Todd "Chase" Chaisson is the bassist for the
80's hair metal band TUFF. Todd was my favorite! I got to meet
him and the other guys back when Tuff first started touring.
The picture above is from that meeting long ago. I recently
had the pleasure of interviewing him.
1. Any person (living or dead) that
you would like to meet and why?
Well it’s hard to top Greg’s (Chaisson,
Todd's brother) answer of Jesus! Anybody else just sounds
stupid. I’ve met Geezer and he was awesome! I guess I’d like
to meet Steve Harris. Why???? Cause he’s fucking awesome! I
saw Clint Eastwood at a bar in Dallas, but he has too much
security! James Cagney would also be cool! He was my Pop’s
favorite! Phil Lynott would have been cool to have a beer
with.
2. Who are some of your favorite
musicians?
Both of my brothers would be at the top of
that list. Greg from Badlands and Kenny from Keel are my
heroes! Outside of them, the list is long and distinguished
with guys like Geezer Butler, Steve Harris, Michael Anthony,
Michael Schenker, Zakk Wylde, Vinnie Paul and the list just
goes on and on!
3. What's your guilty musical
pleasure?
Well I am a product of the 80’s, so while I
love my metal, I also love my hair metal. Maybe Styper! Still
listen to them today. I also like Katy Perry. I know, fuck
off! She’s hot and a legitimate talent. I only own a few
songs, but that chick can sing her ass off!
4. Who did you idolize as a child?
I idolized my brothers as a child and my
parents as an adult. They raised seven kids, worked a 100
hours a week and loved us every day of their lives. I miss
them every day!
5. Stranded on a deserted island, what
3 cds would you have with you?
Does the island have a bar and the Dodgers
channel? If not, I would swim off that bitch! But on my water
proof iPod I would be swimming to Volbeat, Pantera, Kings X,
Slipknot, Nonpoint, and…. Oh shit you said three. Fuck it! I’m
still breaking rules. Ha ha!
6. The difference between today's
music and the music of the 80's?
Well that’s a very loaded question, but for
me… If I were to just pick a few aspects, I’d say production
and the digital age have had a dramatic impact on how music is
recorded. I don’t recall ever having an “auto-tuner”. Today
any dumbass with cash can sound like a robot. However I am a
huge fan of modern music and have several favorite bands that
are current like, Sick Puppies, Texas Hippie Coalition and
Volbeat.
7. Favorite place to perform?
I’ve always loved The Whiskey and The
Troubadour in Hollywood. Tuff performed in London and that was
awesome! I don’t recall the venue, but that was one of the
best shows ever!
8. What makes a good song?
Well clearly it’s the bass playing! Without
the bass the earth would cease to exist. So yeah the bass!
9. What are your hobbies?
I like to golf and love Baseball. I spend my
spare time with my beautiful wife and family just hanging out.
Oh and I am an astronaut too.
10. Favorite food to eat on the road?
Who doesn’t love stale deli sandwiches and
rotten fruit? ;) When in NYC it’s the Pizza, in Philly it’s
cheese steaks, in AZ it’s Mexican food. I guess I just like to
eat.
11. The first concert you ever went
to?
My brother Kirk took me to see Kiss in 1979
for my Birthday and my life was forever changed. No band could
ever come close to the show I witnessed that night. Motley
Crue, Metallica, Korn & Pantera all came close. I was a Kiss
freak as a kid and I think Gene is one of the most underrated
bass players out there.
12. Who's the best person you've met
on the road?
Well that’s easy! My lovely wife, Dana. I
met her while on tour in Ohio and she fell madly in love with
me. It took some time, but she convinced me to marry her. Ha
ha ha! She thought I was gross when we met, but I am a
persistent dude, and she finally gave way to my romantic
ideas. Love ya babe!
13. Any current projects?
Thanks for the interview. If anybody wants
to follow me or Tuff, you can find me on Facebook. Tuff will
be touring this Spring/Summer on the East Coast with M3 being
the biggest date and possibly a UK tour. I hope to see
everybody on the road. I am also working with a few guys in
Ohio writing some pretty heavy tunes. Not sure what will come
of it, but I am having fun doing it.
Cheers!
Todd Chaisson/Tuff
VISIT TODD
© Ariann Boisvert. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of any content, images or sounds, in whole or in
part, without express written permission, is prohibited.
