How old were you when you heard your first Van Halen song, which song was it, and what was it about the band and music that you liked?
I was seven. Running with the Devil. It rocked

What is the first Van Halen song that you learned to play, and on which instrument was it?
Guitar for sure. I don't know which one was first.

What is your favorite Van Halen song to play?
They're all fun. I'm The One stands out. So does Unchained.

Are you married or single? Kids?
Married. Kid due August 10 ('03).  I'll let ya know.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Write songs. Golf.

So you're a golfer? How's your game? do you play often?
I'm terrible.  I'm trying to break 90.  being a new dad doesn't help the golf game much.  I haven't been golfing much in the last few months.

What is your favorite VH song and why? Favorite VH album?
All the old shit rules.

What was the first band you were in? What kind of music did it play? Was there anyone else in it that we'd ever have heard of?
I was in garage bands in Fresno, Ca.  Nobody you know was in any of those.  We used to so metal stuff.  Like all the garage band in 1985.


We've seen you with the Punks and we've seen you with Metal Shop......which band is more fun for you?
They both rule in different ways.

Have you written/recorded original music? If so, where can we hear  it?
My band the Ducks is my original band.  www.theducks.net .

What instrument did you first begin playing?
Guitar.


How long have you been playing bass? Guitar? What took you from one to the other?
About 20 years.  Writing songs and doing demos made me learn how to play some other instruments.

Who are your influences?
Mostly people who can write good songs.  that's what it's all about.

Have you met Eddie Van Halen? Michael Anthony? (Any other Van Halen Members?)
Michael.  Great guy.
    

In the Punks, you've been both Eddie and Mikey. Care to comment about the two roles?
They're both a lot of fun. Playing music is fun.  It doesn't matter what instrument it is.

Is music your full-time job? If not, what do you do as a "day job"?
Fortunately just music.

How long have you been with the Punks?
About two years if you count the bass playing.

How did you come to join the Punks? How did you meet Ralph?
Ralph and I have been doing Metal Shop for a few years now.  I heard they needed a bass player and I volunteered.

Since you've done both, which do you like better, playing Bass or Guitar?
They are both a lot of fun.  I think I'm better as a guitarist.

Any plans to release an Atomic Punks CD?
No plans to release an Atomic Punks CD. We're just a tribute band.

How did you get prepared to copy Eddie? Not just his playing but also his movements on stage.
A lot of listening and watching.

How long do you think you will be in the Punks?
As long as it's paying.

First Bart, then Brian... are you expecting a call from Dave at some point in the future? Ralph has referred to the Punks as DLR's "Farm Team"... any comments?
David Lee Roth couldn't pay me enough money to go on tour with him.  I love old Van Halen and all that  shit, but I'm in this shit for the money.  The only way I'm going to go on the road and leave my wife and kid at home is to promote my own band.  You can buy our record in January, by the way.  The band is called the Thornbirds.

What is the "ducks" all about?
The ducks is the band I get to write songs and sing in.  Writing music is my true love.  Guitar playing just pays the bills.
    
Do you have a hard time keeping Metal Shop separate from the Atomic Punks?
No.  Not most of the time, anyway.

If The Atomic Punks and Metal Shop toured together, who would open for who?
What city?

If they toured together, what cities would they play? Would one band be the other's opener, or would they do like Dave and Sammy and trade off or what do you think?
The Atomic Punks and Metal Shop won't tour together for the same reason the Dave and Sammy tour couldn't go on.  The singers wouldn't get along.

We've got some of our users who play at various levels. Would you tell us a bit about the gear you use in your various bands.
I like Strats.  Marshalls are good.  Honestly, when it comes to gear, it's not gonna make or break you.  Practice and experience  matter more than anything.  And being  able to get along with other musicians. That's easy if everybody keeps their ego in check and always reminds themselves of what matter most- the money.

In our interview with Joe, he talked about you wearing a wig to look like  Eddie, and of course Ralph dressing as Dave to perform with the
 Punks...

  "TVHF: Ralph dresses up like DLR, Russ wears a wig to look like EVH.  Would you consider growing a mullet to resemble Mikey? Any    plans to acquire a Jack  Daniels and/or Tabasco bass?

  JL: I told Mike to hook me up with a Jack Daniels bass. The look thing is  what it is. What is the identifying outfit for mike?? I think the flightsuit that he wore on the Fair Warning tour. So that's what I wear, once in a  while you'll see me wear a t-shirt and jeans, maybe let my beard grow a  little, but that's about it. Ralph happens to look similar to Dave, especially with the costume. Russ puts on the wig and overalls and it's scary. He has the same body as Eddie. That just happened, it's freaky sometimes. But Scott and I are not going to change our hair and what not.  It doesn't make that much difference. But the Dave and Eddie have to be right  on, and Ralph and Russ trip me out sometimes, I'll look at Russ from the side or behind, and it looks like Eddie standing there. Russ wears the wig  because he likes having really short hair. If you remember, Brian only wore the wig till he grew his hair back out, and it didn't matter when he took the wig off."


Any comments on the costuming, etc. from Russ/Eddie's perspective?
It's fun to dress up.  It's easier to become Eddie as a player when I have the suit and guitar on.  But I don't have any desire to grow my hair out long just so I don't have to wear a fucking wig in a tribute band.  I love Van Halen and I think Eddie was great, but I don't want to BE him, you know?

If you couldn't be a musician, what would you want to be?
A Drummer.

What was the first album you ever bought?
K-Tel compilation with Christeen Sixteen by Kiss and the Theme from Star Wars performed by Meco.  I was 6 or 7.

What was the first concert you ever attended?
Judas Priest.  I was 13 I think.

What's in your CD Player right now?
Jason Faulkner.

What would most folks be most surprised to know about Russ Parrish?
I'm a Buddhist.

What book(s) are you currently reading? Who is/are your favorite author(s)?
 I just finished a book called Why People Believe Weird Things by Michael Shermer.  And a book called Bias about our mainstream liberal media.  I'm into stuff on Quantum physics and String Theory, too, even though I don't understand most of it.

Tell us about your other Bands/Projects.
The ducks is the main thing.  Although Metal shop is releasing our first original album soon.  It fucking rules.

What is your favorite memory from a Live show?
When I was in my early twenties, I ate a girl out while performing a solo during a disco show.  It was really a good solo, too.

What is your happiest memory as a musician in general.
See above.

What's the weirdest/funniest thing that has happened during a show?
See above.

Are any other VH Tribute bands out there that you guys (the Punks) are..... well 'afraid of' is the wrong word but kinda like 'Oh those fuckers are good we better watch our shit' type thing.
The last thing I want to do on my night off is go see another VH tribute band.

Are there any drawbacks to playing in a tribute band?
I have to change my own strings.

Ok, let's do a little "word association". I'll give you a word/thought, you tell me the first thing (word/phrase/thought/concept/reaction/etc.) that comes to your mind.

Van Halen
1978.  second grade.  Eruption.  Ahh , the memories.
Michael Anthony
Jack Daniels.  Jamming with him at the HOB
Eddie Van Halen
Fucking rocks.
Ralph Saenz
Michael Diamond
Joe Lester
Corky Witherspoon.
David Lee Roth
Ralph Saenz
Sammy Hagar
David Lee Roth
Gary Cherone
Sammy Hagar.
Brian Young
Chess.
Steve Vai
Whammy Bar
Ricki Rachett
Great fucking Guitarist.
Ray Luzier
Blackhead
Disco
Disco paid the rent for many years.  If I ever have to play We Are Family again, I'm going to ......  I'm just glad I get to use a whammy bar again.

         

Heavy Metal
Rules
Classic Rock
Steve Miller.  That's what I think of when I think classic rock. Steve Miller.
I'm sure you have met a lot of "big names" in your musical career. Of all of them, who is the one that you still go "Wow! I can't believe I actually met _____!" ?
The older and more bitter I get, the less impressed I am by fame.  Steven Tyler was cool, though

What is your biggest, as yet unfulfilled goal relating to your musical career?
Selling 80 million records and winning 7 Grammies.

Anything else you'd like to add?
Don't let your meat loaf.

Thanks Russ!