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Let's not jump into the
filth right away, let's start with something new and beautiful;
"Human". After "Spiritual Healing" another step towards the techno
direction.
"Indeed, it's a
natural developement. One can not set bounderies for musical progression,
certainly as a guitarist I don't wanna restrict myself. A song
like "Cosmic Sea" is a good example. We optimum used studio techniques
like the reversed recorded lead guitar at the end. We used to
think we should at all times be able to play things live. We will
never be able to do so with "Cosmic Sea" but it doesn't matter
anymore, it's just a studio track and a breathing-space between
all the heavy stuff on the CD. Refreshing."
With just over half
an hour playing time it is a pretty short album.....
"Yes, but quality
is more important, I won't put another song up just to make the
record longer. It's a collection of equal compositions. A bit
comparable with Slayers "Reign in Blood", that one also takes
just about half an hour but leaves you behind wanting more. As
a music lover I like that desire, you have to prevent dullness."
The song "Suicide
Machine" is about euthanasia as "Pull The Plug" on "Leprosy",
what is it about this subject?
"One should have
the right not having to suffer. When you have a deadly illness
without any escape then there's just one alternative. You don't
wanna just see somebody die away real slow. I am an animal lover.
When your dog is incurable ill the vet will put him to sleep.
It's the most painless way. In many ways animals are like humans,
they also feel pain, joy, guilt (my dog does hahaha). People as
well don't have to suffer."
What's the current
line up?
"Skott Carino on
bass (who also plays on "Cosmic Sea"/RH) whom I hope stays a while.
Masvidal and Reinert still are in Cynic but put that on hold to
be able to tour with Death. In the long term I am searching for
musicians still but I don't have to worry about it until after
the tour. At the moment these musicians are irreplaceable. Sean
is divine, his drumming is crucial on the CD. I always admired
those guys, thanks to them the band could grow. Death compared
to a meal they are the hot sauce being poured over making the
whole much more stronger. I don't have to restrict myself as a
writer to what is to be expected from death metal. It doesn't
always have to be narrow minded noise. Even on "Scream Bloody
Gore" (Death's debut in '87/RH) I had some worked out solos. Nobody
can say we all of a sudden went wimpy just because we play decent
leads and melodies. They have always been there and will always
different Death from others."
Would this CD have
been possible with the old line up?
"You just have to
listen once for the answer. These aren't riffs suported by just
some background music, everybody complements perfect, everybody
is in total control. Sean sometimes plays the opposite of what
the riffs do and becomes one with them at the same time. It is
so original, hard to explain, you just have to hear it. These
musicians bring Death alive, bring Death into reality. It's a
pity they will go back to Cynic but I admire their devotion for
their band."
Aren't the other
Cynic men afraid of Paul and Sein sticking with you? After all
you once ripped off Kam Lee's total line up of Massacre.
"They might be worried,
I don't know. But thank God those Massacre days are gone. At least
I work with professional musicians nowadays instead of people
who wanted to be seen as musicians but couldn't deliver the required
skills. People who don't give a fuck for self- improvement. My
solos on Human aren't masturbation but proof of what I am capable
of. They show I am the pivot without anybody else demanding the
existence of Death. I am glad I now get a chance to clear away
all the dirty, sick lies that are told about me. That's why this
CD is the ultimate revenge for me man ! This album is crucial,
an extension piece of myself. I am proving myself with what really
matters: the music. I am just human and not created on some planet
of perfection. I can make mistakes, unfortunately. The fact you
release albums doesn't mean your life is perfectly in order. I
have a right to make mistakes. That's why I had to take some time
off, to put things into perspective. I like to seperate my two
lives, I also talk different than I sing, hahaha! But when those
two lives conflict with each other then you're in deep trouble.
I won't be the first musician having to deal with this. When problems
starting to mix, you can't think clear anymore, then you need
a time-out. Hopefully people will understand they are thinking
different through manipulation and lies. I have got to do some
explaining. It's a pity some have to go through life by hurting
others. I don't like hurting people, I rather prove myself."
Time-out meaning
the cancelled tour last year?
"Yes, and I apologize
for that to the fans, they must have been disappointed. But there's
no reason to hate me as a person. I had to sort out some problems.
Now I'm back with a new CD filled with brand-new material and
not some old stuff I wrote five years ago like some others have
to depend on."
Ex-colleagues of
Massacre......
"Human is new, sincere
and that's rare nowadays."
What about Terry
Butler and Bill Andrews coming to Europe as Death despite of your
cancellation.......
"That was sick,
they did it just for the money. At the same time dragging the
name of Death and me through the mud."
Even urging the audience
to a mass "fuck Chuck" yelling.
"Disappointing,
people lowering themselves to that level by intimidation of liars.
Be mad at those perfoming as Death but weren't. Be mad at being
took of for a ride, for being manipulated. They were victims of
weak people. I can't blame anybody for what was being told to
them, it was one-way and deliberate lied. I am sincere, as a human
and as a musician, which I can't tell about those who lied about
me. I can still look in the mirror and feel good. I can see now
who are my true friends and who aren't. I threw away a lot of
waste I carried around in my life. The ex-members of Death I considered
being friends but they obviously weren't. They feel the need to
ruin others."
Yet all the negative
talks about you came from different sources.
"LIES ! Pathetic
characters passing for humans. I pity them and hope they will
be helped some day. The enormous skill on Human in fact is a big
"fuck off" to all of them. A prove that I am not some psychotic
monster but a person making music and who's personal situation
has been abused. But this CD is not only for me, it's for all
those that supported me, I hope they understand I am telling the
truth. You see I don't have to lie I can tell the rock hard truth,
like Terry Butler not playing the bass at all on "Leprosy", I
did! I never told it because I considered him my best friend.
Back then I said: don't worry about it man! Now with them spreading
lies about me, it might be time to reveal the truth. People now
have a right to know Terry just couldn't handle the bass parts
of "Leprosy". I will leave it to that because I don't wanna descent
to their level, it's just one of the many examples. It was a shock
to realize who are my real friends and who aren't . I think things
started with me canceling the European tour but who knows what
was going on behind my back already. Well you come across those
kind of people in all aspects of life not only the death metal
scene. People wanting a free ride and when it's over the real
character reveals. I look at them now as people who saw their
free ride disappear, no longer being able to benefit from somebody
else's talent and hard work."
January 1992, will
you be touring Europe? Aren't you afraid of reactions (or maybe
the staying-away) of the fans?
"Not at all. When
they read this kind of interviews they can see I am not evil.
I never did things to fuck somebody. Some of my favorite bands
disappointed me in the past but it didn't make me hate them. King
Diamond didn't come to Florida for a long time, all the happier
I will be when he shows up, clear isn't it? Our tour wil reveal
the truth. I would like to say this: Thanks to everybody reading
this and understanding what I have been through. Speak up to those
who manipulated you. I will always be faithful to the music, the
fans and myself. Death will always be a band to believe in. As
a human I will try never to let down anybody ever again."
Robert Heeg
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