Memphis-based hard rock band Saliva met with swift success after its formation in 1996. After a self-titled debut sold well across the Southeast, Def Jam Records took notice and has been the group's label ever since.
Over the past decade, the band has had 12 singles in the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock charts as well as a No. 1 modern rock single in "Always" from its third studio album, Back Into Your System.
The band's latest album is called Cinco Diablo and releases in mid-December.
Lead vocalist Josey Scott took time to speak with the Clarion-Ledger about touring, success and how keeping a band together is like maintaining a healthy marriage.
What can you tell me about your new album?
I know every musician says it's their best record ever, so I don't want to be cliched. I can tell you we put our heart and souls in it. We recorded about 25 songs and we narrowed it down to 11 or 12, which is just brutal for a musician to do. The sound is a lot heavier, it's a lot groovier. It's one of those records you could either dance to or mosh to.
Is it hard to change up your sound after so many years?
I think if you're being honest with yourself, you find that groove you were always meant to be in anyway. You start out kind of grinning at it, and then you hone your skills ... and you get your record deal. Then you just sharpen your teeth and your nails until you're lethal.
Were there conflicts or stumbling blocks along the way that hampered that process?
No, not really, not with us. We really get along with each other. We're all best friends. We're one of those marriages that work. Comedy and practical jokes have really held us up over the past 10 years. I say to the guys every night, "Remember this is fun and remember that when we were sitting in our bedrooms at 16, we would've killed someone to do this."
You mentioned the importance of practical jokes. Can you remember a particularly good one?
One time we were at an alligator farm ... in one of the Carolinas. We went and bought a bunch of fireworks (...) we got to partying and everybody got drunk and we started shooting them at each other.
It was dangerous, but dang it was fun and funny. (The cops) gave us a good tongue-lashing, but that was it.
What's your favorite aspect of being in a rock band?
Being able to create music that moves people's lives, that's my favorite part: The people that tell us that our music stopped them from committing suicide or got them through a nasty divorce.
