Carbellion

What's the meaning behind your name?

Well... I've told many stories about the name's origin that include but are not limited to folklore involving ghost ships, matadors, and Canadian revolutionaries. To get one of those stories you'll have to catch me after a live set with a handful of whiskey shots in me! The truth is my previous band was named Carbon Parlor and Peter (lead guitar), Brandon (rhythm guitar), and Steve's (Bass) band was called Whiskey Rebellion. When we couldn't come up with a name we all could agree on we made a hybrid which also makes us the only "Carbellion" online anywhere.

How did you get started with all this?

I can't speak for everyone on this one but I can tell you about my start.

When I wasn't a fan of several of the high school bands that were forming during my time there I came up with the idea that maybe I should start a band. Many people in the high school music "scene" laughed it off with the same elitist attitude that made their music intolerable for me and several of my friends to listen to. I couldn't sing very well at the time but I could scream and yell with the best of them.

Needless to say I started a band that tried to be somewhat like Alice in Chains and Pantera but ended up more like Agnostic Front and M.O.D.!

What's the message to transmit with your music?

Carbellion writes aggressive rock n' roll with hints of irony and lightheartedness. The reason for this is not so much that we aren't serious about our music or the themes conveyed in the songs. It is more a way to say that life is too short not to enjoy it. There is a  parallel some would consider unique with Carbellion's song lyrics and member's behavior. We are hard drinking group of metaphoric rock n' roll pirates with a tendency for rowdy and questionable behavior while also having a high morale standard for ourselves and those we surround ourselves with. We more or less draw a hard line on where the party stops and the work begins. A couple short version themes we feel strongly about in the songs are that nothing ever comes for free and anything worth having is worth working for. No one deserves much of anything except to be true to themselves. No regrets is no excuse to tear wounds in yourself or others.

Alright, I'm off the soapbox- lol!

What's your method at the time of writing a song?

Typically one of the guys will come with a riff or a couple of riffs that have a good feel. We then all work together to flesh out the music into a song structure. It definitely helps that Jamie (drums) and Steve (Bass) along with Peter and Brandon are all accomplished guitar players. I'm always coming up with lyrical ideas throughout the day so I make notes on a small voice recorder and then work those into the song ideas at our rehearsals and on my own time with a 4 track.

Who are your music influences?

This one is all over the place. Brandon was really into death metal most of his music formative years and now listens to a lot of rebel country. Steve likes everything from Kid Rock to Clutch. Jamie is a typically a metal guy listening to bands like Metallica but is more recently into bands like Wolfmother. Peter listens to and takes influence from uber guitarists like John 5, Slash, etc.

I'm influenced by the grunge era bands and listen to a great deal of indie label stoner rock and hard rock bands.

The only common theme among us is "Rock".

What plans do you guys have for the future?

We are in the process of writing an album for release by Indie 500 Records and Union 414 Records in the US and Dead Tree Music in the EU. In 2011 Carbellion will be taking a new approach to US touring focusing on 3 day weekend driven stints in different areas of the US.

We are also talking about doing a brief tour in Scandinavia for Dead Tree Music.

What has been the greatest day as a musician?

It would be too hard to isolate a single day as there have been so many great ones.

Some highlights for me would include opening for musical idols like Motorhead, COC, Clutch, the Cult, etc.

I would definitely say the Passage West Tour Carbellion did in 2009 rates high among the highlights as well.

What has been the funniest prank you guys have been or took part of while on tour or after a show?

Yikes. There have been so many...

We've talked people (and taken part ourselves) into some seriously strange things.

Keeping it PG rated, I've had so many people believe in some of the made up folklore about the band name and recite it verbatim to their friends. Some of it is so ridiculous.

If you guys were stranded in the middle of nowhere after a show or while on tour, and the help is 65 miles away from where you guys are, who would you guys send to look for help? And if while the rest wait, there's no food and the only way to feed yourself is by eating each other, who would you eat first?

I would probably be the person who has to head out on foot for help. Peter might end up going though as he is in far the best shape of any of us. As far as who would we eat first and why, that's tough.

I'm the biggest meal but I could last the longest so probably not me.

Brandon would likely make all of us sick if we ate him so he's out.

Steve is the scrappiest wrestler in the band and the smallest meal so he is also probably safe.

That leaves Jamie. He is the oldest member but also the nicest guy in the band and not likely to go easily.

We tend to share responsibility so we'd all probably kick in some appendages instead of choosing any one of us.

What are your hobbies?

All the guys in the band ride motorcycles (3 Harleys and a Victory) but Peter. Peter works out all the time and does Sean Connery impressions.

What country would you guys love to play?

Sweden. Some of our best times have been with the Swedes.

With what bands would you guys love to share the stage?

We've been fortunate enough to get to share the stage with most of our idols.

Brandon would likely say WASP. Peter would probably say ZZ Top. Jamie would likely say Metallica.

Steve would say "which show comes with the best back stage experience?". I would likely say

Soundgarden or AIC at this point.

Are you guys happy with the direction the band is going?

Always. It is always taking a new turn and taking on new challenges. It never gets stagnant for too long.

What more could you ask for musically or music business-wise?

Check out more: www.myspace.com/carbellion