METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello Michael. Thank you for taking the time to speak with Metal Pulp And Paper. We appreciate it.
MICHAEL DEL PIZZO: You are most welcome, happy to be doing it.
MPAP: So glad to be talking with you by the way. How are you doing? How are things going?
MICHAEL: I am ok. Things are moving along just fine, probably better than fine. 2017 was the year we rebuilt the house so to speak.
MPAP: We’ll get more into this here in a bit, but 2018 is going to be a big year for you and your band Sunflower Dead? It must be pretty exciting having a couple new band members join the fold, along with having new music, your 3rd full-length, coming out soon?
MICHAEL: It is exciting, and pressure filled realistically. Today’s business is so up in the air that every moment is like skating on thin ice. But yeah, we wrote and recorded a new album in 2017 that stemmed from a different mode of thinking than we had done previously. A mode that came from focusing on the grooves combined with a much more intensely dark emotional vibe. I guess going that way was a solid choice because it brought us our new rhythm section and forced us to step away from the more theatrical side of SFD. That is something I knew was coming all the way back in 2016 but we didn’t commit to it until we listened to the finished version of the new album. So yeah, 2018 is going to be an exciting year that’s for sure.
MPAP: Before we go any further, let’s get everyone introduced to SFD in case they haven’t heard of the band just yet? The band consists of you on vocals, accordion, and piano. Then Jaboo and Jamie Teissere both on guitar, with Jaboo playing lead. Then you have the newest members, Christian Olde Wolbers on bass, and rounding it out, Brian "Brett" Weir on drums. SFD formed in 2012 under the sunny skies of Long Beach, California by you and Jaboo, whom you were already in with another band called Two Hit Creeper. It wouldn’t be easy, but you both had wanted to start a new band and embark on a new music endeavor, thus giving birth to SFD. And this was not just another band like all the others that littered the rock radio stations or local music venues. This was a fresh new hard rocking metal band to hit the streets running full speed at it point blank. Then, to top it all off, there was something unique about this band from Long Beach, California called Sunflower Dead. You don’t only sing, but you play the accordion as well on some of the songs you perform. Something most would not expect to see or hear in a music genre like yours. Soon, over the years, the lineup would change, a door would open and close, a tour would come and go, eventually bringing you here to a new beginning, called 2018. Care to add anything else to sum things up about SFD?
MICHAEL: I think that is a pretty good quick rundown. The full truth is definitely way more in depth and includes a lot more players, names, previous bands, tours, accolades and what not but...it’s a good start.
MPAP: Both of these things, the new lineup, and new music began to take shape and form in late 2017 correct?
MICHAEL: Most definitely. The music came first though. As we got to the end of the 'It’s Time To Get Weird' touring cycle we had lost two members, our drummer and our bassist. I would love to say that this was devastating to our vision but in reality, it really wasn’t. In fact, the final two tours we did for that album were both done with a fill in rhythm section and it was business as usual. I think that says a lot of myself, Jaboo, Jamie’s resolve in SFD. We started the band and have been the core visionary members since day one. The record was written by the three of us over the course of 8 months or so just demoing song after song in our home studio in the LBC until we were happy. Jaboo and Jamie really were the driving force behind this one. Once the album was finished, then the new lineup just kind of appeared, honestly.
MPAP: Let’s talk about the recent addition of Christian for a moment. He’s definitely not new to the music scene. He’s a heavy hitter. His resume includes being the bassist/guitarist previously in the industrial metal band Fear Factory for 16 years, dating back to 1993. He’s made guest appearances on songs by Cypress Hill, Soulfly, and Devin Townsend, and more currently is the bassist for the heavy metal, hip-hop, punk, rock band called Powerflo that features members of Cypress Hill, Biohazard, and Downset. How did you get him on board to joining SFD?
MICHAEL: I believe in December 2017, Jamie was playing some friends the mixes from the new album and he sent them to Christian since he is a good friend. Jamie also put the word out that we were looking for a new bassist. Anyways, Christian was like, hey, if you guys need a bassist, I am down. He told us he really loved the record and the growth of the band and that being in Poweflo and SFD would be no issue at all. It was a no brainer for us since he is so great at what he does. We are at the point now where what we do doesn’t work with what I call the 'weekend warriors'. You know, the guys that have lots of opinions of how music and touring, etc. should go but have never really been out there and done it. Like I said along with our new drummer Brett, Christian just kind of appeared out of thin air at the right time. SFD is definitely a 'if you build it, they will come' type of situation and always has been so this just follows suit.
MPAP: And you’re no stranger to working with Christian either? Back in August 2012, on your Bloody Bat record label, your self-titled, self-released debut had Christian in the production chair. You must have kept in touch over the years?
MICHAEL: Of course, Jamie was friends with Chris from Jamie’s days in the band Droid and that friendship just got deeper when we did the record with him.
MPAP: Tell us about Brian also for a moment? He’s no rookie in the music industry either. He also began playing drums at the early age of nine with some of his musical influences including the Deftones, Nine Inch Nails, Pantera, and Led Zeppelin. Can’t go wrong with any of that? So how did he join the ranks and get behind the skins for you?
MICHAEL: Is he really? Haha, I didn’t know all that. What I do know is that he rips. Brian or “Brett” as we call him was in a band called Downplay which was signed to some major label. Anyways, that band became Starset who I am sure most people have heard of by now. Dave Fortman who produced our new album also produced the Downplay album and Brett came down to hang out with him during the recording sessions in September. We all just kind of hit it off and when we needed a drummer to join, poof…Brett was there. Brett is a studied guy. I know he spent time with famed drummer Brian Tichy. Again, like Christian, Brett fits the mold of what we need to have at this point in things as far as experience goes.
MPAP: This was posted on your bands Facebook recently. 'The music on this third album is more focused, vicious and emotionally dialed in than any previous work. Jaboo summarized the new album this way: "This record is like the rebirth of the band similar to what Christopher Nolan did with the Batman saga." This rebirth is now 100% complete with the addition of Christian Olde Wolbers (Fear Factory, Poweflo) on bass and Brian “Brett” Weir (Downplay, Starset) on drums.' Now let’s talk about this new music. I’m sure a lot of your fans, called 'evil seeds', are chomping at the bit to hear the new material with the new lineup? What can you tell us about it and what can everyone expect to hear?
MICHAEL: Yeah, this is 100% a rebirth. In no way were we going to repeat anything we have already done. Our motto has always been to have the music reflect where we are at the time. You know, you put out a record and tour it for almost two years and you hopefully grow and change for the better. Before our second album, the Weird album, we were in a very playful mode after touring. That came across on that album. After touring that record though, we came home NOT in a playful mood. Not in any fucking way. Without mincing any words, this band feels disrespected and the new record gets that across. The agitation is apparent in boatloads. Expect to hear a record with all the metaphor and innuendo taken away. I will say as a lyricist, I was offended that some people felt I was writing horror based songs. Not in my life would that happen. I have always written from a point of view of expressing my life’s experiences. This time, there won’t be that confusion. I can also say that this album was written from the perspective of the guitar riffs as opposed to from the perspective of the vocals. I really had to work hard and flex the muscle of creating vocals to music that was already written as opposed to adjusting music to fit vocal hooks. It was a test and a test that I feel I passed.
MPAP: Can you share anything here about the new release that no one has heard about yet? A release date, or a title by any chance? Could it by chance, the title called 'Rebirth'? Would be fitting you know?
MICHAEL: There isn’t a release date as we are not self-releasing the album this time. We are in the process of finding a home for it. Ha, I don’t think it will be called Rebirth though. I can tell you that the album does not contain accordion like our previous two did. Why? I have no idea, it just didn’t seem right. I have made a pact with myself that I won’t use the instrument on record again until I come up with something truly special or needed for it. Will I still play it live? You will have to come to the shows and see.
MPAP: Let’s go back for a moment and talk about what Christian and Brian brought to the music table that SFD might have been missing before? What stands out the most having them being a part of the band now?
MICHAEL: Well, they were not a part of the writing process for this album obviously since they joined after the record was done. We actually had Cordell Crocket from Ugly Kid Joe at the request of Dave Fortman track the bass on the album. Originally, Jaboo was going to handle it but Fortman felt that the depth of the musicality on this record needed something more special. Cordell blew us away and added a layer of emotion to the songs we didn’t know would happen. Chris Hamilton from Blood Simple and Downset tracked the drums. Chris actually filled in on drums for us on our last tour for the Weird album back in May of 2017, so we gave him the shot the track on the album since we were comfortable with him. Getting back to your question, both Christian and Brett bring lots of obvious experience, skill and knowledge. Their enthusiasm is pretty rad to be honest. It seems very genuine and from the rehearsals I have been at, this is by far the tightest and most pro SFD has ever been. It is nice to keep going in that direction. My goal has always been to be top notch and dangerous and these guys do just that.
MPAP: Go back to the very beginning of SFD. How would you describe how the band has grown over the years since the self-titled debut in 2012, to your 2nd full-length, It’s Time To Get Weird, in 2016, until this year’s yet to be titled 2018 release?
MICHAEL: In 2012 we set the palette of SFD. We released an album that allowed us to have options of where we could take things. It definitely started with a serious tone but a tone in which we wanted to entertain the masses with heavy music that had extreme hooks. Entertaining is where the makeup and the look came from. All three of us were quite bored with the look of bands at the time. While touring that album, we were having so much fun on stage that we started saying well "It’s time to get weird" when it was time to hit the stage. We really let loose and allowed ourselves to enjoy things as much as possible and that led to the playful mode I spoke about the second album titled It’s Time To Get Weird. We pushed the look hard and really went far with the more trite and cartoonish vibe of the band. I have no regrets at all and feel we did a stellar record, once that helped us break into the world of Active Rock Radio. But, while touring that album, I started noticing our performances beginning to lean towards the aggressive side while playful side began diminishing. I had a feeling while we were on In This Moment’s Hellpop 2016 Tour that the makeup was coming off at some point and that was a great tour. We ended up going out two more times with another band where things were not great at all and the aggression really started dialing up for us. We came home from touring our second album in June 2017 extremely agitated and driven to push the band forward. The guys told what kind of record they wanted to write based off how angry they were feeling. They wanted a record full of crushing grooves, more dominant guitar riffs, better musicianship and a much more selfless and deeper lyrical approach from my end. They asked me to let go with my vocal performances. There is nothing trite about where we are now. Add that with our two new members and we have a very dangerous band. I would sum up the growth from the beginning to now by constantly being in a state of growth and staying honest to that journey by reflecting the moment in our artistic output.
MPAP: Will there be a tour right after the new release, or by any chance do you have to wait for Christian’s other band Powerflo to finish its touring cycle first?
MICHAEL: The only thing we need to wait for is a label home in order to release this album correctly. Then the machine can start officially.
MPAP: On your personal Facebook page, on December 31st, 2017 you posted a story, that on that particular day, 20 years ago, you and Jaboo would drive for almost 5 days across the United States, leaving behind Philadelphia, finally pulling into Costa Mesa/Newport Beach, California to pursue a new life of music. From staying in a hotel, the first night in town, then onto living in a tent during some extreme wet weather, what made you decide on California to basically start things over?
MICHAEL: We were very young, and we knew we weren’t going to get to where we needed to be if we were comfortable. It was either move to NYC or LA. I have a feeling if we picked NYC, it would be too close to Philadelphia and we would have given up. LA was chosen, and Southern California has been our home ever since. The night we decided to move to California we had gone to a show in Northeast Philly to hand out flyers for our band at the time that was playing the same venue. It was pouring rain and miserable and inside the venue was worse. No one was at the gig and the headlining local Philly band came on stage and was just so out of touch that we knew that this was not the place for us. We had to be exposed to artists and people better than us in order for us to get better. Jaboo looked at me and said, "Dude, it’s NY or LA" and when we looked at the shitty rain, we both said, "LA".
MPAP: While there and getting settled in, not knowing anyone, and basically starving, what kept you both pushing on, pushing forward without giving up and going back home to Pennsylvania?
MICHAEL: Music, we moved out here for one reason and that was all we had, simple as that.
MPAP: You must have never let that dream go, even during all the ups and downs and chaos I’m sure you lived through, because look at where you are today with the band you both started? The blood, sweat, and tears do paid off?
MICHAEL: Well, we have definitely worked hard but everyone in this industry does that. Chaos would be an understatement. I am not sure about the success of where we are yet, but I will say this, the best thing we have been able to do is always evaluate and re-evaluate what we do and how we are doing in order to get better. It has served us well. I promised myself I would quit music when I stopped getting better. That hasn’t happened yet and here I am still in the ring ready to through that knockout punch.
MPAP: Now with a new lineup, and new music, does that mean there is a new look as well? Sunflower unmasked you could say? Looking at the most recent pictures of the band on Facebook, the makeup on everyone’s face is gone?
MICHAEL: Definitely, the makeup and costumes are gone. They do not feel right at this time. I say that with complete respect for when we did wear it. I loved it to be honest but when we listened to this new album, we knew that no makeup is needed. The music does the talking.
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Michael, for doing this interview. We look forward to the new music, and what Sunflower Dead does in 2018 and beyond.
Any last words for all the readers and your fans out there?
MICHAEL: Thank you my friend, it has been a pleasure. See you on the road Evil Seeds!
FIND/FOLLOW SUNFLOWER DEAD HERE
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©metalpulpandpaper
MICHAEL DEL PIZZO: You are most welcome, happy to be doing it.
MPAP: So glad to be talking with you by the way. How are you doing? How are things going?
MICHAEL: I am ok. Things are moving along just fine, probably better than fine. 2017 was the year we rebuilt the house so to speak.
MPAP: We’ll get more into this here in a bit, but 2018 is going to be a big year for you and your band Sunflower Dead? It must be pretty exciting having a couple new band members join the fold, along with having new music, your 3rd full-length, coming out soon?
MICHAEL: It is exciting, and pressure filled realistically. Today’s business is so up in the air that every moment is like skating on thin ice. But yeah, we wrote and recorded a new album in 2017 that stemmed from a different mode of thinking than we had done previously. A mode that came from focusing on the grooves combined with a much more intensely dark emotional vibe. I guess going that way was a solid choice because it brought us our new rhythm section and forced us to step away from the more theatrical side of SFD. That is something I knew was coming all the way back in 2016 but we didn’t commit to it until we listened to the finished version of the new album. So yeah, 2018 is going to be an exciting year that’s for sure.
MPAP: Before we go any further, let’s get everyone introduced to SFD in case they haven’t heard of the band just yet? The band consists of you on vocals, accordion, and piano. Then Jaboo and Jamie Teissere both on guitar, with Jaboo playing lead. Then you have the newest members, Christian Olde Wolbers on bass, and rounding it out, Brian "Brett" Weir on drums. SFD formed in 2012 under the sunny skies of Long Beach, California by you and Jaboo, whom you were already in with another band called Two Hit Creeper. It wouldn’t be easy, but you both had wanted to start a new band and embark on a new music endeavor, thus giving birth to SFD. And this was not just another band like all the others that littered the rock radio stations or local music venues. This was a fresh new hard rocking metal band to hit the streets running full speed at it point blank. Then, to top it all off, there was something unique about this band from Long Beach, California called Sunflower Dead. You don’t only sing, but you play the accordion as well on some of the songs you perform. Something most would not expect to see or hear in a music genre like yours. Soon, over the years, the lineup would change, a door would open and close, a tour would come and go, eventually bringing you here to a new beginning, called 2018. Care to add anything else to sum things up about SFD?
MICHAEL: I think that is a pretty good quick rundown. The full truth is definitely way more in depth and includes a lot more players, names, previous bands, tours, accolades and what not but...it’s a good start.
MPAP: Both of these things, the new lineup, and new music began to take shape and form in late 2017 correct?
MICHAEL: Most definitely. The music came first though. As we got to the end of the 'It’s Time To Get Weird' touring cycle we had lost two members, our drummer and our bassist. I would love to say that this was devastating to our vision but in reality, it really wasn’t. In fact, the final two tours we did for that album were both done with a fill in rhythm section and it was business as usual. I think that says a lot of myself, Jaboo, Jamie’s resolve in SFD. We started the band and have been the core visionary members since day one. The record was written by the three of us over the course of 8 months or so just demoing song after song in our home studio in the LBC until we were happy. Jaboo and Jamie really were the driving force behind this one. Once the album was finished, then the new lineup just kind of appeared, honestly.
MPAP: Let’s talk about the recent addition of Christian for a moment. He’s definitely not new to the music scene. He’s a heavy hitter. His resume includes being the bassist/guitarist previously in the industrial metal band Fear Factory for 16 years, dating back to 1993. He’s made guest appearances on songs by Cypress Hill, Soulfly, and Devin Townsend, and more currently is the bassist for the heavy metal, hip-hop, punk, rock band called Powerflo that features members of Cypress Hill, Biohazard, and Downset. How did you get him on board to joining SFD?
MICHAEL: I believe in December 2017, Jamie was playing some friends the mixes from the new album and he sent them to Christian since he is a good friend. Jamie also put the word out that we were looking for a new bassist. Anyways, Christian was like, hey, if you guys need a bassist, I am down. He told us he really loved the record and the growth of the band and that being in Poweflo and SFD would be no issue at all. It was a no brainer for us since he is so great at what he does. We are at the point now where what we do doesn’t work with what I call the 'weekend warriors'. You know, the guys that have lots of opinions of how music and touring, etc. should go but have never really been out there and done it. Like I said along with our new drummer Brett, Christian just kind of appeared out of thin air at the right time. SFD is definitely a 'if you build it, they will come' type of situation and always has been so this just follows suit.
MPAP: And you’re no stranger to working with Christian either? Back in August 2012, on your Bloody Bat record label, your self-titled, self-released debut had Christian in the production chair. You must have kept in touch over the years?
MICHAEL: Of course, Jamie was friends with Chris from Jamie’s days in the band Droid and that friendship just got deeper when we did the record with him.
MPAP: Tell us about Brian also for a moment? He’s no rookie in the music industry either. He also began playing drums at the early age of nine with some of his musical influences including the Deftones, Nine Inch Nails, Pantera, and Led Zeppelin. Can’t go wrong with any of that? So how did he join the ranks and get behind the skins for you?
MICHAEL: Is he really? Haha, I didn’t know all that. What I do know is that he rips. Brian or “Brett” as we call him was in a band called Downplay which was signed to some major label. Anyways, that band became Starset who I am sure most people have heard of by now. Dave Fortman who produced our new album also produced the Downplay album and Brett came down to hang out with him during the recording sessions in September. We all just kind of hit it off and when we needed a drummer to join, poof…Brett was there. Brett is a studied guy. I know he spent time with famed drummer Brian Tichy. Again, like Christian, Brett fits the mold of what we need to have at this point in things as far as experience goes.
MPAP: This was posted on your bands Facebook recently. 'The music on this third album is more focused, vicious and emotionally dialed in than any previous work. Jaboo summarized the new album this way: "This record is like the rebirth of the band similar to what Christopher Nolan did with the Batman saga." This rebirth is now 100% complete with the addition of Christian Olde Wolbers (Fear Factory, Poweflo) on bass and Brian “Brett” Weir (Downplay, Starset) on drums.' Now let’s talk about this new music. I’m sure a lot of your fans, called 'evil seeds', are chomping at the bit to hear the new material with the new lineup? What can you tell us about it and what can everyone expect to hear?
MICHAEL: Yeah, this is 100% a rebirth. In no way were we going to repeat anything we have already done. Our motto has always been to have the music reflect where we are at the time. You know, you put out a record and tour it for almost two years and you hopefully grow and change for the better. Before our second album, the Weird album, we were in a very playful mode after touring. That came across on that album. After touring that record though, we came home NOT in a playful mood. Not in any fucking way. Without mincing any words, this band feels disrespected and the new record gets that across. The agitation is apparent in boatloads. Expect to hear a record with all the metaphor and innuendo taken away. I will say as a lyricist, I was offended that some people felt I was writing horror based songs. Not in my life would that happen. I have always written from a point of view of expressing my life’s experiences. This time, there won’t be that confusion. I can also say that this album was written from the perspective of the guitar riffs as opposed to from the perspective of the vocals. I really had to work hard and flex the muscle of creating vocals to music that was already written as opposed to adjusting music to fit vocal hooks. It was a test and a test that I feel I passed.
MPAP: Can you share anything here about the new release that no one has heard about yet? A release date, or a title by any chance? Could it by chance, the title called 'Rebirth'? Would be fitting you know?
MICHAEL: There isn’t a release date as we are not self-releasing the album this time. We are in the process of finding a home for it. Ha, I don’t think it will be called Rebirth though. I can tell you that the album does not contain accordion like our previous two did. Why? I have no idea, it just didn’t seem right. I have made a pact with myself that I won’t use the instrument on record again until I come up with something truly special or needed for it. Will I still play it live? You will have to come to the shows and see.
MPAP: Let’s go back for a moment and talk about what Christian and Brian brought to the music table that SFD might have been missing before? What stands out the most having them being a part of the band now?
MICHAEL: Well, they were not a part of the writing process for this album obviously since they joined after the record was done. We actually had Cordell Crocket from Ugly Kid Joe at the request of Dave Fortman track the bass on the album. Originally, Jaboo was going to handle it but Fortman felt that the depth of the musicality on this record needed something more special. Cordell blew us away and added a layer of emotion to the songs we didn’t know would happen. Chris Hamilton from Blood Simple and Downset tracked the drums. Chris actually filled in on drums for us on our last tour for the Weird album back in May of 2017, so we gave him the shot the track on the album since we were comfortable with him. Getting back to your question, both Christian and Brett bring lots of obvious experience, skill and knowledge. Their enthusiasm is pretty rad to be honest. It seems very genuine and from the rehearsals I have been at, this is by far the tightest and most pro SFD has ever been. It is nice to keep going in that direction. My goal has always been to be top notch and dangerous and these guys do just that.
MPAP: Go back to the very beginning of SFD. How would you describe how the band has grown over the years since the self-titled debut in 2012, to your 2nd full-length, It’s Time To Get Weird, in 2016, until this year’s yet to be titled 2018 release?
MICHAEL: In 2012 we set the palette of SFD. We released an album that allowed us to have options of where we could take things. It definitely started with a serious tone but a tone in which we wanted to entertain the masses with heavy music that had extreme hooks. Entertaining is where the makeup and the look came from. All three of us were quite bored with the look of bands at the time. While touring that album, we were having so much fun on stage that we started saying well "It’s time to get weird" when it was time to hit the stage. We really let loose and allowed ourselves to enjoy things as much as possible and that led to the playful mode I spoke about the second album titled It’s Time To Get Weird. We pushed the look hard and really went far with the more trite and cartoonish vibe of the band. I have no regrets at all and feel we did a stellar record, once that helped us break into the world of Active Rock Radio. But, while touring that album, I started noticing our performances beginning to lean towards the aggressive side while playful side began diminishing. I had a feeling while we were on In This Moment’s Hellpop 2016 Tour that the makeup was coming off at some point and that was a great tour. We ended up going out two more times with another band where things were not great at all and the aggression really started dialing up for us. We came home from touring our second album in June 2017 extremely agitated and driven to push the band forward. The guys told what kind of record they wanted to write based off how angry they were feeling. They wanted a record full of crushing grooves, more dominant guitar riffs, better musicianship and a much more selfless and deeper lyrical approach from my end. They asked me to let go with my vocal performances. There is nothing trite about where we are now. Add that with our two new members and we have a very dangerous band. I would sum up the growth from the beginning to now by constantly being in a state of growth and staying honest to that journey by reflecting the moment in our artistic output.
MPAP: Will there be a tour right after the new release, or by any chance do you have to wait for Christian’s other band Powerflo to finish its touring cycle first?
MICHAEL: The only thing we need to wait for is a label home in order to release this album correctly. Then the machine can start officially.
MPAP: On your personal Facebook page, on December 31st, 2017 you posted a story, that on that particular day, 20 years ago, you and Jaboo would drive for almost 5 days across the United States, leaving behind Philadelphia, finally pulling into Costa Mesa/Newport Beach, California to pursue a new life of music. From staying in a hotel, the first night in town, then onto living in a tent during some extreme wet weather, what made you decide on California to basically start things over?
MICHAEL: We were very young, and we knew we weren’t going to get to where we needed to be if we were comfortable. It was either move to NYC or LA. I have a feeling if we picked NYC, it would be too close to Philadelphia and we would have given up. LA was chosen, and Southern California has been our home ever since. The night we decided to move to California we had gone to a show in Northeast Philly to hand out flyers for our band at the time that was playing the same venue. It was pouring rain and miserable and inside the venue was worse. No one was at the gig and the headlining local Philly band came on stage and was just so out of touch that we knew that this was not the place for us. We had to be exposed to artists and people better than us in order for us to get better. Jaboo looked at me and said, "Dude, it’s NY or LA" and when we looked at the shitty rain, we both said, "LA".
MPAP: While there and getting settled in, not knowing anyone, and basically starving, what kept you both pushing on, pushing forward without giving up and going back home to Pennsylvania?
MICHAEL: Music, we moved out here for one reason and that was all we had, simple as that.
MPAP: You must have never let that dream go, even during all the ups and downs and chaos I’m sure you lived through, because look at where you are today with the band you both started? The blood, sweat, and tears do paid off?
MICHAEL: Well, we have definitely worked hard but everyone in this industry does that. Chaos would be an understatement. I am not sure about the success of where we are yet, but I will say this, the best thing we have been able to do is always evaluate and re-evaluate what we do and how we are doing in order to get better. It has served us well. I promised myself I would quit music when I stopped getting better. That hasn’t happened yet and here I am still in the ring ready to through that knockout punch.
MPAP: Now with a new lineup, and new music, does that mean there is a new look as well? Sunflower unmasked you could say? Looking at the most recent pictures of the band on Facebook, the makeup on everyone’s face is gone?
MICHAEL: Definitely, the makeup and costumes are gone. They do not feel right at this time. I say that with complete respect for when we did wear it. I loved it to be honest but when we listened to this new album, we knew that no makeup is needed. The music does the talking.
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Michael, for doing this interview. We look forward to the new music, and what Sunflower Dead does in 2018 and beyond.
Any last words for all the readers and your fans out there?
MICHAEL: Thank you my friend, it has been a pleasure. See you on the road Evil Seeds!
FIND/FOLLOW SUNFLOWER DEAD HERE
©metalpulpandpaper