An impressive interview with an impressive drumme mike aresco.
Tribute bands usually play the music of a certain to get people through
the door to see the bands OWN songs thrown in between the artist of
tribute. Since December 2004, I have been watching one band in
particular, a Slayer tribute act. Not once, has this band added their
own music to their set list. NOT ONCE. When a fan of a band
(particularly Slayer) is out on the town checking out live
entertainment, they what to see what they are paying for, a tribute.
Not a little of this and a little of that. So, do they have their own
songs? According to the drummer of the band, yes. Dead Skin Mask is the
most accurate Slayer tribute band I have ever seen. Monster drum kit,
stacks of amps, and most important, the ability to convey the music
through that equipment. That is what really counts. There is no Slayer
act out there better than Dead Skin Mask, well except for the metal
masters themselves. To date I have checked out a handful of them, since
I have lived all around the USA. I have contacted the drummer of the
band, to get the inside info on the Dead Skin Mask project and the
progress of their original music as well as the scoop on what he is up
to…
Slayer Girl: So Dead Skin Mask isn’t “dead”!
Mykill: (Laugh) Nah! We are around. There are a lot of different things
I’m doing. Sometimes one is put on “hold” for a bit. But, with
exception of one in particular, I really enjoy my bands.
SG: Which one do you not?
M: Hahaha! I .. uhh.. Yup!
Sg: I see. DSM is writing originals now?
M: Oh yeah. It has been talk for a while, but we are in the process
now. Between The 3 of them (Danny M, Joey K, Romeo V) there are some
great ideas. One of the last projects, the guy wanted to write poseur
ass ballads, like love song sh*t! I hate that crap. The “hair band” and
bullsh*t spandex days are fortunately dead and buried. This band is
into some serious music, not like the ridiculous sh*t that other guy is
into.
SG: So I take it you don’t like love songs?
M: No, not really. There is what I listen to… What I buy… and what I
compose. All 3 are VERY different. My CD collection would make you
think I’m schizophrenic.
SG: How many projects are you involved with right now?
M: Well, a new development has arisen. A while back, I came up with
this name the last band (1 person) did not like. It could have been
used as a song or album title. I really wanted to use it as the name of
the band, but certain people were/are set in their ridiculous ways. So,
on one of the many hiatus’s this particular band had, three of us used
it. The name I came up with is PAWNS OF CHRIST. Angel F, Romeo V, and I
decided that we 3 will go on working together, and that will be our
band name. It will have absolutely NO connection to the “other” band we
were in. NOTHING at all! The music will be a combination of all our
tastes combined. Not so much just that of one like before. The past
endeavor was discouraging. Idiots not showing up, scheduling a
practice… then not showing up, canceling shows, and so on. Real
childish sh*t. Well, the three of us are sick of it. All 3 of us will
now go on leaving the “problem” behind, so to speak.
SG: Issues?
M: Me? Nah!
SG: So you must practice a lot?
M: ahhll, mostly the only time I play is when we practice or play a
show. The way my life is situated right now, does not really allow me
to. When I need to write something, I pretty much compose it in my
head, and am fortunate enough to be able to “play my thoughts”. Yea, it
takes a run through or so, but not much more than that. I recall a time
when what I would “play in my head” was way more difficult than I could
actually do. I am glad that I have been able to develop the skills, in
actual ability, to be able to do that. Real glad.
SG: What do you do to get ready before a live performance?
M: I try to get my hands on as much coffee as I can! (laugh) Usually
that is difficult, though. I think we will have to add fresh coffee to
our rider! I stretch a bit, do some little things to get the blood
flowin. Usually the pre-show nerves and adrenalin are enough for that.
SG: So no pre-show rituals or superstitious activities?
M: Of course, blood drinking and we all talk in 3 word sentences.
SG: Really?!
M: No. I’m kidding. How are you recording this anyway?
SG: I have a receiver-mounted microphone that goes to a micro cassette.
A suction cup holds it to the earpiece and it picks up both ends of the
conversation.
M: Ahh.
SG: So how many songs are played at “sound check”?
M:(laugh) None! There are many factors that prevent it. Most of the
time, it is because of the lame-assed bands ahead of us. They all have
to COMPLETELY disassemble their sh*t in the stage. F*cking losers.
There are so many reasons, it is pathetic.
SG: Who is the biggest name you have shared the stage with?
M: Biggest to me, or the “biggest” name?
SG: Both.
M: Well to the general public, the biggest names would be Judas Priest,
Budgie, and George Lynch. There are a few more, but I don’t want to be
obnoxious. To me, though, it has to be Fear Factory and Exodus. Once
again, there are more, but I’ll stop there.
SG: What band(s) did you do that with?
M: …………(silence)
SG: Okay! What is Pawns of Christ about?
M: What does the name mean, or what is the project about?
SG: Both again.
M: Well, the definition of the project is simple, fast. The material is
a style that the 3 of us could not do before due to… whatever. As for
the name, uhm. Supposedly we are all here and really have no control of
what is to happen. Call is fate, karma, God, whatever. There is some
force that controls everything. I heard the metaphor that life is a
tape that is playing. We don’t know what is ahead, but it is already
recorded. We just have not “heard” it yet. We’re puppets, so to speak,
no control over anything. Our actions seem like our doing, but some say
it is not. Something is controlling us, moving us…just as in chess. The
pawns are of the least value, therefore, they are sacrificed first.
They are almost worthless. Just as humanity is, or seems to be if you
look at it a certain way. Just look around you. Life is not exactly
great. All the sh*t balls around, and whatnot. I don’t want to step on
too many toes, so I’ll stop there. Hope I answered you somewhat.
SG: Somewhat, damn!
M: Alrighty!
SG: So ‘Pawns’ will be heavy, musically?
M: You could say that. Lyrically….I don’t want to even consider the
bullsh*t it will contain. All of us are pretty god dam angry about
something or other.
SG: I see in all you interviews with other people talk of your drum
set. You seem to love talking about your “stuff”. What are you using?
M: And oh how I do. I am using the best. Just like when I first started
back when I was 12 or 13. But today, it is on a lager scale. The drums
I use are the strongest I have EVER seen. TAMA, of course. I have
somewhat older ones. The toms are a combination of older ROCKSTAR DX,
and newer SWINGSTAR’s. My Kicks are ROCKSTAR PRO. Also a bit older. The
pedals I use vary from time to time. Mostly I use my HP-25’s. I believe
they are called FLEXIFLYER. Other times I use modified IRON COBRA JR’s.
I have 2 18X22 SWINGSTAR kicks still in the boxes. I just have to
replace my older toms with the same sizes of newer ones. I don’t need
to, but I do want to. My gear is fine as is, but new is good! So I
have, right now, 2 26” kicks, 2 MTH 100’s, 1 MTH 900, 8, 10, 12, 13,
14, 15 mounted toms and a 16 floor. Maple 3.5 X 14” piccolo snare.
Cymbals are also top notch, especially. PAISTE. I use a combination of
almost series line they came out with! RUDE, 2002, 3000, SIGNATURE,
2000, DIMENSIONS, ALPHA, PST 3, PST 5, 802, 502’s (new and older), 2000
COLORSOUND…I think that is all. If I keep going, I’ll rattle off all
the sizes of each and every one!
SG: NA, NA, NA…
M: Okay, then… Sticks are VATER 3A FATBACK nylon. With VATER stick and finger tape.
SG: You wear gloves, too.
M: Yeah.
SG: I see! Are you about your projects?
M: Well, very. I will take what talent, or whatever you want to call it, as far as I’m allowed to, whatever that means.
SG: Whom do you admire, or, who influenced you?
M: DAM! No short answers for these 2! Shhhewww, where do I start?
Growing up, it was Ron Bushy. My parents had 2 Iron Butterfly records I
adored. Ron Tutt from Elvis fame caught my ear as well. I heard a solo
he did way back when….WOW!!! During that time The Police were pretty
popular. Stewart Copeland was cool. I liked his riffs. Well, I still
do. Around then I was finding Alex Van Halen. I focused on him for
years. As a younger kid, he was the most sought after in my little
world. I really dug his work. You have to remember, ALL these drummers,
I really admire. There is no order to which are “better” or not. All
are so different, musically, that this is in no way a comparison.
SG: OKAY, OKAY!
M: I just want to stress that fact, that’s all. Later I got into
heavier music. Drummers like Dave Lombardo, Louie Clemente, Charlie
Benante, Sid Falck, Paul Bostaph, Raymond Herrera, Scott Travis…wow, I
just realized that most if not all use TAMA and or PAISTE! Sh*t,
coincidence? Hmm. All of them are great drummers, it only makes sense
that they would also use great gear as well.
SG: So sharing the stage with JP must have been an honor and a thrill?
M: Those 2 words don’t even express what I feel when I recollect that show!
SG: What is this Internet Band I saw on the Lost Soul Forum?
M: Oh yeah, Lost Soul was my old band from back in Connecticut. The
guitar player (Bryan Reilly) and I are collaborating again. It, as of
yet, is just in a real beginning phase. He is putting together some
riffs, and I have some drum ideas I need to record and e-mail him. I
don’t know exactly what to expect with this type of arrangement. Bryan
(Reilly) is great, so as for quality of the material, I am not
concerned at all. It will be very good, with out a doubt. So Bryan and
I are going to send ideas to one and other, and see what pops up….
SG: Sorry to cut you off, but won’t that be expensive and extremely time-consuming?
M: In today’s digital age, it is a lot easier and quicker than one
would think. The worst part is writing the music. The easy part is
recording and transferring files via FTP or e-mail. It is
instantaneous. No more waiting for an ADAT tape or cassette through the
Postal System. Don’t get me wrong. I love ADATS. That is what I record
everything on. I’ll transfer the 8 tracks to the computer then convert
them to a WAV or MP3 for FTP.
SG: How’s it going?
M: Software and computer glitches have delayed this way more than
necessary. I’m very optimistic, though. Bryan is amazing on the geetar.
Your phone bill is gonna kill you for this conversation!
SG: Nah, it is a cell and after 7pm.
M: …alright.
SG: I guess this will be my last one. I’m sure you are busy…
M: (sarcastically) OH YEAH, SURE AM!!!!
SG: …anyway, what is the largest group you have played for at one time?
M: Something close to 2,500. A bit less or bit more. Around there.
Wow! A very entertaing interview. Most musicians I interview to are way
too serious. Some act as if they’re out to cure the world of its ails.
RIGHT!
A big thanks to Mike for his time and cooperation. I truly appreciate it.
Check out some of his sites:
http://www.mykill.net
http://www.lostsoulband.com
http://www.pawnsofchrist.com
http://www.deadskinmask.com
Later,
SLAYER GIRL.
