When Candlebox emerged onto the Hard Rock scene in the ’90s they found themselves thrust into mainstream success within years of their formation. Signing on with Maverick, their 1993 self-titled debut album became a massive success with the help of four equally powerful singles; “Change,” “You,” “Far Behind,” and “Cover Me.” Following up strongly with their albums Lucy in 1995 and Happy Pills in 1998 respectively, there was a bit of hiatus between 2000 and their restart in 2006, but who would imagine that in 2023 we would be celebrating 3 decades of Candlebox?
A very impressive accomplishment, Candlebox continues to celebrate the 30th anniversary of that epic self-titled album in 2023, but also the band’s longevity, determination, and ability to find their way back to making music once more. That being said, band leader Kevin Martin also made the very tough decision to say the end of Candlebox is near.
A bittersweet announcement for Martin, the farewell has included the release of their acoustic live album Live at The Neptune in June, what is expected to be their final studio album The Long Goodbye in August, a lengthy tour with 3 Doors Down that has hit many cities around the USA, plus the release of the stellar 7 LP box set entitled The Maverick Years in August. A lot to take for fans and Candlebox, Kevin Martin recently sat down to reflect on their lengthy journey, the choice to bid farewell, plus a whole lot more.
Cryptic Rock – Candlebox has built a very interesting legacy. What is really fancying is that the revival of the band, in 2006, has actually lasted longer than the initial active tenure. In this time, the band has toured extensively and released even more music between 2008 and 2023. How would you describe the incredible journey of the band?
Kevin Martin – Mayhem! (Laughs) That is a very interesting thing, and that first time anyone has ever pointed that out, but it’s something I have thought about a lot. I have thought about – how we were not prolific back in the ‘90s when we had every opportunity to write records and record? We had a major label, etc., but why did we wait until the second incarnation of what’s going on in Candlebox?
I think it has everything to do with the fact that we didn’t really know one another when we first started as a band. So, our relationship between the 3 albums we made (the debut in 1993, Lucy in 1995, and Happy Pills in 1998), as a band, we were growing. We were growing as people, but were also learning a lot about one another as human beings and as musical partners in general. I think there were a lot of growing pains. There was also a lot of unnecessary stress back then that we put on ourselves.
The second time around, there was no real pressure. We did a deal with a good label out of Florida with our old friend Jeff Hanson and we made Into the Sun (2008). Even though that record is one of my favorite Candlebox records, it took a long time to write. We started writing that record in January of 2007, but we didn’t finish the songwriting process until October of 2007, and then we didn’t end up recording it until the Spring of 2008. I think that was, again, learning to write songs together once more.
At that point, we had gone onto do other projects; so, we knew a lot more about our writing styles and we learned a lot from the others we had written with. In that respect, it was a little bit easier to get into a room and knock out these songs. So, we did Into the Sun, then we waited a couple of years to do Love Stories & Other Musings (2012). At this point it was basically in the hands of the fans to fund these records if you will.
I think the prolificness of Candlebox is just about growing up in the second generation of it. And it was also us being better artists, friends, and musicians at that point. Really, we got thrown into the limelight so early back in the ‘90s… I don’t think we really ever caught up until 2000. (Laughs)
Cryptic Rock – It is a really interesting story about how everything worked out. It is great to see how prolific the band has been over the last 15 years or so. That said, The Long Goodbye is out now and said to be the final Candlebox record. What inspired you to say it was time to end this chapter of your life?
Kevin Martin – That has everything to do with being home during Covid. I experienced for the first time a real long-term relationship with my son and wife. I had been touring since 2006, my son was born in 2008, and I kept touring and touring. Being home during Covid made me realize how much I enjoyed being home. I realized how much I loved being a father, loved being a husband, and loved being home. Music all of sudden took a backseat to what I really loved… which is my family.
I thought that was an interesting thing, because music had always been number one in my world. That was even over my wife and my son, which is a terrible thing to say, but I think as musicians we are all selfish in that way. Certainly, you’re not chasing hit songs, but you would love to have another hit record, and you would love to have an opportunity to go out to play festivals, etc.
I just realized; it didn’t mean that much to me, and it probably never really had. It was just something that I was using to fill whatever void that was in my heart at the time. For me, the Covid time was super beneficial, and certainly for my relationship with my wife and son as well.
Cryptic Rock – That is a very lovely thing to hear. It sounds like you have everything in balance. Looking at The Long Goodbye, what was it like creating this collection?
Kevin Martin – This record was an absolute blast. We did some dates in 2021 and I discussed my plans with the guys. I said, “I want to make sure the next record we make is exactly what we want it to be.” I wanted it to have all the inspirations and everything we have ever experienced together as a group.
So, we started writing in Spring of 2022. We did a session in Baltimore at a studio for a week, where we wrote 12 songs. Then we did another session in a studio in Los Angeles in October of 2022, where we wrote 10 more songs. We just did not stop ourselves… we allowed ourselves to write those tracks the way they came out.
With the lyrics, I wrote with a bunch of young artists out of Nashville. I felt like I needed a different way to say what I was trying to say on this album. That comes from the communication you have with other people in conversations.
I didn’t want to keep repeating myself in words and phrases I have used over the last 30 years. I wanted to really find a new way to say things. I worked with Nick Brown (from Mona), Claire Douglas (who is a songwriter in Nashville), Ryan Sorestad (who is an incredible Canadian writer), John Luzzi (who is a really good friend of mine, Don Miggs (who is the producer), etc. It was just eye-opening for me to have these conversations turn into these songs.
For example, in “Elegante,” where I am talking about, it is hot in here and let’s keep it ‘elegante’… referencing Dante’s Inferno. I would never have used that in a song, but somehow it worked in the story we were trying to tell; which is the love affair you have with your significant other. I wanted to tell stories differently. Then there is a song like “Maze,” where there is a spiral staircase taking me high and low. Those are things I would not normally say, but conversations with these writers really opened me up to explaining confusion, love, sexuality, or frustration. I didn’t want to pull out a thesaurus; I wanted real information, and that is what I got. I am just really proud of it and I love this record.
Cryptic Rock – Very compelling to hear. And you can notice the different approach. You lyrically you have always been introspective and observational. New songs like “Cellphone Jesus” seem very topical and about the craziness of the world today. Was the anarchy of the world today on your mind writing this record?
Kevin Martin – 100%! This is 30 years of my life I have put into this record and it is everything I have experienced over those 30 years. Certainly everything that is happening right now is majorly influential on the songs that are on this record.
“Cellphone Jesus” is one of the titles that Ryan came up with. We were talking about the song, working through some of the lyrics, and he said he had this weird title that he wrote down. He threw it out there and I said, “that’s such a cool title for a song!” There is so much information in the sentiment of that statement. I love that! That is what makes music exciting to me.
Current events have always been something I have discussed in music. I wanted to be, again, ambiguous in the sense of – what do you mean by Cellphone Jesus? If Jesus had a cellphone, would he answer? If you could call him, what would you ask him? Or, are we the Cellphone Jesus ourselves? Is the phone we hold in our hands Cellphone Jesus? It gives us all the answers… the positives and negatives. There is so much that goes on with that title and I love that it gives people an opportunity to look at this from their own introspection if you will.
Cryptic Rock – It certainly leaves it open to interruption. Candlebox was lumped in with Grunge Rock, but there is really more of a Blues Rock sound within the band. That being said, and with The Long Goodbye scheduled to be the final Candlebox album, do you feel like you have covered everything you wanted to say?
Kevin Martin – Yea, and when the vinyl comes out, there will be even more songs on that which people haven’t even heard. It certainly is everything I wanted it to be. There are a couple of songs that didn’t make the record that I’m fighting for now… so there might be another release next year.
As I said, we have 22 songs, and there is some really special shit… it just did not fit the record. There might be another release next year, I don’t know, I’m kind of fighting with myself emotionally over that. I know the label, Roundhill Records, would love for me to put those songs out. I know I am certainly done with touring, and it is the long goodbye; it’s been 30 years, and amazing 30 years, but there might be another release down the road. If I get my way, that is probably what will happen.
Cryptic Rock – That is an exciting prospect. You did a killer tour with 3 Doors Down into this fall… and still have a few shows left. How is that going?
Kevin Martin – We had a blast. It was an absolute treat! Every night with those guys was fun. We had talked about doing this in 2020, but Covid stopped all of that. I’m just happy that were able to come back and celebrate their 20th anniversary of Away from the Sun (2002) and our 30th anniversary of the debut; it is pretty fucking cool. We had such a great time. The audiences were amazing, and every show was sold out or close to sold out. I couldn’t ask for a better way to end my career than with those guys on tour.
Cryptic Rock – That is really great to hear. Beyond all of this, you also released a live album Live at The Neptune back in June. The live album has a very Alice in Chains MTV Unplugged (1996) feel to it. A fantastic listen, what was it like getting together with the original lineup and recording the live album last year?
Kevin Martin – Thank you, Pete Klett (our guitarist) mixed it as well, and he did a really great job with it. The conversation was – do we want to do something with the songs that we have always loved, but we never released anything acoustically like this? It was a weeks’ worth of rehearsals, which was amazing. We know the songs, but we never recorded anything acoustically, so we really had to prepare ourselves for that.
I love it, I think Pete did a great job, and it does have that sort of Alice in Chains unplugged thing. I wish it were a little bit more like the old MTV unplugged sessions, because they sound so amazing; the Nirvana one in particular is just brilliant. Again, that’s the aesthetic of the room. Pete asked me, “Do we juice this room up a bit?” I said, “no, it should stay as intimate as it was.”
Even though it was a small theater, The Neptune is an amazing venue. It didn’t have that live element of a studio recording though… so I was a little bit unsure if it was going to sound good. Then I got it, I called Pete and told him he killed it, it sounds great, great job! That is where Pete is heading now; as a producer, mixer, and engineer.
The record is doing pretty well too. To our surprise, people really do like it. I’m stoked with it. I am happy that it’s out there and people can hear the talent in the band. We didn’t recut anything, we didn’t fix anything. I think the mistakes that are in there are in there… that’s the way it should be… that’s a live record.
Cryptic Rock – Yes, and it sounds really good. With everything going on, are you still actively writing music?
Kevin Martin – I’m not writing currently and I haven’t decided yet what I am going to do. I’ve been asked to produce a couple of records next year and that may encompass some writing on my part. I just haven’t made a decision yet. I don’t want to make records; I don’t want the stress of going into a studio and recording. So, that’s another reason why those other 5-6 songs we have may not get done. I just don’t want that environment right now. That is not to say in 2-3 years I will think – I need to get something out there. Where I am at right now in my head… no, no plans.
Cryptic Rock – Very understandable. In closing, what would you say on this very long journey with Candlebox are some of the more important things you have learned?
Kevin Martin – That the fans are everything. Those are people who have been there since day one and who are still there, plus the new fans. That is what I’ve learned; they are the most important part of your career. It’s going to be difficult to say goodbye to that… because I love the Candlebox fans. They have made my life such a joy, and without them, I have nothing. I’ve learned to really respect that, plus to appreciate who they are and what they have given me.
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