CMR Interview with Justin Murr of Liberty N Justice!

**arttieTHE1manparty**

1. WOW! Time flies! It’s already the end of 2009 and time for another Liberty N Justice record! So
much for taking time off, Justin.

lol...starting the interview off with a dig huh Arttie
Just for the record, and about the record, it's not coming out
till 2010 and it seemed like I took "some" time off...then again maybe
not!

2. Did the new songs on “4 All”, your “best of” package get the creative juices flowing
again?

not really, as you know I am basically just a songwriter (or
wannabe) and it seems like I am always writing. In the process of writing
I got motivated and started working on a new album. looking back I'm glad
I did because "Light It Up" is the best record LNJ has ever released and I am so
proud of it and can't wait for people to hear it.

3. Lots of familiar faces on the new disc. Do you get requests from artists to be invited
back?

In todays ecomony yes..lol! I have a great working relationship with a lot of the guys that have appeared on LNJ records and now it's just a shout out and we get something
2gether. I love working with Ted Poley, Steve Brown, Pete Loran, Bride,
Kelling Keeling, Keri Kelli, etc.... and in those relationships Steve brought in
Chris Jericho, Phil Collen, & Bumblefoot. Keri brought in Phil Lewis & Chris Holmes. So, I can't say enough about these guys and what they have done for me. Plus, they are so so so talented if we didn't create a good record what would that say about me!

4. There are several newcomers as well. Any standouts among the new faces?

You kidding me? We have done something new on "Light It Up" we basically have 2 "known" guys on each song (the singer and another musician). I think a lot of the people nailed it like Marq Torien, Bumblefoot, Eddie Ojeda ,Oz Fox, Sheldon Tarsha and
especially CJ Snare (who I can't say enough "good" things about). I know you heard it and I believe the chemistry on this record is really good , it flows well, and we have big guitars with big vocals that = big sound !

PS Vic Rivera just plain rocks in every area (producing,songwriting, playing, and arranging)!

5. Tell me about getting Fozzy frontman and WWE wrestler Chris Jericho involved. Did he mention
his faith at all, as he is generally pretty outspoken about his beliefs.

To tell you the truth... I never spoke with him. Steve Brown of Trixter hooked it up and he recorded the vocals at Steve's studio in NJ. I have heard through numerous sources he was afraid to meet me cause me and my tag partner Arttie "The Nebraska Assassin" was gonna take his and Big Show's little WWE tag belts. There's no stopping the Six-String Bible Bashers.. so it was for the best he didn't come here.

6. I know there were a couple of big names that fell through. Care to comment, or are you
keeping them quietly on the back burner?

One I won't name but it fell through cause of some personal issues. I would "LOVE"
to work with him someday. The other was CC Deville, (in fact Cliffy had to fix the master CD cause he listed him) we waited and waited and waited some more and finally we moved on and Steve brought Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal who nailed the solo.

The cool thing about waiting for CC it gave me a lot of free time and we started a new LNJ album that is basically 100% recorded!

7. This new album has a decidedly more polished sound. Was that intentional, or is it just a
product of the songwriting becoming more refined all the time?

It has everything to do with the direction and who you get to produce the record.... Vic Rivera (Adriangale/ Crunch) produced 1/2 the album and working and being a fan of his work I knew what I was
gonna get, a polished sound with big vocals and bigger hooks.

Mike Layne produced 2 songs anyone familiar with past LNJ records know I like working Mike and he brings a raw almost modern sound.

Steve Brown produced 2 songs and he is just a machine..... reminds me a lot of myself
(great salesman) and always delivers a great product!

Stephen Chesney produced one track and he gave me the Journey feel I wanted and went overboard to make me happy.

CJ Snare (Firehouse) produced one track and premastered the record. This guy took one of our songs and made it his own and really cared about doing the "little" things
to make the song just amazing.

Finally, Cliffy of MainLine Riders mastered the record and we all know from CMR and
other Retroactive Releases that he does a stellar job.

8. I like to think I had a TINY something to do with one of the songs, “For Better Or Worse”. Do I get a royalty check or anything?

I agree.... gonna give you Pelata's cut!

9. Speaking of songwriting, you take a decidedly political stance on one track. Tell me about “Uncle Sam”.

Just one of those songs, saw the state of our country and was moved enough to write a song. Mike Layne said it was some of the best lyrics I have ever written so I am
really proud of it and I hope people get "the message" of what I am trying to convey. Plus, with a band name of Liberty N'Justice it's not a stretch to say I love my country and what it stands for (or use to stand for).

10. When you start a new project, do you have a sound and style in mind, or do you kind of play it by
ear according to who you have to work with? What is that process like…find a singer, then fit the song, or do you have the songs and then plug in vocalists?

First thing I write is the lyric (if I can't finish or don't like the direction I bring a co-lyricst in ala Shawn Pelata) and then we write the melody/music. We add a scratch vocal and get a "dream" list of who we think "fits"the song. Like with "Beautiful Decision" Vic said I would love to get Harry and Pete from Harem Scarem on this tune. In 24 hours, we had both guys committed and knew the direction the song would be
taking.

11. You know, we’ve never discussed your gear at all. What does Justin Murr play and how is it set
up?

I own three bass guitars, a Gibson Thunderbird bass, an acoustic 5 string Dean Playmate bass, & a Cort Electric bass (great tone). I play through an Ampeg Amp with an Ampeg SVT cabinet.

12. How is the new label situation working out for you?

Matt's been good to us so far and looking forward to seeing what Retro can do with LNJ.

13. Any more thought to trying to take this thing live in some form?

no I look more like a Soprano than a rock star now

14. There has been some mention by fans of the project that they would like to see you re-record some of your pre-All-star project songs. Is that a consideration?

no I have no interest in doing that whatsoever.....

15. Any chance we could see a comprehensive LnJ box-set some time?

who knows... it's really up to the buyer and if there is a market for it. I think to some LNJ is still a mystery (what is it a comp album, is it a studio project etc)

16. I already know what the next project is set to be, but have been sworn to secrecy upon threat
of attack by a swarm of killer ferrets. Anything you want to hint at about the next disc, even though this next one isn’t even out yet?

Yes, it's closer done than you think. The name of the record is going to be "The Cigar Chronicles". We are gonna use Rex's cover. Taking Ultimatum's lead it's going to be a
covers record with a LNJ twist

17. I’ll throw out a few singer’s names and you give me a “yes, I could see that”, a “no, I’ll pass”,
or a “he’s still alive”. Or, if you’ve tried and been rejected, maybe you could share something there.

Kip Winger? Yes..... yes ...yes Mr.Snare is trying to snare Kip for me as we speak

Neil Diamond? No I'll pass but I do love "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show"

Jon Bon Jovi? Would love to get JBJ to do a little LNJ .. I'd even settle for Jon Such John

Brian Johnson of AC/DC. another dream vocalist... we serve a great God (so never say never)

Blackie Lawless of WASP? yes this is very possible, would have to find the right song

Vince Neil of Motley Crue? was working on Vince for "Soundtrack Of A Soul" but he reunited with Motley and can't even think about affording him now

Mike Tramp of White Lion? I have tried he won't reply to any of my emails... must not be a fan

Lenny Wolf of Kingdom Come (fake Robert Plant)? he's still alive?

Real Robert Plant? he does folk why not LNJ?

close to running out of singers but there is still Jeff Keith, Eric Martin, Richard Black, Johnathon Pagano, Gary Cherone etc...

18. When you get to unplug, what does Justin Murr listen to? Any current favorites?

I go through phases, right now listening to NKOTB, Taco, Carman, Chumbawumba, Andew Ridgley, Milli Vanilli, Jerry Reed, Ric Dees, 4 Nonblondes and Line Of Fire

19. Any humorous stories from the studio this time around? Any more backlash from the “why are
you using these guys to spread God’s Word” camp?

No backlash lately, and funny stories? My wife goes through our Verizon bill and kept seeing this number where I would talk to this person for 120 minutes, 208 minutes, 93 minutes etc.... she asked who this was and looking at the number I said it was CJ Snare. Now she calls CJ and my phone calls "man-dates" and CJ gets a kick and throws out time for a "man-date" every once in a while.

Here is a true story,(I won't tell you the name of the singer) during the recording
of "Welcome To The Revolution" one known singer called my house and talked to my wife (I was gone) introduced himself and said he couldn't fly to Peoria (where I live) because he would be mobbed at the airport. My wife said," who are you?". The guy was alittle miffed and started naming songs his band sang. Sharon kept saying," no never heard of that...can you sing..nope never heard of that." The singer then told the gimmick and my wife laughed and the singer said," just have Justin call me and hung
up."

20. Do you still get excited and have fan-boy moments with these guys? And why aren’t you getting me
autographs?

after "I-Day" , we don't fly singers in any more and they record at outside studios.
I love music and like most had different visions of what these guys would be like.
Some are great guys and have became good friends and some are stuck in the 80's
and have no idea what the real world is even listening to.

21. Do you see an end to Liberty N Justice?

I do see an end of LNJ... after "Light It Up" gonna do the covers CD, and then one more full studio album and then putting LNJ away. Will see what I do musically at that point I would like to keep writing for other bands maybe producing or managing as
well.

22. Do you feel you have pigeon-holed yourself at all and wish you could step outside the All-Star
thing? What do you think the response would be?

no I know what got me to the dance, I all so know why people buy my albums.
I am cool with having different singers I think it adds flavor. The response if we didn't have guest singers? A lot of cup coasters at the Murr household.

23. “Light It Up” is set for a January 19, 2010 release. Any final thoughts or teasers for what people can expect?

as always thanks Arttie thanks for the support you give me & my project
.Please pray God uses LNJ to reach people for his glory not
mine....

Thanks for taking the time once again, Justin. We love having you here on the CMR! Keep coming back, my
friend!

Arttie

_________________
Constitutional separation of church and state is a lie; it is a figment of the secular-progressive's imagination.

"If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under."--Ronald Reagan

"Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America."--George W. Bush, Sept. 11, 2001

libertynjustice · Number of posts: 299 Registration date: 2007-04-07

as always this was fun

**Tall Tyrion** · Number of posts: 10208 Age: 41 Registration date: 2007-01-28

Cool interview!! I'm looking forward to that covers album. I'm expecting great things.

_________________
“If you make less than $250,000 your taxes will not go up. Not one dime.” BH Obama

''Let me be clear: There is no military solution in Iraq and there never was. The best way to protect our security and to pressure Iraq's leaders to resolve their civil war is to immediately begin to remove our combat troops. Not in six months or one year -- now,'' Candidate Obama in 2007

_Wes · Number of posts: 1924 Age: 42 Registration date: 2007-04-07

Good stuff. Smile

Justin has the amazing talent of sounding in the interviews just like he is in RL. He's an awesome guy - great interview.

_________________
_Wes
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