Melancholy metal voices are so
hard to find in a metal scene that seems to want to continue ripping
off Rob Halfart (not a typo just my name for him), sure super high
vocals are great when I'm in a good mood but when I'm bummed I love
voices like Matt Barlow, Blaze Bayley, Bobby Lucas and Myke Hideous.
These guys voices make me think that there is someone else out there
that understands the darkness that I feel inside.
Speaking of darkness, have you heard the two BRONX CASKET COMPANY CDs??
They are about as dark as metal can be without having to go black or
death and grumbling about Satan. Spearheaded by DD Verni of Overkill
fame this band has spanked Type O Negative and sent them to bed when
it comes to Doomy Gothic Metal. As good as the music is, I think most
of the darkness is generated by Myke Hideous's vocal cords. With that
said lets see if his e-mail works as good as his vocal cords.
Empire Hideous has been around since
the end of the
80’s right? Before
Empire is there any bands that you
were in that you will still admit too?? If so what did
you learn from them that set the stage for Empire??
band I was in before HIDEOUS was a hardcore horror
rock band called ANGRY CORPSES. Influenced by
T.S.O.L., MINOR THREAT, THE F.U.s and THE MISFITS. The
guitarist Kenny Balon went on to play bass for M.O.D.
and the drummer Frank Nasty is now in a band called
the TOMBS TONES with my ex-guitarist Donfaratu.
However, in answer to your question, I learned nothing
from my experiences with ANGRY CORPSES.
way.)
always been a part of your shows since the beginning??
doing performance art and pro readings and at other
bands shows. Setting off firecrackers before the band
would go on and getting kicked out of the club as a
result. Exposing myself at fetish clubs as the host of
a gig and stuff like that. Fun stuff.
of Empire mellowed out??
but you never know what might happen.
done on stage??
attention from everybody watching the show. Some
people had to turn away because it was too brutal for
them will videos of death and carnage played on the TV
set on stage. And when I say whipped, I mean WHIPPED!
Welts, blood scars and extreme pain with every crack,
right up to the 39th blow. It was no act or
simulation, believe me.
your past stage shows?
razor cuts before a gig. No big deal though.
for your darker side and maybe S&M fetishes?
while the performance was going on. It's not easy to
explain, but I must say they were NEVER an attempt to
recreate an S&M/B&D scenario. My personal fetishes are
NOT so public.
subculture" started to form in NYC? Was it always
there or is there a certain date or event that you
think started it??
was at it's peek in the mid 80's where I experienced
some of it, but considering I was more of a punk rock,
horror kid, I didn't pay much attention to it. I hated
the Cure and couldn't care less about the Sisters Of
Mercy.
how much of an influence does that scene have on you??
myself turned on to that specific subculture just as
it started to poke its head out in the early 90's, and
even before that. As a result "I" somewhat assisted in
getting the scene started with fellow members of the
assembly. Now, I'm a higher ranking member to the
society. I contributed my time to the movement when it
had virtually 30 members to its coven.
about in your book "KING OF AN EMPIRE TO THE SHOES OF
A MISFIT" or is it simply a book about the rock
industry and your climb through it?? Or is it more of
a "Piss off" to the Misfits??
Well, I talk about what drew me to the subculture
scene of vampirism and go on from there about the
industry and then (as you put it) my "piss off to the
Misfits" section.
Vampyre scene?? If so how is the war being waged?
petty bullshit.
and metalheads??
a question like that. Everyone has there own opinion
and preferences.
COMPANY?
in the local music newspaper and I got a call from
guitarist Jack Frost explaining to me about how he and
DD Verni from Overkill were starting up a side project
and that I should sing for them. I listened to the
demo and agreed to do the BCC album with them.
However, it wasn't until after I was out of the
Misfits that I truly committed myself to doing the
album. That’s pretty much it in a nut shell.
by Myke Hideous?
different image, since I myself did not take part in
any of the writing. It doesn't matter anyway. The
record label fucked up anyway and put a sticker on the
CD that featured me, "Mike Hydeous" from the Misfits.
That shot everything to shit. I just wanted to
separate the two rolls that I was now going to
portray.
on the phone every once in a while.
like Overkill and instead of the doomy gothic sound it
has??
but did not know to which extreme it would lead to.
Records in Germany.
October, but everyone in the band had different plans.
all DD. When he's ready, he'll do it.
because it seems better produced than the first. But
that’s just my opinion.
DD extended to me for both of them
bands??
Spirits, Interpol, Chameleons UK. The list goes on and
on.
new album from EMPIRE HIDEOUS, 'Say Your Prayers' will
be out on Hells Hundreds Records in October or
November 2003 and available through
http://wwwmiddlepillar.com.
