Member Interviews: Interview Thread
 

Interview #1

Subject: Jackhammer

Inquisitor: Bulldog

Here is the condensed edited transcript

[18:23] Bulldog: So you're from Birmingham aren't you?
[18:24] Jackhammer: Not quite. I have lived in Cheltenham for 17 years now. Was born in Wolverhampton but grew up in Telford (it's in Shropshire) but both sides of family going back many generations are all from Birmingham. I don't know where I would call home really.
[18:26] Bulldog: Yeah, I'm pretty much the same.
[18:31] Bulldog: So you're married man aren't you? With a kid as well I seem to remember
[18:32] Jackhammer: Not married but may as well be. Got two kids. Two boys. 14 (nearly 15) and the youngest is ten. We have been together for 16 years now.
[18:34] Bulldog: Congrats man. Have you managed to sway them towards Villa fandom as well?
[18:36] Jackhammer: The eldest hates footie-we are not much alike at all but the little fella is. In fact I have just got him the new villa shirt with Barry on the back for him for x-mas. Cost me forty quid! He wants me to take him for a game in the New Year so time to get the pennies out.
[18:37] Bulldog: lol Seems footie shirts cost their weight in gold these days, nevermind Premiership tickets. I haven't been to a Wigan game for 3 years now - the prices keep scaring me off
[18:38] Bulldog: Speaking of which, what was the last game you saw at Villa Park?
[18:40] Jackhammer: Years ago. It was a UEFA Cup Game and we lost 2-1. Can't even remember the team. I think they were Croatian. I have never been able to go because I don't drive and worked every Saturday for the past 4 years.
[18:42] Bulldog: UEFA Cup... that wasn't when David O'Leary was in charge was it? Or am I hilariously wide of the mark?
[18:43] Jackhammer: Yeah. Juan Pablo Angel scored so was many moons ago!
[18:44] Bulldog: I remember that bloke! Good little player he was. He was no Nathan Ellington though lol
[18:44] Jackhammer: You’re a Wigan fan no?
[18:45] Bulldog: Yeah. Have been since we were in the old Second Division. It's been quite an interesting 7 years, I've gotta say
[18:46] Bulldog: I think the only time I've ever cried tears of joy was when we Sheffield Utd to stay up on goal difference. What a match

[18:49] Bulldog: Since we all love lists, if you could give someone 10 albums to define everything good about music, what do you reckon they'd be?
[18:50] Bulldog: Pretty harsh question I know...
[18:50] Jackhammer: Oh jeez. Well that would be MY representation of what music should sound like but they may not be the most suitable for you to get a full appreciation of music.
[18:52] Bulldog: Well, that's alright. I was forgetting, you've got a thread about this going haven't you.
[18:52] Jackhammer: No, no worries. Let's chuck out a few.
[18:53] Jackhammer: Erik Satie-Piano works. Beautiful simplicity
[18:53] Jackhammer: Slayer Reign In Blood because it's still arguably the most intense album ever
[18:54] Jackhammer: Pink Floyd Animals-some of the best guitar work ever
[18:54] Jackhammer: Fat Freddy’s Drop- based on a true story-because its the sexiest album ever and makes we want to jump someone’s bones
[18:55] Jackhammer: Joy Division - unknown pleasures - nihilism has never sounded so exquisite
[18:56] Jackhammer: Dubmatix - champion soundclash-a brilliant electro dub/reggae album that represents everything that’s great about the Reggae genre
[18:57] Jackhammer: Fela Kuti- expensive Shit. because music belongs to the entire world not just the first world
[18:57] Jackhammer: John Martyn -Grace and Danger. Because there is nothing quite cathartic as a man pouring his heart out into his music
[18:59] Jackhammer: Wire - Missing Chairs. Who says one genre is enough? mind blowing punk that was anything but.
[18:59] Jackhammer: Massive Attack - mezzanine. Possibly the greatest electronic album of all time
[19:00] Jackhammer: there ya go. that was random
[19:00] Bulldog: Great list there man. As ashamed as I am to admit, I've never actually heard Animals before
[19:00] Bulldog: Gotta get hold of that Dubmatix album at some point too
[19:01] Jackhammer: oh yeah they are fantastic. Canadian of all things but their music was built for sound systems. I can sort that for ya no worries

[19:04] Bulldog: Speaking of favorites, who are the leading lights in music for you?
[19:05] Jackhammer: No one lol
[19:06] Jackhammer: Nobody has TRULY TRULY blew me away recently. I love Bon Iver but it is hardly original is it?
[19:06] Bulldog: I see where you're coming from. It all smacks of pale imitation doesn't it?
[19:07] Bulldog: From what I'm told dance music is still fleeting nicely, but I'm no expert at all on it
[19:07] Jackhammer: Sure does. I still think that Bowie has got one truly great album left in him and we are still waiting for the My Bloody Valentine album
[19:08] Bulldog: And Madness are doing an album next year too. lol
[19:09] Jackhammer: I suppose what is going in the dubstep scene is great as it is splintering into grime and hip hop, reggae and even ambience etc. it's great to have a scene in UK that is recognisably ours
[19:09] Jackhammer: UK. I mean. Unfortunately it's not big on MB
[19:10] Bulldog: Unfortunately not. There's a pretty lively thread on it, but it's not exactly setting the site alight
[19:12] Jackhammer: Electronic music full stop seems to be frowned on a little which is understandable in a way but just because of the lack of instruments, doesn’t mean it lacks any less skill. A lot of the scene is just a guy with his Mac in the bedroom
[19:13] Bulldog: I see what you mean. It can be a plus point as well though. Real music being made by real people sort of thing (if that makes any sense)
[19:14] Bulldog: There are some truly awful elements of it though. Happy hardcore for example
[19:14] Bulldog: Which leads onto my next question, are there any genres of music that you flat-out hate?
[19:17] Jackhammer: Happy hardcore is definitely awful and I hate all that diva warbling crap. I even cover my ears if a Celine Dion ad is on the TV. I listen to absolutely anything but I just cannot do twee pop or jangly Indie Belle and Sebastian etc. It goes nowhere for me and bores the crap out of me
[19:18] Bulldog: Same here man. I thought Belle and Sebastian had one okish song though. Can't remember what it was called - it's about the blues still being blues or something...

[19:19] Bulldog: How about film soundtracks? Are you into your fair share of those?
[19:20] Jackhammer: Oh yeah absolutely love them and try to convince MB'ers to give them a chance as they are as interesting as anything out there. I usually fail
[19:21] Bulldog: Trouble is the only place you can post about them is in that tiny forum that's hidden away wherever it is. There are some terrific ones out there though
[19:21] Bulldog: For example, the Proposition soundtrack
[19:22] Jackhammer: yeah great film too as is clint Mansells work
[19:23] Bulldog: Very undervalued part of music, as you say. Dunno about yourself, but the first CD I ever bought was a soundtrack
[19:24] Jackhammer: I cannot remember my first ever CD my first album was Adam and the Ants!
[19:25] Bulldog: Nice one! Kings of the Wild Frontier was it?
[19:25] Bulldog: I love that album
[19:25] Jackhammer: Dirk wears white sox; great band actually
[19:26] Bulldog: Their first three albums are top stuff. Haven't heard them in a while though

[19:27] Bulldog: What do you think of Prince Charming? A bit too poppy would you say?
[19:27] Jackhammer: Yeah they definitely lost their edge but I’m sure that was record label pressure
[19:28] Bulldog: Happened to all of them in the 80s didn't it? Costello, Bowie, Numan, Reed...
[19:29] Jackhammer: yeah but dig beneath the surface and there was some fantastic music around in the 80's
[19:30] Bulldog: Oh yeah, there's plenty of the stuff. Who'd you say your favourites were/are?
[19:30] Bulldog: From the 80s I mean
[19:33] Jackhammer: Talk Talk developed into a brilliant band but we also had Flux of Pink Indians, Echo & The Bunnymen, G.B.H, Cocteau Twins, dinosaur Jr, Big Black, The Cure, Foetus, Jesus and Mary Chain, Five or Six as well as all the metal that exploded in the mid 80's too
[19:35] Bulldog: Tons of the stuff really. The 80s is unfairly frowned on by a lot of people I've met who claim to be into music. The kinds who just associate it big hair, Top Gun and Huey Lewis

Jackhammer\Bulldog Continued
 

[19:37] Bulldog: Well, we're almost ready to wrap up, I've been given a few MB-related questions to mention
[19:37] Bulldog: Such as, who do you reckon your favourite poster is?
[19:41] Jackhammer: I have many many fave posters for many different reasons. Some are great to just shoot the breeze with and others know their stuff and others are so level headed. I would probably say Right-Track because he was my first contact on the site and his humour is exactly what you would expect from a northerner. Although he gets pissy sometimes, I have a lot of time for sleepy jack, we regularly talk.
[19:42] Jackhammer: Urbans knowledge is probably better than mine which is annoying and piss me off has the makings of an awesome fella as he is bright and listens to absolutely anything. Demonoid, Janszoon, Lateralus and yourself have been the cream of the new posters.
[19:43] Bulldog: Aww garsh
[19:43] Bulldog: Who do you think is responsible for the best threads on the boards?
[19:44] Bulldog: Better yet, which are your favourites?
[19:47] Jackhammer: Urbans threads are usually well written and witty and I particularly like reading Cardboards threads as he has a rare intelligence and an effortless writing style
[19:48] Jackhammer: 4zzz has some made some fantastic well written journal entries as well.
[19:49] Jackhammer: I will blow my own trumpet and say that my I love my Pink Floyd thread as I have never reviewed stuff in my life but they are well written I think
[19:50] Bulldog: It's a great thread, especially for people like me who are clueless Dark Side Of the Moon-only types
[19:51] Bulldog: So which section of the board would you like to see more people posting in?
[19:52] Jackhammer: Soundtracks, Electronica, Reggae/Ska
[19:52] Bulldog: Good choices. The Soundtracks one might as well not exist with the amount of posts we get in there these days
[19:53] Jackhammer: Yeah it's a shame
[19:53] Bulldog: I'd ask you what annoys you most about the place, but I'll just wait for the rest of the thread
[19:54] Bulldog: So instead, what do you like most about MB?
[19:54] Jackhammer: that’s another thread lol
[19:54] Jackhammer: but in short- the fact that I know I’m not the only one completely obsessed with music!
[19:56] Bulldog: Thanks for the interview man.

well played sir.

Unfortunalty I can't try the new music at work, but I do have a question, whats your oldest kid into if not soccer/football/footie/checker sphere?

He's into computer games and he does like to make music on the PC but it's rather directionless as he has'nt seemed to inherit my musical genes. He's a good kid though and has'nt turned out to be a 'hoodie' roaming the streets!

the musics directionless or he's directionless?

Theres been a ton of widely praised music I thought was directionless (most of radiohead). What does he make music with? or is it all computer generated?

He doens't play wow does he?

It's all computer generated. I mean that he is directionless, it's not a criticism. He is not quite sure what he wants to do with it and his music tastes are not formed yet so the music has no form. It's just something he messes about with really.

Well god bless your ear drums. Merry Christman man.

You too and to everyone else at MB.

Thats just from jackhammer. I wish the rest of you nothing.

Jackhammer, you should throw your kid out into the grime scene.

He's getting better slowly. He likes some Porcupine Tree. He also likes a fair bit of grime, The Prodigy and Massive Attack. It's just taking time with him!

No way

Just in different areas with the occasional overlap ;)

..and that reminds me. What Jackhammer would really like for xmas is the menswear album :D

After seeing that interview mine seems a lot less...interesting.

Burn in hell.

I don't know what you're up in arms about, I thought you were Jewish.

Im not Jewish.
Various females around the region have photos to prove it.
I'm C of E.

Merry Christmas Brennan. :)

How is your head David?

It swells and throbs occasionally, but nothing the missus can't sort with a gentle massage.

All sorts of connotations are implied here!

great interview, nice to see the web getting a bit more personal... jackhammer is like online jesus

Boring and preachy? :D

i was more focusing on the positive aspects but god forbid i take away a brits self-deprecation... lord knows its all you guys have left :p:

Wait! We do have one of the worlds best economies..oh hang on a minute...:D

I'm telling you the same thing I told the Canadians, get a black guy. A black prime minister will take all your troubles away.

Prime minister. :(

What ever happened with this? No more interviews? It was a good idea people. Jackhammer's interview was pretty good and I was looking forward to learning more about you other crazies.

14/Male/Canada/The Clash

all you need to know

i was just thinkin the same thing my self

I think this is a great idea as well. Who's next?

It's my thread, I suppose I should get it going again if people feel they'll enjoy it.

I'll interview someone tonight on AIM if anyone is game. PM me.

If I get any bites,
I'll have it edited and posted by Monday Evening EST.

Damn...I wish I still had my interview with H.I.M.

I'd love to chat :). Do you have Yahoo IM?

I'm sure it's too late for tonight but I'm up for being you test subject if you're still looking for an interviewee.

So Janzoon. First off let me ask when did you first notice the warts on your genitals?

:laughing:


Anyway, as much as I'd like to be interviewed, I don't think I'm a prominent enough figure on these boards to contribute to anyone's enjoyment from reading such an interview.

In due time, I guess.
Till then... I'd like to see a Captain Caveman interview for sure.

Part One
 

Member Interview #2
Subject: Khfreek



JayJamJah (9:54:41 PM): Hello and Welcome to MB Members Interviews. Tonight I am sitting down one of the younger members of the community. One of the numerous remaining members from the enormous class of 2008 arrivals, 15 year old male member, Khfreek.
JayJamJah (9:55:26 PM): Khfreek, how are you tonight?
KHFREEK (9:56:09 PM): Good. Had my first meal at Steak n Shake earlier, was good and my mom's going to get her green card soon
JayJamJah (9:57:09 PM): Not sure which one is bigger news, but we'll start with the Mom JayJamJah (9:57:16 PM): Where is she from?
KHFREEK (9:57:34 PM): Coventry, England
JayJamJah (9:58:08 PM): You were born in England too right?
KHFREEK (9:58:40 PM): Yes, in 1993 in Derbyshire
JayJamJah (9:58:50 PM): And you moved to Tennessee when you we're a young lad?
KHFREEK (9:59:25 PM): I was just about to turn 9 when I moved.
JayJamJah (9:59:51 PM): What was the reason for your emigration? KHFREEK (10:00:42 PM): My dad works for General Motors and he was given a better offer over here.
JayJamJah (10:01:59 PM): What’s been the hardest part about acclimating to life in the states at such a young age?
KHFREEK (10:03:48 PM): Getting along with other people over here was the hardest thing. I'd sort of been babied my whole life so I wasn't ready for the callous sort of way young boys treat each other. I only got used to it around 8th grade or so
JayJamJah (10:04:40 PM): Are you the youngest child?
KHFREEK (10:05:55 PM): No, the 3rd of 4. I have a 21 year-old brother, 20 year-old sister, and a 14 year-old little sister. My older sister's in college in Indiana and my brother is in England by himself.
JayJamJah (10:07:21 PM): When we talked earlier you mentioned that your parents had been divorced since moving to the United States. That's something a lot of people can relate to these days, talk about your circumstances as much as you're willing:
KHFREEK (10:13:08 PM): Actually got divorced after living in the states a while; my dad lives in China now working for GM. In order to not have to move back to England my mom got a student visa by going to college to be a nurse. The past 4 years have really been tough on the whole family. My mother's had problems with her anger and relationships with her kids have been strained. My brother's drug addiction and delinquency was part of the reason my parents got divorced; my dad didn't know how to be a father. I forgot to mention my dad's pretty cheap and doesn't give us much child support, so we've been relatively poor these past years. Finally, my mom's graduated nursing school and getting a green card (recently married to my step dad), and life will be better.
JayJamJah (10:15:06 PM):I told you earlier I thought you had a real mature take on the whole situation and I think people will see that here. Any advice to kids your age or younger about dealing with a divorce or separation?
KHFREEK (10:18:55 PM): I’d say they shouldn't think of one parent as being right and the other wrong; it's not as simple as that. Step back and view the situation subjectively to understand how you feel about it. I guess just don't let it affect you that much and focus on your own life, not your parents.
JayJamJah (10:20:37 PM): That's great advice in my opinion. On a lighter note and because people are wondering: What's the screen name a reference to?
KHFREEK (10:22:54 PM):KH stands for Kingdom Hearts, my first PS2 game and my favorite of all time. Freek was an afterthought when joining a KH forum and it's stuck with me all these years. I'm not sure I'll ever stop using it. It’s all about the amount of hits your username gets on Google!
JayJamJah (10:23:47 PM): Video Games are one of your favorite hobbies, what else do you do with your free time?
KHFREEK (10:26:22 PM): I read books (which reminds me I have to read two books before summer is over -_-), I play the odd bit of soccer, tennis, and hacky sack, and I of course listen to music while spending time on the internet. Not much of an outdoorsy guy tbh, what with the pale Irish skin.
JayJamJah (10:27:31 PM): I have the same skin, but I love it outside, I should own stock in sunscreen. You watched the Wimbledon finals I imagine, what's your take?
KHFREEK (10:32:37 PM): Andy Murray lost his cool as soon as he faced Wawrinka. I think he's been lying about how much the pressure gets to him, and he's going to have to get over it. Roger Federer's performance didn't surprise, but Andy Rod**** sure did. I'm surprised that such an ******* could play such great tennis in Wimbledon semi-finals and finals, but he really impressed me. I wouldn't be surprised if he wins another major before he's done. So I guess for all the upsets (Hewitt, Haas, and Rod**** for a few), the final outcome was predictable. Oh, and I like Cilic's outlook for the future.
JayJamJah (10:34:24 PM): I think that sums it up pretty well; maybe we can have an extended Tennis conversation at the end of the interview.
KHFREEK (10:35:12 PM): Hah, I don't think my cursory knowledge of tennis would hold up well.

Part Two
 

JayJamJah (10:35:30 PM): You’d be fine. Moving on for now, you’re obviously a MB member because you like music more then most. What are some of your favorites at the moment?
KHFREEK (10:40:58 PM): Muse, Sondre Lerche, Buckethead, and The Number Twelve Looks Like You; been listening to them a lot.
JayJamJah (10:42:13 PM): What stands out in their sound that draws you to them?
KHFREEK (10:45:58 PM): Well everyone on MB probably knows Muse is my favorite band. It's like every song they write is tailored for my ears... The bass is always prominent in the mix, the guitar always has a good tone, the drums never go overboard, and the vocals are catchy, beautiful, and powerful. I could on about them forever, so onto the others I've been listening to
KHFREEK (10:51:02 PM): Sondre Lerche is a Norwegian sort of pop-rock artist who has great hooks. I got hooked on one of his songs when I was ten which inspired me to get more of his stuff recently. He's been moving into jazzier territory recently, and I like it. A very fun to sing along to. Buckethead is just a virtuoso; he can play any style of guitar with ease. I love it when he collaborates with vocalists to make great tunes, whether they be pop, funk, or death metal. And of course, he can shred. The Number Twelve Looks Like You is a proggy hardcore band, not that much unlike The Fall of Troy, my old favorite. They don't take themselves very seriously which is always fun when a band is experimenting. There drums always stood out to me, not too much reliance on the double bass. Their cover of My Sharona is lulz.
JayJamJah (10:52:02 PM): As eclectic as I'd imagine; some of this must be the inspiration for your "Quest for Diversity" Thread no?
KHFREEK (10:55:18 PM): Talking with various people from European countries on omegle.com got me to get some European music, and that's what inspired me really. Also trying to know more about music than my young peers on MB helps me a little. xD
JayJamJah (10:56:18 PM): What upcoming releases are you looking forward to or hoping for?
KHFREEK (10:59:04 PM):Well, Muse's album The Resistance comes out on Sept 14th, so of course I'll be out buying that. Between the Buried and Me's new album comes out some time in October, so I look forward to listening to that when I'm done with my break from BTBAM (long story bout that). Besides those I haven't heard about any of my favorite bands releasing anything soon.
JayJamJah (11:00:59 PM): How did you come to find Music Banter?
KHFREEK (11:01:54 PM): Googled "music forum" because I thought my newfound love of Muse and Radiohead meant I knew stuff about music and wanted to talk about it…I was wrong obviously, but I'm glad I did it.
JayJamJah (11:05:40 PM):So other then humbling you, how has MB changed your scope of music and your tastes?
KHFREEK (11:11:38 PM):The softest stuff I would have listened to before joining MB would have been something like pop-punk, and the heaviest music I would listen to was re-hashed Metalcore. I thought country and hip-hop had nothing to offer, and that pop was pretty bad as a whole. Now I'll listen to folk without feeling like a girl, and listen to grindcore and death and the like. I don't write off anything anymore, and am glad of it (heck, I gave Silverchair a chance the other day!). I listen to music outside of just music from English speaking countries and major labels now. MB's definitely been a positive influence.
JayJamJah (11:12:47 PM): What are some of your favorite threads currently?
KHFREEK (11:16:06 PM):Besides threads about my favorite bands, I like Comus's FF thread (which he needs to work on, haven't seen him in a while), the What Are You Listening To Now thread, and the thread I made to convince Urban to tell us about Matt Bellamy. hasn't been locked yet, somehow.
JayJamJah (11:17:03 PM):I think he liked it. Hard to tell with Urban, speaking of which, you are in an interesting position to comment on one music banter issue. Yanks vs. Brits...where do you come out on the MB side of things?
KHFREEK (11:18:12 PM):in music or the actual people?
JayJamJah (11:19:09 PM):Either or and both I suppose, it's really just a good natured exchanging of barbs from on side to the other, you having lived on both sides of the pond might be most fit to rule.
KHFREEK (11:21:24 PM):I don't have an opinion on which side makes better music. But the hierarchy for me would probably be New England people > British people > all other Americans > Texans…sorry sweet.
JayJamJah (11:21:45 PM): Very well played. Finally a little ass kissing, you said to me earlier you thought the mods here do a great job, why?
KHFREEK (11:26:19 PM): I’ve had a bad experience getting banned from an old forum's IRC room because I was asking why a person had been banned. It was just a rule in a long list of stupid ones that forum had. The forum had gotten so big that the mods all became sticklers. Then on the other end of the spectrum you've got your anime forums that are in complete anarchy. Idiots have free reign to talk about whatever they like. MB has the perfect balance of rules and fun in its moderation, and none of the mods have a widely different opinion from the others on how things should be run.
JayJamJah (11:27:30 PM): Any other favorite members you'd like to send the proverbial "Shout Out" to?
KHFREEK (11:31:05 PM): dac, thanks for starting me on my journey into post-rock. JH, the compilation thread rocks dude, I can't thank you enough for keeping that running and Urban, you WILL tell me what you know about Matt Bellamy.
JayJamJah (11:31:38 PM):I think that's a good place to wrap this one up. Thanks Khfreek, it was fun.
JayJamJah (11:32:04 PM): Hopefully you've all gotten to know a bit about KHfreek and what he brings to our community. If you’re interested in taking an active role in either aspect of the interview process contact me via PM with details. Stay Posted to the thread for more interviews upcoming.

LoL

The interview I did with Bulldog is kinda out of date by now. I'd do another one with Mr. Bunbury if he'd like.