An interview back from autumn '96:

?Here in Germany, Mephisto Walz is often mentioned together with certain other bands as "The Christian Death-Bunch". How much does your past still influence you when writing music now - and, do you have close contacts to other ex-members of Xian Death?

Bari:I don't feel that there is any connection musically anymore, but David Glass and Johann Schuman have been a part of Mephisto Walz for about the last four years. David still has some contact with Gitane and Johann with Eva O. and Rozz. Mephisto Walz has been going for ten years now thru many changes but the original feeling about the type of music we make has stayed the same.

? In the last time, we havn't seen much now songs by you here, but only Best-Of Compilations and different/new versions of older songs. Will there be anything new by you next year? 

Bari: Yes, we are now working on the next full release (all new) titled "Insidious". It should be completed by the first half of 1997. Should be available from Cleopatra and Discordia. This is our (for us) long awaited work. We finally have the time to do this one the way we want to. So it is taking a little longer to finish. It should be the most perfect yet extreme vision of what we see our music as.

?In the USA, the goth-/deathrock-scene seems to be very separated. There are bands which just seem to be into the theatralic aspect of the music, like London After Midnight, there are some with very satanic lyrics, and some which are obviously brave christians (like Eva O.). To which group would you count yourself, and what do you think is it that holds such different people into one scene? 

Bari: I don't think I want to be considered aprt of all that. I think we rose beyond all that six or seven years ago. Satanic and vampyre poetry is so pathetic, it is a subject that was meant more for serious fiction writers, not bands dressed up gothic for their big night at some club. Sorry to all you out there in Goth-Land but I don't think that is what goth is about.

? Can you tell a bit about your experiences in Germany (...) ? 

Bari: Uh, where to start is the problem. We've toured/lived in Germany and other parts of Europe for a long time. The club/concert scene is more receptive to us there (though america has opened up again) and we enjoy much of what we have been thru there. But after all this time it is nice to be back in California. We still come over to Europe every once and awhile when we can...some festivals and such, and we still enjoy it.

?What is your motivation for making music? 

Bari: It's a little thrilling when it comes into existence from basically nowhere. So it's a repitition of that initial thrill. It's also quite a bit of an attempt to make something new, something never heard before. It's also great to hear something you did years ago with some pride and wonder what kind of mood; what you were thinking at that moment when you wrote that/recorded that.

? What's currently on your CD-Player? 

Bari: Baroque, Irish (traditional and Cranberries) No Doubt. But mostly nothing that is similar or in the same world as our music. It just wears you down by doing that...like watching american television every day of your life.

? You covered two very classical rock'n roll-songs, one by the Stones, and one by Iggy Pop. What means Rock'n Roll to you? 

Bari: I really don't know what rock and roll is anymore. We recorded both of those covers when we were in Germany and had been away from home for too long. It was kind of a nostalgia thing. Plus we could do those songs (which were very dark for their time) our way and change things a bit, especially Painted Black ( which was renamed from Paint It Black for legal reasons as we felt that it had very little connection with the stones version.).

?When can we expect to see you on tour again? 

Bari: Not for quite awhile, we have a new baby on the way and it's too hard to play at this time. We may be able to get around at the end of 1997 to support the new release.

? Anything else you would like to say? 

Bari: Hello to all our following from everyone here, and the best is yet to come from us!

Home | Software | Artwork | Coding | Music | Support | Links | About Me | e-mail

Unless otherwise stated, all graphics & software (c) Björn Ischo 1997-2000