Tell me how you got involved with Evanescence.
In 2003, I was in a band called Cold. Cold and Evanescence were on tour together, the band I was in (Cold) were
having our own problems - Amy and Ben (Evanescence) were having their own problems. A week or so after that tour
ended Evanescence went to Europe and Ben quit the band in the middle of the tour. So I was friends with everybody, and
they knew I could pull it off. And at the time I wasn't going to quit the band I was in. We started the tour,
and got along really well... it just felt really good, a good feeling that none of us has felt in a long time. Meanwhile,
while I was on tour with Evanescence - the label we (Cold) were on let us go because of the internal problems going on.
So it was around that same time they asked me to stay in the band.
What attracted you to them in the first place?
Amy's voice attracted me way before we toured together, her voice was the main thing. And her ability to sing with
heavy music.
What was the transition like between the two bands?
It was actually really simple, it didn't take much time. We pretty much chilled from the first show on - it just
kept getting better and better. It was like being in a band with friends. There wasn't any kind of bullshit going
on that made it difficult, we were just really happy at that time because we were both in situations that weren't comfortable to
be on tour. I think that made it work, all of us coming out of bad situations.
Do you ever keep in touch with any of your old band-mates in Cold?
Yeah, there's no hard feelings or anything.
You were also part of Limp Bizkit years ago, what was that like?
Um... that was... there really wasn't much to it... it was when they first signed a record deal, it just really wasn't
my thing at the time. So I just kind of left.
You've pretty much already explained this, but why do you think that Evanescence stands out?
I think definitely the vocals, being a woman singer that can actually sing while playing hard rock music... that hasn't
been done in centuries. I can't think of anyone on the top of my head who has that combination that works.
Do you feel that the band doesn't get the attention that it deserves, because it always seems
to be surrounding Amy.
Yeah, it is what it is. She's the star, and I support her a hundred and fifty percent. She's doing her thing,
and it's working. It's all part of making the machine work.
What are some of the challenges you guys have faced since you joined the band?
Really, the biggest challenge has been getting ready for this tour. I had a stroke nine months ago, that's been
the biggest challenge... just getting over that.
Do you know what brought the stroke on?
When I was in the hospital, my whole left side of my body went paralyzed - they didn't have an idea what was going on.
They said it was the symptoms of a stroke, but they said I was way too young. My blood pressure and cholesterol and
heart were fine, so they were confused. After they did the MRI the doctor came into the room and asked if I've ever
had any neck injuries. They all said no, other than banging his head on stage every night. They said that's got
to be it, because there was a bloodclot in my artery in my neck.
You're lucky.
Yeah, I was really lucky.
Does that effect your playing now?
Daily it gets better. Doing this tour right now, it's like therapy every night for me. Luckily we have two
guitar players, and they do some of the stuff that I can't do yet. Because in the studio I recorded all the guitar,
and I finished that on a Saturday... and I had the stroke that Monday. At least I got that done. (laughs)
It could have been worse.
I read that William left the band in July, why was that?
His hear was just in the touring anymore. He kind of just wanted to sit back home with his family.
Tim McCord replaced William, what does Tim bring to the band?
He is very solid. He's very professional. He's bringing a really cool stage presence, he looks good up there
with us. When we first started going to rehearsals, he knew the songs better than we did.
And you guys are going overseas next week, what's that like?
Yeah, I guess the first week in November. It seems like every country that we're at the fans are incredible and
the shows are always really cool. I don't know, maybe it's because they don't get enough concerts there, so when they
get to see a concert they let the band know that they love them.
Let's talk about the new CD, what sort of emotions are involved?
There's some heavy ones, some dark shit... then there's a piano track called "Good Enough", which is probably the most
positive lyrics she's ever had. So there's a bit of everything.
What's your favorite song?
It would probably be a song called "Your Star"... and "Sweet Sacrifice". "Your Star" is my favorite just because
it starts with piano and vocal, and if you hear it for the first time you'd probably just think it's some piano ballad...
then the riffs kick in... it gets to this big bridge and ends on heavy guitar... the piano is going crazy... it's got everything
in it. Which is really cool and hard to do, and a lot of other bands couldn't pull that off.
