What directed you towards music? Did you happen to have a friend that got you involved? Or did you happen to see a great show?


I had older brother's record collections at my disposal. I remember being five years old and being fascinated with the wah wah on "Electric Funeral" by Black Sabbath, or just listening to Jimi Hendrix doing "Easy Rider" . Also, pop radio was less formatted back then so I remember grooving on the Spinners, Temptations, Four Tops and Marvin Gaye. Thus, I was exposed to the playing of my bass idol James Jamerson before playing the bass guitar ever occurred to me.


When did you become a member of Corrosion of Conformity? How was the name chosen?

I started the band with Woody, Reed Mullin and this original singer Benji Shelton. When Benji and I moved to Raleigh in the early 1980's. It was Reed's idea as a name and was kind of a response to what we thought of as the superficial conformity of so-called hardcore punk. It was basically a teenage fashion show. We wanted to push their buttons a little bit.


What kind of music did you listen to in your youth?

Everything from Led Zepplin to say... Led Zepplin.


Looking back and up to present day, are you happy with how things have turned out?

No complaints.


You just got off tour with Motorhead, how did that go?

Beautiful. Lemmy is a cultural icon. The band is as strong as ever and I like their repertoire.


What is your most memorable rock and roll moment?

Playing on french TV on some fake french David Letterman type of show... that was cool.


How do you come up with the riffs and musical structure? Do you have a 4 track at home that you fill up with ideas and then you later sort through them?

We just jam and record it on the computer in a rough fashion, then arrange it, re-learn it, and record with isolation and there you have it... a new release.


What artists are you currently favoring?

"Current artists" and "favoring " aren't words I often string together, but I'm always ready to be surprised and impressed. Right now, I listen to a lot of Robert Johnson from 1936.


I read an interview that Woody described the new album title (In the Arms of God) as exactly that... With all the political bullshit, fighting and not to mention natural disasters.. we are all kind of sitting ducks. Interesting title. How do you feel about earth's current state?

The earth is a living being which maybe trying to rid itself of a parasitic infestation known as humanity, whose mechanistic capitalistic religion of greed has turned its back on nature in favor of short term comfort and entertainment that never satisfies. We are much less important than we give ourselves credit for. I prefer the company of dogs.


You went back to producer John Custer, who did an excellent job producing Wiseblood.. what sparked that decision?

Custer co-produced this one with the band. The basic tracks were recorded by myself and Mike Napolitano in New Orleans and In Raleigh.  Custer jumped in at the point where we were doing what I call "finesse guitars" and vocals which is the point where you need to get some perspective outside the group. He did the mix and I was "computer boy" cross fading punch-ins and backing everything up endlessly.


I look at musical evolution as extremely positive thing, (Especially the way Metallica has evolved). How do you feel about musical change?

It could go either way and sometimes the journey can take you to some undesirable territory. In our own case, I'm proud of what we've accomplished.


As a fan, I think your latest release is fantastic! It has everything and more that a COC fan could expect. How has the response been?

Very positive,,, which is nice, but It's not so important what people think as long as you can be confident in your own efforts.


Do you have any crazy tour or other experiences you would like to share?

Performing in a rodeo arena at the Buffalo County, Nebraska Fair Grounds. The floor was dirt and there was straw and cow manure on the floor.


What's next for COC?

We should be touring more in North America , Europe and South America and hopefully we'll have Stanton Moore out with us on drums.

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