Incubus, who have already played Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzfest, are getting reading to go out on tour with reunited heavy metal thunder legends Black Sabbath--ironic, since Incubus's guitarist Mike revealed in this chat that the first song he learned to play was Ozzy's "Crazy Train." That's just one of many fascinating and often funny facts you'll learn from this full chat transcript. Enjoy....
myLAUNCHhost: Okay, okay, it's time for the Incubus chat! We have here Brandon, Mike, Dirk, and Kilmore! Jose's not here, sorry. And here we go...first question...
Guest_1787953: Who are you main influences?
Incubus: Mike: Bjork. Dirk: Iron Maiden. Brandon: Yanni. Kilmore: Portishead.
Guest_1787733: Incubus what is your favorite album of all time
Incubus: Kilmore: Run DMC's Raising Hell. Mike: What's yours? Dirk: Skid Row Brandon: I have like 10. Mike: Too many to list.
Guest_1787451: what was it that told you guys that you needed to add a turntable to the line-up?
Incubus: Dirk: A little bird. We've since eaten him.
Guest_1787953: Which band have you enjoyed playing with most?
Incubus: Mike: I'd say 311. But I love touring with all the bands we've played with. It's been an honor. Brandon: KORN was great.
Guest_1787953: Which show that you've played has been most memorable, and why?
Incubus: Dirk: The DC show on Halloween. KORN dressed up as Motley Crue. It was the best show they ever put on. Brandon: The show in Toronto with KORN was my favorite. It was the most memorable because there were like 8,000 kids bouncing off the walls while we were playing.
smi2le: did you get your start playing parties in the valley?
Incubus: YEAH.
smi2le: tell us about the hundred dollar bill you found on the ground
Incubus: Mike: I found a hundred dollars while I was going to school in Malibu. And it was lunchtime and I was happy. Next?
smi2le: what was growing up in the valley like? was it like the movie?
Incubus: Brandon: It was like totally rad. Dirk: Did you ever see "The Karate Kid?" It was bitchin.
smi2le: who is your absolute favorite hard rock band?
Incubus: Mike: We don't like hard rock. I'm just kidding. Dirk: Iron Maiden. Tool. Brandon: Refused. Kilmore: Hendrix. That's hard rock, right? Mike: Foo Fighters.
Guest_1786813: how did you learn the didjeradoo? I have one and cant play it right, but want to learn
Incubus: Brandon: I sat in my backyard for hours and played until I got lightheaded and then I heard a tip from a friend to practice with a straw and a glass of water. If you keep the bubbles going, you are circular breathing.
Guest_1787440: Will you ever be rereleasing fungus amoungus?
Incubus: Mike: Eventually. One thing at a time.
Guest_1787953: Have you ever met or played with Pantera? And if so, what was the experience like. Rumor has it they are pretty tough on other bands.
Incubus: Brandon: I met Phil, the singer, in Holland as we were coming offstage at the Dynamo Festival in Holland. He had a really low voice and shook my hand really hard. And I had to change my pants after that. He was really nice, but pretty scary. I don't even know why. Maybe it was all the tattoos. But we're much tougher...
Incubus: Mike: He liked our music.
Incubus: Brandon: We're tougher because our muscles are bigger.
Guest_1787953: Do any of you have interesting hobbies other than music?
Incubus: Dirk: I whittle. Mike: I like to breathe. Brandon: Art and yoga. Kilmore: Yeah...Gran Turismo. Mike: Me too.
Guest_1788064: How do you guys feel about President Clinton? I know its cheesy, but someone has to ask!
Incubus: Mike: He's a liar! Kilmore: I say, let him alone! Brandon: First he dropped bombs on Monica, and now he's dropped bombs on Baghdad. Dirk: He's the original playa.
Guest_1787451: what is it, that you think, that gives Incubus it's cutting edge?
Incubus: Mike & Dirk: A knife! Brandon: The Ginsu knife collection. Mike: They're only $19.95. Dirk: You can even hack a tree branch off with one.
budwig: Are you currently doing any studio work or planning to?
Incubus: Mike: Yes. Brandon: Most likely in March we'll be writing and beginning to record our next record.
Guest_1787953: Are any of you married? Or have children?
Incubus: Dirk: I don't know.
Guest_1787953: What's the hardest thing about being on the road?
Incubus: Brandon: Gig butt. Truck Stop food. No sleep. No showers. This equals gig butt.
UtopiaGirl: Mike - You're an awesome musician! What inspires you to come up with all the unique sounds for your guitar?
Incubus: Mike: Chirping birds and Swiss chocolate.
UtopiaGirl: Brandon - What inspires most of your lyrics?
Incubus: Brandon: Observation. And reading.
Guest_1787953: When did Incubus start playing together?
Incubus: Dirk: In 1991. Mike: We were 15, tenth graders.
Guest_1787953: Do any of you have pets? What kind?
Incubus: Kilmore: I've got two cats. Brandon: I have a black Lab named Sativa. And she is the BEST. No dog can compete. Mike: I have a big fat dog named Rufus. And two cats named Jellybean and Nala. Dirk: Animals don't seem to like me.
Guest_1787953: How did the members of the band meet each other?
Incubus: Mike: Love at first sight. Dirk: Singles ads. Brandon: We were in school together.
Incubus: Dirk: I need to elaborate. We placed an ad saying "rock band seeking bitchin frontman with long hair a la Sebastian Bach."
Incubus: Mike: I actually remember seeing an ad in some cheesy Hollywood publication for a band looking for a singer that said, "no short, fat, brown curly-haired flakes."
UtopiaGirl: Mike - I think you're the sexiest man alive...just wanted to say that!
Incubus: Mike: And you haven't even seen my muscles lately!!! Just kidding. Dirk: He's frickinHUGE
Guest_1787451: any tips for bands trying to get a name for themselves?
Incubus: Mike: Don't quit. Dirk: Look in a thesaurus -- that's where we found ours. Mike: Dirk's so clever. Brandon: It depends on what type of name you're out to get. If you don't care what type of name it is, public nudity, crime...that will catapult you into the spotlight pretty quick.
Guest_1787456: Brandon... Why does your hair look like that?
Incubus: Mike: He forgot to wash it four years ago. But I shouldn't talk. My hair is pretty interesting as well. I have tarantula legs growing out of my head.
Guest_1787953: Where do you see the hardcore/metal/heavy rock scene progressing in the next few years?
Incubus: Mike: I don't. Dirk: Into the gutter. Brandon: I see it becoming a caricature of itself. I think you can gauge where a style of music is going by how many and how well local bands emulate that style of music. When you look at how many bands are trying to be KORN and Limp Bizkit, it doesn't look good. It's already a caricature of itself. Kilmore: I see lots of high tech instruments.
Guest_1787456: Dirk... Who is your favorite bass player?
Incubus: Dirk: Steve Harris from Iron Maiden.
UtopiaGirl: Did you ever have doubts that you were ever going to make it?
Incubus: Mike: We haven't made it yet! But it just takes a lot of hard work and luck.
Guest_1788064: On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you guys rate your current success at the moment?
Incubus: Dirk: 3...Brandon: 5...Kilmore: 23...Mike: 1,267
UtopiaGirl: What's next for Incubus?
Incubus: Mike: We're playing at the House Of Blues in LA tomorrow. Brandon: In January, we go on tour with Black Sabbath. And then it's undecided until we go into record the next record, which should be in March.
Guest_1787953: If you could open for one band, which would it be?
Incubus: Dirk: Iron Maiden. Brandon & Mike: Beastie Boys. Brandon: Bjork. Kilmore: Bob Marley. Mike: Rage Against The Machine.
Guest_1787953: If you could have one band open for you, who would it be?
Incubus: Brandon: The Rolling Stones. Dirk: Oasis. Mike: Pink Floyd. Kilmore: Zeppelin.
Guest_1787451: to the singer- do you still have any feeling in that hand after you got the tattoo on it? by the way, that's the background of my desktop right now
Incubus: Brandon: I actually lost all feeling in the left side of my face. And because that was my writing hand, I now write with my foot.
UtopiaGirl: You toured with Tool at Ozzfest..what do you think of them?
Incubus: Mike: They're one of the most awesome bands I've had the privilege to see play. Dirk: Great guys. We had lots to talk about.
Guest_1787451: what was the coolest show you played at ozzfest?
Incubus: Brandon: Ohio. Where the plane landed during our set. Kilmore: There was a plane that landed right in the middle of one of our songs. The runway was right behind the stage. But it was lucky -- it sort of sounded like a sample. Everyone looked at me like, "what are you doing?" Dirk: It distracted all five kids that were watching.
Guest_1787456: How did you get that awesome body?
Incubus: Brandon: You must be talking about Mike. Mike: You must be talking about Brandon. He's got the washboard chest. Brandon: They must be talking about Jose. He's got the nicest hips.
Guest_1787440: Are you planning a headliner tour any time in the near future?
Incubus: Mike: We just did one. Kilmore: We're still doing one. Dirk: Where have you been?
Guest_1787456: How dope is Kilmore?
Incubus: Mike: Kilmore is pretty dope. Kilmore: Real dope.
Guest_1787953: What trend in music scares you the most right now?
Incubus: Dirk: That's a good question.
Incubus: Brandon: I have a couple. DJs in rock bands...
Incubus: Dirk: Who aren't any good.
Incubus: Brandon: Nu Metal. Mike: The KORN-tones Dirk: And/or various rip-offs thereof. Brandon: But both KORN and the Deftones are really amazing bands.
Incubus: Dirk: I say GIG BUTT.
Guest_1787456: Dirk... what type of bass do you use?
Incubus: Dirk: I have a Warwick Streamer2 five-string.
Guest_1787953: What does the average day include for a member of Incubus?
Incubus: Dirk: I can't even say it! Kilmore: We wake up, roll out of our coffins. Brandon: Drink coffee or tea. Kilmore: Kick it. Mike: Play Gran Turismo. Kilmore: Do soundcheck, eat, then play the show. Brandon: And depending on the day: read, write, or draw. Because that does make up a majority of the band.
Guest_1787953: Does you band do anything with the influence you've gained (i.e. a political stance on a particular issue)?
Incubus: Brandon: I think that in a sense, yeah, lyrically, it is sort of a forum. Not straight political, but it's a place to express opinion. About anything. Liberation, in general. I think that's the main topic.
BASF_: kewl.... i'm from australia and i wanted to know how big Incubus is in the states coz we haven't heard much about them
Incubus: Kilmore: They're big. Real big. Dirk: We're Australian for "rock band." Kilmore: I'm surprised you haven't heard of us because we're so big in the Philippines. Brandon: They are so big the Rolling Stones open up for them. Haven't you heard?
BorkJR: How many different effects pedals do you use?
Incubus: Dirk: I have two. Mike: I have seven right now. But there will be new additions.
Guest_1657295: individually, what is your favorite song on the record?
Incubus: Mike: The Anti Gravity Love Song. Brandon: Calgone. Dirk: Vitamin. Kilmore: Favorite Things.
Guest_1774522: Have you had heard about the death of Snot singer Lynn Strait and your feelings?
Incubus: Mike: Yes, we heard about Lynn on the day of his accident and we're all very, very sad. Dirk: We're going to miss him very much. Brandon: He was a dear friend but now he is a part of everything, once again. Kilmore: He
lit up the room like he's lighting up the universe. Brandon: We'll miss him a lot.
ncnelson: First of all I want to say you guys are great and I've seen you about 8 times now. Who is the man on the cover of "Enjoy Incubus"?
Incubus: Brandon: Charles Mulholland is his name. And being mysterious is his game. Mike: He is the mysterious floating torso man. Dirk: I'll tell you who he is. He taught PE at an all girls Catholic school in the '70s and did voiceovers for '70s sex education films. Brandon: He's now the leader of an obscure Midwestern extra terrestrial cult/alien intelligence organization who study the phenomenon called Gig Butt. Kilmore: And he wrote a thesis on it on the cover of SCIENCE.
Incubus: Brandon: If you stare at the cover of SCIENCE long enough, it's one of those hide-a-pictures. If you stare at it long enough, his TRUE identity will be revealed to you.
Guest_1787465: (?)WHO WAS THE GUY THAT YOU GUYS TALKED TO IN YOUR FIRST ALBUM(THE GUY WHO WAS SPEAKING IN TONGUES)-BEN
Incubus: Mike: It was the devil. Brandon: By our definition, he was the devil. He was. And I apologize to anyone on the chat who's a born-again Christian who has no teeth and he basically thought that because we didn't share his beliefs that WE were the devil and we would burn in hell very soon. So he started speaking in tongues to me to demonstrate his connection to God, and little did he know I am schooled in gibberish.
Guest_1657295: dirk, since you perp a porno name, are you well endowed?
Incubus: Dirk: Not particularly. Hence inflating my self-image with a better name. But if you tell anybody else about that, I'll beat you up. That's just between you and me, you know.
Guest_1788189: Kilmore what type of records do like?
Incubus: Kilmore: Ones that spin on turntables and are made with vinyl -- and anything that have the craziest sounds on them. Children's' records to the Invisible Skratch Picklz.
Guest_1788075: what was your favorite cartoon when you were growing up?
Incubus: Dirk: Voltron. Transformers. Kilmore: Spiderman. Brandon: I liked Looney Tunes. Bugs Bunny. Mike: Tranzor Z. Bionic Six. And the Thundercats.
Incubus: Brandon: Thundercats was the bomb. I still watch cartoons religiously. Mike: Also the Shirttails. Groovy Ghoulies. Super Chicken! What else? There's lots. Tom Slick. Mike: George Of The Jungle.
Incubus: Brandon: Crazy Races? Every show is a race and the villain is always trying to f--k up the race somehow.
Incubus: Mike: You know what cartoon was insane? The Pacman cartoon.
Incubus: Brandon: I got this cartoon porn at an adult video store. It had a huge influence on our band. Dirk: Absolutely.
Auryn: How much do you guys like adam sandlar becasue at a show in coloumbia,MO brandon quoted "Billy Madison" alot?
Incubus: Mike: We want to marry him. Brandon: Adam Sandler has been a big influence on our band too. Dirk: Yeah, him and cartoon porn pretty much shaped our first record.
Guest_1788189: Why did dj lyfe leave?
Incubus: Dirk: He was asked to leave. Brandon: We had a falling out with him, basically.
Incubus: Dirk: We felt that personally and musically we weren't compatible anymore, and the future of the band depended on us making a change, which has turned out for the better.
Guest_1788098: what do you think about the black sabbath tour?
Incubus: Dirk: Why'd they break up in the first place? Brandon: Pure heshin' aggression. We will all cut our hair into mullets and wear checkered slip-on Vans in salute to the rock gods of this century.
Guest_1784982: IF you could pick the ideal tour line up what would it be?
Incubus: Mike: Bjork. Radiohead and the Beastie Boys. Brandon: Ani DiFranco, Incubus, obviously. Roni Size. And Bill Hicks doing a comedy routine in a tent somewhere.
Incubus: Mike: Led Zeppelin was dropping it heavy (you have to say this with a Bristol accent).
Guest_1788098: Do you know any up coming bands like Incubus that people should check out
Incubus: Mike: Gruvis Malt from Providence, RI. They are dropping the gravy. Brandon: Frontside from Temple City. Mike: Hoobustank and Vent. (Vent's my brother's band)
Guest_1788207: K, there's something I must know........ Who does the "Karate Kid Rap" on the end of the S.C.I.E.N.C.E CD?
Incubus: Mike: That was me. And I had back-ups from some of the guys in Hoobustank.
Guest_1788410: Hey Brandon do yuo have any new cool art ar tattoo designs???
Incubus: Brandon: Coming soon.
UtopiaGirl: Do you really enjoy talking to your fans?
Incubus: Dirk: Most of the time. Mike: I love it. It cheers me up if I'm bummed out. Brandon: I agree.
Incubus: Dirk: I do enjoy talking to the fans, but point of reference: If you want to give us a CD, hand it to us, don't throw it at us and then after the show ask if we got it. Mike: That's not giving. That's taking. BLOOD.
Incubus: Brandon: Did you ever see the movie, Return Of The Guillotine? It's a Kung Fu movie where they would throw this thing, it was like a CD with spikes coming out of it and it would stick in peoples' heads.
Incubus: Mike: When people throw CDs at us, they turn into krull and become dark evil projectiles that have the potential to cause bodily harm that is irreversible.
Guest_178820: Brandon: What religion are you of? If Any?
Incubus: Brandon: None. Aggravated Agnostic.
Auryn: Kilmore what kind of decks do you use?
Incubus: Kilmore: Technics 1200s and Vestax 05 Pro DJ Q-Bert Limited Edition Mixer. That's it. No samplers or drum machines or effects pedals. None of that stuff. Strictly live.
Guest_1788085: I went to your website, you guys have some great tattoo motif's, if i get one as i tattoo you wont sue me for copyright infringement will ya?
Incubus: Mike: No. Dirk: I don't know. Brandon: Not unless we need the money bad enough.
Guest_1784982: for all the females you gotta tell us boxers or breifs
Incubus: Dirk: Boxer briefs. Brandon: Thong. Mike: Leopard print thong with an elephant trunk on the front. Dirk: Reverse g-string.
Incubus: Brandon: I saw myself in a g-string. It was humbling. Mike: We saw Lemmy in a g-string. Brandon: He had gig butt.
Guest_1788248: Will your next record have a similar vibe, or will it be going for a totally different sound?
Incubus: Mike: We don't know. Brandon: Different but same. Mike: Just like Mr. Miyagi said. I feel a Karate Kid rap coming on.
Guest_1788284: Hey Brandon, what's up with the lounge song album you told us you were gonna do?
Incubus: Brandon: We WERE going to do a lounge record, but we kept getting offered cool tours to go on so we never had time to go in and do it. Mike: We may include some cool lounge remixes on the next record, you never know.
Tim977: Mike: when did you learn how to play? you rock on the guitar...
Incubus: Mike: Thank you. I learned how to play when I was about 12. The first song I learned was "Crazy Train."
Guest_1788261: brandon,read any good books lately?
Incubus: Brandon: The Cosmic Trigger Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson. I highly recommend it.
Goldleader: Would you guys mind if Weird Al wanted to make a parody off one of your songs?
Incubus: Mike: I'd be honored. Brandon: Is that Weird Al asking right there? He'd get more radio play than we do. Kilmore: But it would have to be "Anti-Gravity" and it would have to address aging problems. Mike: Yeah, like his boobs sagging.
tomerc: I hear you guys are big Faith No More fans, how do u feel about their breakup?
Incubus: Dirk: I was crushed. I thought they'd go steady forever. Brandon: But I think maybe they're happier now.
K2Morrow: Kilmore -- have you or would you like to put out a solo album?
Incubus: Kilmore: Have not. Would like to. Basically right now, I'm so busy with Incubus that it's tough. But I still like to make underground mix tapes and stuff like that. Just stuff that a DJ does.
Guest_1758394: Do you think you have gotten the appreciation you deserve in the media?
Incubus: Mike: That's inconsequential. Brandon: When we do get attention, the little that it is, it's usually pretty good, I think. Dirk: No one's threatened to kill us, and that's pretty positive, I think.
Incubus: Brandon: Then again, we haven't been touched by Spin or Rolling Stone and they have a tendency to bash bands like us. I read the new Spin today on the plane, literally it was a negative critique of every artist out right now. There wasn't ONE positive thing.
Incubus: Mike: I'd be bummed out if I was a rock critic. Kilmore: If I was a rock critic, I'd bash everyone too.
Guest_1788607: This is Brad in Montana....what did you guys think of that Vanilla Ice CD?
Incubus: Mike: Not positive. I'll leave it at that. Brandon: A good friend of mine played the guitar on it. I like the guitar parts. Dirk: I don't know why he didn't drop the "Vanilla" if he wanted to be tough. Vanilla's not a tough flavor. At least "Chocolate" has some toughness to it. Some action.
Incubus: We'll take about 10 more questions.
hed-: our band is 11th graders from highschool and we're trying to find "the sound." how long did you guys suck until it clicked.. or were you always amazing?
Incubus: Mike: We STILL suck. We must have fooled all of you. No seriously, it takes a long time to find yourself. And play with yourself... About 13 years. Brandon: If you're loners in high school, then you're on the right track.
Incubus: Dirk: Oh, and if you're in need of a gimmick, find somebody to dance on your record. Mike: Yeah, all the coolest bands are doing it these days. Dirk: Like the Bosstones. Mike: I did all the dancing on our album! And various other albums as well.
MBS627: What are some tips for dreading hair?
Incubus: Mike: Don't wash it. Kilmore: Beeswax. Brandon: Saltwater. Ocean water. Dirk: Manure. The person who doesn't have dreads can say manure...
Guest_1788585: Does S.C.I.E.N.C.E. stand for anything in peticular?
Incubus: Mike: Sailing Catamarans Is Every Nautical Captain's Ecstasy. Dirk: I have one, but I can't say it. It's got all kinds of bad words in it. Brandon: Gig Butt Is Bad Because No One Likes Gig Butt. Mike: Suntan Lotion Good. Ultra Violet Rays Bad.
Incubus: Brandon: We need sleep.
Guest_1657295: who are your favorite porno stars?
Incubus: Mike: Definitely Chasey Lain? Lane! She's beautiful. I like her for her intelligence.
Incubus: Dirk: You know, that one girl who gets naked and does it doggy style.
Incubus: Brandon: I don't know any porn stars by name. Mike: Oh right! Dirk: Brandon has CD-ROM porn!!! He has more porn than anyone!
Incubus: Brandon: But seriously, I don't know their names. Dirk: It's difficult to remember their names when you don't see their face! Or you can call them by their Indian names: Stands With A Dick.
Guest_1788304: What is your definition of selling out?
Incubus: Dirk: When you've sold more tickets to the show than are available. Mike: You know, when you've sold all the tickets to the show. All my friends call me at the last second asking me for tickets to our shows, and I just have to tell them, that literally, we've SOLD OUT. In the literal sense, I think the term sell-out is a f---king joke. People don't realize how hard it is to do this for a living.
Guest_1657295: did you snort any ants with ozzy like motley crue?
Incubus: Dirk: WHAT? Kilmore: We snorted centipedes. One-legged centipedes. Dirk: I'd lick a frog if it would get me high. Mike: I never snorted anything because I saw Ricky from "Better Off Dead" do it. Actually, it was Charles DeMarr (Booger).
Guest_1788098: who is your favorite DJ?
Incubus: Dirk, Mike, and Brandon: KILMORE. By far. Mike: Also Homicide. Kilmore: Q-Bert. Disc. Brandon: DJ Shadow. Kilmore: C-Minus. Jazzy Jeff. Brandon: DJ Mysterious Floating Torso Man. Dirk: DJ Gig Butt.
-melon-: whats you guys's favorite videogame?
Incubus: Mike: Gran Turismo. But you can't mess with the old school Dragon's Lair. Brandon: My favorite video game is walking in front of the video game when these guys are playing and they yell at me. Dirk: Not to mention your CD-ROM porn.
Guest_1788075: you said earlier, that alot of bands were adopting the "urban metal" sound (i.e. korn and limp bizkit) and that it was running it into the grounds, in so few words, . anywayz, i read one time that where you were reviewed as just "another korn, hit-hop band". what do you think about that?
Incubus: Mike: I can't help but to disagree. Brandon: Die. Die. Die. Dirk: Whoever reviewed our album didn't listen to it.
myLAUNCHhost: And the last question of the chat is....
Guest_1783837: in years to come...what would you like to be remembered for?
Incubus: Dirk: Saving the world through music like Bill & Ted in Wyld Stallions. Kilmore: I'd like to be the first band to do a concert in outer space. Everyone else: Yeah.
Incubus: Mike: Or Inner Space. Brandon: First band to perform a telepathic concert.
Incubus: Dirk: First band to be successful enough to buy a house and decorate it tackier than Graceland. You can call it Tackyland. Mike: You can call it the Coconut Gig Butt Romantic Tiki Andy Gump Adventure Motel.
Incubus: Brandon: That's the next record title, right there.
Incubus: Dirk: And instead of leaving the light on, we'll leave a roll of toilet paper for you.
Incubus: Mike: We all say thanks for being on this chat and we'll look for you on tour.
