Interviews

Interview with Schuylar Croom of He is Legend

Published

7 years ago

June 26, 2017

Ron

June 21st
RamsHead Baltimore MD

BEARDS, TATTOOS, TRUE CRIME AND EVIL MICKEY MOUSE

North Carolina’s He is Legend came into Baltimore on the first day of the 20th Anniversary of Sevendust Tour. Empire Extreme got to talk one on one with singer Schuylar Croom before they took the stage.

Empire: Tonight the first night of the tour, how’s that feel?

SC: We are stoked we haven’t been out with Sevendust in a long time, just working all the kinks out getting ready.

Empire: You guys just released a new album “few” and did a fan kickstarter campaign?

SC: Ya we did an IdieGoGo crowdfunding thing, it went really well, we kinda didn’t know what to expect. We did a lot of research on what to do and what not to do. We were weary at first thinking of what our fans wanted and if it was a good idea or should we go to a record label and when we made the decision it was based on the fans.

Empire: I heard that you guys reached your goal pretty fast?

SC: ya we set it up we chose the month long campaign, have it be all or nothing if we reach our goal we get it if we don’t we don’t. It was nerve-racking for a minute but ended up how we wanted.

Empire: So how’s the metal scene around your area of North Carolina?

SC: In Wilmington we are at the end of the road, end of I40, so we don’t get as many shows as other cities. The Metal/Rock scene is kinda big, Weedeater is from there, Valiant Thor is close to there, ASG is from there. It’s a tight necked community for sure a lot of good music from our city just like anywhere else.

Empire: What about the state of NC in general?

SC: Ya, NC breeds some good rockers, and great musicians in general. Up in the mountains you got Bluegrass scene, Charlie Daniels is from there. We got great talent in this state for sure.

Empire: I seen you did a tour with Chimaira, how was that?

SC: That was awesome, was a while back. Those dudes shred, I think it was with Killswitch Engage.Its cool when you get a bunch of dudes we grew up listening to, it’s pieces of dreams playing with bands like that.

Empire: I can see that you have a lot of tattoos and I’ve seen you wearing Disney stuff and having a Disney related tattoo, is there a love for that?

SC: Mickey Mouse is the most satanic character ever created in capitalistic form I guess. I never been to Disneyland, I just have been linked to it because I have worn Mickey shirts before. And I have a Baphomet with Ursula on it. The Little Mermaid was the fist time I was like attracted to that just some odd darkness.
Empire: Ya I remember that movie being of the more darker Disney films at the time.

SC: Ya the eels man

Empire: And Ursula was such a major evil bad guy.

SC: They based her off John Waters character Divine.

Empire: That’s this area, John Waters is Baltimore.

SC: Ya I forgot John Waters is from Baltimore, that’s killer.

Empire: I seen a Promo photo with you guys with Bunnies, what’s the story on that?

SC: We got a phone call that morning and it was around Easter time, our record label was asking for new promo photos. So we stopped at a mall while on tour and we went to a family photo, yearbook type of place. They were doing an Easter promo where kids can take pictures with bunnies, and we all held the bunnies.

Empire: It was just funny and odd to see these bearded metal guys holding bunnies.

SC: Ya that was kind of the idea, the nonsense of it all.

Empire: What band would you like to have seen that’s no longer around?

SC: I would say seeing Bonham with Led Zepplin would be up there with me. Maybe seeing the Misfits in the early days just to be a fly on the wall for that.It depends on era and genre, seeing Tupac and Biggie would have been dope. I grew up a drummer so seeing a Zepplin show back then would have been insane for me.

Empire: With that question I usually ask what musician would you bring back from the dead?

SC: That’s a tough question, I think maybe John Lennon, I know that a cliché rock star to talk about but his energy and what he was doing. Some one like Kurt Cobain who had something to say, maybe Brad from Sublime.

Empire: How do you get your inspirations for lyrics?

SC: I read, that’s kind of a loaded questions because I’m not sure where it comes from. It’s not a thing you say I’m pulling from this or that, it’s like a spark, I remember Tom Waits saying “ it coming from one window and out the other, floating over his piano and you got to reach out and grab it or it’s gone out the other window.” I relate to that a lot. We have been doing this for so long it’s not that hard to write, sometimes it is. One song may take 5 minutes and another may take a couple of days. I always looked up to people like Tom Waits or Nick Cave people who write stories with there music, a more theatrical side. Write about love, hate or death or something like true crime that can inspire stories(as we sat there on the tv was a true crime program).

He is Legend came out on stage and just rocked the house. Schuylar wearing a Misfits shirt looked like a combination of Charles Manson and Otis from The Devils Rejects mixed in with a little Duck Dynasty. He demanded the stage with his vocals and non stop energy on stage. This was my first time seeing the band and I was blown away, it’s hard to describe the music but I would say old school southern rock and roll mixed in with some pure heart stopping metal. During the set the band played a little of “Spoonman” from the late Chris Cornell. He is Legend is on the list of bands that everyone needs to see live, such a great band entertaining to watch.

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.

See author's posts

Related Topics:Baltimore Empire Extreme He is Legend Ramshead Schuylar Croom

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Interviews

INTERVIEW WITH MERCURY OF PRIEST

Published

2 days ago

April 23, 2024

Ron

Empire Extreme got to sit down and talk to Mercury of Priest when the band came into PA at LoveDrafts.

The show was amazing all the bands that we seen put on a great show for the fans. Vampires Everywhere killed it once again. Last time we seen Priest we only got to see them open for Powerman5000 and got like 6 songs, this time Priest was headlining and we got to see much more which I was excited to see.

Priest played a good mix of old and new and even a few songs off the album “Dark Pulse” which is out in May. We got to see 13 songs played and even Mercury come out into the crowd a few times and when they played “Obey” even blessed some of the crowd. It was great hearing songs like “BlackListed”, “Signal in the Noise”, “History in Black” and “Vaudeville”. It was such a great night of music and a great conversation with Mercury. If you get a chance to see this band play in ur town, it’s a must

About Author

Ron

See author's posts

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

See author's posts

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.