Interviews

Interview with Raven Black

Published

7 years ago

August 9, 2017

Ron

The Depot
Baltimore Maryland
August 2nd 2017

BE PREPARED TO WITNESS THE CHAOTIC WORLD OF RAVEN BLACK

Raven Black the theatrical metal circus like phenom rolled into town tonight. Having seen some of the buzz floating around the dark alleys of the inter web, I was curious to witness this orchestrated madness in person. But before I got to witness, what ultimately would be such a perfectly executed presentation into the madness that is Raven Black, I got to meet up with the members and pick at there brains before releasing them into the crowd.

Empire: How’s the tour going so far?
Raven: We’ve got tour aids (laughs) we have done 17 shows
Doctor: I know we got 8 more to go.

Empire: Who came up with the Storyline?
Raven: I started with my storyline as Raven(half human/half doll) and each member has added there sorry to it, each piece of it.
Muppet: We each added our two cents to it, and it’s been developing since raven started it.
Empire: So you go to create your own character?
Muppet: Absolutely, everything we wear on our face is each a part of who we are personally. We are talking about doing a comic book and we can dive into the story even further. Get to the back story of each character.

Empire: How was it making the” Twinkle,Twinkle, Little Scar” Video?
Stitch: Maybe it was fun for the other guys but not for me(everyone laughs) well it was to a certain point because I had to use special effects makeup, and these guys got to eat and we had people cool for us, and I had to wear all this crazy makeup which required me not being able to eat. I went prob went 11 hours without anything.
Doctor: That was the first time
Raven: stitches mouth was actually stitched up so he couldn’t eat.
Stitches: It was pretty fun tho, we shot overnight which was my first time doing that.
Doctor: The cool part for me is we shot it in MushroomHeads studio. So we got to see all the props that they have built throughout the years, if you watch the video the backdrop is this black wall with a moon print on it and that was the backdrop that MushroomHead use for the Halloween show at the Agora.

Empire: How was it working with Ulrich Wild?
Muppet: He was amazing, and it was cool going Into the whole thing we thought we might change some of the writing and process of it and he kept it authentic. We sent him like over 200 songs and we narrowed it down to the 7 that are on the EP. He was all about us finding out sound and staying true to it.
Stitch: It’s one thing when you get to meet your Heroes, but then to work with them. Personally it was a life experience and a great one.
Raven: We walk in a see all the Platinum and Gold records and we’re like we want one of those, and he says that’s the plan.

Empire: Any crazy tour stories?
Stitches: The one that comes to mind for me is, we were on the MushroomHead tour and driving and it was a long drive from Salt Lake City to Billings Montana. I had to drive at night and middle of the mountains with deer, I had to drive like 30 mph, it was scary.
Doctor: That’s not a rock and roll story (laughs)
Raven: On this tour there’s a highlight I can remember, we were in Illinois and it just lured down rain, thunderstorms and flood warnings, and all of a sudden I hear a scream out the backdoor where you load in and out of , and it’s raining and these people are under a gutter, and water is flowing everywhere and they are showering in it. We were all drunk and it was really fun.
Muppet: We got to have a natural shower.

Empire: If you can bring back any dead musician who would you bring back?
Muppet: For me it would be the Rev from Avenged Sevenfold. That be my choice.
Stitches: For me it would be Chris Cornell, I feel heartbroken about it, he is one of the major guys to make me want to come and play in the states.
Doctor: I would say Chris also, I grew up listening to him. Any musician that has committed suicide like to bring back like Chester from Linkin Park.
Raven: I have one, but it’s off the wall. Prince. ( everyone says that’s not off the wall and laughs) He’s a legend and amazing and I got the privilege to work with him. Such a professional and super nice guy.

Empire: What’s your favorite Horror movie?
Raven: I would say still the Exorcist, Linda Blair.
Muppet: Lately been getting into the Korean Horror, Hellraisers and Saw films.
Stitches:The Shining, those two little girls.
Doctor: it’s not really classified as a horror, but I love The Devils Rejects all of Rob Zombie’s movies and his soundtracks are killer.

Empire: Since you guys are very circus like, what’s your favorite movie with a circus in it?
Raven: ( she gets super excited when I ask this) The Devils Carnival. I love the movie, love the soundtrack.
Empire: I love those movies too, met a few of the actors from those.
Stitches: not really circus but I love IT. Pennywise the clown
Doctor: that’s what came to mind for me too.
Empire: No dumbo love? ( all laugh)

Empire: What movie do you love but hate to admit it?
Raven: FlashDance(old school) because she’s just bad ass. And she proves herself.
Empire: She also dances on the floor like a maniac
Muppet: For me it’s almost famous, I love that movie but most people always hate on it.
Stitches:Ghost (doctor says he’s big fan of the Notebook but won’t admit it)
Doctor: I really like Titanic. It’s great movie but this sounds fucked up (all laugh)

When the lights went down, and the fog started to roll in like a eerie mist, emerged this petite, yet deadly figure carrying an umbrella and a evil yet strangely beautiful smile to the center of the stage. Lead singer Raven Black commanded the stage and the audience with her baby like vocals that violently turned into a menacing growl, to the eye catching ensemble that she wears that perfectly go together with various props and gadgets that she brings with her on stage, along with her doll like twitches. Equally just as chaotic and visually stunning and musically talented are the other players in this deadly game. Guitarist and voodoo extraordinaire commonly known as “The Doctor”, destroys the guitar like one of his possessed pupils. Bass player and grotesquely put together “Stitches” is just as possessed running around the stage like a mad man, and just lurking and creeping around all while delivering heart pounding bass lines. You can’t forget the insane and deranged drummer known as “Muppet” who’s just beats the living shit out of his drums all while providing menacing background vocals accompanied by death stares. This ensemble of beautiful and insanely characters are such a sight to witness. If this band comes anywhere near your town I recommend going or running to the venue to check out this band, who I believe in due time will be on the lips and minds of world. Raven Black is the real deal if you’re into bands who can entertain you and deliver a kick ass show. The band hangs out with the crowd after the set, which proves that they are in for all the right reasons, and are a pleasure to hang out with, such great and amazing people that I’m glad I have the opportunity to meet.

Check out Raven Black online: http://www.ravenblackband.com

About Author

Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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Interviews

INTERVIEW WITH OF VIRTUE

Published

2 months ago

March 4, 2024

Ron

Where does the band name come from? Wanting to be the best version of yourself at all times. The name is a reminder to hold ourselves accountable.

How is the music scene in Michigan? The Michigan music scene has always been vibrant and in my opinion, important. Do we get the credit we deserve? Absolutely not. But for the state that brought you Motown, Eminem, Lizzo, The White Stripes, I Prevail and so many other incredible artists – it’s kind of hard to believe that Michigan remains a hidden gem.

How’s the reception from the fans of the latest album “Omen”? It’s been incredible. From seeing people singing along at shows to us seeing new supporters of all different ages, colors, and creeds joining the journey. Omen has been a pivotal album in our career and we’re proud of it!

If you could tour with 2 bands, which bands would you want to tour with? Spiritbox and Bad Omens. They’re both making waves, changing who the metal audience is, and surely they’d be fun to hang around with.

Where do you draw inspiration for the lyrics? Honestly, the lyrics are our stories. The stories of our struggles, our trials and our tribulations.

What’s been your favorite tour or show? We just got off of a tour with our labelmates, Any Given Day. They treated us to a handful of sold out shows over in Europe, which at this point we call our second home. Those were great shows, but any show we’ve done in Europe is typically one for the books!

If you could bring back a dead musician, who would it be? Prince for sure. An incredible musician I would love an opportunity to chat or make music with!

About Author

Ron

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Interviews

INTERVIEW WITH TWIN TEMPLE

Published

2 months ago

February 16, 2024

Ron

Being Married and being in a band together. Do you feel that makes it easier or harder?

We love to do the Devil’s work together so for us its a match made in hell.

What’s your favorite horror movie?

That’s hard to narrow down but the first few that come to mind are Rosemary’s Baby, The Devil Rides Out, Wickerman, The Devils Reign featuring Anton Lavey, Mario Bava’s Black Sunday, anything starring Vincent Price. We also got to see an advance screen of “Late Night with the Devil” featuring a very evil performance from our friend Dave Dastmalchian. We’re also looking forward to Bryan Fuller’s “Dust Bunny” and are positive it will be a new favorite. The list goes on…..we are huge horror fans.

Favorite Non Horror Movie?

Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca (which is horror/noir adjacent) and The Burbs (also horror adjacent…haha.)

All of Quentin Tarantino’s films- our latest favorite is Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, because 1960’s LA…

What misconception of Satanists would you like to educate people on?

We’re not here to proselytize, force our beliefs on people, or educate people on them Selves, Satanism or anything else. If people are interested in exploring Satanism, we encourage them to do their research and question everything.

If you could bring back any dead musician, who would you pick and why?

We would have loved to do a song with Ronnie Spector who recently passed. Also would have been amazing to collaborate with Jack Nitzsche who arranged so many amazing songs.

If you could tour with any 2 bands, who would you want to tour with?

The Ronnettes & The Shangri-Las.

What has been your Favorite Tour so far?

The God is Dead Tour that we’re currently on is definitely the most evil and blasphemous tour yet. We find it very pleasurable to be able to continue expanding the rituals and seeing our nightmares come true on stage.

You were on “Dragula” with the Boulet Brothers, how was that experience?

It was a fiendish delight to collaborate with some of our fav monsters.

What was it like Touring with Danzig?

Another nightmare come true! We’ve both been fans for a long time and we’re obviously inspired by the wicked world Glenn has conjured. So to get to spend time with him and watch him live every night and to now call him a friend is completely surreal. He’s a legend— but was also one of the coolest, kindest, most unholy people we’ve had the carnal pleasure of touring with.

How’s the reception of the last album “God is Dead”?

Personally, we love the record and are very proud of what we’ve accomplished. As far as other peoples’ reactions…. we don’t know and don’t care! We pleasured ourselves and that’s what matters most.

What got you interested in the style of music you play? And how would describe your music?

We’ve always loved classic American music from jazz to blues to country to rock and roll and so on. We also love the pageantry of heavy metal and theatre. So for us it was a very organic culmination of our obsessions. Rock and roll has always been the devils music.

Have you visited the Satanic Temple in Massachusetts?

No we have not but Lucien did attend one of our rituals so we had a chance to share where we get our babies blood and all things Satan.

Have you had any bad encounters at shows because of the misconception of satanism?

No! We purposefully foster a live show environment where all are welcome, all should come being the most important person in the world which is themselves, whatever that may be. Even Christians! We believe music is meant to bring joy, transcendence… We just want to share the things we love; pink, rhinestones, big hair, great rock ’n’ roll, Satanic ritual, you know… but we have had churches assemble outside our shows, screaming through distorted PA speakers that God is not dead & wishing us all a “terrible time”. Why would their God not want us to have fun? This kind of behavior is only makes us more proud to be who we are and do what we love.