Exodus: An interview with Rob Dukes

Touring in support of their recently released multi-disc DVD collection, the aptly titled ‘Shovel Headed Tour Machine’ Exodus roared through town on a brutally cold January night. All I can say is the Exodus attack is alive and well people, they came, they saw and they conquered, it was a thing of beauty! I caught a bit of shit when I posted a quick re-cap of their show, saying they were as stong as they’ve ever been, but I stand behind it, 100% I dig Baloff and Hunolt too, but there’s no fucking with modern day Exodus, they just kill live! Post show I sat down with Vocalist Rob Dukes (with a one word comment by Drummer Tom Hunting) to discuss Exodus 2010 and more and here’s what went down.

None But My Own: Did your reputation as the “film guy” of the band make you the logical choice to take on the brunt if the work involving the ‘Shovel Headed Tour Machine’ DVD?

Rob Dukes: I don’t know…I mean Tom (Hunting-D) doesn’t even know to work a camera…

Tom Hunting: (laughing) Bullshit!

Nobody else wanted to do it!


What sets the wheels in motion to take on a project of this magnitude? We’re talking two full discs of material, tons of bonus footage…

Honestly it was me filming my life! It came about way after I had been doing it naturally over the years. What happened was we got the video from the Wacken people when we played there in 2008. Once we saw that I suggested we should buy that footage and put it together with the stuff I’d been filming as a documentary and release it all. I started going through the clips, which is all these things were, just bits from the road and I sat with it and watched it and watched it and it was really funny but it didn’t make any sense.

What I did was I went back and interviewed everybody, I had questions prepared and everything. Lastly I had a friend of mine do the actual interviews so the guys could say whatever they wanted, once that was done it mostly finished itself.


You’ve recently completed yet another successful touring run to close out 2009. Many of the last runs were with Kreator how were those shows.

Oh man, those were very cool, very cool. We’re actually trying to do a European tour with them. The crowds were so into both bands, we got along great with those guys so it was just perfect.


I think you guys are working probably as hard as you ever have, I mean I think it’s great and I hope the results speak for themselves as time continues. How differently do you prepare for shows and touring now then what you did when you first started with Exodus in 05? I’m sure in the beginning you had some trial by error moments, huh?

Totally man, those first few years were rough, I didn’t know what I was doing (laughing)! Seeing as I had never sung before in my life when we first started touring we were playing like, two hours every night! Our former manager was like “you’re never going to be able to do it!” So he took me to this woman for some technique lessons and all that and she told him, “He’ll never be able to pull this off every night.” But you know what? I did.

Yeah I had some rough nights, there were times I lost my voice but I finally went to see Melissa Cross in New York and she helped me get to a point where I can get up there and sing live every night and not have to worry about it. I don’t blow myself out anymore which is a good thing. I caught strep throat in South America, really bad. So bad my uvula was white, filled with pus and it had swelled up three times it’s normal size, it was just laying on the back of my tongue, right? I got up there and sang and 10,000 people had a good time, it was awesome.
I’ve been noticing a lot of kids, I mean a lot of kids are coming out and really getting into Exodus, Thrash, OverKill, Kreator etc. That’s got to be something to see from the band’s point of view.

It’s been really, really good to see that! Hopefully with the next record we’ll be able to like go out and play the whole thing! I don’t want to say we’re going to let go of the past, but we’re definitely happy where we’re at right now rather than counting on the past. So that’s the plan, to reach the kids with the new stuff and then that will lead them to discovering ’Bonded By Blood’ and ’Fabulous Disaster’ and all that. We want to stay relevant right now you know?

I mean compare what we’re doing right now to a lot of records and we just feel we’re faster, meaner, more aggressive or whatever and that’s what we do live. We’re not just out here living off the past and that’s important! Sure there’s places, like in South America where they’ll pay us specifically to play ’Bonded…’ so we’ll do two sets a night, one all current material and one just ’Bonded By Blood’, and I can see why, it’s pretty classic .

What can you tell me about the upcoming album ‘Exhibit B: The Human Condition‘?

It’s fast! It’s dark, the lyrics are really dark and I think there’s some really good stuff on it. I think it’s the best thing I’ve, personally ever done. I mean, I think it’s amazing.

This is record number three with you fronting the band…

Well, fourth if you count the ’Let There Be Blood’…

I’m talking about the original stuff, but we’ll get to ‘Let There Be Blood’ in a minute. But what I’m getting at is your background as a non-vocalist, it seems like you’re a work in motion. Each album has a bit of a different Rob Dukes sound. How did you approach this import third record with the band? Where are you pulling inspiration from?

I don’t know man, I’m really just trying to be a better singer. I think all the shows we’ve done have been such a great experience and that goes to show you what your limitations are, what works and what might not work. I think on the new record we were able to work with my abilities as well as stretching those limitations is something we definitely did.

I do some low growl-y stuff, some real high stuff, some harmonies as well as just some plain ol singing you know? From the beginning to the end it came out really cool, I think it’s cool that my voice is a bit different from track to track. One of these songs is one that I sang over two years ago and we were going to re-record it and I said, “why?” I thought it sounded fucking great at the time so we left it as-is.

I thought with ’The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A’ you definitely stretched things pretty far, your growth between ’Shovel Headed Kill Machine’ and ’..Exhibit A’ was pretty amazing.

Thanks man, I was happy then and I’m happy with what’s going on now. I just want to expand on what I can do and yeah, maybe the oldest of the old school fan might not like it, but what can a band do? You can’t put out the same album every time.

Speaking of the “old-school”, earlier you brought up ‘Let There Be Blood’ and talk about an uproar!! You guys got a lot of shit thrown at you with that album. How did you take it personally?

It’s all music, it’s just us doing what we want to do…I mean fuck everybody else and I mean that. Really, who gives a fuck what you think? We can do whatever the fuck we want! But it comes down to this, you’re not going to please everybody all the time no matter what it is you do. Be it a brand new album of all new material to what they think you should play live, what you should look like and it goes on and on.

So we’re here trying to please ourselves first and foremost. We wanted to hear those songs with an updated sound…listen, it’s unfortunate that Paul is not around because if Paul was here today he’d be singing with the band and I wouldn’t even be an issue.

Something new on the horizon is the recently announced Megadeth, Testament, Exodus North American Tour. This has to be pretty damn cool for you, huh? Unexpected but cool.

Yeah, that’s going to be fun, too bad we’re not playing Chicago though! It’s going to be secondary markets but it’s going to be very cool. I’m going to make an ass out of myself right now by making a complete assumption; but I’m thinking we’ll probably do another tour later in the year hitting major markets. So we’ll see everyone out there sooner or later!

March 01 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
March 02 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
March 03 - Medford, OR - Medford Armory
March 06 - Calgary, AB - Big Four (TESTAMENT w/ guests)
March 07 - Edmonton, AB - Shaw Conference Centre (TESTAMENT)
March 08 - Saskatoon, SK - Prairieland Exhibition Hall
March 11 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theater
March 12 - Pittsburgh, PA - Palace Theater
March 13 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
March 15 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
March 16 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
March 18 - Scranton, PA - Scranton Cultural Center
March 19 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa
March 21 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
March 22 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
March 23 - Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall
March 25 - Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theater
March 26 - Austin, TX - Stubb’s Amphitheater
March 27 - Lubbock, TX - The Pavilion
March 28 - El Paso, TX - Club 101
March 30 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theater
March 31 - Hollywood, CA - Hollywood Palladium (TESTAMENT w/ special guests)

Paul Baloff, Rage In Peace Feb 2, 2002

8 years gone...
Just a remembrance of original Exodus vokillist Paul Baloff who passed away on this day back in 2002.

Here's an interview with Paul from 1997. This was on the Midwest Metal site for a while, so it has the 2001 notes as well.

2001 Notes: I remember setting this interview up, I'm not too sure if I was supposed to speak to Baloff originally, but when the phone rang it was Rick Hunolt. God, what a disaster dude was a total mess and the interview just sucked. So I called Marco who I believe was still doing publicity stuff, told him that Rick was a shitty interview and what else can we do.

A few minutes later the phone rang again, this time it was the man himself, Paul Baloff. This interview is short and to the point and was cool to do and an honor to have Baloff in Midwest Metal. While their reunion didn't last long at all, it was worth it to have gotten the 'Another Lesson In Violence' album.


When the original line up of Exodus split with Vocalist Paul Baloff many felt it was the end of an era, the end of a special time for Metal. Now some twelve years later he has returned with the terror twin axe team of Holt/Hunolt, Drummer Tom Hunting a new bassist and a new live album.

Midwest Metal: What have you been up to for the past few years?

Paul Baloff: Well for a few years I had my band Piranha, we had a demo tape produced by James Hetfield and I pretty much beat that dead horse into the ground. I then played in Heathen and then after that I wanted to take a break from music altogether. I went to Carmel, CA. and I turned into a surf bum, and that lasted a while, but at one point I figured I had about seven years of wildness left in me so I decided to give Gary (Holt-G) a call to see what was up.

So I called him and he said he was doing an Exodus project and that I should move up right away, so I was like "Seven more years of wildness? Might as well be with Exodus!"

So you move to the Bay Area and how was it at first?

At first it was kind of weird but now it's even more insane than it was before. These guys may be a little bit older but they're just as insane as ever. Especially when they're away from their steadies.

You had a reputation like few others, both on stage and off, what I want to know was it all true? I mean anyone who say's they want to see a dead poser, that's classic!

It all depends on how much you've heard! But I suppose a good 90% of it was true, we've played in pools of blood on stage, we've cut ourselves open during "Bonded By Blood" in clubs before. The "dead poser" stuff was true, dead people in the streets but like I said, it all depends on how much you've heard (laughs)!

What was the first tune you guys jammed on when you regrouped?

Ummm, I don't know (laughs), I guess "Exodus" or "Bonded By Blood" maybe it was "Deliver Us To Evil" something heavy like that.

Let's talk about the new live album, 'Another Lesson In Violence'. The record is so clear yet brutal, how long did you have to soundcheck?

Oh a million years or so (laughs)! There were people in vans, mobile units and everyone communicated by walkie-talkies and if there was a sound problem it was hell. But the performance part was killer we were and are so into it it's not even funny, the tour is gonna crush!

You just returned from Europe where you played the Dynamo Festival, how'd that go?

Killer. It was the most people I've ever played before in my life, I usually never look at the crowd before we go on, there I peeked out like, two minutes before we went on and I freaked. For the first time in my life I freaked before a show but it was cool.

How's Jack fitting in? Was he all nervous in Europe, this being his first tour and all?

Jack rules. He rages, he's a chick magnet and he simply rules. He's the only guy on stage that doesn't move one million miles an hour, he just sort of stomps around in his little circle, Jack rules.

I know there's been talk of a new album for Exodus, what's the new stuff sound like?

Sort of like a 1990's 'Bonded By Blood' with, what I call, "Jungle Thrash" kind of stuff. I call it that because I don't know how to describe it, we've got some killer rhythms and stuff, all I know is it's heavy.

What are you looking to accomplish on the US tour? Is it a re-introduction, of sorts?

Just playing the best we can every night. I just saw a schedule of our dates and it say's we play twenty-six shows in a row, I hope someone told my voice that! And even though that's a lot of shows in a row, we'd like to get a grip on the scene you know, be at the point where we get to call our own shots I mean I don't even know if we'll be on the same record label next year. Who knows? We just want to be the heaviest we can be.

After you left Exodus, when the band continued on with Zetro what did you think of them?

I was really busy with my Piranha thing, and one of our goals was to try and catch Exodus, at one point I even had a song called "Crush Exo-Metal" (laughs). It's all kind of silly now, but it was heavier than they were!

Exodus - Chicago 01.29.2010

Saw the wine-like Exodus last night at the Chicago House of Rules! These guys are getting better with age, serious chops left right and center makes Exodus a dangerous live machine. Was ultra impressed with Drummer Tom Hunting's destruction of his Yamaha kit. He seriously bashed the hell out of it and nailed everything. I was smoked.

No photos but I did sit down with Rob Dukes after the show so I'll have that up later this week. Exodus 2010 is simply brutal! They have this re-energized vibe to them that goes against the laws of nature. They're probably as strong as they've ever been, any line-up, any year. They were vicious last night. They're touring in support of the 'Shovel Headed Tour Machine' 2xDVD that is excellent. More on that and the interview later this week. Thanks Loana for making it happen!

Extra loud Thanks to Scott Davidson, Rick and Madman Mike!



Since I'm in an Exodus mood, here's an bonus Old Metal Mag Moment with the band from 86

Fuck Yeah!

Just wanted to drop a line to each and everyone of you. Thank you! Above and beyond is all I can say. The amount of readers here is absolutely killer!! In all my days of doing a print zine, I could only dream of the amount of people stopping by here.

If you're a fan of my writing, well fuck yeah! because there's some truly amazing things happening right now. Things that I will share with you when the time is right, but I have to say it's unbelievable some of the opportunities coming my way. I've been doing this stuff for a long time but if some would've told me 2010 would be one of the best years to come my way, musically? Well I would've laughed.

So I'll be posting some stuff real soon, a lot of media updates, books, DVD's and of course more and more 'Old Metal Mag Moments.'

Thank You ALL, again.

Tom

Old Metal Mag Moment: Trouble

Part of the reason I like doing this blog and sharing some of this stuff is because I feel, like the music these interviews are snap shots in time. Where the bands were at, what they were feeling and dealing with both the past as well as the now, heading towards the unknown.

Chicago's Trouble really need no introduction. They are the cornerstone of Doom, the torch bearers of the mighty Black Sabbath and have held this lofty title since their formation in the late 1970's. If you want to follow in their musical footsteps, more power to you. Their riffs and lyrical vibe can make up some of the heaviest Metal known to man. If you want to follow in their business tactics, I say run for the hills. They've made as many mistakes as they have songs, but they're not alone, are they?

Here's a cool Def American era interview with (former, god it still sucks to write that!) Vocalist Eric Wagner. What got me on a Trouble kick? Well my boy Mikey has wanted an OMMM with Trouble since I began and I've been digging the hell out of Ron Holzner's new band Earthen Grave. Check them out and enjoy the flashback.

Oh yeah, a good MetalliTid-bit in here too, Metallica after a blistering set by Trouble at the Stone in SF, checking out the settings on Trouble's amps to "see how they play so heavy!"

Metal, Movies and Miracles: Anvil in Chicago - January 10, 2010

Let’s get right to it. The movie rules, the book’s even better and live, they’re really doing what they do best, rockin’! Recently I was invited to tag along on an Anvil interview with my friend, a local writer named Tony Kuzminski (who's great work can be found here and here). I jumped at the chance to talk to the guys about Metal, movies and miracles which sums up Anvil 2010.

For the band a hectic day of travel, soundchecks, press and radio interviews, pre-show meet-n-greets and most importantly trying to grab a bite to eat cut into our scheduled interview time. After their dinner we sat down with a very laid back, very enjoying the moment Anvil. The day I described above, they're loving every minute of it.

I spent the majority of my “tape time” with Guitarist/Vocalist Lips while my pre-interview bullshitting was talking to Drummer Robb Reiner. Here’s what I got from the formal/informal conversation.

What would be one highlight from the last two years?

Robb: Playing Giants Stadium with AC/DC was a tremendous highlight.
Lips: Conan O’Brien…in ten minutes we were seen by more people than in 30 years!
Robb: Five million people saw us in about three minutes; it was a big day for Anvil and a big day for Metal.

That was a huge day for Metal!

Lips: Yeah, the underground got a chance to come above ground.

Where is Anvil musically in 2010? ‘This Is Thirteen’ is out, what’s next?

Lips: Well we have about 20 songs written, we just need to find the time to record them! We’re touring from now until the end of September (smiling).

An important part of the documentary was your working with Chris, will you be working with him again in the future?

Robb: Chris is definitely still on the table but at this very moment we just don’t know what’s going to happen. But the important thing is the music is written, I’d like to do it right now, I really would. I mean we wanted to record it last year but…

So with the songs that are written, you’re not going back and re-writing them and tinkering with them are you? Meaning you’re going to over think them, are you?

Lips: No. If anything if we change something that usually happens once we’re recording, finding this or that to change.

How are you approaching album #14, ‘Juggernaut of Justice’, everyone’s main goal is to better the album before it and I think you’ll have your work cut out for you as ‘This Is Thirteen’ has seemed to resonate with people.

Lips: Well the difference between the feeling in and around the band in just in the writing, you simply cannot compare it. ‘This Is Thirteen’ was written in a much more time of duress, it was…

Sorry to cut you off, but it has to feel like it was written by a different band.

Lips: Yeah, way different, it was hard. But when you’ve got a bright looking future, the music just poured out of us like nothing. It was completely different and there was a sense of ‘writing because we knew we’re going to get a chance to record again’ versus years before of writing and hoping everything would come together so we get a chance to record everything, does that make sense?

Yeah, totally, I’m sure it’s a huge weight off your shoulders.

Lips: It’s a completely different outlook and in turn feeling when you’re approaching it. So with the next album, it’s like we’re going to have to top these 20 songs already written that will be ‘Juggernaut of Justice.’ Because those songs were written in such a great time. The true test will be the next batch of songs.

By that time we’ll have been used to all of what’s happened, there won’t be that extreme level of excitement and anticipation we had while writing these. Those writing sessions had all this extra stuff built in. But man, the upside to any and all of this? It’s the 14th record!

I think that coming from you that really resonates especially as I always think the scene during the movie where you’re recapping a tour that didn’t go as smooth as it could have, and you aid “at least there was a tour for things to go wrong on.” That’s not just a quote; it’s more of a mission statement.

Lips: Well 99% of life is being there isn’t it? That’s how I look at it, if you’re there then you’re participating and its taking place, life is happening! If you’re sitting home on the couch, it’s not happening there.

Early in my career we had a soundman and we’d be playing these gigs, we’re talking really early on, right? So some of the bands that we’re our “competition” would show up to the gig and one time, one of these guys said, “oh, you’re playing this dump.” Our soundman turned around and said “You came to see us, where are you playing tonight?”

For any movie to succeed, the audience has got to either totally identify with the main subjects or “characters.” Or at least “root” for. A huge part of the movie is that people can relate to you and Robb.

I think people that - love Anvil, hate Anvil or never even heard of Anvil will walk away wanting good things for you because, well because you’re not assholes. I think if you were assholes you probably would’ve simply blown Sacha off some 30 years ago.

Lips: That’s karma. I mean some people have said to me that “Oh, it must be so easy, to make your band happen all you have to do is show how hurting you are.” It’s not quite that simple.

There are a lot of elements, one being you have had to have made some sort of impact, a lasting impact that major rock stars will give testimonials telling the world your worth. There’s no way you’re going to get that kind of support. You’re a fan of Metal I take it you like the DVD’s that come out and most if not all of them come out with the intention of making the band being featured look great! They set up a shoot in a club, pack em in for free get them free drinks and how long until the people see it’s all fake? It’s all just a show and not reality.

The Anvil movie shows the reality and to such a great degree that the biggest rock stars in the world sit down to watch it and they weep! Because they’ve all lived it!

I often think of this, imagine there was a documentary on Vincent Van Gogh. Instead of reading stories about his life after he’s dead and gone, there’s a camera following him around in the cornfield before he shoots himself in the head. You get to watch it in real time, the struggle and all that. Not a retrospective, but an in the now moment.

How does it feel for a band that’s always been about the music, over 30 years worth, but how does it feel to be accepted by such a different realm?

Lips: Oh it’s completely different set of circumstances, a movie and the silver screen is a much, much more enthralling and bombastic thing. You can’t compare it to putting a record out, no matter who you are. No matter who you are, what band you’re in or the style of music you play you’ll never get to the level of putting out a movie. But then again it’s not just the question of a movie, it’s a good movie!

So in your heart of hearts is there a difference between being noticed by some guy who knows you from VH1 and not from ‘Metal On Metal’ or the ‘Mad Dog’ video or something?

It makes absolutely no difference, it’s like you can call me anything you want, just so long as you call me. Does it matter why I’m “famous” or how I got “famous” or what reasons or whatever…I’m famous (laughing)! I mean it’s a miracle; the whole thing’s a miracle!

Anybody making it in music is a miracle, it’s a miracle Metallica made it, it just always is, and that’s nothing at all against any band I’m just saying it’s a miraculous thing when it happens. It’s not necessarily because of the competition; just all your stars have to align to make it all work.


I totally agree, there’s a lot of planets and stars out there, for all of them to line up for you doesn’t happen everyday.

Lips: Even in our eyes, throughout the years it wasn’t about the amount of records we sold, it was the fact that we were making records.

Anthrax week continues...

You know what, they know they suck. I'm ranting here for no reason, enjoy the interview.

The following RIP Magazine scan from March 1994 found the band earning fan voted accolades by being voted "best Thrash band."