Interview by Paul Salfen
LOS ANGELES, CA – Friday, June 24, 2022 – Today Classless Act, one of the most buzzed-about up-and-coming rock bands, are releasing their much-anticipated debut album, Welcome To The Show, via Better Noise Music. Having already earned more than one million streams, the new album gained early traction with three previously released singles, including the self-titled “Classless Act” that features a guest appearance by Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil, the catchy “This Is For You” with Justin Hawkins of The Darkness, and the bombastic “Time To Bleed.”
“Just like the song says, we gave you all our blood, our sweat, our tears, our hate, our sex, our deepest, darkest fears. This is for you!” said frontman Derek Day about the album.
Also premiering today is the new single and music video, “All That We Are,” the final installment in the four-part, interlocking video series that loosely follows the band as they set the soundtrack for the misadventures of Farley, an unlucky soul in the wrong place at the wrong time. You can watch the music video HERE.
“‘All that we are’ – is it enough for us to survive?” asks Day. “This is a question, a concept we found ourselves asking after all we have been through over the past two years. Hell, the past seven or so years. We’ve been in a wee bit of a less-than-sunny time in our history. So what are we gonna do? Grow or go! Everyone needs to decide. We’ve got a show tonight, so I know what we’re doing!”
Classless Act is poised to find a whole new legion of fans, first with their single “Classless Act” appearing on the soundtrack for “The Retaliators” film, out this fall, and as they continue in their opening spot on this summer’s 36-date North American Stadium Tour, performing alongside Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett. The tour kicked off June 16 in Atlanta and runs through September 9 in Las Vegas.
NORTH AMERICAN STADIUM TOUR DATES
August 22 – Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field
August 25 – Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium
August 27 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium
August 28 – San Diego, CA – Petco Park
August 31 – Seattle, WA – T-Mobile Park
September 2 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place
September 4 – Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium/Stade du Commonwealth
September 7 – San Francisco, CA – Oracle Park
September 9 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium
DEREK DAY (vocals)
• Native Californian; his father is from Poland, his mother from Honduras, both “salt of the earth” people. Three older brothers, all raised in an environment of positivity, hard work, and humility.
• While his parents remain at the top of his list of “heroes,” he’s looked up to David Bowie for his fashion sense, his ‘crazy artistic transformation,” and what he stood for – hard work, believing in yourself, and never quitting, always keep pushing towards your goals. The transformational Tom Waits, so open to experimentation, has also been an inspiration.
• Played guitar and the trombone in middle school; studied music theory at Pasadena Community College to learn more about “the vibe of music.”
• Has always had an interest in the culinary arts – although he is NOT a cook. But he feels that music and food are closer to each other than most other artistic endeavors, because both are about taste, precision and feel.
• His dad took him to his first two concerts before he was 10 years old, and both figured into his wanting to be a performer: Jethro Tull at the Hollywood Bowl, and Deep Purple
• Not a major sports fan, but will likely watch soccer championships, and the Super Bowl. He is a big tennis fan, plays it a couple times a week when he’s home.
• Most prized possessions would be his 15 guitars, including his creamy white 2017 Stratocaster that was a gift from Fender.
• The greatest gift anyone ever gave him was from his high school music teacher. She encouraged him, for two consecutive summers, to sign up for an all-summer-vacation- music program. The “gift” was seeing his taste going from heavy metal and rock to discovering and also loving artists like Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Ravi Shankar, and Miles Davis. The experience changed his life and his perspective on music.
• Is a huge “Star Wars” fan, all nine of the films – “Star Wars” was the first film he ever saw. Is also a Quentin Tarantino fan, especially “Reservoir Dogs” – loves his style, the editing, and particularly the dialogue because it’s so representative of real life.
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GRIFFIN TUCKER (guitarist)
• First concert was when he was eight years old – Paul McCartney at what is today the AT&T Stadium. If, for the rest of his life, he could listen to just one artist, it would be McCartney.
• played in a tribute band when he was eight years old – performing for people, seeing them dance and having a good time is when he knew he wanted to be a performing. He was a member of Zendaya’s touring band before she moved into acting
• he was a contestant on The Voice and on American Idol
• his mom is his hero – she keeps everything afloat, for the family, the family’s dogs, makes sure everyone is happen and taken care of and that they’re all loved. Other heroes include Paul McCartney, and his favorite bands, Led Zeppelin and Queen, have been huge inspirations.
• Led Zeppelin’s “The Rain Song” had a major effect on him – loved the acoustic guitar at the beginning that built with the strings and drums – he loved the blending of classical and rock music.
• huge vinyl collector, loves that analog sound when the mastering is good; he gets a better experience when he can hold his music and put it on a turntable. Has about 240 vinyl records.
• most prized possession is a drum set he got when he was eight or nine years old – molded after the Ringo Starr type of finish. It has always been this place of refuge, whether I’ve had a good day or a stressful day, any day in general. I always go to my music room, get behind the drums and put whatever’s in my mind on those drums. I’m very glad I still have it and still play them.
• greatest gift he’s ever gotten – his ability to play music – I don’t know who I’d be if I didn’t have that natural ability to pick up something and be able to somewhat figure it out. – There’s just something I can’t explain, I can just pick something out and make something with it.
• is a serious introvert, really treasures his alone time where he can collect his thoughts or play guitar and just chill out. He likes to learn at least one new song (by another artist) a day, and then get into a room with other people and just play all of the songs he’s learned. His road manager calls him a “human jukebox.” Always been fascinated with being able to recreate sounds and make sounds of his own.
