Rubicon Cross is a new band fronted by Firehouse singer CJ Snare. He and his close friend Chris Green (guitar), wrote the music for the band’s self-titled debut, which was recently released. Green gives us the scoop on Rubicon Cross along with some of the other bands he’s been involved in past and present.

Chad Bowar: Give us a brief history of Rubicon Cross.
Chris Green: It all started in 2003 when I met CJ Snare in Madrid, Spain.

I was in a band called Pride at the time and we’d bagged the support slot for a Firehouse European tour. After the show CJ approached me and said “Hey, I like your playing, want to play guitar on my solo album?” It all went from there.

He stayed at my bedsit in the UK while we wrote tunes. Actually “Moving On” was the first one we ever wrote. Then I’d fly over to his place and write, too. But we had 4000 miles between us, marriages, breakups, divorces, babies, depression, deaths in the family, you name it, it happened to us. So that’s why it took so long to come to fruition, but to be honest, if it’d happened anytime sooner I think it would have been the wrong time. It’s seems to be much more relevant now than it would have been in say 2005.

Where did the band name come from?
My father was a great inspiration to both myself and CJ. He was a musician too and had fantastic stories about his days in the business. His analogies and sayings were always spot on and always at the right time. He was kind of like an old wise tribal leader.

So anyway, he had this saying “crossing the rubicon” he used a lot. It basically means ‘point of no return’ or ‘no turning back’.

It derives from 490BC when Julius Caesar marched his army across the Rubicon River in northern Italy. By crossing the river he was committed to battle. It was a really apt analogy for myself and CJ, as we’d put everything we had into the band and realized if we were going make something of it, there was no turning back. So ‘crossing the rubicon’ quickly became Rubicon Cross and here we are.

Describe the songwriting and recording process for your self-titled album.
We didn’t have a set way for writing the album. Sometimes I’d come up with a riff and CJ would sing over it. Other times I’d demo an entire tune and give it to CJ and he’d just write the lyrics and melodies over the top. And then there were a couple of times where each one of us just wrote the entire songs. Very different every time.

How was your experience working with producer Rick Beato?
I love Rick, he’s an absolute one of a kind character. He can seem mean and ‘to the point’ when you first meet him but he’s like an onion, layer upon layer upon layer you peel back until you find this very funny, extremely talented musician/producer. He has some amazing ideas on recording and we had a blast making the record. I went back and recorded a solo album with him just because of how much I loved the vibe there in Atlanta.

How would you characterize the style/sound of the album?
I appreciate that this is something that inevitably comes up, but I do truly believe that pigeonholing rock music has led to more problems and driven it more and more underground as a genre. I remember once upon a time when you were either into rock music or ‘something else’ like indie or dance. Now all of a sudden you just seem to put ‘core’ at the end of your newly made up genre and bam, you have 50 different styles of the same bloody thing. It’s elitist b.s. if you ask me. Musicians just trying to be different and trying to separate themselves from the rest.

So what are we? We’re a rock band. We play guitars, bass, drums and sing, the same as every other crazy genre of rock/metal that’s out there. We just don’t have the need to label it as something silly. I mean if we were forced to play the game, I guess we’d be melodic modern hard edge rock, but let’s face it, we’re not reinventing the wheel. We’re just trying to bring our own piece of what was once classic, simple and awesome back to the table. If you like melodic vocals, fast guitars, pounding drums, etc., chances are you’re gonna like us.

What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
Probably CJ recording the vocals to “Save Me Within.” It’s a song about the passing of my father, and when I heard what he’d sang it just made me feel something I can’t explain; sorrow, pride, enlightenment, I don’t know. Whatever it was, it felt amazing.

How has the album's response compared to your expectations?
We have been absolutely floored by the way this album has been received. No bad reviews yet and the momentum keeps building. The sales have completely surpassed our expectations and we’re just looking forward to seeing how this whole thing unfolds.

What are your upcoming tour plans?
We just got new management, so I think by fall we’ll be hitting the road and taking this album to the masses. We just did out first show here with Fozzy and the crowd reaction was amazing. We are essentially a live band. It’s what we do best so we can’t wait to get out there and crush it across the U.S.

How did you get started in music?
My father was a successful musician. As much as he didn’t want me to get into the business, he eventually caved in and tutored me not just on guitar, but with the music business itself. I avoided signing some pretty gnarly contracts due to his guidance. Now I can’t even think what I would have done if I hadn’t been a musician. Maybe a drummer? (laughs)

Who were your early influences and inspirations?
Actually my first guitar hero was Hank Marvin of the Shadows. My dad knew the band and I got backstage and had Hank show me his red Strat and a few things on guitar. All my friends were listening to pop music and current rock music, but I was firmly set in the ‘60s and ‘70s. I listened to The Kinks, Dire Straits, The Shadows, The Small Faces. It wasn’t until my sister played me Appetite for Destruction by GnR that I truly got my face melted.

From then on all my retro stuff went in boxes and I bought Mr Big, Whitesnake, Yngwie Malmsteen, Bon Jovi, .then moved into more prog and got into Dream Theater and Tool. Then I had to be a shredder. In my head it was simple; I had to strive to be the best at what I do. And I still strive for that.

What was your first band, and what type of music did they play?
Spreadeagle UK. My dad named the band (private joke on his behalf I think). Basically we wanted to be Poison, but really it ended up just sounding like bad punk music. Actually isn’t that a double negative? (laughs)

What other bands were you in over the years?
These are bands I’ve been a solid member of or toured with as part of the band or just been up on stage with playing some songs: Spreadeagle UK, Mind, Southside, Pride, Furyon, Scrap Metal, Nelson, Firehouse, Winger, Tyketto, Souls Harbor.

Were you involved in the recording of Furyon's upcoming album?
Yes. I wrote all the music and recorded the guitars down in Atlanta with none other than Rick Beato. Actually that album is slamming. Can’t wait to hear the mixes.

Are you currently involved in any other bands/projects in addition to Rubicon Cross?
Yes. I play live shows with Tyketto. We’re about to play Download in the UK. That’s one off the bucket list. I also jam with a band here in Chicago called Spacewolf. We have a rehearsal space in the city with a full English bar upstairs in it. Alex and Brenden from Spacewolf are basically my brothers from another mother. We have a great time jamming that stuff.

What’s currently in heavy rotation in your MP3 player?
A UK band called Monument. Check it out. Awesome twin guitars, fast metal vibe, probably the best drumming I’ve heard in a decade or so. Their album Renegades just dropped, so go grab it, great to work out to.

Anything else you'd like to mention or promote?
I want to say thanks to all our loyal fans. They surprise us every day with their loyalty and support. Please go and check out our website where you can follow the band, watch our video for the single “Bleed With Me,” read reviews, bios and check out our awesome merch. Also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Our CD is on the Sixx Sense Best Buy stand this week for $6.99 so go get some! Thanks very much for the opportunity to share our story.