“Brian Crowely, lead singer of Industrial//Rock/Techno band BURN CIRCUIT. was an absolute rock star. His group was so far beyond what anything ANYONE was doing at the time (he had an Nun singing passages from the Satanic Bible in operatic voice). He also lived the excesses of a rock star, both on and off stage. For their murder, it was his idea that I bite off his penis. It was the first time I ever had done so. It gave me a taste for it (along with delicious, semen-filled testicles) and my whole future as a wiener-chomping zombie began right here. Brian later became the diarrhea-shooting rhythm guitarist, Faggoty Ann in my band, Maris The Great and The Faggots of Death. Dan George was BURN CIRCUIT’s bassist. He eventually joined my band and became Miss Hissy Fit. In those days, my murders were VERY loosely organized. It wasn’t unusual for me to shoot in the middle of the night, in the a very odd location. The BURN CIRCUIT murder was shot late in the night, in the basement of a Denver Goth establishment.“
~Maris The Great
THE DEMISE OF BURN CIRCUIT
“Celebrities of rock and roll excess tend to be misunderstood people. I have found that the more extreme of an image a rock personality adheres to, the less it holds up under the glare of reality. It would probably surprise a lot of conservative minds to know that the Marilyn Mansons of the world tend to be a rather thoughtful, intelligent lot. They have to be in order to do what they do. This generally isn’t believed because most of the public really believes there is a devil. And the brain washed public is generally comfortable plastering the old Satanist sticker on the forehead of anyone in the world who falls out of lock step or bites the head off a bat. At the same time, the world envies the freedom their pop culture villains embody. I can’t help to think that sometimes, the intelligence and soul of controversial celebrities gets eclipsed though, much to everyone’s disadvantage. Since said personalities are the result of carefully planned marketing and pre-packaging, you’re not going to hear me whine on their behalf. Yet, there is a down side to being an Alice Cooper or a Kurt Cobaine. In rock and roll, the public’s eager embrace of a personality that has been spoon-fed to them often supersedes the enlightened soul underneath.
Brian Crowley is one of those souls. Brian is a star. Mark my words, Brian is going to be one of those controversial people you read about. The public will never understand, but they will clamor. Brian sees the world differently. People who see the world differently tend to scare other people. Brian scares a lot of people. So does BURN CIRCUIT, the solo project that turned into the band he fronts. BURN CIRCUIT live in the house you’re afraid to trick or treat at. The candy they hand out leaves the bitter taste of blood in your mouth. So does their music. That’s a compliment. However, labeling their dark, foreboding music as “Goth” gets thumbs down from band members. Brian opts for Electronic Industrial/ Melodic Metal. Admittedly though, while BURN CIRCUIT’s music does showcase enough heaviness to garner respect from the local metal community, there is enough dark electricity running through it to get a nod from the local Goth community as well. Not a bad thing, and no small feat. But whether or not BURN CIRCUIT’s brand of Industrial venom entices you to smear on the old black lipstick is not the most important issue. What is important is the foreseeable future. While everyone is trying to keep an ear open for the next KORN or LIMP BIZKIT, it’s a safe bet to say that BURN CIRCUIT are going to crawl up everyone’s skirt and bite their collective ass. Members, Mercury Farishta, keyboards, Dan George, Bass, Josh Hass (Oshua), guitar, Steve Wright, drums and the incomparable operatic vocals of Sister Tormentosa are going to make sure you hear from them. And if they don’t, Brian Crowley will.
After interviewing Brian, Dan, Steve and Mercury, I felt at first compelled to allow them to live. They don’t, afterall, even have a CD out yet. But after pondering the threat they are quickly becoming, I quickly decided that they would sound better if they were dead. Hunting them down was no easy feat. BURN CIRCUIT doesn’t hang in the traditional rock and roll trappings. So it came as no surprise that the smell of their brains led me to find Brian, Dan and Oshua engaging in one of their favorite pastimes: ending the life of someone in the dark recesses of an abandoned building. A beautiful setting for zombie brunch. “
~Maris The Great
BURN CIRCUIT'S FINAL INTERVIEW
Brian, are you a Satanist?
BRIAN: Before I answer that, I must know why you ask?
Because Satanists turn me on.
BRIAN: I am a Laveyan Satanist. Truth is, I don’t like talking about it. Number one, with Christians, they mostly don’t want to discuss it when they ask about it. They more or less want to argue or try to convert me. Number two; it’s not a gimmick to make my band interesting. I’m not trying to sell myself by means of being “the cool rebel Satanist”.
OK, but I’m still turned on. What about the rest of the band? Are you Satanists?
MERCURY: No
DAN: I’m a realist.
STEVE: Define Satanist?
Uh…a straight guy who let’s me play with his wee wee, no questions asked.
(Laughter all around)
Speaking of wee wees, does yours have a name?
BRIAN: Yes. Cuntslasher. Or Jesus. That way people can say, “The Lord has risen”(laughs)
MERCURY: Well, if I had a wee wee to name, it would be Pazuzu (Laughs)
DAN: I have given a name to my genitals, but only select individuals have access to this information.
What about you Steve?
STEVE: Vanilla Thunder! (Laughter)
Tell me about the formation of BURN CIRCUIT.
MERCURY: Brian had a dream, and from that dream, BURN CIRCUIT manifested
BRIAN: BURN CIRCUIT, formerly Aegrisomnia, began when I couldn’t take working with people on music anymore. I was sick of being in bands that were going in directions I didn’t like. So, this started off as a solo project of a sound that was exactly what I wanted.
DAN: And I could hear it from across 6th Ave during rush hour. I’m naturally attracted to loud noises, so I went over to investigate. (Laughs) After hearing the music, I had no choice but be a part of the band.
Were you the bassist right from the start?
DAN: No originally, I wanted to play tambourine but Brian made me play bass (Laughs)
Describe BURN CIRCUIT’s music?
STEVE: Helping to keep Colorado music evil.
MERCURY: We rock!
No, I mean what type of music would you classify BURN CIRCUIT?
BRIAN: Uh, music? The stereotype would be Metal/Industrial.
What about Goth?
BRIAN: Not Goth! I hate that shit!
DAN: We are Heavy Metal Prodigy…with a nun! (Laughs)
Oh yeah, Sister Tomentosa. I love her! How does one find a nun who sings opera?
BRIAN: Sister Tormentosa asked to audition for the band on backing vocals. At first I rejected her. But then I asked if she could sing opera. She could and damn well!
MERCURY: It was Sin-chronicity (Laughter)
What attracted you to being in a band in the first place?
BRIAN: I’m too pissed off about everything to be silenced. So instead of bitching about my shit to everyone and bringing them down, I decided to entertain them with my dilemmas. Besides, I was always into music.
STEVE: I’ve always been passionate about music.
DAN: I bought my first bass a Friday, and was in my first band on Saturday. After that, I was addicted.
Mercury, I heard somewhere that you were a classically trained pianist.
MERCURY: I spent a few years in my childhood taking lessons. My Mummy liked to listen to me play. When Brian needed someone to play keys, there I was, complete with basic knowledge.
If you were to commit suicide on stage, how would you do it?
BRIAN: Either by means of a homemade electric chair or attack the police so that they would be forced to gun me down.
DAN: I will die on stage. While I’m reaching for my pitcher, my walker will get tangled on my cords and I will trip and my bass will pierce my intestines spewing blood all over the amps. Someone will think it looks cool and take a picture. (Laughter)
MERCURY: Setting myself on fire.
STEVE: Harri Carri with drum sticks (Laughs)
What kind of childhood did you have?
MERCURY: Everything I learned about life, I learned on television.
STEVE: I killed my parents and fed them to the pigs (Laughs)
DAN: I grew up in Littleton. There were guns and ammo in the basement, and everyone thought I was a loser. Luckily, I discovered Rock and Roll.
BRIAN: Mine was surprisingly good on a family level. My parents kicked ass raising me. I just wasn’t a good listener. When it came to schooling and such, that was hell. From the first day of kindergarten all the way through high school, it was all about terror. People are fucked up. And now, people are like, “Oh, it must be nice to have your individuality”, or “ooh, I want to be a rebel”. Fucking sheep. The meek shall inherit shit.
Have you ever had any brushes with the law?
BRIAN: Yes
Tell me about them.
BRIAN: This would take awhile, so I will break it down into a summary. Starting at age 10, I’ve been convicted of 6 felonies and 26 misdemeanors. Innocent on all counts, of course. I was used as a scapegoat. Damn the man! (Laughter)
STEVE: Indecent exposure, Assault, DUI, possession of narcotics…
DAN: I was at a key party, partaking of massive quantities of cheap beer. I was underage. I should have been nervous when two female police officers arrived and started to break up the party. Instead, I exclaimed, “Hey, that cop chick has a brutal mustache dude!” I thought it was all over when they asked for identification. Fortunately, a scuffle in another room diverted her attention and I was able to escape.
Tell me more about your felonies Brian. I want to know the juicy stuff.
BRIAN: Starting at age 12, 5 counts of burglary, 1 auto theft, convicted 1 count of burglary. 1 auto theft. Age 14, arson, attempted homicide. Both cases were dropped. Age 16, 2nd degree assault with a deadly weapon. Convicted. Age 17, 2 counts motor vehicle theft, sentenced to 28 months. Age 19, felony-eluding police, case reduced to misdemeanor. That one was in the paper. I’m still on probation. I once took a shit in a guy’s shoe and had to go to sex offender class. This shit is behind me though. I’m a productive member of society now.
Do you think the system is fucked up?
BRIAN: Sure. I think our society bases everything on fear and lies. Ever since the beginning of America, which we stole by the way, religious fear has ruled rather than government. After 2oo and some great years, not much has changed. Today you can’t escape your fears. Somebody on TV is telling you how to eat, how to walk, don’t smoke. Warning you of every disease out there and some that don’t even exist. People’s perception of the perfect society would have all women at 110 pounds, double D breasts, blonde hair, blue eyes and in agreement with everything everyone says.
How do you think our society should solve it’s problems?
BRIAN: It comes down to respect. Japan’s society, for example, is based on respect. I was once in Japan. I left my camera on a bus. I realized it was gone the next day. I went back to the (bus) station and my camera was still on the bus. Their government doesn’t function on fear. Their society functions on decency. That’s something that “we the people” will never know. America is raised on rape. Every year that we celebrate thanksgiving, we celebrate rape and murder.
It seems to me it all starts with the parents. What do you think is the most important job of a parent?
DAN: Love your children
STEVE: To push music. And getting tattoos (Laughs)
MERCURY: Consistency
BRIAN: Restraints. It makes me sick to see these little bastards running, out of control, while their parents sit there and smile not acting with discipline. If people must take their kids out in the public, muzzle them, put them on a leash. And keep them out of the fucking movie theatres. No one thinks these fuckers are cute when they cry. And not all kids are cute.
Back to the music, how are BURN CIRCUIT songs written?
DAN: Brian has written all of the lyrics. The music for “Sake of screaming” was written during a very strange jam session between Brian, Osh and I.
BRIAN: I wrote the first six songs. The rest I’ve done a lot of shit for. Mainly the technical shit as well as guitars and bass. Ever since I hired Dan, Josh and Mercury, I’ve become enlightened by their creativity. Steve will of course be in charge of most of the new drum lines. But as to the question of how they are written, I guess we just go for what sounds good, and then make it better.
When can we expect an official BURN CIRCUIT CD to come out?
BRIAN: We started cutting tracks at Cuzze’s studio. We plan 9 or 10 tracks. Hopefully, we will have a small release by February.
What are some of the local stuff you like?
BRIAN: Lucky for me, I get to play on Halloween with three of them. Throat Culture, Filth Industry and Serberus. I also like Junker Jorg, The Hellmen, Faces Under The Mirror, 3.0, In Ether, Tirade, Child Proof and Anomy. This town fucking rules for local music.
STEVE: Aside from the obvious, BURN CIRCUIT. I was a Dogs of Pleasure fan.
I never saw them, but I have a friend that said they were great
STEVE: They were fucking awesome.
MERCURY: I really like Serberus and Bleeding Faith
DAN: Acrobat Down, The Tarmints, The Down and Outs and Filth Industry
Where do you think the music business is going on a national level?
MERCURY: To hell.
BRIAN: For ourselves? I think eventually we will search out an Indie label for a little help with distribution and touring. But we don’t want to be raped by some major label. As for the big companies, I think they are going down. The Internet is getting stronger everyday and these fucks can’t stop Napster. What band has anything against free promotion?
DAN: We (the public) will have to listen to the same old shit until internet car radios are standard, high quality and cheap. The old system of radio station payola will disintegrate and record industries as we now know them will crumble. Unfortunately, more bands will seek corporate sponsorship in the form of commercial soundtracks and gigantic, cheesy posters inside fast food restaurants.
Last question! What’s the last thing that goes through you mind before you go on stage?
MERCURY: I hope my underwear don’t crawl up my ass. And, do I still have all my fingers?
DAN: I hope Oshua didn’t drink all of our comp drinks already.
BRIAN: What can I do to get these people to know, and to get these people to understand that everything is bullshit?
STEVE: The last thing I think of before I go on stage?…God damn I hope this doesn’t suck!