Elliott is back again, this time to present an interview with MAX CAVALERA from SOULFLY in which they talk about everything from Max’s obsessive-compulsive disorder issues to the spiritual references within his newest album “Ritual” that was released on October 19th of last year. The album is the band’s eleventh effort to date and it has been received by fans with positive reviews, described as having elements of their earlier records.
When asked if he had a vision on what God would look like in physical form, Max said it would look like LEMMY because “Lemmy is God.” Then he went on to tell this funny story about when he met him while on their first European tour with SEPULTURA:
“I met him in ’89 on our first European tour and we were in some pub in England and he was playing the little machine-things that he does. And I was a little Brazilian kid at that time, touring for the first time. And I went to bug him like an idiot, you know? ‘Hey man! I’m from Brazil! I love MOTORHEAD!’ and all that. He’s like ‘Leave me alone, kid. I’m trying to play this machine, here.’ And I went back to our table…I did some more shots…got more courage, came back and bugged him again. And then he just didn’t say anything. He just grabbed the whole whiskey he was drinking and poured it over my head. That was kind of his ‘LEAVE ME ALONE’ sign, ya know? And I went back to the table and told all the other guys in the band: ‘I just got baptized by Lemmy! I’m good! I’m not gonna wash my hair for a month!’ And I probably didn’t.”
When asked what his vision of Hell was, Max answered with the following:
“Well, my idea of Hell is kind of like…growing up in Brazil there was a lot of police violence, ya know? Brazil is third world so it’s very poor and there’s a lot of crime. And I remember being very scared of the cops when I was a kid. I was more scared of the cops than Satan. I used to say ‘We’re more scared of the police than we are of the devil.’ So I think that’s my idea of Hell, is like that, ya know? Police oppression. It’s horrible, man. Some of that stuff that happens.”
And while on the topic of the spiritual nature of some of the songs on “Rituals”, Max brought up the death of his son-in-law, Dana:
“I definitely believe in spirits. Ya know, for sure. Because many things that happened when Gloria lost her son, my stepson Dana…a lot of crazy stuff happened in our house. And I know that was him letting us know that he was around, ya know? And that’s really cool. Like, people are afraid of ghosts but I took it as the opposite so I was like ‘Man this is cool. He’s letting us know that he’s alright and that he’s with us. His spirit is with us.’ And even the name SOULFLY comes from that. A tribal belief from tribes that when you’re making music, your ancestors’ souls are flying around you.”
The full video interview by Little Punk People can be seen at the link below.
Elliott also spoke with vocalist Maurizio Iacono of the opening band KATAKLYSM in his tour bus and that interview can also be seen below. Highlights include Maurizio’s strange haunting experience while in a motel on a past tour, his reflection on the metal scene from back in the 80’s and more.
SOULFLY and KATAKLYSM are currently on tour together with INCITE. Their next show up is at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City on Monday, February 11th. See them at one of the dates listed at the link below:
THANKS!!!
