Music News Headline Answers With Velvet Ocean's
Riitu & Jarkko Ronkainen
January/February 2020 • 4th Edition #82
Metal Pulp And Paper: Hello Riitu and Jake. Thank you for taking the time to be a part of Metal Pulp And Paper’s Music News Headline Questions. We appreciate it. How are you, and are you ready for this new decade?
Riitu/Jake: Hello! We are great. Thank you! We are of course waiting for the coming year really enthusiastically since our debut album will be released February 7th.
MPAP: That's great to hear. Before we get started though, tell us a little about your band and what we might need to know. And, of course, if you’ve got new music, or new music coming out soon, please tell us about it so we can pummel our eardrums!
Riitu/Jake: Velvet Ocean is a new melodic metal band from Oulu, Northern Finland. We’ve been putting together new music for a few years, and after releasing three singles, we are now finally ready to put out our debut album. Our latest release was a music video for a single called "It’s So Hard."
MPAP: So, just in case you or the reader are new to this, this is how it all works, it won’t sting a bit. We here at the Metal Pulp And Paper headquarters pulled some recent music news headlines from the Metal Injection website and turned them into questions. Pretty simple, just like putting on your pants one leg at a time. So, once again, please place seat backs and tray tables in the upright position, hang on, here we go. Putting on your seat belt is totally up to you…
1. Hardcore Show In A Denny's Restaurant Results In Hundreds of Dollars In Damages
MPAP: So, this 17-year-old kid, Bryson Del Valle, booked his first DIY show at a Denny’s restaurant for the punk band Wacko. Obviously, Denny’s is not the ideal spot to play a hardcore music show, or is it? Still, somehow Bryson pulled it off at the Santa Anna restaurant other than the damages done to the establishment. First off, I guess the show sold out, so maybe Bryson is onto something here. Can’t imagine why Denny’s agreed to it, what were they thinking? So, I guess the question is, where would you like your band to perform that is not the ordinary place to play, and maybe get a bit wild and wreak havoc on some table and chairs? And since the story has gone viral, Green Day donated $2,000 to help pay for the damages.
Jake: I’m of the same opinion that the choice of venue in this case probably wasn’t very well considered. I’m not very fond of breaking stuff or instruments either. Somehow it seems an awful waste. In summertime there are a lot of festivals that are mostly organized in remote places where you can party all night without causing much damage to anybody.
Riitu: It would be awesome to play on a small deserted island with 50,0000 people where nobody could escape.
2. Meth Recounts Hilariously Crazy Story Of Missing Their Gathering Of The Juggalos Set
MPAP: Every year Insane Clown Posse puts on a music festival called Gathering Of The Juggalos, and let’s just say it’s not a music fest you’d want to take your parents to or go there on your first date. Shit, what do I know, maybe you would want to take them there? Either way, you’re going to see some fucked up shit happening there. Anyways, one of the members of Meth told a crazy story about trying to get there to play but was unable to find the right stage they were to play on that day. Now, what about you, any crazy band stories about missing a show, or about almost missing a show that is memorable?
Riitu/Jake: Well, since we’ve been mostly composing music and not doing too many gigs yet with this particular band, we haven’t been able to fuck up anything too badly yet. However, with earlier projects we do remember a similar occasion where a member was wandering in a park wasted and couldn’t find where the gig was. Eventually he was cutting into the gig in the middle of the show. The quality of the playing was definitely unrivalled. One time we were actually playing in an old pulp factory in Oulu where the electricity of the whole facility shut down during the show. Nobody got it to work anymore so that was it for us then.
3. Destruction Vocalist on Metallica: "Once You're A Billionaire, What Should You Be Pissed Off About?"
MPAP: I don’t think Lars or James are billionaires just yet, but maybe in another year or two, who knows? Schmier, Destruction’s vocalist, said in an interview that Metallica's lack of heaviness and anger over the years has to do with the fact that Metallica got rich. Do you think that’s a fair assumption that if you’re no longer pissed off about anything in the world, or whatever it will reflect in your music?
Riitu: It's true that it may be easier to write songs if there are difficulties in life, or if you´re generally unhappy with something. It often feels then that it´s easier to come up with texts but also melodies. On the other hand, it is beneficial to have some kind of balance at least sometimes which gives another kind of perspective. If your life is totally screwed up that can result in a situation where writing is impossible and you get nothing done. On the whole, it´s very difficult to force yourself to write anything, but it's better that the ideas come to your head without trying so much. I don´t think money makes anybody happy, although it can make some things easier.
Jake: I don’t necessarily think that a lot of money makes anybody’s life less complicated. I think it evokes different kinds of problems that people find more difficult to relate to. Maybe they should make a song called "Rage Against The Tax Collector" or something. Seriously, of course it makes a difference what your position in life is. If you’re for example too busy doing other things, it’s very difficult to make good music. And of course, you need to have something that you feel you really need to say. Maybe you are so happy that you want to tell that to everybody or maybe you’re so angry you want you shout that out. Definitely there needs to be a reason why you want to say something whatever it might be.
4. Airline Forces Woman Wearing "Hail Satan" Shirt To Either Change or Get Off The Plane
MPAP: Satanism is officially recognized as a religion in the United States now. Still, it was far too much for one American Airlines crew to handle, who forced a passenger to change her shirt if she wanted to remain on board the plane. She was escorted up to the front of the aircraft and told to remover her shirt or get kicked off the plane. She eventually covered up the 'so-called offensive' shirt with one of her husbands. What are your thoughts on this? If her shirt had said 'Hail Jesus', no one would probably have even have batted an eye. So, should you be allowed to wear anything you want out in public? What if your favorite shirt could be offensive to one person, but not to others, what do you do? Ever had someone report you to someone or just glare at you for what you were wearing at an airport, or anywhere in public before?
Riitu: I think that people are pretty much actively trying to find things that make them upset. There are so many things wrong in the world that would actually require our attention that it´s difficult to understand why people want to get upset about everything else, too. You can see people complaining about small things everywhere. I´m not that religious, but on the other hand I don´t discriminate people based on what they believe in. It would certainly be a good thing if people had a little more tolerance.
Jake: I don’t believe in Satan or Santa so I would probably consider that kind of text either funny or some kind of provocation against people who take religion perhaps a bit too literally. It’s not good to get provoked if somebody tries to provoke you. However, religious things are a very personal choice, and also better left that way. I don’t know if I would buy a used car from a person who believes in Satan though. I don’t know, really. We can certainly feel some staring sometimes in public places, but that doesn’t really always require much, does it?
5. Lars Ulrich Can See Metallica Going For Another 20 Years
MPAP: Metallica formed as a band in 1981, so, in the year 2020, that would put them at touring the World for 38 years. So, add another 20 more years, that would then put them at touring just under six decades. Is that even fathomable to think about? But check this out, Dame Vera is the UK's best-selling female artist. She began performing publicly at the age of seven and is still performing to this day. Her first radio broadcast was with the Joe Loss Orchestra in 1935. That’s 85 years so far. So, try and beat that Metallica! Now how far ahead do you see yourself going? Do you still want to be performing five, ten, or even 20 years from now?
Jake: People don’t tend to retire from things they love so we hope to be able to make music as long as we can. Let’s say, at least 50 more years.
Riitu: Yes, I will definitely still be rockin´ as an ancient hag with a walking frame!
6. New Study Says Listening To 78 Minutes Of Music Daily Is Important To Your Health
MPAP: Well, first off, are you listening to the recommended amount? And then, what do you do at home vs. out on the road to stay healthy or keep in shape? Do you worry about your health while out on the road? After a while, the same truck stop corn dog and burrito has to get old eating all the time, right? What are some of the main obstacles you have to deal with?
Riitu: What you eat and drink and how you sleep and exercise is certainly important. For a singer it’s very important to feel good about yourself and stay hydrated. Otherwise you can immediately hear it in the voice.
Jake: It’s a bit of a problem when you make your own music that you need to continuously listen your own stuff; demos, mixes, recordings of gigs, and practices, etc. That’s why you get a bit too saturated with music sometimes. It is certainly a good thing to listen to other bands as well to get another perspective, though. So that would be 78 minutes of other bands and 12 hours of your own stuff a day.
7. Jason Newsted Told By Doctors To Stop Headbanging
MPAP: Recently Newsted, formerly of Flotsam & Jetsam and Metallica, said that 25 years of headbanging has finally caught up with him, and it’s time to, as doctors have told him over the years, it’s time to 'stop spinning the head.' Luckily, he doesn’t have to get surgery yet, but Slayer’s bassist Tom Araya was not as fortunate and had to have anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery done in 2010. So, what’s something if the doctor told you to do stop doing, you would stop doing. And then on the other side of the coin, what’s something if he told you to stop doing, you wouldn’t do because you like it so much?
Riitu: I know it´s difficult to stop doing something that you really love. If somebody said I need to stop singing, I don´t know what I would do. I think health is however more important than anything else.
Jake: Few things are worth dying or getting paralysed, so you’d better listen what the doctor says.
8. KNOTFEST Mexico Canceled After Fans Rush The Stage, Breaking Barricades.
MPAP: A security safety issue prevented fans from seeing the rest of Knotfest after the stage barricade broke during Behemoth's set, and it was impossible to fix it in time for the final two acts of the night, Evanescence and Slipknot, so, in the end, the rest of the show was canceled, and this did not sit well many. In pictures and video footage that surfaced, it shows many fans getting onto the stage and destroying some of Evanescence’s equipment, and set fire to Will Hunts drum set. Obviously, you don’t want this kind of shit to happen. The fans took it too far, music was more important than the safety of others. What’re your thoughts on this?
Riitu: I read about this and I was devastated about it. I can't understand fans destroying property that was important to the bands. I understand the decision not to perform when it´s not safe and also that the organizer failed somehow but that´s no reason to start raging around and break things.
Jake: Here of course the initial problem seemed to be that the safety fences weren't as durable as they should have been. How's that the bands' fault then? That's just crap as is destroying valuable things which is just stupid waste and extremely inconsiderate.
9. Alice Cooper Says Lemmy's Idea Of Not Drinking Was "Maybe Just Five Or Six Drinks"
MPAP: Alice explained that one time that Lemmy from Motorhead told him he had quit drinking. Lemmy’s idea of not drinking was not drinking a bottle of whiskey each night. Maybe just five or six drinks. Are the days of excessive drinking and partying over with? What is life out on the road for you? Are you quiet when you’re not on tour, but look out, when the tour begins you can’t wait to hang out with the other bands and have a few drinks?
Jake: Drinking makes the playing worse, so that's not a good idea for us. After the gig it's nice to have a couple of drinks when you feel good about yourself and don't have anything too important the next day. In principle, I think drinking is a spare time activity which doesn't necessarily have to have anything to do with making music, which is another separate fun thing. I think Lemmy was onto something there. Five or six drinks is less than a bottle of whiskey.
Riitu: I don't drink during gigs, but otherwise I don't have any drinking problems.
10. Kiss Played A Show For Great White Sharks But No Sharks Actually Showed Up
MPAP: I think this is the first music headline that I can’t think of anything to come up with for a question, but it just seemed so good not to talk about it. Let’s see what I can come up with in the end; either way, let’s continue. So, anyways, some Air-B-N-B company paid Kiss probably a butt load of money to perform live on a boat, like they needed it anyway, but it was for a good cause, and some fans got once in a lifetime performance. Hmmm, now that I’m thinking about it, is this Bryson’s second booking to have a band perform in a not so-usual-place? Knowing this outcome, I think he needs to stick with restaurants and book his next show at a Red Lobster. Don’t worry; it wasn’t him that booked it. But anyways, to get to the moral of the story, if anyone cares, Kiss set up and actually performed live on a boat off the coast of Port Lincoln in support of the Australian Marine Conservation Society in front of like eight special die-hard fans. The whole idea of the debacle was that Kiss would play some songs, and then sharks swimming in the area would show up because they 'love the low-frequency sounds of rock and roll.' Bassist Gene Simmons was very impressed with the whole ordeal and even said, "Guys, this is probably the most interesting gig I’ve ever done. I’d want my own autograph after this." Bam! I’ve got it! Let’s go with this, (fireworks and sirens wailing), let’s have the first-ever Metal Pulp And Paper Headline Questions three-part question. This is exciting. Mary, drum roll please…
MPAP: What has been your most interesting gig so far?
Riitu/Jake: Well, as we told we have just started gigging after the album process. At this point if something gets 'interesting' it usually means that something gets fucked up. However, we have this far avoided the worst pitfalls. I think Velvet Ocean's most interesting times are just starting.
MPAP: Is there a person out there walking this earth that you’d like to get an autograph from?
Riitu: There are and have been so many interesting musicians that it's difficult to pick one. One really interesting personality who would be nice to meet and talk to is Steven Tyler.
Jake: Elvis.
MPAP: And then, give a shout out to a local band from your home town out there that you think the sharks would have shown up to listen to instead of Kiss.
Riitu/Jake: One almost legendary band from Oulu area is called Sentenced. If they would ever be playing live again, I'm almost sure the sharks would gather immediately.
11. Five Finger Death Punch Guitarist Talks Backstage Perks: Their Own Dressing Rooms, Masseuses & Personal Assistants
MPAP: Must be nice, I guess, right? I don’t know how true this one is, but alongside Haribo gummy bears in his dressing room, Marilyn Manson reportedly has asked for a 'bald-headed, toothless hooker' in his rider at one point in his music career. What have been some of your backstage perks that you’ve gotten or asked for before? Can you top Manson’s?
Riitu/Jake: We would like to have both Marilyn Manson and the toothless hooker. It would be interesting to see what the fuss is about.
12. Pete Townshend Says The Who "Sort Of Invented Heavy Metal" In 1970
MPAP: Ya right! And this is coming from a guy that recently said in an interview he’s glad drummer Keith Moon and bassist John Entwistle are dead and gone and no longer in The Who. What a dick. Anyways, who do you think invented Heavy Metal music in your eyes. Some say Black Sabbath’s self-titled album in 1970 was the birth of Heavy Metal music. Others argue that Blue Cheer's 1968 record Vincebus Eruptum is the first heavy metal album, while others say Coven's 1969 album Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls is where it all started. Maybe you have a total different take on it?
Riitu: I think a singer who's singing style was extremely ballsy already back in the day was Janis Joplin.
Jake: The turn of 60s to 70s was certainly interesting time with many influential bands starting business. Out of the pioneering bands I’ve always found Led Zeppelin to be the most interesting. Not necessarily because they were harder or louder than others, but because I always found their music very interesting. The metal as we know probably did find its current form through evolution a bit later though. The first band that I started listening to that I would call heavy metal was actually Helloween. Many other former and later bands have of course followed.
13. Metallica's 1991 Self-Titled Album Breaks New Billboard Record
MPAP: Yes, I know, I know. Not another Metallica question. What can I say they make a lot of news headlines. So, the Black album is approaching 17 million sales in the United States while cresting over 31 million worldwide and has sold so well that it's now become one of the only four albums in history, of any genre, to be on the Billboard 220 for 550 non-consecutive weeks. That’s over ten years? At one point I think I heard it sells like 5,000 copies a week. I wonder how many warehouses Lars has rented over the years to store them all? Anyways, blah, blah blah, either way, it’s quite the accomplishment, but more importantly, what about your band? What is something that you’re proud of that has happened, and why?
Riitu/Jake: Well, I think we have some serious work ahead of us before reaching those figures. Our greatest accomplishment at this point is of course that we have or debut ready to be released February 7th and that we are ourselves really proud and satisfied with the album and all songs in it. We have also received some positive and encouraging comments about it, so we think we are in a very good to keep trying to do great music.
MPAP: Well, that wraps up another edition of Metal Pulp And Paper’s Headline Questions, and those were some great answers. Now Mary, tell them what they’ve won. Mary? Hey Mary! Shit, we can’t find Mary, haha! Anyways, so, on behalf of Metal Pulp And Paper, we’d like to thank you, Riitu and Jake, for taking the time to answer these recent music news headline questions again. We look forward to what you or your band, Velvet Ocean, does in 2020 and beyond. Any last words for all your fans and all the Metal Pulp And Paper readers out there?
Riitu/Jake: Velvet Ocean is not yet so much known by the metal music bands, but we think that our music is worth checking out if you like a modern and original take on metal music. Thank you very much for the interview and have a terrific 2020!
Riitu & Jarkko Ronkainen
January/February 2020 • 4th Edition #82
Metal Pulp And Paper: Hello Riitu and Jake. Thank you for taking the time to be a part of Metal Pulp And Paper’s Music News Headline Questions. We appreciate it. How are you, and are you ready for this new decade?
Riitu/Jake: Hello! We are great. Thank you! We are of course waiting for the coming year really enthusiastically since our debut album will be released February 7th.
MPAP: That's great to hear. Before we get started though, tell us a little about your band and what we might need to know. And, of course, if you’ve got new music, or new music coming out soon, please tell us about it so we can pummel our eardrums!
Riitu/Jake: Velvet Ocean is a new melodic metal band from Oulu, Northern Finland. We’ve been putting together new music for a few years, and after releasing three singles, we are now finally ready to put out our debut album. Our latest release was a music video for a single called "It’s So Hard."
MPAP: So, just in case you or the reader are new to this, this is how it all works, it won’t sting a bit. We here at the Metal Pulp And Paper headquarters pulled some recent music news headlines from the Metal Injection website and turned them into questions. Pretty simple, just like putting on your pants one leg at a time. So, once again, please place seat backs and tray tables in the upright position, hang on, here we go. Putting on your seat belt is totally up to you…
1. Hardcore Show In A Denny's Restaurant Results In Hundreds of Dollars In Damages
MPAP: So, this 17-year-old kid, Bryson Del Valle, booked his first DIY show at a Denny’s restaurant for the punk band Wacko. Obviously, Denny’s is not the ideal spot to play a hardcore music show, or is it? Still, somehow Bryson pulled it off at the Santa Anna restaurant other than the damages done to the establishment. First off, I guess the show sold out, so maybe Bryson is onto something here. Can’t imagine why Denny’s agreed to it, what were they thinking? So, I guess the question is, where would you like your band to perform that is not the ordinary place to play, and maybe get a bit wild and wreak havoc on some table and chairs? And since the story has gone viral, Green Day donated $2,000 to help pay for the damages.
Jake: I’m of the same opinion that the choice of venue in this case probably wasn’t very well considered. I’m not very fond of breaking stuff or instruments either. Somehow it seems an awful waste. In summertime there are a lot of festivals that are mostly organized in remote places where you can party all night without causing much damage to anybody.
Riitu: It would be awesome to play on a small deserted island with 50,0000 people where nobody could escape.
2. Meth Recounts Hilariously Crazy Story Of Missing Their Gathering Of The Juggalos Set
MPAP: Every year Insane Clown Posse puts on a music festival called Gathering Of The Juggalos, and let’s just say it’s not a music fest you’d want to take your parents to or go there on your first date. Shit, what do I know, maybe you would want to take them there? Either way, you’re going to see some fucked up shit happening there. Anyways, one of the members of Meth told a crazy story about trying to get there to play but was unable to find the right stage they were to play on that day. Now, what about you, any crazy band stories about missing a show, or about almost missing a show that is memorable?
Riitu/Jake: Well, since we’ve been mostly composing music and not doing too many gigs yet with this particular band, we haven’t been able to fuck up anything too badly yet. However, with earlier projects we do remember a similar occasion where a member was wandering in a park wasted and couldn’t find where the gig was. Eventually he was cutting into the gig in the middle of the show. The quality of the playing was definitely unrivalled. One time we were actually playing in an old pulp factory in Oulu where the electricity of the whole facility shut down during the show. Nobody got it to work anymore so that was it for us then.
3. Destruction Vocalist on Metallica: "Once You're A Billionaire, What Should You Be Pissed Off About?"
MPAP: I don’t think Lars or James are billionaires just yet, but maybe in another year or two, who knows? Schmier, Destruction’s vocalist, said in an interview that Metallica's lack of heaviness and anger over the years has to do with the fact that Metallica got rich. Do you think that’s a fair assumption that if you’re no longer pissed off about anything in the world, or whatever it will reflect in your music?
Riitu: It's true that it may be easier to write songs if there are difficulties in life, or if you´re generally unhappy with something. It often feels then that it´s easier to come up with texts but also melodies. On the other hand, it is beneficial to have some kind of balance at least sometimes which gives another kind of perspective. If your life is totally screwed up that can result in a situation where writing is impossible and you get nothing done. On the whole, it´s very difficult to force yourself to write anything, but it's better that the ideas come to your head without trying so much. I don´t think money makes anybody happy, although it can make some things easier.
Jake: I don’t necessarily think that a lot of money makes anybody’s life less complicated. I think it evokes different kinds of problems that people find more difficult to relate to. Maybe they should make a song called "Rage Against The Tax Collector" or something. Seriously, of course it makes a difference what your position in life is. If you’re for example too busy doing other things, it’s very difficult to make good music. And of course, you need to have something that you feel you really need to say. Maybe you are so happy that you want to tell that to everybody or maybe you’re so angry you want you shout that out. Definitely there needs to be a reason why you want to say something whatever it might be.
4. Airline Forces Woman Wearing "Hail Satan" Shirt To Either Change or Get Off The Plane
MPAP: Satanism is officially recognized as a religion in the United States now. Still, it was far too much for one American Airlines crew to handle, who forced a passenger to change her shirt if she wanted to remain on board the plane. She was escorted up to the front of the aircraft and told to remover her shirt or get kicked off the plane. She eventually covered up the 'so-called offensive' shirt with one of her husbands. What are your thoughts on this? If her shirt had said 'Hail Jesus', no one would probably have even have batted an eye. So, should you be allowed to wear anything you want out in public? What if your favorite shirt could be offensive to one person, but not to others, what do you do? Ever had someone report you to someone or just glare at you for what you were wearing at an airport, or anywhere in public before?
Riitu: I think that people are pretty much actively trying to find things that make them upset. There are so many things wrong in the world that would actually require our attention that it´s difficult to understand why people want to get upset about everything else, too. You can see people complaining about small things everywhere. I´m not that religious, but on the other hand I don´t discriminate people based on what they believe in. It would certainly be a good thing if people had a little more tolerance.
Jake: I don’t believe in Satan or Santa so I would probably consider that kind of text either funny or some kind of provocation against people who take religion perhaps a bit too literally. It’s not good to get provoked if somebody tries to provoke you. However, religious things are a very personal choice, and also better left that way. I don’t know if I would buy a used car from a person who believes in Satan though. I don’t know, really. We can certainly feel some staring sometimes in public places, but that doesn’t really always require much, does it?
5. Lars Ulrich Can See Metallica Going For Another 20 Years
MPAP: Metallica formed as a band in 1981, so, in the year 2020, that would put them at touring the World for 38 years. So, add another 20 more years, that would then put them at touring just under six decades. Is that even fathomable to think about? But check this out, Dame Vera is the UK's best-selling female artist. She began performing publicly at the age of seven and is still performing to this day. Her first radio broadcast was with the Joe Loss Orchestra in 1935. That’s 85 years so far. So, try and beat that Metallica! Now how far ahead do you see yourself going? Do you still want to be performing five, ten, or even 20 years from now?
Jake: People don’t tend to retire from things they love so we hope to be able to make music as long as we can. Let’s say, at least 50 more years.
Riitu: Yes, I will definitely still be rockin´ as an ancient hag with a walking frame!
6. New Study Says Listening To 78 Minutes Of Music Daily Is Important To Your Health
MPAP: Well, first off, are you listening to the recommended amount? And then, what do you do at home vs. out on the road to stay healthy or keep in shape? Do you worry about your health while out on the road? After a while, the same truck stop corn dog and burrito has to get old eating all the time, right? What are some of the main obstacles you have to deal with?
Riitu: What you eat and drink and how you sleep and exercise is certainly important. For a singer it’s very important to feel good about yourself and stay hydrated. Otherwise you can immediately hear it in the voice.
Jake: It’s a bit of a problem when you make your own music that you need to continuously listen your own stuff; demos, mixes, recordings of gigs, and practices, etc. That’s why you get a bit too saturated with music sometimes. It is certainly a good thing to listen to other bands as well to get another perspective, though. So that would be 78 minutes of other bands and 12 hours of your own stuff a day.
7. Jason Newsted Told By Doctors To Stop Headbanging
MPAP: Recently Newsted, formerly of Flotsam & Jetsam and Metallica, said that 25 years of headbanging has finally caught up with him, and it’s time to, as doctors have told him over the years, it’s time to 'stop spinning the head.' Luckily, he doesn’t have to get surgery yet, but Slayer’s bassist Tom Araya was not as fortunate and had to have anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery done in 2010. So, what’s something if the doctor told you to do stop doing, you would stop doing. And then on the other side of the coin, what’s something if he told you to stop doing, you wouldn’t do because you like it so much?
Riitu: I know it´s difficult to stop doing something that you really love. If somebody said I need to stop singing, I don´t know what I would do. I think health is however more important than anything else.
Jake: Few things are worth dying or getting paralysed, so you’d better listen what the doctor says.
8. KNOTFEST Mexico Canceled After Fans Rush The Stage, Breaking Barricades.
MPAP: A security safety issue prevented fans from seeing the rest of Knotfest after the stage barricade broke during Behemoth's set, and it was impossible to fix it in time for the final two acts of the night, Evanescence and Slipknot, so, in the end, the rest of the show was canceled, and this did not sit well many. In pictures and video footage that surfaced, it shows many fans getting onto the stage and destroying some of Evanescence’s equipment, and set fire to Will Hunts drum set. Obviously, you don’t want this kind of shit to happen. The fans took it too far, music was more important than the safety of others. What’re your thoughts on this?
Riitu: I read about this and I was devastated about it. I can't understand fans destroying property that was important to the bands. I understand the decision not to perform when it´s not safe and also that the organizer failed somehow but that´s no reason to start raging around and break things.
Jake: Here of course the initial problem seemed to be that the safety fences weren't as durable as they should have been. How's that the bands' fault then? That's just crap as is destroying valuable things which is just stupid waste and extremely inconsiderate.
9. Alice Cooper Says Lemmy's Idea Of Not Drinking Was "Maybe Just Five Or Six Drinks"
MPAP: Alice explained that one time that Lemmy from Motorhead told him he had quit drinking. Lemmy’s idea of not drinking was not drinking a bottle of whiskey each night. Maybe just five or six drinks. Are the days of excessive drinking and partying over with? What is life out on the road for you? Are you quiet when you’re not on tour, but look out, when the tour begins you can’t wait to hang out with the other bands and have a few drinks?
Jake: Drinking makes the playing worse, so that's not a good idea for us. After the gig it's nice to have a couple of drinks when you feel good about yourself and don't have anything too important the next day. In principle, I think drinking is a spare time activity which doesn't necessarily have to have anything to do with making music, which is another separate fun thing. I think Lemmy was onto something there. Five or six drinks is less than a bottle of whiskey.
Riitu: I don't drink during gigs, but otherwise I don't have any drinking problems.
10. Kiss Played A Show For Great White Sharks But No Sharks Actually Showed Up
MPAP: I think this is the first music headline that I can’t think of anything to come up with for a question, but it just seemed so good not to talk about it. Let’s see what I can come up with in the end; either way, let’s continue. So, anyways, some Air-B-N-B company paid Kiss probably a butt load of money to perform live on a boat, like they needed it anyway, but it was for a good cause, and some fans got once in a lifetime performance. Hmmm, now that I’m thinking about it, is this Bryson’s second booking to have a band perform in a not so-usual-place? Knowing this outcome, I think he needs to stick with restaurants and book his next show at a Red Lobster. Don’t worry; it wasn’t him that booked it. But anyways, to get to the moral of the story, if anyone cares, Kiss set up and actually performed live on a boat off the coast of Port Lincoln in support of the Australian Marine Conservation Society in front of like eight special die-hard fans. The whole idea of the debacle was that Kiss would play some songs, and then sharks swimming in the area would show up because they 'love the low-frequency sounds of rock and roll.' Bassist Gene Simmons was very impressed with the whole ordeal and even said, "Guys, this is probably the most interesting gig I’ve ever done. I’d want my own autograph after this." Bam! I’ve got it! Let’s go with this, (fireworks and sirens wailing), let’s have the first-ever Metal Pulp And Paper Headline Questions three-part question. This is exciting. Mary, drum roll please…
MPAP: What has been your most interesting gig so far?
Riitu/Jake: Well, as we told we have just started gigging after the album process. At this point if something gets 'interesting' it usually means that something gets fucked up. However, we have this far avoided the worst pitfalls. I think Velvet Ocean's most interesting times are just starting.
MPAP: Is there a person out there walking this earth that you’d like to get an autograph from?
Riitu: There are and have been so many interesting musicians that it's difficult to pick one. One really interesting personality who would be nice to meet and talk to is Steven Tyler.
Jake: Elvis.
MPAP: And then, give a shout out to a local band from your home town out there that you think the sharks would have shown up to listen to instead of Kiss.
Riitu/Jake: One almost legendary band from Oulu area is called Sentenced. If they would ever be playing live again, I'm almost sure the sharks would gather immediately.
11. Five Finger Death Punch Guitarist Talks Backstage Perks: Their Own Dressing Rooms, Masseuses & Personal Assistants
MPAP: Must be nice, I guess, right? I don’t know how true this one is, but alongside Haribo gummy bears in his dressing room, Marilyn Manson reportedly has asked for a 'bald-headed, toothless hooker' in his rider at one point in his music career. What have been some of your backstage perks that you’ve gotten or asked for before? Can you top Manson’s?
Riitu/Jake: We would like to have both Marilyn Manson and the toothless hooker. It would be interesting to see what the fuss is about.
12. Pete Townshend Says The Who "Sort Of Invented Heavy Metal" In 1970
MPAP: Ya right! And this is coming from a guy that recently said in an interview he’s glad drummer Keith Moon and bassist John Entwistle are dead and gone and no longer in The Who. What a dick. Anyways, who do you think invented Heavy Metal music in your eyes. Some say Black Sabbath’s self-titled album in 1970 was the birth of Heavy Metal music. Others argue that Blue Cheer's 1968 record Vincebus Eruptum is the first heavy metal album, while others say Coven's 1969 album Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls is where it all started. Maybe you have a total different take on it?
Riitu: I think a singer who's singing style was extremely ballsy already back in the day was Janis Joplin.
Jake: The turn of 60s to 70s was certainly interesting time with many influential bands starting business. Out of the pioneering bands I’ve always found Led Zeppelin to be the most interesting. Not necessarily because they were harder or louder than others, but because I always found their music very interesting. The metal as we know probably did find its current form through evolution a bit later though. The first band that I started listening to that I would call heavy metal was actually Helloween. Many other former and later bands have of course followed.
13. Metallica's 1991 Self-Titled Album Breaks New Billboard Record
MPAP: Yes, I know, I know. Not another Metallica question. What can I say they make a lot of news headlines. So, the Black album is approaching 17 million sales in the United States while cresting over 31 million worldwide and has sold so well that it's now become one of the only four albums in history, of any genre, to be on the Billboard 220 for 550 non-consecutive weeks. That’s over ten years? At one point I think I heard it sells like 5,000 copies a week. I wonder how many warehouses Lars has rented over the years to store them all? Anyways, blah, blah blah, either way, it’s quite the accomplishment, but more importantly, what about your band? What is something that you’re proud of that has happened, and why?
Riitu/Jake: Well, I think we have some serious work ahead of us before reaching those figures. Our greatest accomplishment at this point is of course that we have or debut ready to be released February 7th and that we are ourselves really proud and satisfied with the album and all songs in it. We have also received some positive and encouraging comments about it, so we think we are in a very good to keep trying to do great music.
MPAP: Well, that wraps up another edition of Metal Pulp And Paper’s Headline Questions, and those were some great answers. Now Mary, tell them what they’ve won. Mary? Hey Mary! Shit, we can’t find Mary, haha! Anyways, so, on behalf of Metal Pulp And Paper, we’d like to thank you, Riitu and Jake, for taking the time to answer these recent music news headline questions again. We look forward to what you or your band, Velvet Ocean, does in 2020 and beyond. Any last words for all your fans and all the Metal Pulp And Paper readers out there?
Riitu/Jake: Velvet Ocean is not yet so much known by the metal music bands, but we think that our music is worth checking out if you like a modern and original take on metal music. Thank you very much for the interview and have a terrific 2020!
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