ALEX WEBSTER

I don't foresee corpsepaint in my future

The big respect is only one, what I should to feel for him. A job of bass player in death metal band is absolutely no easy job, especially considering his value, discography and promotional undertakings, mirroring itself in the hundreds and even thousands kilometers done during the tours. Everybody knows, that CANNIBAL CORPSE belongs since many years to the leaders of death machines in the world, so intensity of the gigs is here nothing strange. The bassman and main composer of this American extreme act still fights in studio and on the stage not only for his good mark, cause except of this he has taken a part (and takes all time) in another undertakings, standing on pedestal of course death metal, that confirms for example recorded with his participate the new album of HATE ETERNAL “Fury In Flames”. All of you knows Alex as a very busy and a hard-working guy, so sparing him the questions, being probably boring, I have asked this time about the another details of his intensive activity. Here are the following effects of my work.

-Alex, firstly I wanted to really congratulate you a good work, which you have done on the last HATE ETERNAL album! Suppose, that not everybody knows about it, that you have participated in this band when was born, so maybe tell us, what happened, that you have left HATE ETERNAL fast after his birthday and now after years you play again in?
Erik and I have been friends for many years, and throughout our friendship I have played bass with him in both ALAS and HATE ETERNAL on a few occasions. Making music with Erik is obviously a great honor, as he is an incredible musician and songwriter. Both Times I played with him in HATE ETERNAL were studio sessions only, first for the original demo back in 1997, and second for the “Fury In Flames” album.. In both cases we knew that although it was great for us to make music together, Erik would need to find a permanent bassist for the future, one who could truly dedicate himself to HATE ETERNAL. As permanent bassist for CANNIBAL CORPSE, I just don’t have the time to dedicate myself to touring and concentrating on only HATE ETERNAL. They are an amazing band that deserves a bassist who will make them his first priority. But as I said, it was an honor and a pleasure to record with them, and I would be happy to do it again in the future.

-Anyway, are you satisfied from the final effect on this album? How worked a cooperation with Erik Rutan? About possibilities, which gives his own studio and of course his producer talent we all know, but what do you think about Erik as the musician? In opinion of many people, he is one from the most talented guitarists on the world. Do you agree with this and was it a pleasure you to record something common with him?
Yes, it was a great pleasure to work with Erik and he is a great guitarist, as well as being a great producer. I have worked with him on ALAS and HATE ETERNAL demos in the past, as well as the CANNIBAL album “Kill”, so I knew that he would do a great job with “Fury And Flames”, and of course he did!

-Understand, that HATE ETERNAL will start the promotion of the new album going on tour soon, so how looks in this situation a question of bass player in this band? Will you participate in these concerts as a regular HATE ETERNAL member? Knowing you as a very busy man in your mother-band, can to suppose, that it could to be very difficult for you, because CANNIBAL CORPSE had always a very full gig-graphic. Are you in able to reconcile these both of duties?
No, unfortunately I have to concentrate fully on the song writing and recording process for CANNIBAL CORPSE’s new album this year. We will start recording in September, so we have a lot of work to do over the next few months. Erik wants to do a lot of touring this year (he will tour shortly before we start our next album with him), so he needs a full time permanent bassist for HATE ETERNAL.

-A people will probably forever and for always unite your person with a brutal death metal. Tell us, please, is maybe something yet, where would you like to check your skills? But being sincerely, personally I can’t to imagine you, playing black metal with a corpse-paint on your face or making gothic stuff with a voices of girls, hi, hi?
Well, BLOTTED SCIENCE, the project I did with Ron Jarzombek of WATCHTOWER was a good way for me to test my skills in a somewhat different musical environment. It was extreme metal, but more progressive. It was a big challenge for me as a musician, that’s for sure. And no, I don’t foresee corpse-paint in my future, haha, although I do enjoy the music of some bands that wear that stuff.

-Who was your authority in a bass playing? Except of this, do you remember yet your first instrument and the circumstances you have bought it? Have you gathered your cash denying yourself the candies or Mc Donald’s?
When I first started taking the lessons my friend Mike Hudson taught me, he was the best bass player in my town. My first bass was a Kay Fender P-bass copy, which I bought with money I made working delivering newspapers. It took me a long time save that money, but playing bass was the most important thing to me, so it was worth it. Fortunately, there was no Mc Donald’s in my town so I didn’t have that temptation, haha.