Q. Where did the name Eaten By Clowns come from?
A. Originally, it evolved from two places. There was a Simpsons episode where Homer built a clown bed for Bart, and Bart was terrified. He stayed up all night saying, “Can’t sleep or the clowns will eat me.” Around the same time, there was a story about how Prince had coulrophobia. Who knows if it was even true, but apparently it was because he was playing a Ronald McDonald House benefit and there was a “Ronald” there. According to the article, Prince wouldn’t come out to play until Ronald McDonald left. I just found the irony of the whole thing both fascinating and amusing. Not about Prince specifically, he might be the greatest musician and performer of all time and frankly, he could have been scared of whatever the hell he wanted to be scared of. I’m talking more about the obvious irony of how a clown is supposed to make people happy and make them laugh, but instead, people are terrified of them. It’s like the world’s most long-standing swing and a miss. I will forever find that funny.
Q. You claim to be the greatest band ever, to have not played live. How do you back up that claim?
A. You can’t prove we’re not, so I guess we’re at an impasse. We’ll keep claiming it until someone proves us wrong…or a lawyer makes us take it down.
Q. How would you describe your music?
A. Our music is like a circus tent full of serial killers, floating through outer space, in a spaceship that looks like Dracula’s Castle.
Q. Do you have an album you’re most proud of?
A. They’re like children to us. Once we have them, we’re done with them. We just move on. So, no.
Q. Who has what role in the band? Is there anyone that takes the lead more?
A. Well, since I’m the only member it’s pretty much going to be me. But I keep myself balanced and humble by reminding myself that I am the best and the worst and the last and the first at everything.
Q. What does that mean?
A. It means I’m both the best bass player in the band, and the worst. I’m the best dressed in the band, but I’m also the worst dressed. It means that I have the biggest schlong in the band, but I also have the smallest. Things like that help keep you humble.
Q. Who hurt you?
A. That’s rhetorical, right?
Q. Who are your influences?
A. I think I’ve obsessed over every type of music at one point, except country. My earliest musical memory was of Blondie. Once I heard Led Zeppelin, I think that was all I listened to for the next 2 years. I was a metal head in high school who suddenly got into the Red Hot Chili Peppers because “Mother’s Milk” had just come out, and Jane’s Addiction’s “Nothing’s Shocking,” and then some friends turned me onto Bauhaus and started feeding me goth mix tapes. Around the same time, I heard Bad Religion’s “Suffer” and that blew my mind. Lately it’s The Mars Volta and Marmozets. And playing shows had always been something I had been comfortable with. I had been in school bands since the 5th grade, doing school concerts and marching band. But at the beginning of my sophomore year of high school, I bought a bass and joined a rock band. My bandmates and I basically lived at the Country Club in Reseda, seeing every punk and metal show we could when we weren’t rehearsing. I saw so many shows there. Unless there was something bigger at the Palladium, that is. Then the really big shows were at the Long Beach Arena, or the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. I mean, I saw my first rock concert at 9 years old and I grew up in New Orleans, so I had been to countless festivals before that. I can’t remember a time when I haven’t been surrounded by music.
Q. So, what inspired the new album, “Weird Bits?”
A. It’s because I can’t stop. It’s what I do. It helps keep me from going crazy…er.
Q. What if we paid you to stop?
A. Worst thing you could do. It would only encourage me.
Q. Do you validate parking?
A. Don’t worry about it. This is Los Angeles. I saw your car stolen 10 minutes ago.
5 things you should know about Eaten By Clowns
- There’s only one guy in the band, but he has several personalities, so it counts as a full band.
- Rocked out in the school band on the flute, piccolo, and French Horn before learning the bass his sophomore year of high school and joining his first rock band.
- Likes animals, reading, and long walks on the beach. Although, a piña colada on the beach sounds better than all that walking.
- Snuck out of the house while grounded in 9th grade to go see The Rocky Horror Picture Show for the first time.
- I’ve always been the Weird Kid.
5 More things you should know about Eaten By Clowns
- We’ve been to over 40 countries and counting.
- We’re the greatest rock band to have never played live.
- Filmed a music video inside a weed dispensary.
- Never had a pony.
- Met God/Lemmy once outside of the Rainbow.
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