Here’s an interview I did with the guitarist of PRO-PAIN, Tom, while they came through Houston touring with VOI VOID and CRISIS. I wasn’t able to ask more questions since all the bands were packing and gathering up their gear after the show, but none the less, an interview with PRO-PAIN......
VOID OF TOLERANCE-So, you’ve been on this tour for quite some time now,
did you tour elsewhere prior to this?
PRO-PAIN-I think we’re entering the fourth week of this tour, I think
it totals 60+ shows. We got back from Europe around three or four months
ago, we did about 35-40 shows over there, including a lot of the festivals.
Actually we kicked off the tour at the Dynamo Festival, then went and did
a whole tour by doing the summer festivals. I’ve noticed over there is
Europe it’s a little harder to put a tag on the shows over there, compared
to ones here in the States, but there’s a lot of strong markets over there
where a band like PRO-PAIN is accessable. We made it in the top 50 for
record sales for Contents Under Pressure and it seems the market
is a little more willing to accept heavy music. There seems to be a little
stronger loyalty, cus people are still listening to ANVIL and all the old
school Metal bands. They still have a following over there, so they tend
to listen for fifteen years rather then a couple of years and then forget
about the band. So, in a way it’s a stronger market, however as of late,
the markets been flooded. Everyone realized Germany is the place to go
to do some business and everyone went, and it’s starting to collapse the
scene.
VOT-You mentioned earlier about old school bands and one band that I
listened to back in the 80’s was CRUMBSUCKERS. Could you tell me, if you
know, of what happened from CRUMBSUCKERS to PRO-PAIN?
TOM-Let me tranform here for a second (he pauses to take a hit off
a joint). The CRUMBSUCKERS released two records and by the end of the second
record and by the end of touring that record, it came to a point where
the band was going in different directions for each of the members. As
I understand, as it was told to me, it got to the point where it wasn’t
going to be the CRUMBSUCKERS vibe anymore, so they called it quites. Then
Gary & who is the founding, original member of PRO-PAIN formed another
band which was a little more commercial and a little more Pop oriented.
They did that for a while and they had a record deal with that. Then sort
of the same thing that happened with the CRUMBSUCKERS happened to that
band. They ended up not getting it to go through and getting it to work,
so they threw that away, then Gary figured it was a good time to get back
into the heavy music, so they started PRO-PAIN.
VOT-Let’s talk about Contents Under Pressure, what was the feeling
like during the recording of it?
TOM-Just like the title actually! It was a real pressured situation
becasue we really didn’t have a whole lot of time, and we took it upon
ourselves to leave the studio we had booked and take it and record it in
our living room. We took the record budget money and threw some of it into
recording gear. It was a really, really rough time, because me and Robb
were living in the house we recording in were hurting for money. There
wasn’t any to go around and we had to record this record. It really is
a well titled record because it was tough getting through it, but when
we were done with it, it was, by far, our proudest effort. There’s something
about scrapping through the cushions of your couch to find money to buy
toilet paper that brings out a certain edge in the music and I think it
really get captured on this record. When I listen to it, it brings me right
back there, it’s funny how it works. I hope some people can catch that
vibe off there.
VOT-So what do you see next for PRO-PAIN?
TOM-We’re planing on going to Europe in January. After that we have
an opportunity to tour America again, or go to South America, Japan, and
Australia. And that looks pretty appealing. And after that we’ll probably
start doing the new record. From there, if we survive,....I’ll be happy.
VOT-Anything else?
TOM-No, that just about does it. We’re at that stage where we feel
most comfortable. PRO-PAIN has never had this solid a line-up and this
comfortable situation. It’s a really good time for the band and I think
it’s reflected in the shows.
VOT-I guess that will be it, don’t wanna take up too much time. Thanks!
TOM-Excellent! Thanks and send me a copy.
ENERGY RECORDS, 545 Eigth Ave., 17th Fl., New York, NY 10018, USA.