1 - Tell us how your project(s) were started.
Hammers of Misfortune
evolved out of other bands, and a solo project that I had goin’. The band
proper condensed around a 3 act “opera” that eventually became our
first album: “The Bastard”.
Ludicra came out of Aesop (ex Hickey) and I really wanting to get fucking NECRO.
2 - What does music, in it's entirety, mean to you?
Music is my cruel
mistress. The bottom line is that music chose me, I didn’t have any choice.
It’s absolutely compulsive that I play and everytime I’ve tried to
do anything else she snaps the leash and I’m right back in the studio or
onstage before I even know what happened.
I sometimes think that I’ve thrown away every chance for stability, health
and sanity on her account. Other times I’m thankful that I’ve been
led down this road, as I’ve met people and done things that most people
can only read or dream about. The thing about music is: she can take everything
from you, and be really horrible, but when she’s good, she’s so good…
3 - What does art, in it's entirety, mean to you?
Art is the only thing that seems to make any sense anymore, besides suicide. It’s the only reaction that I can muster to a world that I see as a hopeless, smouldering heap of lies, corruption, pain, injustice and extinction. And this in what must be the worst time in human history to be any kind of artist.
4 - Who is your favorite author, and why?
Edgar Allen Poe
for several reasons. Firstly because E.A. Poe was the first author that I fell
in love with as a kid, but mainly because of his prose. It’s so beautiful.
His insight into the human psyche is awesome. He invented the horror genre and
also the detective story/murder mystery (“to keep himself from going insane”
he supposedly said).
I love his poetry as well. The Raven and The Bells are two favorites
of mine - so skillfully rhymed and musical!
5 - As your best friend, describe yourself.
Helpful, nice, smart, funny, good looking and succsessful in my own sort of way.
6 - As your worst enemy, describe yourself.
Egotistical, stuck up prick.
7 - If your persona were immortalized as a cartoon character, who would it be?
Mr. Magoo, or that Martian in the helmet from Bugs Bunny.
8 - Do you think there are conspiracies against the "everyday person"?
Is there really
any question that there are? I mean they are so blatant that one can harly call
them conspiracies anymore. The bottom line is that the rich and powerful do
and get whatever they want, and they will lie, cheat and steal as much as they
have to in order to secure their place above the law. Laws are for “the
everyday person”, as is public education and the military. All in service
of the rich.
In the future it will be increasingly bad, as religeous fanatic millionair oil-men
continue to run rough-shod over everything in their path: the environment, international
relations, the Muslim faith, the Constitution and anyone or anything else that
might oppose them – all the while trusting that they are acting in accordance
with “god’s plan”.
Meanwhile education is gutted, the states are bankrupt, healthcare is a luxury
for those who can afford it, and all our money is being pumped into the military,
which is in the hands of the aformentioned christian corporate madmen. Elections
are a sham, the media is completely bought and subservient (they’re getting’
rich too), and the people are being “dumbed down” as much as possible.
Fear, double-speak and racism are used to keep the people divided and ignorant,
and now we have Orwell’s worst nightmare come true: War without end, againt
a faceless enemy – an abstract concept – that can never be defeated.
At the end of the day “the everyday person” will be left to pay the
bill, clean up the mess, breathe the toxic air, fight the war and so on. It
will become increasingly difficult to find work, get health care or get educated
as this culture continues down this road to it’s eventual collapse. Someday,
perhaps soon, the military will be the only way for “the everyday person”
to get any of these things. Voila: military dictatorship with sham elections.
Sound familiar? Have a nice day!
9 - What do you do with your spare or free time?
What’s that? Sounds nice. Got any?
10 - Please give us your interpretation of "the meaning of life".
OK, I’ll try…
Life is a struggle. The best way to get through it is to do what’s in your
heart and “fight the good fight”. The concept of “happiness”
is a scam. We are built for struggle and conflict. Take struggle away from us
and we become fat, squabbling motards with hardening arteries duking it out
on Jerry Springer. We create conflict in it’s absence. There is
meaning – and even true joy – to be found in this life, but it must
be earned. Anyway, what the fuck kind of question is that???
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