The Devil Wears Prada has been around for 7 long years with its
original line-up since day one. Drummer Daniel Williams talks to me about the
band's first ever CD/DVD "Dead & Alive", excitement for this
summer's Mayhem Festival views on Christianity.
1. You have been around for 7 years also maintaining your
original line-up how does that make you feel?
Daniel: We’ve actually had an original ever since 7 years
ago I guess. Only change is our key player parting ways with him. I’m blessed
to be able to play with my best friends and able to play some awesome shows as
well.
2. How does it feel to have recorded and shot for your first
ever live CD/DVD are you happy with the results?
Daniel: I am definitely happy with the results we had a few
hiccups along the way; Jeremy does all of the behind the scenes stuff and
editing for it. But it was kind of an issue. We had gone overseas had all of
this stuff made for the DVD and our deadline was coming up and as soon as we
got back our manager hit us up for the content and Jeremy had gone to export
all of that content and his hard drive crashed. So we lost everything that we
had so he had to last minute make a new video throw all of the information off
his backup hard drive to get it all set up it was a huge hassle but it came out
really well. But the actually DVD looks amazing, editing was done well, sound
is great, happy with how we played, can’t say I played everything right but we’ll
see what people say in the review of the DVD. I’m really happy and stoked about
it just as everyone else is because it was a fun experience for us.
3. Where was the DVD filmed and why did you pick this spot
to do it in?
Daniel: It was filmed in Massachusetts at The Palladium and
we choose there because we’ve played there numerous times before so we knew
what to expect the venue size, how many people would show up, the stage, every
time we’d play the crowds are awesome so we thought it’d be the perfect place
to be. We’ve had the same production throughout the whole tour we wanted to
show everyone exactly what we did on tour, the show, and on that tour and get
everybody excited for the next tour.
4. Why did keyboardist James Baney leave the band and are
you looking for a replacement?
Daniel: We split ways because it’s hard to work with certain
people in general it’s sometimes hard to work creatively and is married and
such so there were some reasons we decided to split and no we’re not looking
for another keyboard player. Both of our guitarists are going to be writing the
keys for future releases. We do have someone playing the keyboard parts but we
are not going to be looking for a sixth member for The Devil Wears Prada.
5. How does it feel to be on this year's Mayhem Festival?
What do you have planned afterwards?
Daniel: Very excited it feels great I can’t even believe our
name is next to the bands we’re playing with. The acts are massive and I never
imagined playing with bands like Slipknot or Slayer and is a blessing. Getting
up there to play with them or meet them is awesome. After Mayhem I think we’re
going to be doing some overseas touring with August Burns Red and Whitechapel.
We’ve already did our headliner then did overseas tour already this year so
being able to do Mayhem and another tour with Whitchapel is awesome I love
those guys.
6. When it comes to performing each and every night does the
time stand still or does it fly by when performing?
Daniel: I would the first 20 minutes or so flies bye. If I
was playing a 30 set the set flies bye but if there’s an issue or my kick drum
pedal breaks that set feels like forever. I don’t know why but it breaks that
rush of adrenaline. It’s so hard to get back in and longer sets are tougher and
make it feel like a longer time.
7. What is one special effect that you would want to use or
see during your shows?
Daniel: Hmmm special effects pyro I want to blow stuff up on
stage but at the moment I don’t think that’s possible for our band I think we
might blow ourselves up first. But I think it would be awesome to do it one day
or have enough money to be able to blow stuff up and not catch the venue on
fire.
8. What about stage props what items would you want to use?
Daniel: We had on our Death Throne Tour which can also be
seen on the DVD a logo made of LED lights that was our first kind of prop along
with the stage lights and stuff like that. But I don’t know I think something
Gwar style like a T-Rex eating someone out of the audience would be cool. But
as far as my imagination goes on props that’s all I can think of right now.
9. What has been the biggest banner that you have used
during any of your tours?
Daniel: We had one overseas and played the Download Festival
and I think it was 30 by 40 feet it was massive. We brought it over there for a
two week tour before but only used it once.
10. Have you ever thought about playing a prank or joke on
the audience for example since you’re a metal band you come out on stage with
acoustic guitars and then break them and just return to yourselves that's a
creative but funny idea.
Daniel: We’ve never pranked the audience but we have pranked
other bands before, throwing ping-pong balls at them, took a smoke machine one
time and let the fog machine going on as this band was playing and when they
were done it was so foggy you couldn’t see your own hand. Other things we’ve
done are cleaned wrapped clothing and vans but we might have to change it up
though.
11. Do you think talking about spirituality in music is
becoming more popular and accepted in music?
Daniel: To me it’s weird because some people get bent out of
shape and feel music has always been an outlet of a feeling or emotion or an
idea out there. Every band out there; like a punk band talking about politics
or a pop singer talks about love or a boyfriend or girlfriend or a metal band
talking about our beliefs why does it matter? Music is always getting a point
across even if it’s just to play the music and people should understand that
and it’s a outlet for the artists and what the fans can enjoy. I think it
should be accepted.
12. Does the band ever get criticized for not being
Christian enough? How do you respond to those people?
Daniel: Yes actually sometime’s people would be like “you
said damn or you’re drinking a beer” I think nowadays are more traditional than
before and the Christians don’t care about the old ways. We’ve definitely gotten
a lot of slack for not doing things the way someone else does them. But my
response to that is we can’t stay true to ourselves there are hundreds of ideas
people say but we do our own thing. I hope our fans can be more understanding
of us and not everyone is the same and believe in different things and just the
general idea of Christianity that’s the important part.
13. Anything else you'd like to say or add?
Daniel: I would like to add a shout out to my friends in a
band called Danger Kids they just started and sound like Linkin Park and they’re
super rad dudes an go check them out if you can. Also go pick up our new CD/DVD
when it comes out!
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