Black Light Burns is a crazed quartet of demon possessed musicians from Ca. Their live shows are soaked with energy and they absolutely rock! The band's sound is incredibly dynamic ranging from zany rock riffage to heavy industrial. I caught them live at the Boardwalk and thought it was one of the best shows I've seen to date. These guys stole the show and rocked harder than any of the other bands on the bill.
The band was created by Wes Borland who formerly played guitar in Limp Bizket. After parting ways with Limp Bizket Borland worked on several side projects such as Big Dumb Face,Eat The Day and The Damning Well but finally settled on the direction you hear and see in Black Light Burns. The debut album Cruel Melody was recorded with Borland along with Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle) Josh Eustis (Telefon Tel Aviv) and Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle, Ashes Divide, Nine Inch Nails) The bands current lineup consists of:
* Wes Borland – lead vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, programming, production
* Nick Annis – guitars
* Dennis Sanders Jr. – bass
* Marshall Kilpatric – drums, percussion
The album Cruel Melody was released on June 5, 2007. There is also a covers album/DVD Package titled Cover Your Heart and The Anvil Pants Odyssey that was released in 2008. The band is currently working on another studio album and we should see it sometime soon. I was fortunate enough to contact Dennis Sanders the Bassist of Black Light Burns to ask him some questions about the next round of plans for Black Light Burns.
I know when Black Light Burns originally started there were a lot of studio musicians involved and and there was never a permanent roster set. Does the band feel the current members are on the same wavelength and that the roster will stay current for the foreseeable future?
Yes, we love each other and work well with one another. This is family band, ya know, like The Jonas Brothers except we didn't all come from the same hole.
Do the stage costumes and makeup help propel your mind into a different place where it's absolutely ok to be insane?
Yes and No/Kinda,maybe--- I dunno, for me its about seeing how retarded and cool I can look at the same time. Like my cousin Vinny
You guys are incredibly nuts onstage and it's great. I'm wondering if anyone has gotten injured while onstage?
Oh yeah- Nick takes a microphone to the head every now and again while Wes treats his body like ground meat. I sometimes get fondled and Marshall has been known to play with such bad asserry that he'll just combust or puke all over and keep going. Then we go back to our van/bus and read each other's poetry.
I saw you live and you all seem like you are possessed by demonic forces. Which demon are the members conjuring while onstage?
James Quall, Wild Boar, Birthday clown, fire, Water. Those are Demons right?
How do you prepare yourself before a show?
Usually with Good tunes, Spa treaments, Electro shock therapy, Games of hide and go seek, Then we usually Doo Whop for a minute before.
I heard rumors that there is an underground Black Light Burns cult.
If that's true how does one join?
Watch the movie Holy Mountain a bunch, then turn your excrement to gold. You will then become one of us.
I know Wes has a lot of side projects but I'm wondering are any of the other members of Black Light Burns involved in any side projects be it music, art or writing?
Spirit In The Room, Exit Music
If so where can we find them?
myspace.com/exitmusic666
Should prostitution be legalized?
Sure, why not?
Which Bass guitar does Dennis relate to the most?
The Kim Gordon w/The Ovation neck because its a bad ass, The Italia Mondial cuz its sexayeee and The Fender Jazz because its potent and smells great.
Have there been any bites as far distribution for the next Black Light Burns album?
You'll just have to wait and see ;)
Where does Black Light Burns typically record the music?
Wes has an old bomb shelter for a studio, its neat.
Can you give people a little idea as to the creative process when writing songs?
It mainly starts from a beat or an idea or a riff or a dream or a movie or a memory, Stench, Taste, Relationship, yada yada and yada.
When will the band be touring again?
When the weather permits ;)
Do you remember if the Sacramento show at the Boardwalk went well?
Personally, for me it went great! I met my girlfriend that night and escaped an ass whoopin from some overzealous security guards for breaking a few rules
Cant wait to come back!
Big thanks goes out to Dennis for taking time out of his day to answer my questions. Be on the lookout for their next album!
Comments
Another great article! I love reading your work.
Dennis' demons kinda sound like an episode of Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job! I'll make sure to check them out next time they are in town. Fun article.
Dude awesome article, i didnt like the satan stuff but you have a good presentation and style... Cheers! Drew
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