what kind of music do you play? Louder than rock signed? Nope write your own songs? Yea but not so much for Violent Divine I chug out the occasional riff that Gus might turn into a VD-song but not much other than that. other band members? Mike, Klaus and Gus.
instruments you play? Guitar, bass. I´m actually an excellent drummer for about 15 seconds, until I loose the beat :) I actually played the drums in a punk rock band where Mike played bass. We recorded two songs for a compilation album and then split up. # of songs you have recorded? Oh my… too many to remember since we demo all our songs... # of records you have out? Hmm... a few I guess… one album and 3 singles with Violent Divine and then a couple of albums with previous bands # of songs you have written but not recorded? Well like I said, most songs are recorded as demo versions, but of course there might be a few that didn’t make it ? ever toured? Yea most recently in Finland touring now? no plans to tour? Of course, touring is always in the plans for VD. Invite the Divine and we’ll be there ready to rock.
on any soundtracks? Nope… wait. I think a couple of songs from the debut album was used for an on-line video game called Pitfighters. Don’t know if it was a huge hit… where does your song material come from? Mostly from our drummer Gus, he´s the main songwriter in the band. influences? Peter Griffin, Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Dimebag, Zakk Wylde, family, guys in the band and many more. artists you like? Every artist that speaks to me, from Swedish jazz musician Jan Johansson to Arch Enemy. I like good music, not a certain style so there are a shit load of artists/musicians that I like. besides family and close friends, who would you say your number 1 fan is? I really don´t know, hard to pinpoint WHO the biggest fan is but we met some crazy beautiful people along the way. parents supportive of your music? Yeah! ever in a school talent show? No, I was a shy kid! favourite thing to wear when performing? Band t-shirt, jeans, converse sneakers and of course some metal jewelry along with that. stool, standing,...? You don´t go to war sitting down! have any groupies? No, I usually end up talking to the local drunks after the shows, you know the (mostly) guys who used to play an instrument or was in a band themselves... I consider them to be my groupies
supportive stuff fans have done? Sending us pics and videos from our shows, taking care of us and being generally sweet to us… like buying us drinks and stuff
favorite place to play? Finland has proven to be a stronghold for heavy music and the people there are into the music so I really love to play there. And of course, in Finland they serve Fisu, I think that’s the way to spell it… it’s a very strong shot of mint flavoured vodka… or whatever have any music videos? Yep, Rush You, Let´s Go and Levitate first single? Rush You swear on stage? Constantly! Not necessarily in the microphone though... remember I am a shy kid. favorite memory in the business? Well recently on tour in Finland some dude offered us a place to spend the night, or as he put it: at his mansion. Luckily we met some guys from another band who told us that place was a real shit house full of rats, no heating… and we all had that “Deliverance-feeling” so… well we declined his offer besides family and close friends, who was your first real fan? Angelica, a Swedish girl who was really supportive from the start.
have your own private jet? No but I’d like one. In fact the goal of Violent Divine is that each member travels in his own personal jet how about a yacht? No… too slow tour bus? No hippie van? No, even though I own a French car, but that doesn’t count as hippie, does it??? have a crush on another artist? Yeah but that’ll be my little secret
favorite song that you’ve written? I co-wrote “Blackheart” from the upcoming album with Mike and I think that turned out great. why’s that one your favorite? It’s the combination of a dooms day-like guitar riff, manic lyrics and a beautiful melody. tell me about some of your top 8 myspace friends! The guys in the band of course, Mama Trash with a secure top spot on my list, Angelica who is our first fan, Leenstar looking great in that Divine t-shirt, and… ta-daaaaaaa - my cousin Roger. He asked to be top 8 and I simply couldn’t say no because he’s family…
have any myspace, livejournal, etc. fan groups? Not really. There’s just www.myspace. com/qdivine and http://trig.com/ qdivine btw I need more trigs on that one so… c’mon u guys – Trig me! if so, how many members? Eh… not enough by far so… bring ‘em on! paparazzi care about you? Not in my home town luckily smile when you play? Well it’s part of being a guitarist making faces while throwing away those solos. It sort of comes with the guitarist-DNA… not much of a smile though… if you sit when you perform, do you cross your legs or no? If you see me sit down while performing, I’m too drunk to be on-stage anyway – crossed legs or not buddies with anyone famous? Yeah me and Eddie go way back before Gene Simmons of Kiss discovered Van Halen… no I’m just shitting you. Being a buddy to the guys in Violent Divine is good enough for me. goal you’d like to achieve this year? (musically) There are always songs to write and riffs to be squeezed out of that guitar. smoke on stage? Not sure that would be a great idea if I want to keep my hair at present length
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This has been an exclusive Violent Divine US Street Team Interview Š 2008 ViolentDivine.se & MamaTrash.com