AniMaze X is a 3 dimensional avatar redefined. AniMaze X is a heavy metal band, also redefined, but with a twist. The illegitimate child of Alice Cooper and Mickey Mouse, AniMaze X is a creative, strategic, musical design inaugurated by members of D-Metal Stars/AniMetal USA. Their innovative focus concentrates on a wide variety ofmusical themes including superheroes, cartoons, Broadway musicals, and movie soundtracks showcasing live Metal performances with a theatrical style production.
As D-Metal Stars the factions debut album “Metal Disney” was first released on Walt Disney records to the Japanese market, and reached #3 on Amazon Japan Hard Rock/Metal Best Sellers chart as well as #2 on the Children’s chart. It was later released in the US and landed on Billboard, iTunes and Amazon charts.
The dazzling and vibrant members of the band consist of Michael Vescera on vocals, John Bruno on guitar, Rudy Sarzo, (Ozzy Osbourne) on bass, and BJ Zampa playing the drums. The band will be releasing a brand-new Christmas song on December 11, 2020 called “AnimazingXmas.” The song holds the magic of Christmas, the innocence of children, with the sensational power of heavy metal. What starts an adventure is a single leap of faith, and AniMaze X is a barrage of multi-chromatic sound, a dramatic adventure fashioned for the entire family.
I had a conversation with vocalist Michael Vescera regarding the project, the band’s Disney history as well their future intentions teaming up with philanthropist SohoJohnny and his entertainment team….
What exactly are you?
That’s a good question. We started this a bunch of years ago. We were actually approached by SONY to do a thing called Internental USA and it was about covering all Anime songs. We wore make-up and it was almost like a KISS show. So, we were doing rock versions of popular Anime songs. It was a cross between KISS and the internet. It was a really big production. We filled arenas in Japan and we did one show in LA at the Anime convention, and that was really big. That’s how this all started. Then at one point we were approached by Disney to do a Disney record, hard rock versions of Disney songs. We were called D-Metal Stars and it was all Disney sponsored. It included Rudy Sarzo from Ozzy Osbourne and Whitesnake, and some musicians from the New York area. We released a record and it did amazingly well. Rolling Stone picked it up and did a huge article on it and it spread like wildfire. We were on every syndicated radio show, and it was really insane. The problem was that Disney kind of watches every move that you make, and then Disney pulled all stops on it and said they weren’t going to do anything with it unless they felt like they wanted to. They refused to let us tour and they refused to let us promote it, and we had put so much time and effort in it. So, we decided to start this project and own everything and not have to deal with it so we called it AniMaze X. It’s a rock show with a theatrical theme.
What age group are you focusing on?
We are trying to do a family type thing. We are trying to go across the board and do comic books, Pixar, cartoons, any of that stuff. We are trying to attract 5/6 year olds to the older adults. Kind of a family thing where somebody is going to be familiar with something we’re doing.
So if someone gave birth to you it might be Alice cooper and Mickey Mouse as the parents?
Exactly. I have a 7 year old grandson and a 5 year old granddaughter and we do a version of Spider-Man, the early version of it. All that stuff that we do they love as well. Hopefully it will gain interest from everybody. And hopefully it will be familiar to everyone.
How are you connected with the SohoJohnny project?
I was introduced to John Velasco a few years ago. We started talking right after the Disney thing happened. So, John and I have been working together for the past few years on various things. We were actually going to do a House of Blues tour. We were going to start in Orlando and go straight onto Disney, but then Disney got a little funny on us and we had to pull back on that. We signed a deal with an agency in New York and we were supposed to do a run on Broadway. We were going to do matinees but because of the virus and everything put a halt to that. John Velasco who works with SohoJohnny on his label approached him. That’s how it happened. We are sort of working as partners on that along with a live show. It’s kind of a big team effort. I met Johnny a few times and he’s a great guy and I know that John Velasco only works with great people. We are real happy and we’re hoping that it will be very successful for everyone.
You’re set to release a new Christmas song on the Tribeca label I believe? Is that an original song?
That’s an original song. We did 10 songs in hopes that we would be able to release an album for Christmas. It had cover songs and two originals. It’s called “Animazing X-mas.”
Who writes the songs?
I usually write the songs but occasionally I have a co-writer from Connecticut. I’m from Connecticut originally and I’ve been in Nashville about 14 years now.
You’re all music veterans, your band.
Yes, we’ve all been around. Rudy and I have been doing different things together for around nine years and he’s a great guy.
Do you have a web-site so people can see who you are and what you do ?
Yes we do, you can find us here: https://www.animazex.com