SOY: I saw Live in England this summer, at Wolverhampton, and you said in one of the interviews that the worst place you'd ever played was Europe in general, why is this?
GRACEY: Personally, I don't like going to or playing in Europe. It's hard to explain exactly why so I'll leave it at that.
SOY: I want to know how it feels not to be as well known as, for example, Ed, is. I also want to know how you taught yourself to play drums, I read somewhere that you never took any lessons, is that true?
GRACEY: I'm not in this band to be a famous individual, as none of us are, so I really have no problem with it. I am self taught. I learned by listening to records and figuring out what was being played.
SOY: I have seen you use two make of drum kits. I know that the one you are playing now was not the make/model I originally saw you play in the early videos/shows. What kit do you play and is there a specific endorsement deal with that company? If not why did you choose the set you play on?
GRACEY: Unless you saw me in Brazil where I used a rental Yamaha kit, you have never seen me play any other make of kit except for Pearl. I have a Pearl endorsement. I have used different models for various performances.
SOY: I noticed that you don't seem to use double strokes all that much when you record. Is there any reason for this, or is it just "your style"?
GRACEY: For everyone asking me about techniques and "double strokes" and all that stuff, I really don't know anything technical. I have no idea what I play in technical terms. I am self taught and play by feel and feel alone.
SOY: Do you think your move to Portland will effect the dynamics of making music together with the band?
GRACEY: No, I don't think moving to Portland will effect the band that much. We will just have to plan practices more and not be as spontaneous as far as getting together on a moment's notice.
SOY: I was wondering what kind of influence Neil Peart had on you when you were growing up, and how it felt the first time you heard your playing being praised by him. I was impressed when I first heard that a few years ago, considering he is not so quick to speak favorably about a lot of drumers. Anyway, he's right on the money. Everything you play just feels right.
GRACEY: I am not a huge Neil Peart fan. I am not directly influenced by him. I was very flattered by his acknowledgement, however, and happy that he mentioned exactly what I try to do, and that is play parts that fit right in but still drive the music.
SOY: What kind of sticks do you use?
GRACEY: I use Promark sticks.
SOY: How long have you been playing drums and sax? Do you still play sax anymore?
GRACEY: I have been playing drums for over 10 years. I don't play sax anymore.
SOY: What kinds of music do you listen to personally?
GRACEY: I listen to mainstream rock like STP and Soundgarden.
SOY: As a fellow self-taught drummer, I'm amazed at your creativity and the beats and fills you come up with. Do you create these from specific influences or do you just play what feels right? If influences, who do you cite as a percussive muse?
GRACEY: I mostly play by feel. I am, however, influenced by everything I listen to with drums in it. Right now I am really influenced by Eric Krietz from STP and Matt Cameron from Soundgarden.
SOY: What's up with the backwards baseball cap? Is there a specific cap you wear consistently or do you switch them out?
GRACEY: I always wear a baseball cap to keep the hair out of my face. Now that I have cut my hair, I still wear it out of habit. I wear it backwards because the brim gets in the way of my sticks.
SOY: How come you never get to speak during interviews? You always get to be with Ed and never talk. I read that you're like the silent leader or something. Aren't you tired of always being in the back?
GRACEY: No one is NOT letting me speak, I just don't feel like talking sometimes and Ed talks a lot so he usually says everything.
SOY: We heard on the rockumentary that you weren't playing drums on the CD version of "I Alone." Is this true?
GRACEY: You are mistaken. In the rockumentary we said that I didn't play drums in the I Alone VIDEO. I certainly do play drums on the CD version.
SOY: What is your favorite (I mean REALLY favorite) song of Live to play on drums?
GRACEY: White, Discussion.
SOY: Do the members of +Live+ see each other as brothers or just close friends???
GRACEY: We consider each other brother for sure.
SOY: If all of you were 60yrs old..could still play..and Ed still sing.. Hmmm.. would you perform in a Reunion concert???
GRACEY: We sure as hell would play a show at 60 if we still could.
SOY: How many years do you think +Live+ will continue for???
GRACEY: As long as we can.
SOY: Everytime I see you in any sort of performance you're always completely focused on drumming. Is it *that* difficult?
GRACEY: No it's not that difficult. I'm focused because it's difficult. I'm focused because I'm into what I'm doing.
SOY: And also, you're listed in the credits on both MJ and TC as singing background vocals. Is this only in the studio?
GRACEY: I only sing in the studio.
Stop fighting boys.
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