interviews and quickies

"One by one, the yard gnomes steal my sanity."

Chris S., from ZEROMANCER, recently finihsed up with their first US tour and took the time out to answer a few questions we had for him.

> 1) How does it feel to be a part of so many
> different bands? In the previous
> bands you've been in, have you carried over any
> experiences to Zeromancer?

It blows my mind actually. If nothing else I can say
that I've been realy fortunate to have been a part of
the bands Prick, Kidneythieves, and Zeromancer.

> 2) What factor in your life made you decide to be a
> musician, and how do you
> go about picking bands you'd audition for? For that
> matter, how many bands
> have you performed with? And who are they?

I was always into music. Both my mom and dad were huge
music listeners. My dad gave me my first guitar. That
was when I was 10.
As far as choosing bands, it's like you just get a
feeling and you HAVE to go for it.
I met Kevin from Prick through the store manager at my
first job in L.A. at a record store.
I met Free from Kidneythieves in the hallway of a
hotel that I was staying at when I was on tour with
Manson working as Pogo's keyboard tech. With
Zeromancer it was through Sid, the first drummer of
Kidneythieves. It's crazy how things happen sometimes!

> 3) Where are some of the best places you've been
> while on tour? Do any
> specific venues stick out in your mind?

I always like spending time in NY even if it's only
for a day.
Ft. Lauderdale was great. We went to the beach in
search of the "Girls Gone Wild"!
We played a dinner theater on this tour with Pigface.
Yes, a dinner theatre. In Santa Anna,Ca.
It was actually cool! We got fed great too!

> 4) Did Zeromancer's first US tour go as you expected
> it to? Was there
> anything that didn't happen that you wish would
> have?

For our first full tour of the States we were suprised
at how many people had showed up just for us. We were
also suprised to see as many people singing along that
new the words!. It was great. The only thing that
didn't happen that we were hoping for was to do a few
more shows on the end of the tour.

> 5) Is there any place that'd you've never been to,
> while on tour, that you'd
> like to?

Well, I have heard about these "full service" massage
parlors that exist! He,he,he.

> 6) I heard you grew up in Illinois, was it difficult
> adjusting to the
> European lifestyle? How do the European fans
> differ, in your opinion, for
> the US fans?

I grew up in N. Ky and went to University in Ill.
I moved to L.A. after I graduated from colledge in
1992.
But to answer your question, It was more difficult
adjusting to the European lifestyle coming from L.A.
Europeans are very laid back and much more down to
earth. That was difficult to get used too after living
in L.A. for so long.

> 6.0) How were you first introduced to the members of
> Zeromancer? Did you
> expect Zeromancer to become such a phenomenon?

I was intoduced to ZMR by Sid Riggs who was the
original drummer in Kidneythieves. He had met them
when he was touring Europe with another band. When the
ZMR guys came to L.A. they didn't have a guitarist and
asked Sid if he new of anyone.
I don't consider ZMR to be a phenomenon. I mean we ARE
Phenominal, but we've all worked really hard to get
there.:)

> 7) After being one of the #1 bands in Europe, was it
> odd to go back to being
> an opening band on your first US tour? Was the
> response from the US crowds
> good enough to merit another US tour?

The response was amazing and we do hope to do another
US tour before the end of the year.
I wasn't odd at all to do the opening act thing here.
It was our first tour of the states and we were just
happy to be out there. We have done so much touring in
Europe opening for other bands before finally being
able to headline on our own. We're prepared to do the
same here and we know how to make the best of any
situation because we've been in just about every
situation.

> 8) What musicians inspired you to become a rock
> star? Do you even consider
> yourself a full fledged rock star?

KISS Alive II made me want to be a "rock star".
Now I know better! I've been able to do things that
I've had always dreamt of. I hope that it will
continue to be that way and that it gets bigger and
better. The term "rock star" has so many negative
connotations... I just want to be able to do what I
love and get paid for it. I'm definately not a rock
star and don't see myself ever acting like one... I
wouldn't mind having a porche and a MTV crib though!

> 9) What's currently in your CD player? Any favorite
> bands you'd like to
> mention? Any bands that people would be surprised
> you listen to?

I'm listening to the new Pigface CD. I miss those
guys!
There is a japanese all girl band called X-girl that
is pretty cool. Very raw and quirky.

> 10) Have you ever had any bad experiences with bands
> you've toured with? Big
> egos perhaps?

Luckily the bands we've toured with have been very
cool... Well, there was that guy Stian from the
Kovenant who tried to burn down the bus that we were
traveling on! Damn Norwegian black metal singers!!

> 11) If you had not become a musician, what else
> would you be doing?

Probably dreaming of becoming a Rock Star!

Tainted Imagez:
So, why are you no longer working with Rob Halford and TWO?

They (Marilyn Manson) kidnapped me. It's nothing personal.

Tainted Imagez:

How's life? Planning on tour anymore? Or just taking it easy?
Rob Halford:

A bit of both.
Tainted Imagez:

Excellent. Any plans of recording again soon?
Rob Halford:

Recording plans 2002.

A long lost interview done with Vas Kallas from Hanzel und Gretyl, done in January of 2002
(AT)
Any plans on new material from Hanzel und Gretyl in the near future?
(VK)
HuG has lots of new material, which we are currently shopping to labels. I am legally not allowed to hand demos out -- so ya gots to wait -- just a bit longer...
-- the delay has been long due to legalities and the closing of the label we were on --- that is coming to a close as i write this and we are moving forward this year --- Finally -----
(AT)
And what about the chances of finding old material?
(VK)
As far as the old stuff -- well -- they are now collectors items.
If ya don't gots them -- ya gots to find them perhaps on the e-bay world --
hang in there patner -- new stuff this year ---- I PROMISE!!!!!!
(AT)
With lyrics in German, do you find HuG compaired to or influeneced by Rammstein or KMFDM?
(VK)
..yeah -- look at the cover of our first CD -- there you will see 2 babies floating around -- right ? ? Now look at the cover of Rammstein's new CD ---- what do you see?????....hmmmmmmm.........
We were never influenced by KMFDM.
And---
We never heard of Rammstein until they first came to New York City in 1997 and played a gig with us. By the way -- we were the headliners of that show and they played to about 50 people at 3am in the morning -- it was awesome----!
But --- nevertheless -- we were already out with our 2CD's worth of german influenced music ..
Rammstein loved us -- We loved Rammstein -- A marriage made in Germanic Hell....
(AT)
And what of Ginger and Seven? Are they still a part of the HuG family?
(VK)
Seven and ginger are no longer playing in HuG.
(AT)
Thanks for taking time for us Vas.
(VK)

We got signed to Metropolis and we're working on finishing the CD now for a Spring time release!
We're are also going to be building a website -- finally----
Wish us luck as we delve once again into the monster of the music business---We will fight evil and DESTROY!!!!!

Taken from LAUCH.com

December 26th, 2002

Slipknot's next album will
likely be its final release. While the band will also
tour in support of the album, the follow-up to 2000's
Iowa, singer Corey Taylor claims the group will then
call it quits.

"If you want me to lie to you, I'll tell you every
f---ing thing is absolutely hunky dory," he told
Billboard. "I believe we can do one more album and go
out on a high note. But as far as hanging out after we
have lost our relevance? Never. I got one f---ing word
for you: Gwar."

The nine-member masked horror-metal rock band plans to
start working on the album, which will be its third,
with producer Rick Rubin, after the start of the new
year.

One member of Slipknot looking forward to another
album and tour is Shawn Crahan, also known as Clown.
He told LAUNCH he can't wait for all the holidays to
be over. "Come January 5 it's on with the band. We're
writing and it's on, and we're just taking that time
until then. January 5 is kind of the day we decided to
get together and start panning it through, you know,
getting it done," he said.

Taylor's main focus of late has been his other band
Stone Sour, which also includes Slipknot guitarist Jim
Root. Drummer Joey Jordison strapped on a guitar this
year for his other group, Murderdolls, featuring
vocalist Wednesday 13. Both bands are scheduled to
ring in 2003 at the 7 Flags Amusement Park indoor
venue on New Year's Eve (December 31) in Clive, Iowa,
which is near Slipknot's hometown of Des Moines.

Calls placed to Slipknot's label, Roadrunner Records,
regarding the band's impending breakup were not
returned by press time.

A Continued Interview With OTEP:

(Meaningless Entertainment) What was it like performing a show so close to the Sept. 11th 2002 tragedy?

(Otep) it was very difficult to do that show so close to the tragedy of 911 ... but something inside us needed to do it ... to release all that energy and emotion ... and face the pain head on ...

(M. E.) Whom do you think has influenced the most you musically?

(Otep) eye like radiohead .. a lot ... i think thom yorke is an amazing writer/preformer ... genius dare eye say ... and classical musesick ... eye love classical ... mozart is my favorite ... eye also listen to nirvana, slipknot, jeru the damaja, the roots, gangstaar, mobb deep, hindu transcendental meditation musesick, and fiona apple ...

to name a few ...

(M.E.) What happened to the initial line up, post Jihad? Were they just not working out?

(eVIL j) Both guitar players from the ep were fired. They were not fitting in with the band, we need to make a change. Rob joined the band after Ozzfest last year

(M.E.) Did you get a chance to hang out with KITTIE in Europe this year for OZZEST 2k2?

(Otep) yes, we got to hang out with kittie in europe for a few gigs ... was really cool ... they are very nice people ...

(M.e.)

Where exactly did OTEP play mainstage this year for OZZfest? How did you like that experiance?

(eViLj)

We played main stage in Detroit, MI. I don't like playing main stage, I
didn't look at it as a good thing. The second stage was my home this
summer. I felt the best playing on second stage. The people at the main
stage are boring. We also played main stage in San Deigo, that was
better, at least there was a pit.

(M.E.) I can only imagine what its like to have your music heard by so many.

(Otep) ... i am very thankful my art has been recvd so well by the world ... it is a dream come true ...

(M.E.) I see you thank a Corey in the liner notes of SEVAS TRA. would that be Corey Taylor from Slipknot?

(Otep) yes, it is Corey [8] that i thank in my liner notes ... slipknot is one of my favorite bands ... and i think corey is an amazing vocalist ...

(M.E.) Thank you for taking this time out of your schedule.

(Rob) your very welcome

(Otep) thank u for taking time to contact us .. we so appreciate hearing from the people that our musesick reaches ...

(eViL j) You are very welcome, thank you for you support, it keeps me strong.