OzProg: To get things started, could you give us a brief rundown of your musical background? For example, how long have you been playing bass, have you had any formal training, and who are some of your main influences?

Dean: I've been playing electric bass for about thirteen years now, although violin was my first instrument as a child back in the UK. Bass is of course my number one passion and I was self-taught in my formative years before studying at Box Hill College of Music.

I could write a whole book on my influences, but the main four are Steve Harris, Jaco Pastorius, Geddy Lee and John Myung.

OzProg: Who are the members of Xtreme Measures and how did the band get together?

Dean: The "XM" line-up is: Daniel Luttick-Drumkit, Nick Carr-Guitar, Gianni D'Ambra-Keyboards and of course myself on Bass.

We all met at Box Hill College of Music and were brought together via natural selection, in a way! The four of us were really intent on performing complex, technical and virtuosic pieces during our study years and we were really the only four musicians competent (and crazy) enough to tackle such a challenge. We all bonded very quickly... I guess we needed to when we only had each other to rely on to perform Planet X tunes!

OzProg: It's probably fair to say that most bands will start out by doing a few gigs and perhaps then recording a demo or even an EP after a reasonable amount of time. Xtreme Measures seems to have gone against this tradition by releasing a full length album very early in their career. Was there a conscious decision to bypass that stage of the band's development?

Dean: Well, as individuals, we all have numerous musical commitments and we all do travel a fair bit around the world...so when we are all together back in Australia, we make the most of it! We played a couple of shows in Melbourne and began writing together and then Nick and myself headed [overseas]. Dan and Gianni also had trips overseas and when we finally arrived back in Oz after a year or so, we all had enough material to bring to the table for our debut album. We then worked pretty obsessively on the compositions, went into 'The Shed' recording studio with John Castle and cut the debut album in a week. It's definitely a case of 'Carpe Diem' with this band!

OzProg: I suspect that a lot of people see that gigging / demoing / gigging cycle as a part of paying their dues as a band. You don't share this view?

Dean: Hmmm. If 'paying your dues' means to work as hard and as smart as you can to achieve your full potential, I am all for it. Unfortunately for a lot of Melbourne musicians, 'paying your dues' translates to 'I'll bust my balls for as long as I can while I have the absolute piss taken out of me'.

We have never been a band (or individuals) that put up with dodgy venues that rip us off or refuse to pay us. Nor are we keen on working so hard to sound the best we can, only to have some 'hack mixer' fuck up our 'front of house' sound at a gig. And don't get me started on wannabe lighting guys who literally leave bands in the dark just to make the 'headlining act' look better!

But still, most bands feel they have to go through all this shit to earn their stripes...and then wonder years later why the band split or why they are still broke.

OzProg: What can you tell us about the songwriting process for the album? Did you have a sound in mind that you were trying to create, or did you take a more experimental approach? Were there any strong influences or sources of inspiration?

Dean: Collectively, our influences are extremely varied and range from Bach to Alan Holdsworth to Virgil Donati to Tool. Having the freedom to write the way we wanted to and then combining our eclectic tastes resulted in an album that I feel really pushed, and even crossed, a lot of boundaries. It's all in there: jazz, fusion, classical, metal and a lot of prog!

We didn't really set out to go in one direction, but we knew the overall feel of the album was going to be pretty progressive and certainly intense.

During the few months we had writing together back in Melbourne, I worked closely with Dan, Nick and Gianni and our individual ideas combined very easily to create some amazing tunes.

At times, one of us would bring the bulk of a tune already written and throw it at the rest of us: "Play this, ya bastard! By the way, Dean - you've got a bass solo in 21/16!"

Yeah... thanks for that one, Nicko!

OzProg: And what can you tell us about the recording process for the album?

Dean: In the insane/intense tradition of "XM", we booked in a couple of weeks with John Castle at 'The Shed' studios and wanted to have the entire album completed in this time.

Daniel and I went in first to lay down the drums and bass. We recorded together and kept just about every take. In fact some of these first takes for drums and bass ended up on the album. Dan nailed the drum parts on his monster kit in two days and then it was my turn.

I recorded with John using my 5, 6 string and fretless basses. In fact, most of the album was made with my 'Warwick FNA' plugged directly into the board, no FX.

After my first day, Nick came in to lay down all the guitar tracks. Following his day of 'shredding at The Shed', I returned for my second day and completed the bass tracks. Then, Gianni layed down all the keyboard tracks in a record two days as well. Nick returned the next day for his final cuts.

The recording, week one, was complete. Week two was 'mix-down' with John and the entire band and then onto Phil Gaudion for his expert mastering of the finished cd.

With a lot of hard work, focus and a few of John's 'cafe latte's', we did it!

OzProg: What gigs has the band played, and are there plans for any more in the foreseeable future?

Dean: We have played over the last few years at The Evelyn and The Central Club and at Box Hill College of Music. We have shared the stage with some great acts such as the Sam Aliano Band and included special guests in the 'XM' sets.

It's hard to say when we will be gigging next, as we are not yet all back on Aussie soil! But keep a look out for gigs as a three-piece in the future.

OzProg: What sort of feedback have you gotten from people regarding the album?

Dean: Well - it's great to say that we have had nothing but good reviews of the debut album. Reviews from overseas and here in Australia have been both complimentary and encouraging. It has also been rewarding to receive such incredible feedback from experts in the field such as Gary and Peter from PBS FM and Richard Kolp on-line.

OzProg: Xtreme Measures is not your only gig though. What other projects have you been involved in over the past few years?

Dean: Where do I start? Okay. I've been playing overseas with Superkatz and Psyko X, performed here in Melbourne with Latitude and Eclectic Ladyland and recorded in projects such as Xistance and Acrilica. I've just finished an amazing few months with the mighty Chaos Theory and I am pleased to announce that I am now playing with the symphonic metal band Enter Twilight. I'm also currently recording with Luthor.

That's a few of my more recent gigs - and I have to fit in teaching and work on my own chops and compositions!

OzProg: How the hell do you find time for all of this?

Dean: An instructor from the legendary 'Juilliard School of Music' once said, "Every hour spent doing something else could be spent practicing."

I wholeheartedly agree with this concept and I love to saturate myself with music... it is my life after all!

It's just like anything else really. If you want to achieve the best you have to make certain sacrifices. I may miss out on sleep occasionally and I never go out socially, but I don't miss this when I am playing with so many great musicians and constantly learning more about myself and my music.

I also manage to stay single, which saves on time, money and trips to the shrink - seriously! Besides, it would be wrong for me to be away from my bass for any space of time. Do you think 'Alexander' ever had a day off from bring 'the Great'?

OzProg: What was it like playing in the Middle East during such turbulent times?

Dean: I've spent years in the Middle East now, gigging there six nights a week and I have managed to stay out of trouble. I was there with a band just after the tragic events of 9/11 and during the entire conflict.

At one stage, we were the only western band on the entire island of Bahrain. The other bands were understandably concerned for their safety and decided to get out while they could. We chose to stay and continue with the gigs. We didn't have a death wish or anything...we just had a job to do and of course felt that the show must, indeed, go on.

OzProg: I understand that you learned all of the material for Chaos Theory within two days of returning to Australia from Oman, and then played the first gig two days after that. Is this true or an urban myth?

Dean: Ah - the old urban legend of 'Dean the Beast Gaudoin!' Well, that's almost all true.

I arrived back in Melbourne from Oman on a Wednesday morning. Leanne [Chaos Theory keyboardist] had already e-mailed me saying they needed a bassist, so I went down to meet the band and check out their rehearsal that Sunday. I really loved what I heard so I learnt an albums worth of material in two days, rehearsed with the guys on the Wednesday and did my first gig with them on the Saturday.

It was a great gig too!

OzProg: Anything else you'd like to add before we finish?

Dean: I'd like to thank all of the people that have supported me over the years and all of the great musicians that I have worked with. Way too numerous to mention here, but you know who you are. See you at a gig real soon!