Live Interview with Darrell and Jeremy from the band Five Finger Death Punch conducted by Miranda Wilson (Aka Sidine). I would personally like to take this opportunity to thank the guys of 5FDP for sitting down with me and taking the time to answer a few questions, it was truly a pleasure to speak with them.
Miranda - What was it like playing the Nashville Crawfish boil with bands such as Newfound Glory? (laughs)
Darrell - (laughs) it was a little bizarre I got to be honest with ya, We were kinda surprised by that line up and Ivan kinda poked a little fun at them. In all honesty, we weren't trying to be mean ya know, it was kinda light hearted and they gave us a couple of punches back when they went up calling us five finger dildo punches or something they made fun of us too, it was all good it actually turned out to be a great day.
Miranda - Yeah we were at that show and we thought it was kinda of odd that they would have ya'll and all these soft core bands, soft core being my opinion.
Darrell - I enjoyed Paramore to be honest with ya
Miranda - They were good
Darrell - Their singer has got it, has got the it factor.
Miranda - Yeah she is really really good.
Miranda - Okay here's another one for ya. Why aren't you guys on the main stage?
Darrell - Well our record is just a couple of weeks ago been out for one year and it's our first record, so and honestly I think that organizers John Reese and Kevin Lineman, I don't think their real big metal guys, so um they always did the Warped Tour more of that punk rock kind of thing. So being a new band with one record out basically they offered us second stage and we were happy to take it but to be honest with ya after three or four shows they were kinda like "holy shit man". Next year main stage so
Miranda - Yeah they had to basically test the waters to see how you would do.
Darrell - exactly next time around will be a whole different story.
Miranda - When can we expect a new album?
Darrell - Umm...
Miranda - I know the new one is just a year old but you gotta keep it going.
Darrell - yeah we did a re-release with some new tracks, um... but as far as a full-length CD probly not til the end of next year. Because we just... Our record is only available in American right now; we just did a deal with Spine farm Universal for the rest of the world, Europe, and other territories so and I think it comes out in October. So we still gotta get the record out there, we still gotta tour in those areas, it's like a big world out there when we've only done America. So where gonna get that out over there, and probly do some of the small heading lining tours this year. Next year probably doing some kind of European thing, probably a summer American thing again one of these festival type things again, and again in the fall start recording again.
Miranda - So... Just a general question...
(The rest of the band walks in and Jeremy decides to join the interview)
Jeremy - How is my hair?
Miranda - Your hair is great...
Miranda - Well we will ask my first question now since Jeremy has joined us.
Miranda - Who designed your Drum Set?
Jeremy - Wow... That would be myself and my drum tech Robert
Miranda - Alright I will ask you the same questions I just asked Darrell, what was it like at the Nashville Crawfish Boil to share the stage with so many soft-core bands like Newfound Glory and such?
Jeremy - I honestly don't care who we play with, I like bands with good songs. If you have a good song I like it, I don't care if your country, blue grass, rap, or polka. It doesn't matter to me I had a blast.
Miranda - Who are your influences? When you first started.
Darrell - Well for me as a guitar player my grandfather was who made me want to player guitar. The person that made me completely obsessed with the instrument and wanting to dedicate my life to it was Randy Rhodes. Listening to the song Crazy Train and hearing that opening riff that did it for me. Then there is of course Sabbath, Pantera, and Metallica. I like a lot of blues stuff like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Hendricks stuff like that.
Miranda - What about you (turns to Jeremy)
Jeremy - I first got a Kiss record when I was 6 years old and from that, point on I was a member of the Kiss Army. Then I discovered Lars Ulrich, Dave Lombardo and guys that played double bass and that turned me on to a whole new world as well.
Miranda - So as far as double bass goes to get that really fast sound do you this (mimics a drum move) or do you do heel toe?
Jeremy - I start out with my heels off, but by the end of the tour, my heels are planted into the ground, because my legs are so tired. So out of the gate YEAH... But like 5 or 6 weeks in that's no good.
Miranda - But you gotta have some really good calf muscles to do that
Jeremy - It's about stretching out and taking care of yourself, which I don't do very well, I try but it is what it is out here on a festival tour.
Miranda - Speaking of stretching, what sort of rituals do you guys have before you do a show?
Jeremy - I do a vigorous workout every day I lay on the rubber balls on my back and legs and I roll around on this roller for about an half an hour before I go on. Because touring can take a toll on your body.
Darrell - Yeah... I just do a couple of stretches I don't do the whole stretching like he does with his rubber balls and his big foam roller (laughs). I just do a few stretches whatever gets the blood pumping.
Miranda - Okay what is your take on illegal downloading of music?
Darrell - How much time do you got?
Miranda - I have all the time in the world for you guys (laughs)
Darrell - I mean you can talk about it forever. But basically its killing musicians, it's growing and making it's extremely difficult to make money in this business. But also your never gonna be able to stop it. Of course, if we had the choice we would shut down every one of those sites, and prefer everyone to go buy our CD because we worked our asses off and dedicate our lives to making that disc. Then some kid clicks a button and has it on his computer for free and you've spent years and years toning your crap and getting everything right to create this art. For it to be taken well of course if we could stop it, we would but you can't.
Miranda - Yeah... of course, there is a lot that goes into making that art and packaging, shipping, and such...
Darrell - well people will buy it if you make your stuff really cool, people will buy it. Nickleback sold like 6 million records on the last one.
Miranda - I like Nickleback but I like ya'll better (laughs)
Miranda - Okay... have you guys had any more meet and greets with injured fans like the guy that broke his ankle that time.
Darrell - Every day every day, I had a kid just the other day come up to me with a ducted taped nose, black eyes, nose is broke, dried blood all over his face and he laid a towel down soaked in his blood down on the table for me to sign.
Jeremy - what I did was grabbed somebody else's poster to hold it and they were like looking at me and I was like sorry. I don't want to have hepatitis or anything.
Miranda - (laughing) I understand you're human too you're not invincible.
Miranda - guitar hero or rock band?
Darrell - Rock band not so much Guitar Hero loved it but I'm over it.
Miranda - But are you gonna put a song on it?
Darrell - we hope so... make that happen.
Miranda - I would love to make it happen... if I could pull the strings to make it happen I would. I would love to sing Ivan's tracks. Reiper does the drumming I do the singing', because I have nooooo rhythm in my feet (laughs).
Miranda - So how has the tour been so far?
Darrell - we've was wondering when this one was coming most people start with this one.
Jeremy - (starts laughing)
Jeremy - It has been unbelievable it's what five weeks now, we've meet great friends and great fans every day. It's like groundhogs day every day we party it up, it's been great we couldn't ask for more, we're a little tired but it's been going well.
Darrell - it's been great I mean the way the guys treat everybody like human beings, we get catering, showers.
Miranda - You're not like a truck driver having to stop at a BP for a shower.
Darrell - it's nice to get water every day, it's been very cool very organized, professionally run.
Miranda - I've noticed the transition from band to band on the sub stages
Darrell - about an half hour after the bands are seen the stages are packed up and gone, I mean the parking lot is empty and on to the next city. All that is left is a parking lot full of beer cups and shoes.
Miranda - You mean flip-flops (laughs)
Miranda - Um... okay last question. You band name, how did you come up with it?
Darrell - Kill Bill
Jeremy - Kill Bill volume 2 yeah, there was some sort punch where you take five steps and you heart explodes.
Miranda - Uma Thurman
Jeremy - Zoltan thought it would be a great idea to call it Five Finger Death Punch, it's such s stupid name you can't forget it, and we were like you're on to something there.
Miranda - Well it is brilliantly stupid, because it really did good for you guys.
Jeremy - I mean what's in a name all the good names are taken. You can't be the Rolling Stones now, we're Five Finger Death Punch.
Miranda - I would hate to see you do a version of Jumpin' Jack Flash.
Jeremy - However, we do bust out a version of that, and it's amazing
Miranda - and ya'll style would be great, but Rolling Stones I like them but Keith Richards just needed to stop.
** The interview with 5FDP was transcribed to the best of my ability per a digital recorder that I had present with me at the scene. Some of the interview may have been edited because of background noises and other sounds preventing clarity of the voices on the recorder. Some of the content of the interview may have been left out for better transition and clarity**
