Earlier this week I was interviewed by Fabio from the Italian metal newsletter, THE METAL WAY. Unfortunately, this newsletter is not available online, but Fabio was cool enough to let us post this transcript.
Chester
METAL WAY (MW): FREAK13 is known for being a horror-influenced heavy metal band. Where does that influence come from and how does it inspired your music?
Chester Moore (FREAK13): This project goes back to 1995 when my friend Todd Sonnier and I formed a band called Destroyer. That is the roots of FREAK13. Eventually it became Dark Horse for a little while and then 13 and eventually FREAK13. In the early stages of songwriting, I was capturing my interest in things like cryptozoology in songs like "Swamp Devil" and horror movies in songs like "Wolfen". I have been a fan of horror from the classic Universal stuff on to modern horror my whole life. I mean since I was old enough to watch those movies I have found them interesting and extremely entertaining. As a songwriter, the honest way to write is to write about what you know or what interests you and I love to take the very strong emotions and stories from either horror films or create our own horror sagas. After the first 13 CD, "Of Unknown Origin" which had songs like "Swamp
Devil", "Red Moon Rising", "Wolfen" and "Boogey Man" we found our style and continue to take it to a new level.
MW: I didn't realize the roots of this band go back so far. I discovered you while reading an article on Fangoria.com about your FEAR NO EVIL CD.
FREAK13: Well, that's why we are putting out a boxed set March 13, 2007 called "Legacy of Horror" through Almas Records. We have a rich history and some cool songs dating back to the first Destroyer efforts and eventually the first 13 CD. Our fanbase has grown tremendously in the last two and a half years since FEAR NO EVIL came out, but the older material which we still alternate in and out of the set list is somewhat unknown. With the boxed set we will be able to introduce people to the older music, give them a comprehensive package which will include a DVD of using playing Hollywood called FREAK13: Dead on the Sunset Strip and will have bonuses including some never before seen FREAK13 videos. We will also have brand new music on one of the discs including what is my current favorite FREAK13 song, "The Town that Dreaded Sundown".
MW: Sounds like an awesome project. We will get back to it later. I would like to continue with our talk about your horror inspiration. You have said in the past that horror has lasted because of the strength of its stories and emotions. How does that translate to song?
FREAK13: Let's take a movie like "Friday the 13th". It was a huge huge hit and spawned a very successful franchise that is popular to this day. The reason for this is that first movie was so deep in emotion. You had this raw rage in the character of Pamela Voorhees who was coming to avenge her son. She was sincere in the love of her retarded son who drown and that is what made it creepy. She was on a mission. So when I wrote the song I sang half from Jason's perspective and then wrote the middle part, which carries the songs for Raven to sing of Pamela Voorhees love for her son and then switching to that rage on a dime. We have played that song from coast to coast and that moment always scares people in the audience is widely commented on by the audience. We do not do horror tongue in cheek. On the boxed set, we have a couple of fun songs that are new but we are not a band that bases our horror around camp and tongue-in-cheek attitude. We love a lot of the bands that do but we rarely venture into that territory.
MW: When you first started out were there other bands doing anything similar. Was there a scene for lack of better word for this kind of metal where you are from in Texas?
FREAK13: There was not and there is not. When Todd and I first founded Destroyer we were told metal was dead and we should wear flannel and be like Pearl Jam. I would rather have died. The bands in the area we grew up in were very alternative and that's not us at all. When we forged ourselves into 13, we were told we should be doing rap metal. Once again, we gave everyone the finger and did what we do. Then when we became FREAK13 and I decided to get a female singer I was told it was a terrible idea. I knew in my heart it was the right thing and Raven was perfect for us. Well, guess what. She allowed us to take the music to a new level altogether and we became more successful than ever and we have a big fanbase around the country that love FREAK13 and thing Raven is just the greatest. I learned to never listen to anyone when they speak against my convictions. I stand proud and stay I never bent to anyone's expectations of us and did what I believed was right the whole time.
MW: A lot of bands get caught up in pleasing others particularly their peers.
FREAK13: Yes, they do and that's unfortunate. While we had and have plenty of fans at home we knew the way to achieve our dream was to build a worldwide fanbase and that's what we are working on. If you stay local, you will never be global.
MW: Since you're putting out a boxed set was there anything from the band's past you looked at and went "Hey, that was pretty cool?" What are you favorite songs from the band's history?
FREAK13: I'm proud of everything we have done. Sometimes the production was subpar because of budgets, but the songs are all something I stand behind. It was cool looking back at "Of Unknown Origin" because there were a few things we haven't played from it for a long time. I think on the tour to support the boxed set we are going to dig out a few songs like "Boogey Man" and "Wolfen" to put in the set which should be fun. In terms of favorite songs, that is a very difficult question. If I had to pick say five songs that are my favorites we have done I would probably say "Believe In Me", "Broken Circle", "Crystal Lake", "The Town that Dreaded Sundown" and "Watching Autumn". But hell, I love em all! LOL The cool thing about the boxed set is you will have everything we've ever one on there so you get it all.
MW: Any touring plans for the coming year?
FREAK13: Well, we are booked to play Texas Frightmare Weekend in Dallas June 22-24 (http://www.texasfrightmareweekend.com) We played it last year and it was great. We have people asking us all the time if we're playing it again and the answer is "yes". We are working on a tour right now with our good friend Ari Lehman who played Jason in the first Friday the 13th. He has a kick-ass band called First Jason and we are working on details right now for a summer tour that should melt faces.
MW: Will there be another FREAK13 full length CD of new material in the future?
FREAK13: Well, disc four of the boxed set which will be a five-disc set for mass distribution and a special six disc collectible set will have a disc with a bunch of new stuff. However, in terms of a brand new CD that stands alone there will be on in 08 and the idea we are pursuing will be something we have never done and will take the music to a whole new level.
MW: What about other projects:
FREAK13: I will have a custom Voorhees bass coming out with October Guitars, (http://www.octoberguitars.com) the company that endorses me. It will be a replica of the one I play onstage and is just amazing sounding and looking. We will also have a line of shirts coming out with clcgraphix (http://www.clcgraphix.com). Both of those companies are awesome and make great products.
MW: Any parting words for the fans?
FREAK13: Thanks for the support for all these years. We hope you check out the boxed set and come to see us this year at Texas Frightmare Weekend or on tour this summer.
