https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=107211186030830
Before we begin Jeff we would like to know what you guys are doing nowadays.
Nothing since last 6
months, got show on 4/19 here with cephalic carnage and deadhorse. Got members
from cephalic, zombie hate brigade and scalafrea so, it’s hard to do a full
time band.
Almost 29 years of journey 1985 until now how has
been the journey been?
Rough to say the least,
been through multiple lineups since the start. Legion of Death was formed in
4/85 with me and original drummer Damion while we were in high school together.
That summer we acquired john and Dennis but didn’t jam as band until a week
before "have a nice death"
demo recording and release on web records in 12/85. Did "unconstructive
anarchism" demo #2 in 2/86 then i had to release bassist Dennis who was
replaced by Andy. We did many shows with DRI twice, Slayer, MOD, Crumbsuckers,
Plus many local acts. I left in late 87 due to alcohol and was replaced with my
best friend of 30 years mike. They did LOD 1st lp in 1988. I went on to do
ANATHEMA with rob from SATANS HOST drummer .LOD did demo #3 in 89 then
disbanded so mike joined ANATHEMA with me. We left to start ASYSTOLE then doing
a 7" "higher form of hatred” for Seraphic Decay records plus did an
unreleased lp. LOD sat dormant until 3 years ago when we did a reunion show
with len from cephalic Carnage (who i did SEWERGRATE with) , Chris and Joe.
So can we say that the band was reunited after 22
years in 2011?
Something like that, I
retired in 97 from active bands then started again in 2005. Mike and i were
approached by Len about reunion. Len and Chris were big fans of lod since day 1
so, they were a natural choice. We got Joe on drums because he was working for
Cephalic. It’s a really superstar lineup for Denver, Zombie Hate Brigade and
Scalafrea both have international following and everybody in world knows who
Cephalic Carnage is. I've known Len since 84, he started Cephalic because of
seeing lod live...we’ve been friends forever. I knew Chris from
adnauseum/decimation. He’s friend of 25 years... That’s how the story goes... I
was pen pals with pat from Hellwitch back then; we traded tapes. Glad to see
he’s on your new compilation as well. Man for sure a great guy and they’re one
ruthless band. I got my original rough mix advance tape of "Reign In Blood"
from pat before anybody even knew what slayer was about. Pats one of the
originals in Death Metal scene along with me...
Yeah for Sure as i know and have talked with
Patrick, guys from Hellwitch they are totally down to earth. Coming back to
Legion of Death you guys have a show in 20th of April i.e coming Sunday can you
say us something about the gig?
Its a 2-day fest Len does
every year called "vaporfest", were doing a 6 song,25 minute set of
all material off our new "condemned to hell" lp/cd on Chris’s label
,"getupandkill" records. This new lineup for sure going to shred, I
glad to be playing again.
Jeff a moment back you told us that Cephalic
Carnage is inspired from LOD man i am stunned and even i checked some of your
tracks you guys are fucking amazing...
Thanks brother, its old
school death metal/hardcore crossover, we were first to do it period worldwide,
only SOD was before us but they don’t have death metal songs or vocals. We are
influenced by bands such as Napalm death and Carcass. Shane, Jesse, Barney and
Mitch from and used to stay at our house when in town and Jeff/bill from arcass
also cite influences. I’m totally honored to have inspired greats such as
them...I almost joined repulsion back then too, matt was a good friend but i
didn’t have money to move to Michigan
Money its a problem everywhere. Jeff you have seen
the scene from 80's until dates of now can you compare and say us about the
Death Metal Scene from 80’s 90’s 00 and the present time?
The scene sucks now, its
all re-hash stuff that’s been done a hundred times over. No originality, its
pretty much the same but, i am a huge fan of dying out flame from Nepal
Yeah that is for sure. Dying out flame is one up
the upcoming Giants from Nepal
I started playing guitar
in 82; i had many years of formal lessons. I met mike in 84 and was teaching
him guitar. We met at shows like Metallica on ride the lightning tour. He was
originally my guitar tech. In original lod, I wanted him for 2nd guitarist but
John and Dennis said no so it was only natural for him to replace me when i
left. Were still best friends to this day...i've been playing with him off and
on for 29 years. I’ve been a fan of rock and metal since i was like 10 years
old; I’m almost 48 now, that’s a long time. I also love jazz n classical. I’m
formally trained in both.
So Jeff can you tell us what are you listening
nowadays?
Same stuff i listened to
back then-Tygers of Pan Tang, ufo, Uli Roth, Gary Moore, Al Dimeola, The rods,
Exciter, Monstrosity, Morbid Angel, Napalm Death, Repulsion, Terrorizer,
Immolation and many more...a lot of guitar stuff. Metal these days really
doesn’t float my boat. A few good bands but mostly all sound the same like Tech
Death and i cant stand black metal...
Jeff i was going through some of the track that you
told me and i personally like Death Sentence and Unite And Kill from your album
LEGION OF DEATH released in 1988.And I must say this album is in my top 15 favorites
albums.
I appreciate that, I wrote
Unite And Kill about the scene back then when the metal crowd and hardcore
punks used to fight each other at shows, lod united them together and everybody
became friends. Death sentence is about my life, going to electric chair for a
crime you didn’t commit. My band loves writing songs about me as a joke, I
fucked your mom and sewer rat are both about me. I don’t mind, they’re funny
and I’m a good scapegoat.
Yeah, the lod from LA came
out like twenty years after we did it when we were in remission, the anathema
from England came out way after i first put out stuff with the one from
Denver...i guess people cant come up with original names no more...There’s also
an asystole I’ve seen on Youtube. All our stuff came out first. Bands just redo
names these days. My names come in dreams.
Yeah for sure sometimes when i go through some new
bands sometimes feels like the riffs are almost the same. It seems like the new
bands are not being much creative and repeating the same thing over and over in
their songs. Jeff we will like to ask you guys is there chances of New album or
any demo release of LOD this year?
Yeah there are just way
too many bands these days, back then there was a handful and all were good but
now everybody got stars in their eyes. They don’t realize that 99.9% of bands
never get signed or do nothing, they disband 6 months later. We’ve stayed
around because our fans are diehards; they know all the words and come onstage
at shows to sing with us. We treat our fans really good, cheap cd, sticker,
t-shirt and shorts prices. They go with us wherever we play regardless, that
mean the world to me! We might enter studio later but kind of broke right now.
We’re going to write new material soon but who's to say where one will be
tomorrow, one day at a time.
Yeah for sure slowly and steady wins the race. Honestly pal i started to listen LOD a few months back and honestly speaking i am a fan of you guys. What impressed me is that the lyrical pattern of you guys total realistic and fun.
I write about real events
in my life, off the news, politics, religion, death and rebirth. The Satan shit
is way overdone; I’m a spiritual freak-i read tarot and study quantum physics.
I also have a funny side with the joke songs-they're real crowd pleasers live.
The songs don’t preach to youth but make people think. I don’t condone killing
cops or politicians or raping women or molesting children...that stuff's for
delusional children or addicted adults’. 18 years sober, i write about life
experience.
So Jeff coming to your journey almost 30 years and
above you has experienced a way lot of things. Can you share some of your
experience because i am sure your experience can mean a lesson to the upcoming
bands. Like how hard was it to sink with members bands splitting some best
moments anything you want to share
Members come and go. Me
and mike got a strict interview regimen for potential players...phone
interview, face-to-face interview then audition...No alcoholics or druggies,
only social drinking and weed smoking is allowed. I’m sick of hiring fakes that
shit doesn’t fly in our bands. I like this lineup, everybody got their own
family/child/work issues but family obligation comes first in my band. I work
around that, kids are very important. Practice is necessary but we only do it
one day a week.
Well yeah that’s for sure family first. So Jeff any
message to the fans?
Undying, heartfelt thanks
to SNRMB staff and all our diehard fans of 29 years worldwide. Fans are what
make us go....if we had wanted to get rich and famous we would have done it 25
years ago, we do this 100% for fun, all our show money goes into merchandise,
bandspace rent and studio time. I’ve never made a cent for myself from this;
I’ve probably lost thousands-its all about fans, music and fun...that’s what we
love.
Lastly a space for you to ask if we SNRMB team
forgot to ask you can ask us here?
Support your friend’s bands
and most of all your fans. I have literally hundreds of friends in bands
worldwide, they can only survive with your dedication-up and coming bands need
to stick it out and strive for originality. If you’ve got stars in your eyes
your in the wrong business, labels only want bands who sell. We’ve only got
like 800 likes on our Facebook page but that means nothing...the ones who come
to your gigs is what matters .Its all about energy release and fun. Don’t take
yourselves so serious that you lose out on the fun. Egos are worthless; live by
what you know is true....
Yeah that’s for sure thank you Jeff for your
wonderful time
Welcome, hope that answers
your questions. Thank you and all at SNRMB looking forward to compilation, Give
pat my regards.
For sure brother
Keep in touch. Long ass
interview but very long history, longest i've ever done...
No comments:
Post a Comment