1 - Tell us how your project(s) were started.
YETI started as
a project between me and my long time friend Jon Teague (drums), Eric Harris
on guitar, and the late Doug Ferguson on keyboards. Jon and I had jammed off
an on for several years, just bass and drums, when he wasnt working in actual
bands (I hadnt the money or transportation at the time to totally dedicate myself
to a band). Eventually, when his last band before us dissolved, we decided WE
were going to do something. We wanted to make music that was challenging to
both us and listeners. Music that was both heavy AND interesting.
2 - What does music, in it's entirety, mean to you?
It means just about everything to me. Just about everything I think and feel
comes back to music in some way shape or form. Any and all important moments
in my life I can relate to a particular album that was part of the experience.
When I'm not working or spending time with my wife, I'm working on music alone
or with the band. I listen to it at all other times, even when I sleep. It is
the central focus of my life, even to a spiritual degree. Its a way of communicating
things that words fail. Trying to bring out in sound what im FEELING. Catharsis
and exorcism are perfect words for it. As far as dislikes and what not, I can
tend to come off as a music Nazi. I have little patience for bandwagoners or
music with no balls. It doesnt even have to be heavy and loud. Nick Drake has
more balls and passion than most everything on the radio nowadays. Originality
is always a plus. Of course, influences happen and you will be affected by what
you listen to, but dont just be a carbon copy. Assimilate what you pick up.
Play what flows, challenge yourself, play what youre hearing in your head.
3 - What does art, in it's entirety, mean to you?
Dont listen to others as to what is or isnt art. Most art is masturbation to
impress professors and scholars. Art should be an expression of YOU, not of
theories and different schools. Tristan Tzara had this to say about "literature",
but I feel it applies to any "high" artform: "...a notebook of
human imbecility to aid future professors." Dont play their games. Art
should be magick, insightful, inciting...should be an expression of you. As
of right now, creation is the most important thing to me.
4 - Who is your
favorite author, and why?
William S Burroughs.
He pushed his sanity, body, and soul to points most of us will never see for
his art. He ignored any and all rules of art/literature because they stifled
what he was trying to say, what was coming out of him. He held nothing sacred,
even his own creations. He'd take work he'd spent forever on and cut it to pieces
to re combine it and see where it takes him. This devotion and ruthlessness
is to be admired in any artist.
5 - As your best
friend, describe yourself.
I'm generous, loyal,
honest, and willing to do pretty much anything for those I love.
6 - As your worst
enemy, describe yourself.
I'm frighteningly
moody and can be very abrasive. Can shut down at times and be difficult to communicate
with. I tend to hold grudges.
7 - If your persona were immortalized as a cartoon character, who would it be?
Probably Ren from Ren and Stimpy (like there's another Ren). His temper
reminds me of me.
8 - Do you think
there are conspiracies against the "everyday person"?
To an extent. I
think the Spectacle tries to keep us zombified with images that make us feel
inferior so that we buy more products to alleve this inferiority. Also, the
atrocity that is compulsive employment I think is one of the most terrible things
we've done to ourselves. Slaving away, trying to achieve that "freedom"
we're supposed to be rewarded with for contributing to society, when most of
us barely make enough to live on, much
less prepare for any kind of future. I honestly dont think Society wants us
to think, create, fuck, and love freely. it keeps us from buying and feeding
the beast.
9 - What do you
do with your spare or free time?
Aside from music,
I tend to read alot.
10 - Please give
us your interpretation of "the meaning of life".
I dont believe any of us are smart enough to know if there is a meaning to life, but I LEAN towards believing there isnt. This realization could easily lead (and has lead) someone towards nihilism, but I find it amazingly liberating. I've no afterlife to stifle my desires here for and I have no codes to preset codes of conduct to live up to. Of course, I choose my own codes....namely minding my own business and loving those around me and doing my best to not impede anyone else's path of choice.
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