SYL "The New Black"
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The_Great_WV_Trendkill
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Niko Kaartinen of Finland's Imperiumi webzine recently conducted an interview with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD mastermind Devin Townsend. A few excerpts from the chat follow (translated from Finnish by Mike Portnoy forum member "tommidt"):
Imperiumi: "The New Black" is STRAPPING YOUNG LAD's fifth and final record for Century Media. Is this the last record of SYL's career?
Devin: "I hope so. I believe so. I signed a five-album deal with Century Media and this is now the fifth. There you have five records; they are very happy with that and I've done my job. Next! (laughs)"
Imperiumi: What did the Century Media people think when you told them that you were going to take rest of the year off be with your family? Wouldn't this be the best time to promote SYL [seeing as you have a new record coming out]?
Devin: "Well, this might get me in trouble, but I couldn't care less. Should I be on tour while I have a newborn baby at home? My wife is pregnant, so should I be far from home drinking booze and pretending that I care about heavy metal? In how many different ways I can say that I don't care? In how many ways I can say that I'm through with this thing? I said I'd make five records, [and] I did them. We are now doing a European tour, playing some big shows. Fine. We'll do Ozzfest; those are big shows too. We don't need anything else, in my opinion. . . You can keep 'The New Black', I don't care anymore. Keep the rights to the band, do what you want. I don't care anymore, and I think it is just stupid. The manager, the band and record company look at me now just like I am the enemy, because I feel this way. But what can you do? You can't just keep going like this anymore. I have done this for a several years now."
Imperiumi: But still, it is about your life. You want to be able to control it.
Devin: "Exactly, if you are not able to control it, you are wasted. You'll end up being a junkie or an alcoholic who ends up cheating your wife. Or you'll end up a fake rock star, thinking you actually are one."
Imperiumi: Is the the gap between SYL and your solo material becoming closer?
Devin: "It feels like I'm less and less angry all the time. Even THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND will put out softer stuff in the future, so the SYL material feels even harder now compared to my solo material. My next recordings will probably be something like this (points out the beautiful nature of Finland's Provinssirock festival), something [representing] beautiful scenery. Beautiful things. I don't have to be hard/tough (heavy) anymore. I'm 34 years old, I'm already old."
Imperiumi: How do you want SYL to be remembered?
Devin: "As a big middle finger! How else?"
Imperiumi: Does Gene (Hoglan, SYL drummer) know yet that this is the last record?
Devin: "Umm... I don't know. I don't think anyone knows that. I just HOPE this is the last one, because I don't have anything to say with this band anymore. Who knows what the future will bring? Now I just hope that I can do other things."
Imperiumi: "The New Black" is STRAPPING YOUNG LAD's fifth and final record for Century Media. Is this the last record of SYL's career?
Devin: "I hope so. I believe so. I signed a five-album deal with Century Media and this is now the fifth. There you have five records; they are very happy with that and I've done my job. Next! (laughs)"
Imperiumi: What did the Century Media people think when you told them that you were going to take rest of the year off be with your family? Wouldn't this be the best time to promote SYL [seeing as you have a new record coming out]?
Devin: "Well, this might get me in trouble, but I couldn't care less. Should I be on tour while I have a newborn baby at home? My wife is pregnant, so should I be far from home drinking booze and pretending that I care about heavy metal? In how many different ways I can say that I don't care? In how many ways I can say that I'm through with this thing? I said I'd make five records, [and] I did them. We are now doing a European tour, playing some big shows. Fine. We'll do Ozzfest; those are big shows too. We don't need anything else, in my opinion. . . You can keep 'The New Black', I don't care anymore. Keep the rights to the band, do what you want. I don't care anymore, and I think it is just stupid. The manager, the band and record company look at me now just like I am the enemy, because I feel this way. But what can you do? You can't just keep going like this anymore. I have done this for a several years now."
Imperiumi: But still, it is about your life. You want to be able to control it.
Devin: "Exactly, if you are not able to control it, you are wasted. You'll end up being a junkie or an alcoholic who ends up cheating your wife. Or you'll end up a fake rock star, thinking you actually are one."
Imperiumi: Is the the gap between SYL and your solo material becoming closer?
Devin: "It feels like I'm less and less angry all the time. Even THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND will put out softer stuff in the future, so the SYL material feels even harder now compared to my solo material. My next recordings will probably be something like this (points out the beautiful nature of Finland's Provinssirock festival), something [representing] beautiful scenery. Beautiful things. I don't have to be hard/tough (heavy) anymore. I'm 34 years old, I'm already old."
Imperiumi: How do you want SYL to be remembered?
Devin: "As a big middle finger! How else?"
Imperiumi: Does Gene (Hoglan, SYL drummer) know yet that this is the last record?
Devin: "Umm... I don't know. I don't think anyone knows that. I just HOPE this is the last one, because I don't have anything to say with this band anymore. Who knows what the future will bring? Now I just hope that I can do other things."
Consuming Impulse
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Responding to Devin's comments from the Imperiumi interview, Hoglan has issued the following statement:
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I read the Finnish interview. True, Dev is burnt out, and of course he can change his mind quicker than bolt of lightning, but, just two days ago, he and I were talking about the next SYL record, what we're gonna do on it, and how absolutely mind-blowing it will be. We ARE taking some time off for Devin to have some much-needed family time, but, we ARE hitting the road again in March 2007, headlining tours of both America and Europe, as well as Australia and the Far East. And I am shooting the straight shit with you, as I always do. We are too good to just dissolve, and those are Dev's words. I will never apologize for one of my bandmates speaking his mind, and if that was what was on Devin's mind at that exact time and date, then that's what was on his mind. Give the man some space. Don't worry kiddies, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD is not disappearing anytime soon. We are a fuckin' fungus. No cream or lotion is gonna do us in that easily. Unless, of course, it's Vagisil
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I read the Finnish interview. True, Dev is burnt out, and of course he can change his mind quicker than bolt of lightning, but, just two days ago, he and I were talking about the next SYL record, what we're gonna do on it, and how absolutely mind-blowing it will be. We ARE taking some time off for Devin to have some much-needed family time, but, we ARE hitting the road again in March 2007, headlining tours of both America and Europe, as well as Australia and the Far East. And I am shooting the straight shit with you, as I always do. We are too good to just dissolve, and those are Dev's words. I will never apologize for one of my bandmates speaking his mind, and if that was what was on Devin's mind at that exact time and date, then that's what was on his mind. Give the man some space. Don't worry kiddies, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD is not disappearing anytime soon. We are a fuckin' fungus. No cream or lotion is gonna do us in that easily. Unless, of course, it's Vagisil
The_Great_WV_Trendkill
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I like the whole flute solo jazz section in Antiproduct, not an album I'd personally spend my money on though
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omghaxlol!1
Arg_Hamster
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I remember when Devin disbanded SYL back in 1999 or 1998. He felt the same things then. I think they should disband or put the band on ice if he´s not into it, I was cool with Suicidal shutting down in 1994 (though Mike started it again) and when Faith No More called it a day. It takes attitude to quit the rockstar act and disband for real. Who knows how he´ll feel about it tomorrow or in 2 years? And besides, when he and Tracy is going to have a kid I can´t blame him for wanting to change his priorities.
I´d rather have just 5 insipred SYL albums to listen to than another 5 shitty ones (St. Anger anyone).
I´d rather have just 5 insipred SYL albums to listen to than another 5 shitty ones (St. Anger anyone).
The_Great_WV_Trendkill
Los Loser 4 life
Saw them at Ozzfest. They freaking destroyed. Sent cold chills down my spine. Got my copy of The New Black autographed
And also, dude...
And also, dude...
Arg_Hamster
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The_Great_WV_Trendkill said:Saw them at Ozzfest. They freaking destroyed. Sent cold chills down my spine. Got my copy of The New Black autographed
And also, dude...
Ahhh! You got the Dev-pose!
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