Under the Volcano: You guys remind me of
Quicksand at times. Is that a fair comparison?
Or is that me being a lazy journalist?
Artie Shepherd: That is you being a lazy
journalist. We are far more melodic than
Quicksand was. They had a very Metal feel
that I don't think we have. I think that my voice
is similar to Walter's, but I did have to sing
back ups and doubles in World's Fastest Car
so I guess that gives me an excuse. I think
that last Tool record was more Quicksand
than us. Every zine should hang up Quicksand
as a reference for every band that plays mid-
tempo drop D Rock. I have to say that we all
emulate our heros to an extent. I just happen
to have played with one of mine. Good bands
take a theme and put their own imprint on it.
UTV: How did you guys hook up with Some
Records? How is Some treating you? Have
you gotten offers from any big labels?
Artie Shepherd: Some got our demo the day
it was finished because they knew the guy
who was recording it, and I had played with
Walter and Sammy. We didn't even bother to
give it to anyone else; we thought that they
were a good starting point. Plus, they were
willing to give us a one off, which was key.
We knew most of the bigger scene labels
would have wanted more, and we weren't
willing. I feel that a label should prove
themselves to the band. This way the band
chooses to work with the label because they
are happy with them, not because they are
contractually obligated. We aren't kids who
are begging for someone to put our record
out. These songs are precious to me and they
need to get the exposure they deserve. I think
that Some has treated us great. Matt Pincus
is the workhorse behind the label, and he is a
great guy who has some great bands and a
long term vision. We are sticking with them for
our second full-length. Yes, we have gotten
interest from bigger labels, but I would much
rather live on ramen noodles and tour in a car
for the rest of my life. Just kidding. My vibe is
very mellow about that stuff. Some of the best
advice I ever got was "When you're good,
things happen." So far it has been true.
UTV: I understand that Mind Over Matter
recently did a reunion show. Why did you do
it? What do you think of reunion shows in
general?
Artie Shepherd: Reunion shows are usually
retarded. The bottom line behind most of
them is money. Although I was encouraged by
getting a nice payday (MOM usually drew
most of the people and got paid shit back in
the day), that really wasn't the reason for us.
We had done a sort of impromptu reunion at
Coney Island High in the city and it was crazy,
so we thought if we were going to do it, let's
do it on Long Island. I had a blast playing with
those guys again. I understand now why
bands get back together. You become better
players as the years go by, so you sound
tighter than you did when you were together.
Plus it is easy, no song writing. Also, we
needed to remind these kids on LI who
started this shit around here. I think they were
beginning to forget.
UTV: A lot of lyrics on the record seem to be
about romantic relationships. Are you guys
putting a new spin on an old topic? Or is it just
something that everyone can relate to
because they have been there?
Artie Shepherd: Actually, most of the songs
aren't about romantic relationships. They are
about friendships. When I did the liner notes
I chose to hold back from talking about the
subject of those songs; it was a very touchy
subject and still is. Sometimes I am too
honest and it affects the band in negative
ways. I didn't want that to happen. I thought
they were universal enough for people to use
them in any type of relationship, for me it was
one particular one. It was really the first time
I had written lyrics, so I just wrote what came
out. I think if you are going to write about
relationships, write about sex; that is the idea
behind the song "Superstore". That is much
more exciting. The Stones did that best I
think.
UTV: I understand you are putting out a new
EP on Crank Records. Will the EP differ from
the full-length? Why is this EP coming out on
Crank instead of Some?
Artie Shepherd: The EP is much different.
The first record was written in the first four
months of our existence. When the new
songs started coming, they were much more
together in every way. We had been offered
deals for our next full-length by many labels...
Crank was one of them, but we decided that
we wanted to go with Some after they signed
Hot Water Music. Jeff from Crank was very
adamant about wanting to do something with
us regardless. We had an overflow of new
songs and since I don't like long records, we
decided that we would put out some of the
more eclectic stuff on an EP. Crank was
willing, so we went for it. It is really cool, it has
a standard rocker, an arena Rock hit, a math
Metal special, an acoustic movie soundtrack
megahit, and a psychedelic song. Our album
will be much more Rock.
UTV: What do you think of the term "Emo"?
Are you an Emo band? Emo, hmmm....
Artie Shepherd: To me, that means bands who can't write songs and have bad singers, but come from the Hardcore scene. We have played with so many terrible bands in the past year. We really don't fit into this scene at all. The Emo kids are aptly named, they like generic Emo stuff. The funny thing is they don't like to admit it. It is almost like the Emo scene was created by people denying what their bands sound like. The only band I have ever seen completely embrace the term was Inside. You have to respect that. As for the bands we play with on tour, I like to use the term Thepromiseringisthereasonforasunnyday because everyone seems to be a watered down version of those bands. Besides the originals, there are a handful of bands that are good. Most of those wouldn't fit into the generic sound category. I guess we are in the Emo scene, but only because of where we come from. Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate it, the scene gives us places to play and an automatic crowd. What more could a Rock band ask for?
UTV: Tell us about some funny tour stories with your band. Have you guys gone to Europe yet? Do you think Europe will embrace Errortype: 11 the way they embrace Manowar?
Artie Shepherd: There are so many good tour stories. We recently toured Europe with Samiam and it was amazing. There was no furry underwear like Manowar (by the way, Bathory looked cooler in the furry underwear), but it was great. I kind of got a funny story. We were in Florida hanging with Hot Water Music, and we went bowling. Well, this got out of hand. I bowled a 213 adn got thrown out of the alley for standing on a table singing Styx songs. I can't remember a thing. We like to do stupid things, like go to jock bars and try to start fights. I think the funniest shit comes on stage. When we were in South Carolina I asked the crowd if they wanted us to suck because we were way too good for them. I then told the opening bands that I was insulted that they took money out of our pockets for their little summer fun during college break Columbia grad school. Needless to say, they left. I won't name names. I am sure we will never hear from them again.
UTV: What is the most un-Hardcore thing about you guys?
Artie Shepherd: Everything. We aren't even close to Hardcore. I think it would have to be that much of my influence come from Prog Rock that I grew up with. Genesis, Yes, Crimson, they all have a huge impact on my writing, but you would never know it. Hardcore is a played out genre; it will never change and it will always exist. I tried to work on that a few years back but no one cared. I am too old to be that angry.
UTV: Have you ever been in love? Are you in love now? Family members and pets don't count.
Artie Shepherd: I am in love now... have been for some time. It has been so long I can't remember anything else. What is love anyway? It is just this thing that hangs in the air without a definition. It is just a word, it means many things to many people. Murderers love their victims sometimes. And I said we weren't Emo? Who am I kidding?
UTV: You once recorded with legendary producer, Martin Bisi (Swans, Unsane, Cop Shoot Cop, Foetus, Sonic Youth). Would you ever record with him again? Who is one person you would love to record with?
Artie Shepherd: Of course I would record with Martin again. He rules. I don't know if this band would fit though. We are working with John Agnello for the next couple of records and he kicks ass. He is famous for Dinosaur, Jr., Chavez, Jawbox and soon us. If I could work with anyone, I guess I would say Brendan O'Brian. If I really could work with anyone it might be Eddie Offord. I love the way those old Yes records sound. I think the guys playing had a little to do with it.
UTV: I really like the first song on the CD. It is kind of fast and different for Errortype: 11. Is that an older song? Or is that the new direction? Do you see a difference between your older stuff and your newer stuff? Or is it all just the same old shit?
Artie Shepherd: That song is very old. I don't think there is anyway to see a future direction. The song writing is becoming simpler but the melodies are becoming better. The way we write is if it sounds good, do it. We don't worry about direction. There is some stuff like "Far As." and there is lots of stuff that is pure arena Rock. I always joke that the first record was written on Scotch, the second on beer, and now I have to write one on pot. I guess heroin is the logical follow up.
UTV: If someone loved your music, but didn't pay attention to the lyrics, would that bother you? Or would you say, "Eh, he bought the record and likes it... and I am one dollar richer."
Artie Shepherd: I don't care. If you get something out of it then we must be doing something right. I am little embarrassed about my lyrics so that would actually be better. A dollar richer??? Please, like we will ever see any money. We don't do this for money; in fact, I feel like we pay to do this. We pay in so many ways, but it is our choice, right?
UTV: You guys are pretty poppy, but at times you can be dissonant. Can dissonance and pop music coexist? Or will your weird chords hold you back in terms of commercial success?
Artie Shepherd: Well, I guess this answers some of a previous question. We really aren't too dissonant anymore. I do thing that the two can coexist, but i may limit you in terms of success. I really never think about it. I just like quality song writing. If you can write a great vocal melody over dissonant chords, then great. Smashing Pumpkins have some pretty dissonant stuff for a big band. So did Nirvana. As for us, there won't be too much more of the "Better Days" style. We are all out arena Rock, or as I like to call it, "Enormodome-core".
UTV: Which band had hotter groupies: Mind Over Matter or Errortype: 11? Do you ever get male groupies?
Artie Shepherd: We get a lot of closet cases, that's for sure. I don't know if I can answer this one. Let's just put it this way, we get older and the scene stays the same. Someone commented to me the other day that going to an ET:11 show in the city is comparable to going to a Hardcore New Kids On The Block show. I don't know if he was at the same show I was playing, but I will take if for what it is worth. I need it at my age.
UTV: Tell us a little about World's Fastest Car. Why did that project never put out a CD? Are any of the musical ideas on the Errortype: 11 CD left over ideas from WFC? You can be honest. I won't think any less of you.
Artie Shepherd: WFC, there is an enigma, huh? It is a long story. We never really had a set line-up. I don't want to get to into it. It is history that I would rather leave in the past. I just hope that some of it comes out so I can make some goddamn money and ET:11 can sell more records. I definitely took influence from that time. I don't have a problem admitting that. Walter is a great songwriter. I wish he would remind the world of that someday. I am his biggest fan. Unless you feel that talking about the WFC thing will help sell some records, I don't want to talk about it.