It's not every day that a guy admits he won't break up with his girl because she gives good head. But if you listen to Saving Abel's song "Addicted" you would understand the moral dilemma. And I don't mean in a biblical sense. antiMusic was able to catch up with bassist Eric Taylor for a quickie.

Saving Abel has been together for three years and has been under the watchful eyes of managers Scott Frazier and Rick Smith. Formed by Jason Weeks and Jared Null, the remaining members guitarist Scott Bartlett, bassist Eric Taylor, and drummer Blake Dixon found themselves a home with the band within a short time.

Eric Taylor, self-professed "bass player and stage idiot" started on guitar when he was 13 and followed with the bass when he was 16. He can also "beat around on the drums a bit". He started playing "live" in church at the tender age of 14, "it just came so natural that it was the only thing I wanted to do". With personal music tastes stretching the gambit of genres including "the Allman Brothers and Jay-Z, I'm not picky", this down to earth, easy-going, southern boy has a certain unmistaken charm.

You would think that a kid growing up in Mississippi would have been taught how to play by some muddy blues guys but no such luck, "I just watched other musicians that I was around. I am 100% self taught. I still just watch and listen to other players while out on tour and learn something everyday". Though he admits his inspiration comes from, "old black-mans blues, you can't go wrong with that".

Sounding dangerously sage-like for his youthful 25 years, he offers this advice to budding musicians, "be patient! Play the best that you can every night and the fans will support you. Just don't give up. It's hard but it will eventually pay off". And most importantly, "no matter how much you know, you always learn something everyday". Amen.

How Taylor got from gospel to rock and roll, actually share the same path. He met the singer Jared Null "when we were about 4 years old at church," and "met the other guys when I joined the band". His previous bands include a handful of local Mississippi heavy rock bands as well as Child Apart and Karis.

As far as writing and creative credit on Saving Abel's self-titled album, "we all come up with ideas. We show each other different parts and lyrics and help each other out. Some of the songs Jason Weeks, Jared Null, and our producer had written; some of the latter songs that we added we all contributed to the writing".

Though the process itself is relatively straight-forward, "herb and guitars", Taylor adds, "we just show ideas to each other. We go into studio and track ideas down and work on it from there," there is nothing that beats "hearing our producer saying the words, "are you serious!?" That collective "aha!" moment came when "writing our song addicted, recording it, then hearing it for the first time. All of our jaws dropped."

Taylor still lives in the same "redneck town called Burnsville, Mississippi" as he did before he started this project and he is extremely loyal to his hometown, "we have a strong following anywhere in the South, and we love all of our fans. A show close to our hometown is always the best. We have an amazing fan base at home. We come and have fun all of the time." now that is what rock and roll is all about. Having fun. And Saving Abel is getting a lot of that these days.

Currently on tour with Nickleback, those guys who sell out stadiums across the nation, bassist Eric Taylor humbly offers, "it is an honor to share the stage with band of that caliber," and looking ahead to the future of the band, "hopefully we will take over the rock genre, follow in Nickelback's footsteps." Now that's a glowing endorsement of your traveling buddies.

While the band has only toured in the States and Canada, Taylor is quick to point out that, "It feels the same as starting out again in the States. The fans seem to be warming up to us."

So who does Taylor warm up to? While he has some love for Brittany Spears, "she had an amazing career, then pretty much lost it. She is in the public's negative eye everyday but is still trying to go strong touring and putting albums out" he is spoken for. He has been married for the last five years. Not only that, she has been the most encouraging force in his life, "she has stood beside me for over 5 years supporting my dream" Yep, ladies, he was a good one.

Taylor does sell out the groupies though. "They do exist but I'm married and some girl that wants to hook up with someone just because they are in a band is not the type of girl I want". More for the rest of them.

What other interesting facts about Taylor? Well, for starters, if he wasn't in a band, he would be "coon hunting. It's my other addiction". Secondly, he has a penchant for whacking his back out, either by falling off houses or being violently thrown off horses. Maybe he should stick to stage performer for his safety's sake. As for who he respects most in his industry that award goes to "our radio reps. They are busy 24/7 calling stations getting our radio push, getting them to add our singles. It's definitely a job I do not want". And lastly, the most challenging moment he experienced on tour was "playing a show at 11 am and driving across 5 hours to be on stage at 6:30. Showed up in enough time to throw guitars on and play". These guys can definitely pull it together in a pinch.

Speaking of pinching, Taylor's response to music pirates? "Hire Jack Sparrow, he'll know how to fix it", though he would release "computer viruses from hell" to solve the current music industry crisis. Otherwise, bands are left to making money, "touring and selling merch. The economy isn't a great picture of health right now but people are still buying tickets and t-shirts".

Saving Abel is riding high on their recent successes; their self-titled album has sold over 382,443 copies peaking at #49 on the Billboard 200, and the album was certified gold just last month thanks to the unbridled success of their top twenty song, "Addicted". Taylor's personal measure of success is "getting to play my instrument every night and playing in front of a new crowd every night". Taylor admits his favorite track is "Beautiful You".

Looking to cop his sound? "Justin chancellor(tool), his tone is amazing. And I love my Peavey gear!"