¤ G i n a   H a t e s   M e ¤

VM Underground interviews Gina Hates Me.

(so it begins....)

VMU: Long time no hear, Dylan. How are you?
GHM: Dylan was my old name. Now I am Legend. That's all. Couple meanings behind that…one is from one of my favorite bands best songs, White Zombie's "I Am Legend" and for being called that by a few young kids watching me play guitar. It kind of stuck and created Legend…it's been only naturals for me too, cause I am that damn good at being one. But other than that I am good man. How's you been?

VMU: You currently play guitar for Gina Hates Me, very different from the past projects you did. Why is that? And could you tell us who is the current line up?
GHM: I had to move on from something different cause I wasn’t feeling that way at my point in life. I got happy and out of that feel sorry for me phase of music and found my true love, which she is still with me today. She changed my outlook and thus my music became lighter and I killed that Neo Goth/Metal syndrome. And then, everything was going great, until I heard Radiohead's "KID A" and that was it. I needed the challenge as well. I wanted to go to the next step of music that is non-pop and whimsical. I got hardcore into Zappa, Phish, Primus, Coltrane, The Dead and AIR, which is one of the best groups in history that no one has heard of. And in strange but fabled coincidence that my friend from work was going through the same problem. Metal got dumb, Pop was stale and Rap was still stuck on insisting that they will shoot you if you smile at them. We both bought "KID A" at the same time cause I dug their single cause it sounded like Soundgarden, my all time favorite band. We both thought it ruled, we both dug the concept, we both pushed forward. And Forever M, the old band I was in and fronted for years, just broke up, and my friend could sing, and it was easy as that. One practice with Forever M's to be bassist Andy became a shift in idea's; we decided to be a joke band and purposely shitty. Well, that didn’t work either cause we got kind of good at writing these cute little Starter Band songs, that some are still in the set 3 years later. So it was all good from the start and it just got better. And then Joey Utah, our Drum Lord, called up one night from an ad, we all met up and then jammed a few things, and blam. We became what we still are. A damn good fuckin band that is probably better than your band! Except if your Phish. And Pantera!

VMU: I saw you guys play live once along time ago, has the act changed since then?
GHM: Monstrously! Man we got around 50 songs, not counting the improv free space jazz funk that we jam out all the time. We became a Jam Band and mixed in our 80's and 70's roots and we have a fuckin OG sound like a muthafucka! I am throwing out the challenge!

VMU: Could you explain the gear you guys use for live and recording?
GHM: Uhm…guitars, bass, Drums, Pot, Cigarettes, Whiskey, "Have a Beer?", More pot for Me, no friends, no bands that like us, Being Stoned, Being tipsy, being the best band on earth using Yamaha drums and Keys, Ibanez Roadstar OG 84', Fender Bass's, 5150 and a Galien Kruger or however the fuck you say those…and more weed.

VMU: Any new recordings in the works and who is the producer?
GHM: We are stuck in a recording rut, cause we can't decide what to do with it…we have some good shit on tape. We want to record live, but I also want to put out the best indie record in the last 5 years…I am an ass when it comes to a lot of things, and a huge record has always been my vice…one that I am completely happy with and had a chance to record it without looking at my watch all the time. Fuck that. Someone fork over the $$$ or just get us in your studio and we'll make a record that will put both of us on the map. Work with me…I know what will work…Let's do it…You know I'm right…Look at my name!!!

VMU: How do you feel about the mainstream music industry?
GHM: Music is in a rut and we went back in time too fast. I know it recycled, but I think we didn’t hit the 90's in the early days enough…Muddle of Pudd and POD and PooPoo Roach didn’t cut it as good bands, neither did 7 Mary 3 or Tool. Tool got lame…Pop took over in the late 90's then all of a sudden all these queens want to sing over hard riffs that were taken from the first 3 Pantera records and Slayers old catalog. Hip Hop is still gangsta's bitch and great acts like Tribe Called Quest and Busdriver and Common and De La Soul can’t get back on top with smart raps and no way am I going to get on a rant about the worst fuckin excuse for being a bitch music EMO. Man that shit is the worst shit to hurt your ears and make you wonder if the BOY singing has a dick or not. Why the whining? Why not sing like a man. Feelings for guys got into music and the hard bands got weak and soft and starting crying all the time, like Grrrls! Ugh! Fuck that shit. What happened to the classics, that are always going to be a classic…like Boston, YES, Genesis, Zappa (Me!), Primus…Man…it got bad…but the underground is rumbling…and it's hungry. Something will be it for a year or so soon…I promise. We could be the beginning or the end of it.

VMU: Do you guys prefer live or recording?
GHM: Definitely live. Cause we are a great fuckin live band that will give you different songs every time and you never know what the new cover is or my nightly shreds and art displays and the classic game we play "Who's going to fuck up first"…I never lose! Fuckin A we are trying to get the word out that you will have fun seeing us live either by the great tunes or the shear musicianship and the elite jams from space and the stoner moments! And recording sucks ass cause it never sounds good and is weak and doesn't play in your car CD player or just sucks cause you were nervous, or drunk, or wanted to layer shit after shit on top of the already existing shit pile you are paying for to take for a few weeks and still have the same lump of shit you started with before and were better off recording a live show cause we will never get it right in a studio!

VMU: Thanks, guys for your time any last words?
GHM: Die! And get ready…yes, the rumor is true…We are Better then You!

VM Underground
May 21, 2004