Since the tribute album to Tony Sly has been released, many personalities from bands who contributed to the Fat Wreck Chords comp have stopped by Tonysly.org to explained how Tony influenced them or to talk about the song they covered on the album.
Most recently, Lagwagon guitarist and former No Use For A Name member Chris Rest has wrote a piece on how it was to play and tour with Tony Sly.
Here’s what he had to say:
“As a musician, once in a while you see a band and think, “Wow, I wish I was in this band.” No Use was one of those bands for me. It was always obvious to me that their songs and talent was beyond the level of an average punk band. But it was their personalities and overall dynamic that really made them so cool. Tony is one of the funniest and smartest people I’ve ever known. His talent was always obvious. One day, out of the blue, I received a call from Tony asking if I wanted to audition for No Use. Lagwagon was not doing much of anything at the time and I was working as a care giver for an elderly woman. I was initially surprised but flattered and I accepted. Our first tour was to Indonesia, Malaysia, China and Japan. I quickly realized even more than before, the extent of Tony’s talent and the band’s potential. None of us had ever been to Indonesia, Malaysia or China and we played many smaller cities in Japan that bands don’t normally go to, which made it a new experience for all of us. I can’t really recall many tours that I had a better time on. I quickly became very close friends with Tony, Matt and Rory. When Rory left the band I recommended my good friend, Boz Rivera to take his place. Matt and Boz playing together was an awesome thing to behold. They fed off of each other’s musical abilities. With that, combined with Tony’s songwriting, I was quite sure that the the next album to come out of this band was going to be something very special. To be a part of it, I’m sure, was going to be something I would have really been proud of. I am proud and grateful to have been lucky enough to have experienced the times that I did, playing, touring and just hanging out with Tony and to have had his friendship. I will Never Forget Tony Sly.”
Chris Rest and Lagwagon covered Tony’s “Discomfort Inn” on the tribute album “The Songs Of Tony Sly: A Tribute,” released on October 29th through Fat Wreck Chords.