CROWBAR (Eng.)
– Hello, thanks for taking the time. What are you currently up to?
Just enjoying the home life with the wife & the dogs & working on a music project as well as Crowbar practice.
– Your latest «Sever the Wicked Hand» was released a few months ago; how has been its feedback both from the press and your fans?
When it was released the feedback was killer & i know quite a few people that said they couldn’t get it out of their cd player so the fans love it. Terrorizer Magazine put Kirk on the 2011 February issue & he’s done lots of interviews for various other magazines so the press has been very positively responsive to this album for sure.
– How was the songwriting for this album?
It went together pretty quick once we got in the room & put it all together, Kirk has always been the main songwriter in Crowbar, so being a singer who also plays guitar means he has most of the ideas already structured. This album has a couple of mine & Matt’s riffs but everything else is all Kirk.
Tommy’s a seasoned drummer so he just falls right in place.
– This is your first album in 6 years; why did it take you so long? What has the band up to during that time?
Most everyone knows by now that there are other bands in town that involve us as members in those bands as well. Due to the Down tour schedules and a few other issues we weren’t able to get a whole lot done, call it DRAGGING ASS! I think it’s worth the wait when you listen to the new album, we don’t like to rush things and risk writing mediocre songs.
– If I’m not wrong, precisely you joined the band when «Lifesblood for the Downtrodden» came out, in 2005, so I guess you were excited about recording your first full-length album with CROWBAR…
most definitely! I’ve been in the band for 7 years now. Being on a record like this means everything because it is your chance to have your playing out there for life, even when you’re dead and gone. Not that I’m in any hurry to die or anything. It also solidifies you as a member of a band that was like a revolving door to other past members. I plan on doing great things with these guys. So far we’ve been kicking ass real good and I’m so damn proud of it!
– And how did you hook up back then with the rest of the guys? How did everything start?
Kirk and I used to run in to each other a lot at a local bar called Pat’s Pub. I had just moved to NOLA and didn’t know too many people until I started playing in a local club called Zeppelin’s. He needed a bassist and a drummer not long after he recorded Lifesblood and had seen me play a gig at Zepp’s before and just called me up one day out of the blue and asked if I would be interested in playing in Crowbar. I agreed right away and when he asked if I knew any drummers, I immediately thought of Tommy Buckley because he
was only doing Soilent Green. Kirk asked Tommy, Tommy said “hell yeah” and in 2004 Kirk had the wheels in motion after getting Stephen Gibb to play second guitar.
– You’ve moved from Candlelight to E1. What prompted that move? And are you satified with this change so far?
We had some issues with a Candlelight rep not long after they released the DVD. We then knew we had to make the right move when it came to putting out the next album and so a good friend of ours got Kirk in touch with the folks at E1. It’s the first “real” label Crowbar has been on and so far it’s been killer! E1 loves the album, and if the label is happy, it’s a good thing for sure!
– Some months ago you did the «Metalliance Tour». What are your memories from it?
It was a fun and chaotic sometimes. We shared a bus with St. Vitus and had a blast with them every night! Some memories are a blur so I guess that means we had a good time! The opening bands were great and the guys in Helmet
were very cool, awesome tour, just too many bands for an American tour.
– Now talking a bit about yourself, you are now in DOWN as well; how do you feel about it and how did everything arise?
I’m having a great time playing with my friends in Down. I’ve always loved the music and those dudes were my friends before I joined, so it feels like a natural transition for me. I can’t get into too much about why because that’s really between Phil and Rex.
I’m sure everyone knows by now the reasons why, Down fans are dedicated and know what’s up.
– You are replacing Rex Brown, does this have any kind of pressure on you?
There was a lot of pressure at first, Rex is a bad ass bassist as we all know and those were big shoes for me to fill but you have to shake it off eventually and put your faith in your own talents and prove to yourself as well as everyone else that you have what it takes to do it and so I feel pretty comfortable now.
– Beside these both bands, is there any other group you would like to play with?
None that I can think of, with the exception of some underground obscure fast punk shit.
– Both DOWN and CROWBAR share a similar music style; what are the main musical influences behind them?
They have some similarities, but then not really. Down is more blues rock and more riffed out, Crowbar has hardcore mixed with slow melody. You can hear all sorts of bands in both like Motorhead, Sabbath, Melvins, Trouble, and Zeppelin to name a few.
– And finally, what are your near-future plans?
Crowbar is playing a motorcycle rally in Dallas/Ft. Worth called Ride For Dime with St. Vitus and War Beast on August 19, and a couple of short runs with Down late summer and early Fall as well as some Down recording possibly in October. Things do change sometimes so don’t hold me to it, but that’s potentially what’s going on. Lots of work to do!
– That’s all, thank you again. If you want to add some final words to this interview; feel free to do it.
I want to thank you and the fans for your support and the interest in both bands, it means a lot to each one us from the bottom of our hearts! Keep coming to the shows because we have so much in store for the fans! Take care of yourselves and the people you love and I hope to see you soon on tour somewhere out there, and by the way, SPAIN FUCKING ROCKS!!!!!!!!
