw a picture of the van on the HnB website, you are so lucky to have survived the terrible accident. How did you manage to get out of the wreck? You must have been in shock. What was going through your mind at the time of the accident? 
I kind of get into survival mode at those times. What seemed like the longest is when we were skidding down the highway upside down. There was this weird orange glow and sparks flying everywhere and I'm thinking to myself everything will be OK as long as we don't smash into anything. Little did I know that if the accident had happened just 6 feet earlier we would've fallen over an embankment onto the street below. We would've surely been dead in that case.
The staff here at GlamMetal.com TM is really supportive of the band. Hookers n' Blow features some of the top musicians in the industry. All of the members of the band including Dizzy, Alex, Troy, Jizzy, and yourself have been such great friends to the website and we want you to know that our thoughts and prayers go out to you in a speedy recovery.
Thanks Deb, it's good to be alive. I guess heaven didn't want me and hell was over-booked (laughs).
It was so great to see Hookers n' Blow perform at the Webster Theatre on April 1 with Dizzy Reed. For a Sunday night, the big room was pretty full. Before the accident, how was the tour going? I know you played in Philly the night before.
It was a really great run. Luckily we got to stay in Philly for a couple days so I was able to go downtown and meet some people and do some window shopping as they say. I like to get out of the whole van, gig, motel circle that you tend to get caught in. I've just started to get into taking pictures. It's a shame to go all over the place and not keep anything to remember it by.
Now on a few East Coast shows Jizzy Pearl performed with HNB. It must have been great working with Jizzy. How did the set list change?
Jizzy's phenomenal. He'll be with us on our next run as well which starts the end of May. It's definitely more metal with him. Dio, Sabbath, etc. It's a nice change. I mean Dizzy is Hookers n' Blow, it's his band and we're fortunate that he let us continue without him. I guess he has to play some gigs with that other band, what's their name again? Guns n' Roses??? (laughs)
Hookers n' Blow have had such a busy touring schedule over the past few months. What was the highlight of Spring Break down in Florida? Did John Corabi sit in with the band for a few shows on the Spring Break Tour?
Yes, Corabi will also be playing with us again down in Florida. We play at this cool place called Rumrunners in San Destin which is located on the panhandle next to Panama City. It's great, they really treat us right there. As for the highlight ….uhhh, college girls! What else?? (laughs)
Scott, I noticed this time around you are playing bass in HNB? You originally played guitar, but now Alex Grossi has re-joined the band. What was it like making the transition from playing guitar to bass?
As long as it's rock n' roll it really doesn't matter to me. It's actually cool because now I know a bunch of songs on both instruments. I like to learn the stuff note-for-note too and it makes you appreciate bass players who are usually overshadowed by the guitar players. Like "Sweet Child of Mine", have you ever really listened to Duff's part? I think it's just as cool as Slash on the intro. There's also a certain attitude that I like that comes with playing bass.
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I noticed a lot of Keith Richards influences in your guitar style? Who are some of the guitar players that have influenced you as a musician?
Keith Richards is probably my main guy. I have so many influences I hate to mention any because I know I can't say everyone. Eddie Van Halen was a BIG influence growing up. I just saw him again for the first time in ages and was in awe. Everybody talked shit about the tour because it was with Sammy Hagar. Fuck it! It could've been with the Backstreet Boys and I would've been there. Hey, I own Micheal Jackson’s "Thriller" because he solos on "Beat It"! (laughs) I also love (in no particular order): Ace Frehley, Jeff Beck, Derek Frigo, Warren DeMartini, Angus Young, Jimmy Page, Mick Taylor, etc. I could go on all night.
When was the first time you picked up a guitar? How did you get started in music?
I started off on drums actually. That lasted about a year. I remember I got this book by Carmine Appice and went through about half the book before I would even play with anyone because I wanted to be fucking awesome (or at least what I thought was awesome at the time). So when I felt I was ready I had a friend come over to jam and he started playing some Van Halen, Black Sabbath, etc. and I was blown away! I didn't know that anyone could actually play songs by those types of bands. I had though it was like some mystical thing or something (laughs). Remember, I was only about 12 then. Anyways, we ended up not jamming. I made him teach me all the songs he knew. Now this is fucking hilarious, we had already started a band. In our own minds at least. We had a name, it was "Lived" pronounced "Live Ed" which is Devil backwards (laughs). We had a couple other friends who were gonna sing and play bass (when he got a bass that is) and we already had our first gig confirmed at another friend’s house on his birthday. (laughs) We didn't have any songs yet, but we had song titles! Shit like "Rock You to Your Grave" and "Hot Sister". (more laughs) But we had to put that on hold because I didn't want to play drums anymore. It's quite sad actually, we would've been HUGE!!! (laughs)
How did you meet Dizzy Reed? He is such a phenomenal keyboard player.
We all play at this place called the Cat Club in Hollywood. Troy Patrick Farrell actually suggested me to him. I already knew most of the songs that Hookers n' Blow do so we hit it off right from the start. He's the ultimate rock n' roll piano guy. He reminds me of Nicky Hopkins. He's been the fucking coolest guy offstage too. We've had a LOT of fun times on all these little runs we've done.
Were you a big Guns n' Roses fan before you joined the band?
Hated them! Still do.(laughs). No, of course I was. I had "Appetite" for what seemed like a year before "Sweet Child" broke. I remember thinking "How can this song not be a hit!" And then of course we all know what happened next.
You also have an original band called Liars n' Cheats. Who is in that band? Were you also a studio musician in Los Angeles?
We're just finishing up our second CD called "All Our Heroes Are Dead" which we're releasing independently. It's a great rock band that's a lot of fun. All those guys are my bros. Dizzy was cool enough to come down and lay some keys down on a few tracks. We also do a cover of "It's So Easy" with Steven Adler playing drums. I've just heard the masters and the whole CD sounds amazing. I'm really excited about it. It will be available on www.amazon.com , www.cdbaby.com , etc. and through our website which you can access through our myspace page at www.myspace.com/liarsncheats . There, that's a good plug, huh?
Hookers n' Blow have a huge following on the East Coast. How do West Coast audiences differ from the fans on the East Coast?
Well, most people on the West Coast are actually from different places such as the East Coast so it's hard to say. You have to realize that when you play the West Coast, at least on a club level, you're playing for other musicians or people who are in some way connected to the industry, so they're not exactly "fans" anymore. So you get a lot better reaction back East for the most part. I don't mind saying that. It's just the way it is. I'm from L.A. and I love it. But unless you bring an atom bomb on stage you're probably not gonna get that big of a reaction there.
What is your favorite city to perform in?
Whatever city I'm playing in that has cute girls and everybody having a good time. I'm easily amused. I don't need Madison Square Garden. I wouldn't MIND Madison Square Garden (laughs) but I love playing anywhere people want to hear me.
How has the music industry changed since the late 80's? Is it harder for bands to get a record deal in LA these days compared to the heyday of the metal genre on Sunset Strip back in the 80's? It seems metal is making a big comeback this summer with the Poison/Cinderella Tour.
You know, it's never gonna come back exactly like it was. That's a good thing, that's what makes it special. There will always be a demand for it because it was so much fun and you can hear that in the music. And people want to be a part of that who maybe missed out on it or weren't born yet. All anyone can do is support it by getting off there asses and going out to things like the Poison/Cinderella Tour or Motley Crue or Hookers n' Blow!
Hookers n' Blow are the ultimate party band. They perform a lot of great classic rock tunes? I would love to hear some original HnB tunes? The band is so talented, has HnB ever thought about recording some original tunes?
Don't tempt us, Deb. We just might take you up on that (laughs). God knows what we'd come up with probably something like "Rock You to Your Grave" or "Hot Sister" (laughs) (refer to question #9 if this makes no sense to you).
What are your upcoming touring plans with HNB and Liars n 'Cheats? 
Well, like I said I'll be out with Hookers n' Blow for three weeks beginning May 25th. We'll be playing through Florida, New England and Chicago. You can get the exact dates at www.myspace.com/hookersnblowme .
What can the fans expect to see from Scottie Griffin in 2006?
Well, in addition to Hookers n' Blow and Liars n' Cheats I also play in a Brit Rock cover band called The King Mixers ( www.myspace.com/thekingmixers ) and an all acoustic tribute to KISS called KISS unplugged ( www.myspace.com/kissunplugged ). I also have a couple other things that aren't confirmed, but if they happen would take me overseas. I'm always looking for new experiences. I'm lucky enough to have known exactly what I've wanted to do since I was 12 years old. It's just a matter of making the right connections and doing it.
Scottie, thank you so much for doing this special Hookers n 'Blow interview with me for GlamMetal.com TM. Hope to se ya on the road soon.
Thanks, Deb. And for anyone that wants to buy me a drink,,,or smash a drink over my head, you can contact me through my website www.rocknrollguitar.com or through that evil myspace thing at www.myspace.com/scottgriffin .
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