The band CKY (for Camp Kill Yourself) looks at every challenge as something positive.
"When something comes up, we know it will make us stronger if we get through it," guitarist/vocalist Deron Miller said by phone from Phoenix, Ariz. "We look at each situation as something that will help the band. And we can rely on the experiences when we come up against something similar in the future."
In addition to Miller, CKY features drummer Jess Margera and guitarist/bassist Chad Ginsburg, all of whom hail from Westchester, Pa. The band got its big break at the 1999 Vans Warped Tour.
"The first and foremost influence for me has been Kiss," said Miller. "Then, as I got older, I extended my listening to Ozzy (Osbourne), Metallica and Death. But I realized the importance of listening to all sorts of music. And CKY has been influenced by all types of music. It's helped us with our style and our direction."
The direction is simple. CKY wants to play music that Miller, Margera and Ginsburg like to hear. "When it comes to the band, we want it to be something we're proud of," Miller said. "There are a lot of fans out there and they are our main audience."
CKY's new album "An Answer Can Be Found" was recorded last year, said Miller, and he feels it's the best the band has done. "We always look back and try to make ourselves better. Our goal is to keep progressing. And making the album was a case point. While it's easier to make an album with the recording process, it's harder to write better songs."
Miller, who does all the lyrics, said he had three songs completed when the recording sessions began. "We wrote a lot of the others in the studio. Once the music got going, the lyrics started coming. And we got the album together nicely."
Now the band is on tour, and as Miller said, that's the only thing the three musicians care about. "When we're on the road CKY is the only band in the world. That's because we're the only band we see on stage. It's us. Every night is a CKY show. It makes it easy to focus on the band when it's all we do.
"We don't even write new songs on the road. I'm not like that at all. I don't pick up a guitar, except to rehearse and play. And we are definitely not the kind of band to say, 'Here's a new song. We hope you like it.'
"No, we want our fans to know our music before we play it live for them. We want them to be familiar with the songs. That way they are in the know, so to speak."
If you go . . .
What: CKY, the Knives
Where: Lo-Fi Cafe, 165 S. West Temple
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
How much: $12
Phone: 949-6324
Web: www.loficafe.com
E-mail: scott@desnews.com