INTERVIEW WITH DIVIDED BY ZERO FRONTMAN ZACH GOODE

While the band might be a new venture, the members of DIVIDED BY ZERO are anything but newbies to the music business. Originally formed from the remains of San Diego based GHOULSPOON, the band has sold tens of thousands of units without the benefit of a manager, agent, or record label to become an independent music success story. Ghoulspoon's 1999 album "Fever" became the number one selling locally produced album in San Diego and the band won the award for "Best Hard Rock / Metal Band" at the 2001 San Diego Music Awards. DBZ is currently promoting their debut disc The Black Sea, and is on the road with The Sik World Rock and Roll Circus, so we fired off some oddball questions to frontman Zach Goode to see how he'd react...and this is how it went down...

FoundryMusicRob: Right now I absolutely love the song "Chemical." In the song you say, "What turns your body cold? It's chemical" - What chemical are we talking about there? Embalming fluid?

Zach Goode:haha no not that literal. I was trying to write a song about relationships on a deeper level than the physical or mental. Some people you just connect with on a chemical level and some you don’t. When I first wrote it, I thought I was talking about my relationship with a woman, but the more I sang it, I realized it was also about my relationship with my band. Read the lyrics and it can apply to both.

FoundryMusicRob: "Helicopter" is a nice mellow song, and sticking with meanings and themes, what message is that song trying to put out there?

Zach Goode:I don’t really want to get too specific about song meanings. What I will say is that the entire Black Sea album is a song cycle that tells a story and I chose “Helicopter” as the centerpiece for the album because it involves transition and rebirth which leads into the second half of the overall story. Sorry guys, gotta read the words!

FoundryMusicRob: Everything about your music is solid and tight. Every single beat and rhythm is perfectly timed, how long have you guys been playing together to get that kind of accuracy and vibe?

Zach Goode:The core of the band has been together for over 10 years. We did a lot of pre-production before we hit the studio so we were really ready to record. Our producer Mikey Doling really helped to get great performances out of us as well. Plus, we have a tight-ass drummer in Jason Vick!



FoundryMusicRob: You guys are based in San Diego, and us here at Foundry are a bunch of New York and New Jersey degenerates. Tell us, what is so great about living on the west coast?

Zach Goode:Well, I was born and raised in New York City so I’m on your side. You really do get used to the weather and lifestyle out here, but besides that, I really miss the culture and vibe of the East Coast. People out here just don’t get my sarcasm.

FoundryMusicRob: With that said, how long until we get to see you out here on the East Coast? I know I'd jump at the chance to see you guys live. Are there any tours on the horizon for you guys at the moment?

Zach Goode:We’re starting a West Coast tour on June 2. It’s called the Sik World Rock n Roll Circus Tour and will feature Divided by Zero, Murrugun the Sword Swallower, Hell on Heels Burlesque Troupe, and Spike and Mike’s Sick and Twisted Animation, plus tons of giveaways from our sponsors Sik World, Electric Lingerie, and Hardcore Watches. It’s a pretty big and risky production, so we’re hoping the West Coast stuff goes well and we can expand your way after the Summer.

FoundryMusicRob: Sik World Records is a brand new label started up by Sik World Productions. In a cut-throat industry like music you have to be pretty confident in a newly started label since the established ones can't even promise much these days. How well has your label been treating you so far and what made you decide to go with them?

Zach Goode:We’re all really excited about what we have going on right now. Sik World is an established clothing company that most local musicians in San Diego have worked for at some point. They’ve been really supportive of the local music scene over the years, so we knew their heart was in it. They worked out a distribution deal with Navarre through Corporate Punishment Records, so the CD will be in all the Tower Records across country and other places. We’re making our video next week for “Chemical”, and we have a bunch of ads and Tv and radio commercials planned for the album and tour, so Sik World is definitely putting their money where their mouths are.



FoundryMusicRob: People like it when you're topical. Everyone has an opinion and lately people have actually been acting on theirs. Are there any current issues that bother you that you would like to speak out about? Here's your chance to go off on the seal hunt, stem cell research, Terry Schiavo, Iraq, men who wear thongs, or anything else that makes you cringe in public.

Zach Goode:I don’t know. We’re not really a political band, but I think it’s safe to say we’re not big fans of the current regime. I’m not really into guys in thongs, either.

FoundryMusicRob: Your music blends some very diverse styles so it's safe to assume your musical idols span a huge range. If you could simplify that though, and narrow it down to a few, what artists or bands have been most influential to your sound and/or to your life growing up?

Zach Goode:I started out as a kid listening to stuff like The Beatles, Cat Stevens, and ELO. As a teenager I was really into 80’s new wave and punk like Devo, The Cars, The Clash, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, Bowie, etc. In High School I went through my big Motley Crue and Led Zeppelin phases, then got really into hip hop like Public Enemy, NWA, Tribe Called Quest, etc. I like mostly alt and indie rock like Smashing Pumpkins, Flaming Lips, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pixies, Jane’s Addiction etc., but the whole band is into a lot of other stuff like old metal and reggae music.

FoundryMusicRob: Steve, my boss, always likes to ask bands what their favorite kind of sandwich is, but I feel that just about every guy needs to know a few simple recipes aside from slapping some lunch meat between slices of bread. Maybe you could share with us a simple recipe that you use when you're home all by yourself and need something quick and easy.

Zach Goode: Actually, the whole band is pretty good cooks. I met our guitar player Jeremy when we were both cooks in his parents’ Italian restaurant in Hawaii. I’m mostly vegan, so I eat pretty simply, but I mix in a little fish and Jeremy can sear the shit out of some fresh Ahi!

Check out DIVIDED BY ZERO online at their official site, DividedByZero.tv

Like every good band should, DBZ has a MySpace page

The band's debut disc The Black Sea is on sale now. Read our review here