Don Mancuso - Black Sheep Interview

Tell me about growing up in Rochester, NY? What was your childhood like growing up? When did you first begin to fall in love with music and what was it that initially fascinated you about it, more specifically the guitar? When and where did you see your first concert and what kind of impact did this leave on you? Who were some of your earliest influences? 

Yes, my parents and cousins that would watch me loved music. Normal childhood in a modest large Italian family. Lots of food and love. My parents got me guitar lessons at an early age. I stopped until I was in 7th grade and saw my first live band in the gym at school and that was it! I was in love with the idea of doing music… We’d ride mini bikes in the woods nearby. The usual drinking and partying. We played and practiced at night at a friend's moms house who worked nights and wanted us off the streets. Smart!! My first influences were Emerson Lake & Palmer, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Zeppelin and a local band called Rain.  

I understand that by the age of 18 you were playing professionally with Black Sheep. How did you initially meet Lou Gramm and the other guys? When and where did you guys first get together to jam/rehearse in ‘74? What were your first impressions of everyone and what was that initial chemistry like between everyone? When did the band make their live performance debut? 

I knew who they were from rumors around town. I was actually playing a show outdoors at a school with my first new purple Marshall 50 with an 8X10 Cabinet and was seeing what it could do and I woke the bass player of Black Sheep up who was sleeping on the couch at his girlfriends. He asked if I would be interested in joining the band for a jam and meet everyone. And that was it. I was ripped out of high school and went on the road..

Tell me about writing and recording the band’s debut LP “Encouraging Words” in ‘75. When and where did recording begin and what was the overall vision for this album? I understand the band shared the stage with groups such as Kiss, Peter Frampton, Argent, The Nuge and Procol Harem.

Actually our first single was on Chrysalis Records. We were the first American band signed to the label. We were then dropped and went to Capital Records and the debut self titled “Black Sheep” the second album was Encouraging Words. Touring was tough then being an opener for those bands and more. Lots of driving, short shows… It was fun and exciting, but brutal on the body. First time playing in front of thousands of people. Way different for sure. 

Can you tell me about writing and that record? What led to the decision for the band to ultimately split just after a year, or so of playing together? You went on to study classical guitar and work with some of the members from Stories in NY after Black Sheep. I understand you and Gramm have remained friends after all these years. 

Actually we were together for 3 years from start to finish. The reason we split up was due to having our 3rd truck accident and losing all our gear the 3rd time. The management had dropped our insurance, so we had no choice. Recording and writing those songs was a lot of fun and an experience not many musicians get. I learned a lot to say the least about writing and recording.  Yes, I went back to school for classical guitar and for electrical engineering. I wanted to have my own studio. And eventually I did! A small one that I still use. I actually was with the bass player from Black Sheep recording when I worked with Ian Lloyd on some demos in NYC. I have a lot to be proud of actually. I’ve worked with some of the greatest musicians of my time. From Lou Gramm to Lou Solofff. You can find it online I’m sure. The biggest was working with Lou Gramm again and doing his Christian Rock record “The Lou Gramm Band”. 

What have you been up to in more recent years? Anything new on the horizon for 2023? Is there anything else you would like to further share with the readers?

Well, I’m staying closer to home/family and doing more projects with friends and musicians I love playing with. I do guitar tracks for a few people all over the world. I work with an amazing and talented girl from Chicago Lisa Gee and just finished recording an EP with her. I actually got to work with the amazing Carmine Appice on that. He played on it and produced it. Been doing 3 tribute bands LOL!! That’s what’s selling these days. I just finished a record with my original band. It was called DDrive and we changed the name to Lips Turn Blue for the last release. (There’s a newer band in Japan that has a killer/beautiful girl shredder with the name D-Drive)  The Lips Turn Blue album featured another amazing singer/musician I’ve worked with almost as long as Lou. Phil Naro. He left the earth before the record came out and it was his last work. We promised we’d see it through and it came out on Made In Germany Music after the new world order took over. Great record. Some of our best work! And we had a lot of it writing together for 30 years. He worked with many greats as well. Future plans are maybe another solo album. Another Lips Turn Blue album if we can find a singer.

Is there anything else you would like to further share with the readers?

Just keep playing, writing and recording while I can!! Every day’s a gift…