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When I was about seventeen I read that Justin Broadrick from Godflesh was a fan of the band Whitehouse. This made me run out and buy "Thank Your Lucky Stars". At first I didn't know what to think. Then as I started hearing earlier WH recordings like "Great White Death" they became one of my favorite bands.

As far as wanting to create power electronics, it just seemed like the logical thing for me to do. I was involved in an experimental project called Torture Chamber around 1993 or so. That band had some songs that were on the verge of being power electronics. Then in 1995 or so my close friend Mark Solotroff asked me to do "something" for his new label Bloodlust. That prompted the first Deathpile recordings.

Q: SO, YOU STARTED DEATHPILE BECAUSE MARK SOLOTROFF ASKED YOU TO DO SOMETHING FOR BLOODLUST. DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE FORMED DEATHPILE, HAD YOU NOT HAD THE OFFER FROM BLOODLUST? OR DID THAT JUST SPEED THINGS UP A BIT?

It's hard to say. I had already done the project Torture Chamber that could have evolved into Power electronics - you never know. Mark's enthusiasm did definitely inspire me.

2. DO YOU FIND THAT BY DOING POWER ELECTRONICS AND DEALING WITH SUCH HEAVY TOPICS THAT IS HELPS SATISFY ANY URGES YOU MAY HAVE?

That's the whole point.

Q: BEFORE YOU STARTED DOING POWER ELECTRONICS, HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH YOUR URGES?

Masturbation

3. THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DEBATE OVER WHAT THE TERM POWER ELECTRONICS MEANS. WHAT DOES POWER ELECTRONICS MEAN TO YOU? ARE VOCALS NECESSARY? WHO DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE POWER ELECTRONICS BANDS?

Non-rhythmic noise with vocals and extreme subject matter. Vocals are necessary in order to be considered power electronics. Noise without vocals is just boring. There's nothing to latch onto. Bands: Bloodyminded, Taint, Slogun, Whorebutcher, Atrax Morgue, Stahlnetz... there's more I'm sure that just aren't coming to mind.

4. GIVEN SOME OF THE SUBJECTS YOU USE IN YOUR SONGS, I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE THINK ABOUT IT. (MOTHERS, SISTERS, FEMALE-FRIENDS, GIRLFRIENDS / WIVES) DO THEY SUPPORT IT? HATE IT? IGNORE IT? OR DO YOU KEEP THAT SIDE OF YOU TO YOURSELF AND NOT LET THEM KNOW ABOUT IT?

My mom isn't in the know. I think she'd have a heart attack if she knew the whole story on Deathpile and some of my more unconventional sexual practices. Girlfriends always know about it from the get go. Before I ever formed DP I had relationships end due to my interests and obsessions coming to light. I've learned it's best to be up front about everything.

Q: DID YOU FIND THAT PRE-DEATHPILE YOU WERE KEEPING YOUR INTERESTS / OBSESSIONS HIDDEN FROM YOUR FORMER GIRLFRIENDS EVEN IF ON A SUBCONSCIOUS LEVEL? IS IT HARD TO BE UP FRONT ABOUT EVERYTHING? OR DO YOU FIND IT MAKES THINGS EASIER REGARDING THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX?

I've been pretty up front about my tastes since I was about 22 or so (I'm 29 now). I learned that to try to hide or deny that I'm interested in extreme PORNOGRAPHY and serial murder, etc is a bad idea. If a woman can't respect that I have extreme tastes yet I'm a well-adjusted person than I don't want anything to do with her.

Q: IS IT EASY FOR YOU TO CONSIDER YOURSELF A WELL ADJUSTED PERSON? OR DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH YOUR EXTREME TASTE FROM TIME TO TIME.

Sometimes I have my doubts. There have been periods in my life where I felt there was something wrong with me. I just came to terms with the fact that I may have some bizarre tastes but I'm educated, I can hold down a job I love, and I don't hurt anyone unless they ask me to. That's more than some can say for themselves.

5. ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH ANY WOMEN AT THE MOMENT ON A ROMANTIC / BOYFRIEND-GIRLFRIEND LEVEL? MARRIED? AND IF SO, HOW MUCH OF YOUR INTEREST IN EXTREME CULTURE FILTERS ITSELF INTO THE RELATIONSHIP YOU ARE IN? IF NOT, DO YOU FEEL THAT SOME OF THINGS YOU ARE INTO HINDER YOU FROM HAVING "NORMAL" RELATIONSHIPS WITH WOMEN?

I just got out of a very healthy long-term relationship that ended on good terms. At the moment I'm dating a girl that's actually a big enthusiast of power electronics and all things extreme. As far as the extreme culture filtering in - it depends on the girl. Sometimes a lot filters in sometimes not much.

Q: I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT THE AMOUNT OF EXTREME THINGS FILTERING IN TO YOUR RELATIONSHIPS DEPENDS ON THE GIRL YOU ARE WITH. SO, DO YOU HINDER YOURSELF AND TASTES TO FIT YOUR GIRLFRIENDS NEEDS INSTEAD OF YOUR OWN?

In the last few years I haven't felt the need to hinder myself around women very much. Normally a girl will know what she's getting into when involving herself with me because I'm very open. I feel like I'm lying to myself if I am not honest about my interests.

I'M SURE YOU'VE COME INTO CONTACT WITH SOME WOMEN THAT AFTER LEARNING ABOUT YOUR INTEREST WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU. IS IT EASY FOR YOU TO MOVE ON?

Yeah. I don't have time to waste on women with inferior tastes.

6. HOW MUCH OF YOUR EXTREME PREDILECTIONS MANIFEST THEMSELVES INTO YOUR DAILY LIFE?

I'm the art director for a death/grind record company if that answers your question.

Q: SO IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE YOU ENCOUNTER EXTREME THINGS ON A DAILY BASIS? WHAT ABOUT IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE?

Both. I've created a situation where I can be myself almost all the time - it's nice. I think most people don't have that luxury.

7. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF THERE WAS A MOVEMENT OF FEMALE POWER ELECTRONIC BANDS / ARTISTS THAT WROTE SONGS ABOUT MEN?

That would be great. I really enjoyed most of the tracks on "Extreme Music from Women" and I've been a big Diamanda Galas fan for many years. I can't see running out to buy a CD where women were screaming about dominating men. But that's the same reason I don't watch videos of females "on top". You never know though. DP once played with the Eugenics Council. Rosemary and Dustin stayed at my house - she's great.

Q: DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD ENJOY THE EMFW CD? OR WERE YOU PREPARED TO HATE IT? IF YOU CAN THINK OF ANY, WHICH TRACKS STOOD OUT ON THAT COMP?

I was prepared to hate it. I haven't listened to it enough to point out specific tracks that stand out aside from Rosemary Malign - her track is excellent. Let's just say I think EMFW is a pleasant surprise and a good compilation.

Q: IF YOU WERE PREPARED TO HATE THE COMP WHY DID YOU GET A COPY / LISTEN TO IT? WHERE YOU PREPARED TO HATE IT BECAUSE IT WAS A BUNCH OF WOMEN? OR WERE YOU PREPARED TO HATE IT BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT IT?

It was a present from my current girlfriend oddly enough. I was going to buy it though as I'm a completeist when it comes to Susan Lawly. I find that Mr. Bennett has good taste when it comes to what he releases. Yes, I was prepared to hate it because it was a bunch of women. I find that women in music just plain suck 99% of the time just like female comedians. I do enjoy the following female performers (or bands with women in them) amongst the remaining 1%: 13, Cranes, Lockweld, Diamanda Galas, P.J. Harvey, Mythic, Jarboe, Nausea, Dead Can Dance, 27, early Love Spirals Downwards, C.C.C.C. (I've got a thing for Mayuko), Lydia Lunch - I'm probably forgetting some others.

8. DO YOU FIND THAT YOU GET UNNECESSARY RIDICULE FROM THE MORE ACADEMIC NOISE CROWD FOR TOUCHING ON THE SUBJECTS THAT YOU DO?

Yes, but people always BITCH about things they don't care to understand.

9. I RECALL READING ABOUT A CONTROL SHOW THAT WAS NOT WELL RECEIVED BY MANY PEOPLE DUE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE FILMS HE WAS SHOWING IN THE BACKGROUND. WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ON PEOPLE THAT CAN'T HANDLE THAT SORT OF IMAGERY?

Don't watch. I don't sit and watch religious television because it infuriates me - it's the same thing.

10. IN REGARDS TO THE LAST QUESTION, THERE WERE PEOPLE COMPLAINING THAT THE PROMOTER OF THE SHOW SHOULD HAVE GIVEN A FAIR WARNING TO THE AUDIENCE ABOUT THE FILMS THAT WERE GOING TO BE SHOWN. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS? DO YOU FEEL THAT'S A FORM OF CENSORSHIP OR MORE OF A DISCLAIMER? HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF A PROMOTER WANTED TO CENSOR ONE OF YOUR SHOWS?

If these people consider themselves adult they should have the sense to not look at the fucking videos. No one should have to give warning. This is extreme music - what the fuck do they expect? I wouldn't play a show where the promoter would ask me to do/not do anything I normally would. Then again, I quit using videos for live performances over five years ago. I discovered that people focus on the video and not the performance itself.

Q: YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT PE WITHOUT VOCALS IS BORING; DON'T YOU THINK THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR LIVE PERFORMANCES? THEY'D BE BORING WITH OUT SOME SORT OF OUTSIDE STIMULI? WHETHER THAT IS VIDEO'S, VOCALISTS, PERFORMANCE ART, ETC? WHAT TYPES OF VIDEOS DID YOU USE?

Yes, the same can be said for live shows. It just depends on the talent of the performers. No frills are necessary if the band is good enough. I saw Swans live three times (and Angels of Light once - amazing!!!). They used only minimal lighting but I would rank those as among the best concerts I've ever seen.

The video I used was extreme pornography intercut with real footage of death and violence. It caused quite a stir but totally distracted the audience.

11. WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS OF WOMEN THAT DO NOISE? OR IF A WOMAN WANTED TO DO A POWER ELECTRONICS BAND? DO YOU THINK WOMEN AREN'T CAPABLE OF DOING POWER ELECTRONICS? THAT'S IT'S AN "OLD BOYS CLUB" SORT OF THING?

I have no problem with women that do noise. Female power electronics sounds good to me as well. That could be a really disturbing (in a good way) spin on the standard male perspective. I never believe in sticking to groups. On the other hand, Slogun, Bloodyminded, and Deathpile seem like a little clique of our own sometimes. We're all good friends.

12. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WOMEN THAT ENJOY LISTENING TO POWER ELECTRONICS WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER? DO YOU KNOW ANY WOMEN THAT DO ENJOY IT?

As I said above I am dating a girl that enjoys power electronics and the subject matter. I've met a few women over the years that specifically like Whitehouse but it's an understandably rare occurrence.

Q: DO YOU FIND IT ODD THAT SOME WOMEN ENJOY PE AND THE SUBJECT MATTER?

It's no stranger than women that enjoy rough sex or being dominated by men.

13. DO YOU PERSONALLY KNOW ANY WOMEN THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH CREATING NOISE? IF SO, DO YOU FEEL THAT THEY ARE AN EQUAL IN REGARDS TO CREATING MUSIC OR NO?

I don't really know any well enough to comment.

14. WOULD YOU OR HAVE YOU EVER COLLABORATED WITH A WOMAN.

Sure I would in the future. The closest I've come to collaborating was in 1997. I used an audio recording of an s/m session I had with a girl on a DP track a few years ago. She knew I was going to use it and was agreeable.

Q: WHAT RELEASE IS THAT ON?

It's on a cassette box set called "Listen and Die". Slaughter Productions released that in 1998 or so. My material was along side other bands like Taint, Slogun, Surgical Stainless Steel, and Atrax Morgue.

15. WITH THE RELEASE OF THE EXTREME MUSIC FROM WOMEN CD AND THE SIRENS LP - DO YOU FEEL THAT THERE IS TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON WOMEN DOING NOISE THESE DAYS? PEOPLE MAKING TOO MUCH OF A BIG DEAL OF IT?

I don't think there's been enough emphasis on it. I'm pretty sure women in noise are not very wide spread.

16. WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR INFLUENCES?

Ted Bundy, Peter Sutcliffe, Edmund Kemper, Fred West, Zodiac, Paul Bernardo and The Green River Killer.

Q: IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU MENTIONED ALL (SERIAL) KILLERS. BESIDES THE ABOVE MENTIONED, WHO ELSE OR WHAT ELSE INFLUENCES YOUR MUSIC? (MUSIC OR NO MUSIC RELATED)

Music: Throbbing Gristle, SPK, obviously Whitehouse, early Slayer.

17. WHAT ARE YOUR LIVE PERFORMANCES LIKE? DO YOU GET CONFRONTATIONAL WITH THE CROWD? ARE YOU OUT TO INTIMIDATE THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS?

I've tried to confront the audience before but usually they just back away from the stage. Intimidation is part of it I suppose. It's important to make it less of a performance and more of an interaction on some level. That sadly does not occur often enough.

18. WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A MISOGYNIST?

Yes I do. I prefer the company of men except when it comes to sex. I tend to judge women more harshly than men and get annoyed more easily. I've been that way for as long as I can remember. Also the idea of women as victims of violence, primarily in a SXL way, has always been intensely stimulating to me. I can't really dissect why that is because I've just always felt that way. And, no there was no trauma or abuse in my childhood.

Q: HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR GIRLFRIEND WOULD REACT TO THIS ANSWER? BEING A MISOGYNIST, DOESN'T THAT MAKE FINDING A GIRLFRIEND DIFFICULT? OUR "WOMEN AS VICTIMS" ANSWER MAKES ME WONDER HOW YOU WOULD FEEL IF SOMEONE YOU WERE CLOSE TO (MOTHER, SISTER, GIRLFRIEND, FRIEND...) WERE A VICTIM OF SOME SUCH CRIME LIKE THE ONES YOU MENTIONED ABOVE. ESPECIALLY A GIRLFRIEND, SINCE YOU ARE IN A SEAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HER. I'M SURE YOU'D FEEL SYMPATHY BUT DO YOU THINK IT WOULD STIMULATE YOU AS WELL?

She knows I'm a misogynist. Yes finding a girlfriend is difficult sometimes. I usually only get along with girls that prefer the company of men as well.

Obviously I would be upset by anything bad happening to a close female relation. If I was stimulated by a situation like that I'd be a little worried about my mental state.

19. HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS FROM WOMEN REGARDING YOUR MUSIC? IF SO, HOW DID THEY REACT? AND IN RETURN, HOW DID YOU REACT?

Nothing aside from women leaving the room during a performance or saying something negative to a friend.

Q: DOES THIS REACTION BOTHER YOU? OR IS IT SOMETHING YOU PREFER? SHOULD WOMEN LIKE DEATHPILE?

No, it doesn't bother me. A confrontation would be interesting. Little girls should like Deathpile.

20. WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON? ANY RELEASES IN THE WORKS? SHOWS? ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO PROMOTE?

Recently a split CDR between Deathpile and the band Whorebutcher was released on Slaughter Productions. Deathpile will be on an upcoming compilation called "At the End of the Rope". That should be available sometime in early 2003 (as of 12/03 it looks more like early to mid 2005 for this comp to be released -JPC). Right now IÕm working on a full-length Deathpile CD for Hospital Productions that will also be released in early 2003.

Q: KEITH FROM TAINT MENTIONED THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE ON A COMP THAT THE HE RELEASING CALLED "PORNOGRAPHY HURTS". CARE TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR TRACK?

I did a song called "Porn Victim / Born Victim" about Linda Lovelace. Her story is very interesting. I highly recommend her book "Ordeal".

back to malsonus.com | DEATHPILE home | what is DEATHPILE / malsonus.com? | news archive | discography | MP3 | store | related projects | links | contact