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DOWN guitarist Kirk Windstein spoke to Pierre Gutiérrez of Rock Talks concerning the standing of the band’s long-discussed EP of “obscure” cowl songs. He mentioned (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Now we have been speaking about this for a very long time. What’s been occurring is DOWN is type of now because it began, which was a facet undertaking. We love doing it and it is a ton of enjoyable and we like it — we love the band; it is a tremendous band — however all people’s again to doing their different bands. Pepper‘s [Keenan, guitar] doing C.O.C. full-time, Jimmy‘s [Bower, drums] doing EYEHATEGOD, I am doing CROWBAR, Phil‘s [Anselmo, vocals] acquired quite a bit on his palms and loads of initiatives, as he at all times did and at all times will.
“I’d like to knock out this cover-song EP,” he continued. “We actually have not, to my data, agreed upon the songs 100% but. Proper now we’re extra involved with simply being correctly rehearsed for the reveals that now we have developing on the finish of Might. And now we have three festivals in Europe on the finish of June that we have to be ready for as effectively. So we’re type of concentrating on that, and possibly after that we’ll see the place we’re at with the cover-song EP.”
Requested by Gutiérrez if the members of DOWN have already picked a number of songs to cowl on the upcoming EP, Windstein mentioned: “Now we have a number of that I feel all of us agree on, however in the long run it is actually Phil‘s alternative. The opposite guys, and Phil as effectively, have texted one another backwards and forwards and e-mailed one another 1,000,000 totally different songs that we expect could be good. To me, we have to simply sit down and have an precise assembly and say, ‘All proper, guys. What songs are we gonna do? And let’s be taught ’em. And make ’em sound like DOWN.’ We do not wanna be a cover-song band like you have got on a cruise ship or one thing; we wish to redo these songs in a DOWN fashion. And no disrespect to cover-song bands on a cruise ship or anyplace else… However significantly, we simply must agree on the songs and get all the way down to work with it.
“Life begins to take over as you become old,” Kirk added, explaining the delay in recording the brand new DOWN EP. “Now we have youngsters, and a few of us are married… Life begins to take over the place it is troublesome with everybody’s schedule, like, ‘Okay, when can all of us get collectively?’ As a result of this one’s acquired this household perform occurring and this one’s acquired this household perform occurring. As you become old, it does make it a bit of harder. However we simply must get in a room and speak and determine it out. And I can not wait to do this; I feel it is gonna be nice.”
Pressed about which tracks have already been agreed upon for inclusion on the DOWN covers EP, Kirk mentioned: “I might quite not [discuss that in interviews yet] as a result of there’s solely possibly one or two which are actually set in stone. A few of it is some obscure stuff, so I’d quite… When now we have a hundred percent settlement on all the fellows as to what we’re gonna do, then possibly in interviews we’ll discuss it.”
When Gutiérrez talked about that it will be cool to listen to DOWN cowl a KISS tune, Windstein mentioned: “Pepper threw one out that I really like, so that you by no means know. As soon as once more, it is actually as much as Phil in the long run, what he feels is nice for his voice and what KISS tune, if we did, would we do. I imply, now we have one in thoughts, however can we make it sound like DOWN? Possibly so. It is gotta sound like we wrote it; it is gotta sound like us.”
As for the potential for a brand new full-length album of unique materials from DOWN, Kirk mentioned: “That is one other factor that must be mentioned in some unspecified time in the future. To me, it will virtually be simpler to simply all people write riffs and get collectively than attempt to resolve on which cowl songs to do. I am positive that we’ll get round to it in some unspecified time in the future. We’re not getting any youthful and it is one thing that we get pleasure from and I feel that the followers would like it as effectively. So I am positive in some unspecified time in the future we’ll get round to it.”
Becoming a member of Windstein in DOWN‘s present lineup are Anselmo, Keenan, Bower and bassist Pat Bruders.
Final August, DOWN took half in a really particular in-person reside and digital expertise. “NOLA City Throwdown” was held on the Fillmore in New Orleans, Louisiana and featured followers attending the present in particular person in addition to watching it in actual time from the consolation of their lounge.
In August 2020, DOWN celebrated the twenty fifth anniversary of “NOLA” with a particular livestreamed occasion. Dubbed “The Quarter Century Throwdown”, the high-production, multi-camera occasion occurred utilizing cutting-edge streaming know-how to create a one-of-a-kind digital live performance expertise.
A founding member of DOWN, Windstein left the band in 2013 so as to give attention to CROWBAR and his household life. He was changed by Bobby Landgraf, DOWN‘s former guitar tech who was beforehand in GAHDZILLA MOTOR COMPANY, a Nineteen Nineties outfit additionally that includes Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS, WATCHTOWER),and HONKY.
Windstein introduced his return to DOWN in 2019, with the band confirming quite a lot of pageant appearances for 2020 to have fun the twenty fifth anniversary of “NOLA”, all of which have since been canceled or postponed as a result of coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.
Previous to the August 2020 livestream, DOWN‘s final reside look occurred in August 2016 on the Psycho Las Vegas pageant in Las Vegas.
Picture by Danin Drahos
