CULPRIT, TKO,
THE BANG GANG, SHAKE OF FAITH
Well, i wouldn't really say we're back!We got together for the sole purpose to play on Wacken Open Air festival and help HELLION Records promote the release. There has been talk of doing a record but at the moment i doubt that will ever happen. But i never say never.
What is happened through all these years?
I joined and formed a copuple other bands(TKO,THE BANG GANG,SHAKE OF FAITH). Moved to Southern califotnia in 1986. Then started my own business. We've done a few reunion gigs over those years but WOA festival was the best so far!
Tell us more about the re-release of the Guilty As Charged album?
We we're contacted by hellion Records to do it.We tried to get the masters from Mike Varney of SHRAPNEL Records but he wouldn't give them to us. So we found the best copy of the vinyl we could and Terry Gorel from Heir Apparent basicly eg'ed it through a computer. It was the only way to get it on CD. I wish we could have gotten the masters and remixed it. Boy that would have been fun.
We thought about re-recording it but that didn't happen either. The thing that sucks is Varney produced or should i say reduced the first record and did a horrible job. I have to say it's one of the worst sounding records.It's sad because the songs are pretty cool. It always surprises me that people liked it as much as they did. I'm greatful, but i wish the world could have heard what the record should have sounded like. Maybe someday!!
Three Live bonus tracks on the re-release,where did they recorded and who's intention was it to put these tracks on the album?
Those songs we're recorded straight off the board in a little club in Seattle, it's trully live!
Just thought it would be cool to put something a little extra on the CD. That's why we went to so much trouble with the art work.If you like CULPRIT it's worth bying the CD just for the artwork alone. Plus the CD actually sounds alot better than the original vynal version.
There was also a release on Reborn Classic records. What was the difference between the release on Hellion records?
It wasn't authorized nor did the band have anything to do with it. The sound is fucking awfull and there is no art work at all. Those scum bags suck!
How's your vocalist today. He was also in a band called MISTRUST, is that right?
I don't really know as of the moment. He did about a year in jail(the real Culprit!) and i really haven't hooked up with him since. I'm turning 40 this year and we are going to get together and jam for my bithday party so i'll see him then. Looking forward to it.
Any news from Mike Varney, the legendary producer of many US METAL outfits!
Not since he refused to sell us the masters of Guilty as Charged! I haven't seen that guy since the late eighties.
A split after the first first Culprit album, what went wrong?
No management and not having a clue how to get the next level.
You also joined TKO. I like to know more about them...still exist?
We do not exist as a band. It's kinda like the Culprit thing. We re released one of our albums(Below The Belt) on Metal Mayhem and did a reunion show at the EMP museum in Seattle. Both Culprit and TKO are in the museum.It's quite a honor. All the members live in Seattle still.
How's the US Metal scene of today? What are your faves at the moment?
I don't know if you consider these metal bands but i like Rob Zombie, The Cult, Chilli Peppers, Halford....I don't like to many of the new bands.I saw Whitesnake the other night and those guys kicked ass! Coverdale is one of the best singers in history.
Playing as a reunion band on one of the greatest European festivals called W.O.A...how was the experience and which songs we're on the set list that day?
It was a great experience! I wish we could do it every year. They really do a great job of taking care of the artists. We played every song off Guilty As Charged except...I Am.
There was never a second Culprit album,any plans for the future and are you still involved with Hellion records today?
Hellion Records would love to put out another record. But as mentioned before, there are no plans for us to do that at the moment. The main problem is we live in different states and are all pretty busy with our own lives. Maybe some day it will happen, I Hope So!
A last word to the Metal To Infinity readers?
Thanks for remembering us anyway. If you don't have already check out the re-release on hellion rec. It's a great moment of time...ROCK ON!