Interview with Chris Forbes of Metal Core Fanzine
I have never met anyone more dedicated to metal in my life than Chris of Metal Core.
I have ALSO never met anyone so darned friendly! Chris does not
see himself as an elitist, big-shot "Hey look at me, I have an office, so nyah!"
type person, which definitely made this interview great.
He finally let me get out how I feel about running the zine. It was the longest answer I've given
to anyone, and Chris says it's the best. How can you not love this guy?!
First of all, thank you very much for taking the time to do this.
Oh it is my pleasure thanks for giving me the chance to talk with you and all your readers.
Hmm, well thanks for the compliment, but I don't see myself as popular as yourself (total sincerity here. Really!)
Well I don't think I am any better than you or any other web or fanzine. I don't care if you print 50,000 copies and are the editor of metal maniacs or you cut and paste a 3 page fanzine. anybody that does a zine or a web zine has my total 100% respect .
You're so sweet! My first question is, after looking at the Metal Core website, is there anything you HAVEN'T been asked?
That is a good question. I pretty much have been asked about everything I have been involved in. that goes from doing the zine, management, label stuff and my distro. I am the one who thought up all those questions you saw on my site. I tried to make my web site a bit different than just a music web site. I have been doing my zine for quite awhile now and I figured this would give people who have read my zine for a bit some more info on what I do in my personal life as well as my opinions on subjects. I also wanted to also have some band info since bands always ask me stuff and I wanted to have some advice for zine editors as well.
I see you've never been interviewed by Unchain the Underground. They ask the weirdest questions. Have you ever been asked something really stupid, or sick, and if yes, what was the question?
Not really anything sick, though there is an interview with me on the hellfrost web site and joe asked some really off the wall questions. I am sure if i was in a band or something and doing 100's of interviews I would get some dumb ones. At least I don't have to get asked "What are your influences?" ha ha
What are your influences?
Ha ha very funny. As far as my zine goes I took all my style writing wise from a zine called "Kick Ass monthly". It was a zine that was put out in the 80's and this got took a lot of shit from bands because he wasn't afraid to tell it like it is. I kinda took that type of attitude when I started up my zine. I used to sing in a band and I took my influences from Henry Rollins, Kurt from DRI, and Tom from Slayer
You are aware that I asked that last question for shits and giggles right?
I know and i got ya back by answering it now didn't I??? Bang, bang!!!!!
*At this point our favorite interviewer-lady type person is having a gigglefit*
You're lucky I'm not there. I'd tickle you to death.
What is the best interview you've ever been involved with?, and don't just say this one to make me feel better heh. You can name more than one.
Unhallowed zine out of Massachusettes did a great interview with me. Phil from Brutalized
zine (rip) was another good one.
I meant interviews you did with bands, but that's good.
I would say one of my favs was doing a combined round table interview with Gene from Dark Angel and chuck from death way back in issues 8 and 9. that was my fav. Also talking with Slayer and Henry Rollins was great.
Did you see Henry Rollins in that movie, I think it's called Jack Frost?
No i didn't. I saw some movie he was in about cars. That is the only one.
Oh, well, he played a hockey coach dad in Jack Frost.
What is the best album you've ever reviewed? Again, you can name more than one.
The best album I ever reviewed was back in issue #1. Slayer "Reign in Blood". The greatest underground release bar none!
Because I'm a political weirdo, and have been since I was nine, who will you vote for in the upcoming election?
I don't get involved in politics. It is all a bunch of lies and empty promises. George Bush said he would not raise taxes and sure enough he did.
Yeah, most of the time, that's the case. I don't trust Republicans in general, we've only had good luck with the Democrats. I mean, I'm not insinuating you're old, but remember the Reagan era? 'Nuff said.
Yes I do, all too well.
Did you ever expect Metal Core to be as succesful as it is?
No way, and that is a good question. When I started the zine back in 1986 I just thought I'd put out a few issues and stuff. I had no idea I would in the year 2000 be still doing it and doing it on newsprint and have a web site up etc. I still do the zine for fun and when it stops being fun and becomes a job the metal core pen will be put to rest. I take it one issue at a time and I am having way too much fun to stop anytime soon
Dang, 1986, I was three years old.
Ha ha, but look at ya now! (Ed- Yeah, I'm pretty damn Hottalicious, eh? Blah!- Sony)
Haha yeah! Living through just one decade does something to you when you think too much
Oh I have seen all the metal trends come and go. The whole glam thing, the bay thrash scene, the death metal thing exploding, major labels snapping up thrash bands cause of Metallica, the demise of thrash, the rise of black metal, etc.
Your comment might just make this next question sound kind of outdated, but If the metal you represent on your zine became mainstream, would you disown it?
No, not at all. I would love to see a band like Immolation sell a million copies. or if Morbid Angel or Cannibal Corpse got huge, I think that would be great. These bands work hard and as long as they didn't change like Metallica and kept playing brutal death metal then I would support them 100%
That is so refreshing to hear. Most die-hard fans are really big on one band, have been supporting them for years, then once they appear on MTV, they start talking shit about them.
Yeah I know. I have liked AC/DC since '79 and they haven't changed much so I still like them. I was one of the biggest Metallica fans till they turned their back on metal. As long as a band continues to put out quality music I will support it whether they play in my back yard or Madison Square Garden.
Is there anything unusual that you listen to?
I am a huge fan of the band Firehouse. I am even a member of their fan club. I met them and they are super cool. I even have a 8x10 pic of them signed in my Metal Core office. I listen to sports radio a lot and even some jazz if I am relaxing. I like a lof of the older 70's stuff cause I grew up on that as well. also 70's and early 80's rock like Thin Lizzy, UFO, etc
I love Firehouse!!!
I drove 3 hours to see them. I have all their cds, including the new live cd. I saw them 3 times on this last tour. They are a kick ass rock band. They aren't and never were a glam band. They just write good songs and I like them. Call me a poser if u want, but Firehouse are one of my top 5 fav bands.
In general, most of the music I listen to is metal and anything before 1993, and yes, I really like glam, right now I'm listening to Dokken.
Old Dokken is great..Tooth and Nail and Breaking the Chains
I'm listening to the album "Under Lock and Key"
I remember that cd. It was pretty good from what I remember, but the band started to go the make-up route if I recall.
Do you have a regular job other than the zine?
I have a regular job. You don't think metal pays the bills, do you? *laughs*, Or Immolation he he. I work at a race track here in New Jersey. I have been there 15 years so far. It is a really cool and exciting job, and you get to meet all kinds of different and exciting people.
Plus the female jockeys are always nice to look at. It is a tough job somebody has to do it.
Is there anything you would like to ask me?
Yes how do you like doing your web zine and is it turning out the way you want it to?
Oh man, I love doing my zine. I feel like I'm doing something really great, giving the underground a voice with no restrictions. If anything, doing interviews always makes me feel 100% better about myself, knowing that I'm out there helping the underground because I can relate to most of their feelings. Most of the time I feel very ..well, down because I'm not as big as the other zines, but I'm doing what I like here, I'm not doing what I'm being told to do (unless you count the voices in my head, move along, move along,) And actually I'm very surprised that I made it this far, being a then 16-year old with HTML knowledge, but not so much knowledge of the underground. Also being young, so no one takes you seriously.I'm 17 now, and I just know that there are bands out there with more potential than most mainstream bands, and they're not being heard, and they need to be heard!...Wow! that was the longest answer I've given!
Well I would say that is about one of the best answers I have ever heard. It doesn't matter how big or small your web zine is. With an attitude like that you are already a winner.
Thank you so much! Well, sorry to say, but it's high time we wrap up this Q&A. *lowers her tone to a grim, deep voice* Any last words? Bwa-ha-ha-ha
i'd like to thank you very much for the interview (bowing kissing your feet). It was a great interview. Anybody that wants to check out my zine can mail me $2 to Chris Forbes, PO box 622 Marlton, NJ 08053. I also throw in other zines as well. Also please check out the Metal Core website and let me know what you think. I am sure Ms. Estrella will have a link to it somewhere. Keep up the great work on your web site as well! Bye!
