13 QUESTIONS with ROB of DUST TO DUST

Rob Traynor of Brooklyn-based DUST TO DUST, who are the first NEW act to be signed by Sanctuary Records, a label notorious for signing established acts, agreed to answer some of our filthy questions, and answer them he did! Just for fun, see how many times you can say 'Long Winded' before you finish reading this interview... Seriously though, we thank Rob for the answers, because he was a really great sport about some of 'em.

1. OK, you write some angry music. What are you so pissed off at?
I'm basically pissed off at everything. I write about all the shit around me that pisses me off. I'm a New Yorker born and raised in Brooklyn and if that aint enough to put someone on edge I don't know what is. Basically living here you see it all. I'm a Postal worker, enough said. Try riding the train everyday to your job on 132nd street in Harlem, where you get to deliver government checks to unemployed, lazy ass crack heads who complain that your 20 minutes late while you stand in puddles of urine beneath broken mail boxes which are usually used to hold hand guns and/or blocks of crack. After you hold yourself back from crushing the skull of the piece of shit that was irritating you for the past 15 minutes, you have the next 20 or so projects and crack houses to look forward to. All you can do is day dream about how you might have enough money from that sad excuse of a pay check to pay your bills in two weeks when you get it from your management who treat you like a number and act as though they are doing you a favor while they sit on their fat asses in air conditioned offices. This was my job for the past 5 years. It wasn't all bad, it paid the bills, and despite the crack heads and drug dealers, there were a lot of good people in those neighborhoods, but it could all change a cheery mood in a flash. Anyone who lives in a world remotely similar to mine would feel the same, and if you didn't then I would assume you were on crack. Or maybe you could be some no talent suburban white boy who thinks they're black and rap only pretending to know the "real deal" Outside their Barbie doll neighborhood. It's great when a piece of crap like that hits it big in the music biz and your pushing a mail cart around Harlem knowing you have more talent under your ball sack then someone like that has in their whole being. It all gives you a lot of faith in the world of music and the record buying public. Besides look at the world we live in, if your not angry at what you see and hear about everyday on the news, then your blind or dumb, if not both. I keep it real, and my lyrics and tunes are the real deal. I write about what I feel, and if someone doesn't like what I have to say, FUCK OFF! Writing music is a great way to vent. In every song I get to make a statement, and now that I have a record deal my statement is presented to the masses. I guess it's my way of sticking a big middle finger up to the world, an opportunity I relish in. I'm sure many, many people can connect with what I'm writing, and if you don't, go listen to Britney or the Back street fags with the rest of the mindless, clueless drones who dance around like puppets in front of their televisions while they cruise on auto pilot and watch MTV.

2. You've gigged around with guys from Biohazard and Type-O. Are you jealous of their success?
First off, I'm not a "player hater." Those are two great bands that make great music and have done Brooklyn proud. Second Dust To Dust is a new band and we haven't had the chance yet to achieve the same success. T.O.N and Biohazard have been around for many years. Besides it's not about who has more success, or who sells more albums. If that were the case then we have all lost to N SYNC. I'm jealous of them!

3. Since you're writing everything, how expendable are the rest of the guys in the band, Steve, Stu, and James?
Although I'm the chief songwriter, those guys add life to the music as musicians. I've played with enough people to know how difficult it is to find truly talented musicians, let alone people you can tolerate. If you are going to cook up something great, and you want it to be the best dish you could possibly muster, you will only use top shelf ingredients. These guys in my opinion are top shelf, not to mention personalities I can deal with. Anyone who is in a band knows how important it is to play with guys you can get along with.

4. What's the groupie situation like when DUST TO DUST plays out? You guys getting some decent tail?
We haven't been out enough to have really built up a "groupie following." I can assure you it will be no different than it is for any other band. None of us will grace the cover of GQ any time soon, but we're not an ugly lot. Right now we are small potatoes, the bigger you get, the more chicks will come flockin. We do have girl fans who write in to us and express their interest, or approach us at shows, but we are all involved with serious relationships. I'm sure we will have our share like most bands. Lots of girls do come over to me and the guys after shows. Some are hot and some are not, we get approached like any other band.

5. The first single, "New Low" is written from the perspective of a drug dealer. How much of that is based on personal experience?
The song is more of a statement than anything else. I laugh at the way this country enforces its "drug war." Seems to me that it has caused more problems than anything else. People are going to do drugs regardless of what the Feds say or do, and the guy who wants to capitalize ( the American way ) on the sale of drugs is going to deal 'em. Big industry sells tabacco and alcohol right? Those are serious drugs. That's O.K cause "the man" says so? Fuck that. Why would some poor kid work in Mc Donalds for minimum wage when he/she can deal to the masses and make a fat roll? It's O.K to sell tobacco and alcohol ( both drugs ) but you can't smoke a joint. Go figure. If you're an adult it should be your dicision what you want to do to your body. Our Government is filled to the brim with hypocrites. I can go on for hours. The problem isn't the dealers, it's our denial of what the real problems are in society. Try education. Too many dumb fucks running amuck in this world. I have never dealt drugs, but I can easily see the lore. Greed on both ends, dealer and buyer. Hey , if you ask me religion is the biggest drug of them all, opiate for the masses; it's caused more problems in this world then anything else, why don't we do away with organized religion?

6. You landed a deal with Sanctuary to release your debut disc. Why'd you go with Sanctuary, a label that primarily relies on established acts to generate sales?
Sanctuary signed this band without even seeing us showcase. Their decision was based on their love of the music. Shouldn't that be the reason a record company signs a band? Not because you have green hair and wear a mask. Isnt it all about the music? That says a lot about them. In the MTV age where everything is based on anything but the music, a label like Sanctuary is the light at the end of the tunnel. Besides every Metal God I grew up with is signed to Sanctuary, and when they expressed interest in DTD as the first new act that they wanted to sign, I was honored and floored. In my opinion Sanctuary is the home of Metal. This is where I belong. They believe in DTD, and we believe in them. They didn't sign twelve new acts, throw them against a wall and go with whoever is sticking at the end of the day. Their philosophies sold me. Check with me in about a year, my views might change!

7. Which member of DUST TO DUST has the poorest taste in women? (read: when you guys go out on the road, who's nailing the pigs?)
I think I'm going to stay away from this one. Besides, to each their own.

8. OK, Hypothetical Situation: Your band is broke, and you need to make a quick $100,000 for promotion and tour backing. Which of the following would you most likely do?
a) Star in a gay porno with a black ex-convict (this is assuming you're not gay, of course)
b) Shave your nuts on camera for some rich eccentric, only to be shown at future holiday gatherings for your family.
c) Chop off your left pinky, because you don't really need it to play bass.
Well, I'm not about to do a gay porn, and believe it or not I do use my pinky to play bass. I would have to say B. If some psycho, sucker wants to watch me shave my nuts for $100,000 why the fuck not! And my family would understand. Mine wouldn't be the first nuts to appear at family gatherings!

9. If you could go out on tour with ANY band (they MUST be alive and able to tour...Hendrix, Zeppelin, Beatles not acceptable answers), who would you tour with and why?
Tough one. Metallica would be a great band to tour with. I respect them, and dig their earlier stuff tremendously. There is no question they would fill any arena, and my band would get plenty of exposure. We might get a bottle or two thrown at us, but I think we would hold our own. A tour with the biggest band in the world is always a good thing. I'll tour with anyone though, there are a lot of great bands out there.

10. Anyone ever tell you that you look like Mets catcher, Mike Piazza?
Nope. That's a first, he is a metal fan though, and the chicks seem to dig him, so I won't take that as an insult.

11. If your debut album fails miserably and Sanctuary drops you, how are you going to make money? (Basically, what're you gonna do if the whole "rockstar" thing doesn't work out?)
I guess I would return to the streets of Harlem and eventually go postal. I made sure not to quit my job there. I'm actually on a "leave of absence." I have no faith in the music industry, I know it is a big bunch of festering shit. I've seen a whole bunch of great artists and bands get eaten up by it and get thrown out with the trash. The whole entertainment industry is for shit, but I love to make music and I was given this opportunity so I'm taking the ride. Who wouldn't? I'm also looking to do some future production and recording, so I might get that going as well.

12. Which of the three things would you take if offered: Women, Money, or Power, and why would you choose it?
That's easy, money. Money = power, Power = women, and anything else you want.

13. Did you ever get your finger nice and wet and stick it in your butt?
Sure did! I'm sure you have as well being that you asked. And as a matter of fact it's in there right now! Too bad you can't send odors via e mail, I'de have you take a wiff!

OK, he was cool. You can read more about Rob and DUST To DUST on their website at dusttodustmusic.com
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