Interview with all four members of Criminally Insane,Interview by DJ
Name, age, and role in Criminally Insane?
Andy, guitarist
Chris- drums, porn supplier
J: I am one of the lead guitarist in CI
Buddy- Vocals
Can you give me a history of the band? How did you guys meet each other?
Chris had started jamming with this kid Ben, and eventually asked J to play guitar with us. J had done vocals and guitar in bands with Chris previously, though none of which ever went anywhere. But, they were high school buddies, so, what the fuck? When we gave Ben the axe (he wasn’t comfortable with an old school type style), J recommended his old friend Andy to replace him on guitar. Andy stepped in, and did an amazing job learning the shit, and adapting. He helped with arrangements and playing extensively, so we asked him to stay. The original CI was with J on vocals/lead guitar, Andy-lead guitar, this guy Mike on bass, and Chris on Drums. We soon parted ways with Mike (lets say for “musical differences”) and, it was down to just 3 of us. J always hated doing vocals, and wanted to concentrate solely on guitar. J and Chris soon after met the craziest fuck ever (Buddy) , and when we found out he had sang for bands previously in Pittsburgh, we conned him into trying out, which could leave J to just guitar which helped our tempos increase speed. Buddy brought great ideas to the band, much better vocal lines then we had originally, improved our old songs, made our new songs much more creative, and made CI the band we are today.
What's new with Criminally Insane?
The new Album “Darkness of the Mind” will have 8 songs of pure thrash metal on it, featuring 2 of the songs off of Thrash Metal, plus 6 other tracks that, if you’ve seen us live recently, you’ve heard. We are currently working on the lay out of the album, and tightening our playing up to make sure things run well in the studio. We’re on a tight budget, so, we need to be able to get as much done with as little studio time as possible. Outside of the new album, we’re working our asses off on promotions, contacts, and playing all the gigs we can.
Are you guys looking for a bassist, or will you just keep things the way they are?
Andy: I could care less either way. We don’t need one. I actually kinda like the control of me and J handling the bass parts. As far as live goes, I’ve already altered my guitar sound to make everything sound a little heavier and give it some more crunch. I don’t think you can even tell when we play live. Besides, thrash metal isn’t very bass driven anyways.
Chris: Well, my opinion, I’d love a bassist, but, we need to find the right one. Our band doesn’t need fuckin’ Billy Sheehan, we need someone who’s metal as fuck. Our band needs a Cliff Burton, or an Alex Webster. Just someone who’s cool, and works with the band. Until then, we’ll keep playing the way we are, and try not to say “bass players are for pussies” on stage!
J: If one comes along who fits with us, cool. If not I don't think we're gonna worry about it. Pig Destroyer has no bass player and they are brutal as hell.
Buddy: bah, bassists are for pussies
Could you tell me about the 3song demo "Thrash Metal"? Where was it recorded? How many copies were made?
Thrash metal was recorded on October 30, 2001 (Devil’s Night) at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, NY. We found out about Doug White and Watchmen from other local bands, and were impressed with his work. We immediately knew that’s where we wanted to record. All we did was select two of our best songs from live performances (Johnathan, and Bring out the Dead) along with one of our earlier tracks (Escalate the Violence) that we knew we could record with little trouble, and there ya have it. Escalate won’t make it on Darkness of the Mind, it simply wasn’t what we intended it to be, but, maybe with a little tooling, it might make it on future records. We’ve probably made around 200 copies, but it’s hard to say, we’re making ‘em ourselves, so, once again, we always have as many as we need.
Who are some of your musical influences?
A: In writing for the band its mostly The Haunted, Corpse, Slayer, old Metallica, Iced Earth, and now I’m really into Amorphis and Borknagar.
C: As a band, everyone has common influences, but we all bring in our own to everything we write. Everything from The Haunted and Slayer, to Cannibal Corpse, to Metallica and Anthrax, to System of a Down and Fear Factory. With everyone’s own influences, it allows us not to sound like any one band. My influences are fuckin’ endless. I’m influenced from 80’s glammy shit like Quiet Riot and Motley Crue, old school Priest and Dio, thrash stuff like Death Angel, to a lot of progressive stuff like Rush. There’s really too many to fuckin count. I’ve taken all my favorite bands and drummers and incorporated little pieces into my style. I try not to emulate any one specific drummer, or specific style. The 80’s shit (Tommy Aldridge, Randy Castillo… RIP) is probably my biggest influence on the way I play on stage, and the shit I do while playing. I like to put on a good show behind my drums, and have a good fuckin’ time doing it. I’m probably one of the only thrash metal drummers left who still uses my sticks as a separate instrument, twirling ‘em, throwing ‘em, and fuckin banging ‘em on my goddamn head.
J: : The Haunted, Cannibal Corpse, Witchery, Slayer, Destruction, and pretty much every old thrash or death metal band I get into plus a little industrial in the mix (NIN, Ministry, etc.) and MAYBE a little new school.
B: Fear Factory, Type O Negative and AC/DC
Play any good shows recently?
A: Needless to say the Supercore 2002 show at the Agora rocked despite lack of attendance. I consider any show a good show when people get crazy and I have fun on stage….and sound doesn’t suck.
C: Supercore 2002 rocked, but I loved a show we did at SST with Cassie Complex. We were so pumped about the show the next day at the Flying Machine, we took the show at State Street Tavern a bit lightly, and ended up having a fuckin blast on stage! Every once in a while we have a good time not being so serious on stage.
J: The Agora was one of the most fun shows I ever played. I got a kick
out of playing on the same stage I saw Cannibal Corpse standing on a
week before.
B: all shows are really equal, theyre all really fun to play
Do you have a favorite place to play?
A: indoors
C: anywhere that ISNT’ my basement!
J: Hmmm. not really. I guess anyplace that will let us turn our shit up and let us go all out.
B: not yet
What bands do you usually play with?
We’ve played with a lot of bands, but in Erie, we mostly play with Led and Self Inflicted. Self Inflicted for a while was pretty much our “brother band”. They got us our first show, and we’ve helped each other out quite a bit since.
What was the best show you've played? How about the worst?
A: In my opinion the worst show we ever played was our first one. We were all like a herd of deer in headlights. We played without a flaw, but only ‘cause we practiced like 8 hours a day the week before. I think we only had like 3 originals, and we ended with “So What” by the Anti - Nowhere League with me on vocals….jesus christ it sucked.
C: My favorite show we played was the Halloween show we played at the SST. It was fun, we ended our set with “Halloween” by the misfits, and the crowd kept singing it as we walked off stage. That show was fuckin intense. And, the show we did at Cup-a-Ccino’s was fun… imagine, Criminally Insane downtown at a goddamn coffee shop! ( and andy doing vocals for “Ace of Spades”, when he only knew like half the fuckin’ words) Our worst show, hard to say. Every show has its ups and downs. We’ve played great shows in front of 5 people, or in front of a shitty crowd, and we’ve had shitty shows in front of big crowds who loved us… it’s all in how you look at it… either way, we learn a lot every time we step on stage.
J: Well the best show I ever played I think was in Pittsburgh. It was a small show, but it was one of those "it doesn't matter" kinda shows so it was really laid back and we had a lot of fun on stage, and that is what makes a show good or bad to me. if I had fun or not. Although, the sound REALLY sucked ass at that show. As for the worst. it would have to be the first show we did with Buddy. We tried some new things that didn't quite work, and will never do again. Buddy had his face painted and it was a total cluster fuck. He still wasn't comfortable with the songs and all this other shit went wrong with the rest of the band. It was pure hell onstage. The whole band was pissed off after that one.
B: best show? Dont really got one however our most umm interesting show was our first one. We all had stage names and i wore face paint, gauntlets and leather pants and went by Gromet the Impaler. Hehehe those were the days.
What band got you into metal?
A: At first, probably Metallica and Pantera. I got the Black Album and Cowboys from Hell when I was younger. Before that I listened to like, GNR, Soundgarden, Nirvana.
C: Metal is my life. I’ve been listening to music since I was just a little fucker! Twisted Sister and shit since I was a fuckin kid. GNR was always my favorite band, though they’re not really metal, they got me into everything from fuckin anthrax to old metallica and maiden.
J: Megadeth's "Symphony of Destruction" was the first metal tape I bought. I still have the actual tape. although it is worn as a mother fucker. Although growing up my parents used to listen to Sabbath and other heavier shit. so I was raised on metal.
B: Ozzy of course
Top 5 Bands?
A: Of all time? Uh…it’d be like Maiden, Metallica, Slayer, Iced Earth, and like fucking Ozzy or something….now I’m listening to Borknagar, The Haunted, Cannibal Corpse, Nile, Soilwork, and Amorphis.
C: Iced Earth, Dream Theater, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, and old metallica. But, I’m also really into Rush, Anthrax, Dio, Priest, KISS and lots of 80’s shit.
J: Well these will always change but here goes. 1) The Haunted 2) Cannibal Corpse 3) Nine Inch Nails 4) Dead Kennedys 5) Slayer (although their new shit is good. I prefer only up to Divine Intervention)
B: too long
Top 5 Cds?
A: Ride the Lightning (Metallica), The Number of the Beast (Maiden), Reign in Blood (Slayer), Appetite for Destruction (GNR), Night of the Stormrider (Iced Earth)
C: (in no particular order) Iced Earth- Alive In Athens (the live versions are so much fuckin better) Dream Theater- Images and Words, Judas Priest- Screaming for Vengeance, Metallica- Ride the Lightning, Iron Maiden- Powerslave, GNR- Use your Illusion II (that’s 6, I know)
J: The Haunted (self title), Cannibal Corpse: Tomb of the Mutilated, Ozzy: Diary of a Madman, any Venom. it's a must in all metal head's collection, Slayer: Hell Awaits. shit I would have to make a top 500 list.
B: too long
Top 5 Songs?
A: Jesus…right now the first five songs I listen to when I get home are Invincible (Borknagar), Only for the Weak (In Flames), Black Winters Day (Amorphis), I Will Kill You (Cannibal Corpse), All of the Same Blood (Kreator).
C: Iced Earth- Travel in Stygian, Dream Theater- Pull me Under, Rush- 2112, Guns N Roses- November Rain, Metallica- Fade to Black
J: These are the songs I listen to before EVERY set. it's a ritual. this is as close as I can get to top five songs. The Haunted: Bury Your Dead, Cannibal Corpse: Dead Human Collection, Cannibal Corpse: Hammer Smashed Face, Slayer: War Ensemble (live), Pantera: Use My Third Arm. I have a shit load of favorite songs. I switch CD's like a bastard.
B: Too long
Do you remember your first metal show? Who played?
A: The first true metal show I ever went too was Maiden thank god.
C: Metallica, and I remember every fuckin second
J: Pantera. it was brutal for a first metal concert.
B: hells yeah it was AC/DC. ROCK!!!
Favorite Movie?
A: Couldn’t narrow it down, but it would probably be The Godfather or Jaws.
C: I’m assuming you don’t mean porn. Top 5- Airheads, Wayne’s World, Willy Wonka, High Fidelity, and Goldfinger (I’m a big 007 fan)
J: I would have to say "The Crow," or any Friday the 13th cause Jason is the most brutal bastard in slasher movies. Oh hell I love all horror as long as it's pre- Scream. That fucking movie ruined horror. at least THAT ONE was original. just because its original doesn't mean every fucking movie has to imitate it.
B: Evil Dead Trilogy
Favorite TV show?
A: The Simpsons
C: WWF Raw
J: I really don't watch TV. but I would have to say something old like The Twilight Zone or Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
B: WWF Raw
Favorite Pornstar?
A: Jenteal or Chasey Lain…either would make me very happy.
C: Chasey Lain, Wendy Knight, Misty rain, etc. etc. It’s like trying to pick my favorite child, or favorite Iron Maiden song! Though only if Lita from WWF was a porn star, that’d make it MUCH easier… damn that’d be fuckin great…
J: Hmmm. I am a fan of the old school. so I would have to say Traci Lords. but in terms of the new stuff. I would have to say either Azlea or J. R. Carrington.
B: That’s all Chris
I take it you guys like to party? Do you smoke weed?
A: Yeah…when the occasion calls for it, though I’m more of a drinker.
C: Weed Makes you Horny, and we all know I don’t need to get any fuckin hornier… hence, why I stick to alcohol.
J: Well actually I would have to say no. its not like I'm opposed to it. but it makes me fall asleep really fast. So for now I try to stay a loyal Seagram's 7 drinker, and, well, a loyal alcohol drinker.
B: Yeah i toke-up every day.
What do you think of NU-Metal? and if you could kill one NU-Metal band, who would it be?
A: It fucking sucks, the guitar work sucks and I hate the whiney vocals…and if I could kill anyone it would be Stained.
C: Nu metal can suck my ass! Ha ha!…Mainly, being a drummer, I dig hearing a bunch of instrumental work, hence why I listen to a lot of progressive shit. I think the only new band at all I like is System of a Down. Nu metal just lacks the shit that interests me, but atleast kids are listening to some sort of metal! Um, I have to agree, fuck staind all to hell
J: I like very little NU-metal. Basically I like songs more than bands in terms of NU-Metal. But the whole down tuning thing is getting old. If you wanna hear some crazy shit done with a 7 string. listen to Steve Vai on "Passion and Warfare." And I see some of the guys wanna kill Staind. hmmm. well if they are going after them (although I don't
consider Aaron Lewis' whiney ass voice to be metal, or the rest of the band for that matter), I better hit another. How about if I kill Limp Bizkit. if they are still considered new metal. if not.just kill one of the band clones. killing one is just like killing another. but the only problem is they are like cockroaches. if you kill one, 2 more pop up to
take their place.
B: NU-Metal all sounds the same, but I'd love to stangle Adema until I ripped the inside of their throats and they choked on there own blood. But I'm not bitter.
Do you think you'll ever cut your hair?
A: heh, by the time you read this, I probably already will have. But my hair wasn’t that long anyways. I tried it and I didn’t think it worked for me…short hair makes me stand out on stage anyways, and it doesn’t get in my goddamn eyes.
C: Fuck no! I’ll be the kinda guy who’s gonna be a 75 year old bearded fucker, bald on top but always wears a bandana with my long hair braided like Willy fuckin Nelson, and never takes off the goddamn chaps!
J: FUCK NO!!!!!!! I like my hair the way it is. shit I feel bad enough shaving...
B: After I put dreads in its gonna happen sooner or later
Do you guys like King Diamond?
A: Hell yeah! Melissa by MF and Abigail by KD are like two of my favorite classic metal albums.
C: FUCK YES! I’m a much bigger King fan than Fate fan, but, he’s fuckin god man. (though, his music videos are funny as shit. The band will play, and he’ll just pop outta nowhere, it’s funny as fuck) Abigail is one of the greatest metal albums ever
J: Well I respect the man and all he's done for metal, and Merciful Fate has some damn cool songs. but I don't get into the King (not Elvis) as much as everyone else seems to.
B: He frightens me, sounds like someone kicked him in his balls one too many times. Ouch
Who would win in a fight, Glen Benton or Glen Danzig?
A: I’d have to say Danzig, it’d be so much cooler that way.
C: Danzig all the fuckin way, have you ever seen that fuckin guy?
J: Well considering they would both have Satan on their side and neither would have God. it would be close. but I think Danzig would win cause he is one scary huge dude.
B: Danzig
If you could tour with any band, who would you pick?
A: Anyone who would drink with us nonstop…
C: Well, I think we’d fit best with bands like the Haunted, or Destruction, but I’d fuckin shit if we could tour with Iced Earth, Iron maiden, or Kiss.
J: I would have to pick Cannibal Corpse because I could hang out on their bus with them and watch hockey. plus I have met them, and they seem to be a lot like us, personality wise so I know we would all get along.
B: Fear Factory, but since they broke up, Pantera
Anything you'd like to add or close with?
A: Yeah, thanks to DJ and Bushmado for the interview, pics, and the help.You guys rock man.
C: Beer, Metal, Titties, Porn, more Titties… oh and, FUCK!
J: I would like to thank DJ at Bushmado and the whole Bushmado crew for showing us this much support. I have been to their site and they are truly helping to keep underground metal alive!
B: Nah
Criminally Insane site
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