4/17/02
Chimaira is a profoundly hard working band. Always touring -always making sure
their fans are happy and ready to keep up. This crew of six musicians out of
Cleveland, Ohio go out basically every single night, ten months of the year
and fiercely brings it to every fan at their mighty hardcore shows.
As they hit the road (again!) with 36 Crazyfists and FIVE POINTE O we discussed
summer plans, a new album, and losing all their money in Reno with Rob Arnold-
the tireless guitarist after the band's soundcheck at their stop in Los Angeles.
Noize Pollution: Thanks for sitting down with us today! Let's talk
about the tour a little� is this your first headlining tour?
Rob Arnold: Yeah, we have been a support act for a long time now and
basically that is the way you have to do it to gain fans� getting on those shows
with the big bands. But this time, we wanted to go out on our own. We'll see what
happens but it has been really good for us! The shows have been going way better
than what we expected- we knew we're not really ready to headline yet but we
just said, "We're going to do it," and the shows have been awesome!
NP: We love how you're doing a "Fan Appreciation and Raffle" at
your shows for $1! What prizes do the winners get? How did that come about?
It's a great idea!
RA: They get drumsticks, guitar pics, 8X10, posters, sometimes we can
give them a drum-head if there is one - and we sign all of that. A local
VIP laminate so they can come backstage and they can even watch the
show from the stage if they want to. I think it's cool� for your
favorite band to do something like that� if back in the day I went
to see Metallica and they did something like that where I could've
gotten all that stuff and hang out would've been amazing! We thought
it was a cool idea and no one has done it - as we know of� so we
thought why not?! It's going really well!
NP: We read your band auctioned merchandise for Death's frontman, Chuck Schuldiner
how did his music affect the band?
RA: I personally was not a huge Death fan, I liked the album
"Symbolic" but I wasn't too familiar with him. Mark and Jim were huge Death fans
and really wanted to be part of helping out the cause and we were glad to be a
part of that and hope it helped. We auctioned off a guitar and a Chimaira prize
pack- that has a symbol, pic, drum-head.
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photos by T-Bone
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NP: Your live shows are always real heavy just intense energy and your fans
always going crazy!
RA: That's the goal! We need to feed off their energy and I'm sure they
feed off ours. Our music is so intense that it makes us want to portray that.
That is also how we write our music, too. It's constant and I'm constantly
just moving around- which you'll see tonight. So, we want some crowd interaction
with dancing and stuff like that out there- makes you feel good, we like seeing it!
NP: Are you starting another tour in May?
RA: Well, this tour goes through the end of May then after that� we're
not sure what we're doing, yet. There are talks of possibly touring with Machine
Head in Europe then also part two of the Extreme Steel Tour but it won't be Pantera,
I think Slayer is going to headline with Soulfly. That's just rumors � things change
close to everyday.
NP: What are the bands that you're touring with until the end of May?
RA: 36 Crazyfists- they're a great band from Alaska- they will be out
with us till the end and Five Pointe O is actually dropping off. They're going to
be replaced with God Forbid, Hemlock from Las Vegas- they will be doing a couple
of weeks with us and another band may jump on but I can't think of their name.
Some bands are dropping off in some cities and some are being picked up in others
-which we think is cool because we like the variety.
NP: You have been on tour for so long - what are some of the things you
have learned and can pass on to newer bands like Five Pointe O and 36 Crazyfists?
RA: Just make friends with everybody! The worst is to be on the road with
another band that you're enemies with - which fortunately enough we haven't
encountered. I'm sure you can imagine, if you're not totally cool with everybody,
it's going to be grueling- spending all that time on the road- uncomfortable nights,
cramped vehicles and arguing about this or that. So, it's good to be friends with
everybody while on the road!
NP: What do you guys like to do when you're off road?
RA: It's good to be home for a little bit and hangout by not being
on the bus or being at the clubs all the time or in a hotel room� but when I'm home
for a bit, it kinda feels too calm and I'm ready to go back out! It's a lot of fun
and I'm totally doing what I love to do out here!
NP: How many days out of the year do you think you're on the road?
RA: I would say the goal is at least ten months out of the year. That's basically
what we've done so far in the past year.
NP: We read that Mark has been doing the sound for 36 Crazyfists� is that
something that he wants to pursue- how did that happen?
RA: Yeah, he and I definitely want to pursue that. We've always talked
about wanting to learn to mix, so he started to do 36 Crazyfists. Our sound guy
was showing him the ropes� getting the hang of it. Eventually, I'm going to start
learning, too. If the band never works out or something happens, I would love
to be on the road doing sound. Good pay, too!
NP: With you and Mushroomhead- Cleveland is getting some attention for it's
metal. What is the scene like? Have you played any shows with Mushroomhead?
RA: We have actually never played a show with Mushroomhead. They have been
around for probably ten years� I have been around doing music for that long,
too � nothing against them what so ever - we just never made it out. They're super
cool guys and I totally wish them the best! I'm proud of what they're doing right now!
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photos by T-Bone
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NP: Did you end up shooting the video for "SP lit?"
RA: Actually � print no to that cuz it never ended up happening�
but now we're doing it on our own actually this Saturday in San Francisco - so look for it!!
NP: Can you tell us a little about the video?
RA: Not really, we're not sure of what we're doing. We're just going
to show up- think of concepts and ideas, get everything ready then shoot until it's over.
NP: "Rizzo" is a strong song, especially lyrically- talking about domestic
and alcohol abuse- what's the story behind it?
RA: All the lyrics are on Mark's part based on his personality� and a
struggle. I think he may have experienced something along those lines when he
was younger� I can't say exactly. All of his lyrics are pretty self-reflecting
and menacing.
NP: Kinda random - is Rizzo also the dog taking a shit on your website?
RA: That's the only thing I don't like! Everything about our band is that we
are totally serious. We take everything super seriously. Then one day, Mike
was like, "I don't really have a name for the song. I don't know what to title
it!" There was a little dog in the studio that we always played with and his
name was Rizzo� so, we were like, "Fuck it, let's name the song Rizzo!"
NP: How significant of a role do you feel the internet has played in
the band's life so far?
RA: When we were just starting out the internet was our biggest tool- it is
what got people listening to us. MP3.com and ThePRP.com - those sites took us under
their wing and it really exposed our music to people when, back in the day they
could not get it. Now, everybody is doing it! For a band like us� so what if they're
getting our music for free- at least they're hearing it! They will tell their friends,
they will buy shirts, etc.
NP: Korn is having the same problem with their new album as you had with
someone leaking "Pass Out of Existence" how do you feel about the whole album out there?
RA: Of course we wish it wouldn't have happened but we knew it was inevitable.
We weren't like, "What the fuck," it was more, "Oh, they finally did it!"
It would've worked better if our album was pushed back- maybe released in
another month but it's not so bad. It happens to everybody! We were talking
about this the other day� the only band I can think of that didn't have it
happen to them was Tool. The new Tool record -no one could get a hold of
it before a couple days it came out. Usually, albums get released a month
or two before it's supposed to be out in stores.
NP: Will you be recording a new record soon?
RA: Actually, we have started writing - we've got about three songs. We're
building a recording rig to bring out on the road. Then we're planning a video
around September or October then maybe a new release February or March 2003.
NP: Will you be using Mudrock for the new album as well?
RA: We haven't even thought of that, yet. We're in the beginning stage.
NP: We were wondering how Jason is doing and do you all keep in touch?
RA: Oh, yeah! We're totally cool with Jason! Even when we go back and
do shows in Cleveland he comes out and does a song with us and the fans love it!
What happened was he had already had a toddler with his girlfriend at home-
he ended up getting married then he found out in midst of one of tours she
was pregnant. So, with another toddler at home� and we don't make any money
out on the road- he just decided to go home and take care of business. But,
we love having Matt out! Matt has been in a couple of bands and he was actually
a tech of ours and a great friend of the band before that and he knew the
songs- it all worked out perfectly!
NP: We know that Fear Factory is a huge influence on the band - how did you
feel about the bands recent break up?
RA: Well, honestly, we did their last tour and I guess you could kinda see
it. They didn't seem like they were loving it anymore. Then again, when we did
our first tour with them - we didn't really know them as well. We're sad- we've
all been Fear Factory fans forever and we always love to hear new albums.
I know all those guys will be doing good music. Dino just took Mark and
Andy to hear what he has been working on now. So, they'll all be doing
side projects- which is cool!
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photos by T-Bone
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NP: We heard you were in Reno last nite- how was it?!
RA: (laughs) We all lost a ton of money! It was fun to get out and relax!
Basically � we all lost a lot of money- but it was fun!
NP: A few days ago, I e-mailed all our street teamers that listed Chimaira
in their top ten and I had them send me a question they would like to ask you. I have
a few fan questions for you. This question is from
Rachel in Apollo, PA: asks: If you were stranded on an island with
no food, who would you eat first?
RA: What band member would I eat first!?! � uh � definitely not Jim �
definitely not Andy � uh � honestly, unless it actually happens- I can't
even put myself in that position and I do not think I could resort to
cannibalism! I definitely would make food out of trees or something like
that! I don't think I would be able to eat anyone!
NP: Well, thanks so much for sitting down with us! Is there anything you
would like to add?
RA: Thanks for doing the interview! Thanks to all the fans- we appreciate it more
than you guys know and we'll see you soon!!
Interview by: T-Bone & Suzy
To view past Interviews and Favorites click
HERE.
Official website:
www.chimaira.com
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