Interview with Mike & Gus of Violent Divine

May 3rd in Stockholm, Sweden

MT: How would you describe your music to someone not familiar with it?

Mike: Glam & Metal

Gus: Yea, some mix of Abba,

Mike: Motley Crue, Judas Priest...

*laughter*

Gus: Yea, we are trying to have some metal ground to stand on with some mix of glam, 70's glam...

Mike: platform shoes, glitter...

Gus: All that, woah, woah, chorus...

Mike: sing along, grab a beer.

MT: How did the band get together?

Gus: Actually, I called Q, our guitarist, and I had a few songs that I wanted to try out in the studio and then we need to have someone to sing the songs, so...

Mike: Guess you couldn't play the drums and the vocals at the same time.

Gus: No, I am not Peter Criss or something.

Mike: That's a shame...ah, well I was just walking on the beach and I had a phone call from Gus saying "hey it's me Gus wanna join the band?" so we rehearsed a couple of times and I played bass and decided I couldn't sing and play bass at the same time so we had to find someone suitable for the job so Klaus was the man for the job.

Gus: Yup.

Mike: Obviously.

Gus: We know each other for a lot of years now. I know Mike for 15 years or something so the choice was pretty obvious.

Mike: I actually played bass in another band with Gus featuring my kid brother on vocals so we go back way long time, brothers in arms.

Gus laughs...

MT: How did you come up with the name of the band?

Mike laughs...

Gus: Ah, well...I have list I collected for awhile. I collected a list of great names and at least I think it is great. And um, when Mike and I had email conversation about it and finally we go to the point Violent Divine. Easy as that.

Mike: I heard Violent Divine was the name of a British prostitute. Wasn't it? **smiles**

Gus: Vio-LET.

Mike: Violet Divine. That was taken so...

Gus: Yes.

MT: Give me one word to describe each of you in the band.

Mike: One word...obsessive.

Gus: Manic, and the other two follow.

Mike: Well Klaus is courageous. Q is...well he is from up north so let's say he is loud. No he's not he's kind, he's like a puppy.

MT: What do you want your fans to get out of your music?

Mike: Well, have fun basically. Grab a beer, enjoy life, don't slice your wrists.

MT: If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be and why?

Mike: I'm thinking...

Gus: Elvis is a good one.

Mike: Elvis? But why?

Gus: Why? Well because it's Elvis.

*laughter*

MT: What band would you like to tour with?

Gus: Motley Crue would be nice.

Mike: Yea, also The Beatles.

MT: If you could be invisible, fly or stop time, which would you be and why?

Mike: Well, I have always wanted to be able to fly and to be invisible. I remember when I was a child I wanted to get back at people who were mean to me and hit me. So I wanted to fly like superman and be invisible.

Gus: Nice.

Mike: That's a nice psychological profile...

*laughter*

Gus: Invisible I think would be a great thing.

Mike: For a rock star?

Gus: No, but for one day or so.

MT: If you could turn it on and off that would be great.

Mike: Yea?

Gus: Cool, just to try it out.

MT: What would you do invisible?

Gus: I don't know actually.

Mike: Locker room?

Gus: Yea, well that. Bank vaults...

MT: Worst habit/best quality?

Mike: Worst habit? Well I used to smoke lots of cigarettes so I think that was my worst habit. Best quality, I always show up on time.

Gus: And I never do so maybe that is my worst habit. I don't even own a watch so I don't like time...

Mike: But you keep time on drums. So that is also your best quality.

Gus: Yea. Time...

MT: What is the craziest thing you have ever done?

Gus: Starting this band is one.

Mike: Recently I think I was tripping over Tin Star of Gemini Five. That was crazy.

Gus: That was a crazy night.

Mike: So they tell me...sorry man.

MT: If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be and why?

Mike: I've always wanted to be tall.

Gus: I want to be short.

*laughter*

Gus: I don't want to change anything. I am pretty happy. Well maybe there is always something you want to change. It depends.

Mike: Thinner, younger, taller...

*laughter*

MT: What do you think about while you are on stage?

Mike: I don't think at all because I am in my own little bubble, just meditating.

Gus: Same here, I try not to think about anything because if you do you...

Mike: Lose timing...

Gus: Yea and kind of lose everything...playing live...

Mike: Rock and roll is a contact sport.

MT: How does it feel when fans tell you how much your music means to them?

Gus: A lot, that is everything.

Mike: I think that is the coolest thing because rock music is something you share with others. We have fun playing, we enjoy the songs and the band and we want to share that so that is the greatest thing. We got all serious...

MT: Ok, so onto the underwear question then. For the girls. Boxers, briefs or nothing at all?

Gus: Briefs? What's briefs?

MT: The short ones.

Gus: Briefs. Yea.

Mike: Cotton.

Gus: Wearing tight jeans all the time, boxers would be like from the 17th century.

*laughter*

MT: If you were a cartoon character who would you be?

Gus: An invisible guy...

Mike: I will be...

Gus: Bart Simpson.

Mike: Bart Simpson? I will be Hobbs because he gets to play naked...on stage (whispers).

MT: Do either of you have any strange habits, phobias or obsessions?

Mike: Yes.

MT: Yes? Nothing you want to share?

Gus: Not phobias.

Mike: I don't like insects and shit. That is not a phobia really. We're from Sweden. Vikings, brave and strong.

MT: What would you be doing if you were not a musician?

Mike: I wouldn't know what to do with myself.

Gus: I couldn't even imagine another way of life. This is it for some reason.

MT: What do you notice first about a woman?

Mike: The eyes.

Gus: I don't know. I don't know actually.

Mike: (whispers) Ass, tits...

Gus: No, that's not it...

Mike: (whispers) Piercings, tattoos...

Gus: No...I don't know actually.

MT: You don't have a preference?

Gus: No, not really.

Mike: Personality?

Gus: Yea, personality is really nice.

Mike: Oh, you are so sweet.

MT: Such a sweet guy.

Gus: Yea, I can't be bad.

*laughter*

MT: Alright why don't you walk me through the song writing process of the band. Every band is different so...

Gus: Most of the time it is me making some ground fundamental for it and doing it in my own studio and I play it all, sing it all and then I send it out to the boys. Then Mike writes the lyrics so it fits his mouth and then we try it out in rehearsal, so...

Mike: And then we know if it is a Violent Divine song.

Gus: Yea and very often we try it live and try it out on people.

Mike: We don't have the time to get together and jam so...

Gus: Nobody like that sort of thing. Rehearsing is good to have something to stand on when you...

Mike: Have discipline, order...

Gus: Yea and the song is already put on demo when the rest of the band can hear it. I have tried it out for myself, for friends, before I send it out to the boys.

Mike: Rehearse online by email.

MT: Any message for your fans?

Mike: Come and meet us...please!

Gus: Buy the record...please!

Mike: Buy us some candy!

Gus: Visit us!

Mike: Hope to see you on tour shortly.