The Dr. Frank Solo Experience
From Sara Kraiss, The Arrowhead
Sara: Could you explain to those who will be reading my article where the "Dr." in front of your name came from? (Even I've heard a few different explanations!)
Dr. Frank: My mother, like most mothers, planned for me to be a doctor when I grew up. So certain was she that her dream would become a reality that she began addressing me as "doctor" at around the age of 3. "Dinner's ready, Doctor." "You're grounded, Doctor." "Doctor, you're wanted on the telephone..." Etc. Even though I never did actually make it through medical school, the name somehow stuck.
Sara: When did the idea of a solo project first come up?
Dr. Frank: I've been idly planning it for years. In any band, there's always some tension between the songwriter and the band in that there are always going to be some songs that the band doesn't want to do. Over the years this conflict has happened pretty frequently, and I always had it in the back of my mind that I would take some of these rejected songs and do them myself. On the last MTX album (Revenge is Sweet...) a lot of my favorite ones ended up getting rejected, and so that's when I decided actually to do it rather than just talk about it.
Sara: What prompted you to do a solo record? Were you looking for a chance to be more creative, explore different genres of music, or something to that effect?
Dr. Frank: I guess the above answer gets at the first part of your question. As for the second part, I suppose you could say that. But really, it's a measure of the artistic failure of MTX records that nobody realizes that "exploring different genres" was part of my intention all along: "Revenge is Sweet" has many types of songs, and the demos of the songs (the ones I did on my own at home) sound very much like the solo album. There were country songs, there was a bossa nova song, bubblegum songs, hard rock, ballads, etc. But somehow, they all got fed through the "pop-punk-izer" and lost a lot of their individuality. "Show Business is My Life" was largely an experiment to see if it was possible to get these songs to come out the way they were intended, and, for better or worse, I think the answer is "yes, it's possible." And one thing I learned from the whole experience is that just leaving everything to chance like we've done on the last couple of MTX records (i.e., I start playing the chords and the band starts playing along, and that's the arrangement) is not the best way to do it. It really helped with the new MTX record (which we just finished) because I learned how to plan everything out so that it didn't get genericized. I realize, of course, that that generic quality is something that a lot of people specifically like (and it worked out really well on "Love is Dead") but I've got no interest in re-recording the same album over and over again.
Sara: How do you think fans of the MTX will respond to "Show Business is my Life"?
Dr. Frank: That's a really good question. I've been encouraged so far. I wasn't really sure if people would accept it. My hope is that fans of the MTX are largely fans of my songs, and that they'll be interested in the songs in whatever form they are cast in. So far, this seems to be the case, though that doesn't mean that they'll necessarily buy the record, which is the other hope floating around. I'll be interested to see how it works out, because the new MTX album goes out on even more stylistic limbs in some ways. "Show Business..." is kind of the guinea pig....
Sara: What is it like doing a solo record? After being so used to having to confer with other band members while making a record, it must be quite a change from what you're used to.
Dr. Frank: It's great. Having a rock and roll band is great fun, but it's also difficult because you have to try to please everyone, and nobody's ever happy with anything. So it was a relief to record on my own for a break. (Though Kevin Army, the producer, and I still had a lot of arguments...)
Sara: On "She Turned Out to be Crazy", you speak of some relationships gone awry. Are they from experience? (I read once that you had a girlfriend that attempted to kill you with a frying pan...tell me it's not true!)
Dr. Frank: The frying pan story is true, as a matter of fact. As for that song, I wouldn't say that particular song is really about me; my relationships all go awry in completely different ways than that. The narrator of that song is not the smartest guy in the world, and he doesn't have any kind of introspective insight into his own situation. And self-knowledge is what really drives you crazy and wrecks your life-- it's a more subtle wreckage than just ending up in jail. He's a character I saw on a Springer episode.
Sara: Are you planning a tour to support the record? (B.T.W.-how did your show go last night?)
Dr. Frank: There's probably not going to be much time for any solo touring because of all the MTX activity. I might do a show here and there. The show in San Francisco last night was really great, by the way.
Sara: No doubt your experiences in music have taught you a lot. What would be the single-most important piece of advice you could offer to the students who will read the review and are interested in pursuing music as a career?
Dr. Frank: Well, for me it hasn't been much of a "career" for most of it. But it's a cliche that is certainly borne out by my experience that persistence does eventually produce results. I've been way more successful that I ever imagined. Everyone used to say "why don't you just give it up?" and "you'll never amount to anything" and that sort of thing. Up till about four years ago, they were absolutely right. Then suddenly, they weren't right anymore. It's a great feeling, in its own way. It took me 13 very uncertain years to get to the "moderately-successful-underground-rock-act" level. Most people like me give up long before they reach the 13 year mark, and I can't say I blame them. It's not a "smart" career path, and I'd make way more money driving a bus or something. But my advice, nonetheless, is if you really believe you've got something you should really stick with it. It can take a long time, but it's cool when it finally clicks.
Sara: Since I listened to the record, I've been trying to define what kind of music "She All Right" is, and I haven't come up with anything.
Dr. Frank: I suppose "She All Right" is kind of a 1930s-style white-folk-blues tune. How's that for a genre?