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METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello Anton. So glad to be catching up with you. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us here at Metal Pulp And Paper. We appreciate it.
ANTON ROTHIG: So, do we. Really cool to do an interview that’s a little different to the usual stuff.
MPAP: How are you doing?
ANTON: Times being extremely exciting in every way at the moment. The band is very busy since Into Cascades Of Blood And Burning Soil, our 5th album, was released in April. So, I can’t complain, haha.
MPAP: Now give us a little run down about your band and what we need to know, and especially tell us if you have any new music coming out or any tour announcements you can share here?
ANTON: Profanation formed back in 1997, aiming to unleash something brutal. Through the years and line-up changes, we developed our own mix of Death Metal and Grindcore. Always hailing the great forerunners of the 90s, but also adding new influences now and then. Our latest album got great reception and was reviewed as our most Death Metal record. Sometimes I get the impression, old school Deathers find we are extremely technical while Tech Death fans think we’re very much old school, haha. Current line-up is Alex (guitar/vocals), Vincent (guitar), Anton (bass) and Luxl (drums) with Flo doing most of the vocal duties but he’s no permanent member, yet. Talking of new music, we already have something in the works and might go to studio again next year. At the moment we play more gigs than ever, and will do a short tour with Hypnos and Tortharry in November, playing one gig in our hometown Görlitz and three in Poland. Have to thank Przemek here, the owner of Mad Lion Records. In December, we will go the Netherlands for the first time and in the future, we hope to keep the flow of live dates consistent.
MPAP: So, for anyone new to this, we changed things up and are doing something different. We've pulled some recent headlines from the Metal Injection website and get reactions and comments on them from bands all over the world. We did this last month, with different headlines, of course, and it was fun to read each group's different answers. So, please place your seat backs and tray tables in the upright position, and hang on, here we go again.
1. Granny Caught Rocking Out To Slipknot
MPAP: At a recent Knotfest show an elderly woman, even with her cane in hand, is caught on video rocking out to Slipknot. The story doesn’t mention her age, but I would say she’s in the prime of at least her 70s. What do you think of granny rocking out to Slipknot? Have you ever seen any older folks rocking out at any of your shows before? And bonus points, if we were keeping score, have you had any of your grandparents at any of your shows before?
ANTON: Must say, through Facebook I’m familiar with most of these headlines. Mostly feeling like reading Yellow Press. Who gives a fuck for shit like this, haha? But towards the Slipknot granny, I don’t think this is something spectacular. Quite often seeing elderly Metal fans on Death Metal festivals we play. This whole thing shows two things: Rock music is around for decades now and the fans grew older and Slipknot is a pretty old band now. Second: You’re never too old to have a great time with music you love. Can’t receive some bonus points, as my grandparents are all dead now and never made it to a show.
2. Metal Guitarist Too Young To Play Bar Plays Outside With Wireless System Instead
MPAP: The band Ancient Burials had a bit of a dilemma when they played a show at the Hawthorne Theatre in Portland, Oregon. Their guitarist was underage and not allowed into the bar to play. Some places will mark your hand with an 'X' identifying you’re a minor and let you play. Not the Hawthorne Theatre with Oregon’s liquor laws. So, instead of them canceling the show, fellow bandmates Paradigm Shift hooked him up with a wireless pack, and he went outside and played. The bar had an open window so you could see the band playing inside and he was outside shredding it out on the street. It’s a great video to watch.
ANTON: That’s definitely a cool story, also showing there’s always a way to rock out, you just need to be inventive. Also have a cool story here, some years ago we were to play support for some Hard Rock band at a village fair. They had to cancel their show, so only we were there. When we soundchecked, the villagers were shocked by our pretty extreme 'Hard Rock'. So, a lot of discussion got us the ok to play 30 minutes with most of the people standing in the back telling the soundman to turn down the volume. Was real fun to play there knowing most of the audience hate you, haha.
3. Comedian Gilbert Gottfried Reveals Himself As Slipknot’s Tortilla Man
MPAP: Obviously, someone brilliant out there got him to announce that, probably on one of those Celebrity Cameos or something. In all seriousness, does it even matter who Tortilla Man is? And why do you think Slipknot is so strict on revealing who new band members are? They had this previous issue when Paul Gray passed away and was replaced by Alessandro Venturella, and also when Jay Weinberg replaced Joey Jordison.
ANTON: This is quite honorable for Slipknot, if a comedian thinks they’re big enough to expand his audience with this joke. I see no problem with Slipknot living off their image here, as it’s one thing that helped them to become a unique and major player in rock business. So, hats-off to them for having this idea, and there’s no issue at all when fans spend a lot of time thinking about your band and wanting to reveal who the members are.
4. These Post Malone Fans Are Just Hearing About Ozzy For The First Time Thanks To New Collaboration
MPAP: Recently Post Malone recorded a song called "Take What You Want," and it featured Ozzy Osbourne. Honestly, it’s not a lousy collaboration between the two. Wasn’t expecting it to be a good song. Anyways, what gets me is some people, mainly his fans were saying thanks to Post Malone he just gave this Ozzy guy a career. They obviously have no idea! Even back in 2015, it was almost the same thing, Kayne West did a song with Paul McCartney, and Kayne’s fans were saying Kayne just gave Paul a career in the music business. Really c’mon? So, my question is, should the history of music be taught in school or something? Shouldn’t the younger generation know who Ozzy Osbourne and Paul McCartney are?
ANTON: That’s tough. Clearly shows, that if you made it big in one generation, doesn’t mean you keep your status some generations further. And it’s definitely the dilemma of modern times, where your status depends so much on the presence in any media and not so much on the quality of your art. Today you have a million bands around, with only a handful reaching wider audiences and a huge impact here has marketing. Teaching the history of Rock in school will take its place there and we’ll see who is added. Who knows, if Beethoven or Mozart were the prime composers in their age, but they were the ones whose music survived generations. So only time will tell, if Ozzy and Paul survive.
5. Sabaton Involved In 'Serious Traffic Accident' In Tunisia, Cancel Tonight’s Show
MPAP: Luckily everyone is ok now, but do you have any scary tour bus accident stories that you can share with us? Or, if no accidents, any close calls where you thought you might die?
ANTON: Even if I can’t stand their music, I wish they recover completely. Luckily, we didn’t have to face this kind of accident by now. Apart from some smaller crash, or some microsleep encounters driving back from a gig, there’s not much to tell here.
6. Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg: The Effects of Climate Change Are Undeniable
MPAP: Some say there is no such thing as climate change, or some say it is getting better. Both sides of the party point fingers at each other. Even back in February of this year, Ocasio-Cortez, the 29-year-old democratic socialist, wanted us to get to the point of where air travel would stop becoming necessary, and believes farting cows are responsible for the climate change and we need to get rid of them. What are your thoughts on climate change?
ANTON: This is the most enraging question at the moment and the discussions are quite pointless with every side putting in their 'experts' who clearly support the intended story. This all is becoming some kind of religious war and shows us that mankind hasn’t developed that much since the Middle Ages. The problem is, we’re talking of natural phenomenon’s here and apocalyptic pictures are the daily bread of our media. Yes, we have to care more about our environment and how we manage the resources earth is giving us. I think, this is common sense even for deniers or supporters of the climate change idea. In my view, the fear of climate change is used to bring forth changes on our societies. This can lead to good or bad results and no one can foresee this. In the past, these changes were often made through wars and you can definitely say, we’re approaching these themes like going to war. All will depend on the fact, if we can improve social justice going through those changes. If all the ideas, like taxing carbon dioxide or e-mobility will have an effect on climate, who knows. They will take place and change our way of life. Can only hope we’re changing to the better. Wrote lyrics about this theme, too, just check out the title track of our album.
7. Nicole Kidman Attended An Iron Maiden Show with Her Husband, Keith Urban
MPAP: Never would have expected that couple to be into Iron Maiden, but still cool either way. It’s good to know that music can reach anyone. So, have you ever had anyone famous that you know of attend one of your shows? If not, who would you like to leave a ticket for at will call to come to your next show?
ANTON: This is 1000% Yellow Press! Who fuckin' cares? Same as Cannibal Corpse and Jim Carrey, shouldn’t surprise anyone that some 'stars' have good taste… Seen Iron Maiden too, and they’re awesome live and one of my all-time faves. I care for anyone coming out to our shows no matter how 'famous' they are.
8. Yellowstone Police Are Using AC/DC To Clear Bison Off The Road
MPAP: In our previous headlines feature Metallica was blasted to scare away a cougar, and now bison are being blasted by AC/DC. It makes you think, what animal is next, and then how long until the animal kingdom doesn’t put up with this anymore and revolts against humans?
ANTON: They should use some not so famous bands and help to promote them. Senseless stories, really. Clickbait to gain some views of Metallica or AC/DC fans. Can only hope an elephant smashes the Metal Injection writer’s keyboard next time he’s thinking of new bullshit.
9. Vinyl On Pace To Outsell CDs in 2019
MPAP: Buying albums seems to be the trendy hip thing it looks like again. Since streaming services are the popular norm, it’s good that records are making a comeback, but sad in a way, because CDs will become extinct.
ANTON: This is an interesting development and shows that physicals today are more and more only a collector’s item. And the cover looks so much better on a vinyl release. Nevertheless, there will always be people that want to support their artists and luckily, a lot of metal fans are very old school which leads to higher chart positions of metal releases. There’s even tapes getting a revival today, so no need to fear the extinction of the CD, haha.
10. Dude Who Tried To Swim Back Into Slayer Show After Being Ejected Immortalized on Beer Can
MPAP: The guy that tried to swim back into a Slayer show is from 2018, but him being immortalized on a beer can is new. This is a two-part question. Which beer can would you like your face on, and while out on tour, what is the craziest thing a fan has done that you have seen?
ANTON: Another clickbait one. If it helps the brewery, all is well. Wouldn’t care to see my face on one of those, and I’m not a huge beer fan. Talking of crazy things, like 10 years ago, some of our fans/friends used to do some kind of GG Allin showcase during our shows. If you’re familiar, you know what that means…
11. Former Five Finger Death Punch Drummer’s New Gig: A Horror Porn Anthology Series
MPAP: Yep, you read it right, former Five Finger Death Punch drummer’s new gig is in the porn business. Not only is Jeremy Spencer a part-time cop in Indiana now, but now he writes, directs, and even stars in his pornos. Crazy. So, my question is, what is your dream job if you weren’t performing in a band? If you had to hang things up in the music business, what would you rather be doing?
ANTON: If he’s happy with what he’s doing, all is well. As I’m no full-time musician, I’m working as a male nurse in social service and I have to admit, I can’t think of a better job, fitting my skills. Living off our band’s income would be a dream for every one of us, but it’s unrealistic, really.
12. Flaw Accused of Plagiarizing You Tuber’s Song, Vocalist Said He Had No Idea
MPAP: This isn’t really a question about that headline, but it made me think and want to ask, is there one song out there that some band has recorded, and it’s so good that you wish you could claim it as your own song?
ANTON: Plain and simple: No. We do what we do, we’re happy with it.
13. Metallica Named 'World’s Biggest Touring Act' According to New Study
MPAP: Even though they’ve released a few records that some fans can’t stand, that still hasn’t stopped them by selling over 22 million tickets and grossed $1.4 billion in touring since 1982. That’s very impressive. So, I guess the question would be, lets rain on their parade for a moment, what’s your least favorite Metallica song that you must turn off or turn down when it’s on the radio? And by no means, this is no disrespect to Metallica at all. I think they are man enough to handle hearing which songs or albums are not fan favorites. It's just for fun and games, until we shot our eye out.
ANTON: On the radio here, there’s only "Enter Sandman" or "Nothing Else Matters." Would call these the better songs to hear when listening to local stations. Talking about Metallica, Master Of Puppets is one of the best albums in Metal history and I own no album younger than the black one. They built their status in the past and the foundation of great live shows and superb songs. They deserve to be where they are, no matter what shit they release nowadays. Also, their newer back-to-the-roots stuff is boring most of the time.
MPAP: On behalf of Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Anton, for taking the time to answer these questions. We look forward to what Profanation does to finish out 2019 and beyond. Any last words for all your fans out there?
ANTON: First of all, thank you for taking the time to read this interview. I think it’s a good idea to break out of the normal Q/A scheme. Check out our albums and we hope to see you all at one of our shows soon!
Website: https://profanation.de
Facebook: https://facebook.com/profanationdeathgrind
Bandcamp: https://profanation.bandcamp.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6NJLBZsDvzRGTsAXEQYgiN
Anton Rothig~ Profanation/ September 23rd, 2019/ Headlines #15