|
By Paul Autry I recently had the pleasure of speaking with the man behind the Kiss styled
kabuki face paint and he was very honest and open with what he had to say.
This is the result of that conversation.
PAUL AUTRY: You've been active in the music scene for quite some time now.
So, how did you get involved in the music industry, what was it that made
you decide that this was what you wanted to do with your life?
PAUL AUTRY: Since you have such a lengthy career, could you give us some
details about what you've don as far as who you've worked with, produced,
some of the bands you've been in, stuff like that?
BERNARD EDWARDS: I've played in so many bands in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis/St.
Paul, Los Angeles and my home town Detroit Michigan that's it's impossible
to keep track. I live and breath this stuff every day. As far as the 80's
and producing goes I'd rather not talk about any of that, who cares about
past work, I'm only as good as my current situation or I'd be making a big
deal of money (which I'm not).
PAUL AUTRY: One of the releases of yours that I've had the pleasure of
reviewing was Sister Morphine. That was a very cool and interesting
release. Can you share with us some of your thoughts about this band and
this point in your life? This was your first singing gig, if I'm not
mistaken, correct? Also, why did this band break up?
PAUL AUTRY: What were you thinking when you formed Project Homicide? Did
you have
a clear vision of what you wanted to do or was it something that developed
naturally?
BERNARD EDWARDS: BEPH was formed out of I'm sick of all the bullshit you gotta deal
with in this music business if your in a band. Being in a band is not all
fun and games like people think. There is a lot of hard work involved. The
vision I had has been there since the Corrupt days but I finally decided to
do what I really wanted and proceded. My vision was very clear. I knew I
wanted blood, fire and honor to be part of the message... and telling you
the truth.
PAUL AUTRY: Can you give us some backround information on your band, who
they are, what they play, where they come from, stuff like that?
BERNARD EDWARDS: Ok, first Shawn Jensen (guitars) is a Minneapolis metal mercenary
and he's my hero. He played in Nuero Toxin, Horror, Hot Karl and Anal
Blast. Shawn is way cool. Next is William Proctor who is from Austin Texas
on guitars (Acoustics too). "Cousin It" was a member of Corrupt at one time
and is from Detroit. Ironically he was in Corrupt during the year I was not
a member... he plays bass. Jerry Babcock our drummer is from Northeast
Minneapolis and is one of my favorite drummers of all time. "Doom" is our
session keyboard/sample guy and he refuses to give anyone any personal info
about himself so even I don't know his story... He is a member of a very
big current metal band... ;)
Paul Autry : It has been said that you're a huge Kiss fan. Is that what led
to the makeup aspect of Project Homicide?
BERNARD EDWARDS: Not really. I had the character back in 82/83. I was pissed KISS
took off the paint and I originally wanted to use the character in Corrupt
but the other band members said "no way". I've got dated photos of all the
different designs from the progression of the character. The oldest photo I
have of Father Heroin Traxx is from 1983. All that stuff is gonna have a
special gallery on the site (history/gallery) Yes, I am a huge KISS fan and
have been one since the first album. I collect and I've seen KISS on all
the makeup tours. That's how I hooked up with our producer.
PAUL AUTRY: You actually went and got permission to use the makeup and to
re-do "Cold Gin." Can you tell us how you went about doing it and was it a
difficult goal to accomplish?
BERNARD EDWARDS: Yeah, difficult like 3 and a half years of negotiations over the
song and the makeup. We finally got everything set so all is good and the
ok has been granted and we are on our way. Basically we're just making sure
we are not going to get sued or anything like that. We pressed 100,000
copies and the first (10,000) have the bonus track... If KISS said "no"
we'd be eating around 10,000 CD's and we could not afford that type of loss
so we did not rush releasing the album. We had to wait.
PAUL AUTRY: On the album, so far, you're the only one wearing makeup. But,
rumor has it that on your next release, you plan on having the entire band
wearing kabuki styled makeup and, according to your press release,
"characterized personas." Can you explain what you have in mind? I mean,
will your makeup be based around the characters that Kiss created or will
you try to create your own characters?
BERNARD EDWARDS: Yeah, that story is true. We are creating and developing new and
unique original character"personas" for the other band members. We are
trying to stay as far away from KISS as possible. People will always accuse
us of stealing from KISS so who cares. Our music sounds nothing like KISS.
So to try to stop those comparisons we are not sure if it will be black &
white or colorized... we are taking pictures of all the developemental
stages for the future. That stuff will eventually be on the web site. We're
not sure if all the band may have matching designs or if the individual
look is gonna work. I can tell you this it's gonna look extreme and very
sick. I can't wait.
PAUL AUTRY: Even though you've managed to create an exceptional album,
apparently, people in America haven't seemed to latch on to what you're
doing yet as it was stated that "America has no clue." What do you think
the problem is, I mean, I've enjoyed your album a lot more than a lot of
the modern stuff that's floating around out there. In fact, I can honestly
say that it's better than most of the stuff being released these days. So,
I can't see why people wouldn't be into it...people in Europe are though,
correct?
BERNARD EDWARDS: America is soft. Metal has become weak and trendy and just not
what I will support. The reason our CD is selling low volume here in the US
is we are not "alternative" or "cRap metal" (nu-metal). We are not dumb ass
'satanic' (if I see one more death metal band using satanic imagery I'm
gonna hurl). We tell the truth. Walk around me with your pants hanging down
your ass talking ebonics and I'm gonna call you a fuckin' whigger. I'm not
ashamed to be a white guy. I'm not politically correct and I ain't buying
all the 'gay' and bi-sexual Jerry Springer acceptance crap. Europe and
South America are cool they get it. They seem to dig our style. The
oldschool metal vibe combined with the blood fire and guts of our imagery.
I hate all stupid people...
PAUL AUTRY: You've been compared to Marilyn Manson, which I hear you find
offensive. From my point of view, Manson doesn't have an original bone in
his body. Everything about him, from his personality to his music to his
stage show, is a blatant rip off of some of the greats that came before
him. So, being a non-Manson fan myself, I'm sure your answer to this
question will be quite interesting to me.
BERNARD EDWARDS: First, anyone who thinks we sound or look anything close to them
is a complete idiot and tone deaf to boot. C'mon we sound nothing like
them. Our image too. No comparison. I think it's laziness on the part of
people who don't understand or comprehend our music or vibe so they just
lump us in with whatever. I do think Manson has some good ideas here and
there and I do like his first record but the gender bending thing has
turned me off to them. Plus the fact he seems to be sucking up to the whole
fake Hollywood idea he was against. I think he's sold out. Nothing personal
but he needs to drop all the wierd stuff and just concentrate on song
writing and sounding good live (which he hasn't since the first tour,
except Ozzfest).
PAUL AUTRY: Since, for most of the time, people in the media tend not to
get what an artist is doing, especially one who is doing something
different, such as yourself, let's set the record straight and give the
media a bit of a clue, shall we? How would you describe Project Homicide?
What IS this band all about?
BERNARD EDWARDS: Pissing you off. Telling you the truth. Punishing you with the
heaviest music we can, spreading the word. Pushing legalization and writing
about all the things we feel need to be expressed to the youth. Kids today
need to stop trusting the media and all the lies. We hope you can have a
good time at our live shows and still know the songs we play mean
something. We hope we get a reaction (bad or good) and we hope you all will
support our cause. Support your local scene, be it whatever type of music
as long as it's original. Last we want to make sure you all know anyone can
do what we do, you just gotta get to work at it. Also be proud of who and
what you are.
PAUL AUTRY: What can people expect to see when you perform live? I've
heard of some interesting things...can you elaborate?
BERNARD EDWARDS: Well... lights, fire, smoke and lots of pyro! I breath fire, (just
like Gene... yeah blah blah blah I know). Blood (yeah I know...). And of
course lots of fire. KISS but way darker and of course HEAVIER! Plus we're
gonna steal ideas from Alice Cooper and a little GWAR and some Misfits and
we're gonna maybe have Las Vegas show girls and stuff, eventually. I vomit
3 colors, red (blood), black (bile) and green (nuclear). There is a
concept that runs through all the songs and imagery (yeah, I know King
Diamond). Steal a little Elvis, a little King... Kind of an original
tribute to my influences. Whatever.
PAUL AUTRY: Besides the obvious answer of Kiss, who are some of your
musical influences?
BERNARD EDWARDS: KISS (makeup era), Alice (70's), Slayer, Carcass, Entombed,
Pantera, Celtic Frost, Destruction, Venom, Sodom, Metal Church, Saxon,
Motorhead, Plasmatics, GBH, Cro Mags, Exploited, The Damned, EWOBHM stuff,
Maiden, Priest, AC/DC (Bon era), Witchery, Metallica (pre AJFA), Megadeth,
Athiest, Exhorder, Bathory etc.
PAUL AUTRY: Can you tell us a little bit about your producer? I hear he
has quite a history behind him as well. Also, has he brought anything to
the band...if so, what?
BERNARD EDWARDS: Edward Przydzial is the producer. I met him at a KISS show. He
photographed them on all the make-up tours and he is a much bigger fan then
I am. Dude, has some killer KISS photos from back in the day. Check out the
Metal Edge KISS specials... I think there is like 3 or 5 of them if I
remember correctly. He came in and did most of the engineering and
producing. He was cracking the whip, getting the best out of all of us. He
may end up producing the next one... nothing is confirmed yet though.
PAUL AUTRY: What do you hope to accomplish with Project Homicide?
BERNARD EDWARDS: To tour and see the world and indulge in the metal celebration
that is the almighty live show... I want you to leave our show knowing you
have just been pounded by "the heaviest band in the world". Spreading the
word and basically just enjoying being able to be in control. Knowing none
of the sole parts are more important then the whole.
PAUL AUTRY: Final comments to the people who will be reading this?
BERNARD EDWARDS: A big thank you to all the people who have joined our cause and to
those who eventually will, WELCOME!
Our debut is availible online via-credit card for $15.00 or you can purchase
it by mail order (US funds) at the following address.
Make checks payable to:
Emerald City Recordings 3 Free MP3's are up and running on the site
Copyright 2001, BallBuster, The Official Int'l Underground Hard Music Report |
Bernard Edwards is a man with a vision. When it comes to making music and
entertaining the masses, even the ones who just don't seem to get it, he's
willing to do whatever it takes to make you stand up and take notice. Once
he has your attention, he's gonna make damn sure that he keeps you right
where he wants you and, with the release of Bernard Edwards Project
Homicide, you'll watch, you'll learn and you'll be amazed. Edwards has been
involved in the music industry for over 20 years and he's already proved
that he's not one of those flash in the pan artists. He's here for the long
run and he means business.
BERNARD EDWARDS: Well I've been playing and doing hard/heavy music since 1978. I
did covers to 81/82... I was 17 or 18. Formed speed metal band Corrupt and
discovered fast and aggresive metal. I basically fell in love with the
harder/darker side of metal and adopted the style and attitude along the
path of time. I knew the 9 to 5 suit and tie life was not for me. I wanted
to be a rocker and always did just that.
BERNARD EDWARDS: Yeah, that was my first "Rock N' Roll" band and my first vocal
duties, I had decided to try rock for awhile as I'd done the speed metal
thing for 8 years at that point I was pretty disillusioned at that time as
it was pre-Nirvana/Pearl Jam era and I felt alienated by the fact corporate
dictatorship within the music
industry was fading out rock and metal for the lame "alternative" and rap
music. I was a rocker with no place to rock. Sister Morphine did very well
in the Twin Cities, we had gained a lot of attention pretty quick there.
The reason the band fell apart was the "ego trip" excuse. Two members of
that band (guitarist & drummer) were both under the impression I was
pulling the band out from underneath them. The reason being that I arranged
a deal for Mercury Records A&R rep to come see us, they liked our live feel
and attitude, but those two guys refused to cooperate because I got the
interest started and they were gonna sign us. They were "scared to death"
because the real deal was coming down and I was ready to tour big time and
they saw all
the work the label wanted us to do. We needed to define our image a bit,
get heavier and more serious lyrics and work on getting ready to record our
second CD. None of this ever happened and I quit after the Wasp tour. Then
they tried burning my reputation through the local media (City Pages) by
making false and misleading statements about my business dealings etc. That
paper (Jim Meyer) printed the bullshit story and never even varified the
information first. He never got my comment/response either. It became a big
war. City Pages was forced by my legal people to print a retraction 2 weeks
later but by that point it was too late. I had enough of Sister Morphine
and was glad I was out. BEPH was formed and based upon that extreme hate I
felt at that time. (1993)
