Interview by Avril Savoie Exclusive to Rockstar Weekly
The one-hit wonders who wrote and sing the 80s classic The Beat Goes On/Switchin’ To Glide are still here. For the last 32 years The Kings have never left. The band is celebrating with a new DVD documentary The Anatomy of A One Hit Wonder, The Kings This Beat Goes On/Switchin' To Glide. The DVD is also a collection of music videos and live performances from the band.
Guitarist Mister Zero let us know what it was like to work with legendary producer Bob Ezrin (who has also worked with KISS, Alice Cooper and Pink Floyd).
“It was kind of like a Cinderella story really. Like a lot of bands struggling in a way - playing in bars," Zero said. "We had been doing it awhile, writing songs, working on our own material and we had enough stuff for an album. So we saved enough dough and went to Nimbus 9 Studio which was the best studio in Toronto at that time. That’s why we went there because it was the best studio - where people were making real records like The Guess Who and Alice Cooper. So we were in there working on our own Indie thing. Bob just came back to Toronto from being in England and was in the studio saying “HI” to people he knew and basically just hanging out. We met him, one thing lead to another and he listened to what we were doing."
Mister Zero also talked about writing the song This Beat Goes On/Switching to Glide, and how it changed their lives. He also talked about how the fans still go crazy when they hear it.
Listen to the interview to find out more on the DVD, how they appeared on a special CBC documentary called This Beat Goes On, and many more great Canadian classic rock stories.
The DVD was three years in the making. That’s dedication. Why so long?
32 years and still going! That’s an accomplishment.
You guys got to work with the legendary Bob Ezrin. What was that like?
So you were at the right place at the right time?
KISS have some great stories about working with Bob and some of the ideas he brought to the table, like his kids singing on God Of Thunder. Did he bring a lot to you guys?
About a year or so after working with you guys Bob admits he was into drugs too much when he was at the helm of KISS’ Music From The Elder, which really sounds like he was on drugs. Were there elements of a distraught Bob or was he on his game?
This Beat Goes On/Switchin’ To Glide is your claim to fame. I wanted to ask a few questions about that song.
Was it originally two songs or was it always meant to go together.
The lyrics sound a bit like a conversation (for example, Me and Zero, request you in the Mercedes). Was it written like a conversation?
How have these two songs changed your life?
Fans must go crazy when you guys play that song live.
Speaking of live. There aren’t many concert dates that happen for The Kings. Is that a conscious effort to hold back or is it tough for you guys?
On a funny note, your next gig is at something called Ribfest. Have you ever been to a ribfest before and do you even like ribs?
I’m looking forward to seeing you in the next This Beat Goes On episode on CBC. Did they ask for permission to use the name of your song?
Has the CBC show generated interest in the band again?
What did you think when you seen your commercial on TV?
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