GOD FORBID

Unpredictability is interesting

-When it comes to the Internet, a few days ago I tried to explore your website in order to get some additional info concerning the band. The site is unavailable to unregistered users. It's like „if you're not with us, you're against us”. Come on...
That was kind of unintentional. I just wanted a sign up for the free mp3, but apparently you have to sign up to view the site. I guess it kind of sucks, but you can go to our MySpace for a regular site. The new site is really fan involved. You get your own profile, and you can chat with the band in forums, and chatrooms. Post your own pictures and videos. Listen to music and watch videos. It’s extremely interactive, so I guess if your not a big fan than you wouldn’t be interested. It gives us a lot of access to our fans, and I really dig it. Maybe we will make an intro page with a little more stuff. I try to take the concern seriously. These comments help make our shit better.

-Last year you released the first official DVD entitled „Beneath the Scars of Glory and Progression”. It features a show you played at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville in 2007 as well as some bonus material (featured on the second disc). Was a good experience to film a show? Or was it really annoying to have cameras shooting your performance? Are you satisfied in 100 percent with the way it turned out?
I have to say I was incredibly nervous to shoot, because I was so worried about playing tight that maybe I didn’t move around as much as I would normally. It really took me about half of the set to settle down. I think a few of the other guys were nervous as well. I shouldn’t have been so nervous, because we ended up cleaning up some of the playing anyway. I am very happy with the way it turned out. We tried to include a lot with a very high quality with a limited budget. My only criticisms would be that maybe the concert is edited a little too quick like a music video, and maybe the documentary drags a little in the middle. We were in a rush to get it out though, so we didn’t really have too much time to change some of the things. It’s great for a first DVD for a band of our size. A lot of bang for the buck. Everyone who worked on it did incredible work.

-Undoubtedly you have achieved a great success in music industry. On the other hand, making this band so successful means many sacrifices in your private life. Do you see yourselves doing this for the rest of your life? What is the most beautiful thing that makes life worth living to you?
It’s certainly difficult to keep a relationship, and it’s tough to make enough money from music to have a good living. I’ve ruined relationships from touring (and from my own immaturity), and gotten myself into lots of debt. If you want a stable life, don’t become a touring musician. In sense, I don’t know how to do much else, so I could certainly see myself playing music my whole life. I don’t know if it will always be in a metal band, but I couldn’t see myself not being involved in music in some aspect either in the industry or teaching or even playing with a cover band. It’s just fun for me. Whenever I get depressed about not making a lot of money, I just think about have having more money doing something I don’t enjoy, and that seems like a much worse existence. Passion fuels life. If you’re passionate about something, you have a better chance of doing it well. The most beautiful thing I’ve found about life is the idea of gratitude. I’ve taken so much for granted in life, that now I am thankful that the sun is shining, or that my car works, or that I have a bed to sleep in or a meal to eat. Living itself is beautiful. Time is limited, so I really want to capitalize on it while I’m still here. I feel very lucky to still have a career if even a modest one after having many tough times and thinking it could all be over on several occasions.

-What's next for GOD FORBID? With the release of your fifth full length album you are probably gearing up to hit the road again. How's everything looking at this point?
It’s looking very busy. We will be touring Europe with Ill Nino from Feb- March. Than we will be hitting the US for one of our biggest tours ever done with Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, Children of Bodom, and Municipal Waste. We than go back to Europe to do festivals, almost all of which we’ve never done. Those festivals and some off-dates as well I think will be with Anthrax and Devildriver. That will be an incredible opportunity for us. After that, we’ll have a very big US tour that we cannot announce at this time. Hopefully we can get back to Japan, Australia, and a few other countries we’ve never played. All in all, we are looking at some of the biggest touring opportunities of our career. It’s pretty incredible to have such good exposure. We will have almost the biggest gap in touring we’ve ever had. Around 7 months. I can’t wait to get back on the road, and jam some new songs and have some fun!


-The last words are yours. Spread them!
First, I’d like to thank you for the interview and enthusiasm about the new record. We’re very happy with album, so it’s good see we are getting some positive feedback, especially from people who weren’t fans before Earthsblood. The album comes out Feb 16th in Europe and Feb 24th in the US, so I hope everyone can try to pick it up. And even though there’s some hesitance, everyone should try to check out the new website at www.godforbid1.com. It’s very interactive, and has tons of stuff on there. Take care and see you all soon.

www.godforbid1.com

Line Up:
Byron Davis - Vocals
Doc Coyle - Guitar
Dallas Coyle - Guitar
John Outcalt - Bass
Corey Pierce - Drums

Discography:
Out of Misery (EP 1998)
Reject the Sickness (2000)
Determination (2001)
Gone Forever (2004)
Better Days (EP 2004)
IV: Constitution of Treason (2005)
Beneath the Scars of Glory and Progression (DVD 2008)
Earthsblood (2009)