Name: Chris Wade
Bands: Wades, Orlock
Website: https://funeralrecordings.bandcamp.com

QRD – How old were you when you first realized you wanted to be a professional
musician?

Chris – 5.  I was absolutely positive that when I grew up I would be in KISS.

QRD – What are a few highlights of your musical career?

Chris – Everytime we went to Biloxi, Mississippi we would play in a trailer park.  In a trailer.  The kids at those shows were the most real and hungry-for-punk-rock kids I have ever met.  They watched & listened to every note you played & every move you made & then their parents would make rice & beans.  That is the shit.  There’s nothing impressive about playing bullshit rock clubs compared to that.  That is punk rock.

QRD – At what age did you decide you wanted to become a father?

Chris – Ali & I were in a band called Orlock in 1997 (we were 25) & we were on tour.  We were married already & we decided to stop trying NOT to have a baby whilst sleeping on a floor in Arizona.

QRD – What are some positive & negative impacts your family has had on your career?

Chris – The only negative thing about family when it comes to music is that it makes it hard to play live, especially out of town.  But over the years I’ve found that I concentrate more on songwriting as a craft since my main outlet is recording instead of playing shows.

QRD – What are some positive & negative impacts your career has had on your family?

Chris – Our kids think we’re cool.  There’s nothing negative about it.

QRD – Have your children effected the music you make &/or listen to?

Chris – We try to avoid blatant use of curse words, but not all the time.  I definitely know where all the “shits” & “fucks” are in our favorite CDs and have a pretty nimble volume-knob hand in the car.

QRD – Have you had problems with the lack of steady money from a musical career providing the security you feel necessary in your household?

Chris – To date I have been playing music live & on recordings for over 20 years & I’ve never made a profit or considered it to be a source of income.

QRD – Given the limitations having a family has on being a touring musician, would you have toured more earlier in life if you’d known?

Chris – I’ve toured the US twice & countless mini-tours of east-of-the-Mississippi (I’m originally from Virginia).  I feel like I was lucky to get to do all that.  No regrets, really.

QRD – Do you think being a father or a musician has a greater impact on your community?

Chris – Neither.  Nobody gives a fuck.

QRD – Would you rather see your child eventually become a musician or parent?

Chris – I’d like to see all three of my kids become exactly what they want to become.  I will cringe, however, if any of them become wrestlers or football players.

QRD – Both family & music seem like things that will take up as much of your time as you’re willing to put in.  How do you end up dividing your time?

Chris – I record while the kids are sleeping or at school.

QRD – Do you have a split/secret life between being a parent & being a musician?

Chris – We did for a while.  We would drive to the city “to see some friends” while my parents watched our kids for the night.  Really it was band practice.  It got to be too much & so we went back to the drum machine & what not.

QRD – What do your children think of your music?

Chris – They dig it.

QRD – Do you think you could ever do a musical project with your children?

Chris – Of course.  We’ve messed around a bit on some recordings.  We’re not pushing it, but it will probably happen by default.  People like to make Partridge Family jokes... anyway, I think it’s inevitable.

QRD – Any words of advice to young people?

Chris – DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN’T _______.