PRP: First off, lets start with the basic question, how did you guys get together?
Frank: Well we actually all met in the music department of a local college in Montreal.
PRP: How hard was it to relocate from Montreal to Los Angeles?
Frank: Before we all made the decision to move to L.A. we had reached a crossroad in our lives. We all wanted to make the right move before we took the risk. So
Rob and I came to L.A. to meet some and get some contacts. A month later the boys came down and the rest is history.
PRP: How does it feel to be the first signing to Ozzy
Osbourne's own record label, Divine Recordings?
Frank: It's definitely one of the best decisions we ever made, right up there with meeting our manager Alex, what else can I say, we have
Ozzy and Sharon on board (the most influential people in Heavy Metal) So it's safe to say that we're really happy to be on
Divine.
PRP: You guys experienced a moderate degree of success in Canada and even had a video that airs now and then on Muchmusic, do these past achievements take the edge off of the nervousness of releasing the new album?
Frank: Not really, I think now that we are releasing this album all over the globe is even more nerve racking than ever. But Canada did help us develop our confidence for our live show.
PRP: Being Canadian, do you get a lot of Canadian jokes while out on the road?
Frank: Shit Yeah! We hear al the "Hey" jokes and "Blame Canada" jokes, you name it we've heard it. All that does is fuel our desire to take over the U.S. (hahaha)
PRP: What do you miss more, Canadian bacon or maple syrup?
Frank: Hands down the maple syrup, there ain't nothing like it.
PRP: You guys just returned home from the Ozzfest tour, how was it touring on such a huge bill for your first national tour?
Frank: Un-fuckin'-believable! Never give a starving band the opportunity to play in front of thousands of people. Not only did we meet a lot of cool people but also solidified our biggest most devoted fan base ever. We did our best to kick everybody's ass and it looks like we did a good job. When people all over the country come up to you and tell you that we were the best band on the tour, you're definitely doing something right.
PRP: What's the craziest thing you saw on the Ozzfest tour?
Frank: Well the craziest thing for me was playing in front over 20,000 people in Wisconsin (Float Rite Park) during a thunder and lightning storm…now that's rock n' roll.
PRP: Do you find it hard playing for audiences who really haven't even had the opportunity to hear your music as of yet?
Frank: No not at all, they're eating our shit up, big time. I guess it's cause we're Canadian or something.
PRP: If forced in a life or death situation to tour with either
Whitesnake or Winger, who would you choose and why?
Frank: Whitesnake Rulez!! Because David Coverdale is a pimp and this band could learn a few things from that "glam" legend.
PRP: Was their any reason for the distinctly heavier direction that the new material has taken as opposed to the older stuff which was more of an alternative vibe?
Frank: Well I think we all decided that since we were already playing our mellower songs so much more heavy
live, it became clear to us that our newer material had to be a lot heavier and more intense much like our live show always was. Those who know us from the past now that we always had an intense live show.
PRP: After being around for close to 6 years, how does it feel to begin to taste success?
Frank: It's a little overwhelming at times because the sudden interest in us was never this big. We are very
grateful for everything and everyone, not often do you get the opportunity to entertain so many people and boy do we love it. But the most important thing is stay close to the fans (friends) without them there is no us.
PRP: If you had a piece of the leprechauns gold, and he really wanted it back, would you keep it or give it to him?
Frank: Fuck that small man, I'm keeping that gold. The band needs gold tooth caps fo' real (hahaha)!
PRP: Does the name Slaves On Dope have any deeper or metaphorical meaning?
Frank: First off it started as cool name but then we realized that it was quite simple, if you do drugs or whatever your dope is you become a slave to it. That's the basic meaning.
PRP: With the album title "Inches From The
Mainline" seemingly relating to heroin and the name Slaves On Dope, where would you say the band stands on drugs?
Frank: Well we're definitely not preachers about the whole drug thing. We just don't do any drugs and we don't care if you do or don't…it's your life and live it the way you see fit. The title
"Inches from the Mainline" actually refers to the fact that we're all one bad day from the edge, whatever your edge
may be.
PRP: How was working with producer Thom Panunzio?
Frank: Thom's a great guy. He brings a sense of calm and wisdom that this us needed in studio and in rehearsal.
He let us be ourselves and tried not force us to make unneeded changes. We as a band have very strong opinions and
Thom came in and channeled all those opinions…end result is=great sounding record and great songs.
PRP: How did the whole meeting with and eventual signing to
Divine Recordings take place?
Frank: Initially we had almost signed with a big major label but when we heard that she was coming to see us all bets were off.
Sharon actually came to see us at the Opium Den in Hollywood after hearing all the buzz about us. That day there was almost a dozen labels out to see us and we kicked ass. She said she needed to see if we could do it twice. So she flew to Las Vegas where we were opening for
Papa Roach and that day she confirmed to us that we would be the first signing to
Divine and offered us a second stage slot at Ozzfest 2000.
PRP: Coming from Quebec are any of the band fluent in French, and was there ever a time when you guys recorded in French?
Frank: Actually we're all pretty fluent in the French language and no we never recorded in French either because there never was a need to.
PRP: When you were a kid, did you ever sleep with a female action figure in your underwear?
Frank: Actually "Hooker Barbie" (they made a short run of that toy) was always stuck up my ass when I was asleep as a child (hahaha).
PRP: You guys have really latched onto the internet as a means of promotion and keeping the fans updated with various road diaries and such, how important is the internet to the band?
Frank: It's probably the second most important aspect besides playing live and meeting all the fans. We rely on it on a daily basis. Not only does help us interact with everybody but it also makes it easy for someone to click and learn anything you need to know about
Slaves On Dope.
PRP: Just how neccesary to you is a daily dosage of scat?
Frank: Oh about…0! We hate scat, kill all scats or whatever you call em'.
PRP: Do you guys have a lot of Canadian pride, or more or less consider yourselves Americans now?
Frank: No, we are and always will be Canadian first and foremost but America has been very good to us and definitely has become like a second home.
PRP: What bands are you currently enjoying the most lately?
Frank: Personally I'm listening to, Quicksand,
A Perfect Circle and the new Zebrahead a lot now a days.
PRP: Have you ever noticed that both you guys and Faith No More covered the track,
"War Pigs" on a Black Sabbath tribute CD and that on your new album there is a track called
"No More Faith", are you subliminally expressing love for Faith No More or something?
Frank: Fuck Yeah! FNM is one of the most influential bands of today's heavy music. We chose
"War Pigs" primarily because we love that song and it so happened that our favorite band covered it a few years back.
"No More Faith" is basically our dedication to FNM for their contribution to our music.
PRP: Some of the group has been involved in smaller wrestling promotions, are you guys big fans of wrestling?
Frank: Well I wouldn't call us fans, we just think it's kind of cool that grown men in tights can look so masculine.
PRP: Poison isn't exactly the most popular band in the world amongst your audience, how did it come about for you guys to do a cover of their track
"Look What the Cat Dragged In" and did you guys feel hesitant to do it?
Frank: Actually first we met the guys when they were rehearsing next door to us and then
Bret was cordial enough to invite us over to his place for Super Bowl Sunday. That day he asked us to be on the tribute album and we agreed. We obviously tried to spice up the song a little and the end result pleased everybody so we we're happy to.
PRP: Any specific unsigned bands out there who you think should be signed?
Frank: Not really.
PRP: Originally it was thought you guys signed to Columbia and then all of a sudden you were on
Divine, any story about that?
Frank: I got two words for ya'…DIVINE RULES!
PRP: Has a first single for the new record been chosen yet? perhaps a possible video?
Frank: We haven't chosen a single yet, we'll try to get some feedback from the people, but once we decide which song we will shoot a video thereafter (probably before the New Year). Let us know what you think?
PRP: It looks like you will be in good company with tours with
(hed)p.e., Soulfly and a host of others in the works for the upcoming months, anything else big coming up in the near future that you want to mention?
Frank: Yeah it looks there will be an Ozzfest movie coming soon and we'll be on it and definitely
Ozzfest next year.
PRP: That's about it, any shoutouts or shameless self promotion?
Frank: Yeah everybody spread the word about "Slaves
On Dope" and buy the album on Oct.3, 2000. www.theprp.com that's the shit.
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