Always with you

Warmth of the grave.

Conveys the warmth of his heart.

The love that he showed.

Is undeniably a spark.

I feel the wind speaking through the air.

A brush on your face to know he is there.

A red bird sings the song of someone unseen.

Showing you he is with you through all things.

Don't ever fret no need to cry.

For this has never been goodbye.

Sean Saley (Drums for The Skull, Teamster, Ex-Pentagram)

     I had the honor this weekend to interview not only one of my favorite drummers but a good friend of mine Sean Saley. Sean currently plays for the incredible band "The Skull" featuring Eric Wagner and Ron Holzner of "Trouble". Before joining "The Skull" Sean spent a couple years playing for "Pentagram" and also kept up playing with his band "Teamster". Sean is a great dude and I want to thank him very much for his time.

Patrick Houtz --- (PH)

Sean Saley --- (SS)

     (PH)--- First of all Sean, what is your first musical memories as a kid? What was it like growing up as Sean Saley?

     (SS)--- It's always something strange with music as a kid. The things you're introduced to, or find, and how it relates- or totally doesn't- to what you gravitate to later. One of my earliest memories is someone giving me a 45 of "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies when I was 4 years old. I remember playing it on a cheap little portable record player. My next memory is probably being in my mom's '70 Dodge Demon and she had an 8 track by a singer named Lee Michaels who had a hit song called "Do You Know What I Mean" that she used to play all the time and I would rock out to. Good times. My parents were hippies and we lived back and forth between San Francisco and Colorado (and a few other places) between '71 and '80, when we moved back to Ohio. In the early 70s I heard a lot of the "hippier" side of things like the Dead, Hot Tuna, Quicksilver Messenger Service, CSNY... but they were also into heavier things like Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Mountain, and Atomic Rooster.

I don't really remember what got me into drums other than just liking the sound of them. My mom bought me a kit when I was around 4 or 5, but I rolled the whole thing down a flight of stairs instead of playing them, so that set me back about 10 years, haha.

     (PH)--- I think you are an incredible drummer as you know, what drummers have you always looked up to and that really made an impression on your playing style?

     (SS)--- Well first- thank you! As for drummers and influences, it's kind of a "different people for different things" deal. The funny thing is, as I alluded to earlier, after I pushed my kit down a flight of stairs as a five year old, I didn't get another drum set until I was 14 or 15-- so that's when I really started to play... and, at that time, I was really into hardcore punk. The faster, louder, and more chaotic, the better. So some of my initial influences were the punk drummers that were killing it, like Rat Scabies of the Damned, Lucky Lehrer from Circle Jerks, Earl Hudson of Bad Brains, Chuck Biscuits in DOA, Bill Stevenson of the Descendants/Black Flag/ALL, and John Maher from the Buzzcocks.

As I started getting into more metal and some older stuff as well, I, of course, worshipped at the altar of Bill Ward... but the list of people I've stolen from in one way or another is a mile long, haha. Ian Paice, Bill Bruford, Bobby Caldwell, Peter Moffett, Mikkey Dee, Joe Hasselvander, Clive Burr, Barriemore Barlow... I could go on for quite a while.

Photo Credit; Desert-rock.com

     (PH)--- You joined Pentagram in 2012 I believe. How did that come about for you? How was your initial reaction when you found out you got that gig?

     (SS)--- I found out they were looking for a drummer and got Greg Turley's email address. I dropped him a note to say I was interested in trying out. 26 years before this, Tom Lyle of Government Issue turned me on to the first Pentagram album and I later heard Day of Reckoning and had been a fan since those days, so yeah, I was chomping at the bit to try out. Greg told me they wanted me to learn 4 songs for the audition and I asked if he could send everything they were planning on playing in the set, which turned out to be 15 songs. I showed up for the audition knowing all 15 songs. After my tryout that day, they told me I was in. Naturally, I was stoked. I had a poker face, though. I kept the high pitched girly squeal in my head.

     (PH)--- What are some of your best memories playing with Pentagram? What was it like touring with an interesting front man like Bobby Liebling?

     (SS)--- The first show I played with them was the Sweden Rock festival in June of 2012, in front of about 5,000 people. That was a good start. I remember being more concerned about what Victor thought of how that first show went because he is both a great and passionate musician, but also a fucking human metronome. Victor doesn't play to the drummer- you have to play to Victor. Doing that made me a better musician and also really helped me kind of slow down and learn to player heavier, if that makes sense.

Lots of good memories with Pentagram. We played some great shows and fests and went to so many cool places. I've met a lot of good people and friends through my experiences with them and that stint taught me a lot about touring and the business in general.

Bobby... Yeah man. Wow. Bobby is cool. Uncle Bobby, haha. I both love him and wanted to punch him sometimes. He's a kind, generous, sweet person at heart. We all know about the demons and how they've affected him, but he's a good dude. He can be a lot of fun to be around and to talk with. He's an open book and brutally honest.Touring with him is a trip and it would take a book, man...

Photo Credit: Fuson Photography

     (PH)--- After leaving Pentagram in 2015 you went on to join "The Skull" fronted by one of the best metal vocalist ever in Eric Wagner. Tell me what that transition was like for you. How did the dominoes fall as far as that gig coming about?

     (SS)--- I was still in Pentagram and had just finished recording drum tracks for "Curious Volume", but... we had been having some disagreements on the music and drum parts and all and the tension was getting uncomfortable. In retrospect, I'm sure it could have been worked through with a bit more patience, trust, and open-mindedness on both sides, but oh well- water under the bridge now. So I was kind of feeling on the outs and, like clockwork, I got a message from Ron Holzner saying that Oly had quit The Skull, they had a tour coming up in about two months, and he wanted to know if I might be able to do the tour with them. I saw it as an opportunity to tour with them and, if things went well, maybe just stay with The Skull-- and that's pretty much how things ended going down.

     (PH)--- Playing in "The Skull" you not only get to play with Eric Wagner but also Ron Holzner from Trouble as well. You still do a lot of killer Trouble songs in the live set for "The Skull". What are some of your personal favorite Trouble songs to play live? Was there any song's that when you went to learn them were a lot harder to get down then you thought they would be?

     (SS)--- What's insane about all this is that, after having been a Pentagram fan for over 25 years and then finding myself playing with them, I had the bizarre luck to sort of relive the experience. In 1990, when the self-titled Trouble album on Def American came out, I got a copy of it and totally wore it out. Absolutely loved it. So again, around 25 years later, I end up playing with Eric and Ron from Trouble. So weird. As fas as playing Trouble songs live, of course it's a blast. I love the original material we do as The Skull, but it rules playing great songs you grew up with. I really like playing Revelation, The Tempter... Plastic Green Head is fun to play. We're going to be playing some songs at Roadburn I'm really psyched to do like Victim of the Insane, Fall of Lucifer, Endtime, and Wickedness of Man. Those last two have been a challenge to learn... Not so much the drumming itself. I'm pretty good at mimicking and adding my own vibe to it, but more the sheer number of parts and transitions. Just memorizing all that shit.

     (PH)--- What has the touring experience been like so far with "The Skull"? How big of a difference has it been for you touring in the states versus overseas with these group of guys?

     (SS)--- It's been pretty cool. The single most important thing on any tour- in any band- is how well you get along with your bandmates and that compromises have to be made and respect for each other has to be ever present... When it's not, people become babies and assholes, and nobody wants that. I get along really well with all these guys and, generally speaking, we're all similarly minded people. On the music end, we've had to work hard to be tight and gel as a band because we've had three tours with three guitarists. Lothar Keller is always there, of course, but we had Matt Goldsborough on the first tour, Willie Max on the second, and now we have Rob Wrong (also of Witch Mountain)-- and it's really coming together live now. Rob and Lothar are an absolutely sick team and I'm proud to have them as the guitarists in the band I play in.

The tours have been great! No tour is ever 100% puppies and rainbows and cocaine and hookers, but we've played a ton of great shows for some super hardcore fans- and that's what it's really all about. Europe, as is typical for rock and metal bands, tends to be a little better in some ways. Not so much as fans go... Audiences are equally enthusiastic in the US as in Europe. It's more that the distances are generally shorter, the hospitality and food are generally better, and sometimes the money is, too. Don't get me wrong, though. I'm ecstatic to play anywhere, anytime.. Particularly if the show has actually been promoted, haha.

     (PH)--- You guys just put out an EP recently. The song "The Longing" is incredibly well written and your drumming is spot on. How much did it mean to you personally to have your imprint as a drummer not only on that song but also the cover of "The Skull" by Trouble. It has to be a great feeling for you.

     (SS)--- It's funny- the vinyl version of the EP just came out.. Though the vinyl is a 7" single with just The Longing on one side and The Skull on the other whereas the CD version has bonus tracks. But it just occurred to a couple days ago that the vinyl single is the first time in my whole life where a VINYL record has come out where I am the drummer on the whole thing! I've been recording since 1982 and, to this point, everything I've ever done has been released as a CD or cassette -- or vinyl -- but all vinyl has been either compilation albums or records where I'm not the only drummer. I've had bands that released full albums on CD, but not vinyl. So it was nice to get the whole "plastic record with me as the drummer on the whole thing" out of the way, even if it's only two songs, haha.

But anyway, yeah, really proud of "The Longing", in particular. That started as couple riffs and some lyrics that Eric came up with years ago, and we essentially reworked it into a new song that has only a slight resemblance to what it started as. A really great group effort and a good, catchy-but-heavy song. I'm also really happy with the recording, Quentin at Gunpoint got us some great sounds. The drums are very natural and real sounding- not all slappy and digital- and the band sounds like it could all be playing in the same room at the same time (and I assure you- we were not, haha.)

     (PH)--- After getting back from Europe very recently, what is the upcoming plans for "The Skull"?

     (SS)--- Going right back! We're heading to Roadburn for two sets in April. We are headlining the main stage on Friday, April 15th, playing a special set of Trouble songs from the Metal Blade years. Then we follow with about a week and a half of dates in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Then we head back again in June for Hellfest!

In the second half of the year, we may be doing another American tour. I've heard rumblings but nothing is firmly nailed down, to my knowledge. I'm hoping we're going to concentrate on getting a full length album recorded by the end of the year... Or at least have a good headstart on it.

     (PH)--- Jumping back just a little. You have been playing for the DC band "Teamster" for quite awhile. For the readers out there kind of give us some background with that project. What is going on with "Teamster" currently and what do you have on that plate coming up?

     (SS)--- Teamster just played last night here in Washington DC. It was great! We had a good crowd and people were going off! The band has been together since around the end of 2011 and we don't play a ton of shows, but it's fucking fun when we do! Teamster keeps my hardcore roots alive. We play fast, heavy hardcore along the lines of some of the classic NYHC bands like Cro Mags and Agnostic Front. Check out our facebook page at facebook.com/teamsterdchc

     (PH)--- Last question. What advice can you give to people who wan't to be in a touring band? What are the most important thing's to keep in mind if this is something you really want to do with your life?

     (SS)--- If you want any tour to go as smoothly as it can and be the most fun it can, the number one rule in my book is respect each other and learn to compromise. Don't be a dick. You can be a loner, you can disagree, but don't be a dick. You have to get along with a group of people in tight spaces, sometimes without a lot of sleep, in shitty conditions, during interminable rides, and sometimes the rewards won't be as good as you want them to be. Other times, they'll exceed your expectations... But the point is, give a little. Don't trash people who are there for you- whether they work the venue, are fans, or are fellow bands you're playing with. I'm not above making a little fun here and there, but there's a difference between that and being meanspirited or acting like a douchebag. The other important rule is play the music right. Know your parts and do your best to execute them. It makes a big difference to people watching you, whether they realize it or not. Anyone who is even a half decent musician can tour and have a great time doing it. Just plan as carefully as you can- plan, plan, plan- and, again, above all, be as accommodating and patient as you can toward your mates and with challenges that come up. Letting shit roll off your back goes a long way.

Wes Geer (Hed P.E., Korn, Rock to Recovery)

     

     I actually conducted this interview in July of 2014. Due to some issues, I was not able to get it out until now. Wes Geer is not only the found member of rock act Hed PE but he also spent several years touring as the live guitar player for the band Korn. Most importantly Wes founded Rock to Recovery. Here is some information from their site for those who don't know anything about the program and I also am gonna post links to check out the website at the end of the interview.

     "Rock to Recovery was created to help sooth the restless souls of those in recovery. We do this by creating a "band" and writing and recording songs together with Rock to Recovery's staff of professional musicians, who are also in recovery. We help bring fun into treatment and recovery by offering a natural escape from the fear-based mind. This helps people grow a sense of belonging and self esteem. We help to vent emotions by writing lyrics and singing together for release, in real-time. We tie a positive theme of hope in recovery throughout the whole process. When the session is done, our "band" members feel a new energy all throughout their minds and spirits."

     Hope everyone enjoys the interview.

     Patrick Houtz (PH)--- First, lets talk about your first band Hed P.E. How did the band come together? What memories really stand out for you during that time of your life?

     Wes Geer (WG)--- Hed P.E. came together when I saw Jahred in a club and he was intense and owning the stage, the crowd. I knew that was the type of singer I wanted to work with. He was much more intense than my prior band, and that's the way I wanted to head. From there he and I just started trying to figure out what direction to go. That was really hard....we pulled in members from both our previous bands, and our bud Chad....but we were looking for our sound. We loved old school music like Al Green, Sly and the Family Stones, but loved heavy shit....and hip hop....then it was gangster rap....we're west coast ya know...but one day we were really lit up and went to see the Beastie Boys, Rage, and Cypress Hill and then it all kind of made sense. We wanted to combine those styles...intense heavy grooves, funkiness (without being RHCP sounding) a little gangster and some punk....at that time no one we knew was doing it...I coined the term G-punk to help describe and market our music early on, coming from P-funk....and I decided to get a DJ to be different and add analog samples...again no one I knew had a DJ. I never heard of Bizkit, Deftones weren't touring w a DJ, we played w Incubus they didn't, Linkin Park wasn't a band yet that I knew of....

     (WG)--- Memories I remember were the first time I ever left the country, and I remember playing Ozzfest in the UK to 80k people and going (humbly) holy shit I wrote this song, we got here, we are fucking playing to the hugest crowd ever and there are about 10k people bouncing up n down....surreal.

     (PH)--- Can you tell me about how you determined you wanted to start "Rock to Recovery"? How much does it mean to you to be able to help out with people battling addiction? 

     (WG)--- As far as Rock to Recovery starting it goes like this....for a long time I was a crazy drunken partier...I had fun, then it started getting really ugly, dangerous, people were getting hurt, I was killing myself...it was bad. So I HAD to get sober or die, or even worse live a hideous miserable life...so once I got sober and life got good, really fucking good man, I got the gig w Korn, I was doing better than ever....I decided I wanted to give back. I didn't want my 'legacy' to be 'Oh yah, Wes Geer, that guy was a MESS, played guitar pretty good though.......I decided I wanted to leave this planet someday knowing I had given back...maybe even leave something that can still give after I'm gone....So I asked God, the Universe, that great big energy we all connect to 'What can I do with 'me', my talents, to help people. Let's see I'm an alkie/drug addict, sober and play music.....and then it came to me...divine inspiration....I will go into treatment centers and write songs with those newly sober because I know what it feels like in those early days....detoxing, hell, no escape....Music is the medicine!

     

     (PH)--- Do you have any music plans coming up in 2014?

     (WG)--- Hmmm 2014 in my head is nearing close. I'm obsessed with R2R, we are really growing and Im stoked...there are some things in the works....some collabs with some of my really cool friends. I actually had JC and Sluggo reach out to me about work with them on Killbot, I really wanted to do it....but I was too friggin busy man....so next phase is I WILL do some more music. I have a goal to do an artist record, of my music for me....and if people listen, cool.

     (PH)--- You have seen a lot over your time in the music industry im sure. What advice do you have for kids and teenagers on how to not go down the wrong road and to just focus on their passions?

     (WG)--- If you go into music, you have to be obsessed. You have to do it 24/7. There are so many talented people out there, but now you have to rules the social media and self marketing is king. You cant do it expecting anything, you need to do it because you cant live without doing it....other wise you probably wont get to far....and don't do it for the money because its harder and harder to make money these day, long term. Im not talking a little money, but lifestyle long term career money, that is hard to sustain.

     (PH)--- This question is strictly for me. What is your ideal live rig for guitars and amps?

     (WG)--- Well the rig depends on for what Im doing....so Korn was a dual rectifier, some TC pedals G system, vintage analog pedals, whammy wah delay for sure....for Hed it was Marshall Jubilees and pedals of course.....now a days believe it or not, I love my little 10w fender with reverb, turn it all the way up, but the gain all the way down, reverb up high and my 69 les paul deluxe with mini humbuckers....im in chill jazzy bluesy mode and loving it...seriously...SO.OVER.METAL. Done it long and hard with the best of 'em, now I like melody a bit more than destruction.....I love AC30TB, vintage boutique pedals, Black keys, Jack white tones....fun shit!

     (PH)--- I want to thank Wes again for agreeing to do this interview. I really respect and back what he is doing with Rock to Recovery. Here is a cool video link for the program and a link for the official website.

Rock to Recovery Official Website

Teloch (Gorgoroth, Mayhem)

     Patrick Houtz (PH)--- I would like to thank you for taking time to do this interview. You have been a hero of mine as a guitar player for years, playing in many of my favorite bands such as Mayhem, Gorgoroth, and Nidingr just to name a few. 

     (PH)---The first question I have for you is about being a guitar tech. If I remember right you had a stint as a guitar tech. First of all is this true? If so who do you work with and how was the experience?

     Teloch (T)---Yeah, thats right, I have been playing in bands since i was 16-17, but none worth mentioning. A buddy of mine played in Gorgoroth, and they needed a guitar tech at a point. And I did that for a year or something before joining them on guitars instead.

 

     (PH)---Is it true that you started Nadingr in 1992 and the band at the time was actually called Audr. How did those early years shape you as a musician?

     (T)---92 or 93 don’t remember, I did this audr thing as a solo project thingy, just explored the world of black metal, witch was new to me, I came from the death metal scene before starting with black metal.

     (PH)---I remember first seeing you play on some live footage with Gorgoroth. What was your time as a live guitar player in that band?
 

     (T)---It was cool as fuck, I missed those days, totally insane. Intense and dangerous.

     (PH)---You have played with one of my favorite drummers Frost in both Ov Hell and 1349. How is he to work with as a drummer? I think the lineup you guy's had in the band Ov Hell was incredible. King, Frost, Shagrath, Ice Dale and yourself. What was it like playing with such a talented set of musicians?

     (T)---Didn’t play that many gigs with him, but it was ok. I played mostly with Tony Laureano with my time in 1349. For the ov hell project I think I only played on two riffs on that album. I was supposed to play more, but I never got my ass into the studio to do it.

     (PH)---How did joining the live lineup for such a historic band like Mayhem come about? It must be a real honor to be playing live for them. Was this a band you had always hoped to be on stage with?

     (T)---Not really, I don’t have any bands that I dream about playing in. I just do whatever feels right to me, and things happens. But yes, its good to play in Mayhem.

    (PH)---The last question I have for you Teloch is what kind of live gear are you using with Mayhem? Guitars and Amps? 

    (T)---Ltd ec1000 straight into an Engl amp.

     (PH)---Thank you again for your time. It was honestly a true pleasure and honor to get to interview you. I wish you nothing but the best in your endeavors.

     (T)---Cheers and thanks.

Ryan Sinnott and David Russell (BhorelordE)

BhorelordE is honestly one of the best band's to check out right now. I was impressed after just one listen to their release "Introduction to the Further Perseverance". Every track slays and shows a very talented and tight nit group of musicians. I was able to sit down with vocalist Ryan Sinnott and guitarist David Russell to discuss BhorelordE and what the future for the band has in store. I want to thank both David and Ryan for taking time out to do this interview. Also check out and purchase "Introduction to the Further Perseverance" http://bhorelorde.bandcamp.com/.

     Patrick Houtz (PH)---First of all thank you guys once again. So what was the inspiration behind the formation of Bhorelorde?

     David Russell (DR)---Thanks for having us.

     Ryan Sinnott (RS)---Dave'll have to answer that, they were a band for a year before I came along

     (DR)---In the beginning it was mostly just something to do on Friday night. We were all into heavy music so we wanted to see how heavy and epic we could write. The band was born out of that.

     (RS)---My inspiration with this band lyrically is finding ways to purge experiences, and things I hold onto metaphorically speaking through myths and religions. When we first started talking about me coming along, we were thinking of keeping it instrumental and adding another guitar, just to see how heavy we could go and fill out the sound, but after I went to practice I found a voice in their music

     (PH)---So it sounds like everything came together very organic?

     (DR)---Yes there was not a lot of effort involved with getting everyone together. It just happened and it worked.

     (RS)---Yeah, the other guys would hang out and their other bands would play at a bar I worked at. We'd stand out front and talk about music. That started a friendship that brought this band.

     (PH)---What a great way for everything to come together honestly.

     (PH)---What band's you guy's listen to have influenced Bhorelorde? I personally hear elements of bands like eyehategod, crowbar, and even early 80's hardcore.

     (RS)---There's a lot for me. I listen to a lot of music. I've noticed I tend to listen to more mid tempo, or music with a lot of movement in the structure. Amorphis, Paradise Lost, Meshuggah, Neurosis. A lot of country and Beach Boys too

     (DR)---For riffs I write I get a lot of influence from high on fire, sleep, enslaved and maybe a little from Down. Jesse the bassist is really into thrash metal and early 70s stuff.

     (DR)---He writes about half and I write half as far as riffs go.

     (RS)---It's a very interesting aspect for me with how this band works. I've never been in this position musically. Watching how they write and build songs is quite astounding. It's a very fast process about 90% of the last record was there before I was. I just wrote to their songs and we worked with some arrangement, but it's nice to sort of be able to step back and watch them put it together

     (PH)---Awesome! All those are great places to draw influence from in my opinion.

What a great experience Ryan. That honestly has to be very interesting to you and I’m sure has helped you grow as a musician.

So your album "Induction to the Further Perseverance" is absolutely incredible. One of my favorite releases the last couple years.

     (RS)---Thank you

     (DR)---Wow thanks!

 

     (PH)---My favorite song is probably "Caelus Return" what can you tell me about the writing of the song as well as the lyrical content?

     (RS)---I think that song started with adding some synthesizer. The song was pretty much there when I started writing the lyrics. I was still trying to find my place in everything, so I'd start with keys and look for places to add depth where words or voice weren't necessary

     (RS)---Lyrically it's just my opinion on the advancements of certain ways of thought. The push to see what we can do, instead of if we should. Perhaps what you put credence into is a false path.

     (RS)---I study a lot of myths and old religions and pull a lot from there

     (DR)---That song is one of my favorites as well. I had a couple riffs and Jesse had a couple riffs and somehow we were able to smash them together.

     (RS)---I like the tempo and solidity of it. It becomes droning, but keeps moving you forward

     (PH)---What would you say is each of your favorite song's off the album?

     (RS)---14th & 1st would have to be one, we play it about every practice.

     (RS)---I was really happy with how Arcanum and Gunpowder came to be. I think those were the easiest and most fluent to build for me anyway

     (DR)---I am going to have to go with caelus return. It's creepy and heavy and that's what I love.

     (RS)---I can get stuck on a song for a few weeks, but those came easily, and I like the movement of them

     (PH)---What are the plans for Bhorelorde in 2014?

     (RS)---We've been writing a record over the winter. it's very close to being finished. We'll be recording that soon, and look to play a bit more as that gets closer to release

     (PH)---Any chance of you guys going out on tour this year?

     (RS)---We'd like to make it back out to Terror Fest, and I'd love to get out of the country. I miss Europe. We'l;l just have to see what comes along.

     (RS)---Right now we're just working on finishing these songs and recording.

     (PH)---I honestly can't wait to hear the new material. Thank you guys so much.

     (DR)---Thank you Patrick.