Self Inflicted Interview

1. You formed back in 2000 so you been around a while, how has the ride been so far? -To be honest, it’s been one hell of a roller coaster ride. I guess it’s like every thing else you do for a long time. Sometimes it’s great, sometimes it really sucks. But I love it, it’s what I do. 2. What was the members musical heritage? Former bands etc? -Ok, first I have to say that Self Inflicted’s line up pretty much has been a revolving door over the years. Members have come and gone, and come back again. So I would say that collectively our background and heritage in music covers the entire spectrum. We are all life long musicians. Some of us have had lessons. Some were self taught. Some gave lessons. Some, like myself, play more than one instrument. Some only played their instrument. We all grew up on different music. To be more truthful, between all of us, we have been brought up on all music. As far as former bands and what not…former guitarist Brent Wheatley, and former bassist Kieth Wiley were in the Oklahoma thrash band Manifest Destiny. I was in a band in the 90’s down in Alabama called Mutt. As for the rest, Self Inflicted was either their first band, or their first all original band. 3. I read not too long ago you were looking for a drummer, how is that going? -The drummer search ended. I’m going to stay on drums. We auditioned a few guys, but nobody really panned out, or they could devote the time required. Besides, I enjoy playing the drums, and it’s not like I stopped playing guitar all together. However, it doesn’t hurt that I ended up finding a killer guitarist who wanted to join the band. His name is Phil Wriker. He’s been a friend of the bands for a few years now. And things just kind of worked out. 4. You have shared the stage with some killer bands, what has been the highlights? -Just getting to share the stage with some of the bands we have has been a dream come true. I’m not gonna list them all here, but if anyone is interested in the list you can see it on our Myspace page( www. myspace. com/punishmentpainsorrow ). As far as highlights, having Soilent Green give us a shout out and calling us their good friends during their set on this past tour with Testament. Partying with Goatwhore is always fun & interesting. We’ve opened for them the most, and it has been a blast every time. If you ever meet Sammy Duet, ask to see his brain. HAHAHAHAHA….you’ll see. Meeting Ice-T, and the rest of Body Count at the Milwaukee Metalfest. Hell just playing the Milwaukee Metalfest was awesome. Watching Devin Townsend of Strapping Young Lad during sound check call my drummer a fag for watching him so closely. If you know Devin Townsend his persona on stage is just an act, he’s really a nice guy. However, Devin did apologize later when we were on SYL’s bus drinking. Meeting Joey Belladonna, he is the coolest mother fucker. He was asking me about the NFL draft from the stage because I had an Oakland Raiders T-shirt on. And then he gave us props from the stage. He took time to talk to everyone who was there, took all the pictures signed everything, and anything. The biggest thing about the bands we’ve opened up for is, for the most part, they have all been really cool, and just wanted to have a good time. 5. The band has released three self-financed CD's, how has the reaction been? -Everything that I have ever heard has been very positive. 6. In what ways has the band and its songs changed over the years? -Like I said before, the band’s line up has always been a revolving door. Each time someone comes in or leaves, it changes a bit. I kind of like that. It keeps it fresh. However since I’m the main song writer for the band, we have always been more or less on the same path, maybe a little further down that path than we use to be, but the same path none the less. Don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not the kind of writer who comes in and has everyone’s parts written and tells everyone exactly what to play. I don’t work like that, I come in with a bunch of riffs thrown together, and each of us puts our own little spin on it. I think that’s why each album sounds a little different, but yet, still sounds like Self Inflicted. 7. You played the Dallas Doom Daze gig, I really wanted to go to that but couldn't make it. What was that show like? -I loved it. The turnout wasn’t the greatest; it was after all Easter Sunday when we played. But it was put together better, and ran better than some of the bigger festivals we have done. And the bands were just great. We are really looking forward to playing the 2nd one in May. 8. Do you like the big festival type shows? -When they are run right, yes, when they are run like shit, and they move your slot 16 times in one day, not so much. But you have to take the good with the bad. 9. How big is your local following, there seems to be a fair amount of Doom going on down there. -Our local following here is pretty good. We’ve been around for awhile and everyone around here knows the name, or has seen us play somewhere. Man, when we started, there wasn’t any doom/sludge around here. But now it seems to be a lot more of it. It’s been really nice. We really stand out playing with death/grind bands, and with the Mall Metal (as I call it) bands all the time. 10. Any chance of a nationwide tour? It would be cool to see you come to Seattle. -Yes, there is. I’m working on something for later in the year. Maybe not a full US tour, but I am working on a West Coast trip. Any help would be appreciated. 11. Have you been compared to any other bands and if so do you agree or disagree with what you have heard? -Man, we’ve been compared to everything from Black Sabbath and Crowbar, to Led Zeppelin and The Mars Volta. But they all say, “you guys sound like so and so, but with a twist, or heavier”. And I don’t mind. Is it really that bad being compared to bands you love? I don’t think so. Although I don’t really get the Mars Volta thing, I don’t listen to them, heard them on the radio a few times, but I don’t think we sound anything like them. However, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. 12. With the self financing of your CD's, is this something you wanted to do or was it something you had no choice in doing? -It’s something we’ve had to do. And something we don’t mind doing. Sure it would be nice to go into a studio on someone else’s dime. But it has not been an option up to this point. Besides I have home studio that we use, and the only real cost comes from buying the tapes. Yes, that’s right, I said tapes. Analog rules…We recorded our last CD there, and the next one will be recorded there too. However if someone out there wants to put us in a studio on their dime, then get a hold of us, because we would like to talk…. 13. Anybody that has listened to the tracks on your Myspace page can tell you love the big killer riff. What is your favorite guitar players? -To quote Jimmy Bower “The power of the riff compels me”. What else can a man say…But I would have my biggest influence is first and for most, Tony Iommi. With out him, none of us would be doing what we are doing. I’m a really big fan of Malcolm & Angus Young of AC/DC, mostly because they wrote some killer riffs/songs and are just loud in your face. They never changed their style, never changed their sound and always had that “If you don’t like us, then don’t listen attitude”. Some of the other favorite guitarists are Kirk Windstein of Crowbar/Down/Kingdom of Sorrow, Tommy Victor of Prong, Kerry King, and Page Hamilton of Helmet. I know there are some I’m forgetting, but those are the biggest ones. 14. What does the future hold for Self Inflicted? -Now that line up is solidified, myself on drums/vocals, Phil Wriker on guitar, N on guitar, and Chris Floyd on bass, we’re gonna concentrate on jamming and getting comfortable with each other. I’ve got a bunch of new stuff I’ve been writing so there will probably be at least an new EP or LP by the end of the year. A US tour, at least southeast and west coast tours this next year, and finding a label would be great. 15. Why should people listen to Self Inflicted? Give yourself a big plug! -People should listen to Self Inflicted because we’re heavier than a fat chick with a mouthful of pork rinds. Sorry I had to say it. A fan told us that after a show one night. I’m not trying to be mean. I just think it’s funny. To be honest man, we’re not the type of band that says we’re better than anyone else; we just do what we do. However, if you want Doom/Sludge driven riffs with a groove, then give us a listen. If not, then don’t, we won’t hold it against you. You can check us out at www. selfinflictedmusic. com (which is being updated), www. bayouunderground. com/self_inflicted , www. myspace. com/punishmentpainsorrow Thanks to everyone for their continued support…….KEEP IT HEAVY!!! Keith/Self Inflicted