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You can’t compare Paul Mirkovich to anything else on television. If you try you will fail.
He is no Kevin Eubanks. And, he has way more impact (and hair) than Paul Schafer. He is knee deep in artistic ideas. And, he has to manage a battery of egos to get the job done.
The job? Oh, it’s no big deal. Simply manage the music of a rock, reality show in front of twelve million people each week.
Are you up for that? I didn’t think so.
He has not only taken the gig on. He’s pulled it off. Week-after-week we nod our heads, tap our fingers and pump our fists to the beats he directs.
He is… Paul Mirkovich. Los Angeles-native and leader of the Rock Star: INXS House Band.
Recently, I had the pleasure of talking to Paul on one of his few days off. Here’s the exchange:
ReX: Okay Paul. Let's kick this interview off right. Oreos or Chips Ahoy?
Paul: Oreos all the way!
ReX: Why?
Paul: The creamy middle. It’s more fun. Plus, if you get sick of the cookie part, you can always lick the center.
ReX: U2’s Joshua Tree or Pearl Jam’s 10?
Paul: Joshua Tree. I’m not as hard of a rocker as some of the other guys. Thirty years from now people will still be listening to that U2 cd. It’s very deep in substance.
Pearl Jam is somewhat of a Nirvana-redo for me. I’m not sure they would have broke without Nirvana's success.
ReX: Where did you grow up?
Paul: Los Angeles… Been here my entire life. In fact, I live four blocks from the house I grew up in.
ReX: As for music, when did you know it was your calling?
Paul: I don’t remember a specific moment in which I made a conscious decision that music would be it for me. It’s all I’ve ever really known.
It started when I was four years old. One day I was watching a cartoon show. I think it was ‘Casper the Ghost’. The theme song stuck in my head. I went over to the piano and started playing it. Over time, I took lessons and got into bee-bop and jazz along the way.
Being from Los Angeles, music is simply all around you. Just as the steel mills may be for folks in Pittsburgh… Entertainment and music is for the folks in Los Angeles.
ReX: Got it. Do you remember your first gig?
Paul: Oh yeah. I was asked to manage the music for South Pacific at my local parish. I think I got paid a thousand bucks for three months of work. I was like, “Whoa. I’m getting paid to do this.” [Paul chuckles].
ReX: If we were to have a séance right now, which rock-and-roll legend would you want to chat with?
Paul: That’s a good one. [Silence] I’d have to say Ray Charles, John Lennon or Hendrix. Then, again Stevie Ray Vaughn is my favorite guitarist of all time.
ReX: Who are your living musical icons?
Paul: Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder.
ReX: How were you approached about Rock Star: INXS?
Paul: The musical director, Clyde Lieberman, came to me and asked me to consider it. There were a number of other guys who put together audition groups.
ReX: Did you have any reservations about taking the gig?
Paul: Not at all. First, consider the musicians in the House Band. Some of the best on this planet. In fact, Sasha and Rafa were part of my audition band. Add Nate and Jim… I knew we would be smokin’.
Then, I thought about playing in front of millions of people for thirteen weeks. And, as for the show … Rock Star: INXS brought rock-and-roll to primetime television. Think about it. Has there ever been a true rock show on television during primetime?
So no... I had no reservations.
ReX: What’s been your worst moment during RSI?
Paul: Hmmm. There really hasn’t been any. But, there have been some misunderstandings between the music and tv people on this project.
Sometimes I don’t think tv folks really understand that musicians simply do not work at 5:45 in the morning. We just don’t. The two groups have had to educate each other on what works and what doesn’t.
ReX: How’s the work load?
Paul: Heavy. I’d say that I’m working more on this gig than any other show. The band has learned about 150 songs during the last 3 months. That’s a lot of music. Some nights, I only get two to three hours of sleep.
ReX: Would you rather play in front of 1,000, 5,000 or 20,000 people?
Paul: 60,000! [He laughs.] There is nothing better than live energy. Nothing.
ReX: What has been the House Band’s best performance during RSI?
Paul: ‘Wish You Were Here’ or ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
ReX: You are edited to be this peaceful guy who is very receptive to the rocker’s ideas. But, has there ever been a time where you were like, “No way dude! That sucks! We are not doing that?”
Paul: No. It’s not my position to be that way. Sometimes I don’t agree with everything… Like a trip-hop "We Are The Champions".
Ultimately, however, I can’t squash their ideas. I do my best to listen to their thoughts and suggest what might enhance the performance. There have been a number of times when I’m really surprised by what they come up with. For example, JD’s re-arranged ‘California Dreaming’.
ReX: I looked at your bio. You’re a stud. What do you think is your greatest strength?
Paul: I think it’s my ability to stay very focused. I don’t care if it takes 2 or 10 hours, we’re going to work together to get it done and get it done right.
Along with that, I have an ability to step back and look at the big picture. At the end of the day, you need to think about the totality of the music. Since I’m fourteen, I tend to think about how the music should sound on the whole.
ReX: Anything else you want to the Rock Star: INXS fans out there to know?
Paul: Just thanks for all the support! We’re working hard to bring you all some great, memorable music .
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