Cradle of Filth bassist Dave Pybus has become renowned as a man of many hats. Beginning his music career as a designer for Peaceville Records, he has also held the low-end for such artists as Anathema, Angtoria, and Massacre.
And outside of music, Pybus is no stranger to the world of geekdom, having been featured in both Toyfare Magazine and StarWars.com for his incredible toy collections, and he has a personal blog devoted to model-building. And that’s not all! Between all of these activities (and probably more which have not yet been made public), Pybus is also a diehard Washington Redskins fan! Yes, you read correctly, English folk like the NFL, too.
Read on, as Dave Pybus punts some knowledge on his fandom for football…the American kind! (Please note that the following words are the opinions of one man and not necessarily that of the entire band. Enjoy!)
How did you, a British fellow, come to adore American football?
Well, controversially and somewhat contrary to most other U.S. foreign policy (which usually involves bombing the carp out of faraway countries in order to secure their oil), I personally see American Football as one of their better ideas. In the early 1980's, a new TV channel over here decided to have the maverick idea of showing more unusual sports from all over the globe. That included NFL, amongst the likes of Sumo wrestling (Japan) and Kabaddi (India), to name a few.
I'd started to form my own tastes in music at an early age and this was just an extension of being an awkward child with different ideas to the 'herd'. I hated rugby and my interest in soccer didn't really extend beyond collector cards with my schoolyard chums. Luckily, and quite crucially, I was also not exposed to the jock mentality while watching this game on TV, and so it struck some kind of chord with me. Oh, and I'm into stats.
Do you get strange looks or comments from your UK compatriots for enjoying it?
I get strange looks regardless of liking this sport, and accepting that I don't really follow fashion or care much of what people think of me without ever speaking to me, any comments about anything I'm into are taken with a pinch of salt.
The usual "He's got a nice bottom" from my mom and "they must be gay for wearing helmets" from any other ignoramus who's never been tackled by an NFL linebacker are met with the standard marking-down they deserve. This game isn't about looks or ones sexual preferences. It's about winning. Period. If you don't understand that concept, well, no wonder the basic rules are eluding.
What drew you to the Washington Redskins?
The players’ names initially, like Art Monk, Charlie Brown, and John Riggins. There is also the team’s underdog approach when facing “America's team,” the much-hated Dallas Cowboys. And then there is the logo and the team colors - just the normal things at first someone so unknowing might be attracted to. And the team was pretty good back then. It was fun to watch them play.
Do you have any particular favorite players, past or present, and why?
Darrell Green, for obvious reasons! 20 years with the same team is something to be marveled at, especially now, after free agency basically killed any long-term team unity. And he was the fastest man in the entire NFL for 4-5 years straight. He could have been a gold medal sprinter if he'd have so chosen.
You can't say that about ANY soccer player. Ever. But then that's a sport where people are quite happy with drawing and not winning, right! If I'm 100% honest, my all-time inspiration is Walter Payton. It's still heartbreaking knowing he passed away so young. He, to me, was and always will be the best.
What is your prediction for them this season, and what do you think they need to do to become a better team in the future?
After 20 years of not doing so well while the press build you up every season to be a magical pro-bowl caliber team, on paper at least, and then to crumbling via bad coaching and injuries, I'd be happy with 8-8. Right now, as every game passes, that looks more unlikely. We'll have to see though.
The team needs a better and healthier offensive line. Without that, it won't matter who's at quarterback. So drafting a first-rounder (we've done that more than once already) isn't the golden egg fix most people suggest.
What was your opinion of Hank Williams, Jr. having his music removed from Monday Night Football and publicly being raked over coals for comparing President Obama to Adolf Hitler?
Bit of a double edged sword, that one. Nowhere else in the world does a country spout the "Freedom of Speech" ticket and contradict itself in so many ways; though, I agree that inappropriate comments on a sports channel should be deleted. It's rather out of context!
It is also interesting that certain words are becoming more taboo in our society, while names like Henry Ford, JP Morgan and Thomas Watson don't even cause people a shudder…when they really should.
What is your impression of accused rapists, drug addicts, and dog killers being gently slapped on the wrist and then given tens of millions of dollars to play a game, while America is in the eye of an economic hurricane?
If convicted, then they should be out of the NFL…my opinion. But people seem to revel in the bad boy gone good storyline, so what the hell do I know?
What is your take on Madonna being confirmed as the halftime show for Super Bowl XLVI? Who would be your ideal entertainment for the show?
I don't have a problem with mainstream acts doing the halftime, as I'm usually having a food break and miss it anyway. Slayer would be fun, though, I guess.
Have you ever attended any games, either here or in the UK?
I've watched many UK teams play over the years. It's a very different game being on the ground level than it is on the TV or in the stands - just seeing how big the players are, hearing the real hits; the noises. Sometimes it is difficult to even see what the play is [laughs]. You also can see the injuries the players get. It's a war down there!
Have you ever met any players?
Not anyone from the NFL. There was once talk of Jim Kelly coming to a show in Buffalo. And I nearly got to meet Larry Fitzgerald in Mexico. I did get some things signed from him in the end, but we never got to meet.
Do you participate in Fantasy Football?
Don't really see the point. I'm happy enough with the real thing. And if not that, Madden on the PS3 is enough for me.
How do you keep up-to-date with everything that is going on in the NFL? Do you subscribe to any official message boards or blogs?
NFL.com is a daily stop by. I've been a member of the Redskins' Extremeskins.com online forum for years, as it was the best way to get news. They are usually sufficient methods.
Have you ever watched the Super Bowl (or attended a Super Bowl party) in the states? If so, what was that like for you?
I've been lucky enough to be in the U.S. while the Super Bowl has been on. Sometimes that's been a good experience, sometimes worse, as we are playing a show at the same time and thus miss all the action. I can't complain though. The Redskins were not playing, so I wasn't so put-out. I have won a few decent bets, too, with other guys in bands we were out touring with, which just adds to the fun.
Who are your prospects for the Super Bowl this season?
The Redskins? Unlikely. But seeing the Redskins actually lose a Super Bowl (18), I'd rather not go than lose it again. So they need to be a much stronger team to do that anyways.
Hail to the Redskins!
Grab a copy of Cradle of Filth’s latest release, EVERMORE DARKLY available now at Amazon and Amazon Digital.
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