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USA Today's Live Chat With
Cannibal Corpse's Jack Owen
Thursday, March 22 (2003) 6 p.m. ET
It seems as though every year politicians
find a new whipping boy (or girl) in the world of
entertainment, from Frank Zappa to Blackie Lawless to Eminem.
In 1996, then-Republican presidential contender Bob Dole cited
the speed metal band Cannibal Corpse as one of catalysts for
the overall decay in society's morals (as did Sen. Joe
Lieberman a few years later). So what's it like being a
pariah? Ask Cannibal Corpse guitarist Jack Owen.
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Missed the live chat? Read the transcript
below:
Oslo, Norway: Where do you feel the death metal scene
stands today, in terms of recruiting new fans to the genre?
Jack Owen: You can only tell by the shows that we
play. We have old as well as new fans coming in. We have 30 year
olds and 12 year olds coming in. So that's always a good sign. As
far as the scene today, it's coming back a little bit.
Fort Wayne, Indiana: In a world attmepting to institute
morality, do you really care what some ignorant politican thinks
about Cannibal Corpse?
Jack Owen: No. Usually any
press for us is good press. I saw Bob Dole on the Tonight Show, and
he got a standing ovation. If I was there, I'm not sure what I would
have done. He tried to tear apart the music scene, but then again,
he gave us exposure. It's a case of bad publicity being good for
us.
Kiruna/ Sweden!!!!: Which Cannibal Corpse song is your
favorite to play live? And which albums do you like and dislike the
most?
Jack Owen: Favorite song would have to be
"Gallery of Suicide". As far as albums, my least favorite would have
to be "Butchered at Birth", my favorite is "Bloodthirst".
Belgium: Any plans on a new album already?
Jack Owen: We have eight songs done musically, and
we're going to do a break to record in June. The album should be out
around October.
NC, New Bern: How do you like Chris Barns' singing
compared to Corpse Grinder's, Do you still talk to Chris and do you
like Six Feet Under?
Jack Owen: Chris's singing
compared to George's is kind of night and day. I think it's a power
thing, since George has had so much power and direction, and Chris
was more gutteral in his vocals. Six Feet Under is nothing I would
listen to on a regular basis.
Richmond, VA: Would it be posible if eventually Cannibal
Corpse would be doing very big touring festivals like OZZFEST for an
example?
Jack Owen: We were offered Ozzfest a few
years ago, but it was the first slot on the small stage, which meant
we wouldn't have gotten much exposure. If we could get on the big
stage, we'd probably do it.
Tampa,Fl: I saw you guys in Oct.2000 you guys have a
great live sound. could you give me a run down on your set-up(ala
effects,pick-ups,amps).Also thanks for taking the time to talk w/me
at the show,The bands personality & talent is what makes you
guys the best around.
Jack Owen: Cool. Thanks for the
compliments. We try to hang out in the crowd because we're fans
ourselves.
As far as setups, Pat likes Mesa/Boogie
amplifiers, I usually use a Digitech preamp, and Pat uses EMG
pickups. I like passive pickups a little better, such as Seymour
Duncan or DiMarzio.
Naperville il: how did your band get to be signed? what
did you have to do?i am in a band and i was looking for tips.
Jack Owen: The main thing that helped us was sending
the label a videotape of our live show. The crowd reaction and our
energy helped. You should send in three, maybe five songs.
brunswick, ohio: Does Goerge use any kind of vocal
machine on his voice at all?
Jack Owen: Nope. No
effects on vocals.
Belgium: How do you see Cannibal Corpse evolve in the
future?
Jack Owen: We've just been evolving as
songwriters from album to album, getting better musically, while
maintaining the brutality we've always had.
Edinburg, Tx: How come the cannibal corpse "eats moscow
alive" video was never released?
Jack Owen: There was
a problem with the production, because the sound wasn't on a
multitrack board, so we couldn't do anything with it. The main
problem was the bass and drums.
Syracuse, New York: How do you feel about this whole
ordeal? Do you like having people interfere with your music?
Jack Owen: The whole ordeal doesn't get nervewracking
for us until we go to a country like Germany, where we can't play
certain songs live.
Dublin, Ireland: Have Cannibal Corpse any plans to play
Ireland this year, or ever again??? What did you think of us the
last time you were here??
Jack Owen: We'd like to
come to Ireland every European tour. I'm sure we'll get to Northern
Ireland too at some point. We love Ireland.
dublin ,ireland: obviously bob dole wasnt very clever by
picking on cannibal corpse because in turn it fueled your
popularity,does it bother you that theres a serious lack of
intelligence in politics in your country?
Jack Owen:
Hahaha!
Sure. I voted, but I don't know why. Whoever I'm
going to vote for probably won't win anyway. What can you do as far
as politics is concerned? We aren't the norm, the average.
LaCrosse, WI: Jack, You guys are the best metal band out
there!!!!!!!!! Why do you think metal music has always been a
scapegoat for censorship advocates? From Ozzy to Slayer and now
Cannibal Corpse!!!!!!!
Jack Owen: Not sure. As far as
the lawsuits, it's just the parents trying to blame somebody for
their kids' actions.
Arlington, VA: I really enjoyed Cannibal Corpse's cameo
appearance in the Jim Carey movie, "Ace Ventura, Pet Detective." How
was the band chosen to perform in the film? Was movie-making
enjoyable and did you get to meet Mr. Carrey?
Jack
Owen: It just stems for Jim Carrey being a fan, and having the
Morgan Creek people call Metal Blade. They asked us to do it, and we
jumped right on it. Met Jim Carrey on the set. He really is the
freak.
Comment from Jack Owen: I'm not sure he likes us
anymore.
Triel France: when will you go back to France?
Jack Owen: I would say around Christmastime for a
headlining/festival tour.
Charleston, WV: Proper parenting is where a child should
learn to differentiate from right or wrong, not music. Continue to
entertain and express yourself. By the way, I am not a metal head.
Jack Owen: I agree.
Montreal, Quebec: Jack, you're conscious that you're
band's lyrics are very controversial. How do you deal with all this?
Jack Owen: The lyrics, vocals and music go hand in
hand. That's the way we planned it when we planned the concept of
the band -- artwork, music, vocals, screaming guitars, abrasive
lyrics.
Albany, Georgia: What album do you prefer that new fans
purchase first?
Jack Owen: Probably "Bloodthirst".
It's a good representation of what we're trying to achieve musically
and production-wise.
Albany, Georgia: What do you think of bands such as
Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, and Mudvayne?
Jack Owen: I
don't listen to Manson or Mudvayne, but I do like Slipknot, just
because they're so over the top. In all honesty, though, I haven't
seen Mudvayne yet.
Arlington, Virginia: Thank you to USA Today for providing
this rare opportunity and thanks to Jack for recognizing it's value
to us. What do you think of the high-brow European death metal bands
like Opeth?
Jack Owen: Pretty cool. I don't really
get into the orchestrating keyboard kind of metal, but more power to
them. Those types of bands all have musical merit.
Albany, Georgia: Are you a fan of any black or goth
metal, or are you just a death metal type guy?
Jack
Owen: I'm more of a guitar related music fan; thrash, speed,
guitar rock. Anything with guitars up front. Don't bury it in
keyboards!
San Francisco, Ca.: What did you think of the craziness
in the Norway metal scene a few years ago, when you had black metal
musicians burning churches, committing murders, etc. And how d you
feel in general when someone tries to blame music - metal in
particular - for a crime?
Jack Owen: As far as the
whole Scandinavian black metal thing goes, I think they took the
music a little too seriously and got carried away with personal
vendettas. It was a matter of who was cooler, and after a while the
music didn't matter.
Music is just another scapegoat, like
blaming drugs, or blaming a dog for talking to you and telling you
to kill people. A typical scapegoat situation.
Comment from Jack Owen: Thanks to all
the fans around the world. We'll see you on tour in
2001-2002.
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