Having programmed current-based rock radio for decades, I’ve built a list of the “Shoulda” bands. Bands that “shoulda” been bigger. We all do, don’t we? One of those bands is Bullets and Octane—hard rock infused with punk fun, catchy tunes, and energy.
I loved their RCA major label 2006 debut, In The Mouth Of The Young. So, when I found out they had a new single, Losing My Mind, I was anxious to get some face time with their bigger-than-life, rock-punk king front man, Gene Louis.
Founded in the late ’90s, Bullets and Octane hit rock radio in the 2000s and proved tough to categorize. In The Mouth Of The Young arrived in 2006. In fact, the album just celebrated its 20th anniversary of its release. Like many 2000s bands, they appeared in WWE wrestling events, video games, and toured with acts across genres. These include bands such as Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, and Deftones.
They seemed on their way… until they weren’t. Still, the band consistently delivered solid music. Choosing to stay true to their hard, punk-leaning pop sound, and never strayed from who they are.
Now, they’re back with a banging new single, Losing My Mind, described as “a relatable anthem for the survival era.” The track is a fun, relevant tune that rock radio needs right now.
I caught up with Gene Louis who spoke with me from his backyard on my Carr Stereo Podcast. We talked about knowing who you are and navigating the sometimes BS of the business.
*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.*
Terrie Carr– You are a punk chameleon, always finding a way to just look a little different and up your game. That’s what rock and roll is all about, and I love seeing the visual behind the music.
Gene Louis– I picked up stuff along the way. Growing up in Missouri there were a lot of cow punk bands my father was in. Dixieland jazz and big band music. Then we had classic rock, followed by punk rock and grunge in the 90s growing up.
It was a whole bunch of different influences. Sonically and stylistically putting on all kinds of different outfits. I love it. Life is way too short to just do one thing. I have a lot of friends in this business. They picked one thing and they’ve done one thing.
I remember talking to my buddy who is the guitar tech for Slayer for the longest time. I’d ask him what goes on at sound check. I was hopeful they at least play Sweet Home Alabama or something different than metal. Nope, they just do metal he told me.
It’s like painting. If I was a painter, you’ve got all these colors, teal and orange and all these things. However, your metal is only red and yellow. For your whole life you just do red and yellow on every painting. But every day you look down and see all these amazing teals and greens and stuff that you never get to use.
That’s a selfish thing. To me, when you think you’re about to hang your hat on what you think I’m doing, I’m doing something else. It’s not really so contrived necessarily. I get bored with the norm.
TC– I was in rock radio forever, my whole life. That’s all I’ve done. 30 years. I remember when Bullets and Octane first dropped on my desk. You guys came at a time where it was so weird because radio was so fragmented. It’s still fragmented.
At that time in the 2000s we had so many charts. The mainstream charts, metal charts, active charts, classic charts, and then there’s punk and Alternative. Then there’s you guys- such a well-rounded band and unboxable.
Unfortunately, when you’re well-rounded, sometimes it screws you in the back. Active rock was born and what is it? Is it Saliva, Godsmack, Shinedown? What is it?
GL – It’s a little unfair a lot of times because when you’re young and trying to figure out who you are. Especially in a thing that doesn’t really make sense.
It’s ever changing. You’re growing, maturing, and going through your personal life and your professional life trying to figure out what that’s like. You’re collecting all your influences, but you’re also trying to keep that aside and become your own thing.
For us, when things started kicking off, it was hard for a lot of the business side. Managers and labels, they didn’t know what to do with us. They wanted to put us in a box, and we didn’t really know what that meant.
Check out my full interview with Gene Louis on the Carr Stereo Podcast. We discussed Bullets and Octane’s new tune, Losing My Mind and emerging from ’90s grunge. Plus, how Gene decided against leaving the music business and chose to push forward.
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