James Gabriel Speaks to Stephanie

NF: 1. What is your favorite song that you have written and why?

JG: I have a personal attachment to every song I have written so it is
close to impossible for me to single out a specific song.

If I absolutely had to choose a favorite - At this given time, it would
probably be a new track off the upcoming album called "Hollow". I
believe it is one of those songs that properly represents what
CROOKED and the theme of the new album "Medicate" is about
from a musical standpoint.

Ive always loved the contrast of mixing these strong serene angelic
melodies against dirty harsh undertones. Life is made of those exact
contrasts and polar opposites - Love and Anger. Triumphs and failure.
Happiness and Sadness. Good and Evil. To me, it represents balance
and the spectrum of emotions of day to day life. - It comes from a
very real, pure, and honest place... Its art imitating life, its beautiful.

NF: What is your favorite song to perform?

JG: Although it can vary night to night. Lately it has been the song
"Dirty". I love the energy I get back from the crowd when we are
performing that song live. It seems to get a very strong response every time we have included it in the set list.


NF: What is the one thing that always goes through your head before you head on stage?

JG: Right when the lights go out and the intro starts, I get extremely focused. - Nothing is going through my mind other than going out
there and giving 110 percent and putting on the best performance I can.


NF: What is one of your all-time favorite bands?

JG: Depeche Mode. The albums "Violator" and "Playing the Angel" have been on my daily playlist for a while now. Great melodies and
excellent songwriting on both albums. In my opinion, they are one of the best and most inspiring bands out there today.



























NF: Any future tour plans?

JG: Yes. There are some extremely exciting possibilities that are currently in the works coming up towards the end of the year after the
new album ''Medicate'' is released.

There is going to be a big announcement very soon concerning tour dates. I believe there should be a posting on our website shortly with
all the information (Between October 19th and October 23rd - keep checking back to www.crooked1.com - ed.).

We are planning on debuting some new songs from the upcoming album ''Medicate'' on these dates, so it should be very exciting, I'm
looking forward to it.


NF: When was it you realized you wanted to be a musician?

JG: When I was very young, I was in the school choir. I remember arriving on my first day and being relatively shy and standoffish at
first. Initially, I was hesitant in joining in with the other choir kids. At that age, especially in certain social situations, getting used to brand
new people and experiences can be difficult for anybody.

My choir teacher took me aside after a song and spoke with me in length, assuring me to just give it a try and open up. As the next song
began, I finally gained the courage to join in and sing. As I first started singing, My choir teacher glanced over at me with a huge smile of
approval. It just felt completely natural. It was a very amazing feeling of accomplishment and relief.

I suppose you can say it was a borderline spiritual experience for me, almost an epiphany of sorts. At that moment, it felt like I just
unlocked something in myself that I never knew I had. It was one of those very surreal, special, moments in life... It was like fate had
given me a gift, right there on stage in my school auditorium. After that experience, I had a very strong inclination that I was somehow
going to be involved with music. It was my calling.


NF: What was the first songs you learned to play?

JG: On guitar, I believe the first songs I learned how to play were Metallica ''Nothing Else Matters'', Alice in Chains ''Nutshell'',
Soundgarden ''Fell On Black Days'' and ''Lithium'' by Nirvana.

For Piano it was ''The Ice Dance'' by Danny Elfman (From the 1990 Tim Burton film Edward Scissorhands).

As for specific musical influences, I would cite everything from bands and artists who tastefully mixed rock with darker electronic
elements, to a lot of the 1990s grunge scene, to timeless rock bands/icons, film composers and a variety of classical artists. Everything
from: Nine Inch Nails, Danny Elfman and Depeche Mode to Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice In Chains,
Soundgarden, Garbage, The Doors and Elvis Presley to Bach, Mozart and Beethoven.

All those bands and artists have had a huge effect - past and present - on my writing.


NF: Name one band you would like to tour with?

JG: Nine Inch Nails.


NF: What is one of your biggest pet peeves?

JG: People who are rude, loud and obnoxious.

I know everyone who is reading this interview right now must know of at least ONE person like this! Don't lie to me. (laughs)

I'm a rather old-fashioned kind of guy. Im a very polite, respectful and courteous person. Even when it comes to the simplest trivial
things, I believe it is important to show respect, compassion and decency - Like, if I'm out for a night on the town, I'm the kind of guy
who always opens doors for girls, would thoughtlessly give my jacket to a friend who is cold, or offer to help an elderly man at the store
to carry his groceries to his car. That is just the kind of person I am. These things are just a form of showing basic respect, in my eyes.
With that being said, Its one of my biggest pet peeves when someone has no kind of common decency, manners and at least some form
of respect and class... It is extremely annoying when you see someone who is completely oblivious to the fact that the world does NOT
evolve around them.

Individuals that have zero respect for themselves and their surroundings are definitely one of my largest pet peeves.


NF: Tell us a random fact about anything...

JG: Alright, here is a random fact for everyone reading this interview, completely off topic of music...

I have a pet rabbit. He is a French lop, who is porcelain white with big lazy ears and bright red eyes. Simply adorable.

Is that random enough? (smiles)


NF: What do you do to relax?

JG: When I'm home I usually like to get back to regular life as much as I possible. During my time off, I really enjoy the basics -
Shopping, Going out for a night on the town, Spending time with my girlfriend, Having a nice meaningful conversation, Reading,
Writing, Exercising, Spending time with family, Going for walks late at night, and occasionally I enjoy going out to the beach.

I like a lot of the simple things. I'm fairly low maintenance, I'm not too hard to please.

NF: Which of the seven deadly sins do you most resemble and why?

JG: Wrath.

In the bible, The meaning of Wrath is basically a manifestation in a individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. Although, I
consider myself a fairly peaceful and well balanced individual for the most part... I, - like the vast majority of people - cannot always be
completely forgiving in certain extreme situations. Wrath is a difficult sin to overshadow. Its human nature to retaliate and want revenge.
I think that Wrath, in a very primal, primitive way, exists in everybody.


NF: What's the last thing you heard or read in the news that pissed you off?

JG: To be entirely honest, I tend to stray away from watching the news as much as possible. I have a difficult time watching it. The
excessive focus on negative issues and the constant sense of urgency the media conveys to it's viewers to boost ratings is completely
ridiculous, in my opinion. If it's a legitimate concern or issue that interests me, I will take the time to watch it. But if it's one of the usual
desperate, far-fetched, "What is in your food - may kill you!" or "Killer bee's are infesting northern California! You may be next! Stay
tuned at 5!" headlines, I rather spend my time elsewhere more productively enjoying life.

I'm going to go about my day - I will take my chances out in the real world with the killer bees. (laughs)

NF: If a fan were to bring you a care pack while you're on the road, what could you find inside that would make you smile?

JG: Horror movies, A nice bottle of wine, Sandalwood Candles, A deck of cards and Pedialyte. (laughs)
NF: Your current favorite band/song/playlist?

JG: The last 20 songs on my ipod playlist are:

1. Depeche Mode - "A pain that Im used to"
2. Garbage - "A stroke of luck"
3. Coldplay - "Clocks"
4. Staind - "Epiphany"
5. Brother Cane - "And fools shine on"
6. The Doors - "Riders on the storm"
7. Johann Sebastian Bach - "Suite 3 in D major/Air"
8. Nine Inch Nails - "Perfect Drug"
9. The Doors - "People are strange"
10. Tears For Fears - "Head over heels"
11. The Beatles - "Eleanor Rigby"
12. Nirvana - "Heart Shaped Box"
13. Smashing Pumpkins - "Disarm"
14. Depeche Mode - "Lillian"
15. The Cure - "Fascination street"
16. Elvis Presley - "Surrender"
17. The Killers - "All these things that Ive done"
18. Echo and the Bunnymen - "Killing Moon"
19. Depeche Mode "Stripped"
20. Stone Temple Pilots "Sex Type Thing"