2005.01.12 - Sp1at - 10Q with Rapidfire

1) Describe Kevin Lawrence in three words.

KL) Honest. Brash. Loyal.

2) What is the latest on the Rapidfire EP, and when do you think it will be released?

KL) We are still mixing the songs, but have not done much for the last 2 months or so. What has been mixed sounds really good, but not just right. While I realize that it was a demo, and analogue, I do want it to be the best sound that it could be.

3) Has it met with any reaction from the Guns n'roses camp?

KL) Yeah a bit, but it's all going to be fine.

4) When was the last time you met Axl Rose?

KL) About 5 years ago at theThird Street Promenade in Santa Monica. We just ran into each other, had a short chat and that's it.

5) What are you early memories of Axl Rose?

KL) Dedicated, hard working, talented, on time for rehearsal as well as gigs. I really liked him. We shared the same passionate love of music, and desire to make it big.

6) What other projects are you involved with?

KL) Nothing musical. I collect Classic Oldsmobiles. I own a company that owns adult as well as other websites, a printing company and hopefully soon a business to restore classic Oldsmobiles. The new site we are building is oldsmobilia.com.

7) What music are you currently listening to?

KL) The Dining Rooms.

8) What did you get for Xmas?

KL) I got to watch my wife smile as her family visited. Oh yeah and a box of my favourite cigars from Drew Estate.

9) One of our editors, Teroz, is a Bon Jovi fan. Do you think this is healthy?

KL) How big of a fan? And well really....... probably not that healthy. Hey does their drummer still have that stupid hair stripe on his chin?

10) What are you plans for 2005?

KL) More wakeboarding.

Kevin Lawrence launched a website titled "The Axl tapes" in August 2004. That was when and how the existence of Rapidfire became known:

COMING SOON

Before GNR there was Hollywood Rose.

Before Hollywood Rose there was RAPIDFIRE.

Who??

RAPIDFIRE

Yes, the REAL first ever recordings of AXL ROSE with his FIRST band RAPIDFIRE.

These demos have been stored for over 20 years and are now being prepared for release.

E Mail: kevin@theaxltapes.com

https://web.archive.org/web/20040827012345/http://theaxltapes.com/

Related posting in HTGTH news section, August 16, 2004:

Apparently Axl was in a band called Rapidfire in 1983. You can see a picture of Axl at theaxltapes.com as well as a tracklisting for a demo the band recorded in May 1983.

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=1129

Related thread in the HTGTH message board (contains correspondence via e-mail between fans and Kevin Lawrence:
http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=14768.0

Update in the news section (based on the information shared in the thread above), August 27, 2004:

Rapidfire update

According to Kevin Lawrence, the Rapidfire songs are currently being mixed and the cd will hopefully be out by Christmas. The tapes have been in storage for the past 20 years (in the original 8 track format). The tracks were transfered to digital.
The songs are:
Ready To Rumble
All Night Long
The Prowler
On The Run

The bandmembers were:

Axl Rose - Vocals
Kevin Lawrence - Guitar
Mike Hammernik - Bass
Chuck Gordon - Drums

There are plenty of pre-tattoo Axl pictures to accompany the cd.

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=1139

Later, in late 2004 or early 2005 (the archived page dates from April 2005) the site was renamed to "Rapidfire 1983":



https://web.archive.org/web/20050418090133/http://rapidfire1983.com/

Then was an update in August 2006 and another one in 2009, which I'll post in separate threads when I'll be adding articles from those years:

https://web.archive.org/web/20061018160146/http://rapidfire1983.com/

https://web.archive.org/web/20090826161821/http://rapidfire1983.com/

Blackstar wrote:Kevin Lawrence launched a website titled "The Axl tapes" in August 1984.

Or perhaps 2004?

Soulmonster wrote:

Blackstar wrote:Kevin Lawrence launched a website titled "The Axl tapes" in August 1984.

Or perhaps 2004?

2004, of course. I just edited it