10 Questions with ... Dave Lombardi

NAME:Dave Lombardi POSITION:National Director of Promotion COMPANY:Astralwerks BORN:New Jersey RAISED:New Jersey

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

Busboy at my brother-in-law's restaurant.

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

College and club DJ; owned a record pool; National Club Promotion for Island/4th & B'Way; National Manager Alternative Promotion for Warner Bros.; National Director of Rock Promotion at WB; Senior National Director of Alternative and Rock Promotion for Arista; and now Astralwerks.

FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:

Not counting gifts? Wings at the Speed of Sound.

FIRST CONCERT:

My big brother took me to see Queen on The Game tour at MSG.

FAVORITE BANDS OF ALL-TIME:

The Clash.

1. What got you interested in the record business?

A love for music and free vinyl/CDs!

2. What do you like best about your job?

I work with the most-dedicated group of music lovers in the business, the best artists, and I honestly like or love every record we put out.

3. What is your biggest frustration in doing record promotion?

Everyone says they want something different, but when you give them something different... they want what they had.

4. You have tons of cool artists on your label. Who do you think will be the next Astralwerks artist to have the biggest impact at Alternative radio and why?

It's hard to say, because so many of our artists cut a musical path just to the left of mainstream, and at any given time one of them could bisect that line and define a moment, you know? We also get tons of exposure through commercial synchs as well, and you never know when one of those opportunities might lead to an explosion. Right now, the 22-20s is starting to sink in and raise some eyebrows. I think our Athlete record, which is a huge success in the UK and elsewhere overseas, could have a serious impact here. It's an awesome album, the word-of-mouth is terrific, and the emotional component is totally universal.

5. What is your best advice for up and coming promotion reps?

To quote Rodney Dangerfield, "Move back home with your parents! Let them worry about it!" Seriously, do you want to help this business turn around by finding new creative ways to expose your artists, dealing with radio stations that might not have the biggest numbers but have the most passionate listeners, or do you want to be a chart monkey who's totally dependent week-to-week on spin programs? I guess it depends on where you work.

6. Biggest highlight of your career?

I've had a ton: my first Gold record for "Pump Up the Volume"; getting to do Alternative promo at WB from '89-'93, when the music was amazing and there WAS an Alternative format; getting a Gold record for Jesus Jones from SBK even though I worked at WB; working with dozens of incredible bands and actually helping some of them have a career themselves; getting the chance to move back to my beloved NJ after 13 years in L.A. (thanks, S.B.!), and the incredible opportunity given me by Errol Kolosine to work at my favorite label for the last 5 years or so, Astralwerks, and in the process, leave the record business and return to the MUSIC business.

7. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ____________?

Nothing. I can do without anything for a day! Though I do like my C2... and my boy, Dante!

8. What is your favorite radio station and why?

I have to think about this one...

9. If you could work anywhere in the music biz, what would your first choice be?

I'm already here!

10. If you wanted to completely change careers today, what would you do?

Something that makes a difference, perhaps working with teens trying to figure shit out. Getting involved in something on a local level.

What do you like to do for fun?

Spend time with Kelley (wife) and Dante, ride my bike, make ridiculously anal iPod playlists, play ball...