Lynda Mandolyn Interview

TCZ: When I first discovered Fabulous Disaster, your only musical role was playing guitar in that band. Since then, we've learned that you truly are a woman for all seasons, filling multiple slots in multiple bands. Within Fab D alone, the only role you haven't filled is that of drummer! Have you had formal musical training, or are you self-taught?

Lynda: That's guitarist/harmonist, haha, they go hand in hand, they have to!!! Did I have musical training, no. I did take a few guitar lessons from a metal head when I was a kid, but I figured I could write and learn songs on my own. I was originally lefthanded but had to switch to right (kinda how they forced me to write with my right hand instead of my left in "christian" school). It was frustrating at first, I remembered I flung the guitar at the wall...then I picked it up again a few months later, good thing, I'd probably be in jail by now! ;)

TCZ: You've proven yourself to be a gifted singer. Were you thinking all along that you eventually wanted to be a lead vocalist, or did it just happen as a result of unforeseen circumstance?

Lynda: I've been lead vocalist in other bands before Fab D, my first band ever, Inside Out from Detroit, MI, the bass player and I (my best friend Queen Bee) did the sharing of lead vocals on different songs. I also fronted a band called Loomer in which I sang lead. Fab D needed a strong singer, and I was the one who believed in the songs and who could carry the torch, which I have, so there ya have it.

TCZ: How did your vocal style evolve - were you practicing even when you weren't singing lead? Did you sing lead in any of your pre-Fab D bands?

Lynda: See answer above, hahahaha! Even to this day I harmonize and make up harmonies for songs in the car, even if they have melody, I'll add another part to the top, or totally change it, I challenge myself to come up with interesting harmonies, as I always say "Harmony makes the world go round" and it's true!.

TCZ: Fans who only know of you through your music may be surprised to learn that you're also a talented multi-media artist. Can you give us a synopsis of your artwork and what your plans are for the future in that regard?

Lynda: Sure, I like to do acrylic paints on canvas, with spray paint, stencils, different pictures and odd stuff I find or would look well in a collage. I'm obsessed with numbers, knives, obscure pin-up girl photos and ufo's. I'd have to say those are my biggest inspirations to my art, and I love bringing all those things together, I've really been getting into more deeper, darker colors as well, AND Pastels! :)

TCZ: The best live show you ever attended?

Lynda: That's hard. I'd have to say some of my faves were My Bloody Valentine in Detroit, Yo La Tengo in San Francisco, Jeff Buckley in Detroit, these are just a few I've seen so much and they were all great for different reasons.

TCZ: Tell us a little bit about bassist Lizzie Boredom, Fab D's newest member. Her personality seems to fit the band very nicely.

Lynda: She's the greatest. I think she has the look and sound that matches us the best out of anybody. She moved from Brooklyn to join the band. She's got a heart of gold, she laughs at weird stuff that I laugh at, and she's goofy what more could ya ask for? ;)

TCZ: We've heard that Fab D has a batch of hot new songs - any idea on when we might get to hear them?

Lynda: Still trying to get some sort of label deal, we have a few that are interested but it's just a matter of time. After we split from Pink & Black we found it hard to keep a stable line-up of bass players. But now it's pretty solid. We're hoping some cool indie label will pick us up. We got a split coming out any day now with a French band called the OC Toons in Europe, and there's talk of a Brazilian tour in the works, we shall see!

TCZ: In addition to your front-woman duties with Fab D and your artwork, you also recently joined another band - "Girl Band" - as lead guitarist. Talk to us a little bit about how that gig has been going.

Lynda: I am having a blast in "Girl Band" and I'm not the lead guitarist, that role goes to Shelley (but I do play a sloppy lead on one of the songs) It's great cuz I'm playing guitar again, doing some great harmonies with Christa the drummer, and just having fun. MDC wants to take us on tour and want to get us on the Wasted Festival in England this year....again..we shall see, but I'm having fun, it's good to do something new!

TCZ: You've exhibited a strong sense of fashion over recent years - many sublime photos of have been posted, from both studio settings and live shows. Do you enjoy dealing with the visual aspect of being an entertainer, or that just an illusion?

Lynda: You are too kind ;) I dunno, I guess you could say I'm a late bloomer. I had no direction or guidance as a kid or young adult, so I really didn't care how I looked (and it's evident in old photos, yipes) but now that I'm a full blown "woman" I gotta capture it before it...oh how shall we say it "slides south" hahahaha! I really enjoy doing band and individual photos. I've recently been getting into more make-up and the artistry behind it as well, so yeah it's all an illusion really ;)

TCZ: Fab D has toured extensively in Europe and you seem to have a strong following there. What's the most enduring memory you have from all your European travels?

Lynda: I could sit here and tell you stories for days... I've seen and done it all, I got a great life experience meeting new people and traveling the world. I have great tour bus memories and different shows, we've played wit so many cool bands. Some of the memories are a bit foggy though, too much good free beer ;)

I'd have to say one of the funniest is when we played the last show of the Deconstruction tour 2003, our tour manager Mutti got really drunk and wanted to kick peoples asses, then the incredibly stage wrestling crew, were trying to body slam themselves on picnic tables and breaking them in half, oh yeah don't foget human bowling! I tripped over a trailer hitch and almost broke both legs, everybody was wasted and it was so much fun, it was like traveling with a pack of wolves, I dug it :)

TCZ: Can you give us an idea of your pre-show routine? What you have to do to get yourself ready to perform?

Lynda: I like to shout real loud, and I try to breath, I guess the more important the show, the harder I try, it is much easier to warm up though, and since I quit drinking for the most part, I gotta entertain myself somehow, I like lozenges called "Slippery Elm" and I swear by "Singers Saving Grace" throat spray, if anybody reads this, please get me some!

TCZ: To an outside observer of recent events, it appears that you've triumphed effortlessly over every obstacle that you've encountered. We know that's probably not true - what's the most difficult challenge you've had to deal with in your career as a musician?

Lynda: In this business you really gotta take care of yourself, you have to protect yourself as it were because I am in the public eye and am a very private person. I've encountered stupidity, jealousy, stalkers, you name it, you just gotta keep it in stride and live your life, a good friend of mine once told me to "just be myself", that helped me look at things differently because I was worried and was trying to hard, now I'm just more mellow about it and will address the challenge as it comes :)

TCZ: What's your take on the current state of the music industry, particularly as it relates to indie and female artists?

Lynda: Not sure about that one, I am so out of the loop with new artists these days. I do believe there is a glass celling when it comes to women in rock, as a kid growing up I had women to look up to like the Go-Go's, now, besides us and the Donnas, there really are no real female bands out there anymore, and if there are they aren't being heard!

TCZ: What song that you've written both music and lyrics for holds the most significance for you?

Lynda: The Other Day" off Panty Raid, it mirrored and continues to mirror my life and feelings relating to certain people. I've also heard it's a lot of people's favorite song off that record and we barely ever played it live, I get the best feedback off that song, that and "Stupid Girl" ;)

TCZ: Any parting message you'd like to convey to your fans?

Lynda: "Love one another"...... oh yeah and buy our records :))))

Interview by Mike Ramsey © The Cover Zone March 2006