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The following interview was done via email with SOiL bassist Tim King on 05/20/2002
Severe Discomfort: How did you come up with the name SOiL and is there any meaning to the lower cased i?
Tim King: IT ACTUALLY CAME FROM A SONG CALLED 'ROTTEB SOIL' BY THE BAND ENTOMBED. WE JUST USED THE LOWER CASE 'i' TO BE ORIGINAL AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THE LETTERS.
SD: I read somewhere that you had other CDs out, are they still available and what label were you on at the time?
TK: THERE IS AN E.P. AND A FULL LENGTH CALLED 'THROTTEL JUNKIES' ON A SMALL LABEL CALLED MIA RECORDS. IT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS 2 MONTHS AFTER THE ALBUM'S RELEASE AND BOTH ARE NOW OUT OF PRINT.
SD: You credit WJRR to your getting signed. How did you come into contact with them and what happened after being aired that really pushed record label interest? Can you take us through some of the big happenings that went on before your signing?
TK: WE HAD A FRIEND PRSENT OUR NEW 3 SOMG DEMO TO PAT LYNCH. HE LOVED IT AND DID A FEW "TEST SPINS". WELL, THE PHONE LINES LIT UP AND HE PUT IT IN FULL ROTATION. AFTER THAT, EVERY RECORD LABEL IN THE U.S. STARTED CALLING US. WE NARROWED DOWN OUR CHOICES TO 3 LABELS AND WENT FROM THERE.
SD: WJRR announced that you were offered numerous recording contracts, what brought you to J-Records?
TK: LIKE I SAID, WE NARROWED IT DOWN TO 3 LABELS. THEN WE FLEW TO NY AND VISITED WITH EACH ONE OVER 3 DAYS. WHEN WE RETURNED HOME WE KNEW J WAS THE LABEL FOR US. THEY HAD THE SAME IDEAS AND VIEWPOINTS THAT WE DID.
SD: Lately it seems quite a few of hard rocks newer faces are coming out of Chicago, first with Disturbed, SOiL and No One, is there a hidden scene people arent aware of, or is there another reason?
TK: JUST SOME GREAT BANDS. THE SCENE HERE IS VERY STRONG. IT HAS KINDA DIED DOWN A BIT, BUT IT IS STILL A THRIVING SCENE.
SD: I know youve toured with some big names bands who was your favorite and who was your least favorite?
TK: THE MERRY MAYHEM TOUR (OZZY, ZOMBIE, MUDVAYNE, SOIL) WAS BY FAR THE BEST. IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE. WE PLAYED WITH SOME OF OUR FAVORITE BANDS IN ARENAS. DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT. LEAST FAV? I REALLY DON'T KNOW. WE ENJOY TOURING AND HAVEN'T HAD VERY MANY "BAD" EXPERIENCES. I"M SURE WE WILL THOUGH SOMEDAY.
SD: How do you guys like being on the road? What do you do to keep busy?
TK: WE LOVE IT. IT IS PERSONALLY MY FAV ASPECT OF BEING IN A BAND. WE HAVE BEEN OUT FOR OVER 9 MONTHS STRAIGHT AND DON'T HAVE PLANS FOR A BREAK TILL SEPTEMBER. WE GOOF AROUND AND WATCH TV AND HANG WITH FANS TO KEEP BUSY.
SD: Who are your biggest influences?
TK: PERSONNALY I AM INFLUENCED BY EARLY MOTLEY CRUE, BLACK SABBATH, OZZY, AEROSMITH.
SD: What would you say to a band thats trying to make it in the industry? Any tips on getting heard or getting attention?
TK: DON'T GET COCKY. IF I HAD A DOLLAR FOR EVERY TIME I HAD SOME LOCAL BAND MEMBER COME UP AND SAY 'OH YEAH, WE ARE GONNA BE HUGE, IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. WHAT'S IT LIKE BRO CAUSE WE WILL BE THERE SOON?', I WOULD BE A MILLIONARE. IT IS A TON OF HARD WORK. WE SPENT YEARS MAKING DEMOS. WE WERE ON A SHITTY INDEPENDANT LABEL THAT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS 2 MONTHS AFTER OUR FIRST ALBUM CAME OUT. WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET SOME LABEL ATTENTION. WE GOT LUCKY. AND I WAKE UP EVERY MORNING BEING THANKFUL I CAN DO THIS.
Thanks again to both Tim King and Shaun Glass of SOiL for taking the time out of their schedule to do the interview for the site. Its been a long work in progress to get it here, but its finally here. Thanks again guys!
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