After a stirring performance, Scoob had a chance to catch up with Valient Thorr who said "Hey man, I'm tired - send me an e-mail and we'll do an interview that way."
RV: How was your experience at the Troubador, Aug 15 and how do you think the show went?
VT: Show was awesome... Just saw that someone posted an apology online that people werent more active... I thought it was great... Sure there have been more intense shows, but i think that the energy on and off the stage was peaking the entire set... It was good stuff...
RV: Your vocal style sounds like a mix of hardcore, rap, James Brown and nonstop energy. How did you acquire this style?
VT: Hmmm... that's an interesting assessment. I get the james brown... I can even see the hardcore... I think the rap part is a stretch... haha.. I dont know... I am a firm believer that we are a product of our own experiences. So i guess all the different things you get from my "vocal style" comes from all the different influences that have soaked into my person over the years.
RV: What is your favorite color?
VT: Sometimes orange, sometimes green.
RV: What do you like to eat on the road?
VT: Recently, ive become very conscience about eating and living a healthy lifestyle. So all those delicious things that i love like bbq and cheeseburgers are not part of my diet at this time. I'm into really fresh fruits and veggies, and very excited about trying healthy delicious alternatives to these things.
RV: How long did it take to grow that extraordinary beard?
VT: Not as long as you'd think. the key to an amazing beard, is to leave your face alone. you have to let a beard be born. You have to give it nine months to be born. A good full beard takes a little less than 2 years.
RV: What tv show (old or new) would you compare the band to?
VT: ??? hmmm... I dont know. I'd say mystery science theater 3000.
RV: If you could perform a song written by the band with a female pop star, who would it be?
VT: Lemme think. well, i know that I love the girl from squirrel nut zippers voice... her name is Katherine Whalen. I also love Zooey Deschanel's voice. But i'm not sure if their vocal style would fit with our music. I think that I could do a song with their styles though. Something in a Lee Hazelwood or a Tom Waits style... a female who could sing a song with our band??? Maybe this isnt a pop singer, but how about Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, or Ida No from Glass Candy. I think both of them would work. No actual pop star would work or even want to do it for that matter.
RV: What should fans be expecting from the band for the rest of this year and into next year?
VT: Well, we have a dvd coming out of a movie about our last 5 years on the road. It's called "IN HEAT" and it comes out November 4th. We have this Motorhead/Misfits/Airbourne/VT/Year Long Disaster tour in September. We'll have to see what's shaking for oct/nov/and dec.... we shall see.
RV: Donny Osmond or Danny Bonaduce?
VT: Wait, for what? to hang with, to party with? Their contributions to this society? I mean... I'd say ol Danny Bonaduce pretty much beats Donny O on all levels... But he's pretty fucked up. I guess im just picking him on hair color alone.
RV: What kind of nonmusical goals would you like to accomplish at some point in your life?
VT: I have already accomplished many goals, but i think that you shouldn't just stop there, i think you should keep raising the bar higher. I have a master's degree in fine arts, and i think i'd like to do an art book someday. I'd like to publish some of my poetry, as well as some other literary ideas... It would be rad to be a part of directing a movie sometime. There are many things id like to do. we'll see what happens.
RV: Who influenced you growing up to do what you are doing now?
VT: Bon Scott, James Brown, Mark Mothersbaugh, Jim Morrison
RV: What's in your cd player right now?
VT: Frank Black, Fela Kuti, Wanda Jackson, Testament, Gram Parsons
RV: What was the last movie you saw?
VT: Waw a few flixx in the last few days... Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder, and I watched Funny Games, Resident Evil Extinction and Planet Terror on DVD.
RV: What type of books do you read?
VT: Loads. right now, i just finished a graphic novel by Grant Morrison called The Filth, and i just picked up Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.
