Okay, okay so you may have a lot to say about the French but you gotta admit, when they make an impression it’s met to be left indelibly on the brain. Case in point, Zuul FX. You may not have heard of them (yet) but these road warriors have been fortunate enough to tour festivals all over Europe with the likes of heavy hitters fellow Frenchmen Gojira, Napalm Death, Anthrax and Motörhead to name a few. After a few awards and much notoriety later, ladies-man, lead vocal grinder, Zuul, was humble enough to type out a couple of words to your beloved e-zine. His good sense of humor and old fashion cock-rock ethics should get them far. We’ll see…

FourteenG: When and where did you find the member’s of your band? Mini history of the band.

Zuul: I found these guys during some touring in Europe in 1999-2003, when I was the leader singer of the old Death Metal band called NO RETURN from 1999 to 2003!!! On the road you meet sometimes some nice people and sometimes da fucking bad guys like them... They were kicking some fucking ass on stage and for me that's the only way you know what I mean!!! I wanted to find some really sick guys!!! First day in studio it was really funny, cause they had never seen each other. I sent three mp3 of my songs for them to work... and they were ready the day of the studio.

FourteenG: How do you mesh all of your individual influences into the your band’s sound? How do you keep it original and fresh for yourselves and your fans?

Zuul: I guess... we are a live band above all, we love what we do and we have a million different influences together and it's our power!!! We try to work our music, cause it's very important for us!!! We don't want to have a standard sound and we want to play the music we like!!! We want to stay "Metal'N'Roll" that's the true way for us!!! Generally in Europe, there is a good feeling between people and us!!! We formed 2 years ago, in 2005 with the first album "BY THE CROSS"!!! We are on the good way!!! We are still young, but we have a good feeling and good vibrations with a lot of people at our gigs!!! Many fans prefer ZUUL FX live, cause we have a pure energy when we are on stage, that's our power!!! Every Metalhead like that and want to see that!!!

FourteenG: How important is it to you to have fan and critic recognition for the musical contributions your band has made to the metal community on a whole?

Zuul: For our daily work it is good for us to have criticisms of professionals!!! Bruce Dickinson likes our music, he added us to his playlist on his BBC metal program in the UK!!! That's really awesome!!! We want a recognition, I guess it's normal for a young band like us, now in France ZUUL FX is a professional band and it's a good thing for us, to have a good articles and good reviews that's a good thing for the credibility!!!... But for me, fans are the best judges about the music generally!!!

FourteenG: What have you learned about yourself and your bandmates during your years together as a band?

Zuul: That's an interesting question!!! ;-) First, we learned to live together, next... we learned tolerance.... we got rid of the bad elements... and we learned to stay Zen!!!

FourteenG: Where do you begin when you lay down your arrangements for your songs?

Zuul: I begin by the drums because I’m originally a drummer and I always begin by that. For me it’s the way to find good riffs, which correspond perfectly to the rhythm of the whole.

FourteenG: Just how symbolic and/or personal are the songs you arrange?

Zuul: The songs are personal in general but also federative!!! Often our fans find a lot inside... We want indeed that our songs gives conscience to the fans by the means of metaphor in every day of life...

FourteenG: What have you learned about the music industry that has made you a better musician today?

Zuul: I’ve learned that you really have no friend in this business and that you have to do things by yourself. We are lucky to have a record company here in France who supports us and I think we give a lot back to them too!!! I’ve also learned to question myself all the time!!! The most important thing is to work continually and that’s what’s starting to pay for Zuul FX here, our shows are better and better, we are a great team and have a great crew, our records sell more and more, our songs are better and better. We are really improving ourselves and that’s all positive things!!!

FourteenG: Top 5 bands /musicians that you are listening to at the moment?

Zuul: Gojira - Dagoba - Machine Head - DevilDriver - Stone Sour...

FourteenG: What is your most embarrassing CD you own?

Zuul: NKOTB - VANILLA ICE - BRITNEY SPEARS - TOP GUN OST... ;-))) It was just for girls when I was young!!! With Slayer it wasn't possible...!! ,-)

FourteenG: What would a newcomer to your music except to see at one of your live performances?

Zuul: A cover from Britney... ;-)))

FourteenG: Most embarrassing stage mishap?

Zuul: Plus embarrassing moment in concert? To see the equivalent of Britney Spears here in the pit at one of our shows !!! The less embarrassing and the most funny though is that I turned her down when she tried to talk to me!!! hahahaha!!! ;-)))

FourteenG: Wildest thing that has ever happened while on tour?

Zuul: One day in Russia, we were stopped by the army, because of an attack in a city!!! Soldiers put their weapons to my face to wake me up in the tour bus. We stayed five hours locked up in the bus. I went to see the driver of the bus and he said to me that during the attack of the world trade center they had to stay one week in the bus... If you play Metal in Europe, you can be a hero when you go back home because the underground tours are so chaotic here!!!

FourteenG: “If we could go on tour with ________ I could die happy!”

Zuul: Metallica is the best Metal band for me!!! After the Britney crew... of course!!! ;-)))

FourteenG: What does the next year hold in-store for your band?

Zuul: We should go on European tour from September, we are going to shoot 3 new videos and we’re recording a live show in December!!! That’s a lot but we love this!!! We’d very much like to go to the US but we are conscious that French bands are not that welcome there. We are going to go on doing our thing here and we’ll see if one day some US promoter wants us!!! ;-)

FourteenG: Any special messages you would like to extend to your fans and supporters?

Zuul: Sure!!! Live your life my friends!!! Life is short!!! Come check our website: www.zuulfx.com or www.myspace.com/zuulfx take care guyzzz!!! ;-))

FourteenG: Why should anyone listen to your band?

Zuul: Why not??? ;-))

“Getting to know you…”

Speed Round Questions

FourteenG: Favorite underground band?

Zuul: NILE.

FourteenG: Favorite cult film?

Zuul: BACK TO THE FUTURE - SHOCKER - CABAL...

FourteenG: Do you have a fetish?

Zuul: Nothing!!!

FourteenG: Favorite clothing of the opposite sex?

Zuul: Nude!!! ;-))

FourteenG: Spiritual or religious?

Zuul: Spiritual!!! Of course!!!

FourteenG: As your worst enemy describe yourself?

Zuul: With all the ugly names of the world!!! ;-)

FourteenG: What is the song you want played at your funeral?

Zuul: "The Host of Seraphim" from DEAD CAN DANCE, cause this song is the center of my spirituality!!! It is my spirit and my vision of the world...

FourteenG: Favorite pick-up line?

...

FourteenG: Do you own a Good Luck Charm?

No!!!... That sucks!!! ;-)

FourteenG: What’s the one thing that people wouldn’t know about you that you wouldn’t mind sharing?

Zuul: there are so many...  to make it short I work essentially for my band!!! I work very closely with the management; I give my opinion and share my experience. I am also a graphic designer when I have the time, I design album covers and I work mainly for a metal record company. If you need more info you can contact me at the following address: zuul@zuulfx.com

Thanks for the interview!

Related Links

Ì     BAND WEBSITE: www.zuulfx.com or www.myspace.com/zuulfx

Ì     BOOKING AGENT: Charles - 8 machine - zuul@zuulfx.com

Ì     Merchandising: karine@zuulfx.com - www.zuulfx.com