Be sure to pray for forgiveness after reading this interview because it may be your last. Vocalist and frontman Dez of heavy metallers DevilDriver managed to catch me (after missing our scheduled appointment earlier that evening) out at the second day of the second annual Thrash and Burn Tour. He spoke to me about the band’s musical career, life out on the road, and what the upcoming plans for the almighty Devils are. You get it all when you sit down and read this rather interesting conversation…
AAM (Natalie Perez): So… four albums as a band thus far. How does it feel?
DevilDriver (Villain Dez Fafara): It feels amazing! And what people need to know about DevilDriver is that most bands get 4 or 5 or 6 years before they get a record deal. So they get to really know how to write. We had about 6 months before we got our record deal. It was written by one guitar player, and so by the time we did our second record, we’d only been together for 2 years or so. I think everything has been an evolution, a real killer progression to this point. Now I think there is a really defining sound; the growth is right there.
AAM: When you guys started this band, where did you see it going? What were your goals?
Dez: Goals were just to go make music. In this day of downloading and the economy I didn’t really have anything on my mind other than working and doing music. I think the guys around me would think it’d be cool to tour, and I think starting over would be hard and fun. We’ve been on the road now since 2002. I don’t think anybody tours as hard as we do! We always have a good time.
AAM: Did you ever see yourself being a "professional" musician?
Dez: I don’t know… kind of dreamed of it as a kid. Ya know, everybody has their dreams, right? I got my first tattoo at 16 and they asked me, “What are you doing?” I said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be in a band one day.” So something was in the back of my mind. I just did everything I could just go to rehearsals and all that stuff, being young and being in different bands and finding a good way to do it, ya know?
AAM: When and where was the first DevilDriver show? Can you describe the scene?
Dez: It was good a lot of people didn’t know us and it was at the El Rosa.
AAM: What keeps you guys going?
Dez: Music, love of brotherhood, love of the road, love of doing something different right now. We love the fact that we stand out like a sore thumb. When there are so many thousands of bands sounding the same right now, we don’t which is which. We wanted to evolve totally organically; you can’t make that happen, so we look at that. And that is just great for us and the reason we do it.
AAM: Has there ever been any major road bumps where you'd consider you'd had enough of the band?
Dez: Yeah, totally, of course! But then they’d say the same thing about me and you’d say the same thing about your job or whoever’s reading this or listening to this would say the same thing about their girlfriend or boyfriend, ya know? Of course. But in the end family wins over, and you end up talking. Most people have a hard road when it’s a band life, but we know how to get along. We know what exactly pushes each other’s buttons, so we don’t do it to each other. When you’re first coming up, everybody is learning what those buttons are.
AAM: Over the years you guys have always been with Roadrunner Records. Has there been any interest from any other labels? Why do you choose to stand by Roadrunner?
Dez: Right… okay… well, with this record we couldn’t put it out anywhere. We’re actually talking it probably went to 10 different labels, then someone would offer more money and all this, and more promises. But I feel comfortable with a label I’ve been with for 10 years and I know everyone over there. Then when they honestly got on the phone with me and said, “Hey, we’re gonna be behind this record,” then it was just so obvious a choice to go with them. They are the best label, I think, when it comes to metal. Some labels are good for other things - hardcore or whatever types of music - but this is a metal label so they know what they’re doing.
AAM: "Pray For Villains" came out a week ago. What can fans expect? Can you give a brief description of how it all came together?
Dez: Well, we recorded it in a month, and to describe the record would be as an evolution, a defining moment, I think, in the band’s career. And for the other part of the question, we are totally pleased with what’s going on right now; we couldn’t be happier.
AAM: Looking back, do you have a favorite album or any particular song, and why?
Dez: Right now, “Back with Vengeance.” It was just so fun to play and that one.
AAM: What has been your favorite place to eat while out on the road?
Dez: [Laughs] Aw… to eat anywhere that’s kind of like home cooked and not fast food, which is rare. A lot of us live off protein stuff and shake mix and crap like that. Otherwise you end up stopping and eating BS every night.
AAM: I noticed you guys tend to tour with Lamb of God a lot, among other bands. When coming in contact with you, do they ever get tired of seeing you, like, "Oh no, not these guys again! Leave us alone"?
Dez: They are great guys, really nice guys. We’ve been fortunate to tour with them. Their album came out number 2 on Billboard. They’re a huge band, make no mistake about that! Lamb of God is probably the biggest heavy metal band right now next to Metallica, and really great guys and amazing players. To be a band like that who takes another band out a lot… who knows that they are doing that band a favor by turning them on to other people… and that’s what they’re doing for us. I mean, we are all, for sure, extremely grateful for that.
AAM: What is the best part about being in this band?
Dez: The best part of being in a band is being able to play music I love, to take the stage. I love all of that and I love the road. I do; but I’m the kind of guy that can sit back here and say nothing for 4 hours. That’s just me.
AAM: How long do you see yourselves doing this? What do you want to accomplish with DevilDriver?
Dez: Accomplishment for me is in the journey, because you don’t know what the destination is, so any kind of accomplishment is in the journey. How long I want to do this? I want to do this until my health fails me, which could be 40, but who knows? Give me 50 years.
AAM: How does it feel to headline this year’s "Thrash and Burn Tour," and are you guys getting along with everyone? What is expected after this tour?
Dez: Yeah! Thrash and Burn is good, totally diverse bill. Most bands wouldn’t go on a tour like this because it’s all hardcore bands, a completely separate genre. I mean, for us, we’re not scared to test the waters and go out with different bands and different people. After this, we are going to Europe with Behemoth for about 6 or 7 weeks and then going with Lamb of God to Austria, and then trying to do Japan and Hawaii by ourselves. Then we’re gonna start at the end of January net year and we’re already booking to the end of 2010 way into 2011.
AAM: Any last words?
Dez: Any last words? Never! There are no last words.
AAM thanks Villain Dez Fafara for taking the time to talk with us, and wishes DevilDriver the best with their busy schedule. Find out more about the band and upcoming tour dates at www.devildriver.com and www.roadrunnerrecords.com/artists/DevilDriver.
