UNEARTH :: Metal Blade Records Recording Artist
On tour with OZZFEST 2006
Interview with Trevor Phipps
Trevor Phipps - vocals
Buz McGrath - guitar
Ken Susi - guitar
John "Slo" Maggard - bass
Mike Justian – drums
Hailing from Massachusetts, the virtual metal and hardcore capital of North America, Unearth bring a new sense of talent with charismatic riffs, thought provoking lyrics and pummeling breakdowns. Unearth masterfully combine an intoxicating mix of American and European metal with hardcore ethic and punch. This unique approach makes Unearth one of the most abrasive, commanding and emotionally charged groups in the underground scene today.
Formed in 1998, Unearth has accomplished more on their own than most bands can do with full support of a label and press. Constant tours in the US, Canada, and Europe with such bands as In Flames, Poison the Well, Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Soilwork, From Autumn to Ashes, Zao and Chimaira, as well as the Headbangers Ball tour in the fall of 2003, has built a solid foundation of truly dedicated Unearth fans. Unearth put forth such an energetic and heartfelt live show that they have gathered respect from their peers as well as admiration from the fans.
AAM: UNEARTH, what is it like to constantly be on tour all over the world, and to be part of OZZFEST 2006 ? Are there any regrets, anything you would change? Or are you having the time of your life!
Trevor Phipps: I am having the time of my life.
AAM: When you say “constantly touring” how long have you been on the road? And where has the road taken you?
TP: In 2005 alone we did over 200 shows. We toured the U.S. four times, Europe, Japan and Australia. It feels like we never stop, but it is what we want to do with our lives right now and we are lucky enough to be in a position to do so. We started this band in 1998 and have played well over 1500 shows, but it never gets old.
AAM: Has there been any real problems along the way?
TP: There are always obstacles, but there has never been anything that was able to stop us. A few years ago we had our original drummer quit, our van break down 3 times, our trailer get totaled in a highway accident, four out of five guys got bronchitis and our fill in drummer got refused entry into Canada for our Canadian shows, all on the same tour. We didn’t stop and just kept on going. This band will never stop as long as we continue to love what we do.
AAM: Anything you would have changed or done different?
AAM: Ever have the tour bus leave, then relaize you left something behind, maybe even a band member?
TP: Not the bus, but we did that in the van with Mike in 2004. We stopped at a truck stop in the middle of the desert, filled up and drove on. Two hours later my cell phone got service and it was a message from Mike, who was pretty bummed out that he was stuck at a truck stop in the middle of the desert, saying we left him behind. It was a burn out that we had to travel all the way back to get him and then all the way back the way we had just come, but we had to do it. Hasn’t happened since though.
AAM: LA’s metal scene has changed… How is it different from over seas, Japan, Australia even Canada?
TP: From my personal experience, metal and hardcore crowds are all extremely similar. People dress the same, have similar tattoos, dance the same, mosh the same, sing along, crowd surf, etc… Metal and hardcore seems to be one voice world wide and no matter where we go we feel at home when we hit the stage.
AAM: Many say LA has the toughest crowd, one of the hardest place for a group to perfrom? Do you agree? If so why?
TP: When we first started touring L.A. was always tough as hell. We would get great responses nationwide and then get a luke warm response at the L.A. stop of the tour. We were told that people in L.A. get so many shows that people need to be extra stoked on a band to get a great response. Every time we go through L.A. now it is rockin’, but like I said, we did have a tough time when we first started coming through.
AAM: Of all the places you’ve perfromed on the OZZFEST tour, where would you consider was the best?
TP: There wasn’t a best or worst. Every Ozzfest crowd is there at 9 a.m. and ready to party.
AAM: This is “NOT” your 1st tour with Ozzfest, is there anything different about this time?
TP: Yeh, we don’t have to play at 9 a.m.. I am not going to complain about having a secure afternoon slot each day.
AAM: It has to be an awsome feeling to be performing with so many GREAT bands on the OZZFEST tour, and at the same time a challenge. Do you ever feel overwhelmed, or is it just one constant party on the road?
TP: I never feel overwhelmed because I am confident in what we do on stage. We do our share of partying, but we also make sure we put on our best show. Raging can be set aside for after the show. There is a friendly competition amongest the bands, so we need to be at the top of our game when we take the stage.
AAM: What are some of the advatages of touring with OZZFEST, rather then by yourselfs or with another band? Any disadvantages?
TP: The main advantage is the massive audience we get to play in front of every day. We also get to tour with our friends bands and party all summer. The biggest downside of festivals is the fact that we have to play a short set. I also personally prefer smaller clubs over big stages and distant barricades. An intimate setting makes for a better and higher energy rock show, but I also see and appreciate the benefits of playing to a huge crowd.
AAM: What’s in your future? A new release perhaps?
TP: Our new record “III-In the Eyes of Fire” comes out August 8th on Metal Blade Records. It is our darkest, fastest and heaviest record to date. We are going to rotate a song or two from the new record in our set this summer on Ozzfest and we can not wait to unleash these tunes on people.
AAM thanks UNEARTH for taking their time to share with our readers, whats it’s like to be “On the Road” and be a part of OZZFEST 2006! UNEARTH has been taking over the airwaves as all four of their video’s have received major attention on MTV2”s Headbanger’s Ball, Fuse TV’s Uraniun, Metal Asylum, and Music Choice.
See for your self, See them live at Ozzfest 2006 – Saturday, July 8th Hyundai Pavilion- San Bernardino, Ca.
"Thank you for the interview. See you in Calif. this summer."
Trevor
www.unearth.tv
www.metalblade.com
Interview by Debra Stocker
