I'm always pleased to find that "hidden jewel" in the world of rock and metal. The Doctor is certainly that valuable and I know that when any music fan hears his work, they will feel the same way. You'll be able to experience that when you hit the links mentioned later in this interview.
Sit back and relax... and enjoy.
D-Day: Thank you for speaking with D-Day's Revenge! You've been involved with several bands in the past. What made you decide to strike out on your own?
Doc: Well I had played in several bands over the years, and had moderate success but for one reason or another, nothing ever panned out big time. It had gotten to a point in my last band Blacklyst where we were stagnating and nothing was happening. Plus I would bring music to the group, but by the time they all got done with it, it never sounded like I had originally intended. So I decided to try something different and do a solo project, that way EVERYTHING that the public hears is EXACTLY what I hear in my head, and if it doesn’t get received well, it’s ALL on me. So then when I get put on the rack or in some other torture device by the fans who don’t like it, it’s all my fault….
D-Day: You are obviously a very talented guitar player and I was amazed at what I've heard on your site! That is what shocked me when I read that you were the bass player in your previous bands. How did that come about and not lead guitarist?
Doc: First of all thank you for that compliment. It really means the world to me to hear that people are enjoying and respectful of the product I am putting out. Yes, I was the Bassist/Vocalist in my other bands. What happened was this, when I first started playing guitar in high school, we dabbled in a band and it always sounded blech….Well one day I put the bass players bass on and it just was like I was born with it, so bass was my instrument of choice. Over the years I kept playing guitar on my own, as well as playing drums, piano, and many others….Well when Blacklyst came around we already had a phenomenally talented guitarist named Marshall Neuendorf, he’s STILL one of the best out there, if anyone ever gets a chance to hear his work, look him up on My Space. Anyway, there was obviously no need at all for me to even consider guitar, plus it fit my personality at the time. But once I started writing material for my own project, it just flowed. I don’t look at myself as a virtuoso or anything like that, I think my strength lies in composition, I seem to have a knack for playing exactly what fits.
D-Day: How long is the process for recording a song when you do all of the instrumentals yourself?
Doc: Actually faster than you would think. Because I write all the parts I have no problem with taking long times or multiple takes to get something. I can actually record a song in about a day. This latest cd though the songs are taking longer because I am really making them big productions.
D-Day: Do you have a line-up set for when you play live shows?
Doc: Working on it. You would not believe just how many musicians do not want to be hired hands. They all want to be a part of a band from it’s conception…Back in the day any of us would LEAP at the chance to step into something that had great potential and would pay. As of now, a lineup is near ready to start rehearsing, but before the big live shows I will be going around doing some guitar clinics to demonstrate the new custom made Doctor project Annihilator from Head Guitars.
D-Day: Do you have any type of label support at this time or will you be handling that aspect as well?
Doc: I have some interest, but I am taking my time. I have been over 2 years setting this project up. I have written over 90 songs and recorded almost all of them, I have enough material for 5 full length cd’s ready to go. One thing I have done is remained relatively silent, doing very little promotion and the like. I am gathering everything up here and once I open it all up, there will be an explosion. I am gonna put my name on everything there is to see and I want something unique. The show is going to be unique. The cd’s will be unique. I want the public to be amazed at what they see. (Imitates General Maximus from Gladiator) I will give them something they have never seen before…
D-Day: Speaking of which, how do you feel about music offerings on the internet? Do you view downloading and sharing as advertising or stealing?
Doc: I fucking LOVE IT. STEAL MY MUSIC. Please go right ahead. Look, this is the deal. Artist don’t make that damn much off their recordings. Their money comes from their merch and other things. The only ones who whine about internet file sharing are the greediest of bands (hear that Metalligreed?) And frankly, if I knew that people would come see my shows and buy a t shirt and other merch from me, I would give away all my cd’s for free on fileshare programs.
D-Day: If you were given the opportunity to choose any three current bands to support on a worldwide jaunt, who would they be and why?
Doc: Rammstein, because they blow me away. I have never seen a band that made their audiences erupt like they do. Judas Priest, the one legendary band out there I would most want to support because as a unit they have the best guitar tandem, the greatest vocalist to ever shred your spine, and the tightest rhythm section around. Third, I would love to support ANY of the FM played bands that came out in the last 5 years so I can show them that you can be powerful without screaming like a maniac into a mic and without tuning down a half dozen notes to create artificial power. Power should come from your composition, not playing every song in the identical lowest key possible.
D-Day: We've obviously had an interview with your "head nurse" a while back. Have you two been working on any particular routines for her to do yet?
Doc: Hehehehe….I already know what she will be doing. She doesn’t. It’s all a theatrical part of the show. It’s gonna rock.
D-Day: What's been one of the craziest experiences you've witnessed or been involved in while performing. For example: any looney fan moments, Spinal Tap-like experiences, someone shit their pants onstage, wardrobe or instrument malfunctions, you get the idea.
Doc: Oh man….one in particular I will NEVER forget. When playing a show in LaCrosse Wisconsin with Blacklyst, we opened our show with a song we used to do called “Phoenix Rising” and as we hit our opening note, BOTH guitarists, Jimi Angel and Marshall Neuendorf, both broke strings on the first note. So they both looked at each other in amazement, and the drummer and I just kept right on going as if nothing was wrong and played until they switched guitars. Also I remember playing a show at The Sports Dome, a massive indoor dome outside of Chicago, and as we hit our opening notes we blew the power out of the building. They went ahead and fixed it and we restarted and BANG, power out AGAIN. Finally they got it right and we got through the show. That plus NUMEROUS other things like our old vocalist throwing up all over the dressing room between sets at out first album release party, and watching the manager of the band that played before us on a show we played with WASP bitching his group out because he said that we kicked their ass….all funny as hell.
D-Day: Let's try a multiple choice question.
The Doctor Project is playing a show when suddenly the power goes out leaving the place in darkness. What is your first reaction?
a) Continue to sing acapella
b) Rip a loud fart and blame the Head Nurse
c) Start groping for tits in the first row
d) Take a nap
e) other
Doc: E: Other. I would set the stage on fire and roast marshmellows until they either fixed it or I burned the stage down.
D-Day: How did you come up with the name The Doctor Project?
Doc: Well I have had the nickname “Doctor” since back in school, and have used it for so long that it seemed a natural to make the solo project name out of. “The Doctor’s surgical like precision in his music”.. all that kind of hype that is usually bull.
D-Day: What musical offerings do you have for the fans to hear?
D-Day: Are you currently working on a new album?
Doc: Yep. It’s a MAJOR production, called “Wrath of the Gods” and it is a 12 song tour de force with each song named after a mythical Greek, Norse, Roman, or Egyptian God. The story of each along with a picture will accompany the cd…it’s gonna rock!
D-Day: Are there any shows lined up so far?
Doc: I will have some things set to go very soon. The guitar clinics will begin in Miami in November. From there as soon as the backup band is ready it will be SHOWTIME!!
D-Day: Thank you once again for speaking with us. Any final words for the fans?
Doc: Yup. PLEASE tell everyone about The Doctor…I wanna come operate near YOU!!!!!!!!! And whatever you do, avoid VD. I don’t do prescriptions!
Be sure to visit the links mentioned above!!
