Interview with Buckcherry lead vocalist Josh Todd

Josh Todd, vocalist for the Grammy Nominated rock act Buckcherry, took some time out of his extremely busy schedule to speak with me about the band’s newest release, All Night Long. This is the group’s fifth full-length disc and while it contains all of the trademark Buckcherry elements that fans have come to expect, I feel it also improves on them as well. Each song stands on its own and has that gritty, unapologetic feel that is trademark Buckcherry. I am sure that once this record is released it won’t take long for these songs to dominate the airwaves across the globe once again. Buckcherry is one of those bands that has an incredible knack for cranking out killer anthemic tunes that make you want to sing along and All Night Long is no exception. Here is how the conversation with Todd went.

Now that your brand new CD, All Night Long, is complete how do you feel about it? Are you satisfied with the outcome?
Josh: I love this record, I think it’s one of our best, we wanted a rock record that was timeless and something you would always go back to over time as one of your favorites and I hope we achieved that.

What was the writing process like for All Night Long? Did you guys all write together? How long did it take?
Josh: The writing is always the same with us I write all the lyrics and melodies, Keith comes up with the majority of the music along with Stevie and Jimmy contributing music as well, and we put it all together as a band.

For this record the band is once again back on Eleven Seven Music. How did this come about and what was the reason behind the decision?
Josh: We started on Eleven Seven with our record 15. The label was actually started because of us because no one would sign us in the States at that time. There was an up streaming clause with Atlantic because that’s who the record was distributed through and after we had some success they up streamed us (imagine that) and it just wasn’t a good fit so we went back to the formula that works for us.

When you were writing and recording this record were you concerned at all about commercial success?
Josh: We’re always concerned about success in general and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be the best. The goal is to be a big as we can get, so the answer is yes.

Are there any tracks on All Night Long that are personal favorites or that have good stories behind them?
Josh: I personally like the song “Oh My Lord”. It was kind of a thorn in my side on this effort and the chorus that you hear on the record is the third one I wrote for it. After we got through the other side and completed the song when I listen back I’m just so proud I stuck with it. It’s everything you love about Buckcherry.

Did you ever imagine you would be releasing records over a decade after the band’s inception?
Josh: I imagined it yes. Did I think I would actually be doing it? I never really looked that far ahead.

Do you find the rigors of touring taking more of toll on you as you get older?
Josh: Yes, I have to pace myself now that the shows are much longer than they used to be.

What kind of touring plans do you have in support of All Night Long?
Josh: Worldwide domination of course.

In one hundred years what will the music history books say about Buckcherry?
Josh: That Buckcherry was one of the best Rock n’ Roll bands of all time.

Any closing words?
Josh: Yes, go out and get our new record All Night Long put it in, turn it up and enjoy your beautiful life.