Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with musician and producer (and all around cool guy) Greg Armstrong. With his new project, Still They Ride, Greg teams up with fellow musicians Dave Mikulskis on keyboard, Todd Sucherman (Styx) on drums, Matt Kirkwold (Rocket Club) on guitar, Brian HBK (Hairball) on bass, and Greg Armstrong (Fabulous Armadillos) on keyboards to cover Journeys track ‘Still They Ride’ benefitting the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.
In today’s interview, we talk with Greg about all things ‘Still They Ride’ as well as Parkinson’s research and some of the good things being done at The Michael J Fox Foundation.
About Still They Ride
Greg Armstrong, music veteran and multi-talented musician/producer, was inspired for his current project by musician and friend, Dave Mikulskis, who is battling Parkinson’s Disease. Greg and Dave, along with a slew of well-known artists, have recorded the Journey single, “Still They Ride”, benefitting: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
The “Still They Ride Team” consists of Todd Sucherman (Styx) on drums, Matt Kirkwold (Rocket Club) on guitar, Brian HBK (Hairball) on bass, Greg Armstrong (Fabulous Armadillos) on keyboards and Dave Mikulskis (Hi Infidelity) on vocals.
Armstrong says, “The documentary, Still: A Michael J Fox Movie, was the inspiration for the lyric video and our (Dave’s) mutual decision to donate all of the funds to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.” He continues, “Still They Ride”, is metaphorically perfect, as in the essence of the documentary is Michael J. Fox never being still in his younger years, always pushing harder and harder, and now later in life with Parkinson’s Disease, he can’t be still.”
Armstrong has known Mikulskis, who is a multi-talented musician from Chicago, for many years, as he has sung many radio and TV jingles for Armstrong’s company, www.creativeradiojingles.com. Armstrong had recently found out about Mikulskis’ Parkinson’s Disease and approached him about the project, which has become very personal to him as with the whole, “Still They Ride Team”.
Mikulskis says, “In June 2018, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 51 and had been looking to give back somehow by raising money and awareness. There had to be a reason I was chosen (by a higher power) to spread awareness or use my voice, somehow, to do something positive.” This project was a perfect fit for both Armstrong and Mikulskis to do just that.
The song lyrics for, “Still They Ride”, were originally written about hope, resilience and perseverance. Jesse (the main character) is a metaphor for anyone going through a struggle penned by Steve Perry in 1981. It fits perfectly with the narrative of Dave’s story, Michael J. Fox’s and Parkinson’s.
“Still They Ride”, was executive produced by Armstrong and mixed by Chuck Alkazian (Pop Evil, Soundgarden, Tantric).
LINKS:
https://www.michaeljfox.org/
https://open.spotify.com/track/1sCkWTuuJ08fYD7y7Ajr6L?si=bc1cd86cc2a54cf5
https://youtu.be/5Ve7taYklKU