Viva Malpache's Guitarist

Darren Lolk

DARREN LOLK's BIO
After earlier attempts at the violin and saxophone, Darren first began playing Guitar at the age of 15 after being seduced by the hard rock sounds of Edward Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend.

At his Mother's encouragement (a Music Teacher and renowned Soprano) Darren soon enrolled in the Manhattan School of Music‚s preparatory program for Classical Guitar, where he studied on weekends for about a year. With a firm desire to "rock out" Darren stopped formal lessons and began teaching himself guitar by learning songs of his favorite bands.

Towards the end of high school, Darren musical tastes began to move away from Classic Rock and Metal to the more eclectic sounds that would one day be know as alternative, as well as listening to and thoroughly studying Hip-Hop, Funk, Reggae, old school R&B and Soul. These new tastes greatly influenced his guitar playing. During the course of trying to combine a sound that would in clude these eclectic styles, while still maintaining a hard rock style.

Darren first met Giovanny Blanco through an ad in a local musicians paper. Seeing that they had very similar influences, Darren and Gio soon formed the "G-Men", pounding out Hard Rocking Funky Hip Hop jams with a John Bonham style Drummer and a Bassist whose favorite group was Voivod. The "G-Men" were even unofficially involved with the Black Rock Coalition. Sadly, beyond a couple of house parties, this unique group dissolved after a year.

After answering an ad from a "Funkadelic, Live Hip-Hop Band" looking for a Guitarist, Darren‚s first professional break was in late 1991 when he joined the pioneering live Hip-Hop group "Smokin Suckaz Wit Logic" or "SSL." Because of their unique sound and approach, SSL was signed to Epic Records/Sony Music a mere 6 months after Darren joined. As a signed act, SSL opened for a diverse array of artists such as Ziggy Marley, KRS-One, Henry Rollins, The Voluptu ous Horror of Karen Black and hardcore legends Bad Brains, as well as touring the United States on their own. SSL released their full length CD, "Playin Foolz" in November, 1993 and their video for the song "Cuz I‚m Like Dat" was featured on "Yo MTV Raps" and MTV‚s "Alternative Nation." SSL‚s music has been featured in various skateboarding videos, a Sony mini disc commercial and on the soundtrack for the animated feature, "Street Fighter II." SSL might have been a little too their time as the group and record label philosophies were split over "pure" Hip-Hop and with the burgeoning "Alternative" movement. So, after 2 years, SSL was dropped from Epic and folded soon after.

Darren went on to start the experimental hard rock group "Vinny" along with former SSL bassist "Money Mike", and singer Aris Reynolds who became his roommate and best friend. Greatly influenced by groups like Soundgarden and Led Zeppelin for their use of alternate tunings, Darren began writing songs at a rapid pace with singer Reynolds. Vinny made numerous appearances at various New York clubs, including Brownies, The Spiral, CBGB‚s and the Pyramid (home of Nirvana‚s New York debut!) After a year, Vinny was in the early stages of recording a self-produced album, when it was tragically cut short with the premature passing of singer Aris Reynolds at age 27.

After a year of inactivity, Darren eventually picked up the Guitar again and desiring a more stripped down approach to music, accepted the invitation to become lead guitarist of pop-punk New York group, Joker Five Speed. During his 3 year stint with JFS, Darren helped to change the sound of the group to more harder edged rock. He also recorded 2 EP‚s with the group, "She Likes Me" and "Rock" and co-wrote many songs, including "Jet Set City" which will be included on the latest Sleazegrinder compilation, "Cock and Roll."

Throughout, Darren stayed in touch with Giovanny. On one visit to New York, Gio gave Darren a demo tape of his new band in Los Angeles, Viva Malpache. Darren was blown away by the raw energy and the use of Spanish lyrics in a Punk/Ska setting. Always intrigued and inspired by the fertile West Coast rock scene which spawned many of his favorite artists, Darren decided in late 2000 to finally make the move to Los Angeles at Giovanny's invitation. After auditioning for Viva during his first ever visit to LA in December of 2000, Darren became a full time member of Viva Malpache after moving in March 2001, and has co-written several songs with Gio and the boys.

D has been in LA for 3 years now, and for him it has been like a whole nother life time. He is incredibly proud of the music that Viva Malpache has created and of the upcoming album. Darren, D-Lo, D, El Lolko, Bastard, or however else you want to call him, looks forward to spreading the music of Viva Malpache throughout the world with their upcoming album "La Venganza De Rock N Roll".

Full name:
Darren Keith Lolk

Nick Name:
D, D-Lo

Favorite bands or artists:
Bad Brains, Red Hot Chili Peppers,
The Who, Steve Khan, The Police, Bob Marley, The Specials, King Tubby
James Brown, Desmond Dekker, Julian Cope, Black Sonny, P.I.C., Living Colour, Afixion
Shannon Hurley, Van Halen, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Miles Davis,
Duke Ellington, Curtis Mayfield, Eddie Cochran, The Creation, The Jam, Question Mark and The Mysterians, P-Funk,
Fishbone, The Ramones, Run-Dmc...the list goes on...

Top ten albums:
1.)Who's Next (The Who)
2.)Van Halen (Van Halen)
3.)ROIR Sessions (Bad Brains)
4.)Zenyetta Mondatta (The Police)
5.)Casa Loco (Steve Khan & Eyewitness)
6.)St. Julian (Julian Cope)
7.)America Eats Its Young (Funkadelic)
8.)Uplift Mofo Party Plan (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
9.)Truth & Soul (Fishbone)
10.)Love, Power, Soul - James Brown Live in Paris (JB)
So many more I could ad...

Favorite movies:
1.) 2001: A Space Odyssey
2.) Quadrophenia
3.) Dog Day Afternoon
4.) Decline of Western Civilization Part I
5.) Kramer Vs. Kramer
6.) Dr. Strangelove
7.) Crimes and Misdemeanors
8.) Fast Times At Ridgemont High
9.) Woodstock
10.)GimmeShelter

Favorite actors and actresses.
Al Pacino, Denzel Washington, Ray Liotta, Angela Bassett, Robert DeNiro,
Ben Stiller, Steve Buscemi, Joan Cusack, Maya Rudolph

Favorite Books:
Watership Down, A Bridge Too Far, The Death and Life of Great American Cities,
On the Road, A Drinkers Life, Please Kill Me

Favorite Women:
Mom, Grandmother, Step-Mother and Aunt Marie.

Hometown:
Echo Park, walking distance from Dodger Stadium

Place of Birth:
New Jersey

Sports?
I like water sports

Hobbies:
Boogie Boarding, Listening to Music, Driving while listening to Music,
Hiking, channel surfing, movies, reading.

Advice on what to do for fun in LA.
Griffith Park Observatory (Los Felix)
Amoeba Music (Hollywood)
Happy Hour at The Shortstop (Echo Park)
Dub Club at the Echo, Wednesday nights (Echo Park)
Underground (West Hollywood)
Jumbo's Clown Room (Hollywood)
Boogie Boarding or Surfing(Zuma Beach, Manhattan Beach, Huntington)
The Promenade (biking along the coast from Santa Monica to Redondo Beach
Getty Center (West LA)
Museum of Television & Radio (Beverly Hills)
Knitting Factory (Hollywood)
CBS Seafood, Dim Sum on Sunday's (China Town)

Favorite Malpache songs:
The one written tomorrow

Sign:
Aquarius

Best qualities in a person.
Loyalty, Love, Humor, Patience, Honesty, Creativity, Understanding, Empathy

Define Rock and Roll:
Liberating

Favorite Malpache Moment:
My very first audition.

If there was a movie about Malpache, who would play you?
Keanu Reeves...or Rich Hall

Favorite Color?
Color me bad

Favorite Quote?
"There are only two types of Music...Good and Bad" - Duke Ellington

Favorite Drink?
Thai Iced Tea

What makes you happy?
Music, Family, Friends, Love, Sex, Food.

Favorite Food or plate?
Chicken Parmigian and Pasta, Italian Sausage & Peppers,
Rice & Beans, Wonton Dumplings and Noodles in Oyster Sauce

Anything else you would like to add?
I'd want to say thank you to all that love and support our music. Through
thick and thin, it keeps us going.

Favorite websites?
www.legendarytones.com
www.stevekhan.com
www.nydailynews.com
www.nypost.com
www.modculture.com
www.SkaAuGoGo.com
www.uppers.org
www.picscape.com
www.shannonhurley.com

to get in touch with Darren just e-mail:
el_lolko@yahoo.com