Metal Muthas Mondays: Scale the Summit

Every so often, we take a little time on Mondays to pay tribute to the Muthas! That is, reprinting the adorable metal/maternal Q&As that run in the magazine. Today, enjoy Justin Norton’s chat with Colleen Letchford, mutha of Scale the Summit‘s Chris Letchford. His band’s V will drop September 18 on Prosthetic.

Could you tell us a little about yourself?

I was born in Bogota, Colombia to American parents, and we moved around the world. My husband and I both ended up in Houston. I like being outside, camping, hiking, and thoroughly enjoyed raising my kids. Our family is artistic; both my husband and I are artists, and Chris is a musician. Chris was exposed to music since before he was born when he went to a Yes concert.

Did Chris always show an aptitude for music?

He was in the boy’s choir in elementary school and took saxophone lessons. He picked up the guitar in his very early teens and took off from there. I could see this coming. He didn’t want to do anything else—he was stuck playing that guitar. From a very early age, he set his mind on not doing the 8-to-5 thing. He had the passion to do it and was very determined.

A lot of metal bands use imagery that is a bit over the top. Are you happy Chris settled on something a little more parent-friendly?

I am, because I like Joe Satriani and my husband likes Dream Theater. They did have a band with a singer I called “a screamer,” and finally decided to not have vocals. I think their music can speak for itself and tell a story.

Chris was once featured on our blog for his fitness routine. Was he always passionate about staying in shape?

That came later. He used to be the Cheetos, Dr. Pepper and make-the-salsa-and-chips guy. He had a pretty bad diet when he was younger. He decided to get healthy, and now he’s determined to be as healthy as he can.

That has to make you feel good when he goes on the road.

It does. When we lined him up to go to Musician’s Institute in California in 2004, a lot of my coworkers worried [that] he’d get into drugs, but he never followed that path.

What is something about Chris most people might not expect?

He’s got a big heart. But he doesn’t keep too much [a] secret. And he loves his dog and his wife.

Text and photo originally printed in the June 2015 issue (# 128).