Interview with Mike Patton

LAB: Your label, ipecac, what was the intention with starting your own label? Was it for total artistic freedom over what you release or what?

MP: Well, it kinda started like that. Well, to be honest, no. It started because I couldn't get any other label to sign fantomas. And it made me think about sort of what I was doing, who I liked to work with, and friends of mine, and the fact that we didn't have a comfortable home for our music. I thought it might be a good idea to try and create one.

LAB: I read that you have a studio in your home.

MP: I am building a real one, I don't really have one. I've managed to kinda fake it throughout the years, in some horrible leaking basements, and am finally converting an apartment to a studio, I cant wait!

LAB: So I see that you are drinking the red bull. Good stuff in your opinion?

MP: Red bull rocks.

LAB: No more Penguin caffeine mints?

MP: Oh for sure. Who says you cant mix and match? The penguins are more of a morning thing, you know? Fresh breath / caffeine.

LAB: I have never seen the penguin mints in a store.

MP: Really? It is a Seattle thing. Slowly creeped down the west coast, but have also seen them in new york city. But is still kinda small, a bunch of kids running the company. We are actually kind of sponsored by them in a weird way.

LAB: Who is, tomahawk?

MP: Guess it is sorta bungle. Cant really remember who it was. I just called them, you know? Said I am really into your stuff, blah blah blah, and they sent us like tons of them.

LAB: Speaking of bungle, what does the future hold for them?

MP: Ah, a big question mark right now, I don't know. We are laying low right now, that is about all I can say for sure. Got a lot of business things to sort out, label issues to deal with, and then lot of personal issues as well. To me that adds up to a big giant hiatus. And if things mellow out, and work out in the right way, we'll continue.

LAB: Do you see tomahawk as a project for you, or more of a band that you will continue on to make records with?

MP: It feels pretty good. Certainly, I mean, we have only been out like a week, we are still figuring out how it feels exactly. Tonight, to be totally honest with you, if felt pretty rough.

LAB: Yeh?

MP: Didn't really enjoy tonight all that much. It wasn't really just sound, it was one of those times where nothing goes your way, where you feel like its teetering out of control. At times it worked, you know what I mean? at times it made for a chaotic sort of charm, but all in all, the show didn't rub me the right way. But, everyone else in the band loved it.

LAB: Certainly, it didn't seem like there were too many disappointed people out in the crowd.

MP: What did you think?

LAB: Shit, it blew me away.

MP: Well, cool. Then don't let me piss on your parade! But it sounded ok?

LAB: Absolutely, it sounded great. What is some of the gear that you are using up there? I saw the roland keyboard/sampler.

MP: It is a roland dj-70, alesis air deal, korg kaoss pad. I have like a basic set up, and then a 'what if', kind of etc set up. Every now and then I set up new things and try them. I also have a lot of things that I use for Fantomas, because I sort of packed for both bands this time. I did a show on Halloween in New York with them in the middle of rehearsing with tomahawk, and I wasn't able to go home, so I got gear for both bands. Now I am sort of mixing and matching.

LAB: I remember reading about a show that fantomas played with tool and your gear got dicked up the night of the show and you were running around trying to find a replacement.

MP: Yeh, that was pretty hellish. I had 2 zip drives crap out on me, and a couple of teamsters dropped another zip and my keyboard off a 15ft stage. On those kinds of stages, you are not allowed to schlep your own gear. Its all union shit, they haul it for you, and you are like, 'eh, be careful.' So I saw it happen, right off a 15ft stage. Anyway, those were desperate times, I made it through it, thank god.

LAB: Lets talk about the kids of widney high. Any plans on collaboration in the future?

MP: No, no. how can you collaborate with the kids of widney high? They defy all competition. They have their own completely unique and wonderful vision that no one can interfere with, and that's what makes them so special. I would NEVER, EVER want to like interfere with it. And if it were in my power, I would never let anyone try to either. They rule. They are my favorite band.

LAB: I read that recently you ran into some trouble w, the law in Florida., arrested or something?

MP: I wasn't exactly arrested.

LAB: Well, this is all internet heresy.

MP: I had a real hard time, though.

LAB: Something about money going thru customs or some shit.

MP: Yah, yah, yah.

LAB: But I wanted to know about, well, the rumor was that you were picking up a book on this structure in Florida called the Coral Castle. Any truth to that?

MP: Say what?? Damn, you are on the computer too much, my man!

LAB: Yeh, well that is what I do for a living. What I read was that you were picking up this book penned by the builder, have you even heard of this?

MP: No. should I? Tell me more. Sounds like a good tip!

LAB: Its some structure or some shit in Florida, that is shrouded in mysticism, and apparently you were buying some book from him that has some kind of cryptic formula for anti gravity or something.

MP: Sounds good!

LAB: I will just put that one to rest.

MP: No, no. say it is all true. I had a hard time in Florida, that is all I can tell ya. It was brutal. Ive got a little mark next to my name now.

LAB: You ever read any of the shit floating around about you on the internet? There are like a million sites.

MP: Eh, from time to time. Not a past time, or anything. Ive seen some, my wife looks at them sometimes, and says 'ah, look at this' and laughs and makes fun of me. I mean we (ipecac) has one, a little bulletin board thing, and I look at it from time to time, but that's about it. And that's pretty rarely. Too scary of a world out there, ya know?

LAB: How did playing with fantomas go over, with the first record, when you first toured?

MP: Sometimes it was like an anchor in the sea. Whenever we play there is part of the crowd that isn't getting it. I mean, every time we play. We are really used to it, and really comfortable playing it in that sort of atmosphere, and it doesn't bother us. Its been like that from day one. Its gotten a little bit better, but is got sorta like a gremlins, kinda cosmic thing. Depending on the chemistry of the night, how much people are drinking, what part of the country we are in, whether it is a college town or not, whether it is 21 and over or not.

LAB: Guess you gotta just roll the dice?

MP: Yeh. Sometimes, they are just screaming and hating it, other times they are curious and attentive, you never know. Kinda fun like that. The good thing about us is we manage to play through whatever is going on. There is an incredible amount of focus in that group. Those guys, whew, one of my favorite bands I have ever played with. Really they've got it. They really know how to bring it to life.

LAB: On that note, I am going home. I have grown weary and must travel onward. Thanks again!

MP: Thank you. Goodnight.

MIKE PATTON Finds Success Of New FANTOMAS Album 'Astounding'

Former FAITH NO MORE singer Mike Patton has told Billboard.com that his plan to release two diverse FANTOMAS albums months apart was derailed after something completely unexpected occurred with the first disc, "Delirium Cordia".

"It shipped like double what [FANTOMAS' 2001's release] 'Director's Cut' shipped, and that to me is astounding," said Patton. "This is the weirdest creature we've ever made, and probably will ever make, and the fact that people are giving this thing a chance, I don't know. It does nothing but raise more questions and make me feel more clueless. Rather than trying to figure it out, I'm just concentrating on the next one, getting that together and the artwork. I think it is funny, and ultimately ironic and beautiful, that a record like this could do well because that just proves people don't know shit, including me."