Q&A: Michael Allred, "I, Zombie," and Rock N' Roll, part 2

You can find part 1 of this three-part series here.

Not contenting himself with writing and drawing, Michael Allred is also the lead singer of a rock band called The Gear, which includes his two sons Han and Bond. A devoted fan of rock, Allred allows music to play a major role in his work, with images and themes from rock's history appearing throughout his writing. Allred talks about his latest musical offering and his influences in the latest installment:

You released "Son of Red Rocket 7" at the end of the "Red Rocket 7" comic series, and The Gear’s latest CD "Left of Center of the Universe" came out as "Madman Atomic Comics" concluded. Is there something about these endings that made you want to express in music what you were trying to say in the series?

Well, the first album, or should I say double album since both are essentially double albums, was a direct tie-in to the Red Rocket 7 project. A concept album. The new album is a concept album about existential existence. We all share the fact that we are born on this planet, share similar passages through time and then ultimately die. Looking beyond that is the great beyond. These are themes that were shared by both [the characters] Red Rocket 7 and Frank "Madman" Einstein. I always wanted to confirm that they shared the same comic book universe and so it timed out the way it did very naturally.

"Left of Center of the Universe" has 22 songs on it. How long did it take to record all the tracks on the album?

I think it was about three months.

As far back as the "Red Rocket 7" series, you seem to have had a close relationship with The Dandy Warhols, and recorded a song from "Left of Center of the Universe" at their studio, The Odditorium. How did you meet Courtney Taylor-Taylor?

Big fan then. My great pal, Jamie S. Rich introduced me way back when since he had a cable TV show on music and knew the band. They were my choice to represent the future of rock and so met with them to pick brains and gather reference. And we hit it off.

We've stayed in touch. I helped Courtney launch his graphic novel One Model Nation, and then we ended up getting a place in downtown Portland so we see the gang more than ever. We live just a few blocks from The Oddy.

Have you seen the documentary "Dig!"? How accurately do you feel it portrayed The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre?

LOVE it! Courtney's not too fond of it. I'm sure it's edited and molded for dramatic effect, but you can sculpt just about any story line from seven years of footage. I have big affection for both bands, and while Anton is obviously a tragic figure by any description, I find more hope in real life.

Other than your own music, whose songs do you enjoy playing on your guitar?

Wow. This would be a long list. Bowie, Beatles, Who, Kinks, Zeppelin, Supertramp, Pink Floyd, Arcade Fire, Stones, Mott The Hoople, Grizzly Bear, The Walkmen, Low, Roxy Music, MGMT, The DW, The BJM, Suede, T. Rex... Anything that lights me up.

In your art, you have a habit of drawing guitars with very distinguishing profiles, like the Rickenbacker, the Jaguar, and the unmistakable Metropolitan. What draws you to these specific models? I don’t see a lot of Les Pauls, for example.

Not sure. Certain things just become your faves. Obviously if someone you admire plays one... But you must have missed Red Rocket 7 holding a Les Paul Goldtop on the Red Rocket 7 hardcover. Mick Ronson is probably my all-time lead guitarist and he played a Les Paul almost exclusively.

While we’re on the subject of equipment, what gear did The Gear use on "Left of Center..."?

See the above guitars listed, plus my Gretsch Super Axe. A Ricky Bass, a Vox Phantom Bass, Marshall and Vox amps.

You’ve described the CD as a concept album, taking the listener through a human’s existence, from its beginning to its end. Will listeners be able to read the lyrics for the album?

I actually typed up all the lyrics for Brian Huberd to post on our website. I'm very proud of the lyrics. Especially "Deploy", "One Eternity At a Time", "Curtains", and "Space Mater". Those lyrics sum up virtually everything that hurts my brain.

In part 3 of this three-part series, Allred talks about his comic series based on the Book of Mormon, and lets readers know what's coming up next.