The infection has begun. What could be entertaining than a raging infection that could possibly spread and spread with no cure available? Well there is one cure to solve this problem, why not listen in to some metal music worthy of your time. Presented by some doctors who learnt from the very best thats why you are now in the hands of the Operation Downfall team and their about to spill their guts all over you. The entire band conducted an interview with me after their set in Los Angeles at the Cobalt Cafe.
1. The name of the band Operation Downfall is interesting to say the least and sounds as if there is a story behind it. Where did the name come from and what is the story?
Mike: The story I came up with three name and that was the coolest one and that’s the story so no real story for that one.
2. Can you briefly summarize how the band formed and what you do in Operation Downfall?
Mike: Vocals/Play Guitar
Chris: Play Drums
Eric: Bass Player
Bobby: Guitar/Vocals
Mike: How we formed a brief history, I met up with a couple of guys and started playing and line-up changes happened here and there and Bobby and I kept on going Chris came in and then recently Eric came in about 5 months ago and we got a pretty strong line-up and we don’t plan on going anywhere.
3. Your lyrics are infused with heavy detail and raw emotion. What is it that normally gives you inspiration when writing lyrics and is there a concept behind the music you create?
Eric: It’s been great, everyone likes it spreading the infection and getting a lot of positive responses.
Chris: There is a story behind the album so if you buy the CD you get to hear the story and people go and show up at our shows and we’re really proud of the reaction of it and got some new stuff we’re writing up for the next album. So how’s that?
4. Your new album “Virulent,” is coming out how has the reactions been thus far? What can fans expect when they listen to your music?
Bobby: All the reactions thus far have been going well. All the kids are enjoying our music.
5. How do you think you will affect the music scene you are part of? What are your thoughts on the growing popularity in it as well?
Bobby: We’re trying to be unique there are a lot of bands on MySpace and we’re really hoping that the kids enjoy the music and we go out and practice and just do our thing.
6. You guys played the California Metal Festival in Anaheim how did that go?
Band: We were there but didn’t play it, maybe next year we’ll have to wait and see.
Eric: I was there handing out demos, but we didn’t play.
7. Many of your songs are so hard and intense that I am sure they translate well into a live setting taking on a whole new life in front of a live audience. How does it make you feel when the emotion and power that you envisioned in the recording studio, come to life while playing in front of a crowd?
Mike: We try to put on a intense show, I mean recording ya know all the time in the world, we try to bring the medical theme into the live show and on our MySpace as well. The blood bags on the drum sets, just trying to get as aggressive as we can live. Just playing out as much live energy as we can and play as hard as we can, playing off each during our performances.
8. What are the upcoming plans for Operation Downfall?
Band: just play out as much as we can, build up our fan base and branching out more and we’d like to do a tour and we had one aimed for the summer but work got in the way our jobs and what not hopefully in the Winter, so we’ll see. We are really hoping to do some touring within the next couple of months. Try to get on more tours with bigger bands and then take over the world!!!!
9. How has MYSPACE and the internet impacted your band and do you think downloading helps or hinders the artists?
Mike: MySpace has helped a lot promoting and we try and go promoting on foot but people reply on MySpace, and there are a lot of bands on there as it is. Everyone is on there, so we’re not saying anyone is good or bad (We’re Awesome) but what’s going on with MySpace does get harder for bands to get known and there are some people that get sent messages that say to check out their bands and then you get a response where the person says that “Your band kicks-ass.” As for downloading it increases our popularity and then they go and tell their friends about us so it all works out.
10. What is the toughest lesson you ever learned in the studio and on the stage?
Mike: Studio? We’ve learned a lot from working in the studio, we went in and recorded our album and spent a three day scratch party just recording random tracks but weren’t happy with those and got rid of them. So we went back in and rehearse and there are so many things we wanted to do and so many other things we had learned and picked up it was hard to sit and pick and really focus on it.
Chris: We’ve all learned within the last several months we learned a lot about practice and all the regular stuff bands have to go through and what goes behind the show.
Eric: The importance that I learned is that never play a show unless it is set to go, because shows always get cancelled.
11. What bands would you like to tour with and who has been your favorite to tour with this far? Any particular reason?
Mike: We’d like to play with Lamb of God, Slipknot; another band would have to be Metallica because it’s Metallica.
Bobby: We have yet to tour but when we play shows we got to tell the kids we’re not touring just playing.
Band: White Silence and In Silence, just play a lot of shows with a lot of bands.
12. Every band has its musical influences. What are some of the other bands and artists that have greatly influenced you guys and your music?
Band: Well we all have different ones.
Mike: I like rock like Maroon 5, Gavin DeGraw, and then our drummer listens to real music.
Bobby: I like listening to Tool, I’am a tool put on more of a stage show basically whenever we play.
Chris: I always get asked that all the time about the blood bags on my drum set, from the owner are those going to spill so I got to tell them no it’s just the theme of the band.
13. What's your reaction when/if a fan told you a very meaningful statement such as "Your music changed my life?" Has this ever happened to you?
Band: It’s amazing.
Eric: There is this kid that went back and re-recorded our songs with his own vocals and plans to come out here next month to check us out.
Chris: It’s always nice when someone says something nice about a song so we always try to just focus on the music and that keeps us going.
14. All of that passion that you play with must be tough on you physically. How do you prepare for the physical demands of a tour?
Band: We go through a lot of stretching and then a lot of bands go and look at us “What are they doing?” Oh there stretching no wonder, my neck and body is always hurting.
15. Anything else you'd like to add?
Band: All we have to say is the infection has begun. Thanks for the interview, great questions you really made us think. Why did you make us think? (Laughs)
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