Interview Matt Pike High On Fire

Decibel Presents: BLESSED BLACK WINGS TOUR HIGH ON FIRE Planes Mistaken For Stars Emery Kylesa Sweet Cobra 2/22/05 Bottom Lounge Interviewers: Sharita Lumpkin & Karma Omowale

Lineup: Matt Pike: Guitar, Vocals Des Kensel: Drums Joe Preston: Bass

"Probably touring and when we start colonizing Mars and shit like that, hopefully touring in a spaceship."

High On Fire's Matt Pike has some very unique ideas about their touring schedule as seen by the quote above. He describes a lot of their music as trippy, however, their latest effort Blessed Black Wings is powerful and shows that this band has definitely got a future ahead of them. On this tour sponsored by Decibel, HOF is supported by Sweet Cobra, Kylesa and Planes Mistaken For Stars. They have played several small, intimate venues like our beloved hole in the wall, the Bottom Lounge. Their set is anything but trippy and shows that they are  another of music's best kept secrets. In our conversation with Matt, he chats about the scene in Oakland, his former band Sleep, as well as his love for Mastodon. The second half features what's his favorite food, his mantra, and what he thinks about when he wakes up in the morning... He also has some interesting thoughts about what should change in the industry.

Sharita: High on Fire released a demo in 1999, how long has the band been together?

Matt: Well, we’ve been together about 6 1/2 years but; we really didn’t put anything out until the year 2000, that’s when things started rolling and it took us a while to get the members worked out.

Sharita: Where’s the band based?

Matt: Oakland, California.

Sharita: What is the scene like in Oakland compared to other places you’ve been?

Matt: Oh, Oakland is a ghetto. It’s all crusty punks and everybody is down to earth, it’s a tough city and pretty crazy. You get used to carrying yourself a certain way, so there’s a lot of attitude. There’s a lot of punk rock that comes out of that area, half of our building are hip-hop artists. There’s this huge studio that is a community of musicians and until recently there was a bar there and we used to go in and drink after practice. So Oakland is a really good family of musicians that help each other out. There’s not a lot of places to play, everyone ends up in San Francisco. It’s definitely a trippy scene.

Sharita: I read you used to be a member of the band Sleep, tell me about that?

Matt: (laughs) Well, it was really just a fuckin’ very drug induced band ya’ know. (laughs) I don’t remember those years. (laughs) No, they’re fun I had a really good time playing with them. [The band] broke up because it was time, shit happens [but], I’m still really good friends with those guys and I talk to them all the time.

Sharita: Where are the other band members are they still in music?

Matt: They’re doing a band called Ohm and it’s just Al and Chris the bass player and drummer. Al, the bass player, sang on all the Sleep records, I didn’t sing on them. It’s cool stuff, very trippy. They’re pretty deep.

Sharita: Would it be considered Stoner Rock, like they consider Sweet Cobra?

Matt: I guess you can call it that, it’s trippy, you just have to hear it. I encourage you to go buy it. Lyrically, if you listen to it through your headphones and read through it while listening [you can tell] Al is really super fuckin’ smart.

Sharita: So what would you say your influences are?

Matt: Well it varies everything from Mahavishnu Orchestra, Black Sabbath, Venom, Celtic Frost; a lot of metal and punk rock, a little progressive rock also. It’s pretty much like old Tool, stuff like that.

Sharita: As far as touring guys have you been all over the states and Europe?

Matt: Well, we've been through the US but we haven’t toured Europe on this record yet. We've been to Europe and Japan countless times, I can’t remember all the times we been through there. We’re gone literally 150 to 200 days a year and that’s a lot of time. It pisses off the ladies, they're not always happy campers.

Karma: I can imagine.

Sharita: For a person that doesn't know about High On Fire, describe the type of music you play?
  
Matt: Very aggressive and progressive, kind of unorthodox metal; early sounding notes, classic [tunes], it's very analog. I dunno how to describe it. It's something that you'd have to hear and like. (laughs)

Sharita: Ok, your band has been around for 6 1/2 years, where do you see it in the next 5 to 10 years?

Matt: Probably touring and when we start colonizing Mars and shit like that, hopefully touring in a spaceship. (chuckles)

Karma: How was the name chosen for High On Fire?

Matt: Well actually George Rice, my old bass player, was like "Dude [have] you ever heard that song "Fire On High" by ELO?'' What do you think of that name? I was like, dude let me call you back. So, I fuckin' switched it around and it sounded fuckin' awesome, right on. We ended up booking a show and putting it on a flyer and it just stuck. It was just a random thing.

Karma: So, how was it working with Steve Albini [Chicago's famed producer]?

Matt: Oh, it was amazing, he's a great fuckin' producer. I can't say enough about him. He knows his shit, he's a master at what he does and he's a great guy. He did an awesome album for us.

Karma: Was the album recorded here in Chicago?

Matt: Yeah

Karma: In his studio [at Electrical Audio Studios]?

Matt: Yeah, it's an amazing studio, it rules. That's like the best studio that I've ever been in.

Karma: Really? Wow.

Matt: Yeah, I've been in a lot of them...

Karma: So what's your favorite song off of Blessed Black Wings?

Matt: I would have to say The Face Of Oblivion [because] it's the most unique and has the most dynamics to it. For some reason the arrangement, I dunno, just gives me a boner, I love playin' it. (chuckles)

Sharita: (laughs)

Karma: Oh wow! (laughs) So are you satisfied with this release?

Matt: Oh yeah completely. This album came out perfect. It turned out exactly the way I wanted it and actually it kind of surprised me because you never know how it will turn out. It felt amazing, I was like fuck, it sounds fuckin' good man!

Karma: So what legacy would you like to leave on your fans?

Matt: I dunno, I appreciate the respect they've given me already. I get a lot of compliments from people who have been really warm to me. I want to do the best I can for the people that love us and for myself.

Karma: So, how do you think the fans have changed since the beginning?

Matt: I think we have more underage kids now. I mean [at first], we were just playin' hard and we had a bunch of punk metalheads that wanted to hear the same fuckin' thing. That was before we did all these all ages tours, ya' know? It kind of worked out because we've gained a huge following just from word of mouth.

Sharita: Is there any huge band that you'd like to tour with?

Matt: Oh fuck, I dunno, whomever. It doesn't matter.

Karma: Speaking of touring, how is this one going so far?

Matt: Oh awesome, amazing, way better than I expected. I'm blown away by it, it's really been fun.

Karma: How has the response been for the album so far?

Matt: The feedback has really been good, I've only had one bad review so far.

Karma: Well there is commercial for it on Headbangers Ball on M2 for it so...

Matt: Really? (smiles) I didn't know that. (Matt proceeds to tell his bandmates the news)

Karma: So what would you like to see change in the Industry?

Matt: Oh God, I'd like that fuckin' monopoly that they have to be fuckin' torn down. I don't want to speak too freely because it might ruin my future, I dunno man. Fuckin' Clearchannel owns everything, I'm just like what the fuck. I mean, why does everything have to sound one way, the radio sucks right now. I can't listen to it because it all sounds like crap. Everything on there sucks.

Karma: That's true but you have other outlets like Music Choice on cable and then there is XM Radio.

Matt: Yeah, that's true. It's just that everything is so fuckin' sterile, it's not art anymore. I feel like everybody's just going to hook a computer up to their arm and it's the next junkie phase. I mean it's audio, visual, and it's fuckin' up everybody. It's like Suicidal Tendencies said Subliminal. (laughs)

Sharita: Oh wow, that's true.

Karma: That's pretty good. Ok name a couple of albums that you've been happy about since that they came out.

Matt: Oh, definitely Slayer Reign In Blood, any of the Sabbaths, Pink Floyd metal is my favorite. I really like Tom Waits, so much shit. Mahavishnu Orchestra, Birds of Fire is just a masterpiece. I like some of the newer stuff too like Opeth Deliverance, that thing fuckin' rules, those guys are fuckin' bad ass. I was totally blown away by that as well as the last The Haunted album (rEVOLVEr), I thought that was kick ass as well. Scandinavians got some shit goin' over there, I'm tryin' to answer from over here. (laughs)

Sharita: Yeah, they really do!

Karma: There you go, represent for the States. What bands do you like in the scene right now?

Matt: I like Tragedy. I like the bands we're out with now Planes (Mistaken for Stars) and Kylesa. I love the Mastodon guys and their music. They're my fuckin' close friends.
                   
Karma: They're awesome.

Sharita: Yeah they are.   

Matt: I just can't say enough about those guys. There's shit going on right now, a lot of it is underground but it's comin' up. I'm liking that the killer metal is starting to rehash itself, we may have another metal power age comin' I can feel it, it's comin' on strong.

Sharita: Woohoo!

Karma: Ok, here's a quick Speed Round of Questions for you. What's your mantra?

Matt: Oh, just fuckin' work hard and have fun doin' it. I don't really have one cause I just take it day by day.

Karma: As your best friend how would you describe yourself?

Matt: Neurotic (chuckles) Charming, yet fuckin' anti-social. Manic depressive, I dunno. I'm happy, sad and dramatic all at once.

Sharita: Wow.

Karma: Ok, speaking of your moods, what would be the best time for your fans to come up and see you?

Matt: (laughs) Probably when I'm in a good mood. When I'm at the bar having a beer and kickin' back relaxin'. That would be a better time than right after a show when I'm dying and not feelin' so well but I always seem to get them right afterwards so I'm like "ahhh...yeah"

Karma: Alive or dead if you could meet someone who would you like to meet?

Matt:  I'd have a lot of questions for Jesus or Buddha. (laughs)

Karma: How about your favorite quote?

Matt: "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger".

Karma: Your favorite color?

Matt: I don't have one.

Karma: Your favorite food?

Matt: Pizza.

Karma: How do you take it?

Matt: I like cheese, sometimes pepperoni. It depends if I'm in my vegetarian mode or my meat eating mode.

Karma: Favorite drink?

Matt: Well I'd have to say Jameson, it's growing on me. I usually like Jack. (Daniels)

Karma: The first album you ever purchased?

Matt: The first album I purchased myself, I think it was Motley Crüe Shout At The Devil.

Sharita: Woohoo!

Matt: I think I bought it the same time I bought Iron Maiden Piece Of Mind. 

Karma: First Job?

Matt: Fuck, I landscaped when I was like 14 some fuckin' dick hired me to lug shit around.

Karma: What's the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?

Matt: Fuck, why did I do that?! (laughs)

Karma: (laughs) Give me a name that a friend would come up for you on the fly?

Matt: (chuckles) They call me the head kid in Oakland.

Karma: Really? (laughs) If you could commission a band to do a favorite song of yours, who would do it and what song would that be?

Matt: That's supposed to be a quick question? (laughs)

Karma: Yup! (laughs)

Matt: (laughs) Keelhaul doing YYZ by Rush, I bet they could do it too. That was off the cuff.

Karma: That was good and quick. (laughs) Who have been some of your biggest influences?

Matt: Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads, Metallica, Black Flag, Circle Jerks. It's just a combination of all those.

Karma: Who would be your perfect bath mate?

Matt: Um, probably my girlfriend. (laughs)

Karma: 3 CDs to round out your Bubble Bath Soundtrack?

Matt: Peter Gabriel Passion, uh fuck I dunno, you stumped me on this one. I'm at a loss, you caught me off guard there! (laughs)

Karma: Who would you ask these Speed Round of Questions of?

Matt: (laughs) Jeff Hanneman of Slayer.

Karma: That's a very good answer. Thanks so much for the interview, Matt!

Sharita: Yes, thank you that was fun.

Matt: Thank you ladies it was fun being interviewed by the both of you!

Karma: Glad you enjoyed it! (smiles)

We'd like to say thanks to Matt for taking the time in interviewing with us.

Click here for live photos of the band during the Sounds of the Underground Tour