Sunday, August 31, 2008
Quick, A+E, Music, Q&A
Going green with Johnny Colt
A Quick Q&A
Courtesy of Lip Service PR
When you think of hard-rocking types like Train bassist and Atlanta resident Johnny Colt—also known for his stint with the Black Crowes—you don’t necessarily think about eco-friendliness. We caught up with Colt to talk about his Sept. 5 photography exhibit at Bloomingdale’s, only to find out the rocker has found ways to assimilate sustainability into his own personal aesthetic.—Larissa Erin Greer
Q You’re into a little bit of everything. What projects do you have going on right now?
A I’m in San Francisco this week working with Train on writing and finishing up the new album, and I’ve been touring the country DJ-ing almost every weekend. I’m also a part of Triple 6 Cycling in Atlanta, and we’re in the process of building a three-acre cycle cross course over on Glen Iris.
You’re also doing a photo exhibit at Bloomingdale’s.
Yeah it’s this hybrid photo/DJ set thing. I’ve been shooting photos off and on during my career, and I’ve been living a really bizarre life, so the photos on display span my entire career. It’s a nice mix of visuals and music. I’m stoked that it’s all going to be set up in the Dolce & Gabbana section.
So tell us a little bit about Battleground Earth.
It’s a TV show that’s a hybrid of eco-friendly challenges and a rock versus rap competition between us and Ludacris. The creators of the show called Tommy Lee and pitched the idea to him, then he called me and said “We’re going to do this ‘green’ challenge show,” and I fell over laughing. I figured if Tommy’s going green, I wanted to have the best seat in the house to watch him do it. My favorite part is seeing him use power tools. It’s hilarious.
What steps is Train taking to “go green” for its upcoming tour?
Touring is a polluting activity. The band is looking to reduce their carbon footprint in big and small ways, especially by trying to limit the waste of a lot of horrible, single-use items like water bottles. The entire crew is going to be reusing water bottles fitted with individual filters, and filling them up at the venue. We’re also going to be utilizing biodiesel on our tour bus, and we’re talking about possibly using it for generators to power the show. The tour is purchasing carbon offsets in the form of tree-planting to make up for any additional pollution.
How do you apply those principles to your everyday life here in Atlanta?
I live in the Morningside area, and I commute on my bicycle at least 50 percent of the time to my studio and office in the Old Fourth Ward. I’m all for conscious living, and although I’m an extremist by nature, I feel that it’s small things that add up to making a difference. For example, filtering water at your house instead of buying bottled water—why not just use the energy and power already used to bring the water to your house? I try to do my part, so that I can somehow make up for the people around me who don’t. SP
“Rock Star Realities: Life of a Rock Star on the Road” features a photo exhibit, personal stories and a DJ set from Colt. The event begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6 at Bloomingdale’s at Lenox Square.