AMZ - How are most of your fans reacting to an album and concert this different? Mortiis - (Pondering) Positively I hope. It's been a while since my last CD - 3 1/2 years. The disc was just released in Europe when I headed over here for the tour (which started in August). So, I don't know what is going on in Europe. Add to that the fact that the album was obviously delayed here, so I'm doing a tour for an album that doesn't even exist yet. It just came out a couple of days ago in North America - 10/19. (Mortiis gives a shrug as if to say "What can you do?") It's beyond my power and it's a bit frustrating. It's been pretty intense, he adds diplomatically. AMZ - I've seen your tour schedule and it looks pretty hectic. You must be looking forward to going home. Mortiis - Well, in a way. We had some cancellations so we got our rare days off now and then. AMZ - Speaking of cancellations, I read about the FSU incident in Tallahassee. How do you feel about the school administration relying on biased articles, instead of investigating themselves? Mortiis - It's free publicity! You know when that stuff happens it's kinda controversial. People say "Ah, Mortiis got canceled in Tallahassee because they were afraid of threats and violence." What? So we use that as free publicity. People pick up on that. They read about it, and even though they might not pick up the, CD they'll think "Mortiis, so another one of those damn freaks." Which I like, I mean I thrive on that stuff. I think it's great. (Grinning) I like everything that is untraditional and and controversial. I hate numb, dull people and stuff like that. It's plain boring really. AMZ - Do you use the fantastic rumors about you in the same capacity? Mortiis - I think they create a lot of question marks. Like, who the hell is this guy, what is he doing and did he really kill his mother? AMZ - What path did you take to this creative door you've stepped through? Mortiis - I don't know, it just opened I guess. I never wrote any of the music for the other bands I was in. I was just a member playing an instrument. I would say it opened naturally as I progressed. I got more ideas. You know your stuff better the more you do it. That way you see other possibilities for music and how to work your instruments. Other than that I don't actually know, but naturally I hope. Well (grins) it IS natural, because you cant force inspiration. When you do it becomes a total product. AMZ - And this naturally leads to the eternal sell out debate. When does it stop being a passion and start becoming a job? Mortiis - You just answered your own question really. That is when it becomes something you do for money and not because you enjoy it even a little bit. That is when I consider it to be a sell-out - when you sign a multi-million dollar deal just because of the money and you don't have a clue about what you're gonna do. You just do what they tell you to do, just because they are giving you money. On the other hand, you can sign with Warner Bros. and that doesn't have to be a sell-out as long as you are doing your own music. In this business if you want to make a lot of money get a job (he jokes). AMZ - I have been told to expect a very visual and theatrical show. Is this the next step in music or is it just something that goes with the Stargate? Mortiis - With me the visuals and music goes hand in hand. I couldn't imagine one without the other. I totally like the entertainment. I grew up with KISS and Alice Cooper and all that stuff. How can I do anything else? Entertainment and music is all the same thing to me. You pay ten dollars for a show, you wanna go up there and you wanna think "This is a great show." You wanna see the whole half hour, forty-five minutes, whatever and not just go up to the bar after fifteen minutes. I see people do that at my shows too, but what can I do? I do feel that I offer more than most bands. (Shrugs) You cant please everybody. AMZ - On the subject of Emperor. . . Mortiis - I don't really mind talking about Emperor, but it's just that I'm so tired of it. It's been seven years now. Let's Go!!! I was only in the band for 14 months. I'm doing other stuff now. (Smiling) AMZ - On the subject of Imagination and Creativity. . . Mortiis - I like to say that things walk hand in hand. I think they do too. Imagination to me is like opening as many channels in your mind as possible. I guess creativity is pretty much the same thing, but then again, using that which you conceive. I don't think about these things too much, I just produce stuff. I just do what I do and I don't analyze why I do it. AMZ - What are you plans for the future? Where we can expect to see Mortiis next? Mortiis - Improve the Web Site a lot. Add new pictures and make it a lot better than it is now. I have new music at home that I want to continue to work on, and a European tour. (Mortiis stops and muses for a few seconds) I would also like to make a video. AMZ - Now that would be one video I would love to see!