Back with a new band, Brothers of the Sonic Cloth, and a new album in February, Seattle music legend Tad Doyle tells Harry Guerin about why, and how, he's cranking out the riffs again.
Harry Guerin: Great to see - and hear - you back with a guitar around your neck after so long. Did you feel burned out when it came to releasing music?
Tad Doyle: No, I just had to take a break for a while to evaluate what I felt was important in my life. I moved to San Diego in 2004 to be with my girlfriend whom I eventually married. I moved back to Seattle with Peggy in 2006 and I started playing guitar again after three or four-year break from being involved with music.
Can you remember the exact moment with Brothers of the Sonic Cloth when you went, 'I don't want to keep this to myself - I want to play live and release stuff again'?
Yes, it was shortly after we moved to Seattle and I started getting heavily into recording music and demoing stuff out in our basement. I actually tracked a few of the songs with me playing drums, bass and guitar. I made a MySpace page and uploaded some songs and I wanted to remain anonymous initially so I listed five band members as being the band. Once I had some solid song structures, Peggy wanted to start playing too. After that we started rehearsing together and we started the long process of auditioning drummers.
Were you adamant that the band would be a trio?
Not really, but I am fairly exigent about the way I like guitar players to play and I have solid ideas on how I want the instrumentation executed. I also liked being the only guitar player because I could use a lot of different amps and tones. At one time we actually had a synth player for a while. Eventually I decided to just do those textures and types of things myself in recordings and then play samples live through a sampler foot-pedal.
When you and Peggy decided that she would play bass in Brothers of the Sonic Cloth, did you draw up any ground rules for how the whole personal-professional thing would work?
We had talked about it a little bit and you never know how it will play out until you just see what happens and try it out. Our relationship is based on trust and respect for each other so rules are just not necessary. Besides, all of us in the band spent a lot of time breaking rules throughout our lives.
For some reason, I didn't expect the band to have such a crushing sound. Have you been listening to a lot of doom in recent years?
For sure, but also a smidge of punk, some hardcore, some black metal and a lot of symphonic music with acoustic instruments. Most of the things that I gravitate to are somewhat dark in nature. I do listen to a wide variety of music though.
I get the feeling listening that you would be completely fearless about sharing bills with any other band, be they rock, hardcore any form of metal or anything in between.
Definitely!
Brothers of the Sonic Cloth - Peggy Tully, Tad Doyle and Dave French Photo: Theresa Berg
Brothers of the Sonic Cloth's album is coming out on Neurot Recordings, home to and founded by underground greats Neurosis. How did your relationship come about?
Well, that started long ago when the band TAD was touring in the early days. I recalled being lucky enough to have played some shows with Neurosis here and there. Over the years I have kept up with what they're doing and we have actually worked with [Neurosis engineer] Steve Albini on different occasions. I have felt a deep spiritual connection to their music and lyrics for a long time. I spoke with [Neurosis singer-guitarist] Steve Von Till at a show that BotSC opened for Neurosis on New Year's Eve in 2012 in Seattle about getting him our songs once they were ready and he was open to that.
You run your own recording studio, Witch Ape. Do you think the future is bleak or bright for new artists and what advice would you give them?
The only advice I would give is not to give any advice. It depends on the character of the individual. We all get to choose a path. If you have an attitude that the world is bleak and there is no future in things, then that is what you will find in life no matter what you do. If you keep a positive attitude (P.M.A.) and always keep moving forward then things are probably going to work out good for you.
However, since you asked, follow your heart and your own truth, even if people tell you that it's wrong. Actually, especially if people tell you it's wrong. As far as Witch Ape Studio is concerned, I completely love recording bands and being a part of the creative process from the other side of the glass. It has really been a joy for me and I can see myself doing this until someone has to put me in the ground.
Okay, time to ditch the modesty: you are one of the most charismatic and creative people to emerge from the Seattle music scene - and I know you're from Idaho! Have you ever thought about writing a book about your experiences in the music business, and in particular in the late 80s and early 90s?
Not particularly. Writing a book doesn't strike me as something that I would be able to have fun with. I try to stay present in what's happening in front of me and the thought of dredging up the past and putting it to ink would be a great way to fall asleep in my opinion.
Your old, much-missed band TAD feature prominently in the book Experiencing Nirvana - Grunge in Europe, 1989. What are your fondest memories of that tour?
Just playing shows with the band, meeting new people and making each other laugh.
Were you ever offered any more film work after your scene-stealing cameo in Cameron Crowe's Singles?
I auditioned for a snow plough truck driver for the TV series Twin Peaks. I didn't get the part. I did, however, get to do a milk commercial where I talked about different cuts of meat for a New Zealand dairy company whose name slips my mind.
You released a succession of great albums with TAD - do you have any regrets that more people didn't get to hear them or are you happy with how things turned out?
I believe that the music that I get to create will find the ears that it is supposed to. I have no regrets about that at all. I lived through many years that saw many of my friends not make it out alive.
TAD played an amazing gig in Dublin's City Arts Centre with Therapy? in April 1991. There was an electricity strike at the time and there was the danger that the power and lights would go at the show at any time. Have you any memories of the night or that visit?
I don't recall specifics of that show. Night after night starts to blur altogether when you're on the road as much as we were at that time. I do recall having good times with the band Therapy? They were pretty fun good dudes.
What can you tell us about your Irish roots?
I know just enough to get me drunk and/or cold-cocked or both. In that order.
Are you hoping to get over here with Brothers of the Sonic Cloth?
For sure! We are going to be doing some summer festivals around June and July. Specifically, I don't have dates or locations yet.
Brothers of the Sonic Cloth's self-titled album will be released on Neurot Recordings on February 16.
