Erika: With each album, you guys become more and more brutal. You’ve gone from angst to borderline mysticism. Now, what are we to expect from Devildriver on the next record. What direction are you looking to go in or is it too early to say?

Dez: Ooh, may be it is too early to tell. We have four songs done but it’s not going to come out for another year. It’s extremely heavy and riffy and fast as well. We’ll always keep a groove and a hook; that’s where our main focus lies. But as far as direction now, it is too early.

Erika: As a lyricist, I’m very fascinated by the subject matter you choose. May I ask what inspires you lyrically and do you have a fascination in mysticism, celestial, death? (souls, death, etc…)

Dez: [Smiles] Everyday life! Also metalheads are supposed to be the Beavis & Butthead type people, but they’re really not. I like to do something that’s gonna provoke an emotional response. It’s even why the name DevilDriver sounds evil, but it’s not…it used to drive away evil. Everyday life, I mean I could walk out on the streets right now and write fifteen songs. I was raised in an extremely religious background; I went to a Baptist school, and this and that…so… [Eyes light up] Touching on that subject is really natural for me especially for a guy that did Bible class everyday.

Erika: Are you spiritual or religious? Who and/or what do you believe in?

Dez: Spiritual, I believe religion now is a dead word, you know! Spiritual is a better word.

Erika: It’s all in what you believe and how you look at things, it’s all that matters.

Dez: [Laughs] Fair enough, well said by you.

Erika: Do you conception allay come up with/organize your albums as far as the songs and content matter?

Dez: Yeah. [Points to other band members in the room] I mean it used to take these guys thirty songs so we could get ten. I’ve got books of lyrics; I mean I probably have about two hundred songs that will never see the light of day. If it fits it, I will throw it in there.

Erika: What were the pros and Cons of creating DevilDriver?

Dez: The pros were leaving my previous band Coal Chamber and the cons were leaving my previous band Coal Chamber. So anytime you do something new and start a new life, they are always gonna be naysayers. But, I think now within the past two-years, we’ve put all that to rest and we are starting to come into our own.

Erika: And that you definitely have!

Dez: [Smiles] We hope so!

Erika: Speaking of starting over, what do you think you’ve learned about yourself musically since the conception of Devildriver especially in the past couple of years?

Dez: Wow! If you surround yourself with great people and great players, as a lyricists and a vocalist, you get better. So I kind of hand it all to these guys, you know. [Smiles]

Erika: What have you learned about your bandmates…?

Dez: [Laughs] Oh, MANY things that we will not discuss! They’ve got dedication, I tell you that! I never stop touring and they never bitch about it; they want to tour. So this band keeps going, so I’ve learned that! Their perseverance and dedication is immense!

Erika: Each member of your band has an essential role. What do you attribute to the band’s success as a strong unit and camaraderie that you guys have?

Dez: Ummm, dedication to the project; wanting to see everything come to fruition I think is the binding, the glue that holds us together.

Erika: The last time you guys came through you had a ginormous CD collection. And if I'm not mistaken, we're hearing Clutch?

Dez: Yes, we are hearing Clutch. [Smiles]

Erika: What’s in your CD case this tour?

Erika: Bedemon?

Dez: Yeah, and someone just gave me that CD and now I've been grooving on that for about a week and a half. That's what I just discovered.

Erika: Are there any up and coming bands that you've been listening to as of late?

Dez: I may have said this before, the band Grimfist as well but here’s a quick plug… I have my own label though DRT Records, Sever Records is what it's called, and I just signed Artimus Pyledriver from Atlanta.

Erika: [Smiles] Okay.

Dez: They're like AC/DC meets Clutch; they are unbelievable! Check it out, Artimus Pyledriver! The drummer for Lynrd Skynrd's name is Artimus Pyle so that's how they based their name. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they're killer!

Erika: So how long have you been doing the record label?

Dez: Well I ventured into it about two years ago when I signed this band Motograter and then I signed them up to Electra Records, then I said to myself, "I want to do an imprint" so now I'm going to be signing a couple of bands a year to DRT. Working with Derek Schulman is an immense opportunity for me. He's the guy that signed Pantera…

Erika: [Shakes head up and down] Yes.

Dez: …in front of 30 people, he found Bon Jovi…I mean he just has a great ear. He was partners with Roadrunner Records when I was over there with Coal Chamber; we got to know each other real well. So he's gonna groom me and let's see what happens.

Erika: As that all makes sense now and ties up many loose ends you find floating around in the press.

Karma: Nice to hear you are branching out and doing other things to extend your knowledge in the Industry.

Dez: [Laughs] Yes, I am ambitious.

Dez: It's really hard for me to sit still. Literally, I mean even right now I'm fidgeting so I do apologize.

Erika: No, no! No problem at all. Music wise, is there anyone you’re in awe of music wise?

Dez: It will always be Black Sabbath and Pantera. We just got offered the 7 Days in Hell tour with Venom.

Erika: Oh!

Dez: Yeah, we'd be in direct support for Venom.

Erika: How soon does that start?

Dez: I am INCREDIBLY in awe of Venom and In April. We go from this to Opeth, go home two weeks we go out with Venom, then we do a headliner, head out to Europe for festivals…it's just non-stop!

Erika: I see!

Dez: Yeah!

Erika: I'm like, Oh my god…I'd be freaking out.

Dez: Yes, I am! I said let's do it, because I want the t-shirt. [We all laugh] You know, it's literally one of those. [Chuckles] That's a very rare case after doing this for ten years!

Erika: Oh, very cool! This next one has turned into a FourteenG staple, if you could commission another band to cover a DevilDriver song, who would do it and which song would you choose?

Dez: Wow! Geez!! That's a great question!

Karma: Thank you! [We all laugh]

Dez: [Pauses] I don't even know how to answer that. My favorite thing is when bands aren't signed are just jamming away…and them giving me a CD of them covering our songs, [beams] which happens all the time. I would say that, I wouldn't say any band out there because they would just killer to know there are sixteen, seventeen year old kids jamming in their mom's basement to DevilDriver tunes! It makes me happy. [Pauses] That question stumped me! [Laughter ensues]

Erika: Have you found a content and peaceful existence in your career to date?

Dez: No, anytime you're content, you lose everything as an artist so I have to stay constantly on the edge of the note. And peace? Yeah, I have peace in my life every time I lay my head down on the pillow. I could go tomorrow, and I'm all good with it.

Erika: Where would you like to see DevilDriver in the next ten years? What does the future hold for DevilDriver?

Dez: Absolutely being a massive headlining band! Yeah!!

Erika: Any special messages for your fans?

Dez: Thank you very much for the support; it means a great deal to us, we work our asses off so come to the shows and you won't be let down! [Laughs]

Erika: Well thank you very much for the interview.

Dez: Thank you, thank you!