Hi Chuck.
“Hi, how are you doing?”

I’m fine, how are you?
“Good.”

Okay, I hope you’re open-minded for some critical stuff?
“Sure. Why not? I’m used to being criticized.”

Okay… So, first of all, what was the reason for you to cut down the schedule for this promotional tour?
“The reason to… what? The European tour?”

No, the promotional tour… It was supposed to be longer…
“That’s due to the fact that we have only two weeks to rehearse before we tour. So, there would be no way to tour and also do two weeks of promotion, you know what I mean?”

Yeah.
“There’s just no possible way, unless we wanna go out and sound unprofessional, which I definitely don’t want us to do.”

But don’t you think that you’re often driving a lot of people mad, because of your headstrong character?
“Well… why? Because I cut short the promotional tour?”

Yeah, and because of the tours, which have been cancelled and stuff like that…
“Well, as far as the promotional tour… I mean, this is irrelevant to the fans as far as… I mean, I’m still doing interviews, they just had to cut it down, you know. It’s like saying, well, why don’t you stand up in front of a train and get hit? Why should I, if I can avoid getting hit? You know what I mean? I’m not a jerk because I can’t do a week of promotion. It’s due to the fact that we have hardly had a chance to rehearse and we’ve got to rehearse, because that is professional. I’m not unprofessional. I want to sound professional, you know? That would be like me telling you to put your magazine out a month earlier than it’s supposed to when you’re in the middle of typing, you know. It just can’t be done. It wasn’t possible. Believe me, I wanted to. It was very upsetting for me to have to cut it short as well.”

I’ve talked to several people about DEATH and about you as a person… A lot of them are wondering if you see yourself as such an important person in the scene that you can do whatever you want to?
“No, I do what I have to. I don’t do what I want to. That’s definitely very, very different things. Obviously, I would be nowhere without the people who buy the records. So, I don’t think I’m so important that I can just get away with doing drastic things. I do things in life because I have to, because I make mistakes just like anyone else. I’m a person. I’m not perfect. I’m not rich. I’m not perfect like people think I am or they think I am. I’m very much vulnerable to life’s problems. It’s just like you are or just like anyone else is. I have had to deal with things the only way I could. Just like… I’m sure it was very shocking for people to see me not come to Europe with KREATOR. But at that point in my life, I was very upset and depressed with a lot of things that were going on in my life, in the band, outside the band… like business, I should say. After eight years of doing this and never seeing a penny… And not just that, I’m not even bringing money into it, I shouldn’t even say that. It’s just, a lot of things built up after eight years… I think my two lives were combined, my life outside the band, which is very important. And the band in general, they were crossing each other too much. I needed time out to think about things in life, to just have time for myself. Because all I feel like I did was give and I really needed time to do something for myself for once. You know what I mean? Do you have a limit? As far as tolerating things? Let’s say your hand is over a fire. How long can you tolerate that flame until it hurts?”

Yeah, I see…
“Okay, so I… let’s say my hand has been over a flame for a long time. It’s going to a point where my hand is going to disintegrate. That’s how I felt, you know. I just needed time out and I’m not wrong for wanting time out for my life. There’s artists that take five years off of touring and just to have their life for themselves. I took a few months and that’s what I needed. You know what I’m saying? I met my limit. And believe me, if I could avoid unnecessary pain in life, I would. If I could have a perfect life, I would, but I don’t. I’m far from being perfect.”

Since DEATH started a couple of years ago, there have been many new and upcoming bands in the meantime, which have become even more popular than DEATH, like MORBID ANGEL or…
“Well, first of all, MORBID ANGEL is not more popular than DEATH, because they don’t sell half the records we do. I don’t know what you’re basing your opinion on. I can show you record sales and show you MORBID ANGEL is not more popular than DEATH. First of all, I’m not in competition, but I’m just stating the facts. Record sales are facts. You know what I’m saying? Just because the band tours doesn’t mean they’re popular. There’s a lot of bands that are big and they’re not even good musicians, but they’re just getting the proper push from a label. Look at POISON, they’re shit, but they’re huge. Just because they’re pushed by a record label and cause they’re marketable somewhat…”

But, what is the reason that MORBID ANGEL isn’t playing with you at the upcoming Death Metal festivals?
“Because they didn’t want to open for DEATH.”

Ah, ok… How would you characterize yourself from your point of view?
“I would say, I’m a person that only wants a life that I deserve. I never asked for anything more. I only asked for what I feel I’ve earned. I’ve done this for… okay, let’s pretend that you worked at a job for eight years. Let’s say you worked in a restaurant for eight years and you’ve seen nothing, literally nothing, for your work for eight years. How would you feel? Would you be angry?”

I think so, yes.
“Would you feel ripped off? Would you feel like you were used?”

Yeah, sure!
“That’s how I feel a lot of times. Like, I do nothing to make other people money… and why sit back and suffer and take shit. I feel like I am not a rock star. People made me out to sound like I’m this rock star monster weirdo. I deal with assholes, just like you and everyone else deals with every day. I have to deal with people trying to rip me off, people talking shit about me that don’t even know me. I can tell you, 99% of the people… like probably around you, that you know, that talk shit about me, they don’t fucking know me. I’ve never met these people in my life, and they say I’m a jerk? They’re the jerks! They’re the ones that need psychiatric help for thinking before they even know. You know what I’m saying? That is the sickest thing! That would be like me saying, well that food really sucks. But yet I haven’t even tasted it. It’s like a little kid not wanting vegetables and saying green beans suck. They never eat them just because they heard they aren’t good. It’s the same thing. You can’t judge… that’s why I’ve gotten fucked over…”

Yeah, that’s one of the reasons why I decided to ask you a lot of these questions… to make up my own mind…
“Sure, definitely! I’m glad you are. You know, this is why I’m here, believe me. To clean up a lot of shit that a bunch of liars left behind.”

Another thing I would like to know is: what’s your zodiac sign? And do you think that you are a very typical type of person for that sign?
“Well, my girlfriend seems to think so… she’s really into that type of stuff. It is pretty interesting. I’m a taurus, which is headstrong and stubborn, which I guess I am, at certain times. Let’s put it this way. I just stand up for what I believe in. And I appreciate things in life. I really do. I appreciate things that people don’t even appreciate. I consider myself lucky to be able to come to Europe and talk to people of different cultures and different… you know… whatever. I think I’m lucky to be here right now talking to you, being able to voice my opinion, which is the truth, whether people want to believe it or not. So I think I’m a good person and I’ve had problems man, just like anyone else would have problems. The music business first of all is so cool. You know people are cool. Let’s say that people are ambitious. People, who I thought were my best friends, came here and tried to ruin me as a person, not as a band. All they did was prove to people that they can’t stand on their own. And I feel bad and I apologize right now to the readers, who had to see that, I sincerely apologize. And I’m here, in person, apologizing to people face to face right now. So I’m a person out to correct what I’ve done wrong. I’m not putting out a record that has five year old songs on it. All this material is brand new. I put everything possible into it… emotionally… everything. To prove to myself and to prove to the people that might be disappointed that DEATH is a real band, Chuck is a real person, not an imaginary thing that people have made up of me. So you know, I am sincere. I’m probably one of the most sincere people within this type of music, because I speak my mind. I don’t get around kissing peoples asses. I put out good music. I don’t put out shit, you know. I put out music with something to say and something with substance. I’m not putting my limit on this band, like so many people do, by writing about Satan and about stupid things that we can’t even prove that are real. You know what I’m saying? I find that insulting… if I would be a fan of a record with lyrics about Satan in every single song… You know I’m saying. It’s okay for a couple of songs, but whatever… Not even that, because it’s done in 1981 by VENOM. It’s old! It’s not even worth singing about. But yeah, people are doing it and they’re taking an easy way out of having to write lyrics. I take time to write lyrics. I get people quality. Because I’m my biggest critic. I am thinking about what I fucking put out. I want to get people the best that I think I can possibly give to myself.”

But is it true that you wanted to go DEATH in the Satanic direction in the very beginning and that that has caused the split between you and Kam Lee?
“No, Kam was the one that was writing Satanic lyrics… where to get that information from?”

From Kam…
“He’s a fucking liar! Do you understand that? You’re dealing with people that are liars!”

Well… I don’t know…
“Okay, well I’m just telling you. Kam Lee is the one who wrote Satanic lyrics. That’s why I took over and wrote other lyrics. That’s when I started writing about gore, which everyone is still… that’s what people are still doing. Which is cool, but whatever, you know. I chose to get away from that direction. That is… look, all I had to do was listen to the MASSACRE album and realize that they’re not very sincere about anything. So… that is such a lie. It’s incredible. Kam Lee was kicked out of DEATH because he sucks. He’s a crummy drummer! It’s reality. I can’t say he’s a good drummer, because he’s crummy. You know, actually he wasn’t kicked out, because… The truth is, he was gonna be, but he ended up quitting after two members from a band called GENOCIDE from Michigan moved down… Two weeks after they moved down to join DEATH, Kam Lee quits and has his girlfriend call me up to tell me he quits. So, I think the readers might be really interested in reading that. Which is the truth. I enjoy listening to a couple of bands that sing about the evil side or whatever… I am a big fan of MERCYFUL FATE. But the thing is MERCYFUL FATE didn’t go out cutting themselves on stage. MERCYFUL FATE didn’t go out preaching in their interviews about how they like to kill Jesus Christ. MERCYFUL FATE was a band that sang and then had very intelligent interviews. You know what I mean? They talked about music. They talked about things outside their lives. They talked about their future goals. You know, so anyone saying that I’m into Satanism is ridiculous. It’s almost… it’s definitely funny.”

Okay let’s talk a little bit about the present. What have been your first reactions when you’ve noticed that Bill and Terry are not willing to work with you anymore?
“What was my reaction? Relief. Because I would never work with someone, who tried to ruin me. I consider Bill and Terry not my best friends… I gave things to Bill and Terry that I never had to give. I treated them equally. I did not dominate people, like people think I do, which is the most ridiculous thing… I wouldn’t want people to work with me, if I was like that. I wouldn’t want to work with someone like that. It’s a relief to me as far as I’m concerned. I’ve battered my band and my life in general. I’m working with real people, who are very professional, you know what I’m saying. People who don’t put their instruments down for two weeks at a time.”

So, did you ever thought about quitting the music business completely?
“Uhm… let’s put it this way, I put everything on hold. Let’s put it that way. I just put things on hold. But I continued writing music. So, actually… I really needed that. I was gonna continue, but I just needed time out, you know. Obviously, if there’s a new record out, I’m not what people said I was gonna be and that’s Glam Rock or some shit.”

When did you start writing the stuff for the new album and how big has been the influence of the guys from CYNIC?
“Well, I wrote all the material, you know. I started writing before actually the big break up between me and the other members. And I wrote all the material while I had time off. I continued writing. So definitely, I mean… the new musicians definitely shine on this stuff, because they’re great musicians. When you work with professionals you’re gonna get something professional. You know, these are real musicians I’m working with. Not someone who has their instruments sitting around the house for two weeks until it’s time to rehearse. These are real people. These are people that study music. So definitely they’ve added a lot of energy to the music… Sean is an opposite drummer of what I’ve worked with. You can hear that I think, just like… the first few seconds. There’s a lot more aggression. So I feel lucky to have people behind DEATH, who are supportive of the music. I’m definitely… I appreciate the fact that I’ve had help from friends helping bring DEATH back into the scene.”

Will Paul and Sean continue on with CYNIC?
“Oh yes, they are, as a matter of fact. They’ve got, you know, CYNIC on hold right now.”

So you have to search for new members then…
“After the tours, I probably will. I’ll just have to see what happens. My main concern is definitely just doing these tours. And I’ve already started writing. I’ve got like probably about 25 minutes of music that I’ve already written for the next record. So I’m definitely staying ahead of things, you know. I’m working very hard to… So, there won’t be a big delay in between albums.”

How did you find Scott?
“I’ve known Scott for a few years, as well as Sean and Paul for a few years. Scott played in a band called FESTER and we played some shows with them, you know. And Scott heard that I was in need of a bass player after Steve from SADUS, you know, just came down to do the bass tracks. Steve went back and I got a phone call from Scott. Actually Scott called me before Steve came down, but we had already told Steve to start learning the stuff and he already had the flight plan. I knew Scott was a great bass player, so I knew there would be no problems with that. And he’s a very very cool guy as well, which is a crucial part of being in a band. You know, you have to get along with friends.”

Is he a permanent member in the band now?
“Yeah, Scott… totally… you know… he has no other bands going, so it’s really cool. I definitely can totally understand Sean and Paul for wanting to keep their band going. I think that’s totally understandable. I think it’s great that they can come along… I’m so excited about this line-up. I think it’s a great line-up, you know.”

What made you change the lyrical topics of the songs? You’ve changed a little bit in the lyrical direction, from the early days till now. So, what caused this change?
“I think it was a gradual change. Each album got a little less gory and I think when I got to “Spiritual…” I was definitely dealing with purely just reality. “Spiritual…” is definitely all reality, dealing with people and stuff like that. I think “Human” is just a step forward from that. “Human” is definitely revolving around people, which is what we can all relate to as being people. So that’s why I feel like I’m hopefully going to change certain people’s minds of what Death Metal is about. Because Death Metal can have meaning and it can have melody and it doesn’t have to be million miles per hour, you know. It’s good that there are bands like that, but not all bands should have to be that way.”

I’ve noticed that you’ve re-used the idea from the ‘Zombie Ritual’ intro riff very often, but always played a little bit different… Do you want that melody to become a DEATH typical type of melody?
“What melody on the album is like that?”

I don’t know the songs in particular at the moment, but there are at least two songs which sound very much like this intro riff from ‘Zombie Ritual’…
“Hmm… I don’t know. I know I have a certain style, that probably will definitely always be with DEATH. I think I definitely have a particular sound and I’m proud of that. You know, you can put a DEATH record on and you know who it is. And that’s great, I mean, I feel good when people tell me that, that’s what I want. I want DEATH to be a separate thing. I don’t know, as far as the riffing on ‘Zombie Ritual’, I don’t think I’ve ripped it off. I play leads and certain scales that might revolve around that type of Egyptian-ish or whatever sound you wanna call it. So it’s part of DEATH, that style. If it weren’t like that then I think we’d be like any other band out there.”

Have you ever thought about, if you would still play this kind of music in ten years from now?
“No, I can’t even think about it. I might not even be alive ten years from now. I mean, I hope I am. I surely don’t want to die, before I have to, but I just take one day at a time, you know. I definitely have always believed in this type of music, that’s why I’m still here even after the whole world supposedly hates me and thinks I’m a jerk. Whatever, I’m doing this music and if people like it, then great. I’d like people to support my music and not the lies that are created by people who are too weak for something else rather than talking shit. You know what I’m saying? I’m not a person who’s into talking shit! Music is what it comes down to man. We buy records for the music, not because whatever someone says about someone. It’s gotten ridiculous! I think magazines and people in general are obsessed with rumors, rather than the music. I’d rather be talking about music and not what Joe Blow thinks about me. Music is why I buy records. I go out and buy the new QUEENSRYCHE album, not because I heard Geoff Tate says he’s a cool guy or a bad guy, just because I think Geoff Tate’s a great singer! I think QUEENSRYCHE is a great band, you know. If I heard they tortured hamsters, I’d say well that’s a drag, but I still like them. You know what I’m saying? So it comes down to the music and people should be concerned with music and not what some idiot says the person has to be like. I think people, whenever they meet me and talk to me, they’re gonna know I’m just like them. I enjoy hanging out. I enjoy watching TV. I enjoy playing with my dog. I enjoy loving my friends and family. Having love in my life and enjoyment… I’m not this negative person that people think I am. I’m just dealing with a very negative world.”

Do you see yourself still as a part of the Death Metal underground scene?
“Sure! DEATH has been there from the beginning literally. Definitely! I consider being part of the underground, but I don’t want to stay on an underground level. I would like to see DEATH to achieve big things. But with being very sincere and not putting out an album with a bunch of choppy riffs that are gonna appeal to your average listener. I want people to accept that for what this music is and for what I feel it is.”

So do you think that you still play the same kind of music for the same kind of fans?
“Well I don’t play the same kind of exact music. I play Death Metal, but I don’t play the same kind that I played on “Leprosy”. Definitely “Human” is more progressive. “Human” is a very brutal album in my opinion. These bands didn’t grow. These bands are so extreme, that talk shit about me. They didn’t grow up on super fast, Satanic Metal or just super fast, straight ahead Metal. They grew up on bands that everyone else grew up on. People are trying to act like something that they’re not. I’m not saying, well I can’t listen to Billy Idol, because he doesn’t play Death Metal. I like Billy Idol! I think he is good for what he does. He’s not trying to be Death Metal. You know what I’m saying? I think people just stop putting a limit on their lives and their things that they can enjoy in life and be more open minded. You can’t stay the same. If I would stay the same, then I would never improve as a musician. Just like, if you stayed in third grade, you would never have been a writer, you know. You can’t stay in that same mode. You’ve got to progress. You’ve got to continue as a musician. But what is staying true to the fans? Is that denying yourself of achieving better things in life? Is that denying yourself of improving yourself as a musician and as a person? Why put a limit? That is so dumb, you know… I can never imagine putting out another “Leprosy”. I’m proud of “Leprosy” and “Leprosy” is a brutal record. But the thing is, if I put out another “Leprosy” I would be limiting myself. And it’s dumb to put a limit on yourself in any aspect of life. Whether you’re a baseball player or a guitar player, you know. That would be like being a baseball player, but only bunting the ball. You know just bunting it every time, just hitting a little. Just trying to get to the first base, rather than hitting the home run and succeeding, you know. I will stand up for what I believe in. And if I lose 100 people, I’ll gain a thousand more, because people are hearing it and get turned on to it. I can’t worry about whether I disappoint people. I have to worry about how I feel about myself, because I’m the one that’s going to have to live with the product.”

But what do you think is the reason that a lot of kids turn their backs on bands that become more popular over the years and that they only stay true to bands from the underground? If a band like SEPULTURA for example becomes bigger, they don’t like to listen to them anymore…
“Well, I feel sorry for the person that thinks that way. I feel very sorry for anyone who thinks that if a band progresses and improves on instruments, that they’re turning their backs on the underground. I feel very sorry and I hope that they one day will think differently. Look, all these people are thinking like that. They weren’t in the scene two years ago. These are people who think that’s the way to think. I don’t know how long you’ve been in the scene, but I’ve been in the scene a long time. And I know that’s not the way to think. That’s limiting! That is so dumb! That is just incredible to think that way. I guess that’s people’s opinions, but they’re not understanding what they’re saying. I don’t even think they understand what they’re saying, when they say that.”

But there’s also kids who go out and buy albums which got the baddest reviews of all… If an album ends up on the last place in the charts maybe… if it got very bad reviews… some kids go out and buy exactly this album, because if a major magazine puts down this album, it must be total underground… totally noisy or whatever…
“Well, if people like noise, that’s their problem. I can’t believe it’s an issue, because this is an idiotic thing to not want to see someone improve. That’s like saying, well let’s hope to God that they never find a cure for cancer. That is stupid! You can kind of see what I’m trying to use as an example, right? I hope scientists don’t discover new, better things to help people survive. That’s so dumb to want to put a limit on anything…”

That’s true.
“It’s just… it’s wrong! People got to understand… there’s people out there, that think if you don’t listen to everything but Death Metal then you’re a wimpy. Why are you wimpy if you enjoy another types of music? Look, I could be the biggest POISON fan and that’s my business. I’m not, but the thing is if I did, then that’s my belief. POISON, for example, I don’t like them, but they’re not trying to be brutal. They’re not trying to be Death Metal, they’re not trying to fit into a Death Metal or a Thrash Metal crowd. They’re being wimpy on their own level.”

Well, to be honest with you, I’m totally into Death Metal, but I’m also into POISON…
“Right, that’s great! I think I would like to shake your hand right now. I’m dead serious, I’m being very sincere. I think that is great that you can say that and I hope that you remain a POISON fan. I think that’s fantastic man! I would love to hear more people say they’re POISON fans and that they’re also Thrash Metal fans. Because that will show me that people are being more open minded. Because if people want to take Thrash Metal and Death Metal serious then they’re going to have to understand that people have got to improve. I would love to see more people into POISON pick up a DEATH record and enjoy DEATH. Just like I will go out and buy the new DANGEROUS TOYS album, because I like DANGEROUS TOYS.”

Yeah, that would be great.
“And I do, in fact! I feel proud to like DANGEROUS TOYS, because I think that’s great that I’m open minded enough to enjoy different types of music. You know, that’s just limiting. That’s like having three different flowers and never smelling the other two. Because if you don’t, you’re not going to enjoy that nice aroma. You know, things like that. I try to use examples. I hope you don’t mind…”

No, it’s okay.
“I don’t want people to think I’m downing people. I’m not downing anyone who thinks a certain way. Because everyone is entitled to think the way they should or they want. I’m not like that. I’m not trying to tell people how to think. But I want people to understand that I can’t stay like “Scream Bloody Gore” forever. I can’t stay like “Leprosy” or whatever, because I’m not like that. I’ve stuck to my roots more than 99% of the fans out there have. Okay, you tell me… I’m not even saying any names… There are some major bands right now that totally have changed drastically, but they’re getting away with it. I haven’t changed drastically! All I’ve done is improve I think as a guitar player and I think as a Death Metal vocalist.”

Right.
“I’ve stayed sincere! I’m very sincere! I would never put out an album under the name DEATH that wouldn’t be DEATH. I think the new album is very aggressive. I think it’s even more aggressive than “Spiritual…”, I think it’s much more aggressive.”

Yeah, I agree.
“I think my vocals are more aggressive and I’m proud of the fact that it’s more musical. I enjoy hearing things with substance and with something that’s going to stimulate my brain. Something that’s not… that’s why people… that’s why commercial music is so big. Because it’s so simple and all it does is hit the people in the face and they don’t even have to use their mind to listen to it. That’s why I think more people should use their mind more and give other things a chance rather than just being pacified with one thing. It comes down to those settles for something that, that is just going to be insane. I think people should want more out of life and out of bands, you know, out of anything in life. You just want things to improve. And that’s where DEATH is. DEATH is constantly improving from album to album. I feel DEATH has improved. And I’m sincere about my music, that’s why I wrote an entirely brand new record. I have a few songs that were written five years ago, that I knew I could make a penny off or just to satisfy people. That’s why I’m here right now in Europe, doing the promotional tour, but unfortunately I had to cut it in half. But the thing is, I’m here! I took time off from crucial rehearsing. I mean, we’ve got to rehearse…”

So you would never re-record any older songs from the early days if I have understood you right?
“Nah… never, because those songs are old and today is new. You know what I mean? I feel like I want to constantly improve my life and my music. And I don’t care what people say. I really don’t. Because, if I did, then I guess I’d be still playing “Scream Blood Gore” rehashed.”

Is it true that you’ve worked with two of the members from REPULSION together in the past?
“Mm-hmm. Those are the two members that moved down and then Kam quit two and a half weeks later… not because I wrote Satanic lyrics… So, you can ask Scott Carlson from REPULSION, why Kam took off… all of a sudden has a girlfriend call and forgot to tell him that he quit.”

What kind of relationship do you have to New York based band HITTMAN?
“HITTMAN?”

Yeah.
“What made you think about that?”

You mentioned the band in the special thanks list on the “Leprosy” album.
“Uh, yeah… We met one of the guys and, you know… he was really cool and everything. Actually, I didn’t even put him on there, Rick did or whatever. I guess it got put on there. So, yeah, one of the guys there, you know… he’s really cool, dude.”

So you haven’t worked with them together?
“No.”

Because on the HITTMAN album they printed “Gang vocals: The Death Metal Weennie Boys Choir…”
“On HITTMAN or LUDICHRIST?”

On the HITTMAN album…
“Really? No, there were no background vocals done by anybody.”

Yeah, I already guessed that. It would also have surprised me a little bit…
“We did some backups on the LUDICHRIST album one time.”

On the first album or on the second?
“The second.”

Okay, Chuck, that’s about it. I thank you for your time.
“Okay, cool. Thank you, because it means a lot to me for people to know what’s really going on. I’m glad you asked the questions you did, definitely.”

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Interview & live pics: Frank Stöver