This lion's ready and raring to roar!

MSN is a wonderful tool for many reasons.

Recently, I discovered its usefulness in conducting interviews.

Mike Hawdon (Inner City Surfers) and Mark Rand, also known as Mikey and Marky Lion, have joined forces to form a new band called Lion Ride.

In their short time together, they have gathered 1,058 friends on MySpace, the four songs posted on their page have been played more than 5,000 times and they have a group dedicated to them on Facebook with almost 900 members.

They are playing their first ever gig a Foggy Notions this weekend, July 6 and 7.

The three of us logged in and had a conversation via MSN.

The following is what transpired, edited of course, for reasons anyone who knows these two will understand.

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Mikey Lion: I just applied the last of my Mom's eyeliner. I'm ready for the interview.

Slackhopper (SH): Perfect!  What is Lion Ride all about?

Marky Lion: Lion Ride is all about the volume knobs being at 10.

SH: What was the inspiration for Lion Ride?

Mikey: Marky Lion asked me to check out a couple songs he had written. He told me that he had a dream, or a vision of me singing on them. I thought they were rad, so I went to London and we recorded a couple tracks.

Marky: Hahaha, I constantly dream about Mike.

Mikey: We actually started taking pictures of ourselves long before we had actually recorded any songs.

SH: So the image came before the music?

Marky: Yeah! The picture on our MySpace with the leopard background and the two of us was from our first "photo sesh." It's in mine and my girlfriend's kitchen, actually.

Mikey: But if anyone asks, its backstage at CBGB's in '77.

Marky: We were much younger and better looking then.

SH: Now, although you joke about the eyeliner and leopard print, you're actually writing some pretty wicked songs. Who is the major influence for the music?

Mikey: Marky does most of the writing. We both grew up listening to punk rock obviously, but have always loved the classic rock too.
 
Marky: Yeah, also, there's a lot of bands nowadays that seem to take themselves and their music way too seriously. I wanted to write guitar riffs that almost anyone could enjoy, and keep the music really fun and upbeat. I think stuff like Motorhead and Motley Crue were a big inspiration.

SH: Will the show at Foggy's feature mostly originals, or will you be covering a lot of Motley Crue and others?

Marky: I think we're going to play a bunch of Inner City Surfers covers. Have you ever heard of them?

SH: Nope.

Marky: Yeah, me neither.

Mikey: I know those guys! I partied with them once.

SH: How do they feel about Lion Ride?

Mikey: They love Lion Ride. The Surfer boys are always supportive of anything to do with any of us.

SH: Who are the other members of the band...Lion Ride, I mean.

Mikey: Mikey Lion - vocals, Marky Lion - lead guitar, Mark O' Lion - guitar, Italian StaLION - drums and ..............on bass.

Marky: Let's leave it at that for now. Bass can be a surprise. We've had more member changes in this short span of time than Spinal Tap has had drummers.

SH: How much eyeliner do you go through in a week?

Marky: Mikey wears all the eyeliner. He keeps borrowing it from girls, but I know one day he'll break down and buy his own.

Mikey: Eyeliner I can make last for quite awhile. It's the KY Jelly that seems to go quickly.

Marky: Hahaha, we tried to get KY to sponsor us. I sent them an e-mail.

*Some cleansing of content took place at this point*

SH: Where do you see Lion Ride in five years? Are you serious about taking this project all the way?

Marky: I don't think I've ever been in a band that I've felt was temporary. And Mike and I are both pretty serious about playing music. It's pretty much the only thing we're good at. Well, the only thing he's good at. I also rule in bed. Hard.

Mikey: As long as the music stays rockin', and 18-year-old girls think it's cool, I'll play forever!

*More cleansing of content*

SH: Have you ever experienced a wardrobe-related injury?

Marky: I fell down at practice the other night.

Mikey: My b**ls get squished.  Is that what you mean?

SH: Yea, sort of.

Marky: You really gotta "want it" when you put on pants that tight.

Mikey: I cry when I put on eyeliner. I get emotional. I just know it makes me look so good.

*Once again, the content here has been cleansed*

Marky: Hey! Fast fact. Lion Ride was "CRAZY SNAKE" before we were Lion Ride.

SH: Why change it to Lion Ride? Where did the name come from?

Marky: Crazy Snake was me and my bro Jamie, about four years ago now. When I wrote Cocaine Crazy, Jamie was actually the drummer. The Lion Ride name came from......I actually don't know. Mike?

Mikey: Lion Ride was originally just Marky and I writing songs, drinking and recording them late at night. We put some of the songs up on MySpace, and people seemed to really dig them. So, all of sudden, we have to play an actual gig!  We brought in the right guys to fill in on stage with us. We also have our good friends Renderware opening for us to, which I'm really excited about. They're a young rock and roll band from the Sault!

SH: Is this an all-ages show?

Mikey: No. I wish it was.

Marky: Mike would LOVE that!

Mikey: The next one in the Soo will be. A lot of the 'kids' have been asking.

Marky: All-ages are cool because they haven't discovered heavy drinking yet, so they'll actually watch the band and have good "clean" fun.

Mikey: Its time to Rock and Roar, baby! FU**K YEAH!  And you can quote me!

SH: After this gig, what's next for Lion Ride?

Marky: We're playing London, Ontario!

Mikey: More shows, more writing, more recording, more drinking. This ride has just begun.

Marky: Mike asked Pat at Foggy's to put 'F**K YEAH' on the marquee.

SH: Will he?

Mikey: No.

Marky: It would've been genius! Think of all the attention that would've generated.

Mikey: I dont know what he'll put up now. Nothing will express exactly what 'F**K YEAH' can.

SH: Agreed.

Marky: Also, we're gonna try to open for Hilary Duff when she plays here.

SH: If you could have one guest musician join you on stage, who would that be?

Marky: Hilary Duff.

SH: I didn't say "back stage"

Marky: She's way too old for Mike!

Mikey: Dood!!! You're KILLING me!

SH: Can we expect any nudity at this show?

Mikey: I want to say no, but those pants are tight...and sometimes they feel better around my ankles.

Marky: I look gross naked.

Mikey: Agreed.

Marky: So yeah, I'll probably get naked.

SH: I think on that note we should wrap this up. Any last words for the People of Sault Ste. Marie?

Marky: STOP TEARING DOWN OUR F**KIN' POSTERS A**HOLES!

SH: This has been a problem?

Marky: A little tiny bump in the road. People see bright pink paper downtown, and they feel the need to rip it. As long as they're tearing them down and putting them up on their bedroom walls, I'm cool with it!

SH: Do you guys have merch? 

Marky: We'll be selling bright pink posters, due to popular demand.

SH: When can we expect a CD?

Marky: Well, we were planning on handing out a self-recorded "sampler" EP at the show, but we decided we should just save our money so we could record something that sounds awesome, and then sell it. We haven't planned a date yet, but hopefully in the fall some time.