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MM - I know you've
said in previous interviews that all of the albums work on a form of
concept, what led you to working in this way?
LB - At the
beginning I started writing about girls and cars and just lost interest
really fast. I just started creating characters and writing mini scripts
that turned out to be songs. Then I put them all together and a concept
was created. Then I just started doing that for all the other records. I
call what I do making conceptual records not really concept records, I
think there is a difference. I do not write my lyrics in storybook
form, I write more in poem form so the reader has to interpret what I am
saying rather than me just telling a story. In the end most people want
songs about girls and cars haha so I may be just chasing my tail but I
can’t stop myself from doing this way.
MM - What's it like
being back in the UK after over a year of playing round Europe. Is there
any difference between English, European and American fans?
LB - In the past
we have played the Reading Festival, the original Marquee and did the
club circuit around the UK, but that was quite a while ago. We really
love the UK and can't wait to start playing there again and
reintroducing ourselves to the metal and hard rock fans. One of the
highlights of Lizzy Borden's death takes a holiday tour is playing in
London again after all this time. And although we did not play last year
at “Hard Rock Hell” we did attend and we can't wait to play there
because we know what we're in for with The English fans, they are
amazing and crazy! Just the way we like ‘em. |
MM - What album did
you find the hardest to write?
LB - 'Master of
Disguise' was by far the hardest because I did not have a band at the
time and I wrote everything myself. Before that album our time in the
studio was no longer than six weeks. The MOD record took us five months
from beginning to the end of recording. A 40 piece Orchestra, horn
section and countless Musicians. It ended up becoming our most
successful record ever. 'Appointment With Death' was difficult as
well because we had no producer and we did everything ourselves so it
was very hard, but I think in the end is the best recorded vocals that I
have ever done.
MM - And which album
the easiest?
LB -
The easiest was probably 'Terrorising' because it was an interim EP.
We were between albums but we wanted to go in the studio and have some
fun.
MM - There's been a
few tragedies surrounding the band; how easy/hard is it to keep on going
afterwards?
LB
- It's alright if you don't think about it, but those moments in every
single day when you do think about it, it really is a punch in the gut
every time. I think about stopping this machine every single day until I
get on stage and then everything changes and I feel normal.
MM - What one song is
the seminal song for you – the one that influenced you, or the one
that means the most to you?
LB - All of the
songs on the upcoming 'Death Takes a Holiday Tour' are songs that
mean a lot to me. Each one of them has something different to say that I
wrote throughout my life. 'Me Against The World' speaks volumes.
My whole career has been an uphill battle. No one has ever given
us a green light on anything without stipulations that never work out in
our favor; it has always been “me against the world”. I wear it like
a badge of honor and so every night when we play that song, it is the
one that means the most to me.
MM - What has been the
best gig?
LB -
The last couple of years have been the best in our 28 year career.
We
found a new audience and they are young and they are excited about Lizzy
Borden which makes our older fans excited about Lizzy Borden again.
I
think our show is built for festivals so every festival that we play has
been a show that has stood out over the last 28 yrs of touring.
MM - And the worst?
LB - The worst is
when we fly across the whole world to play show and the promoter has a
little tiny sign in the window about our show and did not do any
promotion for the show. Gone are the days when promoters actually
promote shows haha. Facebook is not promotion!
MM - Why so long
between live DVDs/CDs?
LB - Over the
years we have talked a lot about doing another live DVD or live album;
it just never was a priority. But with this line up it is the best show
we have ever done in 28 years so I'm excited about documenting that very
soon.
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MM - Are you looking
forward to playing Hard Rock Hell?
LB - After last
years visa problems and not being able to play the show, we are chomping
at the bit to play "Hard Rock Hell” I believe we're going to tear
the roof off the place just from last year’s frustrations alone!
You don't know what it's like to travel all the way there and have them
tell you that if you play without a visa you will be banned for 10
years, So it's personal now. I think our show at this year’s “Hard Rock
Hell” is going to be magic.
MM - How do you think
it will compare to other festivals you have played at?
LB - Indoor
festivals are a lot different than outdoor festivals; they have a whole
different vibe. We have done a few indoor festivals throughout Europe
over the last few years, but this one will be special and mean a lot to
us because we have not played the UK in so long.
MM - Has there ever
been a moment in your career where you just don't know if you can carry
on?
LB -
Almost every single day, it’s really just the business side of it that
makes things not so much fun. But then I get onstage and travel all
over. It’s what I am and what I have become; it is what I was made
for. So we just try and plow through all the negativity and turn it all
into positive heavy metal energy!
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MM - Why the name
Lizzy Borden?
LB
- When I first started I put an ad out in the paper saying looking for
musicians to form a theatrical rock band. I love horror movies and I
knew I wanted to put the band in that “Dark” light, and so I needed
a name that would be perfect for the stage for me and the band. Lizzy
Borden had great folklore surrounding it and I thought that would be
ideal for me to explore and create. And for those who did not know the
folklore it was almost even better because it was not an obvious name
for a metal band at that time, and I did not want to be just another
band.
MM - Is there anything
we’ve omitted to ask you that you’d like to share with all your fans
out there?
LB -
Yes, we always do a meet and greet after every performance, it gives us
a chance to meet people face to face in every country. We hope people
will come by after the show and say hi.
See you all soon at Lizzy Borden’s Death takes a holiday tour. Can’t
wait!
www.Lizzyborden.com
MM - Thank you for
your time and agreeing to take part in this interview with us, we really
do appreciate it.
Interview by:
Kerry H & Photo's by Stephanie Cabrial