Killswitch Engaged interview with Justin Foley
I would like to thank Justin Foley for taking the time to sit down with me and answer a few questions. It was a pleasure to talk with him and I look forward to seeing them out on tour this year, and keeping an eye out for a new record in the coming year or so.
Miranda: How did you guys come up with the band name Killswitch Engaged?
Justin: Mike D came up with it years and years ago. I guess at least 10 years ago. Yeah so I guess Mike D came up with it he just put some words together and is like ah yeah that works.
Miranda: well it matched and it sounds really good together.
Miranda: How has your music evolved since you guys started playing together?
Justin: yeah absolutely, but I think that, kind of stumbled upon what it is that we do. So were not churning out the same thing over and over.
Miranda: Yeah I can see the redundancy of that
Miranda: Are you guys currently on tour with anybody?
Justin: Well sort of, this is only like the fourth we did a really short like four show thing that started Wednesday and today is the last one. It’s not really been a full fledge tour it’s just kind of been a few shows. Kind of put together real quick, mostly around this festival today.
Miranda: How did that four date tour treat you?
Justin: It was good. Good shows, it doesn’t even seem like we started yet, and we’re already done. It’s weird, because usually it’s 5 to 6 weeks something like so like 4 days is a little strange. It’s almost like a weekend.
Miranda: You most recent release was in June of ’09 and self-titled, Are you guys currently working on a new album or making plans to release another album soon?
Justin: Not working on one yet, maybe we’ll start at the end of the year working on it. We’re not really sure, we probably have some more touring to do first. We don’t usually do a whole lot of writing when were in the middle of touring. We usually wait til we are done with whatever the touring cycle is and then we go write together. So it probably won’t be for a little bit.
Miranda: All right!
Miranda: Who influenced you to play the drums?
Justin: The first real big one was John Bonham, Once I started listening to him I was like hey that’s pretty sweet. I wanna do that, and he’s the main thing that got me going when I was trying to play along with Zeppelin stuff. I kind of went from there.
Miranda: Was it hard to learn?
Justin: Oh yeah, I still can’t play any of it, because he’s like ridiculous. I thought when I was 14 I was like okay cool I can play that song. But I couldn’t play that song, I could technically play the beat, but I couldn’t make it sounds like it’s suppose too. I still can’t because he’s one of the best you know. It’s weird.
Miranda: What is one of your most memorable shows that you have ever had?
Justin: Ever, the most memorable show, uh it might be um the Vodka Festival we played in Germany was HUGE, it was really really cool. Because everything about it was really cool because we played late in the evening and there was a huge down pour like a thunderstorm at the end and we played between Carcass and At the Gate. It was just a huge festival. It was just a pretty cool day.
Miranda: What's your most embarrassing experience?
Justin: I guess sometimes when Adam, calls me out for being a Yankee fan in front of all the Red Soxs fans. Somewhere in like Boston, the whole place is like yelling at me, it sucks. Because I can’t do anything, he has the microphone, and I don’t. So I have to sit there and go “yeah whatever”.
Miranda: Yeah just, sit there and take it, but your hiding behind the drums.
Justin: I know I know, that’s probably the worst even then that’s not so bad because I want to say “Hey to bad the Yankees won last year so”.
Miranda: What do you get the most out this job that you don't get out of a normal 9 to 5 job?
Justin: being able to work for an hour a day. (laughs) that it pretty much.
Miranda: You get paid for more
Justin: yeah a pretty good pay scale for an hour a day. But it’s cool really, some days are busier than others but it’s not work. I’ve always loved playing drums and now I get to do that and get a paycheck for it. I really can’t complain at all.
Miranda: What do you do when you are not touring? Hobbies, do you play golf?, ect…
Justin: Actually yeah I just started taking lessons, but I’ve been playing golf for a lot of years but I suck, and I was tired of it. I just went out and it was the most unfun I have ever had, so I said I can’t do this anymore unless I take lessons and figure out why I suck so bad. So I started them and I was like “Oh okay”, I’m getting the hang of it a little bit better and it’s actually more fun so. I do that a little bit, and then just hang out and try to relax.
Miranda: Well that’s good.
Miranda: Do you have any messages for your fans?
Justin: Thanks! You guys are incredible, after all this time you’re still coming out to see us.
Miranda: Well why not the music is still awesome. It keeps people coming back for more
Justin: (laughs) Nah their just suckers. (laughs) Nah it’s really cool that we go out and people are still there, it’s amazing and we’re very grateful.
