BABYLON
MYSTERY ORCHESTRA
BABYLON
MYSTERY ORCHESTRA BELONG TO THE GENRE WE CALL "INTELEGENT" METAL. NOT BECAUSE
THEY PLAY EXTREMLY TECHNICAL,BUT BECAUSE THEIR MUSIC AND LYRICS MAKE YOU
THINK SOMETHINGS. B.M.A RECENTLY RELEASED THEIR DEBUT ALBUM AND WITH LYRICS
THAT CAN BE COMPERAD ONLY WITH QUEENSRYCHE'S "OPERATION MINDCRIME" I AM
SURE THAT THEY DESERVE YOUR INTEREST. READ THE INTERVIEW TO FIND MORE ABOUT
THEM...
1.FIRST OF ALL POINT OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT
MOMENTS OF THE BANDS HISTORY.
Probably I would say that in late
2001 I decided once and for all that I would make a recording and forego
any further dealings with a band. Thats when this truly became the sole
focus of mine. However the idea of "Divine Right Of Kings" goes back as
far as 15 years. I always thought a combination of Heavy Metal music
and Prophecy themes would be a good combination.
2.YOU ARE THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE BAND.
WHY? ARE YOU THINKING OF KEEPING IT AN ONE MAN BAND OR WILL YOU HAVE OTHER
MUSICIANS AS WELL?
Ideally I would like to have a
band as that would be necessary for live performance. However I have been
down that road repeatedly, and around this part of the world there are
no musicians with the courage to try anything different. If I could get
Babylon Mystery Orchestra signed to a deal I'm willing to bet that getting
cooperative, and enthusiastic musicians will get easier.
3.MY CONGRATULATIONS FOR "DIVINE RIGHT
OF KINGS". IT'S AN AMAZING ALBUM! CAN YOU TELL U A FEW THINGS ABOUT IT
(WHERE IT WAS RECORDED, HOW LING IT TOOK YOU TO RECORD IT, WHO WAS THE
PRODUCER, ETC)? ARE YOU STILL SATISFIED WITH IT OR IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D
LIKE TO CHANGE?
The album took exactly one year
to finish. I could have done it faster if I didn't have to hold down a
full time job. It was recorded in my home studio. I have been assembling
the neccessary gear for a couple of
years in hopes that one day I would be able to do an entire record. That
day did arrive. I produced it myself. I am rather satisfied with the results.
There may be some things I wish were a little better but considering this
is my first effort I am quite impressed with what it sounds like. I think
it compares quite favorably with whats out there by major labels. I might
could have taken three years to perfect it even more however I intend to
have three albums done in three years. Hopefully each one showing some
growth and expasion on the sound and ideas.
4.BABYLON MYSTERY ORCHESTRA IS A WEIRD
NAME. WHY DID YOU NAME THE BAND THIS WAY? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY WITH
THIS BAND NAME?
I decided on the name during the
recording of the CD. When I decided on the Divine Right Of Kings story
as the first one, Mystery Babylon was hovering as a name. At one point
I was going to call it OR-CHESTRA (OR-Kestra).
But I figured it would be endlessly mispronounced. Since the story revolves
around the presumption that America is Mystery Babylon I just decided to
re-arrange the words to Babylon Mystery Orchestra. I also figured that
no one else would likely have thought about it, therefore making it an
original idea.
5.I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY DEEP AND SINCERE
ADMIRATION FOR YOUR LYRICS! I WAS ASTONISHED BY THEM! THEY ARE VERY POLITICAL
AND WHAT MADE THE BIGGEST IMPRESSION TO ME WAS THE FACT THAT I SAW AN AMERICAN
CITIZEN REALISE AND SPEAK ABOUT THINGS THAT MOST OF YOU THERE DON'T. I
MEAN YOU SPEAK FOR THINGS THAT THE PEOPLE THERE WILL BE TOO NARROW MINDED
TO UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT AND THUS I AM AFRAID THAT YOUR IDEAS WILL BE "PROSECUTED".
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT?
I am very pleased that you like
them. The lyrics are at the heart of everything I wish for Babylon Mystery
Orchestra to be! I understand that they are controversial but at the heart
of all good Rock music you will find some sort of controversy. I have suggested
that the United States IS Mystery Babylon The Great. No church in North
America will dare say that. However I wish to make clear I didn't just
write this for the sake of controversy. I truly believe that this could
be true. The reason why Divine Right Of Kings is the first record I made
is because I do view it as omething of a warning. Whether or not
it should be my responsibility I made this record because I believe in
it. There will be people who will not react well to this. However I believe
that you should have the courage to express your views especially if they
are unpopular. The only way Mystery Babylon could be brought to existence
is if the people who lived there did not percieve themselves the way the
rest of the world does. Certainly that is the case. A lot of people would
think this is too serious of a subject for a Rock and Roll record. However
I really don't think of it as a Rock record. Heavy Metal, yes. Honestly
I think there is room for music like this in the world.
6.WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE FOR THE WAR THE
U.S. IS SOON PLANNING TO DO AGAINST IRAK? THE 11TH OF SEPTEMBER IS STILL
CLOSE IN THE HEARTS AND MEMORIES OF PEOPLE. HOWEVER, THE AMERICANS SEEM
NOT TO HAVE FULLY REALISED WHAT HAPPENED. THEY SEEM UNABLE TO SEE THAT
IN A WAY THEY HAVE PULLED THE TIRGGER AGAINST THEMSELVES AND INSTEAD OF
SETTLING DOWN AND TRYING TO WORK THINGS OUT WITHIN THEIR BORDERS THEY INTERFERE
AND TRY TO "ARRANGE" THINGS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD. WHY? WHERE DO YOU
THINK ALL THIS POWER OR THIS SENSE OF POWER DERIVES FROM?
First of all there is a myth here
in America that Sept. 11 changed something. I don't really see it. Our
president insists that we continue "business as usual". America has a very
inconsistent
foreign policy. We will act imperialistic to Iraq and then negotiate
with the more dangerous North Korea. I have no real problem with a war
to remove Saddam Hussein from power. But I don't think we ought to do it
alone. If the othe nations near him aren't worried why should we spend
our blood and money for it? America has been percieved as a meddling superpower
for some time. I think I addressed that pretty well in the song "We Are
Power". That song is an attempt to display the arrogance that Mystery Babylon/America
tries to run the world. When I wrote this record I was very conscientiously
viewing this from a biblical perpective. When I tell you That I believe
that America is Mystery Babylon this is a very distressful conclusion.
But Sept. 11 was actually the last event that convinced me that not only
could this be true but events could lead to the disasterous conclusion
quickly. Let me tell you what really convinced me. Right after the attack
there was an overwhelming display of what we in America call patriotism.
Flags were flying everywhere. And right here in Greenville Alabama hanging
accross the front of a huge baptist church hung a gigantic American flag.
In fact virtually EVERY church had a huge flag draped somewhere. The minute
I saw them these words of Jesus Christ came to mind: "Render unto Ceasar
that which is Ceasar's." Those flags proclaimed the church belongs
to Caesar. Thats when it was undisputedly proven to me that the religion
of America IS AMERICA. Our country worships itself.
7.CAN YOU TELL US SOME GENERAL THINGS
FOR ALL YOUR LYRICS?WHAT ATTRACTS YOU AND HOW DO YOU CHOOSE AND "REALISE"
THAT SOMETHING INTERESTS YOU THAT MUCH THAT YOU WANT TO WRITE LYRICS FOR?
The lyrics generally reflect the
world as I see it. Obviously I have a somewhat unique perspective on certain
issues. The lyrics are intentionally direct and at times quite venomous.
But I won't do obscenity. Obscenity is for people who have nothing to say.
I like the fact that a song like 'Whore" is not at all about what you might
suspect. I can't think of another song about the stock market. I can say
that when I decide on a songs title and subject the lyrics tend to come
pretty easy.
8.NOW, CAN WE TALK IN SPECIFIC FOR
THE SONG "IT'S MY RIGHT"? I SAW MANY DIFFERENT MEANINGS WITHIN THE SONG.
I SAW A QUESTIONING TOWARDS THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, I SAW A DOUBT REGARDING
WHAT'S WRONG OR RIGHT, I SAW THAT YOU CRITICISE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE
EASILY DEFINE TRUTH BUT THEY NEVER TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THEY NEVER
HIT THE ROOT OF IT AND I ALSO SAW THAT THERE IS NOT AN OBJECTIVE TRUTH.
THERE IS NOT ONE TRUTH, BUT IT'S MULTIPLE VARYING FROM EACH PERSON'S
POINT OF VIEW. DO YOU AGREE? WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY?
Its My Right is probably going
to be the most controversial song on the record and that is kind of sad.
"We Are Power" should be because of its not so pleasant view of America.
However here in America we tend to
differ over smaller and less important issues. "Its My Right" is about
those small and divisive issues that affect only a small group of people
but that end up becoming national in importance. It focuses on the homosexual
agenda, the slave reparations agenda and the school prayer agenda. This
is always in the news in America. The song is really more about how the
various groups try to force their competeing truths on the public. The
fact is more often than not they are ALL wrong. No truth is being
told by any of them. But they are always very passionate about their particular
agenda. These issues tend to generate more public interest than other more
deserving ones. The trouble for me is that you can't criticize any of these
people without being given some sort of Hate label.
9.ARE YOU AN OPTIMIST OR A PESSIMIST
FOR MANKINDS FUTURE? DO YOU THINK THERE IS STILL SALVATION OR THERE IS
NO WAY BACK?
I am an optimist for mankind. A
pessimist for America's future. Biblically speaking the future will be
brighter but not before certain unfortunate prophecies play themselves
out. There is always opportunity for an individuals salvation. But for
a nation there is a point of no return. I am afraid America is too proud
of herself to ever repent, therefore no redemption will be hers.
10.ARE YOU WILLING TO APPEAR LIVE?
CAN YOU DO THAT, DO YOU LIKE TO DO IT?
I would love to do it. Can you
imagine the visuals that could go with this music? But that will depend
on how successful the record becomes. I will have to have a band for that,
but it is a very desirable prospect.
11.WHICH IS THE BIGGEST DREAM YOU WANT
TO MAKE TRUE THROUGH YOUR MUSIC?
I would like to be in a position
to work on music full time. I have a lot of intersting stories to bring
to music and it would be so much easier if I could devote all of my time
to it. Having made this first record I feel like a big door has swung open.
There is so much music I want to record.
12.HOW DO YOU IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT
MUSIC TO BE? IN THAT CASE WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
For most of the history of the
world the average person very rarely heard any music. If I had never known
music I am sure I would be just fine. But I wouldn't like the idea now.
13.WHICH WAS THE STRANGEST QUESTION
SOMEONE EVER DONE TO YOU AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE ASKED AND NO ONE
EVER DID? ANSWER IT AS WELL.
Somebody asks me if I want a haircut.
Do I really have to tell you the answer to that one? Since I have never
been married perhaps some woman should ask me that.haha.
14.IF YOU COULD BE A HISTORICAL PERSON
FOR A DAY, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE?
I don't know that I would want
to be any other person. I would like to maybe go back and be around a few
people and events. I have always thought I would like to meet Gen. Robert
E. Lee. I have read over 20 biographies on this man. He is one of
the few people who appear to have lived up to his reputation.
15.IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THE
CREATURE THAT CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK HIM?
"Creature?" Interesting choice
of words there. If I could meet God there at the gates of heaven I would
ask him the same question everyone will..........Can I come in?
16.IF YOUR MUSIC WAS A FEELING, WHAT
WOULD IT BE? IF IT WAS A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
If my music was a feeling it would
be "Crestfallen". Which is the title of the last track on the record. In
fact it was the first song written for it. It describes the way I feel
about the conclusions I have arrived at. If it was a painting it would
be a fallen angel with a broken wing. And that's also a hint at the direction
of the next record.
17.IF YOU COULD CHANGE SOMETHING IN
HUMAN BEHAVIOR, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
If I could change something in
human behavior it would be man's insatiable need to be the center of the
universe.
18.WHY DO YOU THINK MANKIND KEEPS DESTROYING
NATURE AND EVERYTHING AROUND HIM? WHY IS HE SO ARROGANT THAT BEHAVES LIKE
WE ARE THE CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE?
Mankinds nature is selfcentered
and unfortunately he treats everything as disposable. He is supposed to
be the highest form of animal life but he acts more like the lesser animals
pursuing immediate gratification over long term objectives. Perhaps if
everyone had to share their life with a CAT they would learn their place
in the universe.
19.WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW
TO HAVE?
A Man and his CATastrophe!
20.THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK
YOU ANYTHING AND YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION?
These are great questions. I enjoyed
them immensely. Let me know if you have more.
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