Interviews    Meatjack
by Scott Myers

Baltimore MD's MEATJACK are a vicious onslaught of noise but man they also groove. I had a chance to get Brian, Jason, and J.R. To answer a few questions about what makes them tick. But I think that I will use the rest of this space to advertise that THEY NEED A DRUMMER. I think they'll appreciate that...

Hellride Music: Hey man, thanks for doing this, I wanted to ask how and when Meatjack got together what were you wanting to accomplish when you first started the band?

Jason: MEATJACK formed in 1993. It's purpose is to make music that we like to listen to, something heavy that isn't directly derivative of any style of music.

Brian: We wanted to express the ideas that we had musically and otherwise.

Hellride Music: What are the plans for this year? Any new discs? tour?

Jason: So far this year we've done one tour this past spring with Keelhaul and a handful of dates with J.J. Paradise Players Club. We've been writing a lot of new material and plan to record a new album this year. We're working out a record deal in Europe and hopefully a tour We're working on a home video that contains videos for 4 songs from "Trust" shot by our friend Skizz Cyzyk, plus live footage and other stuff from the last few tours. Also in the works is a split 7" picture disc with artist Stephen Kasner (he did the album art on our "Trust" CD.). The idea is to have 2 MEATJACK songs and 2 Kasner pieces. One side is going to be a MEATJACK song based on a Kasner piece & the other side would be the opposite. The search for a new full time drummer continues also.

Hellride Music: What are the main influences on Meatjack's sound? Bands or otherwise?

Jason: Black Sabbath, Melvins, old Butthole Surfers, Mark D, Baltimore city (where we're from), Barkmarket, Zeni Geva, Stinking Lizaveta, AC/DC, Cliff Burton, Slayer, Unsane, Frank Zappa, Spirit Caravan & Gene Simmons

Brian: Personally, just the shit that effects me day to day. The struggles with myself and others. My interpretation of the things that I observe. Musically, a lot of the same stuff as Jason plus King Crimson, Black Flag, Pink Floyd, The Residents, etc., etc., etc.

Hellride Music: What do you think of the current underground scene? And where do you see it heading music-wise in the future?

Jason: There are a lot of good bands out there right now. There seems to be a lot of people interested in underground music right now also. The Internet has definitely helped. Anyone anywhere can check bands out. I couldn't really tell you what's going to happen in the next few years.

Brian: The underground scene seems to be pretty strong right now. There's all kinds of great stuff that flies below the radar of popular schlock. People complain that there's no good music out there anymore. That's bullshit. You just have to look harder. I never know what's coming next but I'm always pleasantly surprised.

J.R.: There are so many amazing bands out now and unfortunately, a lot of the really good ones seem to end up playing to five or six people. I wish that more fans would be more daring and go beyond the "cool" bands that are deemed "ok to like." My pet peeve.

Hellride Music: I know you've probably answered this question a million times, but where did the name Meatjack come from?

Brian: Our original drummer, Mike Hill, came up with the name. We liked that it didn't really mean anything specific but had a nice ring to it.

Hellride Music: Could you fill everyone in on who everyone is in the band and what they do?

Jason-bass & vocals
Brian-guitar & vocals
J.R.-visuals
Drummer unknown-still looking for a full timer. We've currently been working with Will Scharf from Keelhaul & Craw whenever he gets some spare time.

Hellride Music: What bands / CD's have really caught your attention lately? Any bands you think will definitely be the future of the
underground?

Jason: I'm currently digging on Suplecs, Stinking Lizaveta, Icepick Revival, Keelhaul, Mastodon. I saw Dixie Witch last night and they
rocked. I reckon their drummer Trinidad is my long lost uncle.

Brian: Some of the stuff that I'm currently listening to include Zeni Geva, Spirit Caravan, J.J. Paradise Players Club, the new Plunderphonics box set, The Champs, Burning Witch, etc. Future of the underground = Swarm of the Lotus.

J.R.: I can't stop listening to the new J.J. Paradise Players Club full length. It's amazing! I've also been listening to the latest Boredoms disc, Cop Shoot Cop, Zeni Geva, Foetus and the new Michael Gira solo acoustic CD. Future of the underground = Icepick Revival.

Hellride Music: Total musician question, but what kind of equipment and tunings do you use?

Brian: Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar, Mesa Boogie Stereo Simulclass amp, 2 4 x 12" Mesa Boogie speaker cabinets, Rocktron Chameleon & Intellifex rack mount effects, and a few Digitech stompboxes (Whammy II & 2 Echo Plus-8 sec. Digital Delay/Sampler). Our early material is in standard tuning, our later stuff is usually in drop D, one new song is in drop A. I've been experimenting with some really weird tunings lately. Who knows if it'll turn up on anything.

Jason: In order to please Satan he must be able to hear you, therefore I use the SVT Pro 4 1600 watt head, 2 Ampeg 8 x 10" cabinets, a 1976 Gibson Thunderbird bass & Boss ODB3 Bass Overdrive.

J.R.: 2 Elmo 16-CL, 1 Bell and Howell 2895, and 1 Bell and Howell 1592 16mm Projectors, 2 Kodak Ektagraphic III-A 35mm slide projectors with a Kodak EC dissolve unit. ELC, ELH, and EXR bulbs. 14 gauge steel Gorilla Rack shelf unit. Everything is tuned to "bright."

Hellride Music: You had a track on John Water's Cecil B. Demented soundtrack, how did that come about? And what kind of response did it get from more mainstream press?

Brian: We heard that John Waters was looking for heavy music to use an his upcoming movie. We gave a CD to the music director who passed it on to John. John picked our song "Upstart". Cecil B. Demented got practically no attention from mainstream press. However, Billboard magazine said our track was "screaming good fun."

Jason: I've always wanted to be on an album with Liberace.

Hellride Music: Anything you guys want to specifically talk about? I give you free reign to say whatever you want about whoever or whatever you want.

Brian: Anyone interested check out www.meatjack.com. Also, we're still looking for a full time drummer.

Jason: Come to our shows. Buy our shit. Thanks.

Hellride Music: What do you think sets MEATJACK apart from other bands in the underground? And where would you like to be 10 years from now with the band?

J.R. MEATJACK is a band that has never shifted it's focus as the trends shift. Heavy, intricate music is somewhat popular now, but this band has been doing it for years. And when it's no longer the thing to do, nothing will have changed for MEATJACK. We will continue to grow and develop, but not in response to any particular movement. Where will we be in ten years? Call us back in nine and we may have a better idea. I'm still trying to work out my plans for next week.

Jason: Since we don't conform to a specific subcategory of music we don't have to work within the boundaries that accompany a band that does. What we like to listen to is diverse and therefore affects the music we write. Keeping the music interesting for ourselves supersedes being accepted by anyone in the underground or anyone anywhere for that matter. I plan to own Montana within the next ten years.

Brian: I think we work pretty hard and put on a show with a little extra. We put as much energy and creativity into the live version of the band with the projections, as we do with our music. Jason and I have been working on that aspect of what we do since the conception of our first band back in 1988. With MEATJACK, and with J.R. on board, it's gotten amazingly better. We're pretty restless and aren't happy to settle into anything, so unlike some bands, not all, we'll always be striving to develop what we do and constantly make it better.

Hellride Music: Is there any propaganda you'd like to spread?

J.R. Nope.

Jason: turn on ,tune in and drop dead.

Brian: Question everything.

Hellride Music: Thanks a lot for doing this guys. Any final comments?

J.R.: You're welcome. Thank you!

Brian: Yes, once again we're still looking for a full time drummer dammit! And thank you too.

Purchase Meatjack's Trust and the Damad/Meatjack split at the Hellride Music Super Store

For more info go to www.meatjack.com

Copyright 2002 HellrideMusic.com
Interview by Scott Myers 7/01