Interview With Negative Reaction

Negative Reaction from New York are one of the best examples of had to play sludge the right way.From slower doom passages to faster hardcore aggressive bursts of power,Negative Reaction knows their shit.Read this interview with Sir Ken -E Bones(guitar) from the band and give them your support.



1.First i have say thanks for doing this interview.How has life been treating you lately ?
Shitty, but thanks for asking.

2.Tell us a brief history of the band ?
I started Negative Reaction in 1990. We were just a local Long Island hardcore band to start. We didn't really think anything more than that, we just wanted to have fun and play some music. Over time we just evolved into what everyone now calls sludge. We never took it seriously until 1999.

3.You have a range of influences that range from New York Hardcore to Doom/Sludge to even some Psychedelic stuff.All of which comes out in your writing,to me anyway.What processes to you go through to put together your songs ?

There's really not much of a process at all. I'll write some guitar riffs, Aaron will write some bass lines, then Old Mac throws down some beats and we eventually come up with songs we are satisfied with. The one thing that has always been the same since the beginning is that I write the lyrics because i have to sing them. You are correct in the influences of Negative Reaction - New York hardcore is a strong influence on our writing as well as psychedelic stuff and when you put the two together, I think that's the true form of sludge.

4.Has living where you do been a bonus you think or has still been hard getting gigs and getting your name and music out there ?
Living here has been a bonus because I hate it so much my anger comes out in my music. As for getting gigs, Long Island has become the tribute/cover band capital of the world, so it's not easy for original bands to get gigs here anymore which is just as well because we would rather travel anyway.

5.What has been your personal ambitions been in music and how far would you like to take it ?
I'd like to take it as far as possible because I am definitely not happy with where we are now.

6.There is more Doom and Sludge in the world now than ever before.Do you think the genre is in danger of getting burned out ?
Yes, absolutely. I think too many bands are beginning to sound just like the last one I heard and many doom and sludge bands sound like they put out the exact same album over and over again.

7.Tell us about recordings and what is in store for the future ?

We are going into the studio April/May to start recording the next album.

8.What has been the real high points for the band so far ?

Our 2004 tour of Europe and being the last band to play CBGBs on a Saturday night.

9.What is your opinion of people obsessed with i tunes,i pods and the general slow death of CD's ?
Unfortunately, it's a sign of the times, I'm still pissed off that people are trading in their vinyl for CDs!

10.What is your favorite bands to gig with ?

 I don't know, I haven't gigged with Monster Magnet or Hawkwind yet. As of now, I'd have to say Maegashira from New Jersey, Beneath Oblivion from Ohio, StereoChrist from Hungary and Versus the Stillborn Minded from Germany.

11.Have you played with any bands that you wish would just die and go away.You don't have to give any names...

YES and thank you.

12.How would you describe the average Negative Reaction fan ?

Extremely loyal.

13.Any big tours planned ?

What do you got for us? Let us know, we'll see what we can do.

14.When you were younger did you ever imagine playing this kind of music

No. I was told I was musically impaired in the 3rd grade and I think they were right.

15.The mainstream Metal scene has become real watered down over the years.Do you think it will ever recover or are we stuck in a rut forever ?

As long as Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Metallica are around, I don't see it ever being in a rut.

16.What kind of equipment do you all use ? You have a killer sound !

Original Orange 120 Overdrive Amps, Gibson and Jay Turser Guitars, Ampeg SVT amplifiers, Fender Bass and the biggest drums that Old Mac can find or afford.

17.Do you take a lot of interest in the artwork and general packaging of music ?

Yes. Actually the inside of the last album featured my watercolor paintings.

18.What is the best places to play in the US in your opinion ?

Philadelphia has been good to us this year. Chicago and Milwaukee were good in the past.

19.What inspires the lyrics in the songs ?

Insomnia, depression - life.

20.Ok give yourself a plug and tell everyone the best way to check out the band.

 Our website is www.negativereaction.info and our myspace is www.myspace.com/negativereaction.

Thank you and I hope I didn't bore you. Long live Dee Dee Ramone!