1. FIRST OFF, HOW LONG HAS LOW TWELVE BEEN AROUND AND HOW DID THE BAND GET STARTED?
- Low Twelve began in the summer of 98, so we've been around about a year and a half. Both Tim McCleland and I started forming the style of Low Twelve in his basement as we added a second guitar player and drummer. The original drummer left this past November, but he was replaced with Wes Pollock. A much faster and aggressive type of drummer.
2. HOW IS THE MUSIC SCENE BY YOU? HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO OTHER PLACES YOU HAVE PLAYED?
- The music scene around here is like Melrose Place. Everyone is fucking everyone . . . and everyone is telling each other about it. It's pretty sad. There are a few good bands though - like Blessed with Pain, Jackhammer, Bruised, Pipe Theory, Generation Hate, Waco Jesus, and others. There's a lot of wannabe's around here. I think that's the same wherever you go though. It's always worst in your own backyard.
3. WHAT IS LOW TWELVE'S CONCEPT? WHAT IS THE BAND ALL ABOUT? (the meaning? the message?)
- The meaning of Low Twelve is pretty simple - it means midnight. We just try to pummel the listener with heavy riffs and brutal vocals. The style is a mix of hardcore metal grooves, with intricate guitar harmonies, and incredibly thundering drums. We are real metal heads that like our music heavy as hell. There's no compromise - and it's in your face. That's what we like about it. I've found that we appeal to guys that are totally into death metal, as well as some of the more mainstream listeners. I am surprised - but am happy that we have potential to reach a mass audience while maintaining our integrity as metal musicians. Some bands thrive on staying underground - that's cool if you dig that. I don't see anything wrong in starting your own trend and making believers out of people that normally wouldn't get into heavy music.
4. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR INFLUENCES MUSICALLY OR OTHERWISE?
- We have a variety of influences, as most bands do. I personally listen to a lot of Testament, Slayer, and Pro-Pain. I also dig Death, Carcass, SOD, The Mentors, and a bunch of other metal bands. Tim, Les and Wes are really into Death, Carcass, and Sepultura. We all like it heavy. Many of our roots were with the early metal bands like Maiden, Sabbath, Dio, Rainbow, and stuff like that. Of course as the 80's thrash scene exploded, we all stuck to the heavier side of the road.
5. ANY MESSAGE FOR THE POSERS OF THE WORLD? WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU WANT TO SEND TO THEM HERE?
- For all the posers out there, here's a lyric from our song "Brutal World" - "I'm in your face, I'm in your dreams, I'm the worst fucking nightmare you've ever seen, I infest while you detest, now watch your world crumble in my wake". That's how I feel about those who choose to pose.
6. WHAT SINGLE SOURCE DO YOU ATTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF YOUR MARKETING AND PUBLICITY? RADIO? NET? TELEVISION? ALL OF THE ABOVE?
- I learned how to promote by just trial and error. We do a lot of stuff on the internet, like our weekly Brutality Report that gets emailed to nearly 1000 metal maniacs. We also have gotten good support on the radio, especially in Peoria IL on ROCK 106. We even got some TV exposure last summer when we had a big outdoor show planned and the county banned it. It was all over the paper and the news. I loved it - and did several interviews, proudly displaying my Low Twelve shirt. We got more publicity out of it than if they just let the show take place. Idiots.
7. YOUR NEWSLETTER, "THE LOW TIMES" IS AWESOME ! HOW DO YOU GET TOGETHER WITH YOUR BAND TO WRITE IT? I SEE THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE BAND WRITES A COLUMN AND THAT IS VERY COOL!
- Thanks! We work very hard to put that out every other month. I write the basic framework each time, and the guys submit their articles. Tim's column has really took off and is in demand - so it's great to give everyone a shot at the brass ring. Les has always done his spoof on fashion, and now Wes is doing a drumming column. It's a blast. I have done freelance writing since I was 9 and have written a novel and hundreds of short stories. To me, writing is easier than breathing. I love to do it and I like to make people laugh in the process. The Low Times gets the info out in a funny way - and people enjoy reading it. There's nothing like it that I know of in the world. We pay for the expenses with advertising and mail it to over 250 metal heads. The rest go in stores and out at gigs.
8. TELL US ABOUT THE NEW LOW TWELVE MUSIC COMING OUR WAY, I HEARD YOU HAVE A KILLER CONCEPT GOING ON FOR NEW MATERIAL ?
- We just recorded a new single with our new drummer, called "Brutal World". It's for radio stations and promo only. But, we wanted to get something out with him on it. We're writing songs for our debut full length CD. It's about 75% done. We've got new tunes called "Trench" and "Twelve". The concept of the CD is significant events from the 20th century. We've got a song about WWI, famine in China, post-Vietnam prison camps, Columbine, and stuff like that. It's pretty cool. Nothing is set just yet - but that's the working concept.
9. WHERE CAN THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN CHECKING OUT LOW TWELVE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOU, GET A HOLD OF YOU, ECT?
- We are in the process of getting a dot com address, but for now they can go to www.lowtwelve.cjb.net and listen to sounds, and see pictures, etc. They can also email us at lowtwelve@hotmail.com, and we'd be happy to add names to the email/mailing list.
10. LOW TWELVE IS APART OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED HEAVYCORE, WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT AND WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT?
- I founded Heavycore with Corey Wilson of Generation Hate. We decided that heavy bands needed help to break away from the radio-safe bands in our area. Once we started it, the idea boomed and bands have joined world-wide. It's totally free. Bands can apply online at - if it's heavy that is. We're putting out a Heavycore DAM CD on mp3.com called HEAVY AS FUCK VOLUME I. I look forward to outdoor fest and tours with Heavycore bands only.
11. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GOALS THAT HEAVYCORE HAS FOR THE FUTURE? ANY HEAVYCORE PLANS FOR THE NEAR FUTURE?
- Well, we've got the DAM CD and hopefully we'll be doing an outdoor fest this summer. I'd like to pair off bands from around the country and do gig exchanges and tours. Brothers helping brothers.
12. ANY ADVICE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ON ANY GOOD OR BAD EXPERIENCES YOU MAY HAVE HAD IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?
- The first band I was in got screwed by an indie label. Be careful whenever you sign your name. Don't get hooked up in a deal that doesn't give you an out. It's very tempting to sign and tell all your friends - "we got signed!". But if the label isn't willing to put up the money and give you attention - it's not worth it. Just watch your ass.
13. ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS?
- Thanks for giving me the chance to do the interview. And big time thanks for supporting real metal . . . stay brutally heavy at all times.
contact Pete at lowtwelve@hotmail.com
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