Interviewee: Graham Pyre
Year: 2008
Website: myspace.com/stukageschwader666
MySpace: myspace.com/stukageschwader666
Label: None
Featured on: Loucifer Speaks Exclusive
Lou: So... er... Vampires, eh? Well, thank you for taking the time out your neck-biting exploits to answer my questions! To get us started would you mind telling the readers of Loucifer Speaks who does what within the band?
Graham Pyre: Basically I, Graham Pyre am the pilot and The Duke sits in the back pointing out things he wants blown up and tells me I'm going too fast and stuff like that. You'll be able to see that in the photos - which are actual action shots from a little moment we had at Operation Zitadel - that's the Battle of Kursk to you. The Mastergoth won the Iron Cross there, he was in a different squadron at the time though.
Lou: I understand that you're a couple of members down at the moment... Did Van Helsing catch up with them? Do you plan to replace them with any other fiends?
Graham Pyre: Van Helsing? The ravings of a demented Irishman sadly. We do occasionally tangle with vampire hunters, but they are mostly pretty poor quality. Not like the witch hunters of yesteryear. I did for Matthew Hopkins myself back in the day and The Duke had John Stearne for breakfast. Literally.
The loss of two members was mostly down to clan in-fighting. We vampires can be very territorial. We may still have Blade Anger on guitar - we have to go with what the prince says on that one - but Keith Colossus has been chained in a coffin and buried at a secret location. Occupational hazard unfortunately. We are currently in the market for one guitarist and a drummer, and have at least two volunteers on the drummer front. Our requirements are not THAT stringent. Must play like a demon and be able to remember the thousand time changes and amusing variations I put in. Must actually be a vampire. Must have flown a Stuka in WWII. What's hard about it?
Lou: How long has the band been together?
Graham Pyre: Well we started this way back in early 2007. I was in Iraq then, and only able to record on leave so it took a year to put the four tracks together. I have only been back in the country full time since April which is why we are still a bit disorganised. Our time will come.
Lou: I understand that you had to change your name from Stukageschwader 666 to Stuka Squadron because DJs had difficulties pronouncing it. Has the name change hindered you in anyway? Oh, and what's the deal with the Stukas anyway?
Graham Pyre: Yeah James Duke Fang-Begley and I sat through a couple of interviews with Rock DJs and were cringing when they tried to pronounce it. If people can't pronounce the name of your band chances are you won't get many word of mouth recommendations, plus nobody can find your site. We all met while we were in a Stukaqeschwader.
We used to fly Stukas ourselves, mostly during the unpleasantness in Russia. That's a man's plane that is. Any aircraft which is designed to FALL through 180 degrees rather than to fly takes balls to pilot.
Lou: What can we expect from your forthcoming CD "We Drink Blood"?
Graham Pyre: We are just waiting on the art work, which should all be finished in a couple of weeks. 'We Drink Blood' as a whole should be out in about a month I guess. It is pretty awesome.
Lou: When will the album be released and where will I be able to buy my copy from? Seriously, it needs to be released soon because the tracks I've downloaded from your MySpace page aren't going to do me forever... I want more, I tell you! MORE!
Graham Pyre: Me too! No idea! Damn you women make constant demands of us - we are already exhausted most of the time. Not sure about an album yet. I have lots more material, but we need get someone to give us a deal or something. On the other hand we are geniuses plus we have our vampire powers of mesmerism so it shouldn't take too long.
Lou: What is your favourite track from the new album and why?
Graham Pyre: My personal favourite is a little ditty called 'One Eyed God King', which is about the Allfather, Odin himself, and how he possessed the Third Reich - leading them to all their later insanity. The Duke was on fire when we recorded that. Great honest vocals on it!
Lou: Will you be making any videos to promote the album? Do vampires even show up in videos?
Graham Pyre: Yes indeed plans are afoot to shoot a video for 'We Drink Blood' even now. Apparently the room used in 'Interview with the Vampire' (the one where they have a girl in coffins' blood-drinking party) is going to be used in it. 'We Drink Blood' has been getting radio airplay all over the place.
When we play live I believe the floor will be heaving with undead. As Lestat says in that lame film 'Come out, come out wherever you are!' Also if you aren't a vampire when you arrive you will be by the time you leave. Wait and see.
Lou: I have to admit that even though I've had you on my friends list on MySpace for quite some time, I hadn't really taken the time to listen to you until now... and, I've got to say, I'm bloody impressed! When are you going to be playing in a town near me?
Graham Pyre: Good question, and one I wish I could answer. Yes we have had a good reception and the songs are popular all over the place, so you'd think replacement musicians would be flocking huh? As ever when dealing with musos you'd be wrong! Basically we will be in your town AS SOON AS WE BLOODY WELL CAN BE. I'd play there this evening if I could! Thanks, also.
Lou: What can we expect from a Stuka Squadron gig?
Graham Pyre: Blood, smoke, iron, courage, pride, gloom, anger and superb musicianship.
Lou: Which venues are your favourite to play in?
Graham Pyre: Mausoleums.
Lou: Other than blood, what is your drink of choice?
Graham Pyre: Claret...
Lou: I've been spending a bit of time your MySpace today (don't worry, I'm not stalking you... much.) and I read about a song called "Lovecraft". Will this song feature on the new album, or is it available anywhere else?
Graham Pyre: Hey its me who does the stalking round here! Yep Lovecraft is exculsively available on the forthcoming awesome EP.
Lou: Would you mind filling us in on what that song is about?
Graham Pyre: Like all our stuff it is autobographical. It is all about the author H P Lovecraft, who fans will be surprised to hear is in fact once again alive and well as a result of our actions and living in James's house. He helps out with the lyrics sometimes but is a pain in the ass also.
Lou: Who or what are your biggest influences? Bands or otherwise!
Graham Pyre: Well in terms of mortal music it is probably pretty clear that we love the Iron Maiden! James Duke Fang-Begley also obssesses over Manowar. Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie will hopefully be influencing our stage show. Black Sabbath, Dio and all the more recent stuff - too many bands to name right now!
Actually I will be present at Twickenham this weekend for the Maiden show, plus I am looking forward to Within Temptation as I plan to devour their singer after the show. As for other influences, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Vincent Price, Karmilla Karnstein - need I go on?
Lou: Do you have any tips for aspiring vampires?
Graham Pyre: Black always looks good, and never goes out of fashion. That's handy if you occasionally go into torpor and miss a couple of centuries. Remember to pop a pocket book or hip flask into that top left pocket just before you sleep. The one just over your heart. I could go on for some time so let's come back to this.
Lou: Thanks for answering my questions. Please feel free to plug your website, merchandise or anything else... Now!
Graham Pyre: New EP 'We Drink Blood' out probably next month - we will let you know. Working on 'Evil Angels / Iron Knights' (i.e his and hers t-shirts). Again we will let you know.