Five Questions From Saara
1) Now, have you actually been to Gainesville? If so, what strategy do you recommend that I employ in order to avoid Tom Petty at all costs?
I've never actually been to Gainesville. I tried to borrow a co-worker's car to drive from Jacksonville for a show there once but he said "no". I don't think Tom Petty is much of a local anymore--he writes songs about vampires walkin through the valley moving west down Ventura Boulevard--does that sound like some fruitcake California hippie-boy shit or what??? Nah, I think the closest thing to a Petty encounter you'll get would be when The Obsoletes are playing there on tour and they can't run very fast so I'm sure you can get away.
2) So, that one shitty band (Brand New Sin?) that opened for Motorhead was all about the right wing propaganda. And apparently a bunch of the black metalers are Nazi fucks. What's your take on the connection between extreme right-wing politics and heavy metal?
Right-wing politics are about power triumphing over weakness, right versus wrong, us versus them. So is heavy metal. Epic themes, grandiose proclamations, victory over those who oppose us...could be the Republican convention or a Manowar show. However I wish to note that the (generally speaking) complex technical nature of the music itself generally calls for lyrics which are epic, grandiose etc except for the rawer, simpler, more straight-forward bands who will maybe come off more like Michael Savage than Ronald Reagan. But this is a ridiculous generalization because "heavy metal" has as many bastard children as "punk rock" does and there are ideologies represented across the board. The Nazi black metallers are just latching on to the same Nordic mythology that captivated Hitler--it's not only enthralling storytelling on some level, but the story ends with "you're better than other people because of where your ancestors came from" and I'm sure that message appeals to both overtly-antagonistic powermongers AND bored young adults looking for something interesting and exciting and dangerous to be a part of that will set them apart from others.
3) Chicks, dude: what the fuck?
Fuckin A, dude. Fuckin A.
4) What is your favorite non-Wisconsin geographical location?
00.00 latitude by 40.00W longitude
5) Is Lemmy the personification of rock-n-roll? Please explain your answer.
Yes. Soul, attitude, brains, guts, style, class, a unique vision with an utterly roots-driven approach forced upon the world whether it's ready or not. Single-minded dedication for decades, with an undeniable basis of respect and love for the music and the life that shines through any amount of warts and greasy long hair.
-Ryan
I've never actually been to Gainesville. I tried to borrow a co-worker's car to drive from Jacksonville for a show there once but he said "no". I don't think Tom Petty is much of a local anymore--he writes songs about vampires walkin through the valley moving west down Ventura Boulevard--does that sound like some fruitcake California hippie-boy shit or what??? Nah, I think the closest thing to a Petty encounter you'll get would be when The Obsoletes are playing there on tour and they can't run very fast so I'm sure you can get away.
2) So, that one shitty band (Brand New Sin?) that opened for Motorhead was all about the right wing propaganda. And apparently a bunch of the black metalers are Nazi fucks. What's your take on the connection between extreme right-wing politics and heavy metal?
Right-wing politics are about power triumphing over weakness, right versus wrong, us versus them. So is heavy metal. Epic themes, grandiose proclamations, victory over those who oppose us...could be the Republican convention or a Manowar show. However I wish to note that the (generally speaking) complex technical nature of the music itself generally calls for lyrics which are epic, grandiose etc except for the rawer, simpler, more straight-forward bands who will maybe come off more like Michael Savage than Ronald Reagan. But this is a ridiculous generalization because "heavy metal" has as many bastard children as "punk rock" does and there are ideologies represented across the board. The Nazi black metallers are just latching on to the same Nordic mythology that captivated Hitler--it's not only enthralling storytelling on some level, but the story ends with "you're better than other people because of where your ancestors came from" and I'm sure that message appeals to both overtly-antagonistic powermongers AND bored young adults looking for something interesting and exciting and dangerous to be a part of that will set them apart from others.
3) Chicks, dude: what the fuck?
Fuckin A, dude. Fuckin A.
4) What is your favorite non-Wisconsin geographical location?
00.00 latitude by 40.00W longitude
5) Is Lemmy the personification of rock-n-roll? Please explain your answer.
Yes. Soul, attitude, brains, guts, style, class, a unique vision with an utterly roots-driven approach forced upon the world whether it's ready or not. Single-minded dedication for decades, with an undeniable basis of respect and love for the music and the life that shines through any amount of warts and greasy long hair.
-Ryan