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Here is an interview with the
Corsicana Texas Wild Man and,
Rockin' Ronny Weiser:

RONNY: When and how did you first get interested in rockabilly?
MACK: Since the very beginning of my life I was raised on the music by my Mom and Dad, who fed me a steady diet of Carl Perkins, Elvis, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. I never developed an interest in any music past 1960, and I am glad to be free from modern influences.

RONNY: Well, maybe this ain't completely accurate, since you've been buying early Rollin' Rock Records made in the 1970s...
MACK: I don't consider those to be modern music at all!

RONNY: Well, maybe they ain't modern, but they shure are the Sound Of The Future, huh?
MACK: Damn straight !!!@!!!!!

RONNY: So then, how did you stumble into Rollin' Rock and what was your impression?
MACK: I was thumbing thru some lps at a Dallas record shop in the mid 1970s, when I ran across one of Ray Campi's early albums. The cover looked homemade, looked like somebody had hand written the titles, and typed up the liner notes on their home typewriter. This made me hope that the music inside would be raw and primitive, and I wasn't disappointed! So I started looking around for more stuff on Rollin' Rock, and also started looking for many of the earlier recordings of artists who had recorded for Rollin' Rock.

RONNY: You told me that you wanted to record at Rollin' Rock, so now you have, whatcha think of it then?
MACK: I have never been more comfortable, or felt more at home recording that I have here at Rollin' Rock, the only exception would be my own home studio, Freedonia Records, where I can stand around butt-nekkid and record if I want to! I mean, the atmosphere at Rancho Ronny is laid back and unhurried! Nobody's watching the clock there! I've never played with such an easy buncha guys, who really know how to get that authentic rockabilly sound!! My apologies to Mary Ek, who is not really a guy, but who slaps the dog-house bass like she's really got a pair!! And, man, can she sing!!! The two duets I cut with her are particularly exciting! Her lucky hubby, Big Al, is one helluva gittar picker!! Turns out he knows some of the same serial killers I know!!! :-) :-)
I've never seen a better dressed cat than Roger Casanova. When he walked in with his bullfighter outfit I said I hoped to myself he can play that bass as well as he dresses!! Once again I was not disappointed!! He slaps that bass around like a red-headed step child! The most difficult element has always been finding the right Rock'n'Roll drummer. I had no need to worry at Rancho Ronny / Rollin' Rock when I heard Jim Lovgren. He is the best drummer I have ever recorded with. Period. I have also gained five pounds already due to Miz Laurie Weiser's wonderful home cooking.

RONNY: What are the plans for the rest of your time in Las Vegas?
MACK: Hang around El Rancho Ronny, watch TEX AVERY cartoons, eat, and maybe track down some of these Las Vegas 'billy gals!! This is the best vacation I have ever had!

RONNY: Anything further to add?
MACK: Be on the lookout for the ROLLIN' ROCK CD aptly titled "MACK STEVENS AT ROLLIN' ROCK - Las Vegas Stomp" around the Fall, and look for my newest release on No Hit Records entitled "Tonite I Die". It's a collection of some sincerely twisted and wicked songs. I think you perverts out there will like it! Happy Trails to Y'all & Keep It Swingin'!


This concludes the interview with Mack Stevens!
Wow, what a week so far!

This interview originally appeared in the May '98 issue of Rockin' Ronny's RAB-HOF column. - Visit Ronny at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.


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