R13: You first became known for your work in the 80s/90s with Mordred, a band initially regarded as one of the many 'Bay Area' Thrash bands, but you later ended up with the 'Funk Metal' tag. Do you feel that the derision that often greets the term 'Funk Metal' (a genre you played a large part in creating) is unfair?
Scott Holderby: We coined the phrase 'Funk-Metal'. The regrets are that some other people later ruined it for us. We loved Public Enemy, Ice T and Motorhead. We made a band combining all the elements of bands whom we loved...Oh yeah, and Bad Brains.

R13: As a vocalist your style was/is very different to that of the other 'Bay Area' bands like Exodus, Forbidden & Metallica, and a marked contrast to your predecessor, Steve Scates, do you think this helped set you apart from the other bands at the time or did it make it harder to be accepted
SH: People didn't know what to make of me. They still don't, but what fun I had!

R13: As a vocalist, who were your main influences at the time? Who are your influences now, if any?
SH: I loved Sly Stone, Johnny Rotten, Hank Williams, Peter Tosh, Revolutionaries...Che Guevara. I Love the Black Keys.

R13: You jumped/were pushed from Mordred at the peak of their popularity. What were the reasons behind this?
SH:I was pushed out, but I was ready...Wankers! Oh yeah, we're all good
now...

R13: There were rumours that you were reforming Mordred a few years back, but then another line-up reappeared, slightly confusingly labelled 'Mordred 1.0'. Do you think an 'In This Life' line-up will ever happen, or is it all in the past?
SH: Nope. Mordred 1.0 was Arthur's (Liboon) creation. I did get to finally meet Steve Scates (vocalist Scott replaced in Mordred); he's a cool
dude. They wouldn't let me hear him, but he's a trip, I like him. I also like medieval weapons and so does he...

R13: I seem to recall a stage diver knocking Danny White's mic into his face at a show in my local town, which didn't go down too well. Did you ever see any of the violence that Exodus shows were known for?
SH:We have created actual riots like in Bologna Italy, Edinburgh Scotland, and somewhere in America. I broke my hand on my 21st birthday. Jim Sanguinetti was the only Mordred member that had my back. Jim is tough. He once cracked his guitar over someone's head.

R13: In '98 you released the excellent 'Ungodly Blue Sun' under the name Harley Scott Holderby, which featured a monotone image of someone holding a trumpet. Was this an attempt to distance yourself from the metal scene?
SH: Trumpet was my first instrument, Ungodly Blue Sun was my first love. We still play; we have a gig with Burlesque dancers this Friday night
at the Uptown. Distance Smishtance! We live quite close to each other
and really they are like my brothers. The band is now called "Borstal
Holiday".

R13: You spent some time working at Fantasy Studios, which must've been interesting. Any artists/experiences that stood out for you?
SH: The reason I now sing soul is because when I worked at Fantasy BB King, John lee Hooker, Joe Louis Walker, Robert Cray band all said 'Fuck
all that heavy metal, you need to be singin' Soul and Blues'. Thank you BB, I am much happier now!

R13: You have a couple of bands on the go at the moment: Hi-Nobles, Borstal Holiday. Could you tell us a bit about them?
SH: Borstal Holiday is a reformed version of Blue Sun and is much fun.
The Hi-Nobles, who feature Greg Ingraham from the Avengers on guitar, have a new record "Shake" out now with Sony Distribution. Might see us...Might not.

R13: You obviously like keeping busy, do you have any other projects on the go or in the pipeline?
SH: There will be a new Borstal Holiday record out soon.

R13: Are there any artists you would particularly like to work with or projects you would love to do?
SH: I love the Black Keys...

R13:Thanks Scott
SH: Cheers mate.