SACRED REICH

Follow the American Way

- There are also many young interesting thrash bands like FUELED BY FIRE, MUNICIPAL WASTE or GAMA BOMB. What do you think about New Wave of Thrash Metal? Aren't you a little disappointed that most of the new bands - with different results - only follow their masters from the past without adding anything to genre's canons or you're not going to complain as long as they're good at what they're doing?
I think those bands are doing their own thing and are carrying on the sound of thrash music. I am happy for them.

- Almost all your albums were produced by you together with Bill Metoyer. How would you describe his influence on creating band's sound? And why didn’t he worked with you during the "Independent" session?
Bill helped us get what we wanted in the studio. At the beginning he was a great help because we had no experience. As we gained the experience he was always a calming influence and a voice of reason. He pushed us to play better. For “Independent” I wanted to work with Dave Jerden because I admired his work with Jane’s Addiction and Alice in Chains. I think he helped us make a great sounding record. It was a great experience.

-You've contributed the Black Sabbath cover "Sweet Leaf" to the "Hempilation: Freedom Is NORML" compilation album to benefit NORML. Why did you decided to support the campaign for legalizing marijuana? Btw did you ever have had any problems with drugs or alcohol during your career?
The prohibition against marijuana only creates more problems and overcrowded jails. I do not think it is more problematic than alchohol or other substances that you can get with a prescription. I never had a problem with drugs or alchohol.

- Re-relaesed packacge of "Ignorance" and "Surf Nicaragua" contains a live DVD from legendary DYNAMO festival. How do you remember that experience? In late 80s and early 90s there were not so many big open air metal fests so I guess it must have been really special. Btw are there any plans to film some shows and release a new SR DVD? I've heard that your show at Wacken was filmed, so...
The Dynamo Open Air in 1989 was one of the most memorable moments in our career. It was our first big show and the crowd went nuts! We were blown away. Truly remarkable. We are currently working on a DVD/CD from the show at Wacken in 2007.Hopefully it will come out this summer.

-Are there any plans to reissue any other SR albums?
We will see.

-Your ex-drummer Dave McClain achieved a huge success with MACHINE HEAD. How would you describe your today’s relationships. Do you have any contacts with each other? Btw. do you know what other ex-SR members - Dan Kelly and Jeff Martinek - do nowadays. Do they have any contact with music scene?
I see Dave when he comes through town with Machine Head. I call him to check in from time to time and e-mail him occasionaly. I am very happy for him and his success. He is a great drummer and a great guy. The Blackening is a great record. I am happy to see Phil Demmel in the band too. We will both be at Hellfest the same day and I’m hoping that we can jam “Independent“ together. I haven’t seen Dan or Jeff in many years.

- Let's finish our conversation with a distant past for a while. According to the metal-archives. com in 1986 you've played in FLOTSAM AND JETSAM. Could you be so nice and tell our readers how and when exactly did it happen that you've joined and left FLOTSAM?
When Jason Newsted left Flotsam to join Metallica, Flotsam had some shows booked in California that they didn’t want to cancel. They asked me if I could fill in and play the shows with them. I said yes. We rehearsed for two weeks and I did the shows. While we were rehearsing they were holding auditions for a new bass player. We all new that my playing with them was just temporary until they could find a new bass player. They never asked me to join their band and knew that I was happy in Sacred Reich.

- In 1986 you've released your first demo "Draining You of Life" which led you to "Metal Massacre VIII" and deal with METAL BLADE. How did it happen that Dan didn’t sing on that demo? Is it true that he was supposed to sing on that recordings but he was unable to pay his share of studio time so you've taken his place?
Sometimes Dan wouldn’t show up to practice and I would sing because I wrote the lyrics and I wanted the band to know how the song should sound. When it came time to record our demo Dan didn’t have his share of the money for the recording. He wasn’t showing up for practice consistently and didn’t have his money. Our guitar player Jason said “Fuck him, you sing”, and that was that. I was happy playing bass and never thought of myself as a singer but it worked out.

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Line-Up:
Phil Rind - vocals, bass
Wiley Arnett - lead guitar
Jason Rainey - rhythm guitar
Greg Hall - drums

Discography:
Draining You of Life (1986) demo
Ignorance (1987)
Surf Nicaragua (1988) EP
Alive at the Dynamo (1989) EP,
The American Way (1990)
A Question (1991) EP
Independent (1993)
Heal (1996)
Still Ignorant (1997) live