Philip A. Wickstrand recently caught up with guitarists Dean Pleasants and Mike Clark of Suicidal Tendencies at the Roseland Theater in Portland, OR on October 16, 2010.

Seriously, how much of an introduction needs to be written for a band as influential and long standing as SUICIDAL TENDENCIES? If you aren't at least vaguely familiar with them, turn in your Metal Badge now.

Phil: First of all, the tour just started last night in Reno; how was the show?

Mike: Crazy. Fantastic. Good times.

Dean: Yeah, show was good. Crazy. Good. First show, popped their cherry, ready to go.

Phil: Okay, tell us about the new album, No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family - why did you re-record these tracks rather than just re-releasing the original albums?

Dean: I think, number one, on the NO MERCY side, was a band Mike Clark was in and had a lead singer by the name of Mike Muir and there were some really cool songs and I think Mike wanted to do 'em over in a way to kinda… not just redoing old songs that were cool, but to show our musicianship and what this band can do now and we kind of took it to the next level of heavy, you know, the kind of heavier side of SUICIDAL. Not saying that we're light, but… [laughs] But you know, it was really fun to do, it's just raging, in your face everything - machine gun rhythms, crazy drums, crazy vocals, leads; it was really fun to do. It was really a different side of us, I think that's the main thing. With "The Suicidal Army", I think…

Mike: Modernized 'em.

Dean: Yeah, modernized 'em. We did "Possessed to Skate" again, "Join the Army", stuff like that that were classic songs for us.

Mike: We rearranged them just a bit, you know, added some more spice to 'em so they're just more raging. I mean, they were raging at first, but now they're just… in my opinion, just beyond raging. So it's more challenging, just all in all more energetic and crazier.

Phil: How would you say the time in the studio was this time compared to the first time?

Mike: Well, for the NO MERCY, the time in the studio, we did it all in one day, just went in there and blasted everything out, so it was real quick, didn't have a lot of time to think about it which was the really cool part about it because the way it turned out, it was real spontaneous.

Dean: I think it was a throwback to the old ways of SUICIDAL recording. Mike Clark did all the rhythms, Ronald played drums on it and they laid that stuff down first, which, like he said, was all done in one day and then I can in later and did the overdubs and the solo, which is the way they used to do things with Clark and Rocky. And it really gives it a different sound. Everybody gets to do what they do best, put it that way, and that's when we're at our best, is when everybody's doing what they do best and you can really notice it in the recording as opposed to any of the other records. Anybody that hears it would go like, "Oh, this is like old SUICIDAL". This is the shit that we're known for.

Phil: How would you say fan reaction has been? Though, that may be redundant given the last answer. [laughter]

Mike: It's killer. I mean, the response is incredible and the energy that's given makes us more energetic, as well. It's just that traveling energy, going back and forth.

Dean: Yeah, I think the fan response has been incredible, just even me on a personal level with Facebook and things like that, you know, people who have heard the record just go like, "Whoa! This is like old SUICIDAL - everything's slammin' and the solos and the rhythm and everybody's doing their thing" and I think it was really important for us to do that. With a band like us, we're known for our live shows and stuff and for us, the most important thing is bringing it to the stage. A lot of bands can make a hit song and be out there, and that's good, it's good - all forms of music, but for us, we're known for live and I think giving a live show and bringing that energy to the fans is what we're known for and that's what we try to do, give a hundred and ten percent every night.

Phil: Speaking of the live show, you guys recently put out a live DVD, how would you say it translates from being in the audience to watching it at home?

Mike: Oh, wow, that's a trip 'cause when you're on stage, you don't really know. [laughs] But when you watch it, its like, "Wow, I wish I was at that show!" You know what I mean?

Dean: Yeah, that's the key point. When people see the DVD, that was done in 2006 at the Grand Olympic, which is now a church, and there was a lot of great Punk Rock bands there that day and to be the last band to play there before it became a church really is a cool thing and if you saw it, you'd be like Mike said, "Man, I wish I was there!" It's an event that took place; hopefully it'll be legendary in some people's minds and ours. You know, we're on stage and then for me even watching it, I just go, "Whoa! That was crazy!" The people in the audience going nuts and that's what you want and that's what Punk Rock was all about from the beginning - just having you say and not being the same old Hair Metal band or doing this and that.

Mike: It's like everybody's in the band. Everybody's putting on their show.

Dean: Right. The audience is doing their thing, we're doing ours, giving back, everybody's giving energy, you know. As a musician you get instant feedback, so you get into what you put out.

Phil: When can we expect some new SUICIDAL TENDENCIES material?

Dean: You know, I would say… I really don't know on that one. Right now, it's really about the timing of a release with the way the music industry is. It's real important to set it up and think that's why we're here now. We're trying to go into the next level with the band and we're not just here because we're an old band and we can still play. We still have something to say and I think when we do finally release a new record, it has to be the right time, it has to be heard and that's what is really important to us - we don't just want to put something out and not have it heard. You know, it has to be set up right. So hopefully I could say to the fans, just keep your eyes out and ears open and hopefully we'll get something out soon for you.

Phil: Do you have any new songs prepared?

Dean: Yes. We have a lot of stuff. Cyco Miko's not called Cyco Miko for no reason - he's always in the studio, always doing stuff. We're always recording; we've got tons of material and that's the one thing about this band - everybody's really prolific at writing; Clark always has tons of songs and I have ideas and we always record. We have a studio and we're always doing stuff. And as well as touring off of the old classics, but I know that people are ready for something new, so we can hopefully deliver it to them.

Phil: Recommend a book for our readers and then explain why you recommend that particular work.

Mike: [laughs] I'm sorry?

Dean: Recommend a book.

Mike: [laughs] You wanna know the story, read the book!

Dean: No, he said recommend a book.

Mike: Oh, recommend a book? Any book?

Phil: Yeah. [laughter]

Mike: Oh wow… [laughter]

Dean: That was a "Jeopardy" question.

Mike - Oh jeez, well… I have no comment. I read all kinds of different books. Books are for everybody, so whatever you've got, that's what you get, so… but reading's good! [laughs]

Dean: I don't read a whole bunch of stuff; I read the Bible, I read a couple of magazines here and there, but you know… I think if I had to recommend a book to somebody, I would say read something that would inspire you in life and read a book that's going to make you think, make you a better person and maybe read a book that's going to help you to help others, as well as yourself.

Phil: What are some of your favorite memories from your career in music?

Mike: Oh, man… there's so many, but I'd have to say last night's show. It was awesome, so that's fresh in my memory.

Phil: I hear the audiences in Reno go crazy.

Mike: They're off the hook, so that's what I'm thinking about right now, so that's my memory.

Dean: If I had to say something for memories, two things - the first time I met Mike (Muir), I got called in to play on a project called INFECTIOUS GROOVES by Robert Trujillo and I came in and Mike Muir's sitting in the corner with his bandana pulled over his eyes and they asked me to play some wah-wah guitar and I'm playing and he's just sitting back there [Dean folds his arms and slouches back]. I go, "This dude hates me". [Mike laughs] He goes, "Can I talk to you outside?" I was like, "Oh, shit - I'm in trouble", you know. So he takes me outside and he's like, "Could you come back tomorrow and play some more tracks?" and I was like, "YEAH!" [laughter] Then my second favorite memory was, we were doing an INFECTIOUS record and we were in a studio called Devonshire and Ozzy was next door recording. Mike comes in the studio, he's always crazy, I don't know what he's going to say, he says "I've got an idea - let's ask Ozzy to sing on one of our songs" and I'm like, "He really is crazy." So we went and knocked on the door, Ozzy let us in and we're sitting there talking to him and Mike said, "Could you sing on one of our songs?" and Ozzy's like, "Is anybody going to know? Like the record company people?" And he's (Mike) like, "No, we won't tell anybody" and he (Ozzy) goes "Okay, cool! I'll do it!" [laughter] And Ozzy sang on "Therapy", so that was one of my biggest memories. Not only being in a band with Mike Muir from SUICIDAL, but having Ozzy, the godfather of BLACK SABBATH and the whole thing singing on our record. That was really cool. Good memory.

Phil: What is one thing that you hope to achieve that you still have not yet?

Mike: To be the best band in the world. I mean, I feel we are, but for everyone else to think it would be great.

Dean: I just really want people to hear and know what we're about and what kind of band this really is and I think just reaching a bigger audience, so people can really appreciate… you know, a lot of people have come out of this band and gone on to other bands, speaking of Robert and Josh (Paul) and Josh Freese and people like that. I think I would love for everybody to really know where these people came from and for us. And also to know all the influences in this band, 'cause I'm part of it now, influenced other bands like LIMP BIZKIT and people like that, PAPA ROACH and all those bands, you know. They say it, but I think a lot of the fans don't really know. And I think, lastly, reaching a younger audience now, to me is really cool, to see a resurgence of SUICIDAL, I think that would be a really cool thing to reach younger kids.

Phil: Okay, is there anything else you guys would like to add?

Mike: [long period of silence] Huh? [laughter] What'd you say?

Dean: Anything you'd like to add?

Mike: Oh, me?

Phil: Anybody.

Mike: Get your shit together, man - have a great life, have a happy life, live a good life and if you get a chance, check out SUICIDAL.

Dean: Yeah, if we're in your town, come check out SUICIDAL I think music is lacking in a lot of things and I think the live bands… you know, if you want to escape from your life for a moment check out SUICIDAL  and I think we really will leave you with a lasting memory.

Suicidal Tendencies

Interviewer: Philip A. Wickstrand

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Formed: 1981
Venice Beach-LA, California  USA
Label: Suicidal Records
Genre: Thrash Metal/Crossover

CURRENT LINE-UP:

Mike "Cyco Miko" Muir:  Vocals
Dean Pleasants:  Guitar
Mike Clark:  Guitar
Steve Brunner:  Bass
Eric Moore:  Drums

DISCOGRAPHY:

Suicidal Tendencies (1983)
Join the Army (1987)
How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I
                Can't Even Smile Today (1988)
Controlled By Hatred EP (1989)
Feel Like Shit... Deja Vu EP (1989)
How Will I Laugh Tomorrow EP (1989)
Controlled By Hatred / Feel Like Shit...
                Deja Vu Best of/Comp. (1989)
Lights...Camera...Conversation
                                 Best of/Comp. (1990)
Send Me Your Money EP (1990)
Lights... Camera... Revolution (1990)
Lights... Camera... Suicidal
                                        Video/VHS (1990)FNG Best of/Comp. (1992)
The Art of Rebellion (1992)
Busload of Freaks Split (1993)
I'll Hate You Better EP (1993)
Still Cyco After All These Years (1993)
Suicidal For Life (1994)
Prime Cuts Best of/Comp. (1997)
Six the Hard Way EP (1998)
Freedumb (1999)
Pneumonia Split (2000)
Free Your Soul...
                         and Save My Mind (2000)
Schizophrenic Born Again
                       Problem Child Split (2001)
Year of the Cycos Split (2008)
Playlist: The Very Best of Suicidal
         Tendencies Best of/Comp. (2010)
Live at the Olympic Auditorium
                                                  DVD (2010)
No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family
                                Best of/Comp. (2010)

October 29, 2010

(Click on Photo to Enlarge)

PHOTOS BY PHIL A. WICKSTRAND

(Click on Photos to Enlarge)

Check out Chris' review of No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family here