The magazine is getting new readers every month. Over 55 000 readers has visited our magazine in the last 16 months. One of the many readers of the magazine, are Cristopher Goss from Master Of Reality. He sent us an e-mail and we suggested an interview. We sent the interview sheet to him and he replied.
Master Of Reality is a very unlikely interview object for this magazine because they do music miles away from the music we normally write about. But we like their new album and the band merit coverage in our magazine. Enjoy our strange interview with Cristopher Goss from Master Of Reality and get yourself a copy of their latest masterpiece "Welcome To The Western Lodge" (see review somewhere else in this magazine). You will not regret it.
1. Where and when were Master Of Reality formed ? Please give us a short biography with the line ups.
Formed 1982. Syracuse, New York. Started as 2 piece: guitar, synth, and drum machine. Frankincense, blacklights and fog. Looking in hindsight, about 12 years ahead of it's time.
2. What is the concept behind Master Of Reality ? Please explain the name of the band.
The concept: rock. The name: solely to piss off the rock intellectuals. In 1982, heavy music was not in vogue. I wanted the band to be a sort of space age Black Sabbath/Led Zeppelin thing. And by the way,
artists have rocked the world since the beginning of time. Rock the fucking boat. Shake things up. But with beauty, not bombs.
3. Please present us to your earlier albums.
Lp#1 1989 produced by Rick Rubin for his label. I think we became
his blues toy. Should have produced it ourselves, but then again it
wouldn't have received the same attention. Maybe more. Who the fuck
knows?
Lp#2 1993 new label. Ginger Baker (Cream) drummng. I'm very proud of this
record. Kind of a blues storybook.
Lp#3 1997 next label. Next drummer. Recorded 'live' at the Viper Room, Los Angeles.
4. Please present us to your new album "Welcome To The Western Lodge". The recording, lyrics, music, artwork, booklet, line - up etc. etc.
Quite a question. Recorded by myself and drummer #4, John Leamy.
John designed the basic cover. I turned it into the plastic masonic
spaceship. Hence the title: "Welcome To The Western Lodge". Our battle on
earth is over. We won. Took over. Next level please...
5. You are signed on Brownhouse Records, but marketed through Metal Blade. Please tell us more about this arrangement.
Brownhouse is a label imprint given to me through Mascot Records in Holland. I had no idea Metal Blade had anything to with it. (eeehhh, after some investigations, I can confirm that you're right. Sorry -ed)
6. When I listen to your album; I get some associations from the hard rock scene in 1965 - '70. For example bands like Cream, Jimi Hendrix and Vanilla Fudge (no, I have not raided my granny's collection of LPs again. Not this time..). What is your view on this period ? How much is your music rooted in the '60 ??
The 60s, and all early rock punctuated the ritualistic, primal, tribal nature of musically rocking the boat. in the case of Hendrix, and a few others blessed by genius, cosmically shaking things up. That's where we need to 'pick up the torch' so to speak.
7. What would you call Master Of Reality's music ??
Rock and Roll.
8. How much impact did Nirvana "Smell Like Teen Spirit" and the resulting death of the big commercial Heavy Metal scene have for Master Of Reality ?
Cobain's chapter is perhaps the saddest one of all. Nirvana blew all the shit off the table. Hard Rock had become a cartoon. A tool of trade. not of hope and freedom and the celebration of our humanity. Good rock always walks on the highwire.
9. Do you listen to any of the new Death, Black and Goth Metal stuff which dominate the metal scene these days ? What is your view on this music and the underground metal culture ?
Much of it is too, once again, cartoonish. Personally, I was not a comic book kid. Nor am I now a fan of championship wrestling. Who needs clowns when real heroes abound? I think Marilyn Manson is for real. A true artist. (some of the readers are probably furious by this point) but that's how I feel. Perhaps I've become the rock intellectual I've always despised.
10. How is the situation in USA these days ?
U.S. rock scene is probably in similar condition as the European one. It sucks. Gasping for air.
11. What is your plans for the rest of 1999 ??
Tour, produce records.
12. Where can Master Of Reality be contacted ? Any web sites ?
Master Of Reality
13. Any final comments ?
Enjoy it while you can.