Band*Aid Online Local Music Magazine

BandAid Magazine found themselves searching for their first feature interview, and we wanted to start with one of the best we knew of! We asked the drummer for the locally known band No More Goodbyes, Stacy Copas. He accepted and BandAid had the pleasure of getting to interview one of Indianapolis's best drummers. This 34 year young, father of 2, self-taught, 24yr drumming veteran hails from the town of Johnson City, TN. This very talented man gave BandAid an exclusive interview:

We walked into a bar on a Friday night to meet up with Stacy Copas. Sitting at the bar, drinking a Bud Light Lime (please send endorsements), cool, relaxed, and patient. Greeted with a smile and hug, we found ourselves at a table in a corner, waiting to hear all Copas had to say (like a child waiting to open a present on Christmas morning). I found a conversation Copas very refreshing. Our interview went from a being a Q&A, to a look inside of a very interesting guy/musician. During the interview I found Copas to be a very modest, but confident guy. He has a very positive and strong attitude, which would boost the drummer appeal to all. Kids want to grow up and play like him, Guys want to be him, and Ladies love him...but if you asked him about this, he wouldn't admit a single thing.

"I think just doing music for a living would be great. No desire for fame, every time I get drunk and fall down it'll be on the news"

When we asked "Why do you love making music?” he replied with, "For expression, creativity, and the work that gets put into it". Dealing with people in the music industry who have big egos, and take stuff for granted is on this drummers "Pet Peeve" list. The view he has from the stage, and a sold out show tops his list of favorites. I had to ask Copas what is it he thinks about when he is up there on stage. He replied with "I don't think", and quoted Bruce Lee: "Everything you've learned is meant to be forgotten, so you can float comfortably. So it’s more of a release, it just comes out". Before every show this drummer is so anxious, but says that nerves don't get the best of him, just the excitement.

"We all pretty much write our own parts, but ideas are easy to get across, we all write very well together, there's a natural chemistry"

Copas has played for numerous bands such as: ThunderCore, and MuddShovel, but joined the local band of No More Goodbyes in Mid 2007 after answering an ad for a drummer in a local music classifieds. NMG was a band of 4 guys who found themselves without a drummer, and not only found an awesome drummer in Copas, but a member of the family. Copas became part of what we know now as Indy's best, most popular, best sounding bands to come out of Indy. Copas and his band have played shows all over the Indy and the surrounding area. As well as a few shows in out-of-town places. No matter where the band has been, they make fans/friends everywhere they go. One of the places Copas likes to play at is 8 Seconds Saloon on the Indianapolis Westside. This venue is one of Indy's bigger local show spots. With a capacity of approx 1600, it makes for a "big time" feel.

At any show you can find Copas, and his band mates working their way through out the crowd. Making sure they get to say "hello" to all the fans that came out that night. Drinking, dancing, and chatting the night away. Copas has no trouble balancing his work, home, and music life, but assured me that being away from his family so much was the most difficult. His band practices 2x's a week, and from 3-6hrs a day. Traveling time, shows, promotional stuff and just general band tasks, take a lot of Copas's time. Although music occupies a lot of important time, Copas still has the ambition to "do music for a living". (And we all know he has the talent)

Most musicians interviewed by us are asked "If you could open for anyone famous, who would you choose?” Copas replied with "I don't want to open for anyone, I want to headline". A drummer who knows what he wants, and strives for it. In his CD player, Music player, or personal music collection, you can find Copas listening to: Bullet For My Valentine, Trivium, Seether, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, and Metallica. So it should not surprise you that Copas chose "Tears Don't Fall" By: Bullet For My Valentine as No More Goodbyes first cover song. But his favorite original to play is: "On The Radio". "That song was just written well" says Copas. "On The Radio" is No More Goodbyes first song to be recorded. Although that song’s drum part was not written by Copas, he finds himself enjoying playing that song the most.

"I don't want to open for anyone, I want to headline"

When No More Goodbyes writes their songs, we asked Copas what it was like writing and recording with the members of No More Goodbyes. "We all pretty much write our own parts, but ideas are easy to get across, we all write very well together, there's a natural chemistry" Copas and his band have a lot of potential and are headed down the path to great things. After being asked “What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?” Copas states, "I think just doing music for a living would be great. No desire for fame, every time I get drunk and fall down it'll be on the news". If you ever want to start your own band, or become a drummer. Copas's advice to all is "Work Hard & Practice". Good advice coming from someone who has been playing for 24yrs.

BandAid has been following No More Goodbyes since the day of their first show in Oct of 2007. Where ever the road may take them, we would highly suggest you go to a show, buy their CD, check out their Myspace page: www.myspace.com/nomoregoodbyesindy While at the shows, stop and say hello to Copas or any of the members of No More Goodbyes, and get to know the hottest Drummers/Bands in Indy.