Buckcherry Vocalist Josh Todd, Interview – New Album, Live Stream + More

2020-11-10

Interview: Josh Todd of Buckcherry joins Anne Erickson to talk about new music and more.

Buckcherry Show Poster – Story by Anne Erickson

Buckcherry vocalist Josh Todd joins Anne Erickson to discuss the band’s upcoming live stream event and the status of their new album in this extensive interview

Buckcherry, like many bands, planned to be on the road for much of 2020, but those plans have been pushed into next year, or whenever normalcy can return. With that in mind, the guys have been using this year to write new material and stretch their creative juices. Buckcherry, always a live band first and foremost, are also gearing up for a special, live stream event on Wednesday (Nov. 11), which will see the band performing songs from their entire career in a live setting.

Longtime frontman Josh Todd spoke with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio about the upcoming live stream event and the status of the band’s ninth studio album, which Todd and company are recording now in Nashville, Tennessee. Read the full interview with Todd below, listen via the YouTube player and hear it via the Audio Ink podcast on Apple Podcasts here and Spotify here.

Anne Erickson: Josh, welcome to the show. It’s exciting that Buckcherry is working on new music together in Nashville. A lot of bands haven’t been able to physically get together this year due to coronavirus.

Josh Todd: Yeah, we had to shift gears. We had a whole year booked for touring, and then COVID-19 happened. Every month, it was like a new set of circumstances, just shows falling off. And it’s for everybody, not just us. So, we were like, we might as well go into songwriting mode and get a really great record together for next year. So, we shifted gears and just started writing a lot. And, man, this record is good. We spent a lot of time on it, and it’s very exciting.

How would you describe the musical direction of the new material?

Well, it’s not going to change from a Buckcherry rock record, but all I can say is– we’ve just come leaps and bounds from the first record, as far as songwriting and how we put everything together, just as far as the quality of songs, song to song. It’s just so powerful, and we can’t wait for everybody to hear it. Marti Frederiksen is producing it. He produced a few records of ours back in the day. It’s been really great to be reunited with him, and he’s a super talented guy. It’s like having a sixth band member. So, it’s been a lot of fun.

How would you say Buckcherry has evolved over the years?

I think it’s just the fact that we never stopped working. We never stopped creating. If we’re not on the road, we’re writing songs. I’m a firm believer that you have to really work the muscle in order to really get to your craft. I don’t like to get far away from the craft of songwriting and singing and all that. So, everybody in this band feels the same way, and we’re united. Whenever we’re united, it always makes for a great records.

When do you think the new record will be out?

Well, it’s going to be when we can actually tour behind it. I’m thinking, maybe the beginning of summer next year. I’m hoping that’s when it’s going to happen, but you never know what is coming down the pipeline. I think more will be revealed in November, and then more will be revealed hopefully by the end of the year with any kind of treatment for this, to get us back to where we can put people safely together and do some do shows.

What do you think needs to happen for live music to be back?

I wish I had the answer, because if I did, everybody would be thriving again, because it would be more than just live music. It would be sporting events and any kind of situation where there’s people congregating to go out and celebrate life. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but there needs to be some kind of solution, and hopefully we’ll know more and more will be revealed. I don’t know how close they are to getting a vaccine or what that’s all about or what it’s going to take, but hopefully we’ll know before the end of the year.

It’s so crazy. If anyone said this was on the horizon a year ago, nobody would have believed them.

Yeah, this is kind of an inevitable to happen. I mean, it’s happened in history, and I just don’t think that we thought it was actually going to happen in our lifetime. It’s very strange. It’s a very strange time period. That coupled with all the other stuff that’s going on in the world, it’s just a super strange and very challenging time right now. I’m just trying to learn from it and stay afloat and keep providing for my family like everybody else. Just hustling. That’s the scary part. We have to really get back to getting our economy thriving again, or there’s going to be a lot more problems other than just COVID, so hopefully that’ll happen.

You have a live stream performance with Buckcherry on Nov. 11. Tell me about what that will entail.

Yes! I can’t give away where it’s going to be, but it’s on Nov. 11 at 5 p.m. EST. When you purchase a ticket for the live stream, you get it for 48 hours, so if you can’t even make the 5 p.m. time, it’s okay. You have it for 48 hours, and you can watch it when you have the time and when it works into your schedule. But, it’s going to be quintessential Buckcherry and what we love to do.

The thing about Buckcherry is that you guys are such a live band, so I think it’s great that you’re doing this, because you’re one of those bands that people actually want to go see live in concert.

Oh, that’s sweet. Yeah, I mean, we based our reputation on that over the years. I’m grateful for that, because that’s why I got into this at the end of the day. I’m a fan of music, as well. That’s what inspired me to be a musician, was when I went to live shows when I was a kid, and I felt like, “This is my community. This is my people. This is where I fit in. This is where I feel good. This is where I feel safe.” So, being a part of that all these years, and I’m trying to do that for other people, and it’s really fulfilling.

Anne Erickson
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Posted by Anne Erickson | Features, Interviews, Music, Rock

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