Whitestarr

Answers by Cisco (vocals)

How did you approach your Rock the Rabbit T-Shirt Design? I went for a sort of post-modern pre-printing press vibe. Handmade art is always one of a kind!

Do you have a favorite article of clothing? It's always the perfect t-shirt.

Where did you pick up ideas about style and design? Is it related at all to your music? Women. They influence everything I do--bad or good.

Do you have a favorite musician whose style you really like? Has that musician influenced your style? I really dig the 70's California Country movement: Eagles, Neil Young, any of the Sunset Blvd. Cowboys.

What does Playboy mean to you? When do you recall discovering Playboy? I discovered Playboy in the woods behind my house in 4th grade. I think shortly after I also discovered my penis and realized I would have a lifelong friend in both!

Beatles or Stones? Ahhhhhhhh! I would have to say Stones as far as what I listen to more and for straight up sex appeal. But if I had to take one band to a deserted island for the rest of my life I would take the Beatles for shear volume of work. The rest of my life is a long time and I still probably couldn't get through the whole Beatles catalog...

Were there bands you heard at a certain point in your lives that made a huge difference in how you thought about music? Yes. When I was immersed in hip-hop as a youngster I started making beats which is how I came to be a producer. I remember I wouldn't listen to anything that wasn't hip-hop at one time. Then I heard "Beast of Burden" one day and started to sample rock riffs. From there my thirst only became stronger and I started to want to create my own rock rather than steal it. Buddy Holly was the first favorite artist I had, though I was like 6 years-old.

Do you guys have a pre-game ritual or a superstition before or during shows? A shot of something and a couple minutes alone is what I like. Then we huddle and shout.

What was the best show you ever played? Why? What makes a good show from your perspective? Best show we ever played is always the last show we played unless it sucked!

At what point do you know a song is good? Do you ever have an idea you just know is going to kill? I know instantly or at least I feel I can see into the future of that song the minute it comes to life. Once it's born it lives for itself and takes on its own identity. I just try to hang on and not kill it before it walks.

What's the most exciting thing you've done in the past year as a result of your music career? Shooting with Mick Fucking Rock for Play Fucking Boy! Hello. I feel as if we're in the damn club. Oh yeah and at second would be when I sang a song with Camp Freddy in Vegas a couple months back and being on stage with Slash, Navarro, Billy Morrison, and Matt Sorum was pretty damn surreal. I did a back flip off Sorum's drums and I don't think he was ready for it.

What's your favorite place on earth? Wherever I am at the moment.

Best song you've been listening to lately? "California Stars" by Wilco and Billy Bragg

Favorite new band? Mickey Avalon

Favorite driving album? Steve Miller's Greatest Hits.

Favorite bedroom music? Al Green baby...what else?

How have the technology boom and the Internet affected the way you approach promoting your music? Better get on the damn train or its gonna leave you at the station. I love the new world and I think in the end it will only be good for music. It might kill the business but it only breathes life into the music.

Do you think the album format is dead? Hmmm. Part of me thinks bands should put up a single every month on their own damn website and by the end of the year the fans have a whole album The new album format is "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley followed by a little Raconteurs followed by some of this and some of that. The mixtape has evolved into the mixed CD which has evolved into the new album format. Whatever the fuck you want on that album is what is gonna be on it.