Music News Headline Answers With Archer Nation's
Dylan Rose
December 17th, 2019
Metal Pulp And Paper: Thank you, Dylan, for taking the time to be a part of Metal Pulp And Paper’s 3rd installment of Recent Music News Headline Questions. How are you?
Dylan Rose: Thanks for having me! Things are going great. We just got home from a two month Europe/UK run with Annihilator. Time to take the holidays off and get ready for 2020 now!
MPAP: Before we get started, tell us a little about your band. And, of course, if you’ve got new music, or new music coming out soon, please tell us about it.
Dylan: I play guitar and sing in a metal trio called Archer Nation from Santa Cruz, California. We have a new record released earlier this year via EMP Label Group entitled Beneath The Dream and have been touring all year supporting it across the US and abroad.
MPAP: So, just in case the reader is new to this, and to make sure everyone is on the same page on how this works, we’ve pulled some recent music news headlines from the Metal Injection website and turned them into questions and get your answers and reactions. We’ve been doing this for a couple of months now, with different headlines each time, and it has been fun to read everyone’s answers so far. So, once again, please place seat backs and tray tables in the upright position, hang on, here we go.
1. Real Housewife Wearing Metallica Shirt Asked To Name 3 Of Their Songs, She Cannot
MPAP: Some talk show, on the Bravo! channel had The Real Housewives of Potomac star Candiace Dillard as a guest. She was wearing a Metallica Lady Liberty And Justice For All shirt, and a caller called into the show and asked the host of it if Candiace could name three songs by Metallica. She pretty much had no clue who the band was, and obviously, she couldn’t name three songs by them either. Do you believe if you wear the band’s shirt, you should at least know maybe who the group is?
Dylan: This sounds similar to other 'clueless celebrity' sightings in band shirts of Iron Maiden, Slayer, and others. I guess in 2019 this isn’t really surprising. It certainly makes sense to me that you would only wear a band’s shirt if you actually liked them, but clearly that isn’t an issue for some!
2. Mosh Pit & Wall Of Death Break Out During The Village People’s Set At Riot Fest
MPAP: You would have never really expected something like this too of happened now, would you? And to be honest, I didn’t know The Village People were still together and performing, but they are. That just shows you metal music fans can always have fun even if it is moshing to songs like "Y.M.C.A.," or "Macho Man" by The Village People at a music festival. Now, what is something you’ve seen happen while performing, or while at a show that you weren’t expecting to see or have occurred?
Dylan: Moshing to The Village People sounds like one hell of a party! But let’s see… I think the most unexpected moshing we’ve witnessed was on our first trip to Poland years ago. We played Krakow with Black Label Society but you would have thought the Beatles were in town. There was such a passionate metal fan base there that night – I’ll never forget all the screaming and crowd surfing regardless of whether they’d even ever heard of our band at that point!
3. Reminder: Metallica Will Never Play The Super Bowl
MPAP: Every year when the Super Bowl announces who is going to be their half time show, metal music fans are pissed off because it’s never a metal band or even a hard-rock band for that matter. For almost five years fans have wanted Metallica to host the Super Bowl halftime show. Fans also started a petition to get them to play at the 50th Super Bowl halftime show in 2015. Metallica would be an excellent choice to be a part of it, they’ve won Grammy awards, they are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and have toured just about everywhere in the World, and just recently they were named the World’s biggest touring act. What are your thoughts on this? Why do you think metal music is always going to get snubbed at the Super Bowl?
Dylan: Metallica would have been absolutely perfect for Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco. Living so close to the city, we heard so much of the angry buzz from decades-long fans of the band in the Bay Area. I felt it was really a shame and a missed opportunity for heavy metal, unfortunately. And let’s face it, it’s not like we’re demanding that Cannibal Corpse play the Super Bowl. I don’t think Metallica would be 'too heavy' to work as an appealing act in that scenario. But at the end of the day, the powers that be just care about the bottom line and demographics and putting out the safest, lowest risk product possible. There’s a literal ton of money on the line at these events and no suit is going to try something different. The adventurous spirit is not found in the board room!
4. Slipknot’s Corey Taylor Doesn’t Believe Drugs & Alcohol Makes You Write Better Music
MPAP: What are your thoughts? Do you think drugs and alcohol bring out the creativity in a musician or can kill it?
Dylan: I think it’s individual-based. I know plenty of people that do great work without any drugs or alcohol. There’s also plenty of famous musicians that created brilliant stuff during periods of various influence, so I don’t want to rule it hard one way or the other. For me, personally, substances do not help my creative output whatsoever. But that’s just me!
5. Steel Panther Frontman: If I Could Bring One Musician Back From The Dead, It’d Be Motley Crue’s Vince Neil
MPAP: This headline started some mudslinging between both of the bands because obviously, Vince Neil isn’t dead; he’s just a bit overweight and can’t sing like he used to be able to do as he did in the 80s and 90s. I don’t see them ever going out on tour together anytime soon, but anyway, if you could bring any musician back from the dead, who would you choose, and why?
Dylan: There’s a lot of good candidates for this, obviously, but I’ll go with Randy Rhoads. He was way too young and had a ton left to offer at the time of his premature death. Plus, we’d get to hear so much more epic guitar from him!
6. Green Jelly Track Down Deadbeat Promoter And Get Paid
MPAP: A promoter stiffs Green Jelly after they performed at Old East 765 Bar & Grill in Canada, and vocalist Bill Manspeaker, as he states in his cellphone video made looking for Marcus the promoter, 'I ain’t the guy to fuck with.' So, the band tracks down the promoter and finds his home and demands the money owed to them. It’s funny to watch because at one-point Manspeaker is knocking on his door, saying, "Little pig, little pig, let me in." In the end, Marcus ends up paying the band half of what money was owed to them, but at least he walked away with kneecaps still in place. So, has anything like this happened to you before, and would you do something like this?
Dylan: Luckily, we haven’t been so boldly and completely stiffed by a promoter we had a real contract with! I’ll admit that it’s not in my personality to lead an aggressive charge threatening bodily harm on some dude, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t deserve some retribution! Luckily for me, others in our camp could assume the role of leadership on this one…
7. Morbid Angel & Obituary Featured As An Answer On Jeopardy!
MPAP: Jeopardy has featured answers on other episodes about popular metal bands such as Megadeth, Rob Zombie, and Five Finger Death Punch, but never had any answers quite like this one. One of the writers on the hit television show has to be a metalhead for sure! So, in case you missed this episode, Alex Trebek said, 'Morbid Angel and Obituary are popular bands in this genre,' and contestant Dhruv Gaur answered with 'What is Death Metal.' Pretty cool when things like this are showing up on a popular television show. Now, if you or your band were to be mentioned on Jeopardy, what would the answer and question be? Let’s see how creative you are.
Dylan: Wow, good question! I think if we were somehow on Jeopardy, it would have to be as follows: If the answer is simply “What is Archer Nation”, then the question could be 'This Santa Cruz, CA-based heavy metal trio just paid us an exorbitant sum to appear on television!'
8. Oops! Stadium Accidentally Leaves Ramstein Song Blasting All Night, Annoying Neighbor
MPAP: Someone at Budapest’s Puksas Arena just happened to leave the sound system on blasting the song "Deutschland" all night long, over and over. It’s an open-air stadium that’s under construction, so the loud music bothered all that lived nearby. That worker should have had a bigger playlist than just the one song; maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad then, right? So, since the subject of the headline is about something that annoyed people, let’s find out from you; what annoys you, whether it’s out on the road, at a show, in the recording studio, or even when you’re at home, what annoy's you the most?
Dylan: I don’t feel any pangs of annoyance when I think about recording, but there’s always plenty of inconveniences to juggle out on the road! You get used to everything, of course, but the annoyances just add up day by day in terms of diet, exercise, showering, sleep, etc. Sometimes you can only go so many days in a row eating truck stop corn dogs and not showering before you get a little tired of it! But again, we wouldn’t do it if we didn’t love it – so bring on the annoyances!
9. Tool Threatening To Eject Fans From Shows If They’re Caught Using Their Phones
MPAP: Once again, cellphone use at concerts makes the headlines. If you don’t remember, but a couple of years ago during a performance of Maynard’s other band A Perfect Circle, 60 people were kicked out for filming the show with their phones. And even Jack White (The White Stripes) has a no cell phone policy at his shows. So, what’s your take on it? Are cellphones that much of a distraction to where the fan should be kicked out? Do fans need to watch the show instead of looking at their phones? Does it even matter since they paid for their ticket already?
Dylan: Cell phones are lame in several ways, no doubt about that. People spend an absolutely absurd amount of time staring into those hypnotic little boxes. It’s insane. I can’t fathom being at a concert and filming the whole thing. You miss the real vibe of the show that you paid for! And you do notice at bigger shows when people are too busy with their phones to clap or engage the band at certain times where they really should. Technology is the cat that got let out of the bag, though, and there’s really no going back. Good luck getting people to put the phone down now!
10. Windhand Robed In Houston, Post List Of Stolen Gear & Belongings
MPAP: This happens way too often, it seems. It’s hard enough to make a living being a musician, and then you have a douchebag, or douchebags, break into your trailer or van and steal all your stuff while you’re out on the road. So, when you are out on tour, what extra precautions have you taken so that this hopefully doesn’t happen to you?
Dylan: Luckily, we haven’t been victimized like this. We hear these horror stories all the time though, and its gut-wrenching. You’ve got bands out there operating on their last pennies to chase their musical dreams and exist as humbly as possible already, then some evil assholes destroy their tour and finances with this kind of theft. It’s horrible. We don’t even advertise our band on our vehicles or trailers because we don’t want people to know what kind of gear we’re traveling with. We always back trailers up against walls or other cars if we have to. We’ve even had guys sleep in the van over the years if we’re in sketchy neighborhoods overnight so that if someone starts breaking into the trailer, we’ll hear them!
11. Machine Head Show Paused, Partially Ruined After Fan Throws Beer On The Soundboard
MPAP: This happened at a show at the O2 Academy Brixton in London, England, and a fan, more like an asshole, threw a 32-ounce beer on the soundboard. After a 20-minute delay, Machine Head was able to finish the show, but not with the highest quality sound after that. First off, what a dick move to do something like that, almost ruining it for a sold-out crowd, and second, I’m sure soundboards aren't cheap, and third, who throws a 32-ounce full beer? I don’t know what beer costs there in London, but in the US, a beer that size would cost more than likely $30. So, what a waste to throw a beer. Anyways, has this ever happened to you where you saw something was thrown from the crowd, and it abruptly stopped the show for a while, and what happened?
Dylan: Actually, we just saw a beer thrown on stage during Annihilator’s set on the tour we just wrapped. I can’t remember which city or country, but the beer splashed on a pedalboard. Similar to the Machine Head deal, they had to stop for a few minutes and assess the gear. It wasn’t as catastrophic as the headline story, but still an incredibly stupid move on the fan’s behalf. I don’t think fans even understand the amount of damage they can cause like that!
12. Australia To Shut Down Highway For AC/DC Tribute Bands In 2020
MPAP: How cool is this? On February 19th, 2020, marks the 40th anniversary of vocalist Bon Scott’s death, and the city of Perth is celebrating by shutting down six miles of the Canning Highway to celebrate so AC/DC tribute bands playing live on slow-moving trailers can drive through like a festival parade. In your hometown, what would you like the city to shut down for you or your band so everyone can celebrate?
Dylan: That’s awesome! Good for you Perth! I guess if I’m taking Santa Cruz’s scenery into consideration, it would be cool to have Main Beach shut down so we could play a concert on the outdoor stage down there in front of the Boardwalk!
13. Brazilian Researcher Names New Spider Species After Iron Maiden, Scorpions, & Angra Members
MPAP: Christina Rheims is a researcher in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and recently discovered four new spider species and happens to be a big fan of heavy metal music. Can’t get any better than that. She named the four new species Extraordinarius bruceickinsoni, Extraordinarius klausmeinei, Extraordinarius rickalleni and Extraordinarius andrematosi, after Iron Maiden's vocalist Bruce Dickinson, Scorpions vocalist Klaus Meine, Def Leppard's drummer Rick Allen, and Angra's vocalist Andre Matos. If she happens to find another species of spiders and you’re next in line to be named after, what would you wanted the spider’s scientific name to be?
Dylan: That’s hilarious! That’s a pretty hip scientist. I think I’d like the band named incorporated into it, rather than just my own name… Something like californius archeros. Sort of subtle and simple, but I like it that way.
MPAP: Those are some great answers. On behalf of Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Dylan, for taking the time to answer these recent music news headline questions. We look forward to what your band, Archer Nation, does to finish out 2019 and beyond. Any last words for all your fans out there?
Dylan: We definitely owe a huge thank you to the fans that have supported the album and all the touring throughout this year! We very much look forward to making the rounds again starting early 2020 and seeing everyone again, so stay up on the tour dates and we’ll be there soon! And thanks for the great questions!