Dave - Vocals
Dom - Guitars
Justin - Bass
Graham – Drums
Their sound is described as alternative, or post-punk pop, Mackenzie First, was formed in Montreal in 2001 by singer/songwriter Dave Black & guitarist songwriter Domenic Berardi while they were still in high school. The 2 original band members tell us about how they got started and more. Read on to find out why “Eat shit” was some of the best advice Dave’s ever received!
mym: How did Mackenzie First form as a band?
We got together in high school, Dom was playing in another band for a variety talent show and Dave was singing in the hallway after being kicked out of class. We decided to work on a project together for the show. Unfortunately Dave left that particular high school before the show ever happened but we decided to keep on working on our music. Many members and years later we met Julien and Graham. That’s pretty much how it all got started.
mym: Where’d the name come from?
It started like most bands. We went through the era of a million names. We really wanted something that felt was special and sort of self-symbolic; something real to who we were. We spent nearly 2 years without settling, and in all that time, we literally went through every name possible. In fact we have even met other bands with some of the band names we came up with. Jokingly, at one point out of frustration we went in the opposite direction and started inventing names that meant absolutely nothing. At one point, every time a name was suggested, Dom would try and attach “First “. For example, someone would say Yellowknife after having just read it off a map and Dom would say “Yellowknife First”.
Eventually, the band realized that one of the streets in the middle of all our houses was named Mackenzie Street.
Dave, who was failing history at the time thought Mackenzie was the first Prime Minister of Canada. Instinctively Dom belted out “Mackenzie First!” Thanks to Google, the band soon realized that Alexander Mackenzie was the third prime minister of Canada… Mackenzie 3rd just didn’t have the same ring. So the band still didn’t have a name… Eventually the band got a song onto the Musique Plus “123 Punk” compilation CD. When they asked what the bands name was, we realized we only had one answer… it was unique, it was Canadian and reflected what the band was about… Mackenzie First!
mym: When was the first time you realized you wanted to become musicians?
Dave: I always knew. I was 5 years old at my grandparents 50th year wedding anniversary when my dad asked me come on stage with him and sing a song that we always sang in the car together. I like to think that I already knew even before that happened but it was that exact moment at 5 years old I made a firm decision that I wanted to be a musical entertainer.
Dom: At the age of 12 I saw my cousin performing Nirvana at a school talent show and the next day I bought a guitar.
mym: What does music mean to you?
Dave: That’s a tough question to field an answer for, as I have never been able to fully articulate my sentiments. It means so many different things to me. My father was a wedding singer when was little. My grandfather was a session drummer for Sammy Davis JR and Louis Armstrong so music ran in my blood. There is no doubt I was in love with Music early. Even my sister who later passed away had The New Kids on the Block plastered all over her room; the pillow case, the bedspread, posters. When she got sick Celine Dion even came to visit her in the hospital. After she died, music was there consoling me. It gave me strength. Music was a good hobby and throughout my whole life it’s been a loyal friend. To quote The Red Hot Chili Peppers “It’s my Aeroplane”
Dom: We’ll I can’t be as articulate as Dave but it’s definitely my Aeroplane too.
mym: Do you think music can inspire & motivate others? How has it changed who you are as people & artists?
Dave: Music can absolutely inspire people. When you look at inspirational songs like “We are the Champions” or “We will rock you” they have the power to bring a building to tears or give a sports team the extra push it needs to win a championship. On a personal level, people often don’t realize how different one feels as a listener after you’ve started to create your own music. To be completely honest, I don’t think 16 year old me could ever have imagined my musical taste as it is today. Eventually you realize what you listen to directly affects what you write. I think our ever changing and maturing sense of taste has helped us reflect on life and grow, not just as a band, but also as people.
mym: How do you deal with stress while on tour or during a hard time?
Dave: When u spend so much time in close quarters with people the most random things can start to bother you. Deep down if you can find some zen and remember you’re there with the people you love, doing an awesome job that millions of people would kill to have, you’ll be alright.
If I can find that little place in my head I’m be able to calm down and rationalize enough to get over whatever the problem that day might be.
Dom: I’m a pretty laid back guy so there’s not much that stresses me out… Except for circus midgets. Whenever I see midgets dancing on stage with a band I lose my shit. It’s not funny, it’s not even original anymore.
mym: What's the best advice anyone has given you while going through a struggle?
Dave: 2 things. 1: This was said to me by a close friend of mine named Richard. He wanted me to suck-up to someone I was not fond of to help a business deal we were working on that really could have helped me. I didn’t want to do it but he said “Dave I’m a fucking millionaire and I could have got here a lot faster if some one told me this when I was your age. The hardest thing I’ve ever had to learn in life is... Sometimes you have to Eat Shit. Those who will succeed can stomach the most of it while continuing to do whatever they need to achieve their goals. You’re going to have to eat it and smile with shit in your mouth and tell them its good and you love it. Cause the fact of the matter is, your not doing it for them your doing it for you... it is just business... Eat shit!”
The other amazing piece of wisdom I got came from my friend Darryl. He said you could spend your whole life measuring in this world and never cut anything. Sometimes you just have to have some faith and go for it!
“Measure once and cut if for the love of god if you ever get the chance!”
Later that year after being denied 6 years in a row we just showed up at the Vans Warped tour with all of our equipment and marched right into Kevin Lyman’s office and said we are suppose to be on this tour!
And they let us play!
Dom: Well the band has gone through some tough times over the years. We’ve been doing this for 10 years now, we started when we were 15. It’s hard for me to pick just one moment of advice but time and time again, Dave has always repeated when our morale was low “The past does not indicate the future, if you keep getting better and you keep growing. Even something that seems so far fetched will eventually start to look possible.
mym: Any embarrassing moments that you can laugh at now that you’d like to share?
Dom: I forgot to put my strap lock on properly and during one of our songs at a big show, my guitar fell and busted up my foot. I could barely stand up for the rest of the show.
Dave: After we wrote the song Emmalucilia I went to announce it at a show. I was still kind of upset at the time. Our old bassist Justin, said jokingly to the crowd “I would like to thank the girl that made Dave cry”. My mouth dropped and I looked shocked for a split second before I realized I was still standing in front of 500 people. Needless to say, they now clearly knew that it was true because of my reaction. I tried to laugh it off and decided to just play the song. AND wouldn’t you know… Our video guy, Jared, decided to put that exact ten seconds (longest of my life) in a MySpace video and immortalize it because he must have found it funny too.
Before the whole mess was over for me I had to promote it to all 35 000 of our fans worldwide on MySpace who all thought it was hilarious and adorable. In retrospect, I was all embarrassed but our fans loved it and found it endearing.
It was pretty funny. I guess I just needed to get over the girl first to be able to see that. :P
mym: Any words to live by?
Dave: The dumbest man is the one who already knows everything! Listen to everyone! Hear what everyone has to tell you, know the world around you and then chose your path wisely you really never know where the right answer will be hiding
And never ever stop taking baby steps!
That and Rocket Sauce!
http://www.myspace.com/mackenzie1st
