Before we begin with this interview I would like to share something funny with my readers. This interview took place a little before Cradle of Filth played at Tramps in NYC, when Vulgardemon took on the mission of interviewing these lads he was met with shouts form the band saying "Hey there’s the guy from MOONSPELL, let’s beat him up!!" Fortunately, for us, Vulgardemon was able to prove that he wasn’t one of the guys from MOONSPELL. And after a few jokes he was able to conduct this interview for you. And now, let’s rock the cradle. Also, in case any of you didn’t know, sometime after this interview Cradle of Filth’s drummer, Nick, left the band to play in Dimmu Borgir and then Borknagar.-Lucifera
1. First of all tell our readers how well Cruelty and The Beast is doing?
Gian: It’s actually shocking, received by the media success. Following Dusk… and all that. The whole world is waiting to know how the new songwriting will be without the old members of the band that wrote Dusk. It was a personal thing for us how people would react. It was with all of us writing this time, the new line up, we took influence from every previous Cradle album and really got into it and that’s how we identify COF is no longer comprised of just people its an entity on to itself and you have to catch on to the harness. So, that’s what we did on Cruelty…, it’s been selling well all over the world.
2. Any newer material coming out soon?
Gian: We are re-releasing Cruelty.. on a Celtic cross CD (already out-L). we have a few extra tracks for that ok, and one of them is a different version of Lustmord and Wargasm. But we think it’s heavier than the one on the previous album, a different version all together and also dare I say a techno track but it’s total underground sounding which we did for a laugh. Black metal by Venom, you can get it on import at the states and we are writing stuff for a new album as well.
3. What influences Cradle of Filth’s music? Do you consider yourselves black metal?
Gian: Well, our sound would be described as metal to simplify fuckin’ complications cause it’s really heavy isn’t it? I mean, it’s black (metal) but we are not within the boundaries set of set standards say by like the Scandinavian scene or even the European scene now. It’s black metal, it’s going to be this, and it’s going to be that. We do what the fuck we want really.
4.Where did you find new keyboardist Lecter?
Gian: I met Lecter about 5 years ago or something when I lived up in Yorkshire, North England, when he was playing in a band called Ship of Fools and he was a god musician, he helped out for awhile eventually we wanted to keep him and he wanted to stay. He also played for Anathema.
5. Any bigger bands you would like to tour with?
Gian: Uhmm, that’s a hard question because we’ve toured with big bands before, but any particular band we would like to tour with would have to suck cause we are a hard act to follow. I do mean that cause we are an all around assault. I mean what do you do visually to blow us away. The only band I can think of, wait (he calls for Dani) I need help for this question. (Tells Dani) What big bands would we like to tour with?
I really don’t know.
Dani: Danzig
Gian: Yes, Danzig. We were chatting with him, he was really cool! (REALLY! –L) Um, Manson, Marilyn Manson, cause they are musically different and he’s changed his image now, he’s changed his image he looks totally different.
Dani: Slayer
Gian: Slayer, maybe.
Vulgardemon: Cool, alright!
6.Does it bother you that Hecate Enthroned sound very familiar to you guys? Have you heard the new Hecate Enthroned? What do you think?
Dani: They’re shit! (ooh do I see a mud wrestling fight between Dani and Hecate Enthroned?-L)
Vulgardemon: Have you heard the new Hecate Enthroned?
Gian: No, well they can play tunes and stuff.
Vulgardemon: I thought it was ok but it sounded quite similar to COF.
7. Being that females grace you album covers and shirts, do you like any underground female artists? Black metal or not?
Gian: I don’t know of any black metal female groups maybe Dan might. (shame on you, we will throw you in a dungeon where only female artists play and you shall learn, there’s Astarte to begin with…- L)
8. I noticed that C.O. F. have grown vastly and some people claim that your image is a joke. What do you make of this?
Gian: Yea, I think it’s fuckin funny, every morning I look myself in the mirror and I’m shitting myself laughing, yea image is a joke. We wear what we want, we don’t dress to please anyone else, we do it for ourselves, call it a joke. Yea, I wear dresses and Nick wears little charles panties. (laughter)
What do you mean, Joke/ Image? Vampire thing?
Vulgardemon: Yea, people for instance in the black metal (early) like Mayhem, Marduk, have a certain image and if the band gets too popular they sell out.
Gian: Well look what we’ve done and which isn’t a crime, we have records, and people buy our stuff. That made us popular. What do you say tell people ‘don’t buy our records’!
9.Do you have trouble with certain laws in certain countries regarding your material?
Gian: Oh yeah, in England, people are arrested for wearing our shirts in America even. The court cases, basically, the world over where ever there is monotheistic domination. They are going to be oppressed and frightened by it, so it is a way of making a political stand and anybody who feels like supporting that cause yeah wear one of our T-shirts.
10.What do you think of the overall metal scene now compared to the 80’s? Do you think it’s better or worse?
Gian: Well, you see it is better and it’s worse because the 80’s metal had that energy, everybody was mad about it. 90’s sounding metal the way we like it is much more fuckin’ heavy, and we’ve got that retro thing, for the 80’s back when it was really excellent to go to gigs. When there were thousands of people, it was bigger than it is now!
Vulgardemon:Does Cradle of Filth play a big part in the metal scene?
Gian: I would hope so!
11. Do you think the murders and the church burnings in Norway help push Cradle of Filth forward? Would you give them credit?
Gian: Yea, we did give them credit, years ago those black metal bands awakened the world to a new culture that’s been done. Something fresh has to be done now, yeah credit for where it was due.
12. What underground bands do you think need more exposure?
Stuart: Usurper! Yea, they need, they definitely deserve it.
Gian: Ship of Fools, they’re not metal but they need attention anyway!
13.What does Satan mean to you?
Gian: Money, loads of it and I want more! No, that was a joke (laughter). That’s just a corporate joke. Satan is metal, it’s having a good time, wearing black, playing metal , taking drugs, getting pissed, shouting, fighting, and that’s COF! So there you go, that’s Satan, call it what you want!
Vulgardemon:Are you involved in the Church of Satan?
Gian: No.
14. Have you read a book called Might is Right by Ragnard Redbeard ? What’s your opinion?
Gian: I’ve heard of it yea, I’d like to have a copy of that and I know it’s a bit right wing and I’m not politically right wing. I’m neutral, but I’d like to read it anyway. Have a laugh.
15.What is the ultimate goal Cradle of Filth would have to reach?
Gian: I’ll speak on my own personal idea, everyone has their own dream sin this band and we all mix it together, that’s why we have our own objective. But it’s still so individual to obtain. So, I’d like to play massive venues, like arenas with the perfect sound systems so everyone can appreciate what we probably sound like live. I want a full orchestra, you know, the typical, the blah, blah, blah. The lights, we are a visual band as well as a sonic band.
16.There are KISS dolls!!! How about Cradle of Filth dolls? (Laughs)
Gian: Yea, we’ve mentioned that a few times, we’ll get some COF dolls made, we’ll make the Nick one extra big.
17. Name a few horror films that you love.
Gian: Exorcist, all the Evil Deads, Cannibal Holocaust, all the Italian zombie films, you know all those early 80’s ones. Dracula films w/ Christopher Lee.
18. Any last filthy comments?
Gian: Bullocks, Anal fluid, (laughter), no , anal supremacy!!!!
