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Interview with Simone of Epica

Ron

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Baltimore MD
September 27th 2017

Tonight Baltimore was given an early Christmas gift in the form of a rock concert. Putting together two iconic bands Epica and Lacuna Coil.

Before Epica graced us on the stage. Empire Extreme got to sit down and talk to singer Simone Simons and talk a little about life, music and all the things in between.

Empire: How’s the tour going with Lacuna Coil?

Simone: It’s the best North America tour we have ever done. It’s fun the audience is the largest we’ve had before. Everybody is having a good time.

Empire: Are you a StarWars fan? I seen you guys did a cover of the Imperial March.

Simone: Some of us are. I think Rob is. That was just one of the songs we did for the album.

Empire: Have you had any vocal training?

Simone: Ya I’ve had some vocal lessons throughout the years, but I don’t go to school or university I had private lessons for about 6 years starting at 16. I just love the classical female voice mixed into with the metal.

Empire: How do you feel about being on the Metal’s Sexiest Women list?

Simone: Well they should see me when I first wake up. (Laughs) I think it’s cool, and it’s fun. The music comes first but it’s a total package how we present ourselves, the stage needs to look nice and the lights. I like to dress up. I appreciate it, I don’t find it demeaning or degrading to me.

Empire: Do you have any fun or crazy stories from being the only female in the band?

Simone: We been together like this for 16 years. We’re like on big family. Everybody assumes I’m just the girl but I can be one of the guys too, I have a foul mouth and burp.

Empire: Have you had any crazy fan interactions?

Simone: A couple ya, sure. A recent one that freaked me out and the band, we were in turkey. We were done with the show and in the van, and this guy was in the back like the trunk area. I thought maybe he was a crew member that wanted to help us, we started driving and he came out with all these fan stuff. Can u sign this?. It wasn’t cool he invaded our private area, our tour manager gave him some choice words and threw him out. I’ve had fans stay outside my hotel room. For me that’s crossing the limit, because when you’re on tour you don’t have your house, the bus or hotel is your home and where you should feel safe and let your guard down and walk around naked if you want to.

Empire: Anything you like to say to the fans?

Simone: Just a big thank you to the people that showed up to our shows. We’re very grateful and glad we have such solid fans. So I want to say Hi.. And Goodbye.. Or See ya soon whenever we come back.

 

Epica hit the stage and right away blew the crowds mind. With the huge Epica banner in the background to keyboardist Coen swinging around his keyboard and rolling from one side to the other side of the backstage. The lighting was perfect, lots of white lights which makes it easier for photographers like myself to take some amazing shots. Simone was on her game and looking quite stunning in her black dress, and with the operatic voice of an angel makes it so great to see live. Playing songs that spans from a 15+ year career, Epica didn’t disappoint one bit. At one point Cristina from Lacuna Coil came on stage and sung with Simone. Coen and Guitarist got off stage and went amongst the crowd. Coen went for the pit, while stood behind a fan without them noticing him for a few minutes. This show was amazing and my first time seeing Epica although I’ve been a fan for many years. I can’t wait to get to see them more in the future.

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INTERVIEW WITH OF VIRTUE

Ron

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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!

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INTERVIEW WITH TWIN TEMPLE

Ron

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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.

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FIRST JASON: LOVEDRAFTS INTERVIEW

Ron

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EMPIRE EXTREME GOT TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO ARI LEHMAN OF FIRST JASON AND TALK ABOUT STARTING THE CULT OF JASON VORHEES FANS

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