Bullets and Octane | Gene Louis

By Scott Silletta - Producer/engineer Orange Crush Studio & Member of My Compatriots History: In 2003 Bullets and Octane released an ep, called "One night stand rock n' roll band, In 2004, they released their first album The Revelry on Criterion Records, (Later Re-Released on Ares Records), which featured some remastered/re-recorded tracks off their first EP. Their second album,"In The mouth of the young", was released in April 2006 on the bands first Major Record label, Sony BMG / RCA Records. The band also released a cover of Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell" for a localSo-Cal Sampler and an unreleased original B-Side "Mannequin", which is from the "One Night Stand Rock'n'Roll Band" days, has since leaked onto the Internet.

The band toured with the Family Values Tour 2006, along with such bands asDir en grey, Korn, Flyleaf, Stone Sour and Deftones. While this marked the first time opening up to such a large audience. They were previously support to Flogging Molly, Social Distortion and Avenged Sevenfold on Avenged's City Of Evil Tour.

Bullets and Octane are a So. Cal favorite...selling out everwhere they play, and also doing very well in Europe due to touring and distribution. Recently, the band left their record label, RCA, and are now back on ARES records.

In the last 5 years bullets and octane have traveled more ground than most people do their entire lives. Huge tours in the USA and Europe.... So where do you go from here? Bullets & Octane kept it all going by releasing their latest album "Song for the underdog" Recently, the band left their record label, RCA, and are now back on ARES records.

Their new album, "Song for the Underdog", became available in June 2007 on their tour with Unwritten Law. The CD became available on iTunes after June. And if all that isn't enough, frontman Gene Louis has committed to writting a song a week for 2008 and is putting them on his myspace page for all to enjoy!

So now home on a break I took out some time to ask my old buddy Gene Louis some questions.

Scott: So Gene, how does it feel to finally be home for more than a week?

Gene: It’s good for a little while, but then you want to start trucking on the road again. You’re so busy while touring that once you get home, sitting around with time on your hands can make you a bit stir crazy...so you have to find something to fill the time..or go insane.

Scott: Yeah i know...I myself spent 10 years on the road...it's more like home sometimes than where you live. So what's going on in the life of the notorious Gene Louis?

Gene: Lots man...Bullets are playing locally and planning another UK tour...I started Sex N Violence with some of my friends, album coming soon on that, and I’m releasing a song a week for the whole year through my myspace page.

Scott: what possesed you to do the 52 songs in 2008?

Gene: I’ve always had this side of me but never the opportunity to share it...I thought this was the perfect way to show a new side.

Scott: So you having a facination with the name kevin... how is it possible to actually get a guy named kevin in the band? (footnote: Gene told me to name my newborn daughter kevin 2 years ago)

Gene: I tried to change his name that didn’t work out too well because he doesn’t listen...so it stuck.

Scott: Right now, do you see yourself more of a singer songwritter or a frontman and why?

Gene: Both! The music business is a crazy game right now and I’m playing both sides of the checkerboard... Some days I’m red some days I’m black.

Scott: a man of many hats... So Gene any last words or advice for young bands that are trying to get recognized?

Gene: Listen to your parents and get out now...don’t get tattooed, you’re not really goth, grow up, get a job at ralphs.

Thanks Gene.

Scott's last words:
As most people know the music industry is tough. I myself have been in it full time since 1991. You have to be able to adapt to new things constantly. Gene Louis consistantly does that. And does it well.

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For more info, show updates and music
check out Bullets and Octane on Myspace.com
www.myspace.com/bulletsandoctane

Check out Gene Louis on Myspace.com
www.myspace.com/genelouis