Rockezine.com interview with M.O.D. on May 15, 2003

M.O.D.

with Billy Milano on May 15, 2003


The people who hate me, talk more about me than the people who like me		Hey Billy, how are you doing? Doing awesome! Everything’s fucking great. The reviews for this record are amazing. Everyone loves the record. I think I finally did the best record of my life! You know, I’m really happy right now. I’ve been over 80 interviews and only 2 of the magazines gave me bad reviews.
		The new MOD album is going to be out next month and it’s the first MOD album on Nuclear Blast. Isn’t it scary to begin with a clean slate? It’s actually refreshing. I’m happy that this record is doing very well, but I won’t be disappointed when it doesn’t. Because I know, for myself, that I did a great record. And to me, this is my reward. Everyone loves this album! I’m on cloud 9 to be honest. I’m actually flabbergasted that it’s doing so well.
		The Rebel You Love To Hate is a pretty straight forward title. I’m assuming it has something to do with the heat you’ve been getting through the media? It’s actually sarcastic. Because the people who hate me, talk more about me than the people who like me. Which is kind of funny because I’m not a person that you need to be talking about all the time. It is hilarious in many regards. It’s the old story… my mom told me to stay in music, and she knew that deep down inside this made me happy. She said “Billy, there are going to be people that don’t like what you’re doing because you have a strong opinion and have the integrity to say it and uphold it.”. When America invaded Iraq, whether you like it or not, I said I agreed with it. Yet I’m the only American musician who’s telling European magazines that I agree with it. Most of the American artists say that they don’t believe in the war, but support the troops anyway. And I think that’s kind of cowardly. It’s just a very ambiguous message. I believe in the war against terrorism. If that means going into Iraq, fucking so be it.
		There are some titles on the new record that seem to be directed at some bands. For example Rage Against The Mac Machine and De Men Of Stein. What’s your grudge with bands like Rage Against The Machine and Rammstein? Fans of my music are going to realize after reading my interviews I only use Rammstein as a point of reference for their music scene and Rage Against The Machine as a point of reference for their music scene. The song “Rage Against The Mac Machine” deals with musicians that go out and say “fight the injustice of the corporate machine because it takes 5 million dollars to make a record”. And yet they use their label money to go out and buy stuff for their videos. And they seem secure with the fact that they take that money and make their video, while they could just take that money to send it to some fund to help homeless people. Instead they buy cars, houses and go on tour busses. Their hypocrisy has never been addressed, until me. Because I’m the only guy with balls I guess, in the music industry anyway. But it’s not about Rage Against The Machine, but the hypocrisy they stand for. And it carries on with Audioslave. Tom Morello says that communism is the only way for this country to work! Everyone gets the equal. But meanwhile he’s a guy that went to Harvard. He’s got rich family and he’s rich himself. And there he is screaming about the “working man”. Then it’s like…whatever. Go out and make another video, have enough explosions to simulate the Vietnam war. It’s just ridiculous. And the Rammstein song, it’s not about Rammstein. It sounds like Rammstein, it references Rammstein but the song is about that music scene and how its fashion brings that out. They look very militant and their music is very militant as well. They have a lot of symbolism that you see in fascism. It was just something to write about. Who gives a fuck about Rammstein?! The song’s about fashion and fascism. It’s stupid, but it’s funny!
		With the track “Ass-Ghanistan” you obviously show your hate for terrorism. That’s exactly what that song is about! The German magazine Rockhard said it was about blowing up Afghani people but that’s not true! The song is about a terrorist fraction that uses God as an excuse to go ahead and kill people. It’s ridiculous! If there is a God, he certainly doesn’t want you to kill for him, whether you’re a Christian or a Muslim or whatever you may be. It just wouldn’t be about that. It’s about attacking fundamental terrorism. It’s not about Afghanistan! It’s about the people who ruin Afghanistan. And we call them pieces of shit. And the only way I could see it, was bringing that together. A piece of shit comes from an ass. So there you go, Ass-ghanistan! It’s a very controversial title, but not a controversial subject because when you ask me about it, you get the facts.
		Can you say that you’re a patriot? It depends on what you look at. I’m a patriot of America for instance. I believe that everyone should have the right to survive, everyone should have the right to freedom and freedom of speech. It’s the beauty of it what makes this country so unique. We truly are a combination of all countries of the world. America’s not American, America is every single country out there. It is the greatest experiment in freedom. Unfortunately it’s not working right yet, but like every society, everyone’s going to do what they feel is right. If we make it another 1000 years, which I doubt we will, the world would be a better utopian society. But I don’t think we’re going to live another, 5 to 10 years…but the answer to your question is… I am an American patriot.
it takes a lot to make me laugh, man.		On the track “Wigga” you make fun of the rap industry and rap in particular… Well…not rap. I lived in a block with two guys who are black. And they’re Muslims, which I didn’t know. But they’re my friends. And we’re talking one time, and they said “Billy, you’re writing music right? Why don’t you write a song about those white kids that act like their from the ghetto?”. And they were very pissed off about it. I felt like I was kind of charged by my friends. Like something to do with all that’s holy and righteous and get these fuckers, and I think I did a pretty good job!
		So I can assume that you’re not an Eminem fan… Uhm…you know what? I see him on MTV and stuff, and I like his most recent stuff because he makes fun of himself, like I do. I’m the first guy to make fun of me. And it’s very good that he’s got that because the rap community is having kind of a thing with him. But I personally don’t have a problem with him. I just use him as a point of reference. It’s so ridiculous and insane that you just cannot laugh. Even I’m laughing! And it takes a lot to make me laugh, man.
		Aren’t you afraid that you won’t be taken seriously because of the decision not to make the record serious? Eh, who cares…I’ll be honest with you. I’m not here to make anyone happy but me. But the fact that someone like you can listen to my record in Holland is incredible. Just by itself, not even the fact that you like it or anything. But the fact that you have the music that I created in your hands and your on the phone with me across the ocean, talking about my music and you like it, that’s just fucking HUGE! It’s flattering. I never put myself in higher regard. I love what I do and I’m very fortunate to be able to do it. My ultimate reward is that someone enjoys what I do, even if it’s one single person, I win! There’s going to be a million people who hate me, and if there’s one guy who likes it, I win…they get it.
		So what’s the biggest difference to you when comparing MOD to SOD? Honestly it’s got to be the most important thing; sincerity. All of the guys are very humble, like me. They don’t think they should be opening for Metallica or Iron Maiden. It’s just not like that. With MOD it’s all different. Like when a kid has been waiting 16 years to see you, just have the common decency to say hello. SOD wasn’t about that and I am all about that. I’m respectful, they’re not.
		The last tracks on the album are remixes of original tracks that are on the album. Wasn’t there more material to put on the album, because only 8 tracks seems a small number. Well it seems like a small number but when considering the playing time it’s still long enough. For example when you look at Slayer’s Reign In Blood, that was 23 minutes and no one ever complained about that. Everything on that record was just great, and that was I’m aiming at for this album as well. There were songs that I tried to finish but I didn’t feel the vibe on those, so I decided not to finish those. I will probably finish them eventually and publish them on the internet for free though. I don’t want to give those songs to the record company so the fans have to buy my record again. But yeah, there are bonus tracks of radio edits on the end of the record. For Europe it doesn’t make any sense if they’re on there, but for America…there are a lot of radio stations here that would play my music if it wasn’t so vulgar. So I did the radio edits for the simple reason that if a radio station decides to play one of my songs…they can play a couple of more songs than usual. Otherwise they could only play one song for maybe 5 or 6 weeks and then I’m screwed! People don’t want to hear the same songs all the time. So I bought myself live time on the radio and people can hear “Rage Against The Mac Machine” for example. But the original wouldn’t be played because it’s so full of vulgarity. So I saved my record label a ton of money by putting radio edits on the album as bonus tracks.
		When can the fans in Europe see MOD live? I’m working on it, and we’re going to tour. But only when the band is ready. It’s got to be when the band is prepared and when the festival season is done and when the people have recovered from it all. So when they saved up some money again to hang out. You know how that goes…after the summer everyone’s broke. But I’ve been trying to get the Ministry tour for Europe, so I’m working on it. To be honest with you, there are things that have to come first, writing, rehearsing and start preparing for Europe.
		It’s obvious that you don’t like a lot of bands, but what bands or albums do you listen to yourself nowadays? I love all music and I respect everyone’s ability to make music and at the end of the day it’s all a form of art. Even though I criticize people for their political stands. But what I listen to these days is everything that sounds good. From Slayer to Ministry, Gypsy Kings to Garbage or a Soilwork record…there’s a lot of things out there and I don’t want to limit myself. So you know, that’s what I’m listening to.
		Okay… well that’s all there is for now. Thanks a lot for taking to the time to do this interview. Well you know what Rob? That’s what I’m here for and I’m really glad that you liked the record and that’s what it’s about, right!?
		Is there anything you’ve got to add? Well I’m just really looking forward to play live and hopefully we’ll hang out and talk, drink beer, smoke Cuban cigars and do whatever we do best: Enjoy life! I’m hoping that all the shit in the world will calm down.
(Robert Graalman)