Interview with Stevie Rachelle, Andy Sun and Bento Mello of Tales From The Porn

INTERVIEW WITH STEVIE RACHELLE, ANDY SUN AND BENTO MELLO OF TALES FROM THE PORN
Date: August 29, 2017
Interviewer: Olivier

MUSIC HAS TRULY BECOME INTERNATIONAL WHEN A GROUP OF BRAZILIAN MUSICIANS CAN TEAM UP WITH AN AMERICAN SINGER AND COME UP WITH A SMOKING DEBUT ALBUM WITHOUT EVER MEETING FACE TO FACE. THIS IS THE CASE FOR TALES FROM THE PORN WHO WILL BE RELEASING THEIR DEBUT ALBUM ‘H.M.M.V.’ VIA ANIMAL RECORDS ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2017. THE GROUP’S DEBUT ALBUM WILL TAKE YOU BACK TO THE GLORY DAYS OF THE ’80S AND WHAT BETTER TO DO THAT WITH THAN A WELL KNOWN SUNSET STRIP ALUMNI IN TUFF FRONTMAN STEVIE RACHELLE WHO HANDLES THE LEAD VOCALS ON THE ALBUM. SLEAZE ROXX SPOKE TO RACHELLE, AND BRAZILIAN BAND FOUNDERS, ANDY SUN (GUITAR) AND BENTO MELLO (BASS), TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS EXCITING NEW BAND.

Sleaze Roxx: When and how did Tales From The Porn get started?

Bento Mello: Andy and I have been friends for almost ten years and we always shared our love for the ’80s hair metal scene. In 2011, we began talking about putting up a band to play this music and Andy showed me some riffs he already had. The main riff from “Back To The 80’s” was one of that. But at the time, I joined another band Sioux 66. I’m still involved and I play guitar, and Andy was busy running an adult film company so we kept the idea and we focused on our other projects. In 2014, we decided that this was the time to do the band for real and we recruited the other guys. We began rehearsing some cover songs from L.A. Guns, Faster Pussycat, Poison and others but we never wanted to be a cover band so we decided to build on Andy’s riffs, create music and get started as a real band. It took a while but now it’s time for everybody to listen what we worked on all those years.

Sleaze Roxx: Andy and Bento — Why and how did you end up recruiting Stevie into the band?

Bento Mello: When we were finishing our first songs, Andy came up with this idea about having an American singer from the ’80s scene and we all agreed that was the best choice we could make because it would take us to a higher level compared to other bands, especially here in Brazil. We have this common friend Veridiana that lived in L.A. for a while and who knew Stevie. So Andy spoke to her and she made the first contact with him. Then Stevie agreed to work with us and we began the recording process.

Stevie Rachelle: I first heard from the guys about this band in 2014 through a mutual friend of ours from Brazil who used to live in Hollywood. Her name is Veridiana and I like to call her our A&R representative [laughs].

Sleaze Roxx: From a practical perspective, it seems a lot easier to have someone from Brazil handle the lead vocals. How will you overcome the challenges of having a singer located in the USA and the rest of the band in Brazil?

Bento Mello: It would definitely be easier to have a Brazilian singer but we made this decision. We are very happy with the result and we will work to overcome this difficulties. Everyone in the band has other projects and bands so we could not rush anything. The first thing we will do is bring Stevie for a video shoot and a small Brazilian tour maybe later this year or in the beginning of 2018 and then we will see about our next plans.

Stevie Rachelle: Well from my perspective, I have a visa that is good for Brazil through 2021, so I am ready whenever they are!

Sleaze Roxx: How did you come up with the band name Tales From The Porn?

Andy Sun: I’ve always been a huge fan of ’80s movies and series and one of my favorites is ‘Tales From The Crypt.’ I own this adult film company so the name is the unification of these two things.

Sleaze Roxx: There seems to be a real intention to go back to an ’80s sleaze rock vibe with your songs. Why did you decide to do that and do you think that there is a resurgence in that regard?

Bento Mello: It is our favorite kind of music and maybe there’s a kind of will to be a part of the classic ’80s scene. Of course now, we are in 2017, almost everybody in the band lives in Brazil and it is a total different world but we wanted to make an album that we would be proud and we would love to listen. I think we accomplished this. The fact that lots of bands from that era are still recording and playing all over the world, and you got new bands, especially from the Scandinavian scene, shows that this music is alive and well. So I think the resurgence already happened and now we want to be a part of that.

Stevie Rachelle: It was the band’s idea, and I have some history from the heyday of the Sunset Strip, in case you hadn’t heard [laughs]. After we communicated a bit, I knew what they wanted. I understand that some people will think these song ideas, or story lines like hot girls partying, fast cars, etc. has all been told before. But from my knowledge, it’s never been told with a Brazilian band fronted by an American singer [laughs]. So, there are and will be some firsts with this release. Can’t wait!

Sleaze Roxx: Stevie — One question that Tuff fans are likely wondering is why are you taking part in a new band when you could release material under the known Tuff brand and name, which has a lot of history?

Stevie Rachelle: Well there is nothing wrong with joining or working with a new band, is there? Funny, back in 2005 when I started to manage Vains Of Jenna, suddenly there was a surge of ’80s era sleaze, and they had a lot of good things happen. Some people asked me, “Why are you doing all this for them?” and “Why fight to get them on the Poison/Ratt tour, why not Tuff?” My take was it was a different time, a different set of determining factors, and I loved managing and mentoring that band. They did amazing things and we did amazing things with them, and I was super stoked. Even though I wasn’t the frontman, in the photos, on stage or in the videos. I assumed a different role and embraced it.

With Tales From The Porn, I am the lead singer. But it’s their band. And they have their ideas, wants, goals, etc. I am coming in with a ton more experience, and related knowledge, and want to help and contribute. But I want them to do it their way or until I see where I can encourage to change the course a bit, etc. It’s a different animal, and I embrace this too. Tuff is a band with three decades of history. We’ve made records, been signed, toured everywhere, and making a brand new record is just not in the cards. I won’t say never, but very unlikely.

Sleaze Roxx: Why not?

Stevie Rachelle: It’s just a huge undertaking. In truth, I’m not a complete songwriter. I can be, but I am limited on my guitar abilities for sure. Todd Chase is and always was the dominant riff writer and band leader when it came to music, arrangement, drum patterns, etc. In short, this is what is referred to as the “music director” in a band situation. I’m a bit of a story teller, an idea guy and lyricist, but not a guitar guy and far from a drummer or beat master. Also, it’s consuming. Making a record is not easy. And even part-time involvement takes time. I’ve recorded / sang on one third of all seven Shameless releases from 1999 to 2017. And I put out two solo records in 1998 and 2000, and my fun Football side-project CWA put out five records from 1996 to 2011. Add to that the touring, a major website project, two young kids, and life. It all adds up.

Even Tales From The Porn took time. We started this project in late 2014. And out of eight originals, I wrote 100% of the lyrics, melody and vocal parts for half those. It’s a delicate balance and I can multi-task like anybody. But there has to be some desire to, and a group effort as well. Todd [Chase] is very busy in life and has a very succesful food truck business that is growing. Honestly, this Tales From The Porn idea kinda sparked me. It got me fired up and I could tell from my communication with Andy and the guys, they were very passionate about making this record. With that, I also knew it was their first time, so I kind of pushed a few buttons to help move things along at times and feel my position is not as the leader, but someone who can give advice and lend some experience to help it reach another level. In some way, this is like the Shameless thing in Germany, but in that project, it’s mostly Alexx Michael who runs the show.

When this idea came along, it was very interesting and challenging to work with these guys from Brazil and the first set of demo ideas caught my ear. I’ve played Sao Paulo twice in 2006 and 2011, and it was awesome. Now it looks like I’ll be going back but playing with Tales From The Porn and I am excited for that.

Sleaze Roxx: What made you decide to cover the Kenny Loggins track “Danger Zone”?

Andy Sun: I first saw Top Gun when I was six years old and I could never forget the scene where the song begins with the aircrafts and the carrier. So when I started playing guitar, it was one of the first songs that I’ve ever learned and I’ve got this sentimental connection with “Danger Zone.” Of course, the song is from the ’80s and got this vibe that we love but it does not have a heavy metal approach. So it was suggested that we could do a similar version to the original but with our metal vibe. Everybody enjoyed the idea and we decided to record it this way.

Stevie Rachelle: That was the guys’ choice, and I was a little nervous as it is a tad bit out of my range. But, I pulled it off and I think even Adam Hamilton [producer] was surprised I got up that high and hit those notes [laughs].

Sleaze Roxx: For each of you, what is your favorite song on the album?

Bento Mello: That’s a hard question. I’m still in huge love with the album and all the work. But for now I will choose “Hot Girls Fast Cars” because when I’m listening this song in my car it gives me this wish to drive faster.

Andy Sun: For me it’s “Perfect Love.” It was the last song that we did and I’ve never worked this kind of clean riff before. So it was a kind of challenge and I’m very proud of the result.

Stevie Rachelle: My top two are “Tales From The Porn” and “Hot Girls Fast Cars.” But if I’m being honest, I think they’re all pretty kick ass!

Tales From The Porn‘s “Back To The 80’s” song:

BACK TO THE 80’S by talesfromtheporn

Tales From The Porn – Back To The 80’s Stevie Rachelle – Vocals Andy Sun – Guitar Bruno Marx – Guitar Bento Mello – Bass Edgar Avian – Drums

Sleaze Roxx: Tales From The Porn’s debut album will be released on September 15th. What are the band’s plans once the album is released?

Bento Mello: The main plan for after the album release is to tour. So as I told you before, we will schedule our first tour here in Brazil that we predict to happen maybe later this year or in the beginning of 2018. Then, we’ll release our first video. After that, we will plan the next steps. But I can guarantee that we will have more activities next year.

Stevie Rachelle: I hope some shows in Brazil, and other parts of South America. We shall soon see.

Sleaze Roxx: Are there any plans to play in the US?

Bento Mello: Definitely! It’s a huge plan that we’ve got and we hope we can do next year. We’re also looking forward to do some European dates maybe during the summer next year.

Stevie Rachelle: If the guys ever come to visit Hollywood, all at the same time on vacation, I’d say the Whisky could be a good place for a show.

Sleaze Roxx: Andy and Bento — How would you describe the hair metal scene in Brazil both in the past and currently?

Bento Mello: Something happened here in the past but it never happened like in the USA or Europe. The major labels never worked those kind of bands here and most of the bands did not survive the test of the time. Unfortunately, I can’t tell the name of any Brazilian hair band from the ’80s that is still active. But definitely, there are many more ‘traditional’ heavy metal bands from the ’80s and ’90s that had success back in the day singing in English or Portuguese, and who are still on the road. Here in Brazil, the music business is very different from the USA and Europe. Our rock ‘n’ roll culture is very different as well. It’s kind of delayed compared with other places. But turning back to the hair metal, something really happened here in Brazil, especially in São Paulo during the last decade. It was a very underground movement but some bands surged with lots of influences from the classic hair bands and also huge influences from the Swedish scene from bands like Crashdïet and Hardcore Superstar. And that was very cool because for a brief moment, a small scene happened. We make a kind of tribute to this period in “Girls Wanna Party…”. Places for the bands to play, parties, bands coming from USA and Europe to play here, young people, cover bands — everything was happening. And we can tell that great bands were formed in those last years. Now the scene kind of cooled off but we still got the bands and the bands are sounding better then ever here in Brazil.

Sleaze Roxx: For each of you, what are your top three favourite albums of all-time and why?

Bento Mello: Another hard one. It’s always changing but let’s go. Def Leppard’s ‘Hysteria’ — It’s my favorite album today, especially because of the guitar work from Steve Clark. He is my favorite guitar player of all time. Dokken’s ‘Back For The Attack – For me, it’s Don [Dokken], George [Lynch], Jeff [Pilson] and Mick [Brown] at their prime. Perfect from the beginning with “Kiss Of Death” to the end with “Dream Warriors.” And I’m listening right now to “Standing In The Shadows.” Mötley Crüe’s ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ — This is the album that introduced me to hair metal.

Sleaze Roxx: I love Dokken’s Back For The Attack as well! It’s such an awesome album! Andy and Stevie — what are your top three favourite albums of all-time?

Andy Sun: Mötley Crüe’s ‘Dr. Feelgood’ — Best hair metal album from all time. It made me want to do an album full of gang vocals. Vain’s ‘No Respect’ — It’s dirty, nasty, sleazy and glam. Danger Danger’s ‘Screw It!’ — All the songs on this album are amazing.

Stevie Rachelle: These are my top three when it comes to the ’80s era. I have many other top fave releases not related to this exact style, but these three were the ones that kickstarted my music career. Mötley Crüe’s ‘Shout At The Devil’ — In short, it changed my life. I was a kid who listened to new wave/punk and thought about becoming a pro skateboarder 24/7 since about the age of 10. Mötley Crüe changed my life path and for that, I’m grateful. Ratt’s ‘Out Of The Cellar’ — It’s the same as for ‘Shout At The Devil.’ This record is amazing front to back. It’s an ’80s masterpiece. Stephen is one of the “Big 3” for me along with David Lee Roth and Vince Neil. David Lee Roth’s ‘Eat ‘Em & Smile’ — I like this better than Van Halen’s ‘1984’ and it was also a masterpiece with [Steve] Vai and [Billy] Sheehan.

Lastly I would like to add, that I am super grateful that the guys wanted to work with me on this project. It’s been 2 1/2 years in getting it together, but now the record is done and soon everyone can hear it. I am proud of what we did. Super thanks to the band, Andy, Bento, Bruno, Ed, Igor and Henrique Baboom [producer] along with Adam Hamilton and Matt Thor who engineered all of my lead vocal sessions in the Los Angeles area. Also a shout out to Veridiana and Animal Records president Carlos for signing us. All of these people have been awesome in helping us get to this point. I look forward to coming to Brazil and playing for our fans.