What inspired the name of the band? What are your influences and are they the same as when you started out?
Chip: Wasn’t in the band then i am fairly new
Dudley: Dark Rain is nuclear winter the end of everything cheery I know, we used to be called Strictly Business way back in the day.
Bill: i came into the band already named
Brian: Anthrax, Testament, Savatage, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer… to name a few.
Kelleigh: im not 100% sure when or where dark rain came from…. when i first heard this band they called themselves “strictly business”…
And influences are scattered.80s rock goddesses joan jett..pat benatar..stevie nicks..lita ford (makin way for women).. Then its pink and avril..(not afraid to break the stereotype and be different).alice in chains..breaking benjamin (crazy harmonies)
How do you approach songwriting?
Chip: Haven’t written much personally
Dudley: it varies can be either music or lyrics first, whichever sparks me, I tackle a lot of how im feeling, or a situation Im dealing with, sometimes world events
Bill: usally Dudley and kel come up with stuff. We through ideas around too.
Brian: Usually starts with a riff or idea and we build upon that until we come up with a song
Kelleigh: the guys normally get a riff…ill play off it a bit with some lyrics… Music sets the mood as to the type of thoughts i have as i hear it…
Why do you write the sort of music that you do?
Chip: I sort of go with the flow of the riff
Dudley: I was raised with a wide variety of music styles around me my parents loved the oldies and Motown, I used to go to dances with the country rock bands playing CCR and the Eagles, My sister Lisa exposed me to Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks and I was hooked on Female fronted bands, she also got me into 80’s hair metal
Bill: it all touches us in some way or another.
Brian: I like the style and it sounds right to me
Kelleigh: because almost everyone can relate to one of the songs….
Bad relationships …
Surviving domestic violence …. New relationship…
How do you decide what to perform live?
Chip: We do a mix of original and cover songs. Dudley does a good job at mixing them up
Dudley: Its usually my job as band leader to put together the sets, I try to keep old favorites that people who’ve been coming to see us for a while in the set stuff off the first 2 cds and some unreleased fun songs like our blues tinged booze and weed anthem “40 oz” most of the set is filled with our current cd.
Bill: most of the time we have a set list. We can also wing it if need be. Lol
Brian: Usually try to base our set on the venue and what type of crows may be at the venue.
Kelleigh: we usually have a set list. We can also wing it if need be. Lol. Done that more than once…
What plans do you have for the future?
Chip: Survival
Dudley: To release and try to promote and tour as much as possible
Bill: keep rocking with my bandmates and go in tour.
Brian: o continue writing songs and performing them.
Kelleigh: keep rocking with my guys … Possibly tour