“From Bliss To Devastation is a hardcore/metal band from Long Island, New York. The band was unique, in that rather than touring through Denver, they brought my photographer and I to kill them at Hunter Mountain, upstate New York.
Did you know you can fly on airplane, looking like I look, decked out in your full royal attire? Neither did I. My photographer Andrea Rebel set it up. I brought two ID’s with me (from when I was alive) and I had to consent to a private search in a security room. But removing my royal attire and being frisked by two beefy men in uniform is something I would have happily paid extra for, so I was a very happy zombie. After going through this truly enriching experience, Andrea and I were surprised when they called my name at the gate intercom and had us board the plane first, before everyone else. I felt like the royalty that I am. I thought, they must know who Maris The Great is! They sat us in some seats that had extra foot space and when the the flight attendants gave their demonstration/speech about how to survive a plane crash, we had our own, private attendant. He made extra effort to enunciate each and every word. At the end of the presentation, he leaned down and asked me if I understood. I said, “Of course, mortal, why wouldn’t I?” Then it dawned on us…
They all thought I was disabled. .
When we arrived in New York, we basically had one big party. Andrea is straight edge, so she didn’t participate in the alcoholic festivities, but boy oh boy, I did! From the very beginning, I loved From Bliss To Devastation. Wonderful guys. They had a straight drummer that was basically a little bunch of hotness, named Mike Mike Tigo Santiago. His nickname is “Tigo.” I called him “Tigger.” He is the kind of guy that when you meet him, you don’t want to have a conversation, you just want to fuck him. He had sent me photos of his penis as a way of welcoming me and we’ll just say..I felt very welcomed!
I still have the photos.
When it came time for them to die, the murder was shot outside an old, abandoned ski lodge that looked haunted. It was dark, freezing cold and very windy, so we couldn’t really shoot in the lodge, so we ended up shooting everyone in a van they had rented specifically for the event. The band were real troopers. They suffered whatever they had to, so that the pictures were everything they could be. And the results were worth it. Everything turned out awesome. In addition to the feature on my website, Hails & Horns published the pics and the group used them inside their next CD release.
The only misstep happened the next morning when the band filmed me creeping into Tigger’s room and crawling into his sleeping bag and humping him. It was done for entertainment purposes, but he felt I had crossed a line with him and was offended. When I got back to Denver, I made it a point to call him up and personally apologize. But we kissed and made up the last time he came to Denver. And he brought his boyfriend Ali Fuck ( Alexander Morgan), who is even hotter than he is! I can only imagine what a three way would be like with those two.
The whole thing was over the top and a lot of Rock and Roll fun. I will never forget these guys for as long as I die. Check out the trailer they made (with footage from the debauchery)”
~Maris The Great
THE DEMISE OF FROM BLISS TO DEVASTATION
FROM BLISS TO DEVASTATION FINAL INTERVIEW
When we last met, aside from the amazing butt sex you and I engaged in, you were about to release a CD…
Tigger: There was no butt sex, Maris
Whatever! Answer the question!
Tigger: The CD is titled Keefdust and Gunpowder. It was recorded with Dave Suchmann and The Rising Productions. We took our time to make sure everything came out the best it possibly could.. the tracks, the album art, the CD layout. Now that it’s all done, we’re happy we took the time to get it right.
Was it your first time recording?
Tigger: Yeah, but the bulk of it was recorded over two years ago. It was a good learning experience and we made a lot of mistakes that will never be made again.
Like what?
Tigger: Well, we recorded/mixed/produced it on our own in a basement with the help of a friend and it made us realize there’s just some things better left to the professionals. But in the years it took to get it done, we all matured musically and professionally. We’re proud of what we accomplished and it’s a killer, debut EP, but the release of our upcoming EP marks a new chapter for us.
When will that be out?
Tigger: Early 2010. We also plan on doing a nationwide tour in support of our two EP’s and the eventual release of a full length album.
You also parted ways with a couple of members…
Tigger: After the release of Keefdust and Gunpowder, certain changes were necessary for further progression of the band. We parted ways with bassist Rob Brill and vocalist Jesse Dicarlo.
Was it because you felt threatened that I might want them instead of you?
Tigger (Laughs) No! you can have them, Maris. They are awesome guys and we had some incredible times throughout the years. We still consider them close friends and wish them the best in their future endeavors. Anthony Dicocco who also plays in From The Pawn is now are bassist.
CO CO PUFFS!?! I love him!
(LAUGHTER)
So …you’ve been busy. What do you personally get out of being in a band?
Tigger: There’s nothing more satisfying than expressing yourself freely; having an outlet to pour all your emotions into something productive. We love the fact that we can reach out and connect with so many different people and be able to affect them somehow
How do you hope to affect them?
Tigger: Everyone listens to music for their own reasons. We hope to affect our listeners in any way possible – whether the music makes you feel good, or the lyrics inspire you, or it gets through tough times. The music is more than something to just listen to. It’s feeling and emotion and our goal is to connect with each listener individually.
How do you know when the band succeeds in doing that?
Tigger: It’s all about feedback. People tell us what our music does to them, and how they relate to it. There’s no better feeling than being on stage and everyone in the crowd is singing the lyrics back to you or rushing the stage so hard, that they knock down the vocalists trying to grab the mic. We do it all for the fans. They’re the only ones who should be having a better time than us during a performance.
What about when fights happen at shows? Does that mean something has gone wrong?
Tigger: We are completely against fighting at shows. It sends the wrong message about our band and the music. We’re all about moshing and having fun as long as people are respectful about it, but every once in a while you get people who say things like, “I cant wait to hurt people for this band,” or “I’m gonna break faces tonight.” Why? Everyone’s there is trying to enjoy themselves and your ruining the experience for them.
Yes, but does it turn you on when two girls fight?
Tigger: Just as much as you get turned on from watching a couple of dudes doing some yard work on a warm day.
Do you think you could ejaculate if I performed fellatio on you while you watched two girls fight in a pit?
Tigger: Only if I was blind, had no idea you were there, and thought the girls were fighting over my dick
YOU DARE!? I’LL HAVE YOU KNOW ITS AN HONOR TO GET FELLATIO FROM MARIS THE GREAT!
Tigger: I’m sure, but there’s just something about undead men that keep me flaccid, and that would ruin the experience for both of us.
Which band do you think epitomizes Hardcore?
Tigger: I think I can speak for everyone in the band when I say the epitome of our hardcore influence is Shai Hulud…
They will die
Tigger: We don’t sound very much like them, but their message and approach to writing music is something that could be considered the core of what hardcore music is all about, in our eyes.
Aside from musical style, what makes a band Hardcore?
Tigger: Hardcore isn’t just a style of music, its a culture. It’s a community where you don’t have to conform, but rather just be yourself. (It’s about) Standing firm to your beliefs and staying true to yourself and the ones you love. That’s Hardcore. It’s all heart
Yes, but I see plenty of mortals in Hardcore conforming, not only in the way they dress, but in the way they dance.
Tigger: Unfortunately, Hardcore has been commercialized. Now, how you dress or how you style your hair makes you “Hardcore,” because of the image the industry wants to push. A lot of fads come and go. It’s still all about how you feel and what’s inside.
All Murder Photography by Rebel Photo