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Carl Canedy Interview
The Rods

The Rods are certainly no strangers to Central New York. The group was formed after Ronnie James Dio left “Elf” and his cousin David "Rock" Feinstein teamed up with drummer Carl Canedy. Carl Canedy is a much in demand heavy metal producer today with credits that include Savoy Brown, Blue Cheer, Anthrax, Exciter, Thrasher, Overkill, The Roxx Gang, and Jack Starr. The Rods' latest release is titled "Heavier Than Thou" (Passport Records).

Carl Canedy talked with us about The Rods.

Q. Why have The Rods been off the road for so long?
A. It got to the point where it was cost prohibitive to be on the road. At the end of the year, we would be in debt for $30,000-$40,000. Finally we said we're really gonna have to take a hard look at this and be at least at zero as opposed to being in debt. So, it was a financial situation for the band to curb its touring, and through that, I wound up with having more time on my hands. That's how I got into production. For me it wound up turning into a very good situation.

Q. You used to play The Lost Horizon. Was that situation not profitable for the group?
A. We were using two 24' trucks full of equipment, 5 man road crew. I think our break-even point at that time was around $l,300-$l,350. What we were making was a few hundred dollars more than that. We weren't losing money, but by the same token it certainly was just keeping us alive. And, those dates, as great as they were to play, you can only play them so often. As a matter of fact, towards the end of our situation with management that we had at the time, I thought we were overplaying the rooms. I felt it was being milked. That put me off. I like going back when you have something to offer the fans.

Q. Is it fair to say that The Rods have always been more popular overseas than in the U.S.?
A. Judging from our fan mail, which I always review, it seems to me we get 5 times as much fan mail from the United States. I would have to say the concentration is stronger in Europe.

Q. I've heard that The Rods were a difficult group to get along with, that's why the split from Arista. Is there any truth to that?
A. I'm not so sure that the question of The Rods being a difficult band to work with is valid in terms of Arista. Arista is a major company; however, it certainly isn't known for its metal acts. Arista in Europe supported us. It was Arista U.S. being Clive Davis, just did not want to support us. The big band at Arista at that time was Air Supply. Probably The Rods were difficult to get along with in some ways. I know that management at the time thought we were difficult to get along with. We were very serious. I think the band's track record shows there's a seriousness to the band.

Q. Back in '81, The Rods opened for Ozzy at the Landmark. Randy Rhoads was in the band at the time. Did you ever get the chance to speak with him?
A. I never did, no. I think David had a chance to talk with him, a short conversation. All we really said is hi, and very small talk. I remember we were sitting in our dressing room. Randy Rhoads must've had a Marshall stack in his dressing room. He started playing and we all stopped talking. It was so loud. Our mouths dropped open because he was playing unbelievable scales and practicing unbelievable parts. He played for about an hour. It was phenomenal. We just sat and listened to him. Oddly enough, he was playing a totally efferent style than he played onstage. He played nothing like that on the albums I heard, or onstage. Even in his guitar solos, the scales, the things I heard him practice, I didn’t I hear him use that night. A tremendous talent, certainly more than he got a chance to express on record.

Q. Gary Driscoll, one time drummer for Elf, was recently murdered in Ithaca. There's talk his death may be drug related. How could such a talented musician hit rock bottom?
A. The situation with drugs, I've heard rumors. I don't know for a fact, and so it's really hard for me to comment on that one way or another. Certainly the fact that anyone in the music business is involved in drugs is probably not that surprising to a lot of people. But I can't say that Gary in fact was. For me, it's very untimely and very tragic.

Q. He was also laying tile the last few years of his life.
A. The fact that he was doing tile installation was not necessarily a step down for him. Gary had been in the business a long time. With a lot of musicians, as time passes, if major success isn't there, and the financial freedom to pursue things, as well as making things comfortable when you are on the road, which gets difficult as you get older, to want to do something else is certainly understandable. I don't view that as a falling from grace.

Q. Why do you continue to reside in Cortland, as opposed to N.Y. or L.A.?
A. I think Cortland is a nice place to live. It's a small town. When I'm working, I'm always away. I spend a lot of time in New York City. So for me, when I'm home, what's it really matter. Syracuse Airport is 40 minutes from my house. Ithaca Airport is 20 minutes. So, I just fly in and fly out. It really doesn't matter.