Arthur Magazine interviews the lead singer of Godsmack
May 4, 2006 4:32 PM Subscribe
Arthur Magazine interviews the lead singer of Godsmack. In 2003, the US Navy used a song by rock band Godsmack as a part of an updated and more TOTALLY ROCKIN' recruitment campaign. Arthur Magazine asks how the band feels about this, in light of recent events war. Not very Wiccan of them indeed. via.
we all know that before christianity came around that pagans lived in peace and there was no war
this wasn't an interview, it was a shit-flinging contest
posted by pyramid termite at 4:44 PM on May 4, 2006
this wasn't an interview, it was a shit-flinging contest
posted by pyramid termite at 4:44 PM on May 4, 2006
I read about this yesterday. I'm on record as going against my hipster brethren and stating that bands have a right to sell their songs to make a buck, if only that it allows the smaller ones to continue making music (I'm thinking of you, Walkmen and Stereolab, although the latter probably weren't as desperate at the time they did it). That said, Sully Erna is such a prick. I mean, if you're gonna sell your song to the military for a recruiting video, at least own up to it. Hell, it might even boost your sales in certain chickenhawk/LGF/101st Fightin' Keyboardist circles. But don't back away from your own financial decision. Dare I say, it's not very rocknroll, fuckwit.
posted by bardic at 4:46 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by bardic at 4:46 PM on May 4, 2006
That's rock interviewing at its Lester Bangin' best.
posted by Kirklander at 4:47 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by Kirklander at 4:47 PM on May 4, 2006
I like how they needed to include a note describing what "Godsmack" is. And they did need it: the readership of Arthur isn't much of a Godsmack crowd...
What an awful band name.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:54 PM on May 4, 2006
What an awful band name.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:54 PM on May 4, 2006
Darn it, I just now saw that this was on boingboing. That's what I get for swearing them off after that subway map mash-up extravaganza.
posted by unknowncommand at 4:54 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by unknowncommand at 4:54 PM on May 4, 2006
I never understand this whole 'proud to be an american' thing though. How do you get to be proud of a historical accident of birth? It's not like it's an accomplishment, or something that you had to put any effort into.
I can see people saying 'I'm proud of what my government has done', but that's a different thing altogether -- and you really don't hear people saying that because most people are very cynical about politicians and governments.
Perhaps what they're really saying is 'I'm proud that my forefathers had the good sense to leave the old world, and go chasing a place with lots of natural economic resources.' In which case, you'd think that people would be much more supportive of the whole immigration thing, as they are doing exactly the same thing, and taking exactly the same risks. There should be a slogan that says 'Wetbacks are Americans too!' or 'I'm proud to be a Wetback!'
Or maybe it boils down to something like 'I'm proud that I buy into the mythology of the American Dream', which I guess is the equivalent of saying 'I'm proud to be a sucker!'
Washington DC really ought to erect a statue to PT Barnum. I can't think of anybody who more typifies what it truly means to be a great American.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:57 PM on May 4, 2006
I can see people saying 'I'm proud of what my government has done', but that's a different thing altogether -- and you really don't hear people saying that because most people are very cynical about politicians and governments.
Perhaps what they're really saying is 'I'm proud that my forefathers had the good sense to leave the old world, and go chasing a place with lots of natural economic resources.' In which case, you'd think that people would be much more supportive of the whole immigration thing, as they are doing exactly the same thing, and taking exactly the same risks. There should be a slogan that says 'Wetbacks are Americans too!' or 'I'm proud to be a Wetback!'
Or maybe it boils down to something like 'I'm proud that I buy into the mythology of the American Dream', which I guess is the equivalent of saying 'I'm proud to be a sucker!'
Washington DC really ought to erect a statue to PT Barnum. I can't think of anybody who more typifies what it truly means to be a great American.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:57 PM on May 4, 2006
Disappointing. I always kind of liked Godsmack musically. They were the best of the 'nu-metal' pack. Oh, well.
posted by jonmc at 4:58 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by jonmc at 4:58 PM on May 4, 2006
PeterMcDermott: I think a lot of the immigrant patriotism comes from finding one's self in a place (as fucked up as it is) that was better than the place one had been chased/starved out of or left. For me, well, it means that I admire the ideals that th\is country putatively was founded on, although I am well aware that we have never come cloe to living up to them, but I still hold out hope.
As Langston Hughes said: America, the land that never was, yet must be.
posted by jonmc at 5:00 PM on May 4, 2006
As Langston Hughes said: America, the land that never was, yet must be.
posted by jonmc at 5:00 PM on May 4, 2006
Godsmack's Wiccan? Just when I thought they couldn't suck any more, you have to go and prove me wrong.
posted by keswick at 5:05 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by keswick at 5:05 PM on May 4, 2006
That interviewer is a bigger dick than any guy who ever had his song on a military advert.
posted by fire&wings at 5:06 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by fire&wings at 5:06 PM on May 4, 2006
I actually thought the Godsmack guy handled himself pretty well. Funny interview, though!
posted by cell divide at 5:06 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by cell divide at 5:06 PM on May 4, 2006
PeerMcDermott: I don't think it necessarily has to be about being proud of what your/our government did recently or is doing now. I would say I'm proud to be an American upon the basis of the best of our ideals at the best of times. I understand the atrocities, injustices, and such that our nation has been a party to, but name me a first world nation without a comparable history.
That said, this interview was fantastic. Not in terms of a music interview, but in terms of double-triple confirming that rock is indeed dead. What a lameass set of responses from Sully. He sounds like a sleazy PR lizard, not an ambassador of "Nu-rock". Bite the head off a bat or something, dude.
posted by rollbiz at 5:13 PM on May 4, 2006
That said, this interview was fantastic. Not in terms of a music interview, but in terms of double-triple confirming that rock is indeed dead. What a lameass set of responses from Sully. He sounds like a sleazy PR lizard, not an ambassador of "Nu-rock". Bite the head off a bat or something, dude.
posted by rollbiz at 5:13 PM on May 4, 2006
Wow, that was great. Good job, Arthur!
posted by klangklangston at 5:13 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by klangklangston at 5:13 PM on May 4, 2006
I don't see what everyone thinks is so cool about this. I think the interviewer was a complete and utter asshole. It's not very hard to get a musician to agree to an interview; they do all sorts of press work. Most interviews end up being some generic fanboy Q/A nonsense; I'm fairly certain that's what most "rock stars" expect. It seems pretty obvious the interviewer just wanted to rip him a new asshole about his pet topic. Sure, I bet a lot of people will get kicks out of it -- "yeah, tell that ignorant rocker!"
Seriously, who fucking cares what music is used in military ads. At least it's something people might like. If you join the military because they use music you like in their ads, then I seriously doubt you're going to get very far with such a lacking grasp on reality.
What does this story even prove? Godsmack's singer doesn't have much more of an informed opinion on the war than the rest of the general populace. That is so incredibly underwhelming, I feel a coma coming on... I don't really care how educated, or politically-slanted my entertainers are. They're entertainers. I don't look to celebrities for moral, or life guidance; just an excuse to headbang.
I'm just going to assume that most of the support for the actions of Arthur Magazine comes from the deep-seeded hatred we all have of celebrities. "Hey, let's see one getting bitched out!"
rollbiz: other than covering "Sweet Leaf" on a Nativity in Black compilation, Godsmack has absolutely nothing to do with Black Sabbath. If you'd cracked a joke involving Alice in Chains then at least you'd get points for actual knowledge of the band in question.
posted by Dark Messiah at 5:18 PM on May 4, 2006
Seriously, who fucking cares what music is used in military ads. At least it's something people might like. If you join the military because they use music you like in their ads, then I seriously doubt you're going to get very far with such a lacking grasp on reality.
What does this story even prove? Godsmack's singer doesn't have much more of an informed opinion on the war than the rest of the general populace. That is so incredibly underwhelming, I feel a coma coming on... I don't really care how educated, or politically-slanted my entertainers are. They're entertainers. I don't look to celebrities for moral, or life guidance; just an excuse to headbang.
I'm just going to assume that most of the support for the actions of Arthur Magazine comes from the deep-seeded hatred we all have of celebrities. "Hey, let's see one getting bitched out!"
rollbiz: other than covering "Sweet Leaf" on a Nativity in Black compilation, Godsmack has absolutely nothing to do with Black Sabbath. If you'd cracked a joke involving Alice in Chains then at least you'd get points for actual knowledge of the band in question.
posted by Dark Messiah at 5:18 PM on May 4, 2006
The itnerviewer harps on them for promoting the army, but doesn't mention the fact that Godsmack ruined the entire soundtrack to Prince of Persia: Warrior Within? What a lightweight.
posted by Durhey at 5:20 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by Durhey at 5:20 PM on May 4, 2006
I really tried to finish this interview but between the interviewer interrupting Sully from the beginning, the all-caps questions, the multiple interrobangs, the excruciatingly awful answers and the hyperbole of the questions themselves, I just couldn't do it. I agree with the inviewer and, yet, this is still unreadable. I can easily imagine Jim breaking into a sweat and shaking with rage from the first page scroll, down. If he had just kept cool, the interview would have a reflected more on Sully's incompetence than his own. See: Colbert, White House Correspondent's Dinner.
This is where Jay lost me:
[incredulous] YOU DIDN’T THINK THE MEDIA WAS BEING CONTROLLED BY THE MILITARY?!?
I agree with that, but Jay comes off like a conspiracy theorist totally exasperated that "SULLY DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT UFOS AND BIGFOOT ARE TOTALLY RELATED". Of course, its not like Sully was doing that great of job of sounding like anything other than a "sleazy PR lizard". Sully's responses sucked, the interviewer sucked and they deserve one another. Yeesh. How does that saying go? There's nothing worse than a bad argument for a conclusion you agree with?
posted by jmhodges at 5:25 PM on May 4, 2006
This is where Jay lost me:
[incredulous] YOU DIDN’T THINK THE MEDIA WAS BEING CONTROLLED BY THE MILITARY?!?
I agree with that, but Jay comes off like a conspiracy theorist totally exasperated that "SULLY DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT UFOS AND BIGFOOT ARE TOTALLY RELATED". Of course, its not like Sully was doing that great of job of sounding like anything other than a "sleazy PR lizard". Sully's responses sucked, the interviewer sucked and they deserve one another. Yeesh. How does that saying go? There's nothing worse than a bad argument for a conclusion you agree with?
posted by jmhodges at 5:25 PM on May 4, 2006
It was a trainwreck interview, but the Godsmack lead singer unable to explain anything was amusing.
posted by DougieZero1982 at 5:25 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by DougieZero1982 at 5:25 PM on May 4, 2006
Er.. I don't think Colbert was incompetent at the dinner but by not being flustered when his jokes bombed in that audience, he showed just how ridiculous the Administration has become instead of how poorly his jokes were coming off.
posted by jmhodges at 5:27 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by jmhodges at 5:27 PM on May 4, 2006
This really shocked me at first, but then I realized I was confusing Godsmack with System of a Down.
Who the hell still listens to Godsmack* these days?
*I am not doing the ol' Your Band Sucks Shuffle; the last time I remember hearing anyone give two squirts about Godsmack was back in highschool.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 5:28 PM on May 4, 2006
Who the hell still listens to Godsmack* these days?
*I am not doing the ol' Your Band Sucks Shuffle; the last time I remember hearing anyone give two squirts about Godsmack was back in highschool.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 5:28 PM on May 4, 2006
Godsmack opened for Metallica when they came to Ottawa last year. They actually put on a very good show, and I saw a lot of people watching.
posted by Dark Messiah at 5:37 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by Dark Messiah at 5:37 PM on May 4, 2006
they just released an album, too. thus the press checklist/phone interviews.
posted by carsonb at 5:46 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by carsonb at 5:46 PM on May 4, 2006
"It's not very hard to get a musician to agree to an interview; they do all sorts of press work. Most interviews end up being some generic fanboy Q/A nonsense; I'm fairly certain that's what most "rock stars" expect."
So? Most people do much less so that's what rock stars should expect? A musician got caught being a dumbass. That's a good thing. It's a little pop justice for the rest of us.
"Godsmack opened for Metallica when they came to Ottawa last year."
Godsmack and Metallica in Ottawa? Jesus Christ, the only way that could be less impressive is if they were all playing a county fair.
posted by klangklangston at 5:51 PM on May 4, 2006
So? Most people do much less so that's what rock stars should expect? A musician got caught being a dumbass. That's a good thing. It's a little pop justice for the rest of us.
"Godsmack opened for Metallica when they came to Ottawa last year."
Godsmack and Metallica in Ottawa? Jesus Christ, the only way that could be less impressive is if they were all playing a county fair.
posted by klangklangston at 5:51 PM on May 4, 2006
A hard-hitting ambush interview with ... the lead singer of Godsmack? Shouldn't this guy be asking these questions of someone that, I don't know, matters?
posted by monju_bosatsu at 5:54 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by monju_bosatsu at 5:54 PM on May 4, 2006
klangklangston: Godsmack and Metallica in Ottawa? Jesus Christ, the only way that could be less impressive is if they were all playing a county fair.
I don't even know how to respond to that. Ottawa is Canada's National Capital. But yeah, that's totally on par with a county fair. Don't mind us, we're just your backwards neighbours. Maybe tomorrow they'll open our first university and stop leaving our senior citizens to die on ice floes.
Metallica's Madly In Anger With the World Tour was pretty damn profitable. I don't have exact numbers in front of me, but I'm pretty sure the onus is on you (the accusing jackass) to prove that a Metallica tour isn't a big deal. They can sell-out anywhere with electricity.
posted by Dark Messiah at 6:03 PM on May 4, 2006
I don't even know how to respond to that. Ottawa is Canada's National Capital. But yeah, that's totally on par with a county fair. Don't mind us, we're just your backwards neighbours. Maybe tomorrow they'll open our first university and stop leaving our senior citizens to die on ice floes.
Metallica's Madly In Anger With the World Tour was pretty damn profitable. I don't have exact numbers in front of me, but I'm pretty sure the onus is on you (the accusing jackass) to prove that a Metallica tour isn't a big deal. They can sell-out anywhere with electricity.
posted by Dark Messiah at 6:03 PM on May 4, 2006
"Metallica's Madly In Anger With the World Tour was pretty damn profitable."
'We Are The World' sold a lot of copies. Doesn't mean that it didn't fucking blow. And I'm glad that Godsmack and Metallica played your nation's capital. Perhaps you can award them a Juno, instantly boosting their record sales by tens of tens.
Yeah, I hear that Metallica's last album sold well in Canada. It went double denim, didn't it?
posted by klangklangston at 6:10 PM on May 4, 2006
'We Are The World' sold a lot of copies. Doesn't mean that it didn't fucking blow. And I'm glad that Godsmack and Metallica played your nation's capital. Perhaps you can award them a Juno, instantly boosting their record sales by tens of tens.
Yeah, I hear that Metallica's last album sold well in Canada. It went double denim, didn't it?
posted by klangklangston at 6:10 PM on May 4, 2006
That the lead singer here didn't think twice about selling his music to the military illustrates to me that he doesn't really value his own music all that much...which makes me feel better about not giving a crap about Godsmack.
posted by sleavestherabbit at 6:10 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by sleavestherabbit at 6:10 PM on May 4, 2006
Dark Messiah writes "Ottawa is Canada's National Capital."
No way! Toronto is the capital of Canada!
He's baiting you; you'd probably be better off not taking the bait.
posted by mr_roboto at 6:12 PM on May 4, 2006
No way! Toronto is the capital of Canada!
He's baiting you; you'd probably be better off not taking the bait.
posted by mr_roboto at 6:12 PM on May 4, 2006
I hate those pseudo-artists that are just selling their music as some sell their milk or their potatoes.
And i get fed up with the leitmotiv about if the army didn't wages wars and wars americans won't live the wonderfull life they live now, wasting all earth energy and polluting it by all means (please begin the anti-pollution era by stoping FOX F...... NEWS)
posted by zouhair at 6:17 PM on May 4, 2006
And i get fed up with the leitmotiv about if the army didn't wages wars and wars americans won't live the wonderfull life they live now, wasting all earth energy and polluting it by all means (please begin the anti-pollution era by stoping FOX F...... NEWS)
posted by zouhair at 6:17 PM on May 4, 2006
They can sell-out anywhere with electricity.
Truer words were never spoken. Selling out is what they're best at.
posted by freebird at 6:19 PM on May 4, 2006
Truer words were never spoken. Selling out is what they're best at.
posted by freebird at 6:19 PM on May 4, 2006
I hate those pseudo-artists that are just selling their music as some sell their milk or their potatoes.
Why must you hate the milk and potato producers of the world so? Is their labor worth so little to you? Do they not pour their love and energy and lives into producing goods more essential to a happy and rich life than the most rockin' of Rock? Too long have their noble and diligent efforts been denigrated and denied. Always they are reduced to the level of Entertainment Stars and Pop Idols - why should they be so looked down upon?
Verily, were I forced to choose whether to give up Milk and Potatoes or Nu-Metal and Electro-Clash, I should abandon the latter with nary a second thought. So Begone with your Spurious Rank-Ordering of Societal Contribution, thou dairy-hating spud-denier.
posted by freebird at 6:34 PM on May 4, 2006
Why must you hate the milk and potato producers of the world so? Is their labor worth so little to you? Do they not pour their love and energy and lives into producing goods more essential to a happy and rich life than the most rockin' of Rock? Too long have their noble and diligent efforts been denigrated and denied. Always they are reduced to the level of Entertainment Stars and Pop Idols - why should they be so looked down upon?
Verily, were I forced to choose whether to give up Milk and Potatoes or Nu-Metal and Electro-Clash, I should abandon the latter with nary a second thought. So Begone with your Spurious Rank-Ordering of Societal Contribution, thou dairy-hating spud-denier.
posted by freebird at 6:34 PM on May 4, 2006
zouhair writes "I hate those pseudo-artists that are just selling their music as some sell their milk or their potatoes."
Personally, I only listen to music produced by either rich dilettantes or starving bohemians. Making money from art: how gauche!
posted by mr_roboto at 6:37 PM on May 4, 2006
Personally, I only listen to music produced by either rich dilettantes or starving bohemians. Making money from art: how gauche!
posted by mr_roboto at 6:37 PM on May 4, 2006
Whenever someone accuses a band of having sold out, I'm reminded of a certain Tool song . . .
Your favorite band is a sell-out. If they weren't, they wouldn't be your favorite band.
posted by JekPorkins at 6:42 PM on May 4, 2006
Your favorite band is a sell-out. If they weren't, they wouldn't be your favorite band.
posted by JekPorkins at 6:42 PM on May 4, 2006
there was a recent festival in my town sponsored by the local "alternative" station that featured the strokes and the cult.
biggest sponsor? u.s. army.
what i found most pathetic is the morning show jock from the station glad-handling the army because they were sponsoring their stupid little festival -- "and tomorrow on the world famous frank show we're going to have sergeant fodder from the army in to talk" like it's not unusual or something to have a fucking military recruiter on amid all the fart jokes.
they couldn't have better-expressed the contempt they hold for their listenership if they hung a banner behind the strokes which said "you there, in the audience -- you're an idiot, and as such, the army is the perfect place for you."
posted by Hat Maui at 6:47 PM on May 4, 2006
biggest sponsor? u.s. army.
what i found most pathetic is the morning show jock from the station glad-handling the army because they were sponsoring their stupid little festival -- "and tomorrow on the world famous frank show we're going to have sergeant fodder from the army in to talk" like it's not unusual or something to have a fucking military recruiter on amid all the fart jokes.
they couldn't have better-expressed the contempt they hold for their listenership if they hung a banner behind the strokes which said "you there, in the audience -- you're an idiot, and as such, the army is the perfect place for you."
posted by Hat Maui at 6:47 PM on May 4, 2006
Personally, I only listen to music created by algorithms designed to manufacture the greatest level of popitude, and I rebuke the idea that capitalism is not always the best goal for art!
Well, that and music from the sylvan wastes of Canada, where their polite homilies craft every release into something we can all enjoy. Except for the bustling metropolis of Ottowa, which makes Halifax look like Regina in comparison. They're just too slick for my tastes, what with their Metallica and their Godsmack and their Guess Who reuinions.
posted by klangklangston at 6:48 PM on May 4, 2006
Well, that and music from the sylvan wastes of Canada, where their polite homilies craft every release into something we can all enjoy. Except for the bustling metropolis of Ottowa, which makes Halifax look like Regina in comparison. They're just too slick for my tastes, what with their Metallica and their Godsmack and their Guess Who reuinions.
posted by klangklangston at 6:48 PM on May 4, 2006
LOL
what I wanted to say is that art is not as any other kind of human product
art is culture and culture must be owned by all humans
Artists should live by not selling their art but their performance, CDs even with music on them are no arts and selling them as they do is disgusting
And me too I'll drop all music and art if I had to choose between them and milk and potatoes
posted by zouhair at 6:52 PM on May 4, 2006
what I wanted to say is that art is not as any other kind of human product
art is culture and culture must be owned by all humans
Artists should live by not selling their art but their performance, CDs even with music on them are no arts and selling them as they do is disgusting
And me too I'll drop all music and art if I had to choose between them and milk and potatoes
posted by zouhair at 6:52 PM on May 4, 2006
Hat Maui— To be perfectly fair, the non-idiots who bought Strokes albums would probably fit into a post office in Nunevut.
posted by klangklangston at 6:52 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by klangklangston at 6:52 PM on May 4, 2006
zouhair writes "Artists should live by not selling their art but their performance"
Even painters? Christ. It's gonna be tough to get people to pay to watch paint dry....
posted by mr_roboto at 6:54 PM on May 4, 2006
Even painters? Christ. It's gonna be tough to get people to pay to watch paint dry....
posted by mr_roboto at 6:54 PM on May 4, 2006
Painters aren't artists. Duh.
posted by klangklangston at 6:56 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by klangklangston at 6:56 PM on May 4, 2006
LOL
a paint is a performance, if the painter sells his paint he can't sell them again and again and again
So he must create more to live
posted by zouhair at 6:56 PM on May 4, 2006
a paint is a performance, if the painter sells his paint he can't sell them again and again and again
So he must create more to live
posted by zouhair at 6:56 PM on May 4, 2006
But multiple bronzes can be made from the same cast. Rodin was such a fucking sell-out.
posted by mr_roboto at 7:00 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by mr_roboto at 7:00 PM on May 4, 2006
Hat Maui— To be perfectly fair, the non-idiots who bought Strokes albums would probably fit into a post office in Nunevut
roffle.
oh, uh, where's Nunevut? i'm assuming it's somewhere small, right?
posted by Hat Maui at 7:03 PM on May 4, 2006
roffle.
oh, uh, where's Nunevut? i'm assuming it's somewhere small, right?
posted by Hat Maui at 7:03 PM on May 4, 2006
oh, you meant Nunavut. of course i know where that is! your misspelling threw me off. next time, get it right!
yeah, totally tiny. so their post office would only hold about 3 or 4 non-idiot strokes cd purchasers.
i wonder who they are? i'd guess drew barrymore, but a) she's an idiot, and b) she prolly didn't have to buy her cd. maybe lou reed bought one?
what about non-idiots that bought them as gifts for idiot friends? do they count? you might need the post office in new brunswick for them. or labrador.
posted by Hat Maui at 7:27 PM on May 4, 2006
yeah, totally tiny. so their post office would only hold about 3 or 4 non-idiot strokes cd purchasers.
i wonder who they are? i'd guess drew barrymore, but a) she's an idiot, and b) she prolly didn't have to buy her cd. maybe lou reed bought one?
what about non-idiots that bought them as gifts for idiot friends? do they count? you might need the post office in new brunswick for them. or labrador.
posted by Hat Maui at 7:27 PM on May 4, 2006
Best interview I've read since that Ted Nugent interview from way back.
posted by fungible at 7:51 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by fungible at 7:51 PM on May 4, 2006
The last time I was in Nunavut, I stopped by the post office. There were about 100 nobel laureates crammed in that little post office, and they had "Heart In a Cage" cranked up so loud, I thought the windows might burst.
posted by JekPorkins at 8:01 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by JekPorkins at 8:01 PM on May 4, 2006
Godsmack sucks, but that interviewer was a prick. He could have been drilling into anything with the singer; abortion, gun control, Darfur, lyme disease, halitosis and pretty just hectored him on it non-stop until the guy threw in the towel. This is mostly what Stephen Colbert does in his interviews on the Report (to great comedic effect). In this case, however, the interview showed little skill, and the Godsmack guy evidenced not much intelligence.
posted by psmealey at 8:04 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by psmealey at 8:04 PM on May 4, 2006
I never understand this whole 'proud to be an american' thing though. How do you get to be proud of a historical accident of birth?
Not everyone in america was born here. Plus, this isn't a rare thing. How many times have i read on metafilter that nyc is the greatest city in the world...proud to be from nyc.
Go to Ireland, Mexico, Russia, you'll find people "proud to be ____". We don't own it.
posted by justgary at 8:27 PM on May 4, 2006
Not everyone in america was born here. Plus, this isn't a rare thing. How many times have i read on metafilter that nyc is the greatest city in the world...proud to be from nyc.
Go to Ireland, Mexico, Russia, you'll find people "proud to be ____". We don't own it.
posted by justgary at 8:27 PM on May 4, 2006
Godsmack: "What is this for anyway? Who are you working with?" ....
Interviewer: It's called Arthur Magazine. You guys are the ones that set this up.
Rule #1: Before you call, look at the name of who you're calling. It's right there next to the phone number.
posted by salvia at 8:27 PM on May 4, 2006
Interviewer: It's called Arthur Magazine. You guys are the ones that set this up.
Rule #1: Before you call, look at the name of who you're calling. It's right there next to the phone number.
posted by salvia at 8:27 PM on May 4, 2006
No, no, no. You're proud to be an American, you're lucky to be born here.
posted by techgnollogic at 9:00 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by techgnollogic at 9:00 PM on May 4, 2006
Lucky not to be born in American-occupied Iraq, anyway.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:01 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:01 PM on May 4, 2006
That interviewer is a bigger dick than any guy who ever had his song on a military advert.
that interviewer did what more journalists ought to be doing: calling big dickheads to account for their wartime cheerleading.
there should be no safe place for these assholes, their enablers, their defenders, or their fluffers to hide. fuck godsmack, fuck the strokes, and fuck the cult.
and yay arthur and jay babcock.
posted by 3.2.3 at 9:22 PM on May 4, 2006
that interviewer did what more journalists ought to be doing: calling big dickheads to account for their wartime cheerleading.
there should be no safe place for these assholes, their enablers, their defenders, or their fluffers to hide. fuck godsmack, fuck the strokes, and fuck the cult.
and yay arthur and jay babcock.
posted by 3.2.3 at 9:22 PM on May 4, 2006
Everyone involved was an idiot. Anyway, that Ted Nugent interview was hysterical. I've always hated the guy, but that interview helped confirm my hatred. I do have to give the Nuge credit for sticking with the interview instead of pussying out. He is an absolute moron, but he is such a loudmouth that he can be inadvertantly funny.
posted by Falconetti at 9:38 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by Falconetti at 9:38 PM on May 4, 2006
Rule #1: Before you call, look at the name of who you're calling. It's right there next to the phone number.
It's a press junket. They sit in a hotel room and do media interviews for like eight hours. They're handed a list by the PR rep, and they go to it. Why would they know the name of this magazine when they do like 50 or 60 of these in a day?
posted by SweetJesus at 9:45 PM on May 4, 2006
It's a press junket. They sit in a hotel room and do media interviews for like eight hours. They're handed a list by the PR rep, and they go to it. Why would they know the name of this magazine when they do like 50 or 60 of these in a day?
posted by SweetJesus at 9:45 PM on May 4, 2006
Godsmack dude in January 2003:
"Unfortunately, there were some really bad things that happened [involving the Middle East], and I think if we don't cut out the cancer while it's still young, then it's gonna grow to be this entity that we may not be able to defend ourselves against," Godsmack frontman Sully Erna said, pulling a page from the quote book of National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. "I applaud the government and President Bush for doing what they're doing, and I think our military are some of the bravest souls, much braver than I could ever be."
posted by aaronetc at 10:12 PM on May 4, 2006
"Unfortunately, there were some really bad things that happened [involving the Middle East], and I think if we don't cut out the cancer while it's still young, then it's gonna grow to be this entity that we may not be able to defend ourselves against," Godsmack frontman Sully Erna said, pulling a page from the quote book of National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. "I applaud the government and President Bush for doing what they're doing, and I think our military are some of the bravest souls, much braver than I could ever be."
posted by aaronetc at 10:12 PM on May 4, 2006
A lot of people in the service listen to bands like Godsmack. I bet I could get 50 copies of their albums in less than half and hour if I tried.
posted by Dagobert at 10:50 PM on May 4, 2006
posted by Dagobert at 10:50 PM on May 4, 2006
nobody ever said the army had good taste in music.
the first time i saw the interview on a blog, i blinked and skipped it because of the stupid all caps bold questions. (which made the questions seem like an asshole yelling.) oh, and arthur mag always struck me as a pretentious pseudo-indie hipster smug fest from la, which i don't need since sf has more than enough of that to go around.
that said, i finally did read the interview and i'm firmly in the "they're both idiots" camp. sully is a moron and i'm not suprised he came out of the interview looking like a confused ass. jay sure puts the cock in babcock. you could tell he was creaming himself thinking he was being hella cool and provocative, but just came out of it seeming like an arrogant bully. i'm sure nardwuar could have done a much better job, gotten the same point across, without being an aggressive dick. then again... nardwuar is one of the coolest people ever.
posted by kendrak at 11:31 PM on May 4, 2006
the first time i saw the interview on a blog, i blinked and skipped it because of the stupid all caps bold questions. (which made the questions seem like an asshole yelling.) oh, and arthur mag always struck me as a pretentious pseudo-indie hipster smug fest from la, which i don't need since sf has more than enough of that to go around.
that said, i finally did read the interview and i'm firmly in the "they're both idiots" camp. sully is a moron and i'm not suprised he came out of the interview looking like a confused ass. jay sure puts the cock in babcock. you could tell he was creaming himself thinking he was being hella cool and provocative, but just came out of it seeming like an arrogant bully. i'm sure nardwuar could have done a much better job, gotten the same point across, without being an aggressive dick. then again... nardwuar is one of the coolest people ever.
posted by kendrak at 11:31 PM on May 4, 2006
Late, but...
jonmc: They were the best of the 'nu-metal' pack. Oh, well.
Pshaw. Korn, at least in my opinion, have been the best of them. They always seemed to be more inventive with the genre while also retaining the aggresive sound. Every Godsmack song I hear sounds the same to me.
Note: I attempted to keep that all phrased as my own opinion without using the dreaded IMHO.
Note's Note: Dammit.
posted by Swervo at 1:55 AM on May 5, 2006
jonmc: They were the best of the 'nu-metal' pack. Oh, well.
Pshaw. Korn, at least in my opinion, have been the best of them. They always seemed to be more inventive with the genre while also retaining the aggresive sound. Every Godsmack song I hear sounds the same to me.
Note: I attempted to keep that all phrased as my own opinion without using the dreaded IMHO.
Note's Note: Dammit.
posted by Swervo at 1:55 AM on May 5, 2006
SHOUTING AT YOUR SUBJECT IS MUSIC JOURNALISM AT ITS BEST. PITCHFORK AIN'T SHIT.
posted by Mr. Six at 4:07 AM on May 5, 2006
posted by Mr. Six at 4:07 AM on May 5, 2006
As of early February, there were 43 Navy deaths attributed to Hostile and Non-Hostile causes combined (only 26 Hostile).
The total number of journalists killed in Iraq? 68.
posted by techgnollogic at 4:11 AM on May 5, 2006
The total number of journalists killed in Iraq? 68.
posted by techgnollogic at 4:11 AM on May 5, 2006
So the navy guys spend a lot of time on base huh?
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 4:29 AM on May 5, 2006
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 4:29 AM on May 5, 2006
Techgnoll, do you have a point?
posted by klangklangston at 4:32 AM on May 5, 2006
posted by klangklangston at 4:32 AM on May 5, 2006
Just to be Mr. Obvious for a minute, I think his point is that the Navy experiences signficantly lower casualty and mortality rates than the other branches of service (possibly on a par with the Air Force) and the combat press corps, something that's been true, in this country at least, since the Revolutionary War. Not sure why that's relevant in this context, but that's what I took to be his point.
posted by psmealey at 4:43 AM on May 5, 2006
posted by psmealey at 4:43 AM on May 5, 2006
What an awful band name.
It's from an Alice in Chains song. Goodness knows...why I know that...
By the way, if you think Godsmack is bad, I have three words for you... Godsmack tribute band... There was even a Godsmack tribute band that played at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, RI, the one that got burned down during the Great White concert.
posted by jonp72 at 6:26 AM on May 5, 2006
It's from an Alice in Chains song. Goodness knows...why I know that...
By the way, if you think Godsmack is bad, I have three words for you... Godsmack tribute band... There was even a Godsmack tribute band that played at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, RI, the one that got burned down during the Great White concert.
posted by jonp72 at 6:26 AM on May 5, 2006
Pshaw. Korn, at least in my opinion, have been the best of them.
I vote for the Deftones, not that it's that prestigious a title.
Erna's obviously not the smartest fella. I remember when Godsmack appeared on the Loveline radio show and Adam Carolla jokingly made a pass at Erna. Erna's reaction was to get all uptight and offended, and tell Carolla he didn't swing that way. I'm surprised he's letting the Navy use his song.
posted by Devils Slide at 7:00 AM on May 5, 2006
I vote for the Deftones, not that it's that prestigious a title.
Erna's obviously not the smartest fella. I remember when Godsmack appeared on the Loveline radio show and Adam Carolla jokingly made a pass at Erna. Erna's reaction was to get all uptight and offended, and tell Carolla he didn't swing that way. I'm surprised he's letting the Navy use his song.
posted by Devils Slide at 7:00 AM on May 5, 2006
Rule #1: When going to a press junket and doing media interviews for eight hours, in that 2 second pause between interviews, look at the list handed to you by your PR rep. :p
Why would they know the name of this magazine when they do like 50 or 60 of these in a day?
Because they looked at the list.
Or does it not list interviews in chronological order? Was it simply impossible for the Godsmack guy to have any idea who he was speaking with?
posted by salvia at 7:58 AM on May 5, 2006
Why would they know the name of this magazine when they do like 50 or 60 of these in a day?
Because they looked at the list.
Or does it not list interviews in chronological order? Was it simply impossible for the Godsmack guy to have any idea who he was speaking with?
posted by salvia at 7:58 AM on May 5, 2006
Was it simply impossible for the Godsmack guy to have any idea who he was speaking with?
Not to defend the guy, but with the tens of thousands of 'zines, websites and other media dedicated to music, it's not only possible, it's likely that he didn't know anything about the guy or his publication. That's why you have a PR rep in the first place, to do a little research and protect you from someone with a potential axe to grind.
posted by psmealey at 8:52 AM on May 5, 2006
Not to defend the guy, but with the tens of thousands of 'zines, websites and other media dedicated to music, it's not only possible, it's likely that he didn't know anything about the guy or his publication. That's why you have a PR rep in the first place, to do a little research and protect you from someone with a potential axe to grind.
posted by psmealey at 8:52 AM on May 5, 2006
Rule #1: When going to a press junket and doing media interviews for eight hours, in that 2 second pause between interviews, look at the list handed to you by your PR rep.
No, the reason you pay the PR rep is so you don't need to remember the name of the magazine - someone else has got that covered. What a trite point to get hung-up on.
posted by SweetJesus at 8:59 AM on May 5, 2006
No, the reason you pay the PR rep is so you don't need to remember the name of the magazine - someone else has got that covered. What a trite point to get hung-up on.
posted by SweetJesus at 8:59 AM on May 5, 2006
Crikey, the interviewer is an absolute arse. Enough of an arse to make me despise him more than someone from a band happy to sell their music for military recruitment adverts, which is saying something.
posted by jack_mo at 12:03 PM on May 5, 2006
posted by jack_mo at 12:03 PM on May 5, 2006
yeah, the guy that points out the war-whoring is WAY worse than the war-whore.
posted by Hat Maui at 12:20 PM on May 5, 2006
posted by Hat Maui at 12:20 PM on May 5, 2006
So the navy guys spend a lot of time on base huh?
The Navy is there first to maintain freedom of the seas. In combat, our primary job is to "project power ashore", the aircraft carrier being the primary method (via F/A-18). Of course there are also MEUs (Marine Expeditionary Unit) that are launched from LHD class ships.
As of early February, there were 43 Navy deaths attributed to Hostile and Non-Hostile causes combined (only 26 Hostile). The total number of journalists killed in Iraq? 68.
Well, there's a whopping 50 miles or so of coastline in Iraq, which had most of their Navy destroyed in Gulf War I. Realistically, the need for a strong Navy has declined drastically since the end of the cold war, where Navy personnel numbered over 600,000 in 1991. Today, manning is at about 350,000 with future plans to cut this force to 300,000. So, until another country manages to field an effective naval force that is perceived as a threat, and then initiates (or we initiate) hostilities, don't expect to see too many Navy casualties, since there aren't exactly pitched sea battles happening right now..sorry to disappoint. Then again, there's this, which could be the beginning of a new trend.
Of course I'm not sure if you all are being snarky, and trying to imply something by the low Navy casualties..so I guess I would repeat the question..do you have a point? Because if you're trying to ridicule the Navy for not being able to pull their ships into the middle of the desert to join in this clusterfuck and contribute some more dying to the "cause", well, you're idiots.
posted by tetsuo at 12:59 PM on May 5, 2006
The Navy is there first to maintain freedom of the seas. In combat, our primary job is to "project power ashore", the aircraft carrier being the primary method (via F/A-18). Of course there are also MEUs (Marine Expeditionary Unit) that are launched from LHD class ships.
As of early February, there were 43 Navy deaths attributed to Hostile and Non-Hostile causes combined (only 26 Hostile). The total number of journalists killed in Iraq? 68.
Well, there's a whopping 50 miles or so of coastline in Iraq, which had most of their Navy destroyed in Gulf War I. Realistically, the need for a strong Navy has declined drastically since the end of the cold war, where Navy personnel numbered over 600,000 in 1991. Today, manning is at about 350,000 with future plans to cut this force to 300,000. So, until another country manages to field an effective naval force that is perceived as a threat, and then initiates (or we initiate) hostilities, don't expect to see too many Navy casualties, since there aren't exactly pitched sea battles happening right now..sorry to disappoint. Then again, there's this, which could be the beginning of a new trend.
Of course I'm not sure if you all are being snarky, and trying to imply something by the low Navy casualties..so I guess I would repeat the question..do you have a point? Because if you're trying to ridicule the Navy for not being able to pull their ships into the middle of the desert to join in this clusterfuck and contribute some more dying to the "cause", well, you're idiots.
posted by tetsuo at 12:59 PM on May 5, 2006
Does this mean that Keith David is also a "war-whore", "war-cheerleader", or whatever since he's the voice in those ads? (Unlike GodSmack, I actually like him).
posted by tetsuo at 1:03 PM on May 5, 2006
posted by tetsuo at 1:03 PM on May 5, 2006
The guy's actually in a movie called Behind Enemy Lines: Axis of Evil, so... War Whore = ON
posted by psmealey at 3:30 PM on May 5, 2006
posted by psmealey at 3:30 PM on May 5, 2006
What a trite point to get hung-up on.
Hey, I just thought it was funny. "Hey, thanks for having me on the show tonight.... uh, David? Chris?" Or "Are you ready to rock, Seattle?!?!?!? [whispering] .... Uh, I mean, Portland? Eugene?"
posted by salvia at 6:04 PM on May 5, 2006
Hey, I just thought it was funny. "Hey, thanks for having me on the show tonight.... uh, David? Chris?" Or "Are you ready to rock, Seattle?!?!?!? [whispering] .... Uh, I mean, Portland? Eugene?"
posted by salvia at 6:04 PM on May 5, 2006
I find it oddly telling that that movie is "in post-production," yet has no writer or director.
posted by aaronetc at 9:17 PM on May 5, 2006
posted by aaronetc at 9:17 PM on May 5, 2006
I wasn't ridiculing the Navy at all. My point was this guy is blaming Godsmack for getting 2800 of his "brothers and sisters" killed in Iraq, but their music is being used to get people into the Navy, which isn't taking lots of casualties.
If Godsmack is responsible for casualties in Iraq because their music helps recruit people, then doesn't that make the interviewer responsible for the even higher number of journalists who've died? How is he discouraging people from becoming a journalist by being one himself? Blood on his hands! It's idiocy. He needs to lead by example by hiding under a rock, far away from dangerous civilization.
posted by techgnollogic at 7:54 AM on May 6, 2006
If Godsmack is responsible for casualties in Iraq because their music helps recruit people, then doesn't that make the interviewer responsible for the even higher number of journalists who've died? How is he discouraging people from becoming a journalist by being one himself? Blood on his hands! It's idiocy. He needs to lead by example by hiding under a rock, far away from dangerous civilization.
posted by techgnollogic at 7:54 AM on May 6, 2006
"If Godsmack is responsible for casualties in Iraq because their music helps recruit people, then doesn't that make the interviewer responsible for the even higher number of journalists who've died? How is he discouraging people from becoming a journalist by being one himself? Blood on his hands! It's idiocy. He needs to lead by example by hiding under a rock, far away from dangerous civilization."
Yeah, because being a journalist is inherently dangerous away from Iraq. Sorry, I'm gonna have to consign that to the Stretch Armstrong Over-reaching Analogy pile and remind you that there is a difference between military and civilian occupations, and that one of them does involve supporting the decisions of the Commander in Chief.
Oh, and the number of music journalists who have died in Iraq? 0. If he's turning kids away from the Navy and towards interviewing Godsmack with a critical eye, I'd say that's a good thing.
posted by klangklangston at 8:09 AM on May 6, 2006
Yeah, because being a journalist is inherently dangerous away from Iraq. Sorry, I'm gonna have to consign that to the Stretch Armstrong Over-reaching Analogy pile and remind you that there is a difference between military and civilian occupations, and that one of them does involve supporting the decisions of the Commander in Chief.
Oh, and the number of music journalists who have died in Iraq? 0. If he's turning kids away from the Navy and towards interviewing Godsmack with a critical eye, I'd say that's a good thing.
posted by klangklangston at 8:09 AM on May 6, 2006
There are safe Navy jobs. 349,950 or so...
posted by techgnollogic at 1:49 PM on May 6, 2006
posted by techgnollogic at 1:49 PM on May 6, 2006
Do you get some sort of micropayment for every willfully disingenuous comment you post?
posted by klangklangston at 2:28 PM on May 6, 2006
posted by klangklangston at 2:28 PM on May 6, 2006
Pays triple whenever some sucker throws a fit about it.
posted by techgnollogic at 6:21 PM on May 6, 2006
posted by techgnollogic at 6:21 PM on May 6, 2006
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posted by Mean Mr. Bucket at 4:38 PM on May 4, 2006