INTERVIEW with JOEY DEMAIO
MB: When did you decide that music was what
you wanted to do?
Joey: When? Probably when I got out of
High School. I realized that you had to do something for the rest of your life. So you
better do something that you love, because you have to do it for the rest of your life.
MB: Who would you say were some of your
biggest influences musically?
Joey: You know, just Heavy Metal in general.
Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and bands like that.
MB: I heard that you roadied for Black
Sabbath for a while, too.
Joey: I didnt really quite roadie. I did a lot of
different things. But I wasnt really I never really had a sort of fixed position. I just
sort of floated around and did a lot of different things with them. And I helped
Geezer with some of the equipment he needed for his bass.
MB: Cool.
Joey: I did a lot of different stuff. I did
pyrotechnics for them, too.
MB: What do you think about the original
line-up of Black Sabbath just doing those couple of shows, recently?
Joey: I think its okay. I wish Bill Ward was
still on drums, you know. That would be good.
MB: I know you guys are big defenders of
"True Metal". How would you describe that? What does "True Metal" mean to you?
Joey: "True Metal" is music thats true to the
style of classic Heavy Metal. Its not diluted. Its not pussied out. Its not wimped out.
Its played from the heart, one hundred percent.
MB: What bands out there right now do you
think are really on the right track, besides you guys?
Joey: Well, theres a lot of bands out there. I
mean, you know, a lot of the Black Metal bands are really good. A lot of these Death
Metal bands are good. That kind of stuff. There are a lot of new bands starting right
now coming out of Germany that are playing really, really good music. Bands like
HammerFall, Sacred Steel, stuff like that. Theres a lot of stuff thats
happening.
MB: Oh, yeah.
Joey: Yeah, its real good. Its nice to see.
MB: I know you guys seem to portray the
image of modern day warriors from your song lyrics, album artwork, etc. Was that
your original plan to create that type of image?
Joey: Yeah. Our whole thing was always to
be something to people. To be able to appreciate us for being real, you know. And
we sort of feel like life is a battle, and every day you gotta kick ass totally.
MB: Do you think that makes it easier for
people to follow the band, makes it more interesting for them?
Joey: Well, I mean, you are either into it or
youre not, you know.
MB: Oh, yeah.
Joey: You are either into Metal or youre not.
MB: Oh, yeah.
Joey: For us, its always been question of
this is what we are. This is what we do. And if you like it, good. If not, go f**k yourself.
MB: I know you guys have a very large and
loyal fan base outside of the U.S., but in the U.S. the music industry seems to almost
ignore you in comparison. How much does it bother you that people in the U.S.
havent really heard of you while bands like Metallica get to play in sold out
arenas here in the States?
Joey: Well, you know, for us its always been
a question of we are not into compromising what we do. We play Metal pure, you
know. We dont play radio bullshit. We dont suck ass. So for us, thats the most
important thing.
MB: Oh, yeah.
Joey: Thats the most important thing,
period. So thats the story. I mean, if we were into money, we would be playing
happy love songs, you know. But thats not what were going to do.
MB: Do you think that the United States can
ever develop a Metal community like they have over in Europe?
Joey: I hope so. I hope so. Something has to
be done pretty soon.
MB: That would be nice.
Joey: It sure would. It really would.
MB: How do you guys go about writing most
of your music? I mean, whats your main inspiration? How do you put it all together?
Joey: We just blast. Thats it. We just plug in
and we blast. Thats our secret.
MB: Cool.
Joey: We just live the part of Metal, you
know. We are here to rock, drink, and f**k. And thats it. The power is in the music.
MB: Cool. Ive heard that outside of music
you guys are all into weightlifting, and that you are also into karate. Is that right?
Joey: Yeah, we are into working out. We are
into working at staying in shape. Which is having a good time. You know, if you are
going to party hard, you have to work hard.
MB: Thats for sure. Is that what you enjoy
most outside of music?
Joey: Well, you know, we like to live life.
Thats kind of what for us, thats the most important thing just be yourself. You
know, be happy. You just dont give anybody any shit. Dont take any shit. Be
yourself. Thats kind of how we live. Thats always been our platform. You know,
dont mess with anybody. Be your own. Be yourself.
MB: What is it that motivates you to keep
going, to keep touring, to keep writing new music?
Joey: Well, we just feel that there are people
out there that live for good hard music for True Metal, you know. And we cant let
the people down. Theyre our people. Theyre what were all about, you know.
MB: Oh, yeah.
Joey: You know what Im saying?
MB: Absolutely.
Joey: Thats what we live for.
MB: I know there have been a lot of bands
coming back lately after calling it quits. Bands like Exodus, Kreator,
etc. Do you feel that this is part of a resurgence? Do you feel that its good for
Metal to have these bands back and active? Or do you think that these bands are
just jumping back on the bandwagon because they feel that things are coming
around?
Joey: I dont know. I mean, Im not really
sure what they are into and what they are doing, you know. Who knows? You know
what I mean? I really dont know. And to be honest with you, I dont really care. Im
into what we are doing. Im into our fans. Im into our music. And everything else is
just unimportant to me.
MB: Yeah.
Joey: I cant change my focus and worry
about what these others are doing. Im here just to deliver power to the max, you
know. And melt peoples faces.
MB: Oh, yeah.
Joey: But thats our trip.
01.02.1998
This interview is taken from
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