This interview was originally featured in Issue #4 of the Loucifer Speaks zine. Since we’ve changed the way we do things here at Loucifer Speaks, I thought it would be cool to repost it here

Ironside have been playing Metal for the ‘average Joe’ since 2004… And just by listening to the tracks on their MySpace, you should be able to tell that they do this fantastically well. The band have also been kind enough to answer a few of my questions… So here we go!

Lou: Hi guys! Thanks for agreeing to this interview! Let’s start things off nice and easy… how’s it goin’ today?

All: Things are awesome! We should actually start by thanking you for taking the time to speak to us.

Lou: Please can you introduce yourselves?

All: Well the Ironside line-up is as follows, Michael Merchant on vocals, Patrick Fitzgerald on guitar, Joey Cain on guitar, Roger Maynard on bass/ backing vocals and Julian Banks on drums.

Lou: Where did the name Ironside come from?

Patrick: We got the name from the Naval ship the USS Constitution also known as “ Old Ironsides”. It was the first of its kind because it was iron plated instead of wooden.

Lou: Can you describe your music in 5 words?

All: Metal for the average Joe. Because we are all average Joe’s.

Lou: Who and what influences you?

Michael: Well thats different for all of us. For myself it would be anything and everything from Iron Maiden to Skid Row to Slayer to Deicide.

Patrick: I think I can speak for the whole band when I say that we draw influences from every day life.

Joey: One of my all time favorite bands is Slayer. I also draw influences from everything from Lamb Of God to Black Sabbath and the occasional Miller Lite.

Roger: Nikki Sixx is the reason I became a bass player in the first place after that I would say anything from Type O Negative to Cannibal Corpse and lastly bong hits and strippers hahaha.

Julian: One common dominator most of us have is Slayer but aside from them I would say old Slipknot, pre black album Metallica, Pantera and Shadows Fall.

Lou: It’s been a while since I reviewed your demo tracks on Loucifer Speaks, what have you been up to since then? Do you have new album or EP in the works?

Michael: Oh we have been incredibly busy. We have had a major line-up change what with the addition of Roger Maynard on bass and Julian Banks on drums. Also we have written a plethora of new material which we are going to try to get laid out in the studio during the early part of the new year. I’m very biased, but a lot of the new material is some of the bands strongest and most passionate to date.

Lou: Back when I reviewed you, I said that your demo tracks were what decent music was supposed to sound like (or something like that!) and I was wondering if any record labels had come to their senses and signed you yet?

All: Well we are stoked that you enjoy the material so much. We haven’t really talked to any labels formally but we have submitted demos to a few. We are really thinking 2010 will be the year for that. We feel the band has some really strong material to offer. It’s all a matter of being noticed by the right people.

Lou: There’s something incredibly addictive about the track “Living Blinded”. What was the inspiration behind this song? Also, are the lyrics and tab available anywhere? I’d love to try (“Try” being the operative word there!) to play along!

Michael: Awesome thanks! It’s unbelievable to me that people enjoy our music enough to sing along at shows, I never dreamed that would ever happen to me. It’s actually kinda surreal at points. I’m really glad you like the song. I’m blessed to be able to work with the caliber of musicians that we have in the band. Joey and Pat are riff geniuses I mean the stuff they come up with is brutal but catchy at the same time and to me that makes for a metal song that’s gonna leave a lasting impression and when Roger and Julian place the finishing touches its just the icing on the cake. As far as the lyrics go, they are basically about people who don’t except responsibility for their own actions and/or look in the mirror one day and realize they’ve become something they’re ashamed of. There’s definitely a bit of self reflection in the lyrics. We don’t have the song tabbed out but you can find the lyrics on our Myspace page. (www.myspace.com/Ironsidewnc)

Lou: What is your favourite Ironside track and why?

Michael: Well you’re probably going to get a different answer from all of us but for me it would have to be “Prepare For War”. Lyrically I think it is my best work yet (Patting myself on the back) and musically the song just destroys. You can definitely hear all of our individual influences in this song.

Roger: I would have to say the track “Die For Me” is my personal favorite its extremely brutal and even more fun to play.

Joey Cain: “Misguided” would be my pick hands down simply because of the brutality and lyric subject matter of the song.

Julian: I would have to agree with Roger about “Die For Me” the reason being, I feel the song rips peoples faces off and I also really enjoy playing it.

Patrick: “No Intervention” would be my pick due to the fact that I am very proud of the musical structure and lyrical content. I know the song is very personal to Mike because the lyrics are about about a couple of friends of his that committed suicide all within the same year. Also, musically its some of my best work. I’m very proud of the song.

Lou: What is the writing process like for Ironside?

Patrick: Basically we write several riffs to get a basic foundation of the song, then we record what we have in order to collaborate with the rest of the band on the structure and lay-out. Then many beers later a new Ironside song is born. Its definitely a group effort though.

Lou: What equipment do you use?

Joey: Mesa Boogie amps,Esp guitars, Boss pedals, Monster cables, Emg pick-ups and DR strings.

Roger: Esp basses, Fender amps, some random vintage cabinet that I am unsure of, EMG pick-ups, Monster cables, and Ernie Ball slinky strings.

Patrick: Mesa Boogie amps, Washburn guitars, EMG Pick-ups, Monster cables, Ernie Ball hybrid slinky strings, and Boss pedals.

Julian: Tama Rockstar drums, Stag DH cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Remo pin stripe heads, and DW pedals.

Michael: Shure Sm_ 58 microphones.

Lou: Do you have any albums/EPs available for us to buy? If so, where can we buy them from?

Michael: At the moment we have our self titled 2008 ep which at this point you can only get either at shows or by contacting the band directly. Sometime in 2010 we plan to have on on-line store available on our web-site.

Lou: How would you describe an Ironside gig?

All: Pure unadulterated intensity! We give 100 percent whether there are 5 people in the audience or 5000. We also try to have as much audience participation as possible and just have a really good time.

Lou: What has been the most embarrassing thing to happen to you on stage?

Joey: Definitely equipment failure which has happened to me more times than I can count.

Patrick: Getting totally lost in the middle of a song and taking 45 seconds to figure out where I was.

Lou: Do you ever perform any cover versions at your gigs? If so, which ones?

Michael: We have done “ For Those About To Rock” by ACDC , “ Mother” by Danzig, In tribute to Kevin Dubrows passing, we did “Metal Health” by Quiet Riot and we are currently working on our own version of “ Dirty Deeds” by ACDC. When it comes to covers we just try pick songs that arent necessarily the most intricate songs but are fun for ourselves as well as the audience.

Lou: Do you have any video footage of your gigs available? It would be great for us metalheads across the pond!

Michael: Unfortunately we do not at the moment but when we do have some video footage we will be more than happy to send you a copy.

Lou: While I’m on the subject, do you have any plans to come over to the UK?

Michael: That is something I think all of us have dreamed of. Definitely when we get a label backing us up we will be there. Unless of course you’re paying then we’re playing hahaha.

Lou: I ‘discovered’ you on MySpace (I should give you a little Loucifer Speaks flag and get you to carry it around with you… ok, I think I’m getting a little bit carried away now!), so I was wondering what your views on social networking sites were? What are the pros and cons with them?

All: Mostly the cons of social networking sites are Spam, definitely stalkers and unwanted porn. The pros are we can easily get people from around the world into our music. Networking with other bands, labels and zines. But one of the most positive is the unlimited amount of exposure you can receive for your band.

Lou: Do you have any merchandise available? Personally, I think I’d look bloody awesome in an Ironside t-shirt!

Michael: We are planning on sending you a goodie package filled with all sorts of our merchandise. We have everything from shirts to cds to panties. But again at the moment you have to get them at shows or by contacting the band directly it will be much easier for our fans over sea and in other countries to get our merchandise once the online store is up and running.

Lou: If Ironside were to organize their ideal festival, who would play in it? You can include local bands, big bands, bands that have disbanded… pretty much anyone!

All: Lamb of God, Kreator, Slayer, Shadows Fall, The Jackson 5, Warrant, Poison, Written In Blood, Motley Crue, Iron Maiden, Morbid Angel, Lynard Skynard, Johnny Cash, Skid Row, Cinderella, Running Wild, Hammerfall, Steel Panther and Ironside.

Lou: What are your top 5 albums for 2009?

Roger: Immortal- All Shall Fall

Julian: Shadows Fall- Retribution

Patrick: August Burns Red- Constellation

Joey: Steel Panther- Feel The Steel

Michael: Kreator-Hordes Of Chaos

Lou: What’s in store for Ironside in 2010?

Michael:We hope to play as many shows as possible. We are planning on recording a new ep . We are going into the studio in the early part of 2010 to begin work on that. Hopefully at some point in the year we will be able to secure some label and endorsement support and basically just getting our music out there and sharing it with as many fellow metalheads as possible.

Lou: Is there anything else that you’d like to add?

All: We would like to thank you again for taking the time to speak to us and for the exposure. Thank Gramie D at the Autopsy Report for playing our track “The Times That Try Mens Souls”. Also everyone who has supported us over the years that has been invaluable. And last but not least, all of our fans world wide for without them we would be nothing.

myspace.com/ironsidewnc