Interview with

Bob Mitchell...who is he? That one question would take FOREVER to anwser in this introduction. UNSTOPPABLE FORCE had the honor and privilage of interviewing this man...a metal legend. Fronting bands such as ATTACKER and SLEEPY HOLLOW, Mr. Mitchel has etched himself a place in the hearts and souls of metal fans all over the world (not to mention a place in the METAL HALL OF FAME at the infamous rock club LAMOUR). Drawing influences on J.R.R. Tolkien (before BLIND GUARDIAN did so) and passionate music, Bob Mitchel creates music that stands the test of time and proves to all those "unbelievers and posers" (to quote a term used in the 80's) that METAL WILL NEVER DIE!!. Read on and see why...

(Chris handled everything up until before the SLEEPY HOLLOW years, and I (Anthony) handled the rest. Read on, and learn all about this great vocalist& his new band, VYNDYKATOR)

U.F.-How did you get into music in the first place? What was your first exposure to metal?

B.M.-As always before I begin every interview, I must say hello to you Chris and you Anthony. Thanks for allowing me this opportunity. Now let's see......... believe it or not my first exposure to music was Italian Music. I was about five years old then. As a child and even now I enjoy the music of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Jerry Vale. My first exposure to rock music was of course The Beatles which is a band I still listen to as well these days. Now for Metal my first band was Deep Purple! Gillan is God as far as I'm concerned. Well after Purple I got into Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Kiss then as time went on I got hooked on bands like Priest, Saxon, Riot, The Rods, Angelwitch, Samson, Maiden.

Well needless to say, it just snowballed from there now I'm this screaming Sicilian Metal monster brother ha, ha! All kidding aside, I love Metal but I never forget my roots. As a singer I think that listening to vocalists outside of the Metal genre has helped me to become the singer I am today. Not only in vocal technique but in stage presentaion as well. I simply enjoy entertaining and interacting with the crowd. The bigger the crowd the more fun I have.

U.F.-What bands were you in before you formed/joined WARLOC? Have you always been a vocallist? Your vocals on "Battle" are very unique sounding.

B.M.-I was in my first band when I was fourteen yeas old. The band was called Phaze and we covered bands like The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Jethro Tull, Cream and we played at backyard parties in the summer months then during the school year we did some battle of the bands type of shows. After that I joined a band called BLAST and that's when I started getting into the heavier style of music. I remember covering bands like Black Sabbath, Nazareth, KISS, UFO, Deep Purple which at that time, well even until now, they are my favorite band. So it was also around that time period when I was introduced to the music of Judas Priest because I had to learn "Deciever" and I really got hooked big time. "Sad Wings of Destiny" has to be one of the greatest Metal albums ever! By the way, in case your wondering I really aced that song. So anyway It was during my stint with BLAST that I started playing the club circuit. Back then the drinking age had just turned nineteen. I was, I believe, sixteen by then and my band mates who were well into their twenties protected me from the club owners finding out my real age and as we got popular the club owners turned the other way so to speak because, very much like today, their main concern was how much money they made for the night and I'm glad to say that they were usually very happy. So during my formative years I went to school, worked a part time job after school at a liquor store, after work I rehearsed and played shows on the weekends. It was a great learning experience. I learned a great deal about work ethics which I still adhere to this very day. Well as time went on BLAST had broken up because a couple of the members had gotten married so a short time after that is when I hooked up with WARLOC and of course as you and your readers now know, the rest is history.

By the way when I did my first album I was seventeen years old which would probably explain the unique sound to my voice. Nowadays, I have to wear very tight pants so that I can still hit them high notes ha, ha!!

U.F.-What was the NY/NJ metal scene like at the time? Was it easy to play shows? Were the fans supportive of the bands?

B.M.-The scene was great back then! It was easy to hook up with a band and pal around the circuit. Our fans back then consisted of friends and family and I remember them being very vocal at our shows. As for shows, they weren't that hard to get as I can remember. I remember going to concerts with friends and handing out fliers for an upcoming performance. Nowadays it's definately more of a business but I find it to be alot of fun still only because of the work ethics I had learned earlier in my career.

U.F.-What prompted the name change from WARLOC to ATTACKER?

B.M.-That's an easy one. We had gotten a letter from the German band which had the same name saying that they already had the name for a couple of years and that they were about to release their first album. So the long and short of it is, someone in the band suggested we use the name I had used for a song title, a song which eventually wound up on Metal Massacre Five and later became my former bands signature piece and thus the name was born.

U.F.-What consisted of the first ATTACKER demo? Why did METAL BLADE put "(Call)On The Attacker" on the METAL MASSACRE V album instead of one of the other songs? How were the songs recorded? Were you surprised when you were told you would be on the METAL MASSACRE album?

B.M.-Well besides the song that eventually went on Metal Massacre Five we also had two other numbers called "Disciple" and "Slayer's Blade". Brian Slagle loved the song he had picked it, personally, for the compilation so that's why it made it on there. We recorded the three songs on sixteen tracks at a studio called Sanctuary Studios and I think it was in Bellville,New Jersey. I honestly can't recall right now.

We recorded and mixed it in three days and that's because we were so well rehearsed. Back then we were going at it four nights per week and I think it paid off extremely well. I have to tell you that in all honesty I was not suprised that Metal Blade had picked us up. I knew then that we had something special, something very special.

U.F.--What happened with your first bass player John Joseph? How did you recruit Jimmy Schulman? What led to his expulsion from the band? Was Lou Carlo (HADES) your first choice as a replacement?

B.M.-John had some personal issues so mutually we all agreed that it was time for him to go. Jimmy Schulman was recommended to us by a friend of ours that worked in a record store in the New York City. So we listended to his demo tape and we knew that his style would compliment Jim Mooney's style of playing so we got him right in. He even contibuted a song of his to the BATTLE album which was called "Trapped Within A Time" and I thought it was a great song and it's still a favorite of mine. What led to his departure was a a strange situation because the album was completely done and some of the other members felt as though his style was too "busy". Well one thing led to another and I was the one who was eventually made to ask him to leave the band in which I did, reluctantly mind you, because I really liked Jimmy alot and I promised him that we would not perform his song and we of course never did. Anyway no sooner do we ask Jimmy to leave I was also asked to lure Louie away from HADES and I really didn't feel right about it. Come to think of it Mooney wasn't too hot on the idea either. I later found out that it was planned to have Louie in the band because unbeknownst to me, a couple of the other members were not happy with Schulman's playing which I will never understand. But it all makes sense now because one of the members and Louie were really good friends and while he was in HADES he was quietly being recruited into our band. So in short I did the dirty work so that the members that really wanted Louie in the band didn't take the heat for it. When it all went down, I was painted as the bad guy. That right there was the begining of the end for me and Jim (Mooney) as far as that band was concerned. I will go on record to say that I was no angel after that because I truly did not like what was going on in that camp. I was accused of slacking off because of some girlfriend I had at that time but I swear on my kids that the girlfriend had absolutely nothing to do with it. Things did not turn out the way I had hoped for at that time and that's why I started fucking off. It must be understood that I helped start this band way back in 82 so for me to fuck off and eventually leave, that just shows you that the direction the band was going in was not, in my view, a good one. If I had hated the band so much then why did I, in recent years, beg for a reunion of the original band? Because I loved that band that's why. The band has brought me noteriety and I am very proud of what I had accomplished with them but things got real bad and I rebeled and eventually left. I don't regret my actions because I understood what I was doing. It was my way of standing my ground. I guess after all these years it's paid off in many ways because I'm still in the proverbial spotlight while others have fallen by the wayside.

U.F.-How did the recording for "Battle At Helms Deep" get overbudget? How much of a budget was there in the first place? How pissed was METAL BLADE?

B.M. I can't recall the budget or how much it went over but I do know that I was up there in price. After Louie got into the band it was decided, and I can't recall by whom, that the bass tracks were to be done over again!! I mean the album was mixed, in the can and ready to get pressed. I think METAL BLADE was told that they (the band) needed more time and in my estimation I don't believe that they were too happy about that, but for some reason they complied to their wishes. I had put up such a stink about it that I was not allowed to sit in those sessions and Mooney thought it was ridiculous and he just didn't go. I can't tell you how "pissed" Metal Blade was because I wasn't there. Besides I didn't want to know so you might have to ask Mr. Slagel himself about all that.

U.F.-The cover art on the original release sucks. What was the original painting for the cover like? Was the crappy art METAL BLADE's revenge on you for going overbudget on the recording? Do you think people might not have taken the album seriously because of the horrendous cover art?

B.M.-All I will say is that if the band went overbudget, then the label was within their rights to do what they had to do. The cover art was terrible, it's true, but I can't say that I blame the label for that decision plus I had nothing to do with the outcome of the album because I felt as though it was done already. I'm just glad it came out. It was a sense of accomplishment. I do feel that the album might have held a higher level of legitimacy if the cover art was more professional looking. But then again if you look at the old METAL BLADE catalouge and some of the albums that were out at that time. It's a safe bet to say that those covers were really horrendous!! At least ours was somewhat more colorful then the other albums they had out at that time (ha, ha). One of the stories I had gotten was that the original planned artwork was on some sort of screen plate and somehow it was delivered cracked at the printing shop. It was later confirmed by a member of another band that we were on the label with. He said that he had seen on Slagle's desk cracked to pieces of the original artwork. He was told that it had accidentally been dropped. Yeah, right and Hitler loved the Jews. Seriously though, it was the music that helped make the album shine and I'm real proud of that. Despite any misgivings I will always appreciate the opportunity METAL BLADE had given us in the first place and I hope to be under that label again someday simply because it is the premier Metal label.

U.F.-What was the reaction to the album upon its release? Who handled the licensing for the European market? How many albums did the band sell worldwide of the "Battle" LP?

B.M.-The reaction was sensational! Again the music is what sold the album because there was already a huge buzz about the band because of the demo and the Metal Massacre Five album so when it came out, it was instantly popular and nowadays it's being regarded as an underground classic. Roadrunner Records handled the European distribution and I believe we sold fifty thousand copies which was alot at that time.

U.F.-How good were METAL BLADE in terms of tour support and album promotion? Do you think the band could have been as big as maybe SLAYER if you had proper promotion?

B.M.-I think if things were left the way they were I am certain that the band could have surpassed SLAYER. We had gotten a few high profile shows through the label but alot of our other shows we got on our own. Thankfully we had a good loyal following and a strong album behind us and at that time those high profile shows really did the trick as well.

U.F.-Did you leave ATTACKER or were you thrown out of the band? What did you think of your replacement John Leone (who sang on "The Second Coming" LP)? How soon after ATTACKER did you form SLEEPY HOLLOW? What can you tell us about the band NIGHTHUNTER?

B.M.-As I stated earlier I LEFT the band and a short while afterwards Jim left the band also and of course as many of you already know, we wrote the more memorable songs on that first album and it was our song that got us signed in the first place. So for us to leave was not easy but we did it because of the direction that was being taken. For the record it was nothing MUSICAL it was just certain members taking over and veteran members allowing it and when the veteran members didn't side with us, first me, then later, Jim left.

As for John Leone, he was a super nice guy and a great vocalist. I had the pleasure of meeting him and we talked for while about alot of things. He was definately a class act.

Let's see Jim and I left in 86 and we formed NIGHTHUNTER in 87. We recorded a four song demo which never really went beyond the studio and maybe a couple of clubs for some performances but nothing ever materialized so we put the band on the shelf. Jim wanted to settle down so we parted ways but we remained close friends. So throughout 1988 I bounced around in cover bands and I started to write again and I wanted to apply those ideas for an original band. So that's when I had decided to form SLEEPY HOLLOW. That was in the summer of 89.

U.F.-SLEEPY HOLLOW was quite an interesting band. How did you form this band? Were you looking to continue in ATTACKER's sound, or was S.H. a new beginning for you?

B.M.-HOLLOW was absolutely a new start for me. NIGHTHUNTER was great musically but it sounded so much like the old band because of Jim's style of writing music. I always a huge fan of Doom Metal and the ideas that I had were really based on the works of famous authors like Edgar Allen Poe and Bram Stoker. So while I was jamming around in the cover circuit I had made alot of friends. I had hooked with my then drummer, Tommy Wassman and he was invited to a wedding. Coincidently I had gotten the same invitation and it was the wedding of my guitarist Steve Stegg who was a mutual friend of ours. So at the reception we discussed the probability of putting a band together. A couple of weeks went by and we needed a bass player so I recruited Steve Brink who was with me in NIGHTHUNTER. When we first played together I knew I had fallen into something special again. Stegg and I had alot of material written so we started piecing our ideas together. Tommy our drummer helped out with some the time changes and arrangements. The first song we ever wrote was "Final Conflict" and it just rolled on from there. Lucky for me I was able to find another great songwriting partner in Steve Stegg. We pretty much liked the same bands. Our style was patterned after Sabbath, Candlemass, Saint Vitus and Trouble that along with our love for horses which is where the Dragon-winged stallion idea came from. Hell we may have been the first Power/Doom Metal band. If that term even exists or not I would like to think that HOLLOW formulated that style first. Come to think of it, many bands in the late eighties and early nineties were headed towards either a thrash or a more commercial glam style. Not us though we remained a Heavy Metal band!

U.F.-The first release, "A Legend Retold" absolutely KICKS ASS!!!! What record label were you signed to at this point, and do you feel this label did a good job supporting the band?

B.M.-Thank you that means alot to me. However "Legend" was only a demo back then. We basically supported ourselves for the entire existance of the band.

U.F.-The self-titled album is then released. Where did you tour for this album? Who shared the stage with you? What are your fondest memories of this tour?

B.M.-We performed mostly in the east coast in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. I booked the shows myself. We never toured but we played out alot. The band would rehearse three to four nights per week and on the weekends we would engage in our performances. After a while we started landing some high profile shows.

Let's see we opened for SAVATAGE, TROUBLE, MANOWAR, PANTERA, WRATHCHILD AMERICA, WHIPLASH, NON FICTION just to name a few. We headlined many of our own shows especially in Delaware and Pennsylvania. We were quite visible back then and it paid off because people still love our music and many still remeber it. Some even remeber our shows from back then. It was the best years I've ever had in the business. From 89 to 93 we shook up the east coast. I'll never forget my time with SLEEPY HOLLOW.

U.F.-Playing with Pat Marinelli again must have been really easy on the band chemistry. With the knowledge of yourself and Pat being in the band, fans must have went crazy. Why did Steve Stegg leave, and how did you learn of Danny Bonner? What can you tell us about Danny.

B.M.-Pat was always one of my favorite people. He's a good guy. Pat's the one who brought in Danny and I trusted his judgement. Steve wanted to leave the band. He loved the band but not on a full time basis which is what it was turning into. So mutually we agreed that his happiness was more important. As a matter of fact Steve is the one who suggested bringing Pat into the band. It paid off to because our following just jumped right up due to the previous success Pat and I had shared together with our first band. Danny was a quiet guy and a great addition to the band. He was an outstanding player as well. It was great having him with us.

U.F.-Seeing that SLEEPY HOLLOW received such GREAT response from both fans and media, one wonders why the band never became so huge. Is this due to poor management?

B.M.-I'll answer this in the simplest of terms. By 1993, we were all burned out. We were self managed and I think we did a good job of putting out the name. But after awhile the towel needed to be thrown in. In my estimation in this business their is only poor management. I mean that.

Did you ever see "VH-1 Behind the Music"? You think I would ever go through all that bullshit? Forget about it. Everything that I've accomplished was done with only my bands behind me. I think that I'm most proud of what I've accomplished because it was all done without some buciac in a suit telling me the ways of the world while his pockets swell with money earned by me and the boys, capice?

U.F.-SLEEPY HOLLOW officially called it quits in 1993. Please tell us about the band's retirement; why did you decide this, and who do you keep in touch with?

B.M.-I retired the band. I've had enough. At that time I have been performing for eleven years straight. It was all in succesion without any time off. It was the best decision because friendships were in jeopardy and it wasn't fun anymore. Besides we had nothing left to prove. I don't see any of them these days and I probably won't either. Individually we have moved on with our lives and there is no reason to look back except for the times and memories the had together. Plus I'm not gonna try to reunite HOLLOW especially considering what had happened with the other band.

U.F.-As far as I know, after SLEEPY HOLLOW, you were on hiatus for a while. What did you do from that point on? Did you front any local bands? What was it like being a ring announcer? I'm sure you have a million stories about that point in your life. Please share any stories you'd like to.

B.M.-I had quit music entirely at that time. I needed to stay away from it. So, no I didn't front any bands again until May of 98 when I formed my cover band DENIM and LEATHER. Now the way I got into ring announcing was that over the years I had become friends with alot of the local wrestlers and one friend in particular had always told me that I would make a good ring announcer. So when I called it a day with the music, naturally I made the transition from wearing a leather jacket to wearing a tuxedo. It was an easy one to make because I really felt comfortable doing it. I was still in front of people and the center of attention which is important for any performer. I worked for alot of independent promotions like the IWA out of Puerto Rico, WWWA which was Dino Sanna's group out of Pennsylvania, NWA New Jersey, NWC out of Las Vegas, GSWA and ECPW out of Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey which is the promotion that broke me into the business. I will always be grateful to Gino Caruso and Mike Spilane for opening the doors for me. Let's see I also worked for Mario Savoldi who later on helped me get into broadcasting. I was doing Spanish broadcasting for a show called "El Maximo De Lucha Libre (Ultimate Pro Wrestling)". The show ran on alot of Telemundo affiliates around the world so that was great exposure for me. Mario also ran the IWCCW promotion. I learned alot from him. He was a great guy to work for. Hey if any of you wrestling fans are reading this interview please give my best to him as well as Gino Caruso.

Let's see stories? Well if I could tell you any in relation to wrestling I would but I'm gonna have to kayfay you guys. Nothing personal it's just out of respect to the boys and the promoters I had worked for.

U.F.-How did you become involved with working for BARD MUSIC MAGAZINE and UNCHAIN THE UNDERGROUND WEBZINE?

I did an interview with BARD and Bart liked it so much that he offered me a spot as a guest reviewer for his magazine. It's really as simple as that. Greg Smith from UNCHAIN liked my style of writing as well, so he offered me the same thing so now I write for both of them and I absolutely love it. I get to hear some great music and offer an opinion which I'm guessing they value so it's quite a compliment. Who knows this could be yet another career path for me!

U.F.-Today, you're back to the scene with VYNDYKATOR. Originally, you had revived the name ATTACKER. Why did you change the name? Can you elaborate on this?

B.M.-Sorry boys but I really don't want to elaborate on that subject. It's really a touchy thing for me. Just rest assured that VYNDYKATOR will be a major player in the business.

U.F.-The last official show under the name ATTACKER for yourself was the first weekend in November at the Birch Hill Nite Club. Fantastic show!!! Before that, you did some shows, one in particular, the Power Mad 2000. How was this festival? What were the fans' reactions to ATTACKER with Bob Mitchell returning to kick some ass!!!???

B.M.-POWERMAD was great!! The fans, the bands, Keith Menser fucking rules!! It was a major accomplishment for me. During our performance the fans were very vocal and to my surprise they sang EVERY song word for word with us. That just blew me away that after all these years, the kids still love the music.

U.F.-How did you assemble VYNDYKATOR? How did you come up with the name? What are your plans on the new album?

B.M.-VYNDYKATOR is the same line-up you saw at the Birch Hill performance as well as the POWERMAD show in which everyone is still talking about. King Fowley had come up with the name which was originally VINDICATION. Our bass player trimmed it down to VYNDYKATOR. I came up the actual spelling of the name. These boys stuck it out with me so I am very loyal to them. Also the fans have been above and beyond in a matter of speaking. So thanks to all of you. We already have four songs completely written. The musical direction is going to be much heavier than my two previous bands. I would venture to say that our music is a cross between early RAVEN along the current brutality of "Jugulator" by PRIEST added with elements of Doom Metal in the vein of CANDLEMASS and TROUBLE. But by and large there is only one style of Metal and that's HEAVY which many of you already know it's what we do best!

U.F.-Do you see VYNDYKATOR playing any European metalfests? When will you begin to tour? When can we expect to see you perform live? Any ATTACKER or SLEEPY HOLLOW songs?

B.M.-Absolutely!! I don't think we're in any position to tour but we will play festivals. Besides I truly enjoy the atmosphere of a festival plus you can reach alot more people in one day than you would breaking your ass touring. We broke our asses for alot of years. Now its time to relax, enjoy ourselves and split some skulls open sheer Metal brutality! As for performing songs from the first band? No. That privilege was taken away from us. As for SLEEPY HOLLOW? Maybe just one or two songs because we want the music of VYNDYKATOR to stand on its own merit. In other words we don't want the old music to overshadow our new material. I want all the old music to be a memory. A good memory and nothing more.

U.F.-What are some of the most memorable bands you've shared the stage with? Any possibility of VYNDYKATOR touring again with these bands for your up-coming tour?

B.M.-Here's a list of the best bands I've had the honor of sharing the stage with over the years; FATES WARNING, SAXON, SAVATAGE, WHIPLASH, RAVEN and OCTOBER 31. As far as touring is concerned, I'm sure that we'll hook up with a high profile act in due time. Probably during one of our festival appearances. You never know who's watching. But right now our main priority is to get the album done and have it released. After that, I'm very confident that everything else will fall into place.

U.F.-That's it. It was a pleasure!! Anything you wish to add; final comments?

B.M. Well it was an honor and a privilege for me to appear in your 'zine! I can't thank you enough for the support you have shown me and the boys.

Watch for "Heaven Sent From Hell" our debut album which will be out this summer. I also want to thank King Fowley for the opportunity of signing on to his label! OLD METAL Rules!! Chris and Anthony again you've got a great webzine here. I wish you both continued success. This is the first interview I've done on behalf of VYNDYKATOR. I'm relieved to finally put closure to my past endeavors. The only way to go now is all the way up.

And for the the ones who tried to stop us? I've said this before but it's so true.......... you gotta go home sometime heh, heh,heh................. capice?

DISCOGRAPHY

ATTACKER-Metal Massacre V

ATTACKER-Best of Metal Blade:Volume One(Disciple)-1986-Metal Blade Records

SLEEPY HOLLOW-Self Titled)-1990-Azra Records

ATTACKER-True Metal Triumphant-(Wrath Of Nevermore and Disciple)-2000-Sentinel Steel Records

SLEPPY HOLLOW-A Legend Retold-2000-Old Metal Records

VYNDYKATOR-Heaven Sent From Hell-2001 (Summer)-*Battle Zone Records

*-Battle Zone Records is just Old Metal with a new name. Sorry if this caused any confusion!

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