It's been a busy summer for Lit guitarist Jeremy Popoff. The band picked up a new record label (the independent DRT Entertainment), released a new record (the self-titled "Lit") and Popoff is getting ready to open a new rock 'n' roll-themed restaurant in his hometown of Fullerton, Calif.
The restaurant, scheduled to open in a couple of months, will be similar to a Hard Rock Cafe but with an Orange County theme, Popoff said. During a phone interview with the Deseret Morning News, Popoff said he was in his Fullerton home waiting to meet with No Doubt guitarist Tom Dumont, who was donating a guitar to the restaurant.
"It's rock 'n' roll memorabilia, but way less corporate," Popoff said.
Rock memorabilia seems to be a theme with Lit lately. Heavy-metal posters of such groups as Def Leppard and Iron Maiden can also be found in the band's latest video, "Looks Like They Were Right," which is kind of a trip down heavy-metal memorial lane.
But several bands told Lit they didn't want their memorabilia used in the video — including Eddie Van Halen. "During the guitar solo, I pay homage to Jimmy Page, Randy Rhoads . . . and I played a replica of his red-and-white striped guitar. I only used it for a few seconds. But they made us cut it out.
"I was really surprised. I wasn't making fun of anyone, just paying homage. But whatever."
Ironically, Popoff said Van Halen recently asked Lit to open for them on the final leg of their tour, but the band couldn't fit it in.
Fans of Lit aren't surprised with the group's hard-rock roots. Even though Lit tends to get played on radio stations with a modern or alternative format, its guitar-heavy rock sound should not be confused with the Good Charlottes of the world. "We're a rock band. Our fans have known it all along. We grew up heavy-metal kids. We're about Marshalls and loud."
Before Lit, the band was known as Razzle in the early '90s, a true hair band that played on the Strip. "I look back on that very fondly. We were four kids in high school. You either played at parties or played on the Strip in Hollywood. We did real well in those days. (But) everyone is a little embarrassed when looking at their old prom pictures."
Lit has been to Utah several times, including a performance during the men's halfpipe competition at the 2002 Winter Olympics. "That was insane. It was so cold," said Popoff who put a pair of hand-warmers in his shoes and ended up burning his feet. "We were doing anything we could to keep warm."
The weather promises to be much warmer for Saturday's X-96 BASh show at the Utah State Fairgrounds. "I was really pleasantly surprised at how many great bands were playing at the show."
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com