MEMBERS: Ryan Mueller (vocals), Bert Zweber (guitars), Rob Bueno (drums), Todd Joseph (bass).
HOMETOWN: Milwaukee.
ALBUM: “Disconnected” (Atlantic; release date: Aug. 6).
THE SOUND: Melodic rock ‘n’ roll.
PRODUCER: Howard Benson (P.O.D., Motörhead); mixed by Chris Lord-Alge.
FIRST SINGLE: “Ordinary.”
OTHER TRACKS: “To Live Again,” “Satisfied,” “Pinned to the Ground,” “Out of My Hands,” “Isn’t This Great,” “Disconnected,” “Come See Me,” “Rhino,” “Waste of a Man,” “Carry Me Home,” “Holy Man.”
WEB SITE: www.thebuzzhorn.com.
SOMETHING TO KNOW: The band developed a solid fan base in the Midwest with its self-released albums “A Complete Package of Action-Packed Tragedies” (1998) and “The Buzzhorn” (2000).
WHAT SONG DEFINES THE BAND?:
Zweber – ” ‘Ordinary’ … these days too much emphasis is put on glamour, gimmicks, and this idea that you can’t just be yourself if you’re ordinary. We just want to show people that we are not much different from our fans. We all are unique is some way no matter how significant it may seem.”
WHAT WAS YOUR MANIFESTO FOR THIS ALBUM?:
Zweber – “Our album comes from a real place within each member of the band. If we lived it, we transform that into songs. We don’t claim to be angry, depressed musicians, but those emotions always find a way to our songs. It’s sort of a twisted therapy for us.”
YOUR PERSONAL MUSICAL HERO?:
Zweber – “I don’t consider Jerry Cantrell my hero, but I have a lot of respect for him and his music. He is a great musician and songwriter. No matter how dark and painful it may sound, it’s real.”
DO YOU DOWNLOAD SONGS? IF SO, DO YOU FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT?:
Zweber – “I don’t even own a computer. I would download songs. I wouldn’t substitute downloading songs with buying albums. I may be naive in saying that, but the whole package of a CD is something I love to have. I also feel the need to pay for this music. If people download songs, they should also buy the album. Show some respect and buy it.”
YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE TV SHOW?:
Zweber – ” ‘The Simpsons’ is a rad show. It’s so rad that I want all the episodes on tape.”
WHO’S SORELY MISSING FROM THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME?:
Zweber – “What would we do if there were never a Black Sabbath? Seriously!”
UPCOMING TOUR DATES: Aug. 11, Minneapolis, The Quest (with Jerry Cantrell); Aug. 15, Saginaw, Mich., Club Empire (WKQZ radio show).