Deathbed Repentance

Seattle's Industrial Rock Saviors

interview by Chuck Foster

It must have been around 10:00 pm, Saturday August 2nd, when the ground outside Neumos on Capital Hill began to tremble. Yuppies scurried for safer grounds, ears covered, hunched liked the frightened animals they are. But this wasn't an act of god punishing humanity for its cruelty to mother earth, this was Deathbed Repentance hitting their first chords of the night, Seattle's industrial rock savior.

Words escape me as I listen to their debut CD, 'Songs To Bleed To'. One thing is certain though, if song could draw blood, these razor-like sounds would be fatal. But what makes this collective suicidally addictive is its extreme diversity from song to song. I was left with no other choice than to ask these guys for an interview. With words as powerful as their album, I have chosen to run this interview word for word. I know you'll enjoy, unless your one of the yuppie, pussy-ass pirates that have invaded this grand city. If so, run for the fucking hills, 'cause us freaks are here till the rapture, or your demise.

Who is Deathbed Repentance, and how did the band come together?

Perhaps I'll start by introducing myself, yes? I am Sange de Sade, blood of the Marquis. A distant relation to Donatien Alphonse Fran�ois comte de Sade, known to the world as the Marquis de Sade. I am the singer and songwriter for Deathbed Repentance. One night at a club here in town I became weary of repeated lashings at the fledgeling goth/industrial/fetish scene in Seattle, particularly the music that we hear in the clubs. Not that the music is bad, but most of it that is really good is so fucking old, most of the blokes there were too young to have known these bands when they came out. Either that or it's all techno music with undecypherable vocals and no real melodies. I happen to hear this complaint again on one particular night about 2 years ago from a girl that I was sitting drinking with and I really wanted to get her into bed, so I said I'll do it. I'll write the next hit song for this scene and it will be new and exciting. Naturally I had to follow through - that song became 'The God I Never Had'.

After the album was finished I was lucky enough to have Steve White agree to play guitar for me. Soon after I approached Victor Meds to play bass and he took to it like a stripper to six inch heels. He introduced me to Eric Peterson. This bad ass mother fucker of a drummer was the last piece of the puzzle and we've been rehearsing like mad men. The energy in the practice room is absolutely undeniable. It's been a lot of fun.

How long did 'Songs To Bleed To' take to produce from start to finish?

Man, I'd love to tell you that it was nothing and it came together like that, but I think anyone who hears this album knows a lot of time and care went into it's construction. To put it simply, it took about a year for me to write and demo the whole album at home, and a damn good portion of the following year to produce, track mix and master it. But it was worth it. It's fucking good. I'm very proud of it and I stand by it.

Tell me about my favorite song on the disc, 'America Is A Drug'. This is one that will make Manson sweat.

That's just a damn fun song. Honestly, I don't give a shit about politics. It's thrown around so much these days in this sort of music. I'd rather talk about love and stiletto heels. But I felt the need to sway the topic a little so I decided to put it in the perspective of, if I were Prez, how I might come up with new and creative ways to fuck it all up like everyone else has. Is there a bit of reference to our current commander in chief? Sure. But also to those after him, whoever it might be. It's hard not to get a little excited about our new candidate but I'll still take a stab at all of them, and at myself, just to entertain you.

On the same note, how did the remake of 'God' by Tori Amos find its way to the album?

I've always loved her. I don't care what anyone else says. I think her lyrics are delightful. Cryptic, but loaded with fun imagery. I have heard that some might have a problem with a male singing that song for what it means but I say the meaning can change. Perhaps it is a reminder that women are just as powerful and able to inflict pain of any sort on to the opposite sex. Or the same sex for that matter. One woman told me it's the song she wants to listen to when she's getting dressed to go out with the intention of destroying some poor unsuspecting man's ego, shatter his confidence and love every second of it. That's power! But besides that, I just think it's a killer song and I've always wanted to cover it. I think it kicks ass!

I also thought 'The God I Never Had' is a knockout recording. Does this song originate from a religious background or a distaste for organized religion and Christianity?

Well, it's a bit ambiguous, isn't it? I mean, am I absolutely denying the existence of God by saying that? Does it really matter to the listener? Can someone feel so strongly about another human being that they place that person in the same light as the Almighty? Imagine someone so compassionate and passionate in your life that absolutely gives you unconditional love and support every second of every hour and forces you to become a better person yourself. I simply used words and ideas from Christianity to convey this idea. I don't completely distaste religion because I have seen what it can do for people and it is occasionally amazing. Besides, my beef isn't with the church, it's with God. So, do I have someone in my life that I can say all that about? I'll never tell.

Beyond the music and lyrics, I noticed a lot of big names listed on the production of this disc, like Black Lab Studios and Jupiter Studios. How did you get together with these guys and what was it like working with them?

I met KMFDM through William Wilson, front man for the seminal local goth/rock band, Legion Within. I am their drummer. I was lucky in that I got to play drums at Legion Within's CD Release party for Sasha and Lucia, Jules, Steve and Andy before I really met any of them. I think I gained their respect through my playing and they were no longer just rock stars to me, they were my friends. I asked Jules Hodgson of Black Lab Studios to help me finish up production and complete final mixes. I think he quite enjoyed the challenge and I say that with modesty because every time there was some little thing I wanted to change, he always had it half-fixed before I could get the words out. We were very much in sync with what this album has to be. That was a fun week. I've known Martin Feveyear of Jupiter Studios for years through bands like the Posies whom I've know since high school. He's one of the top 2 or 3 producers/ engineers in town and probably the best mastering engineer in the state. It was a no-brainer. And I love that he told me he would make it 'louder than shit!' And it is louder than shit.

I also noticed the infamous Kevin Hundsnurscher did the cover art. How did he get involved?

Kevin and I met through the model on the cover, Vienna la Rouge, who I've known for over a decade. I liked some of the other shots I'd seen of Kevin's, not just of Vienna but other friends who recommended him. The cemetery shot on the inside was very fun to get. I had that shot in my head for well over a year and it is exactly as I imagined it. It's gorgeous. It doesn't suck that Vienna is such a natural beauty, either. She knew what I wanted and I got it.

I hate to get political, but I have to ask where you think Seattle is heading musically with yuppies moving in and night clubs coming under fire by Nichols?

Well I'm not in the market for a fucking condo. This city is in turmoil. The arts are being squashed by big construction and big money and the mayor's got a rock hard boner to turn Seattle into a Megalopolis like New York, only with California rolls and fleece and bad drivers and god damn Modest Mouse. At least the poster ban was repealed but, shit, we need some changes around here before we loose all that is great about this city. I love this town but so much of the music sounds like absolute garbage to my ears. They seem to be able to write a catchy pop song, kinda, but they can't fucking play it! Take some lessons. Learn the rules before you break them. Is that what the Sex Pistols did? No, but you are not the bloody Sex Pistols and neither am I. 'You wear your bass well, now play it like a fucking bass player!'

Any last thoughts or credits that I may have missed to hit?

OK, I'm calm now. Hmmm. I suppose I would just like to plug the show ten more times. We are doing our CD Release party at Noc Noc on Friday, August 22nd. Believe me when I say we are going to turn that little dance club into an arena for that night. It will be spectacular. I am confident it will be one of the best shows you have seen this year and certainly the best show of a brand new band you have seen ever.

When and where can sinners find Deathbed Repentance, live or recorded?

Well any future shows after Noc Noc I am not ready to divulge, but there are a few kettles cooking right now. The record is available now on CDBaby.com and in all the good shops around town. Sonic Boom, Silver Platters, Easy Street and Cellophane Square. We will have all manner of swag at the show so bring your 401k and party with us. It's gonna be a hell of a time. Oh, did I get that girl I mentioned? Let me untie her and you can ask her yourself.