R.Cat. –When we last spoke with Hugh he had stated that he really wasn’t looking to start up a new band following the dissolution of the HEADSTONES, what changed that for him?

  C.OSTI- Its something that just kind of happened we had a friendly relationship because Hugh had known my father for sometime, but never really a professional relationship. Once we began to talk about working together it came very easily kind of effortlessly, which was really refreshing. We both have the same work ethic so it’s been great fun.

  R.Cat.- What was your music background before becoming a member of the HDRC?

  C.OSTI- I had been playing the Toronto music scene since I was a teenager, spending about six years with a band called AudioBomb. After that ended, I decided to try my hand at songwriting, Hugh gave me a call and just wanted to lay out some ideas with no intentions of forming a band, more importantly there were no expectations on Hugh, we just had some fun jamming. Things changed when Paul Langlois of the TRAGICALLY HIP heard some of the demos and wanted to jump on board with the project, so it just organically progressed from there.

  R.Cat.- Is it difficult working with someone like Hugh who has such a great collection of songs from his time with the HEADSTONES, and how do you avoid the comparison game within the band?

  C. OSTI- We realize that some of the people who come out to the shows are hoping to hear some of their songs but it wouldn’t be fair to those guys. I can’t play the songs on bass as well as Tim White does, and J.P. Polsoni doesn’t have the same tone on guitar as Trent Carr. The HDRC music is something different but it’s just as good in a different sort of way. The one similarity the bands do have is we love to play some great cover tunes during the set.  We have a few new tricks up our sleeve since our last visit to Buffalo.

R.Cat.- I’ve read that the band already has enough material for another album and Paul Langlois will once again be working with you?

C. OSTI- It looks like we’ll be in the studio early in 2006.  In our initial collaborations Hugh and I wrote enough material for three or four albums.  Now the process begins of once again picking out what ideas will fit the band and take them to the next level, some of them are already being road tested in the live set.  As a matter of fact the opening song is a new one we wrote a few months ago we’re calling “The Hit” for now, due to it’s mafia undertones. FACE TIME WITH KENNEY JONES.... The JONES GANG is a new band of old mates whose latest record is flying high not only on the Billboard charts with the hit single “Angel”, it is also reaching new marketing heights teaming up with USA 3000 Airlines for the new release “Any Day Now”. From top to bottom this is a great throwback rock and roll record. After researching the bands website (www.jonesgangmusic.com) I realized that it really was no surprise as to why. These accomplished musicians have enjoyed enormous success with other rock and roll outfits to the tune of over 50 million records sold, producing a potent mix of classic rock and roll cadence. This ensemble came to together through a series of benefit shows in the U.K. for the Small Faces Charitable Trust (www.smallfacescharitabletrust.com), a foundation created by drummer Kenney Jones in 1999 dedicated to all children in need, as well as to the memory of former band mates Steve Marriot and Ronnie Lane. Jones an original member of the SMALL FACES who later became the group FACES with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood, enjoyed great success throughout the 1970’s. In 1978 Jones would find himself taking on the lofty task of replacing the late great Keith Moon of the THE WHO, despite some criticisms within the music community Jones went on to enjoy enormous success recording and touring with the band for well over a decade. These days Jones once again finds himself keeping good company with friends old and new with former FOREIGNER/BAD CO. bassist Rick Wills, and versatile vocalist Robert Hart who fronted BAD COMPANY in the mid-nineties. Other guest players “Happy” to contribute to the JONES GANG include ROLLING STONE guitarist Ronnie Wood, who lends two hands, one on his renowned guitar, and one with the stroke of a pen as he sketched the band portrait for the album cover which is also on display flying over head on the tail of some USA 3000 Jets. Night-Life had the honor to speak with the eminent drummer from his home in the U.K. as he and the JONES GANG prepare to take the success of this new venture on the road.

  R.Cat.- Congratulations on the achievement of the new record especially the single “Angel” it’s really a great power ballad, tell us about the song?

  K.JONES- It was written by Robert Hart and Russ Ballard.  Early on as we were getting acquainted as writing partners when Robert pulled out the song from some demos he had, I instantly liked it. From there we laid it down very quickly, it is a ballad but it has some bones to it.

  R.Cat.- Another stand out track on the record is “Gypsy Lane”, that song really touches on your celebrated past.

  K.JONES- I really love that song it comes from a very passionate place for me, it was actually written by accident.  Robert and I were running late for an interview in London so I took a short cut down “Gypsy Lane”, on top of that street sign was a shrine of flowers for Marc Bolen of T. REX, he had died there in a car wreck in 1977.  It got me thinking of my band mate the late Ronnie Lane and my time with the FACES family, Ronnie had become a bit of a gypsy. By the time Robert and I arrived at the interview we had already had the song written. We decided to give Woody and Ian Mac Lagan a call and they loved the song so it became a tribute to Ronnie Lane with the surviving members of FACES.

  R.Cat.- Now that the band is getting some well deserved recognition on the charts is there any chance the JONES GANG will be boarding one of those USA 3000 jets and heading over to the states for some live shows? We’d love to see you in Buffalo. 

  K.JONES- We will be heading over in late October for some promotional gigs then we will be going full tilt after Christmas.  As for playing Buffalo I sure would love to play there again.  One of my greatest memories of my touring days with the WHO was in Buffalo in the early eighties. We were doing the song “Love Reign O’er Me” just as Roger Daltry was singing that verse the skies over Rich Stadium opened up and the rain began to fall, you just can’t buy a moment like that.
    TANGLED WEB .... Like the rest of our country who have come together in these recent times of despair the Buffalo rock and roll community pulled together to help out one of their own. Rock and Roll Heaven/Club Miami in Cheektowaga hosted a benefit for our first lady of local rock Lana Hergert. The multiple award-winning vocalist of BLACK WIDOW has been confined to a wheel chair the past few months due to severe injuries to her legs. Being the consummate professional that she is Lana has been keeping her commitments with both Black Widow, and her acoustic partner Buffalo Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Michael Hund, belting out her heavenly voice from a wheelchair.
    Several of Western New York’s local bands donated their time and music to the cause including Sunset Blvd., Sly Alibi, Toybox Heros, Metal Works, 80’s Hairband, and The Trolls. The highlight of the evening came as Nashville recording artist Greg Crowe(www.gregcrowe.com) took the stage to close out the evening. The country rocker is currently enjoying great success on the charts as well as on the Great American Country station with his video G.R.I.T.S (Girls Raised in the South). Crowe is currently working on a follow up to that album with guitarist Michael Hund right here in Buffalo.
    Lana Hergert will be facing extensive and costly physical therapy throughout the winter, for those of you who could not attend the benefit and would like to contribute, donations can be sent to:
Benefit for LANA
5665 South Park Avenue
Suite 7
Hamburg, NY  14075
    SO YOU WANT TO BE A ROCK AND ROLL STAR….. Desiderio’s on Broadway will be bring back some of Buffalo’s own legends of rock to the stage on Saturday October 1st.  Local Buffalo band BLEEDING HEARTS will welcome longtime radio executive Donnie Tomasulo out of retirement for a set of TOM PETTY classics.  Some of you may remember D.T. from his days on the skins with BEN HATZEL. Also joining them on stage will be 107.7 Lake Guide Tina Peel and TROLLS keyboardist Matt Young. Come on out and party with D.T. and the HB’s for this one time event.