Firebird
Grand Union

Interview with Dr. John Holmes on the so-called "metalhead syndrome"

DeB: Good morning Dr. Holmes, how are we doing?

JH: Not bad, if it weren't for that Swedish patient who thinks he's become the savior of rock... but let's not talk about him, I think I've already said enough about his case.

DeB: Yes, let's talk about the metalhead syndrome, what can you tell us about it?

JH: Well, let's start by saying it's not just a simple syndrome, it's a bona fide disease, bacterial in origin no less. I remember the first cases date back to the 90s: at the time my patients were precisely two Swedes, Nicke Andersson and Michael Amott. Both treated, for God's sake, although with not entirely convincing results.

DeB: What exactly is it?

JH: You see, the bacterium infects the patient, usually a musician active in the death metal field, so that, from one day to the next, the same patient changes drastically: if he used to play very heavy and heavily distorted, now he's into retro rock; if he used to talk about death and autopsies, now he talks about flower power and the blues; if he used to dress all in black, now he dusts off the bell-bottoms and tie-dye shirts. It's a complete upheaval.

DeB: Is there any systematics in the spread of the disease?

JH: Yes and no. Fortunately, cases are rather limited, but the incidences are mostly recorded in Sweden and the United Kingdom.

DeB: United Kingdom?

JH: Well, it's natural, after all, Tony Iommi is still a school. Does the name Lee Dorrian ring a bell?

DeB: Sure, the most handsome doomster, and also the most psychedelic. Now that I think about it, he also comes from metallic feats with Napalm Death, in which there was also...

JH: ...Bill Steer.

DeB: Exactly! Is he your patient too?

JH: Absolutely, I'll never manage to recover him.

DeB: Meaning?

JH: His is an emblematic case: he's one of the inventors of grindcore, he founded Carcass (no small feat!), then, after Swansong, he disappeared.

DeB: And then?

JH: He resurfaced in the new millennium, formed a power trio, Firebird, and they came out with a rather indifferent trilogy of albums, a mix of English hard blues. So far, nothing special, I was already keeping an eye on it for a while and was convinced that the thing would resolve itself, and instead, you know what he pulls off in 2006? He releases Hot Wings, really a great record. By then it was uncontrollable, and as if that wasn't enough, three years later produces another album...

DeB: What would the title be?

JH: Grand Union. A great album, even better than the previous one.

DeB: I bet this album is the effect of that pathology.

JH: Exactly. Do you remember the unforgettable riffs of Corporal Jigsore Quandary and Incarnated Solvent Abuse? Well, forget them! Steer has become a bluesman, a bluesman who talks about blue flames and silent strangers, passing through young men called Jack and lonely roads, without missing covers of JT and Humble Pie, reinterpreted with absolute dexterity.

DeB: All this is praiseworthy, yet, by doing so, all his technical expertise will go to waste, right? I mean, dealing with the blues...

JH: On the contrary! Although blues is a static genre and doesn't offer much showing off technique, Steer's guitar work hasn't deteriorated at all, on the contrary, his touch is still there. Sure, it's changed, but he hasn't lost an ounce of the skill he had. And I'll tell you more: the simpler approach does not compromise the quality of these songs: I've seen him live, the energy he exudes is uncontrollable and would involve anyone.

DeB: And tell me Doctor, does Steer also sing?

JH: Yes. He's so sick that he no longer wants to growl like in the times of Exhume to Consume. The boy doesn't have a black man's voice, and he doesn't even reach the peaks of Steve Winwood, but it's amazing to hear him pull out his voice like that. I didn't think it was possible.

DeB: Never say never...

JH: Indeed...

DeB: Under which label was the album released? Certainly not a major one.

JH: Indeed, it was released by Rise Above, owned by that crazy Lee Dorrian.

DeB: Him again!

JH: Yep, another one struck on the road to Damascus. Now he's a kind of guru who hosts, under his protective wing, bands that have made 70s riffing their trademark: Electric Wizard, Orange Goblin, Steer's Firebird, the same Cathedral...

DeB: Very interesting, unfortunately time is running out and I have the last questions: do you like the album? Would you recommend it to someone or could it be contagious?

JH: Should I answer as a doctor or as a listener?

DeB: Better as a listener.

JH: At this point... I'll admit it: I love the album, and I can only recommend it to anyone who loves those sounds and/or has passed through the groups I mentioned earlier, Carcass included. You are no longer fifteen years old guys, throw away your metal shirts and all the CDs that mom and dad can't stand, go buy yourself some classic vinyls and wear bell-bottoms. You won't regret it.

DeB: Doctor, I think you're going a bit off-topic... thank you for the interview.

JH: Thank you.

DeB: Is there anything you'd like to add?

JH: Yes, since we're in this period... Merry Christmas to all DeBaser readers, the coolest site on the internet!