Today is your lucky day, Bellions. Why? Well shit, because we are throwing up an interview with one of the most sharkfuck bands to ever bring the rock; not to mention they are cool as hell. We managed to get a hold of Dark Touch (formally Easy E) of The American Black Lung and get an interview that has all the elements of a good time: gnarness, humor, and a touch of love. So saddle up and read on. This is how dreams are made!
Belly Full of Hell: Does ABL have any bands you think we here at the Belly should check out that may (almost) rock as hard as you? You know, like bands that have influenced you or you just think rock the shit right out of a new pair of pants?
Dark Touch (formerly Easy E): Funny you mentioned "rockin the shit out of pants", because one time while watching Tucson, AZ's very own BLUES, i literally shit myself. I was going for the whole "fart to make my stomach feel better" routine, and sharted my (luckily enough) VERY OLD pants. (myspace.com/lettherockfuckyou) (ok, i just completely made that story up... but Blues kills.)
BFoH: How did everyone end up with such bad-ass names (Dusty Rhodes, Diamond Rhino, etc)? We took a vote and feel they were not given at birth.
DT: Your vote was correct. The names were conceived by one particular rock god who, at the time of the names conception, was eating a Whopper. And by the way, for the rest of this interview I hereby am dropping the name "Easy E". I am now "DARK TOUCH".
BFoH: A little birdie told us that you guys have worked your keisters off. How tough was it to actually get out there and start to get recognized?
DT: I could've sworn i shot that damn birdie! We've been taking every tour we could get for the past 2 years, including the '06 Warped Tour which was the toughest thing we've ever done. In the process we met a few really great people who helped us out tremendously with getting the word out.
BFoH: How and why did you dudes lose your thunder-banger (aka drummer)?
DT: He left the band for one yoko-ono-esque disaster girlfriend. The loss paved the way for an even more thunder(er) banger(er), RUDE RUDY REEFER RIVERS!
BFoH: We noticed that you rely on people to help book you in certain towns. Does this usually work out, or do you ever end up stuck in some town with nothing to do except kills roaches in a HoJo's? Also, are the people that give a hand usually fans, friends, promoters, zombies?
DT: We mostly work with promoters/bands that we've worked with before, which leads to killer shows. IN the past, we've had the occasional permazoid book us, which leads to a outrageous drunken night in a walmart parking lot (whoop whoop!). Fortunately, that is happening less every tour.
BFoH: Although the Lung came out with a rippin' album fairly recently, we here at the Belly want more. Is there any music in the works, and if so, when will the sonic bombs be dropped?
DT: Yes yes yes yes. We are, in fact, planning on releasing a split with that particular shit inducing rocker from tucson, BLUES. Look out for it late spring.
BFoH: When you guys aren't shredding peoples' faces off, what do you guys do? What are your day jobs? Do you collect stamps or something to stay busy? Do you all hang out in a grocery store parking lot with your car hoods open listening to Motley Cure?
DT: Everyday we hustlin'. I (Dark Touch) cook, Dhusty drinks, Johnny jams (along with Rudy), and Diamond.. I don't really know what diamond does. We save bumpin Motley Crue in the parking lots for tour.
BFoH: Do you have any insanely weird stories from touring around? We like to believe that you fellas end up in ridiculously rock n' roll situations. If you really don't have any, make some up.
DT: Of course! Stopping at hundereds of truck stops, shady hotels and houses across the country pretty much guarantees you some ridiculous sights. Bums with broken legs make for great photo op's. You can steal anything in a walmart chicken bag (anything). A large group of deaf gay men are very intimidating, dont try to negotiate with your own "sign language". Absinthe in germany is much stronger than one might think. And p.s., when you run into us be sure to ask why Diamond is wanted dead by the German mafia.
BFoH: Will you write a song for us here at the Belly? We'll write one for you guys and sing it a cappella if you do.
DT: Absolutely. I've been working on one since i started this interview.
BFoH: Could we be honorary members of the band since we most definitely have real American black lungs in our chests right now?
DT: No lungs needed at all! YES, you can be honorary members of the Black Lung Crew. Initiation is quite brutal, but you seem like true ragers so you shouldn't have to much trouble.
BFoH: Who are some of the bands that you've toured with that you guys thought were the most fun?
DT: Holy smokes, every band thus far has been amazing to tour with. Our BFF's are the Jonbenet, This Is An Empire, Blues and all the other great bands in tucson. Those bloody brits Death Defying Life sure know how to drink.
BFoH: What's the coolest part about being in a band like ABL? The chicks? The rocking out? The fans? The bloody noses and bad-ass scars?
DT: Well, obviously all of the above. But other than that, the coolest part is while i'm working this shit dead end job, i have something to look forward to (because ANYTHING goes on tour). and yeah, the chicks are pretty bomb.
BFoH: Are you guys as tired of hearing about the Beckhams as we are?
DT: Yeah, until i heard they are 100% CGI - then i had mad respect.
BFoH: We know that The American Black Lung feels music today is way to corporate and boring. We completely agree. What do you think it's going to take to get people to realize that all this mainstream stuff is complete crap? We're pretty sure you guys can single-handedly stick it to man, so don't let us down.
DT: We haven't exactly figured out the exact formula for that, but right now we are living day to day with a positive mental attitude, with love and respect for all we come in contact with. We try to express that through our jams, so maybe that will catch on to the rest of the world and there will be some revolution. Until then, rage hard.
BFoH: What is the music scene like out in the southwest? Is it hot? Get it?
DT: It really depends who you are i suppose. For most, it's kinda luke-warm. The kids that come out to our shows are the most genuine people, and make us smile every time we play. So sure, hot as hell!
BFoH: Speaking of the southwest, we would like to start seeing you guys wearing those goofy ponchos with those wacky southwestern patterns on them. Can you make that happen?
DT: No way man, i've worn one of those before. They're itchy as hell and TOTALLY impractical.
[BFoH editor's note]: Mr. D. Touch is sooo right. Blues is totally fuckin' sick as all fuck. Expect a "Found You, Asshole" or "So Sick It Hurts" in the very near future.... Stay tuned... Same Belly time, same Belly channel.
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