Scorpio: Hello, Gary! Are you calling from the USA?
Gary: Yes, I am.
Scorpio: Oh, what time is it right now in the USA?
Gary: It's 1 p.m. (11 p.m. in Chernivtsi - auth.)
Scorpio: How are you, Gary? How did you celebrate Christmas and New Year?
Gary: Oh, New Year — I didn't do anything. For Christmas I just stayed at home with my girlfriend and my two daughters.
Scorpio: I wanted to ask about Rick's lost guitar. How did it happen?
Gary: We played a show in Munster, Germany. One of the security people at the club stole it. He took it from the backstage area after the show and put the guitar into a waiting car.
Scorpio: And do you know anything about it now?
Gary: No, nothing. We haven't heard anything yet.
Scorpio: You're also a guitarist — has something similar ever happened to your guitar?
Gary: No, never. If that happened, I'd kill somebody.
Scorpio: Heh, so you keep an eye on your guitar and don't let anybody touch it.
Gary: Oh, absolutely!
Scorpio: OK, and now about your newest album, "Tempo Of The Damned". You were going to release it a year ago — why did you push the release date back?
Gary: You know, we started recording later than expected and it took longer to finalize the album and stuff like that, plus finding a label. We were also thinking about whether to release it early this year or around Christmas. But Christmas isn't a good time to release an album, so we pushed the release date back.
Scorpio: And you dedicated it to Paul, right?
Gary: Yes, yes.
Scorpio: And what will we hear on the new record?
Gary: It's a crushing classic EXODUS record in the vein of "Bonded By Blood".
Scorpio: So, thrash till death, yeah?
Gary: Absolutely!
Scorpio: And have you shot any promotional videos for the new tracks?
Gary: Yeah, we've done two. The first one will be ready soon. We did it for War Is My Shepherd. You'll see an aircraft carrier in the video. And the second one we shot for Throwing Down — we filmed it in a rehearsal room. They both came out looking killer!
Scorpio: OK, we'll see. Do you already have ideas for a follow-up to "Tempo Of The Damned"?
Gary: Yeah, you're right. I already have some ideas.
Scorpio: And are you going on tour to support the new album?
Gary: We have some shows coming up very soon, then summer festivals with some shows in between. We're also looking for more places to tour.
Scorpio: And are you going to visit russia?
Gary: Yeah, it would be great!
Scorpio: Cool!
Gary: Yes, you know, it's not just an option — we have to.
Scorpio: How do you think — was last year, 2003, successful for thrash metal?
Gary: Maybe, but I think 2004 is gonna be the big year. I mean, our album is coming out, DEATH ANGEL is in the studio right now finishing up, TESTAMENT will be in the studio soon. 2004 is going to be a really big year!
Scorpio: And what was the best thrash metal album of the previous year?
Gary: I'm not sure what stuff came out last year. I think THE HAUNTED "One Kill Wonder" is cool.
Scorpio: And do you like METALLICA's "St. Anger"?
Gary: Yeah, actually. I don't like the drums, but I like the record.
Scorpio: Aha, everybody says the drums sound like shit, like saucepans.
Gary: Yeah, they sound like kitchen pots and pans.
Scorpio: Gary, was it a big loss for you when Kirk Hammett left EXODUS and joined METALLICA?
Gary: No, we were happy for him, and it put me in the driver's seat to take EXODUS where I wanted.
Scorpio: And has he ever wanted to come back?
Gary: No, I don't think so, heh. I think he's making a few dollars over there now.
Scorpio: And when will you release your first DVD?
Gary: Probably around the end of the year. We'll put it together with the upcoming concert videos and the old ones, I think.
Scorpio: You signed a deal with Nuclear Blast last year. Do you like your new label?
Gary: Yes, we love it! I mean, that's the best place we could have signed a deal.
Scorpio: And do you like movies?
Gary: Oh, absolutely.
Scorpio: And have you heard about the latest movie with Russell Crowe — "Master And Commander"?
Gary: No, I haven't.
Scorpio: You know, Tony Dolan from British thrash metal...
Gary: Oh, yeah, yeah, I remember. Actually, Jaap at Nuclear Blast — Tony Dolan sent him a poster, it was a picture with him on it, and he circled it like "This is me, right here!" I saw that poster.
Scorpio: You know, I did an interview with Tony and he told me about the film, so I went to the cinema.
Gary: Is it good?
Scorpio: Yeah, great film with warships, sea battles, storms.
Gary: Cool!
Scorpio: And maybe you'd like to act in a movie one day?
Gary: Right now I don't have enough time for that, heh. Maybe some day.
Scorpio: And what kind of film should it be?
Gary: I don't know, maybe a good serial killer movie.
Scorpio: And the soundtrack would be by EXODUS, yeah?
Gary: Absolutely!
Scorpio: And what can you say about your free time?
Gary: In my free time I really don't do much, heh. I just stay home with my girlfriend and my daughters. I take care of my reptiles, snakes.
Scorpio: And what other pets do you have? Maybe a dog or a cat?
Gary: No, no dog, no cat. Two pythons and an Australian water dragon.
Scorpio: So, only exotic animals.
Gary: Yeah, yeah.
Scorpio: And what about other creepy things, like spiders?
Gary: No, I'm not a friend of spiders.
Scorpio: Now I'll name four American bands and you say a few words about each of them, OK?
Gary: Sure.
Scorpio: METALLICA.
Gary: They are the kings. They're the fuckin' biggest band on the planet.
Scorpio: MEGADETH.
Gary: Another great band. I've heard they're doing a new album, and I've heard it's gonna be really fast and heavy.
Scorpio: ANTHRAX.
Gary: Old friends, good band. I'm glad to see them back, doing good work. We'll actually play some festivals together this summer, so it'll be fun.
Scorpio: EXODUS.
Gary: Best thrash in the world!
Scorpio: Heh! Now, let's leave the bands and move on to drinks — my drink questionnaire. First — water, a few words about it.
**
**Gary: Heh. You need it to live.
Scorpio: Milk.
Gary: Good with cookies, heh.
Scorpio: Tea.
Gary: I don't really drink much tea, just occasionally.
Scorpio: Coffee.
Gary: Every day.
Scorpio: To wake up?
Gary: Oh yeah!
Scorpio: Coca-Cola.
Gary: I like it and drink a lot, but it's actually not good for you.
Scorpio: Next, beer.
Gary: I don't really drink it when I'm at home, but on tour I like to have a few beers.
Scorpio: Wine.
Gary: All the time.
Scorpio: And what kind of wine — white or red?
Gary: Red.
Scorpio: Champagne.
Gary: I don't really drink much of it — I get a headache.
Scorpio: Whiskey.
Gary: Never!
Scorpio: Vodka.
Gary: Oh, love it. Ha-ha!
Scorpio: A traditional russian drink.
Gary: Absolutely, heh!
Scorpio: And what do you know about russia?
Gary: A little bit, you know. The Hermitage and other stuff like that. Actually, I'm looking forward to hopefully getting to st. petersburg so I can visit the Hermitage.
Scorpio: So you like visiting different places around the world with sightseeing.
Gary: Yeah, absolutely. I've visited Rome and London with my family.
Scorpio: And what about Egypt?
Gary: Oh, I'd love to see Egypt, but I haven't been there. It's not so safe right now for tourists, especially Americans, you know.
Scorpio: And which bands are your best friends?
Gary: I'm good friends with DEATH ANGEL, NUCLEAR ASSAULT. We make friends all the time — new friends like GRAVE, MORTICIAN, MARDUK.
Scorpio: So, we could say that if you do a gig with a band, you become friends.
Gary: Yeah, we're easy to get to know.
Scorpio: And what about tour stories?
Gary: Tour stories? My whole life is one big tour story, heh.
Scorpio: And what about jokes?
Gary: Oh, many jokes — the kind of humor where you had to be there to understand, heh.
Scorpio: Peter from HYPOCRISY... Do you know that band?
Gary: Yeah, one of my favourite bands.
Scorpio: Cool. So, he told me that they put honey on stage, so the musicians just stick to the floor.
Gary: Ha-ha-ha! That's nasty.
Scorpio: And they also put soap on the floor, so band members can't move.
Gary: Heh! Let's do it!
Scorpio: Yeah! And maybe you know some other jokes.
Gary: Oh, just on our last tour — we had lunch on MORTICIAN's snare drum and we had a poker game on stage during the NUCLEAR ASSAULT set.
Scorpio: Heh. How many more years are you going to perform?
Gary: Till I can't do it anymore.
Scorpio: And will we see EXODUS on stage in 2020?
Gary: Maybe, you know, heh. We'll see!
Scorpio: And what can you say about bands like DEEP PURPLE? You know, they continue to release new albums.
Gary: Yeah, but it's not really DEEP PURPLE anymore without Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord.
Scorpio: And do you like Blackmore's new project — BLACKMORE'S NIGHT?
Gary: Yeah, I think it's great.
Scorpio: That acoustic medieval music.
Gary: Uh-huh, I love that stuff.
Scorpio: And what do you think about the title of the latest DEEP PURPLE album — "Bananas"?
Gary: Heh, I don't know what to say about that, heh.
Scorpio: I haven't heard it either, but maybe the old men are going crazy?
Gary: I don't know, but with a name like that for the album, I don't want to have it.
Scorpio: Maybe their next album will be called, I don't know, "Oranges"?
Gary: Yeah, "Pineapples," heh!
Scorpio: Aha, yeah! And what is your favourite fruit?
Gary: Er... hmm. I don't know, I like all of them. Um, bananas, heh!
Scorpio: Heh! And what food do you like?
Gary: Steak. Steak is good.
Scorpio: And all that McDonald's fast food stuff?
Gary: No, I don't like it much.
Scorpio: And what do you think about the politicians in the USA and about your president?
Gary: He's a dummy. They're all big dummies and assholes.
Scorpio: And do you know the russian politician Zhirinovsky?
Gary: I don't know about your politicians, but I guess they're assholes too.
Scorpio: You know, he's like a joker. He also called George Bush a "shitty cowboy."
Gary: He is. Ha-ha-ha! He is a big stupid cowboy!
Scorpio: What are your interests, hobbies?
Gary: Just reptiles.
Scorpio: And what about prehistoric reptiles — dinosaurs?
Gary: Yeah, I loved dinosaurs when I was a kid, and I still have quite an interest in them.
Scorpio: You know, me too. I collected those toy gummy dinosaurs.
Gary: Yeah, I also have many dinosaur toys and stuff like that.
Scorpio: It would be quite interesting to be a paleontologist.
Gary: Yeah, it must be cool.
Scorpio: And did you dream of finding dinosaur bones when you were a kid?
Gary: Oh yeah, certainly.
Scorpio: And what about sports?
Gary: Football. American football.
Scorpio: And what's your favourite team?
Gary: San Francisco 49ers.
Scorpio: And who is the champion now?
Gary: That will be decided this Sunday. It'll be a match between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers.
Scorpio: You know, I've only heard the names. American football isn't popular here in Europe — soccer is the king of sports here.
Gary: Yeah, I know, heh.
Scorpio: And do you like soccer?
Gary: Yeah, I like it. I watch big soccer events like the World Cup.
Scorpio: And what about ice hockey?
Gary: I don't watch a lot of hockey myself. Some other guys from the band do.
Scorpio: And does music bring you enough money so you don't have to find another job?
Gary: Yes, that's all I do.
Scorpio: How do you feel about it — is it cool when a musician earns money with his music?
Gary: Yes, of course.
Scorpio: And what do you think about people who say, "I make music just for myself and I don't need money for it"?
Gary: Of course you should make music for yourself — I make music for myself — but I also have to pay bills.
Scorpio: All people need money.
Gary: Absolutely, everyone needs to eat.
Scorpio: And everyone tries to find the best way to earn money, and the best is when your hobby becomes your job.
Gary: Absolutely!
Scorpio: Final words...
Gary: I'm tired of accidentally becoming away sometimes. 2004 — we're looking forward to it. Get ready, we're gonna do it and fuck everything up.