Drug Honkey Interview

1. Can you update us with what is going on with the band these days?
- We are playing limited shows lately & mainly concentrating on writing & recording our upcoming full length "Ghost in the Fire" for Diabolical Conquest Records out of India. The Indian scene has shown
us much support & respect & we are happy to be spreading our sound to a new demographic -


2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how
does it differ from previous releases?
- Well, there is & always will be a similar feel to our albums, but @ the same time they vary quite a bit in atmosphere.. So, the new album is what I would call a solid mixture of our previous sounds along with a completely new feel which needs to be heard to catch my drift. -


3. What are some of the lyrical topics and concepts the new release explores?
- Most of my lyrics are a variation of reality & what is happening in my life & the world closest to me.. Topics range from self destruction, to demented triumph, to absolute confusion & everything in between. -


4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
- The difference in spelling in the word honky versus honkey came with the idea that we were the honkys giving you the music that in turn is the drug. Hence the 'key' being the music that us honky's are giving. Or something along those maddening lines. -


5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far, and how would you describe your stage performance?
- Let's see.. The show we played with Today is the Day was a very memorable one. As was the gig with Buzzov*en & Indian.. & just recently we played a show with Upsidedown Cross & Full Blown AIDS that was extremely enjoyable. There have been several great shows over the years, but those are the ones that came to mind as soon as I read the question.
Our Stage performance/presence is a somber one meshed with bouts of violence & dementia. There is no formula, we just go with it. -


6. The album was originally self released but now is re-issued by Diabolical Conquest, are you happy with the way the re-issue came out, compared to the original version?
- Well, it is a re-issue, but not a re-release in the sense of more albums being pressed... yet. Main man Kunal @ DC Records showed interest in signing us based on what he heard from "Death Dub". As we then discussed our future collaboration together, he brought up the idea of distributing the cd's I still have remaining. So, it is the same release, but now being pushed & spread worldwide by the label. & they have been doing an incredible job @ propelling us further than we already were. -


7. When can we expect the next full length?
- As of the time being the plan is to release it by the end of this summer.. August is sounding good.. & with the progress to this point that looks like a solid timeframe. -


8. On a worldwide level, how has your music been received by doom metal fans worldwide?
- Overall we have received a good response. We know & expect that not everyone is going to like or understand our brand of music, but all is well as of now. The good response is heavily outweighing the bad & that is all we can ask for. -


9. Are there any side projects besides this band, or is this a full time line-up?
- There are many.
I am also vocalist & founder of death/grind band Morgue Supplier.
Drug Honkey & Morgue Supplier are my two main projects.
Our drummer BH Honkey is a drum 'n' bass dj & producer who has many releases under his monicker of M1D1.
I am also the lunacy behind noisegrind project Asscavern.
BH Honkey & myself also have our electronic dark down-tempo project called KLLU.
Last but not least, I am also involved in an avant-garde/doom three piece called LadyBug DeathCamp with David Holland & Jim Deabenderfer from Cardiac Arrest.
There are others as well, but the ones I have mentioned are the most solid & forward moving. -


10. Your music makes a lot of references to drugs, what are some of the drugs that help you to write creative music?
- We have all done our share of everything you can imagine, but really, life circumstances develop most of our feel/sound. -


11. How would you describe your musical progress over the years and what direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
- Our progression is ever moving & @ a standstill @ the same time. What I mean by that is: The natural course of playing together as a band brings forth a constant evolution of what we do naturally. Our sound will just keep evolving while staying the same. If that doesn't make sense, then you won't understand us & probably won't like us. & that's just fine by us. -


12. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music, and also what are you listening to nowadays?
- We have a diverse musical taste as a band. Some are: Winter, Autopsy, RZA, Scorn, Skin Chamber, Upsidedown Cross, Mr. Bungle, Eyehategod, Godflesh, Simm, Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, Aphex Twin, Swans, Nirvana, Solaris, Dream Death, Cianide, Led Zeppelin, Pixies, Kim Thayil, Jesu, Melvins, & Techno Animal. & There are so many more incredible bands/musicians that have got us to this point in our lives, these are just a small fraction. -


13.What role does Satanism, Occultism or Anti-Christianity play in your music, and how would you describe your views on these topics?
- It plays a role in the sense that we don't believe in anything that rejects individuality & imagination. For us, Satan plays the role of selfishness. By that I mean, we are selfish in our beliefs & what we
stand for. Friends, family, & individual thought are all that we concentrate on. All the other "worldly" nonsense is not a concern.
There is no real Anti-Christian sentiment in the literal sense of the word. We don't really care what anyone else believes in, even though I do wish people would squash their traditions and move forward because it hinders us as a race in so many ways. To each their own, just don't ever come @ us with what we know to be ridiculous. –


14.Outside of music, what are some of your interests?
- My family, my animals, my friends. –


15. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
- Just a big thank you for your time & this well thought out interview. And - everyone be on the lookout for the new album "Ghost in the Fire" coming out soon on Diabolical Conquest Records. -