Rob De Luca on Spread Eagle's 'Subway To The Stars' UK Tour

Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle speaks to Jason Barnard about their imminent UK tour, the evolution of their music, and his experiences with other iconic bands like UFO.

Hi Rob, can you tell us about the upcoming ‘Subway To The Stars’ UK tour, and what fans can expect from it?

100% Live Rock from NYC with NO backing tracks! Four actual human beings playing songs from each of our three albums. It’s crazy that I even have to say that, haha!! Hopefully UK will let us know how the newer tunes translate live.

You’ve mentioned having some of the best shows of your life in the UK. What makes the UK audience special ?

The UK adores UFO, those are the shows I was primarily talking about. I’ve always felt nothing but love and welcome from the music fans there. They created some of the absolute best Rock and Metal bands and are very informed on what’s new and interesting. UFO supporting ZZ Top at Ramblin’ Man Fest was really great. Spread Eagle at HRH Sleaze ’17 was quite amazing too!

Spread Eagle is known for its unique brand of East Coast metal. How would you describe the evolution of the group’s music?

Our music is dynamic. It takes chances and delivers a journey. Then add in our interpretation of melody and aggression. We’re always looking for fresh ways to capture those elements. As we get older we’ve grown as writers and I feel have found a unique voice within the Rock genre.

Could you share some memorable experiences from the early days when Spread Eagle was signed to MCA/Universal?

After many years of trying to get that elusive record deal in our previous bands, we put together Spread Eagle and got signed in a basement, before we could even do our first live show. We were beyond hungry! We were the last band ever to record at the Record Plant NYC. We released our Scratch Like A Cat video, jumped on a bus and started touring USA before our debut album was even released.

Your debut album has been recognized as one of the top 20 glam albums of all time. What do you think contributed to its lasting impact?

Honesty, power, aggression and courage. I think younger musicians who appreciate our genre have searched back to the origins, which helps us to be respected.

After the release of your second album, ‘Open To The Public’ the band took a break. What prompted the hiatus, and how did it influence your personal projects?

Lack of support from our label, lack of support from the music community (who only accepted Grunge at that time), lack of money, drug abuse. We all searched for something new, to make an impact like Spread had. It’s hard to capture lightning twice though.

You’ve been a part of UFO and worked with other notable artists. What are some stand-out moments from your career?

Recording two albums in UFO is definitely a highlight! Especially songwriting on A Conspiracy of Stars. Being given the opportunity to record a third Spread Eagle album after many years, and it being accepted by fans and press is definitely another major highlight. Lots of Sebastian Bach shows supporting Guns N’ Roses certainly wasn’t too bad either, haha!

Can you share some insights into the creative process behind the 2019 Spread Eagle album ‘Subway To The Stars’?

For my part, I just turn on a metronome and riff out. Eventually riffs appear. Then I twist those up and add melodies and lyrics. So many songs started out on bass. On the debut, songs started out on guitar.

As a bassist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer, you’ve had a diverse musical career. How do your experiences with other bands and artists influence your work with Spread Eagle?

Definitely. Playing in UFO makes you realize that in the end it’s all about the audience wanting big timeless, classic songs. With Bach, it’s a lesson on how much energy to bring to the stage.

Can you tell us more about any new music we can look forward to?

Spread have about 8 killer songs written for our next album. Exactly what our fans want.

Lastly, are there any particular venues or cities you’re especially excited to perform in during the upcoming UK tour and why?

London is always important but I’m excited to see reactions in the places Spread has never played: Crumlin, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Tavistock, Edinburgh, Bristol, Stoke and Coalville.