ColoradoViewMagazine.com18 Fall 2010
B Beforetheywerebig,theyapparentlywerebad.JustaskRobSquires’mom:“AftertheirconcertsatRedRocks,Igointotheirroomandtellthemnottoletthefamegototheirheads,becauseIrememberwhentheyweresobad.” ColleenSquiresshouldknow–sheraisedBigHeadTodd&theMonstersbassistRobSquiresinBearValley.Shesettherecordstraightrecently,watchingfromthecontrolroomasthebandrecordeditsnewsong,Beautiful,liveinKBCO’sStudioCwithDJKeefer.Squiressaidsheandherhusbandwouldtakelongwalkstogetawayfromthehorriblenoise. Herson,who’salsoavocalist,practicedwithhisbuddiesforhours.Shewasinthebestshapeofherlifethatfirstyeartheydecidedtostartaband,shesaid.Shealsomakesitclearshewillnotmissaconcertandcouldn’tbeprouderofhowfartheyhavecome. Almost25yearsago,hersonRob,ToddParkMohronguitarandvocalsandBrianNevinondrumsstartedtheirband,whichwasfirstcalledIntruder.ThetriowenttoColumbineHighSchooltogether.MohrattendedColoradoStateUniversityinFortCollinsbeforetransferringtoUniversityofColoradotojoinNevinandSquires.TheytouredallovertheUnitedStatesinavanaffectedlycalled“TheColonel,”whichloggedmorethan400,000miles. TheysignedwithGiantRecordsin1993andrecordedSisterSweetly.Thealbumwentplatinumandspawnedthreesinglesthatmadetherockcharts:Bittersweet,BrokenHeartedSaviorandCircle.Householdnamesandrockstarswereborn. KBCODJKeeferknowsmusicbetterthanmost,andhebelievestheseguysmadeitbigbecausetheyhavethesongs.Infact,theyhavethemostappearancesonKBCO’sStudioC.StephanieRiggstalkedtothebandforColoradoView.
Mohr: Yes,weoweallofoursuccesstoDJKeeferandKBCO.Wereallyappreciatehim.Riggs: Todd,doyouwriteallofyourownmusic?Mohr: Yes.Riggs: Wheredoyougetyourinspiration?Mohr: Othercomposers,writers,poetryandwhateverelseisinvolvedinthebusinessofmusicandlyrics.Riggs: WhoisplayingonyouriPod?Mohr: FelaKuti.HewasaNigerianmulti-instrumentalistmusicianandcomposer,ahumanrightsactivistandpoliticalmaverick.
Riggs: Sohowdidyouguyscomeupwiththename“BigHeadToddandtheMonsters”?Mohr: Justacrazydream.Riggs: Iheardthatyou(Mohr)haveanIQthatisoffthecharts,whichexplainsthe“bighead,”butIcan’tfigureoutthe“monsters”part.All of them: Well,lookatus!(laughs)Riggs: WasIevenclose?Mohr: Absolutely.Wearegoingwiththatone,guys!Riggs: Mylittleboywantsmetoaskyouifyourmomsmadeyoutakepianolessons.All of them: Yes!(laughs)
Nevin: (drums)Justknowassoonasyoursonpicksupanotherinstrumentthepianoisover,soencouragehimtotakelessonsaslongasyoucan.Riggs: YouallwenttoColumbineHighSchool,sowheredidyoupractice?Nevin: Youalwayspracticeatthedrummer’shouse,becausetheequipmentisapaintomovearound.Sobewarned:Ifyoursondecidestobeadrummer,practicewillbeatyourhouse!Riggs: Goodtoknow.Doyouguysevergettiredofplayingthesamesongsoverandoverafteralmost25years?Mohr: Icomplainallthetime,butIlose.Nevin: Weleftahitouttheothernightandweheardaboutit.Fanswereyellingatus.It’snotpretty.Squires: Ourfanspayoursalaries,soweplaytheirfavoritesongs.Riggs: YournewalbumisRockSteadyandyournewsongisBeautiful.Whatwasyourinspiration?Mohr: It’sasoul,Caribbeanrecordthatrocks,butwewentoutofourwaytotaketherockoutofit.Ourrecordsarealloverthemap;wehavealwaysbeenarockband.Butit’sbeenafantasyofminetowriteasoulrecordthatislighterandfunnier,sothisstreamofsongsfelluponusandwewentinthatdirection.Ihopethefanslikeit.
Stephanie Riggs is a veteran, awarding-winning journalist who hosts Denver’s Movers and Shakers on VISTA TV, a local lifestyle TV show on Comcast’s Channel 19. It airs Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. You can watch online at www.vistatvdenver.com. She also hosts a call-in radio show Monday through Friday at 1 p.m. on KLTT, 670 AM, or go to http://670kltt.com and listen online.
MAKING ITBIGBy Stephanie Riggs
Left to right: Brian Nevin, Jeremy Laughton, Stephanie Riggs, Todd Park Mohr, Rob Squires
