Let’s talk about the word N*****. What does that word mean to you? And is it an acceptable way for a black, mortal man to present himself in music?

Alright, starting with the “N-Bomb”, huh? At the risk of sounding soft or whatever to the large part of the hip-hop community that condones the term, here’s my take on it: the word is a derogatory term for someone, regardless of race and regardless of who’s saying it. It’s offensive to me, as I grew up with it being a serious verbal threat to myself, my family, and my heritage. It was worth gettin’ worked up about and defending. The word doesn’t bother me as much now. Maybe I’m getting old or just don’t have the quick temper I used to BUT, it still rubs me the wrong way. I realize that people nowadays use it in place of “brother” or “partner” or whatever but I will never use it in any context. To me it’s a close minded word for those who don’t want to use anything else to identify another person.

But there are those within’ your own mortal race that use it.

I don’t understand, especially in the black community, how we can say “it’s alright for us to call each other that ’cause we’re showing people that it doesn’t bother us anymore, but ya’ll (non-blacks) better not call us that or…”. It seems as though we’ve forgotten about or just don’t care about the people of all races who, for years, shed blood, time, life, etc. to get rid of words and stereotypes like that. To me it’s disrespectful all the way around, regardless of the source or the target, whether in jest, camaraderie, or intimidation.

What about it’s place in music?

To me the same as in society: it’s ignorant and disrespectful. If you need a two-syllable word describing someone else, why not say “brotha”, “sucka”, “partner”, anything/something other than looking ignorant. It’s weird to walk around suburbia and see white kids call each other that. That’s what its come to and a lot of it has to do with how we act toward, around, with each other musically. Music is a society of its own and so far the society has expressed an “OK Nigger” (no Radiohead pun intended) mentality. It’s a shame. I had always believed that we as black people, all people for that matter, had come farther than that. We’re doing the white supremacists proud.

But isn’t the fact that white, mortal kids call each other “nigga” a sign that a bridge was built as opposed to a wall? Even if the wall isn’t perfect, isn’t it a sign of camaraderie?

Absolutely. I’m loving the “bridging the gap” part of it. I’m just wishing another term could’ve been used. It’s a personal thing I guess but I’d much rather have the flower-child mentality and culture, “whassup, brotha” The gap has been more than “bridged” at least with rap sales as white kids out buy blacks. The gap has been bridged and stabilized into a street or boulevard now, at least in hip-hop culture. There was a time when black videos weren’t shown on MTV, unless you were Michael Jackson. Now I’m starting to wonder if my concern with “niggativity” has been counter-productive.

As an artist what bridge would you like to build with your music and lyrics?

Both lyrically and musically I’d like to bridge the old with the new, the heavy with the ambient, the aggressive with the subtle, rage with controlled contemplation. And many more “dramatic” dichotomies that I can’t readily think of right now. But no matter what yen and yang could be considered, it’s all done with a color blind view and a notion of positivity and self-awareness/affirmation. It’s a dream bridge of mine, I guess.

What emotions have you been pulling your art out of?

The move lately has been one of angst, frustration, anger, and that’s all good. Let people know that they’re not the only ones who feel that way from time to time. But there aren’t many who are saying that while things may not be as you’d/I’d like them, you/I know that you’re/I’m doing your/my best in being the best you/me that you/I can be, or at least you’re/I’m going to try, whether someone else is into it or not. Bridging positivity and self awareness/knowledge and hard music is a goal without hollering at the listener all of the time or ramming a musical idea down their throat through brute force. I like to treat my music and lyrics like a conversation; there’s a time for volume and “in your face” delivery and there are times to lay it back and float with it. If it’s done well, the point will get across using both of those methods.

Is THE WITCHING HOUR Heavy Metal?

Yes and no. Yes in that it involves hard guitars most of the time, it’s upbeat most of the time, it’s loud most of the time. No in that I don’t think it follows the stereotypical “heavy metal” trappings like a screeching lead vocal or big hair. Elaborate staging, yes. Guitar riffs, yes. The sex, drugs, rock and roll thing, nah, not really. I guess it all depends on what part of the stereotype you’re referring to. As metal as Pantera or Slipknot, no, I’m not that tough. I dunno, that’s a hard call to make.

Act 2

I’m the odd man out being I’m a gay being in metal. Do you feel the same way being a black man in rock/metal?

Absolutely not. Historically/racially, blacks created rock music. Thanks to Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Screaming Jay Hawkins (the founder of shock rock), and many more, rock music was initially called “Jungle music” or “Nigger Music”. Then along came a studio singer named Pat Boone who was asked to sing a Little Richard tune. At the same time, this white kid named Elvis who loved the Chuck Berry sound came along, starting playing this music and the rest was history. When Pat and Elvis showed up, the media decided it couldn’t be called “Nigger/Jungle music” anymore ’cause of these white kids. So what should it be called now. What I’m trying to say is that I’m far from being the “odd man out” by being into rock. As a fact, I’m “keeping it real” by being into it especially as I know the history behind it. In reality, music is color-blind. There’s no such thing as black or white music, even though we’re always trying to label it as something like that. Music is simply made up of colors and that’s the bottom line. Sure, it all started with black musicians and entertainers but who is so great as to say “white people need to get into this thing and black people into this and that’s that. If you cross that line, you’re a sell-out, traitor, weirdo, odd man out”. If that’s the case, call me the odd man I guess but I know my history and my present and future is telling me to create with colors, not separate by it.

Tell me which pathetic mortal inspired you musically as you grew up?

Wow, the list is so huge. My parents were big into Motown so obviously that’s where it began for me. One of the first records I ever bought was the Jackson 5’s Christmas. My next trip to the record store I bought Iron Butterfly’s “In a Gadda Da Vida” and Isaac Hayes’ “Hot Buttered Soul” AND Rare Earth’s “Get Ready”. Between those four albums and the Temptations’ “My Girl”, I was musically hooked. Since then, the biggest influences have been Parliament/Funkadelic, Kiss, Elton John, Sly and the Family Stone, the British Ska movement-which lead me into roots reggae like Marley and Peter Tosh. I was into the progressive rock and jazz movement with early Genesis, Yes, UK and Mahavishnu Orchestra. Then this “new thing” called rap came along and I was hooked from day one. Then Prince, the Police, Missing Persons, the 80’s metal thing and older/traditional jazz, I was into all of that. And things have mushroomed since. To go into them all would take up way too much time.

Who are your biggest influences?

My biggest inspirations were/are Little Richard, vocally, the P-Funk Mob, Kiss, Public Enemy, Living Colour, King’s X, Fishbone, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix later on in my life, Nine Inch Nails and VAST- as they’re solo artists operating as a project, as I’m doing with THE WITCHING HOUR. Plus, all the countless drummers/musicians whether in bands or just doing the studio thing that caught my attention. I’m sure there’s more influences and inspirations that I didn’t name, just can’t think of them right now.

You mentioned KISS. If you were a member of KISS, which member would you be?

I was always such a fan of Ace Frehley, especially back in 70’s and early 80’s. He was so cool with his laid back attitude, almost sleepy kinda thing going on -only to find out later that it was drugs and alcohol (laughs) and the smoking guitar. I dunno, he was the coolest to me. And it seemed like he had the best sense of humor at the time too, but maybe that was drugs and alcohol as well (More laughter).

What are you influenced by right now?

The Black Crowes, Xzibit, Tricky, Black Sabbath, Tori Amos, Method Man, Redman, Slipknot, Nine Inch Nails (particularly “The Fragile”, David Bowie, and Incubus. Public Enemy, Queen, Journey, and Kansas too. And movie-wise, as I’m fairly visual when it comes to the arts, would be The Exorcist, Shrek, Boyz in the Hood, The Others, Jacob’s Ladder, Color Purple, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Fight Club, all for various reasons. I’m sure there are others that I can’t think of right now though.

Who is the one mortal you’ve learned the most from in life?

Man, where are you getting these great questions from?! Hmm, I don’t think I can pinpoint one person. I’ve been able to take/learn from so many. Of course my dad and my mom, my heroes (Muhammed Ali, James Earl Jones, Colin Powell, Andrew Young), other people I look up to for whatever reason like George Clinton, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Chuck D. It’s not that I know all of these people personally but for some, through interviews and what-not, I’m gathering life type information. And with everyone, I’m learning as much on what to do as I am what NOT to do.

You are known as a drummer, mortal. Do you play anything else?

Actually I play a few instruments. None of them extremely well but enough to get by for now and to build on as time goes by. I taught myself drums playing on my mattress around 4 or 5 years old. Then in 3rd grade, my parents (more my dad than my mom) made me play french horn and I did that all the way through my first stint in college. In high school I started stealing licks and a few rudiments from drumming friends and trying to copy Neil Peart, Phil Collins/Chester Thompson, Terry Bozzio, Billy Cobham, and Stewart Copeland. Meanwhile, a good high school friend of mine turned me on to guitar He showed me how to play Rush’s “Bastille Day.” During my off-periods during the school day I’d go into the piano practice room and mess around on the piano. I also played flugelhorn and trumpet and sousaphone (tuba) in high school too.

You’ve been involved in some bands, here in Colorado. Which one’s were you a member in? What can you tell me about them?

Well, because I didn’t realize that one could be a session musician/hired gun at the time, I treated so many of my early bands as being a member of them, on occasion 4 or 5 at a time. Some of those were instrumental jazz-rockers Windowpane, groove-pop band called Big City Noise, funk-rock band called Thumposaurus Wrecks, rap-metal band Chaos Theory, alternative rock band Sick ‘Em Fifi, to name a few. They were all great doing what they did at the time they were doing them. It was also really cool to have such diverse styles to jump back and forth from, although I’m sure that my non-availability drove most of them up a wall. Selfishly, playing with those people and the many more that I didn’t mention was such a great thing for my technique, approach to music, music business, etc.

You’ve seemed more interested in being known as a session drummer rather than a member of a band. True? Why?

It is very true because being a session musician is my career choice. It’s something that I want to do. I don’t want to be committed 24/7 to the same group of people doing the same style of music for the rest of that band’s existence. My attention span is too short for that I guess. It’s pretty self-centered really but I want to be able to play different types of music with different people as often as possible, to flex and stretch out a bit. Sure, I’ll do the tour or the CD with you but when the tour/CD’s done I may be out doing something else.

Do you think those in bands envy your freedom?

You wouldn’t believe how many musicians I know who are dying to do something different musically than what they’re doing in their current band but they can’t because that band’s formula sells, ya know? So they’re subjected to the “I’ll have to do a solo project” which most of the time doesn’t happen and they’re stuck with jamming at home or on the tour bus and that’s it. It’s kinda sad. People have asked a million times “well what if so and so makes it? Don’t you want to be famous? Don’t you want to run off with them then?”. It’s not about that. Sure I’d love a bit of fame/notariety, but I’m not about the fancy mansion, the rolls royce thing. I want to be able to make a living playing music and all types of music AND to have my own narcissistic outlet with THE WITCHING HOUR and still write other music for whatever project may be appropriate and produce other projects and tour with whoever, whenever, and… Imagine another Phil Collins, he did it and that’s what I want to do. Sure he had a steady band in Genesis, he also had his solo project, he also produced a number of projects, he wrote music for soundtracks, he toured with various bands (Robert Plant, and now his jazz combo). If he could do it, why can’t I? If a band makes it, congratulations. If ya need someone for your record or tour, I hope ya don’t lose my number. I don’t know why it’s such a confusing thing too. I realize that people want to be able to catch me play with someone at some point but for the same people to ask me over and over again “who are you playing with now” and for me to answer with “whoever calls me” gets redundant for both of us. I can’t answer any other way because the people I play with are different just about every day or night. There’s nothing steady, and just because I played with so and so last week doesn’t mean that when they play their next show that I’ll be playing with them that night. It’s a difficult thing to deal with schedule-wise but that’s why I have my day planner ALWAYS on hand.

Not everyone is familiar with the way session musicians operate.

I’m thinking that people don’t understand what I’m doing as a session guy. I’m one of the people that play while “the star” does their thing. I’m one of the people who would be backing whether live or in the studio, for example, Michael or Janet Jackson, Madonna, David Bowie, Alanis Morrisette, George Clinton (as I’ve already done), Nine Inch Nails, the guy who’s drumming with REM now is one, the backing band with Duran Duran, the backing band that L.L. Cool J had, Stevie Wonder’s backup band, etc. If you look inside a CD booklet, people like me are listed as “additional musicians…”.

Of the various bands you’ve played with around town, who are the most enjoyable to play with?

Hey! You trying to get me in trouble or something? (Laughs) That’s a loaded question. Not to sound p.c. or anything but they all had something that I enjoyed about them, otherwise I wouldn’t have worked with them at all, ya know? Even if it wasn’t musically so appealing to me, the friendship was. To name “the most enjoyable” wouldn’t be fair or accurate at all. Honestly. It’s kinda like a girlfriend or boyfriend, husband or wife, there are great things about them and maybe some things that you’re not so crazy about. I dunno, I can’t really answer that in the way that you’d like me to.

You mentioned drugs and alcohol in regards to Ace Frehley. Knowing yourself, If you were suddenly thrown into fame, what do you think would be your biggest weaknesses and what would be your greatest strengths?

Wow. That’s a great question. I’ve never thought of that before, so I guess now’s my chance, huh? Let’s see, I’ve never been a drug guy so that’s not a concern. And I’ve been through my alcohol phase. I’ve been sober since November of 2000, so that wouldn’t be an issue either. The only thing that I can see from here is my susceptibility to female attention. I’m a sucker and I tend to fall in lust at the drop of a dime. So some gold digger would have me wrapped ’round her finger. Unfortunately, I could see that happening. Hopefully I would have found “Mrs. James” by the time fame comes my way, if it does at all. Then, I won’t have to worry about the gold digger issue.

And your biggest strength?

My greatest strength would be my maturity, age-wise. I’m still a teenager at heart, I’ve just lived this life for a while physically. Maturity to me would be my best strength in that I’d be able to say “been there, done that”. Smashing up a hotel room, doing a bunch of drugs, chasing girls around the hotel naked – although THAT sounds like fun, doing the stereotypical rockstar thing doesn’t interest me much. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the type to get to the hotel room after a show and turn on CNN or just stare out of the window as others having fun. I still love to go out, have fun, hang out/flirt, etc. Just the “been there, done that” thing keeps me from being an idiot or even a danger to myself or someone else. Yeah, that sounds about right for me.

What is the greatest form of personal power an individual can have?

WHOA! Now THAT, my friend is the best question I’ve been asked. I’m not even sure how to answer that. Will you give me a minute to think about it?

Alright…

Hmmm

I’m waiting….

(He doesn’t reply)

You shall answer me NOW, mortal!

Hopefully this is what you’re looking for. I don’t see one form of personal power, I see a number of them working in concert to make a huge package. Those forms or what-have-you would be: hope, patience, tolerance, wisdom -and by that, I don’t mean book smart. I’m talking common sense and learning from both the past and from mistakes as well as accomplishments, consideration, optimism, awareness -both in self and in society, understanding, which is a biggy to me, and humor. To go into each of them individually would take way too long but suffice it to say that implementing even one of these assets would make a person stronger mentally, spiritually, socially. If a person were to utilize two of these, look out. If a person were to implement all of them, OUCH! I think at that point they’d be Ghandi or something too perfect, ya know? I believe I have some of these and I’m working on some of the others in baby steps but I also realize that I’m no where close to being complete on the ones I’m claiming to already have. I believe it to be a lifelong assignment but to me, they are goals worth reaching for. If I had to pick one and only one, at the risk of sounding cheesy, I’d have to say “Love” is it. Being able to give it as well as to receive and embrace it. Is that what you’re asking for or did I answer some other question? Man, that was such a good question, for real.

You have spoken correctly, mortal! Tell me about your spiritual beliefs

I always have been and always will be a Christian. That’s “the way” for me and at the same time I believe that it may not be “the way” for everyone. I don’t push my beliefs on anyone and have nothing but respect and curiosity for what others might believe, including Satanists and Atheists. It’s all very interesting to me; how does their spiritual belief operate, the guidelines, the stories behind it all, the celebrations, all of it. The spirit and what makes people tick is a fascinating thing.

Amuse me, brown skinned mortal, What, in your opinion, is the best evidence of the existence of God?

Well first, I don’t know why it was important to point out that I’m brown skinned as though my skin color makes a difference on my answer but…

I shall point out anything I wish, mortal!

Ok, Ok. Calm down. My opinion on the best evidence of the existence of God is everything around me, whether naturally created or man-made. If it’s man made, granted humans made it but to me, God gave these people the gift/talent/ability to create these things, just like my involvement/gift/talent/ability with music. Even looking in the mirror is evidence. Realizing that I’m alive and that I have love in my heart and that I/we have possibilities, that to me is more evidence of God’s existence. And all people have evidence of some sort, whether they believe in God or Buddha or Jah or whatever, there’s a higher power for just about everyone and there’s some kind of evidence.

THE WITCHING HOUR sounds rather dark. While that is fine for my Greatness, are you afraid of a bad reception from the Christian community?

I’m not afraid of it but I’m expecting it. Especially from the more hard core believers. Actually I’ve already had to deal with that from someone who sees things on very surface levels rather than finding out the truth first and then making a judgment. There are a few Christians that don’t have a problem with it and actually understand or aren’t intimidated by it and support it. But the one’s who are intimidated/scared, they’re the one’s that I’m speaking to with most of my philosophies image-wise and lyrically with TWH. Judging books by their covers. And as Christians, we’re supposed to understand and know that that’s not the thing to do, but we tend to do that constantly and consistently. Even if a fellow Christian is doing something like what I’m doing, to those who are judging all of a sudden I “couldn’t be a real Christian if I’m doing this or have the word “Witch” in my project’s name, or build the project around a dark environment or blah, blah, blah. It’s not the Christian way and you’re inviting Satan into…” yadda, yadda, yadda. My point with this is: the best way to see and appreciate light is darkness. If you’re surrounded by light all of the time you tend to take it for granted and it’s not special anymore. Take away the light and your first instinct is to look for any sign of it. And when you see it, you’re so relieved. It’s so beautiful to me that way.

You will make a good zombie.

(Laughs) Well, I’m not instituting darkness in a Satanic, evil way, but more of the mysterious way. Not sure what’s around the corner sort of thing. That to me is the best darkness and the best relief is the light. I see my lyrics as being very “light” oriented, even in parts musically. So the surface Christians who condemn what I’m doing should go back and do their homework, re-learn “judge not lest ye be judged yourselves…”, and then try to find out what I/THE WITCHING HOUR is really about.

While so many people’s lives have been positively affected by Christianity, so many people have had bad experiences with Christians and/or Christianity. Why do you think that is?

A lot has to do with what I was just touching on. We Christians many times feel the need to label this as bad and that as good and the only thing that matters is our opinion and we’re gonna let you know about it. Although we shouldn’t, we tend to quickly pass judgment if something doesn’t set with us right away. If we’re uncertain, we’re quick to say that it’s wrong rather than seeing ANY positives. In THE WITCHING HOUR case, the judging will pick on the word “Witching” and/or the dark atmospheres and/or Stormy’s existence or something, RATHER than saying “Hey, it’s cool that we (Christians) have another spokesperson out there trying to make a statement”. It’s not so much in the world of support as it is finding and identifying the bad. We can make someone’s life really difficult with our quick judgments and punishments. I mean, during the Crusades, if a person from the country that we invaded did not want to covert to Christianity they were put to death. We did this all in the name of God. The Salem Witch Trials were pretty much the same thing. The Inquisition, the same thing. Now a days, although we won’t put you to death, you’re judged and condemned if you don’t outwardly show and support Christianity. It’s sad but I’ve seen it to be true. We haven’t changed much as the years have gone by.

Act 3

I’ve noticed that Christians often get bashed and sometimes our culture shows more tolerance toward other religions rights. Have you noticed this?
Not so much the tolerance for other religions. As for Christians getting bashed, yes, but lots of times we deserve it running around with our “holier than thou, I cast judgment upon ye” attitude some of us give off. Not only that but Christianity is such a popular religion that it seems hard for the public not to have something to say about us. As for tolerance for other religions, I don’t think the general public either takes those religions as threats to their own being as much as a “bible thumper” or something OR that the general public is naive and/or passive about their existence. I’ll tell ya though, we need to recognize that there are other spiritual views out there just to learn more about each other.

What is your overview and opinions about Christianity TODAY as a
A. Religion
B. Reality socially, politically and personally

Hmm. I still believe that for me, Christianity is the key to life and my after life. Again, I don’t push that on to anyone else and if they want to know about it or what I’m into I’ll proudly tell them. It’s my life rule book. I think it’s still a strong religious force in the world today although there are many more religions to acknowledge, which to me makes life that much more interesting. Socially, it’s pretty much what I’ve mentioned already so I won’t beat a dead horse. Politically, I don’t think it should be pushed on the rest of the country or on a whole country in general because there are so many people and so many different religions and so many different forms of it all. If the President believes in a particular spiritual thing, great for him/her. I believe in something else. It shouldn’t matter. What does matter is pushing your faith on to someone else, trying to make someone go your way. Intimidating people into your way of thinking or believing. Invading, murdering, conquering people “in the name of God”. I don’t think that was His intention at all, ya know?

Do you think Christian views have become more accepted with in the realm of Rock and Roll?

Actually it is more so now than it had been in the recent past. Christian bands/artists are coming out with it more or less tattooed on them for all the world to see and to me that’s great. Instead of hiding it and not mentioning their beliefs in the press or whatever they’re/we’re saying so whether the world disapproves or not. I will never deny my Christianity nor will I hide it, although I’m not the extrovert preachy type.

It must be very difficult for you, Christian, to work with my gay magnificence.

Absolutely not. I don’t think it should be. You have your thing and I have mine, that doesn’t mean we can’t get along. What you do and how you live is your business and I’m not going to pass judgment UNLESS it directly hurts me or my family/friends. At that point, we have to talk, ya know? You’ve told me where you stand and so be it. I have satanist friends as well and atheist ones and… It’s all good with me, that’s their deal and I love them and you regardless. That to me is truly being a Christian. And not only that, that’s just how I’ve been made up anyway. I don’t have a problem with tolerance. As a fact, I’m more curious than offended by much of anything.

Even though you prefer women, with their hatchet wound, tell me, what’s the most daring sexual thing you’ve ever done with another man?

Uh, I’ve watched pornos with other guys in the same room (Laughs) Does that count (More laughter)

Do you think Jesus masturbated while he was alive and on Earth?

That I’ve never thought about so I don’t know. I doubt it but that might be just because I have a “so holy” vision of God’s son. But then again he was a human…

I’ve heard one theory that he might have been gay. What are your impressions/opinions

Kinda the same thing as your last question. I don’t know, but I doubt it. Not that being gay makes someone less deserving of God’s love or anything, I just don’t see it. But then again, I’ve never really thought of that either.

Describe what kind of band Jesus would be in if he were physically alive today and a rocker.

Hmm. Something theatrical. To me, the Bible is one of the most theatrical-leaning books in the world. I’d imagine something heavy but very melodic. Something with beautiful textures to it but is also offset by aggressiveness too. Oh wait, I’m talking about THE WITCHING HOUR. My fault. (Laughs)

Your humor is pathetic, negro mortal!

I can’t see him doing light, poppy, overly happy music full of sunshine and rainbows and stuff. Jesus was more of a rebel than that.

How does THE WITCHING HOUR convey your spiritual beliefs, and is it important for you to convey those beliefs? Or is your music JUST about music and entertainment.

THE WITCHING HOUR doesn’t beat someone over the head with Christianity. We/I don’t and won’t preach from the stage or on recordings but I do take things from the Bible for lyrics. I do pray every day and before I go on stage to perform. I’m getting my first and only tattoo of the Holy Trinity over my heart with an “F”, “S”, and “HG” within it which stands for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The TWH albums have trinity symbols on them, numbering them. Kinda like Trent of Nine Inch Nails with Halo One, Halo Two, etc. I have Trinity One, Two, etc. I think it’s important as well as fun to use entertainment with this instead of just being so matter of fact. I don’t want TWH to just get on stage or just go into the studio and lay the music and lyrics down and be done with it. There’s a way to present things and why not entertain as well, just to keep the audience (and ourselves) involved and hopefully intrigued. It just adds another element. Besides, like I mentioned before, the Bible to me is so theatrical or lends itself to be that why shouldn’t I incorporate that kind of thing more or less into what THE WITCHING HOUR is doing? It’s important to me to transmit my beliefs just for my own satisfaction and acknowledgment and further communication with God. If the general public catches it or not doesn’t really matter to me as my belief system is based on MY relationship with Him, not how someone else views or judges my relationship with Him. As long as he and I are on squares with each other, as long as he doesn’t disapprove what I’m doing and how I’m doing it, as long as He approves then I could care less what other mortals think of me or what I do or what I’m about.

Ok. Well let’s go to the beginning. Tell me how THE WITCHING HOUR came into being?

Working with so many bands there have situations where they’ve searched for more musical ideas and on occasion I’ve had some for them. As time has gone on I’ve suggested more or written more. Finally in ’94 I was working with a band on their demo and they needed one more song for it. Foolishly I shouted out “I have one for ya! I’ll bring it in tomorrow”, when truth be told I didn’t have ANYTHING! Talk about problems. Fortunately and kind of effortlessly “Shocking” came out of me in less than 24 hours. And in hindsight, it shows, as far as I’m concerned (Laughs) When that happened and we recorded it the next day I figured “hmm, if I could do that and I’ve done some other things here and there, why not move forward with this and see where it takes me”. Musically, that’s the start.

Did you have a clear cut idea as for the presentation of the project?

Image-wise and name wise, I know that I’ve always wanted to do something optimistically oriented but without flowers and sunshine and what-not. And I’ve always been a fan of spooky movies, not slasher stuff but more like ghost stories and things. That was the easy part, understanding the appreciation of light through darkness. But what to call it? As I writing more music I got turned on to the writings of Anne Rice. It’s not the material that classics are made of but it’s really entertaining to me. But one of the first books I saw of her’s outside of “Interview with a Vampire” was “THE WITCHING HOUR”. Immediately I knew that that’s the name for my unnamed project. The clock and rose logo is another story but there’s the genesis of the project.

How much on your CD did you do in way of vocals, instruments…etc

That’s kinda the whole thing with TWH is that I’m doing things myself, no compromise, no potentially scarring another member’s ego or whatever, narcissistically, it’s all about me (laughs). Um, I wrote all of the songs and segues and performed all of the instruments and vocals UNLESS there was a point on a song that I couldn’t do something or that I could hear someone else do it. And those points were plenty for the “Angels…” CD (laughs). I’m not so egotistical that I’m going to paste a guitar solo together one note at a time and speed it up to the song’s tempo just so I could brag about “how cool my solo is, dude”. It’s not that kind of party. There is so much talent in the world, in Colorado, that if I can make it a part of my thing, then why not?

You had a number of artists guest star. Give me a run down.

Sure. Actually, I didn’t ask these people to do this just so that they could appear as special guests and hype it that way. “Shocking featuring…”, that kind of vibe. No. They’re on this recording because they’re great at what they do and their “thing” fit the song. Let’s see, for “Angels…” there’s session guitarist Joe Gamble, Dani-Hofer Harrison from Soul Thieves, Wendy Hudson from Tequila Mockingbird, Dan Miller from Rocket Ajax, guitarist Greg Gladman, vocalist Haylar Garcia, vocalist Donna Galbraith, guitarist Robert Williams, vocalist Elizabeth Rose, remixes by Xerxes Non of Contingence, and some of the engineering was done by Andrew Diamond of United Dope Front. I was working on two TWH CD’s at the same time (dumb thing to do) so there’s even more people on the follow-up CD like Romero from Sick, Sherri Jackson, Geoff Morris, Colin Mitchell, Marc Grbowski, Tony Johnson, many many more.

What story/message are you trying to convey through the songs?

Well it varies from song to song but mostly it’s a self reflection type of thing, almost always positive. Like with “Shocking”, it’s about realizing that the narrator (myself) had such a great thing with this girl and I voluntarily and stupidly threw it away. Now she’s haunting my thoughts in my sleep. It’s positive in that I’ve learned not to do something like that again. “Live and learn and move forward” kind of thing. I’m particularly being very personal on this recording. These songs are all real accounts. I dunno, I felt I had to expose myself ’cause I’m not able to do it with just conversation very well. And being a hired gun, most of my thoughts and what-not I have to hold back ’cause it’s not my project. But, THE WITCHING HOUR is! My thoughts come out better in a song. “The Sparrow” was written while I was extremely depressed and was trying to find a some internal strength outside of the spiritual realm. The words for it just came out like water from a faucet (there aren’t many words for that one anyway) and the music came to me while I sitting around in the studio in the span of 7 minutes, honestly. Man, I made a short question into a really long answer, huh? To make a long story longer, there are many messages and as far as I’m concerned, they’re all positive in one way or another.

How do you want people to come away feeling/thinking after they listen to the CD?

I would just love for people to come away from the CD feeling/thinking. Period. Just to get their minds moving in whatever direction they want. It’s great to have music where you don’t have to think and you can just bounce to it and whatever but for now, I want to make people think and feel. Whether they see things the same way that I had intended or had written or not doesn’t matter. Just as long as they’re thinking or feeling something. It’s kinda like those that apply to the theory that “pain is life”, meaning that if you can feel, you know you’re alive. Just think SOMETHING, feel SOMETHING while you’re listening to the CD. And I’d love to know what’s going on in the brain during and after. I’d love to hear what effect the CD’s doing to folks even if it’s boring or curing their insomnia.

Is it going to be difficult transferring what you did on the CD into a live show technically?

Not particularly. It’s going to take a multi-track tape deck for some of the samples/sound bites, loops, and keyboard stuff but other than that, it’s just rock, ya know? I’m hiring extremely talented people to play a most of the instruments. I call ’em my Stormtroopers, my vocalists (the Sirens) and a fantastic road crew, my Bomb Squad. The translation from CD to stage will not be a problem.

You are known for a very large, theatrical show. Are you afraid of any message you have getting lost in the flash?

I’m not known for the large theatrical shows YET! (laughs). No. People are going to get from it what they choose to get from it. I do have a story line more than a message and whether the audience gets it or not, well… I’m not going to beat ’em over the head trying to get them to see the show the same way I do. I’m going to treat the show like the CD, just as long as it makes people think and/or feel SOMETHING, then I’ve done a decent job. And as far as I’m concerned the more flash, the better (laughs). Until it gets to a pro wrestling level or a circus or something where the show is so much greater than the reason behind it, the music.

Let’s talk about current events in the mortal world. What do you hope you breathers in the U.S. can learn from the events on September 11th?

Oh, man. There’s so much to learn. It’s so tragic that it took something like that to get us/our country to wake up out of a zombie-like (no pun intended) existence. To finally form a bond between us and to not be so “me” oriented as we had been the past 10 years or so. That week of the attacks was such a moving experience to see people hugging each other, putting aside petty differences and joining together in a unity of some sort. At the time we were so shocked that we didn’t know what to do or how to react or… But man, it was so beautiful to see the lines at the Red Cross volunteering to donate blood, to see people off of the street running toward the buildings to help rescue folks, etc. I cried both in tragedy for the lives lost and those directly effected and in happiness for a sense of bonding that the country did. It was all very moving. One of the things I think we learned was that although in our little world we believe ourselves to be great, that other people may not think that way about us. I’m sure the radical Islamic believers could have made their point some other way than what they did though. We learned that there are other views than ours. It’s weird that we had discussed the religious tolerance issue earlier in this interview and how naive my answer was in reality and now, people around the world know the existence of the Islamic religion and the different factions within it. Now if we could just learn that the radicals are a small minority of the Islamic followers, that most don’t believe that this is the Jihad, that most do not condone the actions of the radical few, that the Islamic religion and their people are absolutely beautiful and that it’s stupid and ignorant to punish/torture/beat/etc. all of the “Islamic lookin’ or middle eastern lookin'” people that we run across for the actions of a few, then we’d be closer to learning completely from this.

What’s the one experience you most desire in mortal life that you haven’t yet had?

To be a husband and a father. That’s the epitome to me. I guess I need to accomplish step one and be a boyfriend first but I’ve been that before. Anything else is material where enough money could get whatever else but the boyfriend/husband/father thing is the end all and be all for me.

Your mortal Christian views aside, what’s the best way to commit suicide?

Hmm. Ya know, most ways give you time to think about it as you’re about to die or you spend time suffering, etc. Like OD’ing, man, you’re laying there drooling and convulsing. Nah. Jumping off a building or bridge you’re thinking about it on the way down and not always do you die when you hit so no. If you’ve ever watched Amadeus, the beginning scene, you’ve figured that trying to cut your own throat just doesn’t work. Hurts too much through the process and it’s really hard to get it done. It’s gotta be quick and sure. Even a gun to the head, there are cases of people missing and just injuring their scalp. Yet I think that’d be the best way. It’s rare that a gun in the mouth fails (take Full Metal Jacket for example) unless you’re Tyler Durden/whatever Edward Norton’s character’s name was in Fight Club. Oh no, wait!! Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Just stick a hose to the tail pipe, into the car, and go to sleep.

How about laying down and letting a zombie rip your heart out and eat it?

Hmm. With hot sauce? Do I have to be laying down? It’ll mess up my hair.