LESLIE
Friday, May 13, 2011 at 10:56AM 
Hardship is sometimes life's greatest inspiration. For Sadler Vaden, Jason Fox & Jonathan Carman of Charleston rock trio Leslie, what started with tragedy quickly turned into a year of self discovery.
The year started out just like any other in the band's history. They were driving around the southeast in an old Ford van, that logged over 400,000 miles, hoping it wouldn't break down before their next gig. Whether it was a packed club or a smokey bar filled with 3 locals and a bartender, their goal was to play their music to anyone who would listen and to pour every ounce of their souls out on stage each night.
Then, in February, on his 21st birthday, Sadler Vaden's mother, Scarlet, passed away from her battle with breast cancer, making this the second parent he had lost within a few years. No one would have blamed them if at that moment they gave up, walked away, and started over in a different direction of their lives. However, for them, quitting was never an option.
Growing up in a small blue collar town in South Carolina, sacrifice and determination were lessons that were instilled early in life for each member of Leslie. Carman’s mother pawned her wedding ring to get him his first drum set, while Fox’s family taught not only their son, but the band how to invest their earnings back into their passion, music. Vaden’s parents introduced him to stacks of vinyl by Zeppelin, The Who, and Hendrix, which not only shaped his taste in music, but taught him the importance of creating something timeless. Because of this, it didn’t come as a shock when one of Scarlet Vaden’s last wishes was for the band to continue making music on their own terms and grow up to be the men she knew the were destined to be.
In the months following, Leslie took a trip to Memphis, Tennessee, to write and help them cope with the loss of their biggest fan. Maybe it was the experience of living in a trailer park next to the Mississippi River in a town known for birthing the blues and creating some of history's most memorable rock & roll, but something inspired them to open the floodgates and "The Rebel Souls EP" was written.
If a biography is the culmination of one's shared experiences, then "The Rebel Souls EP" is Leslie’s first chapter.
INTERVIEW with Sadler Vaden of LESLIE
How old were you when you wrote your first song and what was it about?
I was 14 yrs old. The song was called ‘Helicopter.’ I can’t remember the lyrics but I was a very big Oasis and Beatles fan, so it was kind of a British Rock type song.
What is an interesting fact about yourself that most people would not know?
I’m a really really big UNC Tar heels Fan. I’m a huge college basketball fan. I love everything basketball. Most people wouldn’t know that about me.
If you had to recommend one artist/band to a friend to check out right now, who would it be?
The album Here comes the Trick by Pleasure Club. They’re no longer around but if you can find the record…get it! In my eyes, it’s one of the best rock records ever made!
If you could relive one day of your life, which day would it be? Why?
Ah, this is a tough one. There have been so many days where I’ve said, “Wow! What else good could happen today?” But the first time I ever went to LA, I was by myself, stayed in a canyon somewhere, and got to write with a bunch of really great songwriters. It wasn’t the best day of my life, but it was probably the coolest. James Brown was asked once, “Play us your best song!” and his response was, “I can’t do that. The Best is yet to come!” I still think the best is yet to come for me.
If you weren't a musician, what job would you pursue?
Probably a creative director or marketing director for an advertising firm. Definitely something creative.
What celebrity would you be totally star struck to meet? Dead or Alive.
Michael Jackson! He’s so unearthly talented. Such an enigmatic person. I respected him for his work ethic. I’m a HUGE MJ fan. I cried multiple times the day he died. I was torn up about it for months. I had a lot of love for that guy.
What has been your greatest accomplishment as a musician?
I played The White House. I played with a band called the Blue Dogs, from Charleston, SC. I met George W. Bush. That’s about as big as it gets!
What was the most recent album you purchased?
Foo Fighters, Wasting Light…on vinyl! Unbelievable album. Unbelievable Rock n’ Roll.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your live, who would it be?
The Who, Who’s Next! Hands down.
Did you play an instrument as a kid and if so which one?
The first instrument I ever played was drums. I still play the drums to this day.
Is there an instrument you wish you could play but can’t?
I really want to learn how the play the fiddle.
Who would you want to go on tour with?
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.
What was the best city/venue/show you’ve ever played?
We played First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was a packed house and it’s the venue where they filmed Prince’s Purple Rain. Best show we’ve ever played. It was first class!
When did you get involved with music? Why?
My parents spoon-fed me vinyl from 8 years old until I was 21, when I lost my mom.
Do you have any pets? If so, what?
Jonathan and Jason have chickens and a cat named Henry. My girlfriend has a schizophrenic dog named Lucy.
Have you ever played a prank on one of your band-mates/another band? Tell us!!
Oh Yes!! We did a prank on Will Hoge and his band once. They had pranked us the night before so we decided to get them back. We bought a bunch of plastic zip-ties and as they got done with sound check, just before they went on stage to play, we zip-tied all their guitars around the fret boards, so when Will strummed his first note, it just let out a big clang!! He had to bust out his buck knife on stage! It was priceless!
What do you do to get you ready before a show?!
I like to write out our set list, warm-up, just get psyched for the show. You know, get focused…show-ready. I don’t really have any ritual or anything. I just get in show-mode.
