Incubus

An Interview with AMZ's Bushman

Here's a tip for the clueless. Incubus. Take everything you know about the heavy/rap-tinged/DJ sampler effected/hip-hop/metal crossover and chuck it, because Incubus supplies such an intelligent sly tip (with severe jazzy overtones for you anal musician critics) with melody wrapped in an edge blanketed by rhythm. A band that should earn respect even from those not into the style. Fully earning their touring slot with (dramatic pause here) PRIMUS! and heavily supporting their recent (and most excellent) release, "Make Yourself" - I snagged a few minutes of singer Brandon Boyd and guitarist Mike Einziger's before their set in Los Angeles. Very warm individuals the both of them and gave sincere attention. Much respect from myself and No Cover Magazine for their music and their consideration.
Incubus Interview:

Brandon Boyd-vocals/percussion Mike Einziger-guitars

From the catering area -- backstage at the Palladium - Hollywood, CA - Dec. 2nd 1999.

Bushman: There is a website (http://www.enjoyincubus.com/) that you (Brandon) personally lent commentary to and explained some of your song inspirations. Do you normally practice such intimate insight to your work?

Brandon: I enjoy it, first and foremost which is why I do it. For me, I'm saying things in the songs that mean things to me, and I've encountered people who fortunately and strangely enough, it means something to them to which is really cool and flattering and stuff. People will ask me sometimes, "What did you mean right here?" or this and that and sometimes I'll elucidate on certain topics that were specific in the lyric, but most of the time I like for the listener to draw their own interpretations. That's what art is all about. Grabbing your own interpretation from what you see.

Bushman: Do you worry about people misinterpreting your lyrics?

Brandon: I welcome misinterpretation. It's not necessarily a negative thing. Basically what that means is that, that person has the ability to think for themselves and it's not just me telling them things. It's me basically offering and opinion and they can challenge the opinion (and I totally enjoy a challenge of an opinion because they are just merely opinions I'm expressing) or they can draw their own interpretations. It's really cool. I feel very lucky to be able to have the opportunity to do that. To write and be able to talk to people about it.

Bushman: And from said website you offered the following information for anyone who wanted to know: (so here goes)

1. Who is on drugs?

Brandon: We're all on drugs. Caffeine. Aspirin.
Mike: Tobacco.
Brandon. Marijuana.
Mike: And alcohol. None of us do hard drugs. Bad for the health. Bad for the mind. Bad for the body. Bad for the soul.

2. Who's in love?

Brandon: I am.
Mike: I am not.
Brandon: Jose's in love (our drummer). And I think Irk (bass player) is in love.

3. Who spit on who?

Mike: Alex probably spits on Jose.
Brandon: And then Jose spits back. Which is why Jose sets up with his back to Alex?

4. Who'll be running for president in 2012?

Mike: (laughing) None of us. That's a job none of us would want.

Bushman: Who do you think would be a good president now?

Mike: I don't know. I don't think it really matters to be honest. The president has no power to do anything.
Brandon: I'd personally not like there to be a president.

Bushman: How would you foresee a better system?

Mike: It would be so complicated I can't even fathom it. Its like for me to say, "the system's terrible" would be an uneducated statement because when you think about, when you go to any other country, a lot of other countries don't have it as good as we do. That's something I think a lot of people take for granted here. We've traveled to different places and there are some places that are really nice, but some places are complete total shit holes and that's makes me appreciate that fact I get to live in a place as cool as I live in (even though I'm not there most of the time). But I'm not really much of a politician, in order for me to really comment on politics, I'd have to be really well-educated in it, and I'm not. So I can't make a stupid uneducated statement.

Brandon: Anyone who would make a good president, probably wouldn't run because they would know that in running for president, they would have to do so many devious and down low and inhumane things to get to that place. So basically, anyone who gets to be President. There's something fucked up wrong with that situation.

Mike: The governments just an extension of everyday life. Corrupt. Just like people at every job lie, steal and cheat each other to get further in business. It's just like any other business.

Brandon: I'd like to see a situation. Well, it's difficult because so many people are not ready to take responsibility for themselves. I'd like to see a society of people that are self-sufficient and don't need governing bodies to take care of them.
Mike: And that's the fault of the people themselves not the people governing them. If people were all mellow and didn't try to kill each other and shit, there's be no need for any of this.

Brandon: We're not ready for it. My opinion of a Utopian society would be one that didn't have a governing body. Now, there's really no other way for them to do anything but oppress.

(as a police helicopter flies overhead)

Brandon: Speak of the devil.

Mike: Big brother watching over our shoulders.

Bushman: Where did the influence for using the didgeridoo come from?

Brandon: Going to Phish shows and playing in drums circles and stuff like that. (laughs)
Bushman: You went on tour with Korn back in the earlier days of Incubus. Did you see Korn becoming one of the defining sounds of the new jack metal scene?

Mike: (laughing) They fucked the whole thing up for everybody. Every band heard them and just went and stole all their shit.

Brandon: We knew though the first time (we saw them the first time together) with No Doubt at this little college place in Irvine. Everyone knew they were just gonna blow up. Because they were like, "Oh My God. This guy's crazy."

Mike: "That Guy's Scary."

Brandon: "Was he yelling, "Faggot!?"" I remember seeing them (No Doubt) going "Oh My God." The first time we toured with them, they were pretty big.

Mike: It was their second record.

Brandon: So a million people (or more) already knew who they were. But I think Mike is right, they did fuck everything up (in a good way). Literally, every band wants to be Korn.

Bushman: Who's the genius that came up with, "Battlestar Scralatchtica" for a song title?

Brandon: I didn't get to play on the song, so I was like, "You guys gotta let me name it."

Bushman: How big of an influence is Mike Patton on (you) Brandon?

Brandon: Very big. Faith No More was like one of my favorite bands. I think they were one of the coolest rock bands that ever were. They were a big influence on our whole band actually. Them and Mr. Bungle. And from the first Mr. Bungle record, I kinda got into John Zorn projects and stuff like that. And some fun, weird jazz shit from there.

Bushman: How is "Make Yourself" a progression from "S.C.I.E.N.C.E?"

Mike: I think it's an expansion on the more unique side that came out of us on "S.C.I.E.N.C.E." I think there are a few songs on "S.C.I.E.N.C.E." that really kind of define what we did on "Make Yourself." Songs like "Idiot Box" and "Glass," "Favorite Things" -- those songs in particular I think there a lot of hints of uniqueness in those songs and I think "Make Yourself" is really an expansion on those types of sounds. I think its more based on its lyrical content than "S.C.I.E.N.C.E." was and I think we were less concerned with showing off as musicians and more concerned with just making a good album.

Bushman: "If you let them fuck you, there will be no fore play" (from "Make Yourself" -- title track) - There's a reoccurring theme of getting screwed over and enlightening oneself to rise above it. What are some real life factors/incidents that contributed to putting you in that kind of mind set?

Brandon: For instance, we were talking about politics and the prospect of self-sufficiency and not being governed by anybody -- be it religious spiritual government or anything. I believe in nurturing (like the way parents nurture a child and direct them towards a certain personality). My personal goal in being alive is to try and liberate myself from the perils of being governed because I've found them very inhibiting in my life. I wouldn't really be able to name one specific instance that inspired me towards that train of thought. I think that it's just a dream of mine to be able to continually look after myself. Obviously in a realistic way - I have a family, my parents and my friends and we look out for each other and stuff like that. But I don't need someone who I didn't appoint for an authority telling me I'm doing something wrong, when I don't believe that its wrong for myself.

Mike: If you don't want that to happen, there's a fair amount of intelligence that's needed to be able to make it that way. You can't walk around with a gun and not expect to get beat down by police officers. There's certain things you need to be smart about to make everything that's around you work for yourself.

Bushman: What's the Primus experience like?

Mike: It's been fun.

Brandon: Coolest shit ever. They were one of our favorite bands.

Mike: We've been having a jolly romp around the country with them. They're really great guys. They come out and watch us play all the time. And we always come out and watch them, its really fun. Great guys.

Brandon: We take notes while they are playing. (faking to write in notepad) "Oh, that was dope."


Bushman: How has Incubus stayed focused enough to maintain a cohesive unit for nearly a decade?

Brandon: We keep ourselves in check. We've grown up together. A lot of being a successful band, for us, has been in our interpersonal relations. If we can keep it together as friends, the music has always persevered and has come out better. Times when we were not happy with each other (because there are those inevitable times) -- music suffers. So us working on our family relationship, because we are very much a family, the better we get as cohesive friends, the better the music gets. Also, knowing these guys for most of my life helps to.

Bushman: "Make Yourself" features your new DJ, DJ Kilmore (Chris). What has his presence done for the Incubus machine?

Mike: Kilmore is just like an amazing guy. His energy is good. He's just a really cool person. He's just like all of us are and kinda balances everybody out. He just kinda fits the bill. His personality is perfect with us and his role in the music is not to just be a DJ scratching on top of shit. Its almost like you can't even tell there's a DJ. Its almost like we don't want people to know there is a DJ in our band. Because it's such a trendy thing right now that it can almost be perceived as novelty to have a DJ in your band. We got over the novelty aspect, and now its time to be a musician. Forget the turntable and forget the whole image that's attached to being a DJ and the whole hip-hop thing. It's just an instrument.

Brandon: It's about creating good music and from day 1, Kilmore he's brought with him the ability to blend with us and just gel perfectly and create good music with us. Help us create music that we want to hear in our ears. He's actually helped to re-inspire this band. We hit kind of a stale point with our last DJ and it was hard because he was a friend.

Bushman: Are you an optimist or a pessimist for this new century?

Brandon: Optimist.

Mike: I'm always an optimist.

Bushman: What's the biggest problem we face as a country?

Mike: Lack of intelligence for the general public. People bitch and moan about the government, but there is way more shit going on with people living here than with the people running the shit. Turn on fucking Jerry Springier. All those talk shows are very genius actually, because they represent a very good picture of what normal people in this country do.

Bushman: At least that lowest common denominator.

Brandon: Unfortunately, that's the majority.

Mike: These are just people that want to be on television. People do the most screwed up shit to each other. And until people stop doing screwed up shit to each other, you really can't complain about anything.

Bushman: How has your impression of the music industry machine changed as your band has continually become more and more successful on larger scales?
Mike: It's the exact same philosophy we have towards everything. You need to be in a position to where you're making your own decisions. And if you're not, then you need to get out of it.

Brandon: Or you need to be willing to let someone else make all those decisions for you and they might not always be in your best interest. We've been very adamant, for the most part, in taking an active role in what goes on with this situation. And we know we slip up and fuck up here and there and miss certain things (like anyone would) but we like to try and stay on top of things so we're not sort of caught with our pants down so to speak.

Mike: There are a lot of things that we have a lot of control over as a band. The most important aspect of what we do I think is our shows. And that's something that we've always done ourselves. We pick what shows we play. We're in charge of our tours. We're in a position when we signed with a record label, we had gone out and done all these things first without the help of a record label so where we could come in and say, "We did this, and we know it works."

Brandon: "So this is the way we are going to do it." Mike: At least at the very most basic level, we can go out on the road, and at the very least -- people will buy our record after seeing us play and we don't rely on a record company to get us on MTV. We've gotten some radio support for this album, which is totally appreciated.

Brandon: Cable TV loves us. All over the country there's all access TV stations and we've had so much fun with it. Like weird ass kids with too much time on their hands.
Mike: But all that video stuff and radio stuff, that's like bonuses. If we get it, we're really really happy, but we always know we can go out and play shows and that's how we've always done well.

Bushman: When I say "Fucked Up Show" -- what the first thing to come to mind?
Mike: Usually, it's a lot worse for us than anybody else. Most people usually don't notice when we play a fucked up show. Usually its because our DJ's shit's falling off the stage or the sound on stage is so atrocious that none of us can even play together. Starting to play before they open the doors to the venue. We've been in every situation you can think of. We played in a 20,000-seat arena in front of like 200 people. Its almost eerie when they shut the lights our in this massive arena and you hear like 10 people clapping. You gotta go through that shit though. Builds character.

Bushman: What's the biggest sacrifice you've had to make to sustain your musical ambitions?

Mike: Living at home. Or at least living in A home.

Brandon: The comforts of the normality of being in one place and being able to keep certain relationships working successfully and keeping in touch with your friends. It gets cut in like half. It takes a lot of getting used to.

Bushman: What does Incubus fear?

Brandon: I'm afraid of being pigeonholed into lot of bands that sound just like us or we sound just like them.

Mike: I don't like being judged on a personal level by people that don't know me.
Brandon: "Your band sux. So you suck."

Bushman: Who is a Sinner?

Mike: I think we all are.

Brandon: I am the devil.

Mike: We are hedonists.

Bushman: Who is a Saint?

Mike: We're all Saints too.

Bushman: What is the coolest?

Mike: Billy Madison.

Brandon: Yea, Billy Madison I'd have to say.

Bushman: What is the lamest?

Mike: There are a lot of things that are lame, but I don't spend much time thinking about them.

Brandon: No gum allowed in the Palladium. That's the lamest.

Bushman: Messages to the masses?

Brandon: Eat vegetables. Read books. And go surfing.

Mike: Don't be afraid to be a nerd.

Brandon: Nerds get more stuff done and chicks dig'em.

Mike: Did you ever watch, "Revenge of the Nerds?" What happens? Louis gets Betty. Betty Childs. And she's a hottie. And She dumped Stan Gable.

I did manage to catch most of the Incubus set (as usual press hassles found me with a photo pass, but lack of tickets so getting BACK into the Palladium was a chore we don't need to go into detail over). Other than publicists generally suck and don't take care of their end, and venues most always suck (for press -- they seem to view us as self-important nonpaying leeches that are "in the way"). So no live pictures. I know I had a photo pass -- but the Palladium is such a special place, seems one needs a photo pass for EACH band. And since I had missed the first 3 songs they usually allow for pictures arguing with door security that the photo pass WAS my ticket (duh), my Incubus photo pass was now basically a souvenir.

The Palladium layout itself is cool. HUGE half circle of open area and some balcony space above that along the back wall. The place was packed and response was large for the Incubus jams. Primus was the immaculate band they always are (Les was sporting Red Sparkle crash helmet and pig mask) and had most the floor holding down that Primus - pogo -- bounce that anyone whose attended a Primus show would recognize. Buckethead opened before Incubus, and although I didn't catch his set, I'm sure it was as brilliant as the rest of the night's music. Primus is an old friend, but Incubus is the fresh set and delivered even more with the live goods.