FEATURED INTERVIEWS

Bury Your Dead

Murderous breakdowns, monstrous sound, no bullshit attitude and straight up party animals = Bury Your Dead.
By: Gian Erguiza, Co-Conspirator: Mark Cabrera - - December 18th, 2008 - 1:32 pm PST

Armed with their self-titled release, a new leash on life and a new found power, Bury Your Dead are melting faces and taking names wherever they set foot. After a harrowing accident that nearly left them dead, Bury Your Dead has once again found and gained strength on such an event and has come out swinging for the fences. Their new found power was also given a huge boost in new lead singer Myke Terry who is prime for the spot. For Bury Your Dead, the party goes on despite the negative aspects. We got a chance to shoot bass player Bubble some burning questions and here is his response. This is the Bury Your Dead Interview.

Bubble! How's it going my man, where are you right now and what are you up to?

We are on our first European headliner right now! To be more specific I'm soaking wet cold due to the fact that we are in Nottingham, UK haha. If the shows here weren't so awesome I'd consider being upset at the weather but I love it over here so no complaints. We took out our good friends Full Blown Chaos and Emmure and the tour has been absolutely amazing! Its really cool that our second time over here is going over so well. We came as main support for Parkway Drive last April and the overall tour turn out was monumental. Its always amazing to be able to go to another country and have a supportive fan base and see people getting into/singing along with your songs.

Sounds like good times my man! So aside from the new record, what's going on in the world of Bury Your Dead? What's new?

Well we are just finishing up the current tour cycle for the s/t album that was released last March. We had an incredible year and had the privilege of touring with so many bands. Right before this European tour we did the 5 Finger Death Punch and In This Moment tour and that was absolutely unreal. Ive never see such a loyal fan base and had so much fun with 2 bands! Packed out venues and nonstop parties all day! The only thing cooler would be playing a water park with Crisco on the slides and everyone in wetsuits HAHA.

Let me know when that happens, got a few models who would look totally awesome drenched in Crisco after a few runs. Your latest release which came out a few months ago back in March of 2008 is a freakin' unapologetic face melter from start to finish. How did you guys approach the song writing for your latest and after playing the songs live after all of these months, which song has spoken to you guys the most or to the crowd?

The best thing about writing that record was that we all got together and came up with ideas for the material. There was so much input from all of us and I think that made for a better record. Having Myke as the new vocalist brought so much to the table as far as raw talent and his overall studio comfort with us was great. It was pretty awesome to have everyone in the same room just having fun with writing and coming up with that we wanted to do.

I absolutely love 'Year One.' Its a very aggressive song with the most soothing chorus I've ever heard haha As far as overall crowd reaction or feedback that we've gotten, I'd definitely have to say 'Sympathy Orchestra' or 'Fever Dream.'

I love the fact that the signature BYD sound stayed intact with a few new tricks to your sound which really made for 11 killer songs. What was the main focus when you guys went into recording mode and how much of the old BYD translate into the new BYD sound?

"We are the most not serious heavy band. There is definitely a time and a place for everything, but no matter whats going on we are having fun. Life is way too short not to be having fun all the time and if you cant have a good time what the hell is the point in doing anything. Weather its playing live or whatever it is bands do, we are always smiling and making asses out of our selves. Its rock and roll... that's the whole point."

I think that no matter what we write or direction the sound ends up going, It'll always sound like us. Using new elements is a definite result of musicians growing, being inspired and new players coming into the game. Once again Myke brought a whole new aspect of talent and motivation to try new things and expand on his abilities as well as all of us trying to make the sound mature. No one wants to write the same record twice. Most importantly, we definitely wrote that record out of what we wanted to and while having a ton of fun. Its all about knowing how to have a good time and be yourselves.

What's the formula for success for you guys so far?

That's easy! Party! We are the most not serious heavy band. There is definitely a time and a place for everything, but no matter whats going on we are having fun. Life is way too short not to be having fun all the time and if you cant have a good time what the hell is the point in doing anything. Whether its playing live or whatever it is bands do, we are always smiling and making asses out of ourselves. Its rock and roll... that's the whole point.

That's one hell of a formula to have, more bands should take note. How do you guys keep it fun while being out on the road and how do you guys stay amused every night that you guys rip up the stage?

We play the Lollipop Kid game. We bring lots of helium and balloons for the whole tour depending on how long it is and no one is allowed to talk to one another in a normal voice the entire tour. If you mess up you have to sit and watch www.1guy1cup.net 5 times in a row. So needless to say, it sounds like a bunch of Lollipop kids on the bus. Sometimes its hard to communicate to each other on stage but rules are rules.

Lol, if I had to watch that shit 5 times, fuck that. Alright Bubble let's get this question out of the way. This one's for Mr. Myke Terry. In no racist nor discriminatory manner of any sort, being a black frontman in a predominantly white metal world, does it still shock people when you come onstage or do people give you shit because of the color of your skin?

"No way! The source of my super alpha male voice is in the color of my skin. That is the secret of my powers! Its all about soul glow baby!"

Soul Glow it is! I actually knew a homie that had it in his curls for a while, that stuff is serious....seriously greasy. Change has come and we're all waiting what our new president Barack Obama is going to do to make the necessary changes to make the U.S. the once prominent country it used to be. What are your thoughts on Barack Obama and did we choose the right president?

I am full of American pride and nothing but respect to anyone who has been elected to run our country. It takes a lot of everything to be able to handle that position. All the best to him.

I had an in-depth conversation with a metal kid recently about the price of records these days and how he would rather purchase the one hit song versus purchasing the whole album per se. Why should this metal kid fork up the $1 per song or $10 per album to buy your latest release?

That's the whole point of buying records. If anyone throughout the history of music only bought one song, no one would waste time writing anything else. That one song is supposed appeal to a persons interest and then they'll buy the album and hopefully like the other songs on it. I cant imagine how many songs that I know and love at this point in my life, that I wouldn't know about.

Hear Bubble out, fork it up people! We posted some news on our news blog a few months back about your accident with your tour van which seemed pretty serious from our end. Did you guys get a new view on life after such an event and how close were you guys to being seriously injured to the point of being close to tragedy?

It was definitely horrible. When you spend that much time in a van throughout the year, its only a matter of time before something stupid happens. We've already been through every kind of breakdown and being stranded that is even feasible and for the first time we wrecked our shit. Everyone was pretty messed up. I had serious neck and all over muscle trauma. Slim almost lost his leg and is still healing from it while we are over here in Europe. This is his first tour back and he's coping quite well but his leg and ankle is still swollen beyond belief. The lacerations he acquired were so brutal. Mark had to get a bunch of stitches in his face and foot, Towning got stitches in his foot. Myke broke part of his hand and received stitches in his head. Note to self: vans don't make good roller coasters.

Note to self: humans are not immortal nor invincible. Keeping up with the news? I'm sure you guys have heard about how bad the economy is and how it's taking a turn for the worse everyday, especially with unemployment at it's highest in 26 years. If the government were to give you guys a few billion dollars, how would you guys spend it to save the economy and create jobs?

I'd just but 10,000 air planes, and dump tons of glitter and stuffed animals full of money and chocolate treats all over the world. I think everyone would be laughing too hard to care about anything else.

What a great plan man! Bubble for President! Are you guys down with Christian metal or what are your thoughts on Christians playing metal music?

I love it. Why wouldn't someone who believes in God not "be allowed" to play metal. I think its hilarious how everyone is an equalist when it comes to things that are convenient, close to home or the obvious things like racism or whatever, but I hate how its a cool trend these days to wear "God free" shirts. Telling someone they can't rip off at the gates riffs or iron maiden leads and sing about things that are important to them weather it be their faith or whatever else is simply mind numbing. I'm a very devout Catholic, and I love all kinds of metal. I dont give a shit if they sing about fucking goats with pentagrams on them or how Christians should all do steroids and rip the faces off any non-believers to start a modern day crusade. If you're into a band that has a specific stigma to them like a "straight edge" band or a "christian" band than that's fine. That's the whole point of bands that do that, is to appeal to that very narrowed down fan base and hopefully spread their message. If you like the music, then listen to it, if you don't, then don't. Everyone has the right to be different and play music. That's the whole point. Telling someone they can't play because of creed or color sounds like a dictatorship.

Great points! Hey Bubble, do nice guys really finish last, especially in music?

Umm...huh.... everyone should go rent kick boxer the movie cause its fucking sweet! That's what I think. Jean Claude Van Dam is awesome.

What! Steven Segal would obliterate that guy. Let's talk about the forbidden subject of Prop 8. Do you think that it's right for a man to wed another man or for a woman to wed another woman? Give me your 2 cents on this issue.

I'm not into it but I'm sure there is an entire gay and lesbian population that are all for it so there's no point in even fighting about opinion. Its 2008 right, these are the times where everything in the past however many thousands of years change because that's the way it works. I really say why not. If you haven't seen www.1guy1cup.net then I seriously suggest you go watch it.

I don't really care. I just wanna drink virgin pina coladas all day and travel back in time to go on tour with Van Halen!

Yeah, watch it.....at your own risk. Hey Bubble, what are our troops still doing in Iraq?

Probably making sure sketchy terrorist activity gets stopped before it comes here again. I don't know I'm not in the marines. I'm in Europe where its freezing, I have to keep buying adaptors for all of my plugs haha. I fully have nothing but respect for our troops. All the best to them.

Alright Bubble, give me 5 of the best rock phrases of all time or 5 best metal lyrics of all time?

No particular order "Oooooooo Whaa Ah AH AH!" -Disturbed "Eat pussy till' your jaw breaks" - Phil Anselmo "Let the bodies hit the floor" - Drowning Pool "Monkey see and monkey do" - 5 Finger Death Punch "Welcome to the jungle" - Guns and Roses

What is BYD's plan after this year's done and what can we anticipate from you guys going into 2009?

We are going to start writing and recording our new record in January which is really exciting! After that's finished we will start the next touring cycle. We have plans for Australia in March, and touring straight for the rest of our lives until we are all completely shot.

Any shameless promotion or plug before we adjourn?

Buy Jean Claude Van Dam's 'kickboxer.' Out on DVD now and VHS.

Splendid! Thanks Bubble, you're a gentleman and a scholar!...Good luck in 09!

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