Shane - How did you get the name Jonny Chops?
Jonny Chops - Well, When I was 12, I made an AOL screen name called Jonny Chops. It was also my email, so as I met
new bands and people, they always called me Jonny Chops. Even when I tried to change it, it just stuck with me. That's
how people introduced me when I joined bands, they never asked what I wen't by. I think its kind of funny. I get just
Chops now or Chopper.
Shane - Other than Wednesday 13 and Trashlight Vision, have you been in any other bands?
Jonny Chops - I've been playing in rock bands since I was 13. Started playing gigs at 14. I moved to NYC when I
graduated high school and started really playing out more in the city. I started to tour and gradually moved up to bigger
tours and bigger bands.
Shane - How long have you been playing the drums, and what got you interested in the drums in the first place?
Jonny Chops - I wanted to be a drummer when I was a kid, and my mom knew a drum teacher so she started taking me and
really pushed it. I think she liked the guy and just used me as an excuse to see him, but hell I'm not complaining. I
started playing drums when I was 6. I played all through school, into high school and marching bands. I auditioned for a
few drum and bugle corps but my life never let it work, almost as if I wasn't supposed to be doing that. There was always
something else going on that got in the way. I got a really great teacher/mentor by the name of Mark Hopkins when I was 14
who really helped me pave my path.
Shane - What is your daily life like when you aren't touring or recording music?
Jonny Chops - When I'm home, I really love my girlfriend, family and friends and my dogs. I try to spend as much time
as I can with them. I also have a 9-5 job as an electrician. I still got bills to pay. I have two harley's which I f'n
love riding. I wish I could take my bikes on the road with me. Other than that I try to stay healthy and focused on my
goals and progress. I always practice to keep up my chops.
Shane - Who are your biggest musical influences?
Jonny Chops - My biggest influence was Korn. They are the reason I got into metal. I also really got into Slipknot.
That's what I grew up on was new metal I always studied every band I came across even little highschool bands, I always
picked something up from them; something I liked or some things I didn't like.
Shane - What type of music do you listen to?
Jonny Chops - I love all music. I really do. From classical to some rap, to some country to jazz to techno. Anything
that gets you moving inside or outside. I like orchestral scores to movies like Transformers, or Spider-man. I would
really love to write a score to a movie someday.
Shane - Is it different playing shows in the U.S. compared to the shows that you have played before in Japan and
Europe?
Jonny Chops - Yeah, I love America and stuff but Europe is such a kick ass place to play. It works both ways, European
bands do well over here and American bands do well over there. I havn't had a chance to go to Japan yet. I definatly plan
on it though.
Shane - What's your favorite city to play in?
Jonny Chops - New York City is still my favorite place in the world, even though its so crowded and stuff, I love it.
I wanna live in Manhatten some day.
Shane - Do you prefer playing in outdoor or indoor venues?
Jonny Chops - I like indoor venues cause the sound is usually better plus you don't have to deal with the elements or
bugs and stuff.
Shane - Do you think MySpace is beginning to have a real impact on today's music scene?
Jonny Chops - MySpace is one of the greatest things to happen to the music bizz for exposure and contacting bands.
You don't get the full effect of the band so it sucks if people judge a band from their MySpace page but MySpace kicks ass
for bands usually. If I get offered a gig, instantly I can check them out, photos, videos, albums, tour dates stuff like
that. I can get the whole band history in 5 mins.
Shane - Do you play any instruments other than the drums?
Jonny Chops - I play some guitar and took vocal lessons for a while but I don't keep up with it right now. One of my
goals is to be able to write my own stuff in a year or two. Not to try to be huge or anything, I just want to be able to
express my ideas reguardless if anyone hears it or not.
Shane - How do you feel about people illegally downloading music over the internet?
Jonny Chops - I don't think its cool. I'm big on spending the money for the album cause I know how much work goes into
that stuff. I like owning the album anyway, to be able to have the artwork and stuff. I always go to iTunes if I wan't
something right away. There really is no excuse, if you like one song off the album, you have a chance to hear clips from
the album and if you only want one song it only cost 99 cents usually. That's really not that much if you consider what
goes into it.
