VMU: Hey guys how you doing?
RICK: Getting better every day! We been working hard for the last 6 months on
our next release. Now we are in the final stages doing mix down and mastering on
12 songs. Just having a blast!
VMU: So where are you from and who's the current line up?
RICK: Vocals/bass from Louisiana
KRIS: Drums from Maryland
BRIAN: Guitars from Texas
VMU: Briefly how did you get together?
RICK: DIRT was formed DIRT in 1993 with a few line up changes. Kris came from
Baltimore. I saw him at a venue on stage with another band and I was blown away.
So I approached him and asked him to join DIRT. So that night he left his band
and joined us. Brian came down from Dallas one weekend and a friend told him to
check us out and we all connected ever since.
VMU: How many releases have you put out and who produced?
RICK: We had one release I can say that counts, a 2002 debut release of "From
Dirt We Come" produced by DEZ of COAL CHAMBER/DEVILDRIVER.
VMU: Where were they produced and was it digital or analog? (If comp what
programs)
RICK: We recorded it Houston, Tx. on analog ADAT then we took it to Paramount
Studio's in Hollywood and bounced to a 2" real and mixed and mastered it there.
VMU: How did you hook up with DEZ and what was that like?
RICK: Wow! What an experience that was. DEZ was doing the Tattoo the Earth Tour
and our manager was good friends with him. We found out he had a falling out
with COAL CHAMBER, so he flew in straight off the tour to produce us. Not only
being our producer, we became friends. DEZ finished up with us in Hollywood. He
has been great to us, even came and supported us at the San Bernino Metal Fest.
That was awesome! It was also great to hang with the DEVILDRIVER crew at the San
Antonio OZ Fest this past summer. They kicked ass!!!
"Music is a wonderful tool! I feel there is no rules in music." - Rick
VMU: Could you explain in detail what gear you use?
RICK: Shure mics, Spector and Warwick basses, Ernie Ball strings, Ampeg amps
and cabinets.
Kris: Studio kit includes Lugwig classic drums, Zildjian cymbals, Gibraltar
hardware and pedals, Remo Pin Stripe heads. The road kit includes Pear-Export
series drums, Zildjian and Wuhan cymbals, Gibraltar hardware, Tama Iron Cobra
pedals, Remo Pin Stripe heads, and Pro Mark 747N sticks.
Brian: Ibenez guitars, Mesa Boogie amps and cabinets, and Ernie Ball strings.
VMU: Were the recordings done live or 1 on 1?
RICK: Our next recording is being done 1 on 1 using digital recording this
time. We are using Pro tools programs and what a difference. We love recording
digital. Technology has came a long way in the last few years in the recording
industry. We love it! What you hear on cd is what you get live. If we can't pull
it off live then we don't record it.
VMU: What's the band scene like in your area?
RICK: We have a lot of great metal bands of all kinds of genre in Houston. We
support the local music scene as much as possible. Fans of metal are also the
best here.
VMU: Do you guys prefer live or studio recording?
RICK: Both! It all depends on the feel for a song and what approach we are
shooting for.
VMU: You guys opened for a lot of big acts! You get to meet a lot of them and
get along?
Rick: We have fun hanging with the national acts. We never had a problem with
any of them. We also get to meet bands as they come to Texas. We try to give
them some Texas Hospitality. They always return it back when we are on tour in
there hometown territory.
VMU: What do you express in your lyrics?
RICK: I write what's on my mind at that moment. I like to write about my
experiences, and about life which people can relate to.
VMU: How do you feel about artist that express their beliefs in music?
(religious or political)
RICK: Music is a wonderful tool! I feel there is no rules in music. If bands
express there beliefs in their songs then more power to them! If someone doesn't
agree or don't like what a band speaks about, then they also have a right not to
buy or listen to them.
VMU: Any tours outside your home state soon?
RICK: We are always ready to tour. We are just waiting for our product to be
finished. Hopefully we will hit most states in the summer.
VMU: Who are your musical influences?
RICK: How much ink is in the printer? Wow, were do I start! Here is just to
list a few what started it all. Black Sabbath started it for me with Sabbath
Bloody Sabbath. Geezer is my all time favorite bassist! also Judas Priest,
Venom, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, old Metalica, Slayer, Pantera, Overkill, Dio,
Anthrax, Savatage, Testament, Fates Warning, Sacred Reich, Metal Church,
Sepultura, and Pro-pain, just to list a few off the top of my head. We are into
a lot of the newer stuff like Fear Factory, Machine Head, Soul Fly, Slipknot,
Acid Bath, Clutch, Cannibal Corpse, Six Feet Under, Goatwhore, Devildriver,
Killswitch Engage, Pissing Razors, Lamb of God, God Forbid, Damage Plan, B.L.S.,
and Hatebreed which is only a small percentage of what we are into.
VMU: How did you get your band name?
RICK: I was told when i was a kid, I used to get in my grandmothers garden to
eat the dirt. So my family always seemed to remind me when I went home to visit.
It was always a big laugh to them so it became a nickname for me! So it stuck
and became the name "DIRT".
VMU: Is there a lot of energy playing live with the band and how does the crowd
respond to your music?
RICK: We are a three piece band. We don't jump around like fools all over the
stage to cover where the music lacks. Our music is heavy and in your face, and
crowds picks up the energy from our tunes. When the pit breaks out, we feed off
it. We have great feedback during and after a show. Our fans are the best!
VMU: Any bad experiences playing live?
RICK: Nothing comes to mind. Just hated seeing people getting hurt in the pit.
VMU: Any advice to give to the young indie groups?
RICK: Keep plugging your band, stay positive, and be persistent . It's like a
roller-coaster ride, you'll have your highs and lows. Keep pedaling up hill.
When you stop, you will start to roll backwards. It's a harsh business, so cover
yourself. Never listen to anyone who says you can't make it. Some people will
hate to see you to succeed.
VMU: Thanks so much for your time! Any last words?
RICK: It's so awesome to see how metal has evolved. People ask us what's our
style of music, we are True Metal!! We thank VM UNDERGROUND and all metalheads
for keeping it alive!
VM UNDERGROUND
www.v-m-u.com
FEB 8 2005