JAPAN HAS COOLER GIFTS THAN AMERICA!
AN INTERVIEW WITH VIRUS FROM DOPE
Interview and photo by Joe Koch

Andre Karkos (aka Virus) is one of those people who you admire and respect for never giving up on a dream. Andre’s journey began in his teens. He started the band Diamond Tyr with his brother Dan on vocals and that effort led them to be one of the best bands to come out of the Rochester area. By the time they moved to New York City and changed their name to One, they had forged a sound that was all their own- melodic songs with harmonies that never lost their edge.
But Andre’s vision was bigger and when opportunity knocked, a friend of his got him the audition for Dope, a band whose members worked their asses off under the guidance of Edsel Dope. This was the work ethic Andre was looking for in a band. It has been almost a decade since he joined Dope and now they are touring in support of their newest album, No Regrets. The album showcases some of Andre’s best guitar work to date. Prior to their show with Black Label Society and Sevendust in Rochester in April, I reminisced with Andre and we talked about life in the music business.

At 13 you discovered heavy metal. Do you remember the first band or album that made you say ‘This is what I want to do’?
Early on I was into AC/DC and Judas Priest, but after seeing Motley Crue's "Looks That Kill" video, I decided at that moment that I was gonna be a musician. It's funny because I actually told that to Tommy Lee when I hung with him once and it felt good to let him know and give him respect.

When did you discover Kings X and how much did they impact or influence your songwriting style?
Discovering King's X was so important to me in the late eighties because it proved to me that a band could be heavy and "Beatlesque" simultaneously. In other words, beauty could exist in heavy music, which was essential for me and my writing.
What artists or bands inspire you these days and why? I know that you mentioned Coldplay and U2.

Are they mostly what you listen to lately?
Yes. It's always been about great songwriting for me. Songwriting is a craft and some artists do it better than others. I am in admiration of artists like U2 and Coldplay who can do it consistently.

Here are a couple of quotes from you that I like. Can you expand on them?
“So when I first started teaching myself guitar and composing, there was this unquenchable thirst to learn why these beautiful songs could make you feel a certain way?”
When I first fell in love with music, I had to find out how to create it because I'm so obsessed with it. I guess I want to make people feel something from my music, like a great song from my childhood made me feel.

“What the music sounds like is not relevant. What really matters is; how does the music affect you?”
Technically, there's good music and bad music, but overall it's really about the effect it has on the listener. I say this to myself to remind me not to be a "music snob”.

How important is it to you to be known for your songwriting versus being known just as a guitarist?
Both are important to me. I'm fortunate to have outlet like the new Dope album to showcase my guitar skills to people around the world, and I can use my other bands Black-N-Blues, Johnny Black Gang, etc. to focus on writing the best songs that I can.

Your songwriting has always seemed to come from personal experiences. Do you ever just pick a subject and write about it?
I usually decide subject matter after I have some sort of lyrical hook I'm set on in the chorus. The way words sound and lay over progressions is the key to sounding "natural." For the most part, I don't like to feel like I'm forcing something because I already have a title and a subject.

How do you feel you’ve grown as a songwriter?
It's just like anything else, really. The more you do something, the better you'll get at it. Loving the labor of it is what keeps me doing it and seeking out new music.

You have other side projects. Can you update us on them? What about Make Shift Romeo?
It didn't get signed so I've moved on to the next idea.

Black-n-Blues, in another interview you were very excited to talk about this project and the importance of the acoustic guitar. Can we look forward to a second Black-n-Blues project and will it include your brother on vocals again?
Yeah, eventually. For me at this point of my life, it's trying to find time to do everything. I can't ignore it, because I love it too much.

Any chance of recording a solo record that features you on vocals?
Sure. Again, I can't say when? But it's exciting to think about. You can hear me sing on Black-n-Blues; we share lead vocal responsibilities in that band.

You own a company called Evonix that creates music. Can you tell us what it is and favorite projects you have worked on?
Evonix is a company that creates custom music for video games, film, commercials etc. We've done several Play Station and X-box games like "Hot Wheels Beat That!" and "Disney Skate Adventure," as well as music for ESPN's "Sports Center" and MTV/VH-1.

Do you feel No Regrets is the best Dope record? If not, which one is and why? If so, why?
Yes. It's more stripped down, less industrial and it's "cooler" than anything we've done before. Also, myself and Edsel really spent time writing killer drums and guitar parts that are bad ass riff-based. Overall, the songs are better too.

How did Zakk Wylde come to play on the new record? Did you work and record with him or was it all done separately?
Dope and Zakk have the same manager, so we had the hookup, but he likes our band too! Scheduling is always a nightmare, so we sent it to him and he sent his awesome work back to us. It's an honor.

How did Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” hit from the 1980's come to be on the new album? How hard is it to decide on a cover tune to put on an album?
We've been fucking around with this track for years. Finally we put it out. We love covers and remakes, and we're known for doing them, so we knew our fans would dig it, and it's been a highlight in our set on this tour every night.

How much input do you have on the songwriting versus the recording and production?
I've had the most input on this record than any other. Like I said before, we've gotten away from the original Dope sound on this album, so my ideas got used more than usual in the songwriting department. We made a metal/rock record and I'd like to think that I've gotten good at it after all these years. I assume that's why I did receive a co-producer credit on this album as well. Edsel still made all this new material sound like Dope. After all, it's his baby and the guy’s pretty amazing. I'm proud of everything that we’ve accomplished.

What’s the biggest difference between playing overseas and here in the United States? Does Dope have a big following overseas, such as in Japan?
Japan is an amazing place. It seems like they appreciate heavy rock, and it's still important over there. The couple of times I've been there, there were instances where I've gotten swarmed by fans- a very bizarre feeling indeed. Also, they give you cool gifts.

Do you still enjoy touring or has the fun worn off? Is it more difficult to tour now that you have a fiancée and house waiting for you back in Philly?
Touring, I feel, is definitely for the young, unless you're band is extremely successful. Fortunately, Dope has achieved enough success where we can tour in a bus and be somewhat comfortable. But, it is exhausting and you miss your family. If each Dope guy had his own bus and I could take my fiancée and stepdaughters on tour for weeks at a time on my own bus. I'm sure it would be a more pleasurable experience and would be easier on everyone involved. Who knows what the future holds? Optimism got me here.

How did the switch from Dean Guitars to DBZ come about?
When I first started using Dean Guitars, nobody else was playing them. I was the biggest artist they had back in 2001. When Dimebag Darrell came back to Dean, so did everyone and their mother and I started getting pushed out, which I fully understand, because there are plenty of bigger bands than Dope and that's how it works. I left Dean when I felt the only reason they wanted to keep me was to keep me from going over to DBZ. It’s not a good reason to stay after being the guy who was with them when no one would touch them. I love being a part of something new like DBZ, and being with the guy who started it all anyway-Dean Zelinsky. The guitars are superb and everyone is so curious about them wherever I go.

Can you tell me the story about when you hung out with Warren DeMartini from Ratt?
Definitely a cool story- to me anyways! A former sound person for Dope was teching for Ratt a couple of years ago and he knew I was a huge Warren DeMartini fan. When they came to town, I was hanging around backstage waiting to meet Warren because I wanted to tell him how much I appreciated his guitar playing. Before he got there, I got to play all his guitars from the 80's that I loved so much as a kid. That’s one of those things that I'm so grateful to be able to do. Strangely enough, this seems to keep happening to me with other famous guitars and I end up with these cool stories. I've also played Zakk Wylde's original bullseye Les Paul and his Randy Rhoads' V copy that Jackson made for him. I've played one of Prince's weird and curly Purple Rain guitars while at the Schecter factory and I love Prince! The best is playing Brian May's famous guitar, which is insured for $1 million pounds, which I'm glad that I didn't drop. And to top that, I've played Ringo Starr's drum kit which had notes from Paul McCartney written on the cymbals in marker that said, "Happy Touring! Love, Paul XOXO". I'm so lucky.

You said you lecture at the School of Rock. What advice or message do you try and convey the most to students?
Putting all the music bullshit that I talk about aside in the lecture, the overall message is: Anything is possible. I have found that optimism is the best weapon to carry around with you, no matter where you go or what you set out to do, and you truly control the outcome of your life. I'm living proof.