Well, that got us wanting to know more about them. So, Gidgets Ga Ga was king enough to humor us with some questions on how they got started, where they are today and the direction they are heading. Of course, we threw in a few of their tunes from their latest album, The Big Bong Fiasco.

When/how did your band get started?

Gidgets Ga Ga has been together for about 10 years. We were formed and got our start in Chicago in 2000. I had been gathering songs for quite a while without a vehicle to perform them, so I played with many various musicians until I found the right chemistry. But I have been through quite a few lineups, in true Spinal Tap fashion.

What are your band’s favorite songs?

Well all the songs I write are kinda like my kids, so i like them all. There are so many personalities like the red-haired stepchild, the smarty pants, the thinker, etc. My personal favorite Ga tracks are The Sorry Song, The Bomb and Dreamer. I believe they capture the essence and spirit of the band. Why? The songs have a great energy, sense of humor and are fun to perform live.

The Sorry Song

The Bomb

Dreamer

What is the Gidgets Ga Ga line-up?

Larry Beers on drums
Zac Zidron on bass
Michael “Mick” Flores on guitar and vocals.

Where did you get your name? Is there a story behind it?

The band name Gidgets Ga Ga was an idea of our original drummer, Sergio Quiroga. We had been rehearsing that day and decided it was party time… so as we were smoking and drinking, Sergio put on an old Cheech and Chong movie. The band name is a reference from a scene in the movie. I can’t think of the film’s title at the moment - I think I’m having a flashback of all the smoking and drinking. In a nutshell, that’s the story behind our name.

What genre do you classify your music?

Gidgets Ga Ga is a rock and roll band at heart. Our influences include, but not limited to, the entire British Invasion, The Replacements, The La’s, Nirvana… That’s just a few - the list goes on and on.

Who writes your songs?

Mick is the songwriter of the band. The band collaborates on the arrangements together.

What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?

Songwriters write about what they know and personal experiences. I am no different. I like to expand on them so they are a bit ambiguous, as well as crystal clear. Most of the time I strive for them to be universal. That is a very good question as I don’t usually know the topics in advance. They bubble up and I just want  to be a receptor of the melodies that happen to me.

What has been your biggest challenge as a band?

The biggest challenge I think for the band is consistency in all aspects of songwriting, live performance, recording, etc.

How does Gidgets Ga Ga deal with these challenges?

I would have to say in all honesty, the challenge is always there. You never really overcome it. Making music for me and as a band has always been for the sheer love of it. Fame and fortune would be nice but it has never been the reason we make music. It wouldn’t matter if we had fans or not. Self expression in life is more important. Songwriting is something that has always been a major part of my life. I have always written for myself first and shared with the world second. I don’t want that to change.

What’s the ultimate direction for your band?

I think the ultimate direction for us is to continue making music that matters to us regardless of trends and hype.

Can you share some of your milestones and/or accomplishments?

I think making music for the majority of my life is a milestone. It’s not easy to walk the road less traveled and be a musician.

Care to share any stories from the road?

I remember a hefty fine for a speeding ticket on the way to a Wisconsin Dells gig. Zac was driving and I think he was a bit excited because it was a very cool gig. I think the fine was like $450 bucks. Lesson learned - always mind yourself when you have out of state plates, watch out for speed traps and if you can get a device to avoid radar, by all means avoid the police!

Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial and/or emotional support?

A big shout out to all our families, friends and fans! We are very grateful for the continued love and support on our musical journey.

What advice do you have for any aspiring musicians who would like to form their own bands?

My advice is to write music you are proud of, become an ASCAP member, learn all you can about publishing, music licensing, hold on to your controlling interest as a songwriter and learn all you can about the music business, as it’s a jungle out there.

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You can learn more Gidgets Ga Ga and download their music by visiting any one of their profiles:

http://www.plugo.la/Gidgets_Ga_Ga
http://www.myspace.com/gidgetsgaga
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gidgets-Ga-Ga/114408061228

We were able to corner Abyss long enough to ask him a few questions about how he got started, where he’s heading and some of his favorite work

When/how did you get started?

I grew tired of playing in bands and bought my first beat machine (Roland 505) in 1999. I have been making beats ever since.

Will you share a Few of your favorite songs?

1. stereo for chris

I made this track for my younger brother, it came together quickly and people seem to like it.

2. ninja scroll

was a fun track to make flows well and I’m really obsessed with Japanese instruments

3. killing with positive vibes

my latest track

Where did you get your name? Is there a story behind it?

A lot of my first tracks (and many still) are very deep and dark so that’s how i came up with the name abyss.

What instruments do you use to create your music?

I primarily use Logic to make my music, sometimes I use reason or abelton with a few outboard synths. For live performance I use Serato with 1200’s.

What genre do you classify your music? Who are your influences?

I do several different styles of music including down-tempo, hip hop, drum and bass, experimental, dub step, and IDM.

My influences are all over the place but I grew up listening to a lot of rock. These days I’m diggin a lot of experimental hip hop coming out of LA.

What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?

My themes can be a culture or sound that i find interesting at that moment. Some of my tracks reflect a specific time in my life and are more emotional and some are just silly and pointless. Usually I just have an idea and try to make it come to life.

What has been your biggest challenge as a musician? Have you been able to overcome that challenge?

My biggest challenge might be finishing my tracks sometimes I call them done when they still need more work and I go back and try to fix them and I have forgotten the direction or idea of the song. So to overcome this challenge I try to take a couple days to process mentally what else the track needs etc.

What’s your ultimate direction as a musician?

To make headphone music and play out on the regular. Hit markets around the globe and spread love through music.

Can you share some of your milestones and/or accomplishments?

I am working on one now that I can’t talk about but if it goes well I’ll have some gigs coming up in Japan.

Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?

My friends and family are pretty supportive of me, financial support would be nice but I’ll take what I can get lol.

What advice do you have for people who want to create their own music?

Follow your heart, avoid the norm, and hustle.

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You can hear more of Abyss and download all his music by visiting any one of his profiles:

http://plugo.la/Abyss
http://www.myspace.com/abyssrecordings

“Angel” - The Truth in the Booth

“Slow” featuring Too Big Mafia - Sittin On A Goldmine

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You can find more Smoke @:

http://plugo.la/Smoke_E._Digglera

“.357 Magnum Death” - Strength, Speed & Beauty

A few months later, Erik started working with a guitarist named Jim Bronson, and they were looking for other musicians to do a band called The Hidden. Mothertrucker broke up, so Zack joined them, and then I followed. A couple months into that band Jim quit, so we called Scratch, and it was IMF all over again. I stayed with The Hidden for about a year, and then was replaced by Brian McNally. The Hidden continued on for a few years following that. Recently we’ve all gotten back in touch with each other, and decided that all the old videos, and audio tapes should be preserved on disk. Which we have been doing, mainly handled by our resident archivist and guitarist, Scratch. We were only around for a short time. But most of the memories we have from that time are good. ~Paul

“I’m Your Bug” - Attica Sessions (with Chuck)

The line-up:
Paul McLennon - Vocals
George Boswell
MX Skroch - Guitar
Jeff Weirheim
Zackary Webb - Bass
Erik Peterson - Drums
Jeff Weirheim

More of IMF can be found @:
http://www.plugo.la/IMF
http://www.myspace.com/imfthickest

In the beginning there was “Bone of Contention”; a cassette-only E.P./demo released in 1992 that contained four of the band’s typical “powerrockalternometalcountrifieddevilballadpunk” type songs, and the title track which featured plaintive wailing behind archival news recordings of the discovery of Jeffrey Dahmer’s apartment.

Then in 1993 the Hidden recorded a full-length CD called “Stop. I’m bleeding”. An interested party financed the affair through the vehicle of “Iguana Trifle Recordings”. This release contained most of “Bone of Contention” plus six new tracks. “Stop. I’m bleeding.” showed the band’s sound expanding, showing a tendency towards the epic (The Legendary Bolt Upright), the spastic (The Blanket) and the subdued (Sleep Spoons).

The Legendary Bolt Upright

In the Summer of 1994 the Hidden recorded 17 new tracks and hit the road on a multi-week U.S. tour. This tour was turned into a video documentary titled “Soundmen, State Parks, and Open Sores” which to date has only been viewed by the Hidden and their associates. The songs that the Hidden recorded were slated to become an album called “Brave New Failure”, but the previously mentioned tour wore the band down and they went their separate ways. “Brave New Failure” was finally released in 2006, though widespread distribution was neither sought nor achieved. This album captures the final period of the band’s existence; as more complicated song structures, sudden stop-start dynamics, and off-time rhythms were becoming the foundations of The Hidden’s sound.

The final audio records of the Hidden were released to a select few in 2007. “Chicago’s Thickest Band in the World” collects unreleased studio recordings, songs that never made it to the studio, cover tunes, and a helping of tour field recordings featuring antics and spoken word experiments. Also compiled in 2007, “Covered With Blood and Touring” collects twenty live tracks recorded at eleven concerts across the United States. Taken from video shot at the time, these remastered songs show the level of fervor that the Hidden was able to obtain.

Covered with Blood and Twitching

The line-up:
Brian McNally - Vocals
MX Skroch - Guitar
Zackary Webb - Bass
Erik Peterson - Drums

The Hidden’s Main Page & Catalog is Located @:
http://www.plugo.la/The_Hidden