Five Finger Death Punch
On the Road
2007-12-05
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In 2005, former U.P.O. guitarist Zoltan Bathory forged ties with vocalist Ivan Moody of Motograter, W.A.S.P. members Darrell Roberts and Jeremy Spencer, and Anubis Rising bassist Matt Snell. The result was to be Five Finger Death Punch; a furious, double-bass beast with just a touch of late ‘90s nü-metal. Death Punch enjoyed mainstream success with the release of their 2007 debut, The Way of the Fist, including a slot on this year’s Family Values Tour. Frontman Ivan Moody took a few moments to catch up with Synthesis.net before a Halloween-night gig in Phoenix.
You guys were out with Korn on the “Bitch We Have A Problem” tour?
Man, I can’t even begin to tell you how cool it was. It was an honor. I mean, you go out and immediately you’re thrown into an A-game situation. You got two choices: you either sink or swim. They gave us a lot of love and there’s no complaining to be done.
Tell me a random story from the road.
How ‘bout the last night that HELLYEAH was there, Monkey was walking around in a spacesuit. And nobody, [laughs] nobody knew it was him; he kept running up on busses. He’d scream something totally random and then run off with his hands in the air. It was chaos.
How did the experience compare to Family Values?
Oh, even better. Family Values, of course, is almost like a barter town ‘cause you’ve got all these bands and techs and it’s like a giant family. But to just be more intimate — and not to mention it’s an arena tour — to go on as main support for HELLYEAH and Korn, like I said earlier man, there’s not a lot of complaining to be done.
When you look out into the audience are you seeing a wide range of ages, or is it a younger crowd?
You know, that’s the thing, I’m not used to being exposed to so many different age groups. I’m talking I’ve signed autographs for four and five year olds, as well as 40 and 50 year olds. Korn has that range of people anyway, and to be exposed to such a diverse crowd of people is amazing, man. And they’re all taking on to it really well. I mean, we of course are a metal group so it’s hard for some people to digest, but in the long run, the reaction we’re getting is just overwhelming.
Who’ve you been listening to lately?
Lately? I’ve been falling back in love with Sepultura lately. ‘Cause I heard that Max and Igor were doing some kind of new project and I’m a huge Max Cavalera fan. Besides that I got some Ziggy Marley in, some Pink Floyd, and oh yeah, I got Outkast.
I know that you’ve all been in a million bands prior — Motograter and so on — is Five Finger something you’re looking at long-term?
This is all I’m looking at long-term. I decided after Motograter that I didn’t necessarily want to get back into the music industry. But these guys came back to me and it was cut and dry, like family, and I don’t plan on doing anything beyond it. I mean, at least at this point. Things always change, but I’m so content right now and very much in love with what we’re doing.
What does 2008 hold for Five Finger Death Punch?
For us it’s just busting ass and taking names, man. This is a prelude to a kiss for us. We get a couple weeks off for Christmas and then after that we go out; I think right now we’ve got about three or four tours in line. We’re gonna shove Death Punch down the world’s throat and see where it goes from there.
You guys were out with Korn on the “Bitch We Have A Problem” tour?
Man, I can’t even begin to tell you how cool it was. It was an honor. I mean, you go out and immediately you’re thrown into an A-game situation. You got two choices: you either sink or swim. They gave us a lot of love and there’s no complaining to be done.
Tell me a random story from the road.
How ‘bout the last night that HELLYEAH was there, Monkey was walking around in a spacesuit. And nobody, [laughs] nobody knew it was him; he kept running up on busses. He’d scream something totally random and then run off with his hands in the air. It was chaos.
How did the experience compare to Family Values?
Oh, even better. Family Values, of course, is almost like a barter town ‘cause you’ve got all these bands and techs and it’s like a giant family. But to just be more intimate — and not to mention it’s an arena tour — to go on as main support for HELLYEAH and Korn, like I said earlier man, there’s not a lot of complaining to be done.
When you look out into the audience are you seeing a wide range of ages, or is it a younger crowd?
You know, that’s the thing, I’m not used to being exposed to so many different age groups. I’m talking I’ve signed autographs for four and five year olds, as well as 40 and 50 year olds. Korn has that range of people anyway, and to be exposed to such a diverse crowd of people is amazing, man. And they’re all taking on to it really well. I mean, we of course are a metal group so it’s hard for some people to digest, but in the long run, the reaction we’re getting is just overwhelming.
Who’ve you been listening to lately?
Lately? I’ve been falling back in love with Sepultura lately. ‘Cause I heard that Max and Igor were doing some kind of new project and I’m a huge Max Cavalera fan. Besides that I got some Ziggy Marley in, some Pink Floyd, and oh yeah, I got Outkast.
I know that you’ve all been in a million bands prior — Motograter and so on — is Five Finger something you’re looking at long-term?
This is all I’m looking at long-term. I decided after Motograter that I didn’t necessarily want to get back into the music industry. But these guys came back to me and it was cut and dry, like family, and I don’t plan on doing anything beyond it. I mean, at least at this point. Things always change, but I’m so content right now and very much in love with what we’re doing.
What does 2008 hold for Five Finger Death Punch?
For us it’s just busting ass and taking names, man. This is a prelude to a kiss for us. We get a couple weeks off for Christmas and then after that we go out; I think right now we’ve got about three or four tours in line. We’re gonna shove Death Punch down the world’s throat and see where it goes from there.
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Five Finger Death Punch
Bio[+]Five Finger Death Punch was formed in 2005 by guitarist Zoltan Bathory (formerly of U.P.O.). Other members recruited to the band include former Motograter vocalist Ivan Moody, former W.A.S.P. members in guitarist Darrell Roberts and drummer Jeremy Spencer, and former Anubis Rising/Deadsett bassist Matt Snell.
The band recorded their debut album The Way of the Fist in 2006 with Stevo "Shotgun" Bruno (Mötley Crüe, Prong) and Mike Sarkisyan (Spineshank). The record was mixed and mastered by former Machine Head/Soulfly guitarist Logan Mader.
Interview
Five Finger Death Punch (current page)Merch
Bio[+]
Five Finger Death Punch was formed in 2005 by guitarist Zoltan Bathory (formerly of U.P.O.). Other members recruited to the band include former Motograter vocalist Ivan Moody, former W.A.S.P. members in guitarist Darrell Roberts and drummer Jeremy Spencer, and former Anubis Rising/Deadsett bassist Matt Snell.
The band recorded their debut album The Way of the Fist in 2006 with Stevo "Shotgun" Bruno (Mötley Crüe, Prong) and Mike Sarkisyan (Spineshank). The record was mixed and mastered by former Machine Head/Soulfly guitarist Logan Mader.
Interview
Five Finger Death Punch (current page)