Goliath - Interview w/Mick Rowe
Mick, tell us what's new with Goliath.
We have a new CD hitting stores September 11 with a new label The Music Cartel (TMC) a new band lineup, direction and ministry that we are seeking God on daily. Shooting a video for "Welcome to my Nightmare" and working on tours for both Christian and General markets. I am having my HM Logo Tattoo touched up and am blessed to have a new drummer in Billy Queen from Metal Blade Recording artist Jacobs Dream. we are just havin a blast!
Please recap your recent history (from Midnight Orchestra's beginnings to this new incarnation of Goliath).
I started mo just before Halloween of 98 and recorded what I thought was a few songs for my own enjoyment in my living room and then a few people heard about and ask for a copy and soon I was upgrading it to a project. Most of the songs wee written and recorded on a keyboard in one night and after much thought I took my tracks to Tony Palacious and did some guitar over them and uploaded them to MP3.com and in just a few short weeks I was charting all over the place in many catagories. I was approached by M8 Records to do a small run of 1,000 pieces. We released Land of Nod with M8 and Brad had called me after the first day of release and said they flew out the door and thus started the new project under the name Midnight Orchestra. We did a few shows with Wedding Party and watched the MP3 page just explode. After a few months we began speaking to another label about a Land of Nod with Distro other than M8 and their mail order but the label was afraid that Nod was too dark and ask if I would record a new cd in California with them and release Nod after the CBA market had a taste of something less frightning. I recorded the MO cd Digital Saviour. The day after I stepped off the plane home I was ask to release Nod with E-Magine Records and the label I was on said they would need E-Magine to buy my contract for an unreal amount of money so they could use the name, when I was asked by E-Magine if I thought it was worth it I said no and they wanted to know if I had any other ideas and I agreed to change the name to Goliath (a nickname Wil Watters from Wedding Party gave me) and release it on their internet only division for one year so it would give me time to take care of my legal problems with the current label... that never happend. After going through all of the problems with both labels I just left what mess I had made of my life to God until I was ready for music again and I was ready to be done with it until God opened a door when I wasn't even looking...and longer story short we signed a three album deal with merchandise and The Gate hitting stores.
Hundreds of artists hope and clamor for a mainstream record deal. You've had two now (right?). How did these come about? What's your secret for getting a record deal?
I just submit everything I do to labels and management and hope someone likes what they hear. I do know labels want to make money so the best thing I have going for me is a nice internet following I get to more people through the net than if I was playing clubs everynight. I also have a lot of friends in both Christian and General markets so I get a little help from my friends so to speak. To any band band that wants a record deal.... never give up after the first 200 "no's" you hear... it only takes one "yes" and you're in.
Tell us about the new material... Musically, what's it sound like?
I have heard many things from Black Sabbath, Monster Magnet, Godsmack, Rez Band, and Kiss. I personally feel it is Dio-era Sabbath-like stuff from Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules. It has a very heavy on the groove feel, not real complicated, just a wall of detuned guitars and tons of low end.... it is one you will want to crank LOUD!
What sort of lyrical ideas have you penned for this album?
I explore the Dark side of Christian life and the temptations we face everyday from drug use, spiritual life chioces, Nightmares and Satanic leaders (I like to call them fools) with tunes like "Dear Aleister," "I Am" (a tune about Christ dying on the cross), and "Hurricane and The Gate."
What inspired the song "Dear Aleister?" What is that song really saying?
The song speaks of the lie that he bought into from Satan (as with many other dark occult leaders) and after all of his false teachings it comes down to the same thing... he and any others are burning in Hell unless they received Christ into their life before they died.
You have caused some controversy regarding message boards and email, etc... What has this been about? What are your thoughts on this new technology (and how it effects people's communication and behavior)?
I went through a trial and failed my Saviour, and was trying to reach people, and instead I was the one that got "reached," and lost all control of my life last year when I got into this whole secular dark world... I got caught up in the lies and attitude that is in the secular market as they wanted me to calm down my message and ministry, and I took it out on message boards, etc. when someone said something against me... I also have seen the TV preacher mess up a lot of people, and thought it was my job to stand up against them via the internet... So, my thoughts on the technology is that you can do something in anger or stupidity, and let loose to the world instead of giving it to God, and after you have cooled down... it is too late, and the damage has started... so, as much good the net can do... it can destroy you in a megabyte.
What mistakes have you made in the past three years that you regret?
Too many to remember... but a few off the top of my head is thinking I was the talent in this band, and that I was getting me where I was going, instead of giving God the glory for His Blessings. Attacking a brother in Christ openly if I do not agree with him. Thinking I did not need church to maintain my faith in Christ. A good church is so needed for any Christian, and I felt that I was exempt from that. Recording Digital Saviour (that's not a joke).
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