We are absolutely delighted to be able to feature an exclusive interview with Chuck Mosley. The former Faith No More singer is releasing a new demo shortly and speaks to us about joining Faith No More on stage at their Detroit show last month and about Faith No More’s new material.

How are things going for you? You looked to be in good shape onstage in Detroit.

Chuck Mosley: Doing okay. Still fighting through the same old personal issues with money and trying to plug along. On the VUA side, still without a label or distribution or booking or merchandising, so if you’re reading this and need a band to work with, email us now: [email protected]. We are demoing new songs and want to get on the road in front of crowds, so help us make money for you.

Were you surprised by the outpouring of support earlier this year, when you made your difficult plea for help?

Yeah, me and my family were overwhelmed by the support. Even people who weren’t in a position to give, donated or emailed and called just to let me know we were in their thoughts. Brian Paone, an author from Japan reached out and got me involved in a short story collection, “A Matter of Words” that’s being released later this year by ScoutMedia. Doug [Esper] and I wrote an essay about the song, “Mark Bowen” which will appear in the book. Sean Franklin, an audio engineer who works with some big name people, offered some mastering and production work on future music, Ben Brown made a huge donation and offered feedback on some of the new demos. Donn Wobser and Christopher Juhl helped me keep a positive attitude and offered support up in Detroit. Indoria, a band that I had recently recorded with, are donating 100% of all downloads of the song I sang on, “What I feel” to me and my family. It’s linked at www.chuckmosley.bandcamp.com

All that being said, it’s day to day and I hope it’s not too late. We moved into a much smaller apartment because Sophie, my youngest daughter, just graduated High school and is getting prepped for college. I’m trying to make ends meet to pay for that, so it’s sorta scary, right now. We have 2 albums available for download for donations. Any amount is a huge help. We have CDs for sale at cdbaby.

It’s been several years since the VUA disc came out and two years since you released the demo version. Do you have any plans to revisit older tunes?

The only solid thing on the docket right now is to release another demo of upcoming material. For those that don’t know, we did release another demo song a few months back titled, “Ericalution” it is a very different sound than other VUA songs and it is also available at the bandcamp site. Hope you dig it, but if you don’t, hey you’re only out a buck. Maybe 10,000 people will rush out and download our stuff, give us a chance, and everything will work out.

The other tune, which we will release this week is a lot more VUA sounding, like a hard rock tune.

[We’ve heard this and love it and hope to share it soon]

Are you working on anything outside of VUA?

I’ve been writing songs on my acoustic, but I’m not sure yet if the material is fitting VUA or maybe something totally different. I just want to follow the path of my heroes like Iggy Pop and Johnny Cash. Play music my whole life and eke out a meager living. I don’t have any grand dreams of becoming rich. I just want to play and take care of my family. I also had an idea about an old school hip-hop project…

You recently took the stage during an encore at a Faith No More concert in Detroit. How did that come about and what can you tell us about the experience?

Well, I had texted back and forth with Roddy that I wanted to come see them. Detroit was the closest show. I wanted to bring my family, but my daughter’s prom was that night, so I drove up with friends. On the way, I half-jokingly texted Roddy that I’d come up and sing an old tune. One of the ones I knew pretty well. He shot back and said how about ‘Mark Bowen’. After I got through the “what was I thinking?” nerves, I just remembered how fun it was to perform with them. This is the second time I’ve done it since they reformed. I’ve had a recurring nightmare, ever since they fired me, that they would invite me back to perform and I would hide in the shadows, cower under the speakers, and just do really bad. I’ve woken up from that dream countless times over the last 20 years, but I think it worked out well. I mean, yeah I fucked up a couple of lines, but I got good feedback from the people that were there in the crowd and in the moment that said it was a thrill for them.

We didn’t do a sound-check or practice at all and people enjoyed it, but due to the joys of YouTube and Yahoo [the show was broadcast live on Yahoo] you can go watch it over and over and analyze every second of it.

Bottom line it was a lot of fun. Roddy and me were talking and he mentioned that it’s always emotional when we get onstage again together. We had our rough patch after the break up, you know, after our divorce. Especially with me and Billy and Mike Bordin, but since then VUA has played shows with Billy’s band The Talking Book and he got onstage with us. It’s really good to just hang with him and Mike. It really warms the cockles of my heart to get along with them. Billy and I go way back to our first band The Animated and even before that just going to shows.

Before you took the stage, Mike Patton gave you a really nice and respectful introduction. How did it make you feel to hear that?

To be honest, I didn’t hear it. I was backstage all freaked out and nervous. I couldn’t even get dressed into the white outfit properly. Michele noticed I had my pants on backwards just a few seconds before I was supposed to go up there. Mike has always given me props and had words of encouragement every time I see him. He’s always been really nice. It seems sincere and cool and I have nothing but props for him. One thing I always admit is he has a great voice and is a strong singer. He is a better singer than me. I tell him that but he is always humble about it. When I started as a singer, I took pride in my originality and have developed to the point that I have a good tone.

Did you bring your own white outfit to match the band?

No, and when I was going to leave, I had it stuffed in my bag. Tim’s [Moss] assistant asked me “Did you put your outfit back?” and I tried to tell her I did as she is eyeballing the sleeves hanging out of my bag. I would’ve loved to have those to use as my new pajamas. It’s a cool look. The whole stage set up was a real neat look.

It seemed like you had a great reaction from the fans before, during, and after the show, where you surprised by the reaction?

It certainly isn’t something that happens to me every day on the street, but if you get a concentrated group of Faith No More fans together, there’s a good chance at least half of them are bound to know who I am. It’s an ego boost for sure. It’s a really nice feeling.

Have you had a chance to hear the new Faith No More album yet?

Only the two singles and what they played live that night, though again, I was deep in my own head trying to remember lyrics. I’m a vinyl guy and it was delayed in the States. I don’t do the whole iTunes thing or collect music that way. I’ll give it a listen soon. I want to hear the full album in order.

What did you think of Roddy’s verses on the lead single, Motherfucker?

I’m a big fan of Imperial Teen so I’m used to him singing. I thought it was cool. He’s been singing since I’ve been in bands. I think it’s always better to have more than one person in a band that can sing because it adds more dimensions to the band. They should do more of it.

Do you have any messages to the fans overseas in Europe, South America, Asia, Australia etc. that haven’t seen you live on their soil in over two decades that Faith No More2.0 can send out for you?

If there are any fans of mine out there in 2.0-land I want to say thank you for any support you’ve thrown my way. I hope you enjoy the new single coming out. We are calling it, “Hard drivin’ rock tune, the untimely death of a loved one.” Reach out to me and VUA on Facebook and say hi. We are trying, trying, trying to make it to your neck of the woods. We want to play everywhere and we are looking for support to help make it happen. I totally appreciate all of your appreciation and I love you all.

Thanks to Douglas Esper – and of course to Chuck.