Below is an A-Z list of our exclusive interviews…
ALICIA
vocalist; Kill Miss Pretty
“I don’t think we (as a culture) will ever get away from the “sex appeal” thing, so that’s basically a non-issue for me. We are animals after all. As for women in metal being taken seriously, I’m probably not the one to ask. All I want to do is have fun and NOT be so serious… I thought starting a band would lead to having lots of fun, free booze and friendly women.”
ANIMAL
vocalist; Anti-Nowhere League
“The internet is just another cover for the losers in life to become somebody… again, so obsessed in getting recognised they have forgotten how to live,” says Animal of the Anti-Nowhere League. “Music is fun, and always should be. There is no answers in it and why should there be? It’s only entertainment… a few moments out of this cesspit we call modern life.”
MIKE ARMINE
vocalist; Rosetta
“Five weeks into a 6 week tour and I just want to murder everyone. It’s too long and I just want to go home and write new material. Touring involves meeting new people and seeing the true variety the world has to offer. I appreciate the fact that Rosetta is the vehicle that drives my ability to do this. Being away from home for too long begins to chip away at me however.”
RYAN BAUSTERT
guitarist; Throw the Fight
“We’ll always be the first ones to say that we are not trying to reinvent the wheel here. It’s always been about writing strong hard rock songs with solid melodies and catchy choruses. We love super gnarly stuff like Parkway Drive or As I Lay Dying, but we also dig country music. So it’s always about trying to maintain some sort of balance.”
ZACK CARLSON
co-author; Destroy All Movies!!! The Complete Guide to Punks on Film
“Hollywood has pretty much shown any and every “counterculture” as something negative… The “fuck you” message from the bands is one of the great aspects of punk rock, but I have to doubt that the filmmakers even got as far as hearing any of the music… It seems like they just saw some punk kids at a 7-Eleven and made a mental note that this is what the End of the World dresses like.”
PAUL CUSICK
vocalist, multi-instrumentalist
“Lots of “experts” try to tell you that “more exposure has benefits” or “lost revenue kills investment” blah blah blah. I can only speak from personal experience because I am not an “expert.” I have seen my music for free download on some pirate sites… But then I ask myself do I want people to hear my songs or not? Yes I want people to hear my songs! Everything else is just dressing.”
IVAN DAVIS
vocalist, guitarist; Opensight
“I get a lot of inspiration from movie soundtracks and other musical pieces that have a vibe or create a dramatic effect that I want to emulate. So when I get something interesting on the guitar I usually record the parts, tracking guitars and programming drum patterns in order to get a well rounded idea of what I want. After the song is done the band gets together in rehearsal for modifications.”
JEAN DOLABELLA
drummer; Sepultura
“I was a fan of the band and the first big concert I’ve been to was Sepultura in Uberlândia in 1991, Arise tour. On that day I manage to go backstage and get a pic from Andreas. Its funny to think that nineteen years latter I’m here on tour with them… Andreas called me to ask if I wanted to do an audition. I listened to all the songs he said they were playing lately and I went to São Paulo two weeks later.”
FREE DOMINGUEZ, BRUCE SOMERS
vocalist, guitarist; Kidneythieves
“It was a tough adjustment to not have a label,” admits The Kidneythieves guitarist Bruce Somers. “The main reason was that a label gives an artist a feeling of legitimacy as in, “This is my job and this is what I am.” When the labels went away, a lot of artists (and managers and staff) dropped out of the profession because there was no money.”
ACE FINCHUM
drummer; Tigertailz
“You have four people from all different areas of the map that believed in putting on a show, looking good and doing whatever it takes to make it. We always got compared to Poison, UK’s answer to Poison, the press would always say. We hated that shit! We were looking like Poison before Poison looked like Poison. We always felt we had more in common with Mötley Crüe.”
SARAH FIREBRAND
bassist; Tigertailz
“When I joined the band, I honestly thought that I would be there to play the songs and that’s it – so to be asked to contribute is massive. I’ve had a few songs on the go for over six months, but I can’t tell you how terrified I was sending them my stuff, to the point where I actually only sent some final demos over a few weeks ago… it’s a scary thought.”
RAMON GOOSE
vocalist, guitarist
“My most cherished instruments are not my guitars but actually my two amplifiers! They are called Mystic Blues and are handmade by Tommy Cougar in Sweden, they are very special indeed (based loosely on the Dumble Overdrive Special design). I can play any guitar through these, even the most trashiest and they sound really awesome and you can turn them up and really rock out too!”
JUSTIN GREAVES
multi-instrumentalist; Crippled Black Phoenix
“The line-up changes is something that I find sometimes frustrating but I accept it and move on because it’s always difficult to find a ‘band’ of 7 or 8 players who are all committed to the cause and think the same too,” says Crippled Black Phoenix guitarist Justin Greaves. “It would be great if we did establish a more solid membership though.”
ROBIN GUY
drummer; ex-Tigertailz
“Without a drummer, the band would have no one to blame, so we’re all pretty used to it! We drummers all stick together, as a) it’s water off a ducks back and b) we know we’re the most important person really… Jason Bonham told me this joke: Q: “What’s the difference between a gynaecologist and a drummer?” A: “A gynaecologist only has to deal with one c*** at a time.”
TOM HARRIMAN
drummer; *shels
“Theres really too many dummers that have been a big influence to name but i think there’s something to be learned from pretty much everyone who plays, no matter how good or bad they are. Some of my favourite drummers have been technically simple and often sloppy, but have amazing feeling. Wayne Morse, the original Will Haven drummer, was incredible!”
MARCUS IRELAND
vocalist; The Lifetakers
“Blackie and I were sitting around drinking in bar one night,” singer Marcus Ireland explains regarding how The Lifetakers first came together. “Both pretty frustrated with everything we had done in music up to that point. Not ‘cause of the music but the people we had previously played with. And he said we need to start something that will actually make us excited about playing in a band again.”
STEEVI JAIMZ
vocalist; ex-Tigertailz
“I was so drunk back then I hardly remember the process of the Young and Crazy record. As far as I can recall though, it was fun most of the time. Although relationships were starting to get a little frayed even by then. And it was the second time we had recorded that record too, we had done it months before in Wales independently, but the record company wanted it all redone.”
JAN KUEHNEMUND
guitarist; Vixen
“I’ve learned a lot over the years. I think the business has to be much more in the artists’ hands these days. It’s not like some label just wants to sign you and pay you a lot of money and put you out on the road,” explains Jan Kuehnemund, guitarist and founder of Vixen. “It’s more and more rare these days. So we take matters into our own hands.”
LORD ZION
singer; SPiT LiKE THiS
“I don’t know how to be anyone else other than me, although there are many facets to my personality. I’m a different person off-stage to on-stage, but that is mainly because I would look like a right idiot if I was running around with a microphone when I went out shopping. However, if you see me out shopping, I look pretty much exactly the same as the guy you see in photos or onstage.”
PETE MAC
vocalist, guitarist; Paradox
“Every album was written and recorded at a different stage of our lives,” says Paradox frontman Pete Mac. “I was only 18 when we recorded Circle of Growth and a lot of the songs were written as far back as when I was a 15-year-old kid. We were very much influenced by the grunge scene back then and it probobly shows a lot on that album.”
KRISTY MAJORS
guitarist; Pretty Boy Floyd
“I had the opportunity to see the Ramones, Blondie, Velvet Underground, New York Dolls, the Plasmatics, Dead Boys, Talking Heads at CBGB’s when I was a kid and that changed my life. More specifically, the Ramones concert and music was incredible. That made me pick up the guitar and the first song I ever learned to play was Blitzkrieg Bop.”
MICHAEL MCKEEGAN
bassist; Therapy?
“Regardless of genre I think if it’s good we’ll enjoy and possibly be inspired by it. I think a lot of bands get caught up in only listening to ‘their’ genre. Books, movies and art also have a major bearing on how we approach our songs… not so much a literal influence but just a thought, a vibe, emotion or an atmosphere that they all can provoke.”
LEIGH MATTY
vocalist; Romeo’s Daughter
“I of course knew that there were very few female fronted rock bands around but was hoping that would go in our favour, especially as I hoped to be taken seriously as a singer rather than just an “attractive” front woman! I honestly don’t think that I was seen as a “sex symbol” at the time because that was something that we never promoted in the press.”
ERIK MONGRAIN
guitarist
“We only live once and I would like to get out as much as I can before I check out. Practicing songs you’ve composed for live gigs can be fun and gigs can be really exciting and full of adrenaline rushes sometimes but still, in the end, I think most musicians do music to create in the first place… I don’t think I am a natural born entertainer but I have no problems talking to a crowd.”
EDWARD DOUGLAS, GAVIN GOSZKA
composers; Midnight Syndicate
“It’s Midnight Syndicate‘s take on the whole “dark carnival” theme – a concept we’ve been talking about exploring for many years now. The first half of the disc takes you through different parts of this carnival. About halfway through something “happens” and things then take a decidedly nasty turn. I’d call it a mixture of fantasy, Victorian, steam punk and classic horror.”
JARED MULLINS
vocalist, guitarist; Heavy Glow
“I’m a music prick. Definitely not as diverse as the other bandmates. It pretty much just follows my personality: I know what I like and what I like is what I’m passionate about so why go to anything else? Raw and simple music such as the blues has a way of getting to me that I can’t really explain… My thinking is that if a song moves me it will probably move someone else so go for it.”
JAY PEPPER
guitarist; Tigertailz
“We grew up on the likes of Kiss, Ozzy, Priest, Motörhead, AC/DC, Sabbath, Maiden. We just found a niche in the UK rock scene at the time that got us noticed and we did this by looking a certain way. But as far as the music goes I don’t think we ever say “we can’t do that,” or “we must sound like this.” For example, Pepsi was really into NIN and Megadeth so he would always write songs in that vein.”
QUEEN ISIS
singer; Barb Wire Dolls
“I think I’ve always been very rebellious in my thinking towards the norm and of how I’m supposed to act. From high school to my family I have always yelled my opinions at people, whether they listened or not. Punk to me is an attitude and a way of being; more than just a genre of music… That was when it was real and pure and it came out of a real desperation and need to express one’s opinion and self.”
STEVIE RACHELLE
vocalist; Tuff
“For me, sex yes, the drugs no. As for other members of Tuff, they would have to answer that for themselves. That time was magical. No one can imagine it, unless you were there. I am happy to say I was… Yes it was a rough go, but that’s part of the game. I loved some of the grunge and some of the nu metal. Still do. They had their good time, and downfall as well.”
MEHDI SAFA
vocalist; *shels
“I’m already anxious to start writing our next album. I want this album to get done ASAP so we can start working on the new material. Things are changing a lot and there’s a whole new world ahead… with Plains of the Purple Buffalo we have started to experiment with a different way of thinking, feeling and delivering the heavy/epic passages.”
STEVIE SALAS
vocalist, guitarist
“Hollywood is the kind of town that if you’re out every night and you get in with the right people things could happen and I was SUPER lucky. When I co-produced Was (Not Was) no one knew who they were, they were just some funny guys with a lot of talent and we never knew the video we shot for Walk the Dinosaur would be such a huge hit and be on MTV in heavy rotation.”
PHILIP SAYCE
vocalist, guitarist
“I love Jimi Hendrix… I want to continue to grow as an artist and every time I listen to my heroes I feel like a child again. I have the same feelings of awe and wonder and I can’t wait to grab my guitar and learn. However, the whole idea is to get deeper than just the technical side. It’s really about being open and channelling in the same way my heroes do.”
KEVIN SHIRLEY
producer; Black Country Communion
“Well, when it’s a success it’s all the band’s doing and when it fails it’s the producer’s fault. That’s the way it rolls. Seriously, it’s a job – I’m not a frustrated musician or something else – it’s the job I chose to do and I love it. The producer plays a massive role in the final product. In some cases and on some records, more than others, but it gets whatever respect it gets.”
BRUCE SOORD
vocalist, guitarist; The Pineapple Thief
“What We Have Sown is a little oddity. When I left my old label to join Kscope, I was still contractually obliged to deliver another album,” says The Pineapple Thief‘s frontman Bruce Soord. “I got some unfinished tracks and wrote a few new ones. But I was still way short of an album’s worth of material. So I deliberately set out to write a LONG track.”
VIKKI SPIT
bassist; SPiT LiKE THiS
“What I’ve found is that in Europe, bands are treated with more respect. The fans (and venues for that matter) are aware that you have spent thousands of pounds and hours perfecting your art, they appreciate your effort and show that appreciation in how they enjoy your show… Saying that though, some places in the UK give us such a brilliant welcome!”
JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR
vocalist, guitarist
“My most cherished Instrument is my 1966 Esquire. It’s my main guitar. I don’t really feel the need to carry multiple guitars with me I have that one that is as comfortable as a guitar as I hope to find so I just carry that an a few back up telecasters in case of technical problems. In terms of Amps my favourites I have are a 65 Fender Bassman head.”
JOEY TEMPEST
vocalist; Europe
“This is always something that goes through your mind as you start writing for a new album. The thing is, if you run into an interesting story or concept, it could happen. So far we have been content with just letting our albums unfold with a set of expressions and songs that together tells the story where we’re at, at that particular time… I believe we now know how to make a decent sounding rock record.”
KIM HOOKER, JAY PEPPER, SARAH FIREBRAND, ROBIN GUY
singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer; Tigertailz
“I’m really looking forward to this tour…it’s the first time we’ve done anything like this ever… We’ve deliberately booked shows in some of our favourite places from back in the day and some cities we’ve never been before. It’ll be exciting not knowing if there’ll be fifty or five-hundred fans there and that’s exactly what we’re after… we want to be made to work hard.”
TRACI TREXX
guitarist; Vanity BLVD
“I still got ‘em all on my bedroom walls. Kiss, Mötley Crüe, Alice Cooper, W.A.S.P., Guns n’ Roses, Poison, Ratt. I cover all the walls and the roof too with all kinds of posters and magazine pics from old and new music magazines I can find. I’ve always thought it was fun to go to the local record store and terrorise the employees and convince them to bestow all their music posters to me.”
RON VENTO
vocalist, guitarist; Aurora Borealis
“I think there are just as many great bands today as there were back in the day, but the problem is you have to weed through a million times more bands to find those great bands. With the technology getting better all the time people can just sit at home and record albums and have bands without spending too much money. Once again this is a good and bad thing.”
UNSIGNED ARTISTS:
KYLE MUNDY, SAMMA CHARLES, TOM HATT, CRAIG CHATFIELD
drummer, bassist, guitarist, vocalist; Annero
“I live for this band, it’s literally all I have regarding a future, and I don’t wanna do anything else… Our determination is 1,000,000% towards taking this band all over the fucking world, no matter what. For example, we’ve had an awful lot of interest from America, and we’d love nothing more than to go there and play to them. Unfortunately, as a band we’re broke at the moment.”
JULIEN
multi-instrumentalist; Doktryn
“I would define this description as the combination of modern elecronic musical elements and dark provocative, depressive (but honest in some way) lyrics. It is really hard for us to define the style of Doktryn, as we do not want to be part of any scene… It is always a movie in itself that is an influence and not that much the soundtrack of it.”
