Interview with NeverDead’s Jessica, Charlie, Kaktus, Tommy, and Lord Vasa

  By Neon Blonde

  November 12, 2002

  website

 Q:  Wanna get this question out of the way first thing:  Are you guys a Christian death metal band?

A:  Jessica-Haha!  Oh yeah, here we go...well, we do not categorize ourselves as Christian Death Metal, but others sometimes do.  We each have our own individual religious beliefs, and sometimes those beliefs come across in our lyrics, depending on who writes the song.  Most of the band members are Christians, not all though.  We just write what we feel, the same as any other band.  As far as having a mission with the band, we just want to play our music!  I can say though, that we aren't death metal, in the true sense of the word, nor are we black metal in the true sense of the word. 

Charlie- I write what I feel; a lot of my lyrics could be classified as Christian. A lot of them could be classified as heresy. So what? When it comes down to it, I'm responsible for my actions, and everyone else is responsible for theirs. I will say this though, one of our former members started this whole issue, and that person is no longer with us. So for me it's no longer an issue.

Vasa- In reality, we're just 5 or 6 people who come together to create something that we enjoy. The religious issue really doesn't have any bearing...we rarely speak about it, and respect each other's beliefs. Christianity might crop up from time to time in Charlie's lyrics, Asatru crops up from time to time in my lyrics...so what? We just write about what we feel, and whatever works, works.

Q:  What makes you write and play the style of music you do?

A:  Jessica-I want to write music that is something I would like to listen to.    It just feels right.  

Tommy- It's fun, and I enjoy it!

Charlie- It’s a part of who I am, if I'm not creating music in some form or another, I'm very frustrated, and extremely hard to get along with.

Kaktus- Cause I like it.

Vasa- Metal in general, and Black Metal in particular, are in my blood. Black Metal is (or was) primarily a Scandinavian phenomenon, and in my opinion the best Black Metal artists come from Sweden or Norway. Since my ancestry lies in both of those countries, it's somewhat of a cultural thing for me. Metal is also very classically inspired, good metal anyway, and as a musician I'd rather play something that has substance and meaning...texture if you will, rather than a few chords here and there and some vocals.

Q:  What is the best way to reach the fans? 

A:  Jessica- My opinion, just be yourself, play what you like to play, and communicate with them through your songs.  From a marketing point of view, you have to let them know you've arrived.  Get some airplay, update your website.  Put your name everywhere you can.  And when your fans come, respect them for the support they give you.  Make them a part of the NeverDead Family.

Charlie- You just have to make them feel like they matter, because they do. I know everyone always says, "Without our fans, we're nothing", but I think it's more like, because of our fans, we're something.

Vasa- Like Jess said, make them apart of the family. We're no strangers to our fans, and I for one enjoy it when people come and talk to me after shows, even if it's just to say "Good job" or "You guys rock."

Q:  How can the fans get your music?

A:  Jessica-At any show we have cd's available, just recently we have had a few people who have been ordering through the mail.  They can send a check, money order, or well-hidden cash to 5550 Huddleston St. Ft. Worth, TX. 76137.  Hopefully soon, we will have some distribution and can set up some consignment in some local music stores.  They can also download a couple songs from the mp3 site.  www.mp3.com/neverdead7

Q:  What’s the hardest part of being a musician?

 A:  Jessica- For me, it's balancing my time with my family and my music. 

Tommy- practicing and writing. Everything else is fun.

Charlie- Time and money involved.

Kaktus- Keeping the screaming naked chicks off of me!  haha!

Vasa- Listening to people like Jordan from Dream Theater who totally kick your ass.

Q:  Where do you see metal in the future?

A: Jessica-I think metal will always be a mainstay.  It's the hardest working genre in the scene.  It rarely gets the respect it deserves.  I think if the industry ever let it out, it would be as big as anything else.  I honestly don't know when or if that will ever happen, but I do know metal will always be here, alive and kickin'.

Tommy- I think it will get heavier, and more technical

Charlie- Honestly, I see it getting heavier than it is

now, I think mainstream will be heavier than it's ever been.

Kaktus- I think it's going to get heavier.

Vasa- It's going to get heavier, more technical, and more melodic. Metal is coming back...I think this decade will see the resurrection of Metal in the mainstream, and talented bands will get the recognition they deserve, much like in the 80's.

Q:  What is it like to be a ‘working band’?  What I mean by this is you guys all work day jobs and then stay up most of the night to do music.

A:  Jessica-It's tough, we lose a lot of sleep sometimes. haha!   We have to work around every ones work schedules, and sometimes it gets a little rough, but to me it's worth it all when you know this is what you want, you just make it work, you have to. 

Tommy-It sucks!  Very tiresome.

Charlie- It sucks!

Kaktus- It sucks, the working part anyway.

Vasa- It sucks and will suck until we get to the point where we don't have to work...which needs to hurry up and get here.

Q:  What’s your favorite song to perform live or that you’ve written?

A: Jessica- Wow!   No Escape, it's just got that aggressive, in your face feel. 

Tommy- No Escape.

Charlie-That's a hard question, probably Under the Shadows of Silence.

Kaktus- The Maiden in White.

Vasa- No Escape, though Saturday will be my first time performing it live.

Q:  What is the writing and recording process like for you guys?

A: Jessica- It's actually usually pretty smooth.  The writing process is fairly simple, Charlie up to this point has done about 90% of the writing.  He gets a full song in his head with complete parts and will bring it to the band, and we edit here and there.  Sometimes it will just be a set of lyrics that I bring in and we all write together on it.  Kaktus may bring some lyrics with one riff and we just go from there.  Since the addition of the new keyboardist, we have started working on some songs he's written, as well.  Everyone is really good about having input in the writing.  The recording process up to this point has always worked the same way.  We go in and everyone lays down scratch tracks while Tommy gets the drums.  (Usually just one or two takes).  Then we'll lay bass and rhythm guitars, and keys together.  And then all the solos, vocals and then the mix down.  That's usually the longest process is getting everything mixed the right way, sometimes that can be a little rough.  You can mix for a few hours and then you just have to take a break, come back in an hour or so, or maybe even the next day and listen.  It's like your ears quit hearing after a certain point.  You just get tired I guess.  But we've never had a fight in the studio (knock on wood! haha!)  So I'd say we do all right. 

Q:  How do ya’ll go about promoting the band?

A: Jessica- Lots of ways.  Word of mouth is the best!  We've done some local shows for 97.1 and that is really great promotion.  As well as getting airplay on 89.3 KNON.  You have to play shows, with different bands, so that you're exposed to new kinds of crowds on a regular basis.  E-mails, website, flyers, shirts, cds.  All kinds of time and money.  (Wish I had more of both!)

Q:  How receptive have other bands, clubs, and people in general has been to NeverDead?

A:  Jessica-The bands have been supportive.     A few off the top of my head that I'd like to thank, Prophecy, Vile Industry, Little 10 Lunchbox, and Daimonion, have been very supportive and even helped promote us.  The clubs vary, there are just some clubs that really don't want something as heavy as us, but the clubs we play are usually good to the band.  Canyon Club has given us opportunities to share the stage with some national bands and even let us headline a local show there.  Dreamworld is very supportive and also has given us lots of opportunities; Jon the owner is very good to NeverDead!  The Tattoo Bar, it's like going home every time we play there.  It's a great little club.  People in general have just been surprisingly supportive, I would have never expected them to support the way they do.   

Tommy- I think they've been pretty cool, except for a couple of assess, but there's Asses everywhere.

Charlie- I don't know, i think they've been real receptive, not as much as I'd like, but I think they like us.  When you look out and see a bunch of NeverDead shirts in the audience that let's me know we are catching on.

Kaktus- Everybody else can suck our big fat hairy....  we're the number one band in the world! 

Vasa- Ever since I joined the band I have been amazed at how many people I've met that know who we are.

Q:  I know you guys have had several opportunities to promote yourselves (i.e. KEGL’s Local Show, KNON did a feature and debuted your song “Firstborne of the Dead”, musicians.net did a one hour interview and Harder Beat did a live review of one of your shows.  How has this helped the band and everyone’s confidence in themselves and each other?

A: Jessica-It has helped. It’s amazing what a little airplay can do for you. It helps to bring exposure, I don't know if it helps the confidence level though.  Bradley had his show on musicians.net for a while and he gave us a boost when he did our interview.  He was so supportive and we were such a new band, he just jumped right in and got behind us on the whole thing.  Thrashin' Alan, and Mikey on KNON has been awesome to play anything we bring them.  And Robert from KEGL was very cool to have us on the local show, because I KNOW NeverDead is not 97.1 style, but he had us there twice now.  It's always nice to see your name in print and hear your song on the radio. 

Tommy- It didn't really affect my personal confidence any, but it was cool.  But you can't really base yourself on what everyone else does for you anyway.

Charlie- It gets our name out there.  People start to hear about us before they ever even "hear" us.  As far as confidence I don't think it has anything to do with that. 

Kaktus- Since we were the first "black metal” band on 97.1 it makes us feel good.   

Q:  Let’s talk about the changes the band has gone through.  Mitch (ex-keyboards) was replaced by ‘Lord Vasa’ and now Gino-guitarist is leaving.  How hard has this been on you guys?

A:  Jessica-The changes can be hard on a band, you have to backtrack a little and teach the backlog to the new members, and we are continually gigging, we usually are booked 2 months in advance and so we don't have much time.  It's usually two weeks of non-stop jamming and going over stuff.  Mitch left the band because he had some different interests, and we got past that, it was actually for the better, Vasa is an amazing keyboardist and has added so much to the band, I'm pleased to have him here.  Gino, he's an excellent guitarist, it was a tough decision to let him go, but if you don't have the right chemistry in a band it will kill you. It's frustrating at times, but it’s better to move on past it now than to let it drain the band. 

Tommy- It sucks, it's like starting over every time.

Charlie- I think its ridiculous, trying to find members that actually want to play music.  The majority of "musicians" are a flake, that’s why it's so hard to find the right ones.

Kaktus- It's always hard when you replace band members like paper plates.

Q:  It hasn’t seemed to hurt you guys any.  You still are playing gigs and making appearances.  Tell us about this.

A:  Jessica- We have a show this month and one next month.  We will play both.   I know that I am feeling a little of the frustration that comes from a member turn around, but I also know it's all worth it in the end.  You have to look past the obstacle, which is what I believe everyone is doing.

Q:  Do you guys feel like you’re “underground”?

A:  Jessica-YES!  We are underground, but we don't mind popping up out of the underground to make a lot of noise now and then! 

Tommy- I don't think we are as much as everyone else is.  We still get some airplay.  I think that may be a problem, we aren't fully underground, and we aren't mainstream. 

Charlie- Yeah, I don't really think that we are trying to stay that way though. I would rather turn on Mtv and see NeverDead than Eminem. The average person just has no clue.

Kaktus- Um, is that a trick question? 

Vasa- Most extreme metal is still considered Underground, even bands like Dimmu and Cradle aren't really known by the general population.

Q:  What’s your fan base like?

A:  Jessica-Our fan base, what can I say, it's amazing.  We gain new fans every show, and they are die-hard! 

Tommy- That's what I'm saying.

Charlie- NeverDead fans are the best. I look out and see a pit, or whatever, and think, "You guys are insane". It's amazing.

Kaktus- Well, that one guy, he's pretty cool. 

Vasa- The fans I've met so far have all been kickass.

Q:  Any plans to go in studio and work on another CD?

A: Jessica-Most definitely!  We have some new material, and the plan is to record after the first of the year. 

Q:  For anyone that wants to answer this:  How and when did you get the passion for music?

A: Charlie- My parents played music all of my life, but I really didn't develop a passion for music until I was about 15. I didn't have any friends so I just used my guitar as a way to express myself.

Tommy- When I was very young, 7 or so.  I didn't really start playing until I was about 18 though. 

Charlie gave it to me!  haha! 

Kaktus-When I was about 5 years old because my parents dragged me to clubs every weekend.

Vasa- I started singing when I was 9...and didn't start playing keys until I was 18. I think my real passion for creating music started when I decided I didn't want to be just a vocalist...because I had music in my head but no way to express it since I didn't play an instrument.

Q:  Jessica, how is it being the only female in the band?

A:  It's pretty cool.  The guys actually don't treat me any different than they treat each other.  I do feel like sometimes I have to be the voice of reason.  But other than that I enjoy it, haha!   They are very supportive of me and they are my best friends.

Q:  What do you want people to take with them after a NeverDead show?

A: Tommy- A good positive outlook, I want them to have fun.

Jessica- I want them to take a cd and a shirt with them!  haha!  No really, I want them to go away, feeling like they got their moneys worth, and want to come back again, and again.

Kaktus- Merchandise!

Charlie- I want them to know that they are as much a part of our lives, as we are of theirs.

Vasa- I'll have to agree with Kak on this one.

Q:  Have there been any offers to go to any other cities or states to perform?

A:  Jessica- Yes, we have actually played in Oklahoma, and have a few tentative shows in the near future.  I think that we are just getting to the point where we are ready to travel outside of the hometown area.

Thank you NeverDead for taking the time to do this interview!  You guys are great!  

Jessica-thank you Neon for the opportunity!

KEEP ROCKIN'!

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