Interview with Steve Tucker (06.2000)

from http://www.multimania.com/darkwave

Q - "Formulas Fatal To The Flesh" presented the new Morbid Angel singer Steve Tucker. How did the fans react to your sing ? What did you bring to the Morbid Angel music in comparison with David Vincent ? Personally, I find your vocals are deeper and more brutal than those of David Vincent....
S. T. : There were mixed reactions really, some fans thought that was the only way that I could sing, but to be honest , the way I sung On FFF was the way I was asked to sing .....

Q - Trey and you are the 2 song writers of the band. How is the collaboration about the lyrics 'cause Trey is very influenced by the Lovecraft's world ? Is it the same thing for you ?
S. T. : I am influenced by everything that I have ever seen ,read or talked about in my life, Lovecraft is somewhat of a literal influence , but so are many writers!!!!

Q - I think Trey likes the Mozart music. How does he include this in the Morbid Angel music ?
S. T. : There is a definate fluidness to Morbid Angel's music ,very classically influenced, if you listen to a song like Ageless ,Still I Am you will here it, there are different instruments doing different parts to cause an overall melody or feel .... Or the flow of a song like Rapture is very classically influenced..

Q - 3 members composed "Formulas Fatal To The Flesh" but Erik Rutan came back in Morbid Angel few months ago. What did he participate to the song writing of your new CD "Gateways To Annihilation" ?
S. T. : Erik wrote the music to God of the Forsaken and Awakening... We are happy to have him back as a full time member ,I feel he is invaluable!!!!

Q - Personally, Erik gives an more technical with more complex riffs to your compositions in comparison with your previous compositions....
S. T. : That is a reason he is in the band ,it adds yet another element to the song writing, we want to be the best band that we can possibly be!!

Q - "Gateways To Annihilation" seems to be more technical but also heavier and more aggressive than "Formulas Fatal To The Flesh"...
S. T. : hahaha I think FFF was very aggressive, but I will take that as a compliment for the Gateways....
I think the main difference between the two records is the fact that this is much more of a band record therefore more diverse.....

Q - Your previous CD was very inspired by the Lovecraft's world. Is it the same thing with "Gateways To Annihilation" ? What are the concepts that you develop in your songs ?
S. T. : the concepts of each song are different, they are real events put into fictional scenarios, but there is the constant underlying concept of ,individual spirituality, and limitless opportunity..

Q - Do you develop again some satanic or evil ideology in your lyrics like in the past or do you develop only Lovecraft aspects ?
S. T. : HAHAH you are very into this idea of Lovecraft !!!! Bro, evil is a very vague term, to a christian ,I am extremely evil!!! I think for myself, that is not allowed in their world, But I don't feel limited to their world , it has no influence on me at all .. so yes ,I think to a lot of people we are very evil , yet I see them as evil!!!!!!

Q - Could you tell us more about the song "I" ? What is the signification of this "I" ? Do you consider you as a supreme human by the title of the song ?
S. T. : the song has nothing to do with either me or being human ,and No I do not feel like I am superhuman, though I do feel limitless...

Q - In 1994, Morbid Angel released a mini CD with the Serbian band Laibach. It must be strange to mix death-metal music and industrial music ? Why did you not develop this mix in your compositions and in your albums after this mini CD ?
S. T. : I believe it was something that David wanted to do , we have no interest in being an industrial band, we are a death metal band and proud of it!!!

Q - One of the feature of the Morbid Angel is all your albums begin by a "special" letter and each next CD continues in this way, more precisely, your first album begin by the letter "A", your second "B", your third "C"... and now "Gateways To Annihilation" by "G". How do you explain this ? Is it a game for Morbid Angel ? I think your next CD begin by the letter "H"....
S. T. : It is a Morbid Angel tradition to do the records alphabetically , and yes it will definitely continue...

Q - It seems you are very excellent relations with the English label Earache 'cause since the beginning of the band, you work with them. Can you imagine Earache without Morbid Angel and Morbid Angel without Earache ?
S. T. : earache is fine, they do their job and we sell records therefore we get along well!!!!
Well, we would do records whether with earache or without, we are not dependent upon them..

Q - In few weeks, you will joint Pantera for their upcoming tour in USA. How do you see this tour for Morbid Angel ? What are the reasons for which you join the power-metal band for their tour ? Pantera seems to be interested by the extreme metal 'cause they done another tour with Satyricon and now with Morbid Angel....
S. T. : We look at this tour as an opportunity to expose a lot of people to deathmetal, and what better way to first see deathmetal than Morbid Angel ?? As for Pantera's interest, ask them , I am not going to try to make an assumption!!

Q - After this tour, you'll be present to the X-Mass Festival Tour with Children Of Bodom, Hypocrisy... in December. Could you tell us more about this tour ? I think the tour will be only for Europe ? What do you wait about this new tour ?
S. T. : Yes, it is 10 shows in europe and I think it will be great!! I look forward to seeing Hypocrisy ,and The Crown have toured with us before and they are very cool guys ,so the tour should be a good one....

Q - Thanks for your time, the last words will be yours....
S. T. : thanks for the interview , enjoy the new cd, see you on tour!!!