"I went to Virgin and bought two copies just to see my record on the shelf!"

That is what Mastodon's Brann Dailor exclaimed about their latest CD Leviathan which came out just three months ago. Brann has a right to be proud. The bands album has received critical acclaim, (including Five stars by yours truly), has played packed houses here and abroad with Slipknot and Slayer as well as the current jaunt on the 2004 Jagermeister Tour with Slayer and Killswitch Engage. In this interview, Brann fields a couple of questions from the fans as well as the infamous For The Fan questions drummed up by Karma E. So what is Brann's favorite color, which band member would he eat first, who would be invited to his dinner party and what are his thoughts on George bush's "re-election"...

Sharita: Ok Brann I have a couple of questions from some of the fans on the website. First, the riffs for the songs you mentioned you hum them into a tape player why is that?

Brann: Well the riffs kind of come to me in the middle of the night so I bump into walls looking for my tape player; they play like movies in my head. If I remember it long enough then it’s gotta’ be good.

Sharita: Ok great. A fan wants to know what is the story behind the cha-cha-cha tattoo on your stomach?

Brann: [looks bewildered, grins]

Karma: [laughs]

Sharita: I knew you would give me that look! [Laughs]

Brann: Oh no, it’s cool to ask me that question. [Laughs] There is no big story behind it. I think I was like eighteen years old and I was like, ha ha wouldn’t it be funny if I got cha-cha-cha on my stomach. At the time, I mean Tommy Lee has like Mayhem and all these hardcore guys had like pain and it’s a real tough tattoo to get, it’s called the rocker tattoo. A lot of guys get something like fuckin’ badass and I thought if I got cha-cha-cha it would be funny! [Laughs] 

Sharita and Karma: [laugh hysterically]

Brann: I mean I have a tattoo of John Travolta on my leg so you see I don’t take myself too seriously.

Sharita: Whoa, ok.

Brann: I mean I love it, I think its’ funny ass hell!

Sharita: Well let’s talk about the past two stints on the road Europe with Slipknot and Slayer and now KSE and Slayer how have they been?

Brann: Which one?

Sharita: Either is fine.

Brann: Well since we did Slipknot and Slayer first.  That was incredible, it was amazing. It was the most people we have ever played in front of consistently, it was a super rush. It was hockey arenas, 10-20,000 people every single night.  As soon as we went into “Iron Tusk” the whole crowd would be jumping up and down and it was like holy shit, it was really wild. [Then] to see the guys from Slipknot and Slayer and the crowds bangin’ their heads to it was in heaven, it was the coolest thing ever, totally amazing.  The food was amazing, they had a catering company that traveled with us everywhere we went called “Eat to The Beat” and they made the most amazing food. They had like five selections like lamb and salmon, I actually gained weight on tour instead of losing it, which is usually the case. [Laughs]  All around it was such an easy tour to do because there were so many professional people on the tour that did their jobs correctly.  I mean everything was together onstage, everything happened, we were there; it was like really easy.  This tour the same thing, a lot of people every night, Slayer are legends and we love watching them every night and KsE are a incredible band that have some catchy songs that you can sing along to so it’s great. The food is also great even though we don’t have a traveling caterer like before but it is a different one in each city so we can see what each one has to offer.  It’s an important part of the day to eat some food and be healthy on tour, I mean we’re used to cold pizza and warm beer, so be on something like this that provides us with a healthy balanced diet that Mr. Rogers would approve of, that’s like a dream come true.

Sharita: [laughs] I just wanted to congratulate you on the album and I actually went out and bought it…

Brann: You did?

Sharita: Yeah.

Brann: You’re crazy.

Sharita: [laughs] Yes and it is so good.

Karma: [laughs]

Brann: [laughs] You know what though, I went and bought it too!

Sharita: You did?

Brann: Yeah I was in Vegas the day it came out and I went to Virgin records and bought two copies. I gave them away of course but I just wanted to buy them and see my record on the shelf at Virgin records, and I bought the new Lamb of God too! Stellar record.

Sharita: I did too! That is a great album. Ok so I have a Speed Round of Questions for you.

Brann: Speed round?

Sharita: Yeah you just answer them…

Brann: As quickly as I can.

Sharita: No, just the first thing that comes to your mind.  Ok so; if you were stranded on a desert island, whom would you take with you?

Brann: Probably my wife. [Laughs]

Sharita: Now if you and the band were stranded on the island who would you eat first?

Brann: I would eat Troy.

Sharita: Why.

Brann: He’s got nice, firm buttocks.  That’s where I would go first is the buttocks, the meat.

Sharita: [laughs] ok.

Brann: I’d just shave off a couple of pieces for the boys and me.  We would have a feast on Troy’s’ buttocks. [Laughs]

Sharita: [laughs] You only have 3 CDs you could take with you on this island, what would they be?

Brann: Oh that’s pretty fuckin’ easy. Genesis The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, Stevie Wonder Inner Visions, David Bowie Ziggy Stardust and Spiders from Mars.

Sharita: Ok, that was quick. What’s your mantra?

Brann: Usually I say, keep on rockin’ and rollin' don’t stop till you hit the top. [Laughs] The other is don’t take any wooden nickels, that’s in second place.

Sharita: Oh ok. If you could be any cartoon character who would it be?

Brann: Spongebob Squarepants, he makes me happy.  If I’m having a bad day I can pop in some Spongebob and everything will be alright.

Sharita: What is your favorite comfort food?

Brann: Comfort food? Steak and potatoes, I like a nice filet mignon. 8 oz, 12 oz whatever you got. Let’s throw some garlic-mashed potatoes on the side with some asparagus with butter, and a nice tall Guinness. That’s very comforting to me; just talking about it makes my mouth water. [Laughs]

Sharita: What was the last book you read?

Brann: The last book I read was Crime and Punishment.  That was a good book. Right now I’m reading White Fang Call Of The Wild. I’m into the classics at the moment like Moby Dick, the Bible, War and Peace, Crime and Punishment.  You can gage what book you read by how long you go on tour. If you’re on tour for three months you read War and Peace. [Laughs]

Sharita: Is your glass half empty or half full?

Brann: Half full.

Sharita: Spiritual or religious.

Brann: Religious. I believe in God.

Sharita: What is your favorite color?

Brann: Green, any shade will do. [Grins]

Sharita: Do you speak a different language?

Brann: No, I speak a little German and a little Spanish. I mix them together to confuse people. [Laughs]

Sharita and Karma: [laugh]

Sharita: If you did which one would it be?

Brann: French, cause’ that’s sexy as hell!

Sharita and Karma: [laugh]

Brann: If I’m gonna’ speak a different language it better be sexy. [Laughs]

Sharita: Introvert or extrovert?

Brann: It depends on who I’m hanging out with.

Sharita: Ok great, so last thing. Give me your thoughts on the election, what did you think about it?

Brann: I was pretty bummed out. I was really kind of hopin’ that we could have something different. I’m definitely not a Kerry worshipper but, I thought it was a better option than Bush because I think he’s a bumbling idiot and has the job because his Dad has set him up with many jobs and this is just another one that he’s fuckin’ up. I mean he used to own a baseball team and he failed miserably at it. He’s a drunk drivin’ cocaine freak and I don’t want somebody like that in office. Not to mention my mother is very ill and her healthcare is goin’ down the toilet and it has a lot to do with Bush just putting that terror and fear into everybody’s hearts so he can work under the table and fuck it up. I’m for stem cell research, I’m for abolishing nuclear weapons, and I guess I’m what you would call a bleeding heart liberal. I’m anti gun, pro choice, everything that Bush is not. I’m for gay marriage, I mean because who the fuck cares? If gays want to get married that’s awesome, it might get rid of some HIV. If gay people can feel like they can be married in a monogamous relationship [then it would be better for everyone] What’s the big fuckin’ deal? It’s ridiculous.  

Sharita: Ok, well Karma do you have any questions?

Karma: Well, if you could host a dinner party for five guests, alive or dead whom would you invite?

Brann: Alive or dead? Herman Melville, Randy Rhoads, most of my answers are probably gonna’ be dead people. [Laughs]  I’m not gonna’ say Jesus and Einstein because that would be ridiculous, everybody says that right? [Laughs]

Karma: Well no one has said Einstein yet but Jesus has been called upon. [Laughs]

Brann: Jim Henson, King Diamond, I got one more. George Bush and I just want to have dinner with him to throw chicken at him or something. [laughs]

Sharita and Karma: [Laugh]

Sharita: Ok, well that will do it. Thanks so much for interviewing with me again.

Brann: It was my pleasure that was fun!!!


Thanks so much to Darren, the band's tour manager and to Betsy from Relapse and of course Brann for being a good sport!

Click here for pix of

      tonight's show

Click here for live photos

Here for previous interview

       with Brann