DAMAGED DYNASTY

1. Introduce the band - name, age, instrument, and the one thing you're really scared of.

Andrew: Introducing Damaged Dynasty. Which consists of Matt Pest, Paul Mazurek, and myself, Andrew. I am fourteen years of age, and i play guitar in the band. I'm not scared of much, but something i am a little freaked about it that i don't know what i'm scared of. So, when something hits me as frightening, I'm totally fucked! lol.

Paul: I am Paul, i hold the bottom end in the band. Little kids scare me, they can punch and kick you for a really really long time, and it starts to hurt, and you just wanna punch them back, but if you do they go off crying to their moms that I hit them and then i get in trouble.

Matt: Hey, I’m Matt. I’m the drummer in this kick ass band. I don’t really get scared. When Andrew spazes I get a bit scared, and walking into the woods during Kaai’s Chinese New Year party, but your not allowed to know any details about that.

2. The songs you have up on MySpace are only guitar (???) so it's hard to tell what you sound like with the bass, drums, and vocals. So you tell us -- when we finally hear ALL of Damaged Dynasty, what's the first thing that is going to come out of our mouths?

Andrew: Well, here's the deal about the whole "guitar only" thing. They are more demos than actual complete songs, for me and the band to here them before practice to get ideas and so forth. I used to use some crappy program that Paul sent me, but now i use an okay thing that i don't really know how to work so well, Garageband. Obviously, we want publicity and to be heard, so we put those demos up and all of them were recorded before we had Matt on drums. For a while its been just Paul and myself, so thats why we haven't had drums. We have finished everything in WSW, our first song. But the new version is so much better than the original or even what is on myspace right now. Everyone in the band won't admit how good they are, Paul kicks ass! Matt kicks ass! As far as vocals, we don't really need them.

Paul:Man just for that I kicked 6 kids in the ass today. no joke. We're recording with Autodidact records soon. Were starting to record in october and we plan to have the EP out in early 06. We will only sell them at shows, so you have to come see us live to get a copy. Our full length will be available on the internet also. But yeah were going to record our stuff really soon.

Matt: What they said.

3. The "Mission Statement" you have on your MySpace page sounds a little like The Wyld Stallyns from "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure." Are you sent from the future to bring peace and new wisdom to Earth?

Andrew: The "Mission Statement" as you put it is only a brief summary of my feelings toward things i believe in, both dark and light. I can't reveal much more about it unfortunately, cause you don't know what kind of shit i get when i do!

Paul: Part of the history of the band.

Matt: If that’s what makes you happy, then no.

4. Damaged Dynasty - Metal or Hardcore? And why?

Well, we all like different types of music. Right now i'm listening to real technical and spiritual stuff, Yngwie Malmsteen, Racer X, Paul Gilbert, and Steve Vai. I do like occasional classic rock, like Black Sabbath. But i hate all this new shit like all emo, especially emo. Fuck that. But some real heavy metal shit has some great licks, and not just a big wall of sound like people tend to think. I just don't by into all that "i hate the world" shit. Ya know? I like realism with a hint of "fantasy" but not some stupid poetic line that people write for 2 hours while trying on their mom's nail polish.

Paul: I was once emo, it sucked. I'd say that were more 80's rock/metal with some modern influences, but it's so many different artists added up together with a twist.

Matt: I think we are much more metal then hardcore, but that’s just because I like Metal more. Plus what do I know, I’m just the drummer.

Paul: matt, haha, a man once said "i have 3 kids, 2 are musicians and ones a drummer."

5. What was the first song you heard that made you want to learn an instrument and be in a band? Name some other bands you consider big influences on your sound.

Andrew: There wasn't any particular song that made me want to play, i've always wanted to play, but didn't start to i was thirteen. It was the feeling that attracted me, that pulled me towards a "destiny." As for influences, i take from Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, and classical.

Paul: No musician made me want to play an instrument, my first instrument was piano, which i started when i was 5. I took up guitar in January 04, and bass in August 04. I joined my first band in january 04. Basically i was influenced by some kids around me who were in bands, so i started one up. A year later i started up Damaged Dynasty and this has been my main band ever since.

Matt: No song made me want to play an instrument. We were supposed to leard an instrument in school and I didn’t like to concept of blowing on pipes to make sound so I became a drummer. As for my influences, I try to learn most of my beats from Bonham, Ward, and Matt from GNR.

6. If I wanted a date with each member of Damaged Dynasty, what would be the perfect pickup line for each of you?

Andrew: Well, i wouldn't even consider dating someone if i wasn't in love with them.

Paul: right now I'm going out with somebody, but things can change. I like to have a convo start randomly like "what pick-ups do you use on your bass" if you asked me at show.

Matt: I’ll have to pass.

7. Does being an "underage" band make it harder to do gigs, what with balancing school and the band, homework, parents, not being able to drive, etc.? What do your parents think of the band and how supportive are they when you play shows, rehearse, etc.?

Andrew: I hate how titles and groups define the "person" you are "supposed" to be. Fuck that. So being called a "teacher" means you have the right to treat people like inferiors and gives them the authority to disgrace them?! Thats ridiculous! Anyhow, my parents are extremely supportive and know that DD is the most important thing for me right now. They rock.

Paul: My mom sucks, she gives no support, but my dad on the other hand drives me to practices and show, helps me fix guitar or bass problems. He supports me, he rules. Being an young band can get lame because if the band wants to tour, it would have to be during the summer, and it wouldn't be so great. Balancing homework and stuff is easy, i just do my homework, or i do it before practice, and do the rest when i come back.

Matt: I have a soundproof room for band practice in my house so my parents don’t give a shit, plus I’m the drummer so I don’t need to be driven to practice. Anyway my parents are pretty supportive of me and the band.

8. What do you think of emo? How many kids in your school/scene/clique are emo and how will you get them to worship Damaged Dynasty?

Andrew: I fuckin' hate emo! Its ridiculous and fake. Fuck emo shitheads, they fills their heads with crap. They are lost in themselves, i don't give a shit if they never hear about us.

Paul: Emo is like vinegar, when you drink vinegar alone, it taste like crap. Kind of like emo. But if you add other stuff to it, it will make it sound so much better. What I'm trying to say is pure emo sucks, but if you add screamo and hardcore to it, its awesome. Emo kids can be empty headed, but we all are. My school is full of preps, i dont go to the same school as the rest of my band. As far as my scene goes, we have some emo influences, but were not emo. I get bassists to worship the band by teaching them the intro to our song "Damaged Dynasty," man, they get so addicted that the listen to more of our stuff. Basically by putting new stuff up and not having the same 2 songs for 3 years will get people to love you. Keep writing new stuff is my advise.

Matt: Emo sucks, a lot there is nothing that could be done to make it better. And I’ll leave publicity to Paul a.k.a. Mr. Popular.

9. You die and go to heaven. It's time for lunch. Kurt Cobain is at one table, Jimi Hendrix is at another, Bon Scott from AC/DC is the third table, and John and George from the Beatles are at the fourth table. Who do you have lunch with, and why?

Andrew: Well, i think its pretty definite i won't go to heaven. So case closed i guess.

Paul: I would totally chose Jimi Hendrix for 2 reason, that he's such an amazing blues guitarist and an amazing bassist. (all of the songs with Noel Redding on bass where written and recorded by Jimi.)

Matt: I don’t think I’ll go to heaven either. I’ll probably go to purgatory. If I didn’t I’d sit with Bon Scott because it’s always funny while talking to a guy who’s drunk 24/7.

10. Tell people how they can find you on the Internet and what merch you have available.

Andrew: People shouldn't forget about music that has thought and feelings put into it, so when you remember that, you'll find us. We're on a road to glory and anyone is free to join us. Also, besides from being our bassist, Paul is also kinda like our publicist. He takes care of all the publicity and shit, and as far as merchandise, I'm not sure. If we did have any, i would definitely have some! We're gonna record an EP soon enough, and it will kick ass like never before! When we do record an album, it will be one with like 11-13 songs. I'm aiming for that, so its something worth the money. Well, thanks for wanting to interview us, and spread the word, the age of senselessness and chaos is coming to an end! Damaged Dynasty is taking control.

Paul: Yeah I'm in charge of all the promotion, media, and merch stuff. If you drop a message on our myspace, ill be the one replying back. As far as merch, we have shirts that are about to be made, i just have to ask some random people about the design if they like it. We plan to have our EP will be out in early 06, and you can check us out right now at http://www.myspace.com/damageddynasty

Matt: yeah. Um what they said. I don’t do any of that stuff. Too lazY.

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