INTERVIEW WITH METAL MIKE CHLASCIAK

'METAL MIKE' CHLASCIAK is most commonly known as ROB HALFORD's guitarist for his three most recent solo efforts, Ressurection, Live Insurrection, and Crucible. He's since joined and toured TESTAMENT, and is working on the debut release from his own band, PainmuseuM. He's a Berklee graduate, so you know he can play his ass off. I first met mike at a SKID ROW concert in New York City, and ran into Mike again at a W.A.S.P. show at the Starland Ballroom a few weeks ago. I figured I'd hit the guy up for an interview, and as it turns out, it was a good choice. Mike is a Heavy Metal purist and enthusiast, a breed you don't normally see too much of these days (considering how soaked our brains are with crappy pop music being churned out 24 hours a day)...and he's also a really good sport....

Steve C: You're about to release your first PainmuseuM disc. U.S. audiences aren't gobbling up your brand of metal in the amounts that they used to, say...15 years ago. Where does a guy like Mike Chlasciak go to release his music to the masses (which countries, that is)?

Metal Mike: I go to anybody who “gets” the type of music that I play. This means a label that is dedicated to the art of releasing quality Metal albums, not necessarily just corporate beasts that are only interested in the cash return. If you are asking about territories and so forth … I do feel that US audience will be very receptive to the Metal that I create. And so is the rest of the world meaning Europe, Japan, S. America, Australia. It is important not to confuse the POISONs, WINGERs and the like with real Metal bands. If you looked at bands such as MOTÖRHEAD, OVERKILL and so forth, you will notice that the sales of these bands did not really dip in the last few years, the years that Metal was quoted as dead. So, to answer your question, I will release my PainmuseuM album worldwide for the true fans. I’m not looking at selling platinum, I’m looking at reaching as many people into this type of music as I can. I’m not interested in stealing JESSICA SIMPSON fans.

SC: Before your European trek with TESTAMENT, you made a quick stopover in Amsterdam. For those folks who might not be familiar with the trappings of this wonderful place some refer to as 'heaven'...could you give us a brief rundown of the debauchery that took place during your little excursion?

MM: You mean TV’s outta the windows, and so on? I think I’ll let your mind run here for a while. One thing I will confirm that we drunk Amsterdam out of Heineken. Not that it’s the best beer in the world, but it was hard to find anything else there. (Actually, I was referring to the prostitutes. I was trying to be subtle about it, but evidently I need to spell this shit out. Beer is still cool. Prostitutes are better though)

SC: We have it on good authority (former bandmate) that when you played with THE GREAT KAT, one night under the influence of alcohol, you two hooked up. Describe, if you would, what it's like to do the nasty with The Great Kat?

MM: I do not remember anything like that, and Steve you should know …. A gentleman never tells.

SC: Prior to him rejoining JUDAS PRIEST, Rob Halford had enlisted you as his guitarist. At what point did you, or the other members of Halford's band, catch on that he would be putting solo agenda on hiatus to regroup with Priest?

MM: That stuff was always in the air so to speak. Towards the end of the Halford band, and the year 2002 had a lot of this in the air. In any case, I did not worry very much about that crap and just did what I do best …. Play Loud Metal Guitar !! I could not contraol any of that and any man should do what’s in his heart, so when its time, its time. In some repect, I was also confident that I would continue playing Metal, even if Rob rejoined Priest …. Which is exactly what I did.


Metal Mike and Testament's Chuck Billy being very very 'metal'

SC: Mike, you're a scholarship graduate of the Berklee College Of Music in Boston, so there's no doubt that your chops are extraordinary. However, the amount of Berklee grads who go on to rock stardom is a relatively small percentage. What was your backup plan if the whole "rock n roll guitar god" thing didn't work out?

MM: Back up plan? That’s funny – there wasn’t one. There couldn’t be. Not for me. I had the theory of burning your bridges …. Basically it’s a military technique. When soldiers go into the battle, they burn the bridges behind them. So they have 2 choices: Win or Die. That mentality made me give my best to do what I do. I could not deal with other people’s insecurities and bull-shit …. So in this life I have one boss and that’s me.

SC: Anyone who has read an interview with you knows you're a metal enthusiast. How do you feel about the material that's flooding rock radio in 2004? Are there any bands or songs in particular that make you want to take a clawhammer to your radio?

MM: In reality, I do not listen to radio. On top of that I limit my VH-1/ MTV intake to a small amount per week. I’m saddened by what is offered on airways or TV. Actually it’s a lot of bull-shit. I almost threw up several times while watching MTV daytime programming …. I think there’s band called THE CALLING …. Now, I see dozens of copy bands, same haircuts … same fucking songs. But you know, that is the music industry …. Once they uncover a big diamond, they’ll rip apart the whole fucking earth, just in case they can find another pebble, you know. I will give MTV2 Headbangers Ball thumbs up …. Its important that its there again. Other than that, I go see the bands I like, listen to records that I have …. I don’t give a cold fuck about radio airways.

SC: Mike you have travelled all over the world playing to rock crowds. Is there still a place on this planet where beautiful, big breasted, slutty, heavy metal chicks exist... or are they an extinct species? Please tell us, because we're dying to move there. MM: I would like to invite you to my next PainmuseuM show then. As far as I’m concerned, there a lot of beautiful women all over the world. I have seen them everywhere I have been. (I'm there. Hell, let's book PainmuseuM for the first FoundryFest!...whenever that happens)

SC: When you were learning how to play guitar, you spent countless hours practicing scales, memorizing theory, technique, phrasing, etc... How do you feel about the fact that guitarists with one tenth of your chops (and one extra string) are making fortunes with music that you could play in your sleep?

MM: Hmm …. I do not look at music that way. I do not look at technical ability (ie: chops) as to why someone should make a lot of money. For example …. “Smoke On The Water” is not difficult to play on the guitar, yet … it’s a great, classic song. So just because I can play harmonic minor scales in all positions doesn’t mean I can write a better song. That’s just an example. The content what is on the radio/ TV is fucked. And, at the same time I don’t want my Metal, or poser Metal, to be flavor of the month, because what the industry will do is exploit that and ultimately kill it. I’m happy playing to 1500 kids a night and having some beer with my friends. I do not need the money that bad.


I may not be on the MTV, but I can sure go weedleeweedleeweedleeweedleeweeeeeee!!!

SC: Hypothetical situation: You get a frantic phone call from DocMcGee's office one morning. It just so happens that Tommy Thayer, Bruce Kulick, and Ace Frehley were all on a fishing trip together in the North Atlantic, and were lost at sea, leaving KISS without a guitar player. The band doesn't want to cancel their tour, so they need to fill those silver shoes..and you're more than capable of handling a few Kiss songs. You'll be paid 10,000 dollars a week for the next six months to finish the tour, but you'll have to wear the patented 'Spaceman' outfit. Do you take the gig, or tell them to go screw?

MM: Make it $15,000 a week and you got your self a deal, ha ha. That’s a tough one, although for some people it will be a no brainer. For example, the thinking process in my mind is that I want to play guitar on stage as Metal Mike, not a nameless patented constume guy. So although, the monetary return would be great, I wonder if I could give 100% to the band. Then at the 2nd side of the coin, I like KISS and their music, so maybe it would be a cool ride to do for a short while …. In any case, I got more realistic things to worry about.

SC:You've played with a number of well-known metal acts; is there any established band that you haven't played for that you'd love to be a part of?

MM: Man, I must tell you that playing with Rob and now joining forces with Testament … I have done everything I wanted to do … already. Everything else is icing on a cake. Yes I have aspirations and so forth …. I would like to do some collaborations with other great singers, and some of these collaborations you will hear about very soon. There is a lot more that I want to do personally, but I’m extremely happy to be playing with Testament.

For more information on "Metal Mike" Chlasciak or his band PainmuseuM, check out METALMIKE.NET.

Mike is also currently touring with Testament, so go check them out when they land in your town.

Mike's solo albums are available through Century Media at 1-800-250-4600 or online at Guitarnine.com.

MM: Be Metal All The Time !!

Yessir! All the time metal, sir!