Gord "Piledriver" Kirchin: Vocals
Mark "Kinky Pork Cream"     
          Kopernicky: Guitars
Robert "Lobo Elf Schnort"    
            Tollefson: Bass
Kerry "Glace Frothfritter"
            Keough: Drums

Formed: 2004
Toronto, ON  CANADA
Label: Northern Storm Records
Genre: Thrash Metal

CURRENT LINE-UP:

The Exalted Piledriver's Mark "Kinky Pork Cream" Kopernicky

March 16, 2009

Interviewer: M.J.

DISCOGRAPHY:

Official Live Bootleg Shpinsk,
                     Batslavia - DVD (2005)
Metal Manifesto/Promo '05 Demo (2005)
Metal Manifesto Full-length, (2008)

TO THE TOP

It's been more than 2 decades since the band originally known as Piledriver has been active in the metal scene. The band started out as a project put together by guitarist Leslie Howe and Gord "Piledriver" Kirchin in 1984 and quickly became an underground sensation with two full length releases; 1985's Metal Inquisiton and 1986's Stay Ugly. As quick as they appeared on the scene, so too, were they were gone.

In 2008, the band resurfaced with a modified name as "The Exalted Piledriver", a few new members, and a brand new album (Metal Manifesto). Fans old and new alike are eager to welcome them back. New guitartist Mark "Kinky Pork Cream" Kopernicky took some time recently to answer a few questions about the band, the new album and tour plans.

M.J.: What can you add to the history of the band from your perspective having spent the last several years as a member of the band? 

Mark "Kinky Pork Cream" Kopernicky: Well..I'm not sure what I can add....I mean THE PILEDRIVER has done numerous interviews for this new album and has done a total history of the band....but just for the record....there was NO BAND when the first two albums were made...It was just THE PILEDRIVER and a guitar player who wrote the music....it was a total studio project that took off.

M.J.: What can you tell us about your history prior to joining the band?

Kinky: HAHA Well this I can help you out with...Before I joined PILEDRIVER I was in a Prog Metal band called RECKON WITH ONE. We were doing pretty well and starting to build a pretty good following...We toured Canada 3 times and released 3 albums on our own label called Reficul Records. After the release of our last CD IN HUMAN NEED...Our singer quit to become a police officer....we thought about continuing but it wasn't the same without him singing...about a month or 2 after the band split, I received an email from PILEDRIVER's manager at the time asking if I would be interested in trying out for the band....and the rest is history.

M.J.: Who were some of your musical influences growing up and who do you admire right now?

Kinky: Well..my favorite band of all time is RUSH...I would listen to them all the time growing up...but as I got older my taste really got diverse..YES...PANTERA....KING CRIMSON...MAX WEBSTER...BLACK SABBATH..METALLICA..etc...and once I started focusing on my guitar playing Paul Gilbert was my biggest influence.

M.J.: When you joined forces with the band, did you have a plan of attack of what you wanted to accomplish with The Exalted Piledriver?

Kinky: Well....I remember when I first spoke with Gord about trying out...I wanted to make sure that this was going to be a band that was willing to do whatever it took to make it as big as possible....that was and still is the goal of the band....and everyday we can see the band getting bigger and bigger..It helps that we wrote a killer new album  (Metal Manifesto) and now we are hitting the road more often which I think is very important for us. I think that on stage we are at our best.

M.J.: What was the recording process like for Metal Manifesto? 

Kinky: The recording process was surprisingly smooth...it only took 4 days to record all the tracks for it....and it took a week to mix it with Neil Kernon in Chicago. We did all the recording here in Toronto at Metalworks Studio and Signal 2 Noise with Rob Sanzo. He did a great job capturing our sound. We were also really prepared...Most of the songs were written already by Gord and I wrote about 3 songs that made it on this record.

M.J.: How did most of the songs come together?

Kinky: Like I said..Most of the songs were written by Gord over the last 10 years, but once me and Gerry (Glace Frothfritter-drums) we were encouraged to contribute some songs. After playing with the band for a few months...I started getting the feel for what made a great PILEDRIVER tune. From there I wrote...IM THE ONE, GOD YOUR STUPID II, UNSUCK MY COCK and re-wrote LAST DAY OF THE WEAK. Also I re-arranged and added a few parts to THE THINGS I GIVE.

M.J.: What are some of the inspirations for the songs on Metal Manifesto?

Kinky: Well I think there were lots of different things....but mainly we just wrote what we enjoy playing. Which is good ole Thrash Metal.

M.J.: I know that you have had a few problems in getting proper distribution of Metal Manifesto. How has this affected the band and getting the word out to the metal community about its availability?

Kinky: Well it is true that we had quite a bit of problems...but we have held our heads high and pushed on...Luckily we have very dedicated fans who check out our websites so they were always in the loop where to get the disc....right now its in lots of different outlets.. THE END RECORDS, NUCLEAR BLAST, CENTURY MEDIA, HELLION RECORDS in Germany have ordered a bunch as well as a few others in Europe. And we have got orders from Japan as well. So the disc is making its way out there.

M.J.: How did the live appearances in 2008 at the European festivals Keep it True (Germany) and Up the Hammers (Greece) come about considering that Metal Manifesto was not completed?

Kinky: Well that’s simple....PILEDRIVER has never played live in Europe...EVER!!..so once word got out that there was an actual band now that was playing live....the offers came quickly...we didn’t need a new album at that point...the fans came far and wide in Europe to see us and it was incredible.

M.J.: How was fan reception?

Kinky: The fans were awesome....The show in Athens, Greece stands out in my mind as one of my favorites.....the fans were insane there and sang every word to every song....Also the crowd at the Keep It True Festival was awesome....They made us feel like kings!!

M.J.: It seems rather fitting that "Metal Manifesto" was released on Halloween which is kind of like the bands' own holiday considering the outrageous costumes you wear on stage. What was the genesis and concept for the stage design and costuming?

Kinky: Well that’s mainly Gord's idea...He is the creative brains behind PILEDRIVER. Basically we are his zombie musicians that he dug up. The idea was that since he couldn’t find a proper band before...he dug up and re-animated some dead musicians...LOL

M.J.: What are your plans regarding touring for "Metal Manifesto"?

Kinky: Well...all the problems we had with the record coming out...you know the whole manufacturing delay and the mail out screw ups...we didn’t really focus much on playing till we got that stuff under control...Now that it is...We are getting out there playing some Canadian dates...we are also working on getting our European Tour booked....Unfortunately due to the global economic problems...some dates are getting hard to fill as promoters are being careful...especially in Europe. But we feel that it will work out ok and we will be in Europe in the summer as planned. We are confirmed to play Headbanger’s Open Air, and some other places are a go like Oslo, Vienna, AnnaBurg etc.

M.J.: I understand that "Metal Inquisition" and "Stay Ugly", the first 2 Piledriver releases, have been bootlegged across the planet while the master tapes tied up in red tape. Are there any plans to have the current lineup re-record those two and release them in order to put that part of history to rest?

Kinky: There has been talk about it....but I'm not sure if or when that will happen.

M.J.: If you were able to put a dream tour together with The Exalted Piledriver, what bands would you love to see on the bill?

Kinky: I think we would do awesome with Alice Cooper....also bands like Megadeth, Testament, Judas Priest.

M.J.: Anything else you would like to add?

Kinky: I would just like to give a big thank you to all the fans who have supported us and bought the new album and we look forward to seeing you all on the road!!

M.J.: Thanks for the interview and see you then!

Click here for J. A. Burt's Review of The Exalted Piledriver's Metal Manifesto

*Comments:

*By clicking "Submit" you agree to the following Terms of Use. You agree not to post any material that is obscene, slanderous, or threatening, or that may violate any law of your country of origin or the United States or of international law. Should you wish to restrict viewing of your email address by third parties, you must select "Hide My Email." You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Metal Psalter from any claims, actions, suits, damages, or other costs arising out of any breach of these Terms of Use.