Interviews

I've long admired Moonspell as one of the more thought-provoking bands in the Goth/Metal category. Being a fan of both styles, I've found them to embrace these qualities in equal installments throughout their near ten year existence. From the early stages where titles like "Irreligious" and "Wolfheart" reared a darker more aggressive presence, to the more risqué workings of "Sin Pecado" or industriousness of "The Butterfly Effect," they've never been one to creep in one place for too long. With "Darkness & Hope," many seemed to expect a "return" to their past, or maybe those comfortable confines that first gained ground in favor of recent bouts with experimentalism. During their recent pre-holiday U.S. club tour with label mates Lacuna Coil, I caught up with singer Fernando Ribiero in Brooklyn's famed L'Amour nightclub to gain his insights-of which there were many-on the bands' new record and a little about the conception and subsequent outcome of a Moonspell album. An equally agile speaker, what I came away with from their intellectually outspoken vocalist was both revealing and sometimes surprising

By Vinnie Apicella

Vinnie	I've been familiar with the band since your early going in the mid-90s and I've found that the music's gone through subtle changes up to now that have culminated with your later releases like "Sin Pecado" and "The Butterfly Effect." The new record comes across as more natural sounding to me and less exploratory. How would you align it with regards to your past work?
Fernando	"Darkness & Hope" is definitely not a sequel from any other record. I think it has a life of its own. We tried to tell a story and use different means to do this. We've always tried to write a song within a context and so far all of our albums and their contexts have been different. "Darkness" is what I define as a search for a more solid style of Moonspell. Coming from two highly experimental and risky records like "Sin Pecado" and "The Butterfly Effect," we felt the need to do a more classical styled album. This was not because of any pressure from the audience or label, but just because "Butterfly" seemed to represent for the band like five years in our careers. So we decided to go for a certain approach here-that's how "Darkness" was born. We can be released now from the obvious influences of the past and continue on our own style.
Vinnie	So you wouldn't say you've consciously written to go back to your roots, like much of the advance press seemed to indicate, but rather approached it as more of a "maturation" type process even if it comes across as more "natural" sounding as when the band first started out.
Fernando	Definitely. We are not a roots-obsessed band. I think if you want to use the image of a tree, there's much more than roots involved. There's leaves, fruits, branches so we try not to go the "back to the roots" path to our music. We want to go on a slow but sure revolution and tell the stories regardless of the means. We are a band that's never afraid of being adventurous people should always expect the unexpected.
Vinnie	Let's discuss a few of the tracks on the album. I particularly liked songs like "Firewalking," "Devilred," "Ghostsong" which possess the expected aggressive character but employ plenty of good hooks as well (At this point there's tons of yelling and screaming in the background where if we stood in the middle of Grand Central during rush hour I don't think it could've been any worse!)
Fernando	I think it's a solid record even though the songs do not repeat the structures of each other. It's a record that has a very linear style. For me, the record represents us very much right now. I think all Moonspell records have a little bit of this taste of eternity to them. (Here's the third time within ten minutes we've had to change location-now it's a matter of can we beat the clock before these guys go on-stage!) Songs like "Firewalking" and "There The Serpent In My Arms" are songs that really stand out very much for us. I think the Moonspell style is continued there and the balance and mixture between the melodic approach and volume, which "Darkness" has, are there throughout. We're a band that's obsessed about putting the right song with the right musical texture to the right lyrics. So when we listen to a song titled "Firewalking," we tried to utilize a frantic ambiance so that people could feel a little of the "firewalking" experiences there. For "Ghostsong," it's a very ethereal song-very phantasmagoric in a way and that's exactly the way we try to behave as musicians. Music for us is not only about feeding the ear but also the mind.
Vinnie	(Lacuna Coil, the opening act, blasts in the background as my train of thought slowly evaporates with every note that echoes forth from Christina's sultry voice). So what influences you as songwriters? You mention how you want the music to fit the lyrics so what inspires you then to write a song like that?
Fernando	We have a process in Moonspell that is a little bit weird. We don't work from zero point. Whenever we want to make an album or compose something what we do is have a chat within the band some red wine some peaceful ambiance and so then we know what we're talking about. I present my lyrical ideas, the band presents musical ideas and then the rest is left to our chemistry. Moonspell does conceptual music and the song has to come across with the message so for that moment in the beginning, the discussions are vital for the band.
Vinnie	And so as a band, where have you drawn your influences? What inspired Moonspell to be what it is?
Fernando	We've always flirted between Metal music and Darkwave and Gothic which were all very heavy in Germany in the mid - 90s. And actually it seems like not only Moonspell but a lot of other bands were progressing into this area at the time. I really love Metal music-for me it's the music that tells me the most. Especially bands that were like the pre-Heavy Metal bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath because they always tried to have a visual competence into their music. Of course we've had our share of influences since the beginning-bands like Bathory and Celtic Frost; the underground stuff was very inspirational for us. Then we started listening to some other bands that were more New Wave like the Mission UK, Sisters of Mercy, and especially Fields of the Nephilim. So that's the stuff that definitely brought out some of our musical influences.
Vinnie	And you as a singer?
Fernando	I use someone like Jim Morrison as a model-which is to make the perfect fusion between poetry and music. I don't try to write lyrics for Moonspell just for the sake of singing them, there's also got to be a definite musical path to them. My influences are merely drawn from French poetry or occult poetry. I'm a compulsive writer and occasionally I write to create my own character and my own messages through my own lyrics.
Vinnie	(The background noise has gotten beyond deafening-it's a miracle the rest of this made it onto tape, but alas, a new method of interviewing results in the interviewee actually taking the recorder and "vocalizing" into it as though it were a mic and it worked quite well!) I thought your cover of "Mr. Crowley" was unusual to say the least I figured maybe an old Bauhaus tune or something more in line with your own style. Why the Ozzy cover?
Fernando	Well I would say I prefer Ozzy ten times more than Bauhaus! (Laughs) Especially because it's an Ozzy song but for this one, we wouldn't have covered any other song from him cause I think in my opinion it's his best song ever. This song has a special vibe to it a special mood and atmosphere. And then because it's about Alistair Crowley, which is like a reference for people a little bit interested and involved in Occultism. I thought we could maintain certain elements of the original magic and add our own touch to it. That's usually how we approach covers. We've done stuff from Depeche Mode and Joy Division because they're songs we think can be worked. But we'll never make a big "hit" song as a cover version because there should be room for you to put your own signature and personality there. So I think this came across really well.
Vinnie	It fits in with that "expect the unexpected" statement you mentioned earlier. As usual, "Darkness" features a lyricism/imagery tie in that fits with your "music for the mind" suggestion. Is there a symbolism involved here as well?
Fernando	We had an imaginary world to portray with "Darkness" with the characters like "Nocturna" and "Firewalker" and we were looking for artists and accepting submissions for the designs. The great final artwork was created by a Polish artist whose work was totally in line with our ideas. It was a case of him putting into "flesh" what we put into words. At first it was a coincidence and on the other hand it was very dignifying for us to have a person that loves the music and to do it not only professionally but also as a follower of the band.
Vinnie	So your impulsive nature as a band has been documented with your continued use of captivating storylines and visual textures. For Moonspell, is this a character trait of progression or advancement where you'll keep looking forward or do you risk losing your identity maybe as a band to the fans in so doing?
Fernando	We call it enthusiasm. When we first formed the band we wanted to provoke on others the reaction certain bands did for us. We wanted to taste a little of the poison of being creators of something. For the new record we're not thinking in terms of any previous Moonspell records because even if we're dishonest with our audience-by doing a "Wolfheart Part II" or something-and play it safe, we'll be deserving ourselves as a band and limiting ourselves. If something doesn't represent us anymore we won't do it because we'll lose that enthusiasm. We are a very reckless band and never fully satisfied with what we've done.
Vinnie	Describe what it's like to be a Portuguese band in an arena heavily dominated by European and Scandinavian groups.
Fernando	We have a big following back home. We chart in Portugal and we're on television and all that. There is a scene in Portugal of course but we're not the first Metal band coming out of there. We are maybe the sole example of having an international career though and being able to play with big international names. I think there are a lot of good bands there and a culture that is unknown to a majority of the people. Portugal is our oxygen-it's where we compose all our music and it's a big inspiration for us. But then again there's a bit of a smallness problem there it's one of the least "Rock" music type countries. But we never thought this would be a handicap for us but rather an advantage to be very exotic and original.
Vinnie	What are some of your greatest moments or memories since you first began?
Fernando	I regard very much when we supported Type-O Negative in Europe. It was a great tour and very important for our growing in Europe. As far as this tour is going, it's a bit strange yet. It's our first headlining experience and it's very tough to headline the states. We have a very good support band, Lacuna Coil, and I think overall it's a very interesting package. Of course we're still very much on an underground level but it's our third time here now and I hope we can see some more results. We've done big festivals like The Dynamo, which was very big for us. We've sold out big coliseums alongside bands like Rammstein and Smashing Pumpkins-so we're talking about 4,000 people who've come out to see only us in the past and that was unbelievable. There are a lot of very good experiences for us. We are definitely a live band, which I know everybody says that, but I remember when we released "Wolfheart" and people were like, "whatever" But when we played live supporting Morbid Angel in Europe we really grew and felt like we were going somewhere.
Vinnie	Considering that you're more or less interviewing yourself at this point with all the background noise, why don't you address a question you've always thought to be asked and hadn't received yet?
Fernando	Well I think I've been asked everything so far. My stand for interviews is that if you take the time to do them, you have to do them properly. By this I mean you have to inform people and also be a little creative. So I have a lot of things to say anyway. But I think everything's been pretty well covered. I'm happy that people ask a lot about the lyrics, which isn't always very common and then about our cultural background as well. So to ask myself something, I wouldn't know what (Laughs).

The Gauntlet: How did Mushroomhead decide on Universal Records as the label to sign to?

J.Mann: When Universal approached us we were very apprehensive, but once we sat down and talked to them they weren't the corporate monster we thought they'd be. They were into the music and letting us maintain creative control and they also let us keep our publishing and merchandise. Great distribution. It was a deal we couldn't pass up.

The Gauntlet: Mushroomhead has always held firm to being a very independent band, has this independence changed now that you are on a major? What sort of effect has it had on the band members lives?

J.Mann: In the past the band was independent out of necessity. After nine years of being independent we felt like we took it as far as we could on our own. So it was either take a step up or stop. As for the effect on our lives I think we are all a lot busier.

The Gauntlet: Your band is no virgin to success, but were you surprised with the latest chart numbers for the re-release of XX? Hitting #26 on the Billboard Alternative New Artist chart is impressive, and radio stations across the country are on fire with requests for Solitaire Unraveling...have you expected that people were just waiting for a band such as Mushroomhead to come along, or was this a major surprise?

J.Mann: I don't know if we were surprised but we were definitely pleased. It's nice to see the record get the push we always thought it deserved.

The Gauntlet: You recently recorded a brand new song for the Scorpion King soundtrack. Can you talk about it, as in the title, how it sounds compared to XX, lyrical content?

J.Mann: The song is called "Along The Way" and it definitely sticks to our style but we also added things to fit the concept of the movie. We were just excited to record something new.

The Gauntlet: There was been rampant debate concerning a recent story that mblzine.com broke concerning the band and former label Eclipse Records. I don't wish to go in detail, as it is really a private matter, but has anything been resolved since the story emerged?

J.Mann: Nothing is resolved yet but things are in the works. That story was ridiculous they printed contracts that were rough drafts that the band never signed. That whole article is based around a contract we never signed.

The Gauntlet: On a related note, now that Mushroomhead are on a major label, people seem to want to draw out negative stories to harm you. What are your feelings on these certain individuals that don't understand privacy?

J.Mann: Unfortunately it's the price you pay in the business. If shit is flying about you, you must be doing something right. The only bands I ever hear people talk shit about are platinum so if that's the trend I hope people talk mad shit about us.

The Gauntlet: The re-release of XX had 3 new songs that weren't featured on the Eclipse release, why? How come Epiphany was removed?

J.Mann: Universal wanted to add the extra songs to make it a better value. As for taking off "Epiphany", we recorded that on a home studio instead of 2 inch tape so when it came to Toby Wright to remix the album he couldn't remix that song because of the format it was on so it was dropped because Universal wanted the entire album remixed by Toby.

The Gauntlet: How did the band come to choose Empty Spaces as a song to cover? Would you wish to see it released as a single, why or why not?

J.Mann: We chose that song because Roger Waters is a great songwriter and it's from the highly conceptual movie/album The Wall. It fit with the sound and look of the band. I think it's too short to be a single though.

The Gauntlet: You're about to begin your own headlining tour, with Lamb of God, Five Pointe 0. Did you expect to have your own headlining tour so quickly after releasing the album through Universal? What do you have planned for the stage?

J.Mann: Actually were a little shocked to be headlining so soon. This is the biggest tour we've ever done so it will be challenging but we're all looking forward to it.

The Gauntlet: During the Summer/Fall of 2001 you had the chance to tour with WASP and Dog Fashion Disco, and had the opportunity to play in areas you had never been to before. Looking back, do you believe it was beneficial to go out on the tour, and expose the band to so many new areas?

J.Mann: Absolutely. Although we didn't fit that well with WASP it was definitely beneficial. We played a lot of new places, met some cool people, and forged some new friendships (Dog Fashion Disco).

The Gauntlet: Rumor has it you will be heading overseas to tour Europe/UK with Hatebreed and Flaw. Can you confirm this? If yes, the line-up seems quite diverse, how was this arranged? Are you looking forward to spreading your music in other countries?

J.Mann: I'm not sure if it's confirmed. All three bands are on Universal so it's not that strange and I think all three bands were to take turns headlining. But like I said it's not confirmed. I'm a big Hatebreed fan so it would be cool.

The Gauntlet: I'm sure this is a very common question, but I have to ask: Why the costumes? Are you worried some may toss you aside as just another "gimmick"?

J.Mann: When we formed the band it was a side project and we were all in other bands. We started wearing masks so we wouldn't be recognized from our other projects and we didn't want the to be any preconceptions about this project because it was a very different animal from what we were all doing.

The Gauntlet: Mushroomhead are well known for your outrageous live shows. What are some of the craziest moments you can recall while playing live?

J.Mann: Most of the truly outrageous stuff comes from the audience. We've had naked girls run on stage, people start having sex on stage, people have seizures from the strobes, band member injuries, I think Bronson holds the record with like 65 stitches.

The Gauntlet: Mushroomhead was arguably the biggest band in Cleveland for the past few years. Now that you have made a name for yourself on the national scene, what are a few bands from your hometown that you'd like to see earn some exposure?

J.Mann: Runt, Ringworm, Keelhaul, Cold Hand Of Christ, Forever Untouched, Holy Ghost, Schnauzer, NDE, and Chimaira (Roadrunner) and Sw1tched who both recently signed and released records

The Gauntlet: You happen to have a wide array of side projects, most recently I read about The Altar Boys with members of DFD, Pro-pain, etc. While Mushroomhead are first and foremost, do you plan on elaborating more with those projects such as Altar Boys or Runt? Will the band continue to release material through your independent record label for these acts?

J.Mann: We're going to continue with other projects as long as we can and we hope to find distribution for our record label SMDC to release our other projects as well as other Cleveland bands. For more information go to www.smdcrecords.com

The Gauntlet: Following up on the Altar Boys side project, members recently recording material in the studio. What's the material sound like, and what plans are there for releasing this?

J.Mann: The record is almost done. We're not sure if we're going to release on SMDC or if we're going to shop it. I wouldn't know where to begin describing what it sounds like, but there should be an mp3 up on the SMDC site very soon so you can decide for yourself.

The Gauntlet: Many groups take the opportunity of being signed to re-release past albums. Is this a plan for older Mushroomhead albums, further down the road?

J.Mann: Actually all of our prior release are currently in print and available at all of our shows, we hope to have the store on our website up soon, they will be available there as well.

The Gauntlet: Any final words/rants/opinions you'd like to express to those fans reading?

J.Mann: Thanks for your time and attention. We look forward to seeing everyone on the road soon. Take care.