My Ruin Interview

Alana King and Jo Vallance question My Ruin on their recent British tour, new album and more.

R13:You have recently toured Britain with your new album, 'Throat Full of Heart', how does it feel to play over here and how do British shows compare to American shows?
Tairrie B: Every show is different no matter where you play and it all depends on the crowd and how well they know you or how receptive they are to you if they happen to be seeing you for the first time. We’re an American band but I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of touring I do love touring the UK. Always have. Our crew in England has been with us for many years now and so have many of our good friends over there. When we tour it’s like coming home for us each time we cross the pond and we have an amazing time. I have enjoyed playing shows in America as well.

I definitely enjoy the food here much better however, there are so many wonderful things about England for me. The UK will always hold a special place in my heart. In the states we travel in a van and in the UK & Europe we are in a bus. It’s great to be able to see all the cities you are driving through and stop nightly at hotels for showers along the way but having someone else drive, being able to have a few drinks and relax after the show feels kinda nice too.
Mick Murphy:The entire British experience is different because we are all on this rock party together 6000 miles from home. Most of our most die-hard fans are from England so the shows go wild. I have loved touring the UK since my first My Ruin tour in November/December 2000. I am always sad when they end. The last tour was great and the new material was very well received. I think people enjoy seeing us push the heaviness and rock vibe further than before. My Ruin has progressed in one way or another with every record we have done.
Chris Lisee:I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to play the music that I love, regardless of where it is. It's an amazing feeling to connect with people through our music. In the past 3 years, since I became a part of My Ruin, I've been able to meet many of the hardcore friends and fans of the band in both countries, and can honestly say I
feel very much at home in the UK.

R13:Is there anything particularly about Britain, or playing in Britain, that you really like?
Tairrie B: The fans. I love the way people react at our shows. There is a lot of love in the room when we play. It’s electric on stage for us and we all share that feeling with the audience.
Mick Murphy: Like I just said, I like most aspects of touring Britain. The only real bummers are the 10 hour flight, airport chaos and luggage restrictions. I don’t really like the whole flying/ airport experience but it’s all worth it to come rock the UK.
Chris Lisee: I really like knowing that we have such a killer crew in the UK that busts their asses for us every day... so I can let loose, drink way too much, and not have to worry about driving anywhere. We have a lot of really close friends of the band in Britain, and I guess you could say that I look forward to seeing them, too... but don't tell them that, or they'll think I'm all sensitive and care about shit.

R13:Was 'Through the Wound' originally about Tairrie's accident? How did filtering your feelings about the accident into the song that it is now help you?
Tairrie B: It was very therapeutic being able to do that so soon after the accident. Being that I was in the studio recording vocals only 4 weeks into my recovery it helped bring a positive vibe to the healing process on many levels. When I first wrote the lyrics for the music of what has become ‘TTW’ the song had a very different feel. It was actually called ‘S.A.D.’ which stands for ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ and means seasonal mood variations which are believed to be related to light. It was a crazy topic I wanted to discuss but I actually became very hard pressed to finish the song lyrically and I was have a lot of trouble finding my way around the music for some reason so instead I just stuck it to the side and figured I would finish writing it in the studio and let things work their magic in that setting. After the accident I didn’t think about recording vocals or my lyrics for a while. I stepped away from the studio and just focused on healing. When I finally went in and began tracking my vocals I came to this song and it just would not happen for me. So I tried a new approach and decided to write something in the moment. ‘S.A.D.’ was not meant to be obviously because the lyrics of ‘Through the Wound’ poured from me and came out naturally. It’s a hard song for me to do live because I get very emotional when I do it because I am so connected to it personally and it’s still so fresh. That being said, it’s become one of my favourites.
Mick Murphy: I think the song became much more powerful and meaningful. You can hear the raw passion in the vocals and I think the entire vocal tracking process was therapeutic for Tairrie, Chris and me. It was one of the first real tests of Tairrie’s recovery progress and how the band was going to continue and she kicked ass.
Chris Lisee:I don't remember what it was originally about, but I know it wasn't about Tairrie's accident since it hadn't happened yet. We had been rehearsing it in pre-production for the album for about a month before her accident, and when it was time for her to track vocals I know she made some changes to the lyrics, and made it more personal to what she was experiencing at the time. Tairrie was in my thoughts throughout the entire recording process, and I think that song (which is my favorite of the new album) accurately conveys what we were all feeling.

R13:It must have been a very horrible experience, how has that experience changed you and your outlook on life, and on the media who have mostly painted you in a darker light?
Tairrie B: Anyone who experiences something as traumatic as an accident which requires surgeries will be changed as a person. You can’t help it. It’s definitely changed certain things about my life. When you realise that your life can be over in a minute or a body part can simply be taken from you, it makes you see how precious your life and limbs are. I cannot imagine who I would be or how I would be if I had lost my arm. I am thankful that I had an incredible medical team and doctor available to me when I was taken into the hospital. If not, who knows what would have happened. As far as the media goes, I don’t really think they have ever painted our band or me for that matter in a darker light of any kind except those of course who still seem to think My Ruin is a Goth band, which is the funniest and farthest thing from who we are. Just because I dig Nick Cave does not mean I dig Robert Smith. There’s a big difference and as I’ve said before, I listed to NWA back in the day, not The Cure and you will never see me doing “the melt dance”….lol! There will always be those who don’t get your music and that’s fine. We’ve had our share of negative press over the years and great press but we do not make records for the press. When you let the accolades define you it’s easy to let the insults diminish you. For me, dark means deep, honest and it means real. It’s the light, fluffy, commercial bullshit that so many bands are putting out and calling music these days that people need to worry about.
Mick Murphy: It was a deep learning experience for me personally and it made me grow up in many ways. I became a more careful person after the whole ordeal. You see how these things affect everyone involved and it helps you make smarter choices about your life.
Chris Lisee:Overall, I wouldn't necessarily agree that the media has "mostly painted (us) in a darker light." As far as I'm concerned, this band has always been about truth and survival - and there are many people in the media that see us the same way. If by "darker light" you mean "negative press", I'd say that those people aren't paying close enough attention, and are in no position to be painting at all.

R13:You must be aware that two songs in particular, 'Beauty Fiend' and 'Made to Measure' have really affected and helped a lot of young woman the world over, it certainly helped me come through a difficult problem that has been plaguing me for 15 years now and I've now come through it healed. What do these songs in particular mean to you and how does it make you feel to know that your music and lyrics makes such a profound difference to so many, helping them to feel strong and beautiful no matter what happens?
Tairrie B: I’m very connected to those songs and they are real to me. I wrote & recorded ‘BF’ back in 2000 and it was meant to make a serious statement about how I had felt over the years being a woman in rock. In 2003 ‘Made To Measure’ continued that message of self acceptance when we signed w/Century Media Records and released our EP ‘The Shape of Things to Come’ followed by ‘Get Pretty’ & ‘Weightless’ which were all featured on our album ‘The Horror of Beauty’ . Your story is a familiar one for me. I have relieved countless letters over the years and met many girls as well as guys who have told me these songs really struck a cord with them personally and helped them though some very touch times in their lives. These songs did the same for me. You have to remember that there is a reason I wrote them just like I remember there is a reason so many relate to them. Lately I have seen a few bands in our genre who have never spoke about these subjects suddenly take up the cause and it’s strange to me because these bands have had nothing to say about these issues ever lyrically as far as I know. These songs in particular are so near and dear to me that they have become a huge part of who I am as an artist. When I hear someone in a band talking about beauty, scars & body issues after they have spent their whole career thus far being political and/or artsy it feels a bit contrived. But who am I too judge? We all have our demons and we all deal with them differently.

R13:What is your song writing process like, who brings what to the songs?
Tairrie B: Mick and I write really well together. We have since day one. We have different ways of approaching our song writing. Sometimes I will write the lyrics and an idea in my head for the melody and I will hum it to Mick and most of the time he can feel what I am trying to convey and turn it into music. There are also times when he will just sit down and play for 30 minutes or 3 days (whatever it takes) and record a whole song and burn it to a cd for me to write lyrics to. We work together really well and we can always be honest with one another about where the song is going or not going if that is the case. I think Mick is truly gifted when it comes to song writing and I’ve learned a lot from him over the years. In my previous band, there was no connection with me and the guys on that level. That’s one of the reasons I felt the need to start a new project. I wanted to do more musically that what was available and I knew that I would never grow as an artist had I stayed. Chris may not write the music of My Ruin but he makes it his and brings so much to the band live by adding his personal flavour which is an important part as well. Matt did a great job on the album and he was a terrific drummer live. We enjoyed our time with him while he was in the band but it’s been fun having other drummers step in and help us bring the album to life on stage this year. At the moment we have a new guy with us, JD. He took over after we returned home with Marcelo from our last tour. We’ve played a couple shows with JD and we’ve got a few more and a tour coming up which he will be with us on.
Mick Murphy: The music is my baby. I demo song ideas at home with a digital 8 track, guitar, bass and drum machine. I do a fairly specific blueprint to bring to the band but I let it breath once we all get involved. If there are cool new guitar, bass or drum licks (even after the songs are released on albums) we keep them. It makes it all more fun and live. I like seeing bands spice shit up live and not just be a “jukebox”. We try to do that. The lyrics and imagery is all Tairrie. I love what she does and I encourage her in any way I can. I think she is highly under-rated and deserves credit as a trailblazer for women in modern metal.
Chris Lisee: 'Throat Full of Heart' is the first My Ruin album that I've been a part of from the beginning. Mick is the music and Tairrie is the words. I remember Mick meticulously writing and recording complete demos of the songs for me to learn, and I always try to stay true to his parts. I'm sure there are subtle differences that I bring to every song, unintentionally, and I think that through my interpretation of Mick's parts that I'm able to make them my own. Mick and Tairrie both know that I'm not going to change their vision of the songs, and they trust me to do the right thing.

R13:You've often used religious imagery in your music, do you hold any particular religious beliefs?
Tairrie B: I guess you could say that ‘My Ruin IS My Religion’. In a way it has been for many years now. It’s what I believe in the most I suppose and what I am most dedicated to as far as belief in. For me, organized religion is a scary thing. I think music and art can be your religion. They too are filled with passion and imagination and yet there is something very magical and mysterious about both. I tend to tie a lot of it together because I am drawn to the images and stories of the Bible and God no matter how wild and irrational the whole notion of it all sometimes seems. There is a track on the new album called ‘Religiosity’ and in a round a bout way this is what that song is about, that dedication that comes with believing in something so much so that your devotion to it becomes like a Religion or at least that is how I interpret it for me. I try very hard not to be “preachy” or self righteous with my lyrics. I would never want to listen to someone preaching at me in a band. I have always found the stories of the Bible intriguing. When I was younger I was afraid of the idea of God & the Devil both. It was all so frightening to think I would end up in hell if I made one wrong decision and religion is a great tool to use against a child. I once read Nick Cave say that “In America the name of God has been hijacked by a gang of psychopaths and bullies and homophobes, and the name of God has been used for their own twisted agendas”. I agree. For many years now, I have incorporated religious imagery within the artwork of My Ruin. Long before it was cool to do so. I remember our first shirt designs going to Hot Topic way back in the day and with our “Praying Hands” design with the phrase we coined “Pray For Rock”. Let me tell you how funny it was to hear that they could not carry this particular shirt because it was too “offensive”. They did however carry, Slayer, Deicide, Cradle of Filth and numerous other bands with satanic imagery on their designs, which were not deemed offensive. They also had a huge issue with us putting Jesus & Mary on a shirt as well. This goes to show that for some, Jesus is far scarier than Satan and provokes a much stronger reaction. Over the years, we have been sent emails from the various religious nut jobs who felt the need to tell us we are going to ‘burn in hell within pits of sulfur if we did not find God and repent our sins at once’ for our lyrics & music even thought they themselves never actually listened to our albums but based their opinions on our art or interviews they read. If people truly listened to my words they would understand that I am in fact not anti religious, that’s not it at all. I just prefer to interpret things in a certain manner. I’m a writer, that’s what I do. Rock music is exciting to me and religion is intriguing. I learn a lot from both worlds constantly but there are also a lot of false prophets and things that should be questioned in both.
Mick Murphy: I believe you should be a fair person and try not to hurt other people. I am not really a religious person but I do think that there are things beyond our perception. I just don’t claim to know what they are. I also think people should mind their own business. I can’t really back forcing religious beliefs on others and that is my main problem with organized religion. When people are fanatic and radical it can make them super narrow minded, judgemental and sometimes downright dangerous. It can hold back entire civilizations.
Chris Lisee:It's all just a matter of perspective. Religious imagery can be beautiful and tell a story, regardless of whether the light path, or the dark, is illuminated. I'm spiritual, and I believe that it is healthy to question the reason for our existence. I also believe that organized religion and blind faith are not the answers to the questions.

R13:Your music is also quite confrontational and dark, have you ever had any difficulties with people claiming its "unhealthy" to listen to as is being suggested about bands like My Chemical Romance at the moment?
Tairrie B: My Chemical Romance and My Ruin are two very different bands. I think being confrontational is just who we are, it’s who we’ve always been. I don’t listen to MCR so I have no idea what they’re about. These days anyone who wears black clothes in a band is considered to be dark. Our being dark has nothing to do with our clothing. As I said before, we’ve never had anyone complaining that our music was “unhealthy” that I know of. We actually get people telling us how our music saved their lives, which is a pretty intense thing to be told, especially when it comes to us in written form with full details of how, when and why. I’ve heard some pretty incredible and life changing stories told to me over the years from people who have dealt with various types of abuse, abandonment, eating disorders, self loathing and cutting. You tend to forget that there are so many people out there that have gone or are currently going through so many horrible things. I used to get really involved writing back and forth to many of the fans of our band but it got very out of hand and even scary with some people. You will never see me on stage cutting myself for shock value and do not respect bands who think it’s cool to inspire kids to hurt themselves. I will never understand that. I promote healing but in that same regard, I am not a therapist and sometimes people tend to see me that way because of my lyrics but what those people forget is that I write the songs I write because this is my therapy. It’s my healing. I am in no position to prescribe advice and I would never want that kind of responsibility.
Mick Murphy: I have personally seen hundreds of letters over the years to Tairrie stating how her lyrics have helped troubled young people with their problems and insecurities. I think our message is much more positive than negative. We promote thinking for yourself, standing up for what you believe in and ignoring pop culture trends.
Chris Lisee: I'm not aware of anyone ever claiming that our music is unhealthy. I am very aware of the people that have written to the band and Tairrie specifically, saying that My Ruin's music has saved their lives. Confrontational and dark, to me, is empowering - not "unhealthy." And, who is this My Chemical Romance?

R13:How do you think the new record has been going down?
Tairrie B: Really great! The fans of our band have been incredibly receptive to it and we’ve got many terrific reviews. Room Thirteen did a nice one as well…thank you. It makes us feel great when someone who is reviewing our record actually takes the time to listen to it and hears all the nuances of the music & lyrics rather than skimming over it for a few descriptive catch words. When someone “gets it” that’s the best feeling as an artist. Whether it’s a fan, friend or critic. I’m sure there were those who were curious as to how I was going to sound on the album based on what happened to me however, it’s in those toughest moments you learn a lot about yourself and those around you. I think we all really brought it 100% on this new album from the song writing through the tracking to the production. I’m really proud of my guys. They never let me down. They never let us down. We’ve been through a great deal together as a band and we’re very open about it all. The new album is not only cathartic but it’s deeply passionate and I hope people can feel that the way we do when we listen to it. Mick & Duane did a great job producing it and it was the one album of my life that was truly a pleasure to record in spite of the accident.
Mick Murphy: Killer. People seem to understand what we were going for on this one. Ultimately we are very happy with the way it turned out because we didn’t compromise our vision. We are the label, management and artist so what you hear is what we wanted to put out there. I co-produced Throat Full Of Heart with our U.S. soundman Duane Burda who recorded us at The Hobby Shop in Los Angeles.
Chris Lisee:Like a shot of Jack - it burns, and might get you in trouble. It sounds like rock, and if it doesn't knock you out you're gonna enjoy a hell of a ride.

R13:Looking back over your records, which one has been the most dear and personal to you to make and why?
Tairrie B: - Our last album will always hold a special place in my heart because of all we went though and the fact that it proved to Mick & I that we could do it alone if we had too after our rhythm section bailed on us during the first session of studio recordings. It was an eye opener for us in so many ways and we are doing something really awesome with it at the moment for a re-issue we have planned for January 2009 which will include new art, 7 live tracks and the long awaited “Spilling Open DVD” but new album is really our most fully recognised album and my personal triumph for the obvious reasons. Many of the songs on “TFOH” hit home so hard they send shivers through me when I hear them or play them live and that’s how I know how special this album is for me. When I watch the DVD, which contains the studio footage of our recording it, it still triggers some major emotions for me looking back on that time.
Mick Murphy: It’s the last two records. I feel like we were “reborn” in early 2005 when our rhythm section quit the band during tracking for “The Brutal Language”. Tairrie and I came to many realizations at that point and really grew a lot as a couple and as the core of the band. I played all the instruments on “TBL” and it is a very personal record for both of us. “Throat Full Of Heart” was a whole different experience. While “Brutal” was like B and me against the world, “TFOH” was the band really coming together during a scary, traumatic event. We really worked as a team to get that record done and it was a warmer experience. It was in the face of a completely different type of adversity.


R13:What is it that you really like to do on a day where you have to yourself to just kick back and relax?
Tairrie B: Is this a trick question? I’m kidding. I know it is….lol! I enjoy watching good films and listening to good music that inspires me. I also enjoy writing and reading. I do a lot of both. I am constantly trading books with Chris and Alana (our merch girl). One of us gets a great book and after we finish we hand it off to the other one. I recently finished “Audition” the memoir by Barbara Walters. It was very interesting. She was a first at so many things in her field and she interviewed so many incredible people in her lifetime. She also went through a great deal of personal and family dramas. She made great strides for women in her field despite many obstacles and I admire the fact that she was so candid about her life. I hope to one day be able to write a memoir or two of my own regarding my years in the rap world and also the rock world. I have a lot to tell and two very different stories which I think people would find interesting as well. Writing a book is something I have talked about for years but to do it properly will take more time then writing and recording an album and at the moment I don’t have that much time to give of myself so I’m just creating outlines, taking notes and putting together ideas. I find that to be fun and relaxing.

R13:The media usually holds the view that people who write music about dark or serious issues are constantly very much depressed and their lives mirror their music, would you say that's at all true and if not, tell us the last thing that made you really happy.
Tairrie B: One of the things we love about making our DVD’s lately is that we have a chance to show people that we’re not always this dark serious band 24 hours a day. Mick & Chris are hilarious. They both make me and each other laugh constantly and I think our DVD let’s people see the other side of us on a very personal level. My guys are the greatest impersonators ever. They can imitate anyone and they often do and not many people may know this I am the Kathy Griffin of metal…LOL! As far as the last thing that made me really happy goes, that would have to be my new custom jewellery collection I have just created. It’s badass and I’m so excited to debut it this summer. Mick actually told me I looked happy the other day when I was in the middle of working on it all. Being a craft queen is my alter ego and I get a great deal of pleasure from creating something by hand that I know someone will treasure as much as I do. We have a few side projects in My Ruin. Mick does Neanderthal(metal instrumental recordings), Mick & I do The LVRS (spoken word stories set to music) and my custom clothing & jewellery line as I mentioned above which is called “Blasphemous Girl Designs” for which I create one of a kind pieces. I am currently in the process of putting the finishing touches on my latest collection I plan to debut online later this summer. It’s been a while since I’ve released a collection because of so many things going on with the band but it’s really nice to be creative on a different level. I’ve just designed some very unique pieces including large leather stamped hearts with relics and medals similar to the one I made for the cover of our new album….without the bloodstains of course.
Mick Murphy: We have a blast. Music is just a form of expression. Rock is supposed to be a good time and our shows are a good time. People smile, rock out and sing along. We connect with them and love doing it. The only time I get depressed is when a tour ends or we don’t have a show for a long time. The Incredible Hulk TV marathon on Sci Fi channel is the last thing to make me really happy.
Chris Lisee:We ARE extremely dark and serious. Our lives influence our music but "constantly depressed" is not very accurate. Like I mentioned earlier, anyone that thinks ''dark" is a "negative" in our case, isn't listening very closely. I definitely don't play well with others but being with the "familia" makes me happy and when we're together we laugh our asses off. If you don't believe me, watch our videos.

R13:What's the future like for My Ruin? Can we expect any new songs or covers or perhaps side projects in the near future? Have you got anything that you are already working on or are you deciding to take a well deserved break from it all?
Chris Lisee:What's a "well deserved break?" That sounds sweet! We're not stopping, so either jump on or get the fuck out of our way.
Tairrie B: I took a break during my recovery and although I suppose that could be considered “well deserved” 7 days in the hospital and 4 weeks in bed drove me nuts. I am a workaholic so while a break sounds nice. I the time off would bore me. Just because we’re not touring all the time does not mean we’re not busy as hell. Although I love playing live and when we do tour, we have a great time. I would rather focus on making music than constant touring. I’m not a huge fan of living on the road in a bus or a van. Especially with the gas prices the way they are and the cost of everything. Tours are fun but they end. An album is forever. Longevity in our career is something that is very important to us as a band and something that eludes many bands in our same genre. Our well documented disgust for the music industry is no big secret but our refusal to call it quits in some of the toughest times is what has made us stronger and gave us even more belief in ourselves and our music. Mick and I have been doing this together for 8 years now and we’ve both been doing it separately for years previous to My Ruin. Being in a band is not for everyone. It takes a great deal of commitment, dedication and loyalty to your art. I would like to say it takes integrity but we’ve all seen how quickly people will trade that and sell their soul for rock & roll when given the opportunity. Bands today seem to think that getting a big record deal will be the answer to all of their problems but they have no idea that sometimes that can be the start of all your problems. Suddenly everyone wants to tell you what to do, say, write and in many cases even look like. We’ve watched bands complain over not being treated like rock stars when they haven’t even been in the recording studio much less on their first tour yet. It’s a joke. Especially in Hollywood where everyone thinks they are someone. In the music industry intelligence and originality are usually overlooked for a pretty face, cool haircut and a catchy chorus these days. Kids are falling for anything they are being fed whether it’s on my space in the form of some so called internet superstar or on MTV. There are a lot of people making big noises with their mouths but saying nothing. If we worried about political correctness we would have had to hang it up long ago.

We’ve seen people come and go in and around our band over the years. We’ve had to go it alone many times because we were unwilling to compromise whether it was with labels, managers or band members. We’ve had a lot of shit talked about us but we’ve always held our heads held high along with our middle fingers for those who deserved them. We’ve stayed true to ourselves and music and continued to release records and stay on our path while many have wanted to write us off only to find out that they can’t. Now we are doing things our way and it’s about time. We have our own imprint label and distribution in the UK & Europe and we just inked our U.S. deal. We are self contained and we manage our own career. We have a lawyer we trust and someone who is an important part of our team. He’s been is a good friend of ours for many years and he helped me get through my accident as well. He has proved what he could do for us on a few levels. A good lawyer makes a huge difference. We had an apathetic one for years who advised us to make many wrong decisions. Now we have one who’s involved and cares about us. While we’ve never been interested in commerciality or paying to get on big tours, we have been interested in making good records, which stand the test of time. By no means is My Ruin “reinventing” rock music but we have created, nurtured and developed a sound that is distinctively all ours over the years and we do know that. I believe our last album “The Brutal Language” as well as our latest “Throat Full Of Heart” are by far our best recordings to date. They truly represent who we are as a band in the live setting and are both very close to our hearts on a personal level. I find the music and the language that was recorded & spoken on both albums very evolved as compared to our earlier recordings. You live and you learn and you grow as artists and song writers. We really enjoy making records. It’s what we do and we’re getting better at it as we go. So I guess to answer your question…no, we won’t be taking a break anytime in the near future. We are actually releasing our first live album and DVD in September. It’s called “Alive on the Other Side”. It was recorded at Rios in Leeds UK on our “Tell Your God Tour” earlier this year. The album is enhanced with videos for the songs “Memento Mori, Slide You The Horn and The Beauty Medley” which is a musical montage taken from “Made To Measure, Get Pretty & Beauty Fiend” and something we recently put together for our live show. “The Beauty Medley” video was created for us by Nasty & Sinister and I fucking love it! It’s the video I always wanted to represent those songs. The DVD is a day by day documentary of our tour with footage from before, during and after each show plus fan footage, an interview, photo shoots, my birthday party in London and our last night end of tour party. Mick edited it and made it into a really cool film. We’re very excited about this release and so is Cargo. They’ve been truly supportive of our vision and label and we have a few other things in the works we will be announcing soon as well.
Mick Murphy: For me it’s one project at a time. Right now I’m editing our video footage from both of our 2006 UK tours to be included on the DVD for “The Brutal Language” re-release we will be announcing soon. That’s going to take up the next month at least then we begin promotion for our US release for "Throat Full Of Heart".

R13:With the idea that your music and indeed you yourself inspire so many young people out there, what advice have you always held dear to yourself that you could extend to others?
Chris Lisee: If it feels good, do it - but don't let "it" do you. Don't be afraid to take chances... and try to be nice.
Tairrie B: Never be afraid to stand in the truth of who you are and always go with your gut.
Mick Murphy: Think for yourself.

R13:You obviously have a fantastic female front woman but do you get fed up with being compared to other bands with female singers purely because of this fact?
Mick Murphy: It used to bother me but not so much any more. I think we stand on our own and aren't really part of any "scene".
Chris Lisee: Tairrie stands on her own as a front person… period. So, to answer your question, yes.

R13:Do you think that it's easy for young women to get into the music business these days, or is it more a case of bands with women being treated as novelties rather than on their own merit?
Mick Murphy: I think the challenge is for female singers/musicians to rise above the novelty treatment by focusing on songs and musical ability rather than image and sex appeal.
Tairrie B: There will always a struggle for women in this industry however all I can comment on is my specific field which is hard rock/metal because that’s where I live. In 2001 I wrote a monthly column for Metal Hammer Magazine, for one issue I decided to speak about women in rock and the standard of comparison. In the media savvy world of rock, sex and the exploitation of woman has become an art form, which makes it that much harder for women to be taken seriously especially when we buy into the idea that we need to show our shit to sell records. If you pose half naked in a magazine then don’t bitch when your band and your music take the backseat as your boobs ride shotgun in the future. As I have been known to say. Telling the truth and talking back does not always win friends or popularity contests but let’s be honest shall we? I enjoy reading Revolver Magazine however, when I see things like “ The Hottest Chicks In Metal” issue and you’ve got these women in bands nearly naked posing in their underwear as if they are doing a Victoria Secret lingerie catalogue instead of a metal magazine, I have to question the intentions behind that. Would they dare to put out an issue of men in this same context? I doubt it. Why can’t the hottest chicks in metal feature women in bands burning it up live on stage sweating and rocking the fuck out? Bringing that fire that makes them so “hot” so to speak? I hate watching women allow themselves into being pimped out so a magazine can make a quick buck while they sink to becoming the lowest common denominator. Magazines have asked me to do the same thing over the years and I too have posed provocatively for photos in the past and even though I was fully clothed, it struck a chord with some who felt I crossed a line. It’s a great boost to your ego getting voted “shaggable” and “hot” but who really fucking cares? That’s not why I make music. While I am no big fan of all women in rock just because we share the same gender, I am fans of women who deliver the goods on stage and on record. Strong women who speak for themselves rather than those who are really being controlled and manipulated behind the scenes by male band members, managers & label reps. True passion and conviction is something that comes from within and respect is something you command. Posing in your bra and panties is not going to garner you a ton of respect in the metal world even if guys think you have a nice ass because at the end of the day, the novelty wears off fast and you better be able to deliver the goods if you really want to be taken seriously.
Chris Lisee: I can't help but notice an overwhelming amount of women posing in their underwear in music magazines, lately... but I'm not sure if that means it's easy, or not. In general, I don't think it's easy for anyone in the music business these days, but chicks in underwear look WAY better than dudes in underwear.

R13:Do you feel the band has been successful now or are there goals that you would still need to achieve for that to happen?
Mick Murphy: We have reached many of our goals and are very happy with the way things are in the band. We just want to keep going for as long as we can while maintaining our artistic freedom, integrity and having a good time.
Chris Lisee:I think we're realistic about our goals and just the fact that we're able to do what we do on our terms is the purest definition of success as far as I'm concerned. Obviously, we'd always like for more people to be aware of what we do and come be a part of it when we play live but I've already accomplished more in this band than I ever thought possible in my lifetime.
Tairrie B: I do feel that we have accomplished a lot within our band. I’m very proud of My Ruin. Winston Churchill once said “Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. Courage is what counts”. We’ve always measured ourselves against ourselves and no one else. It takes strength to persevere and endure in spite of sometimes overwhelming obstacles and god knows we’ve had our share but I think we’re better for it. We learned so much as a band. We’ve worked really hard for what we have and I think that hard work reveals the true character of people. Like the old saying goes “some people turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses and some don’t turn up at all”. We’ve experience all three of those type of people and we’ve seen people come and go in and around or band over the years but we’re still here and we still have music to make As long as we can do it on our terms then I consider that successful.