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Dressed to the Nines...Armed to the Teeth! is the title for Massivivid’s new, returning-to-the-scene album. “While some bands fear the sophomore slump,” muses Franky Vivid (fka Wally Shaw), “MV3K kicks it into even higher gear with a collection of Neo-Nasty tracks that will split ears, split hairs and probably split seams.”

Making a comeback requires a few necessary elements. Massivivid is ready to be tested. Enthusiasm? Check. Confidence? Check. Attitude? Check. Finished album in the can? Check. Great new songs? We’ll see...

Doug : What does this new album sound like?

Franky : Platinum. Actually, we've taken the gloves off of the production and gone for a dirtier, more dangerous approach. We shot for Gary Numan meets Iggy Pop. See for yourself if we got there.

D : Tell me some details about your plans to promote this album (tours, videos, special shows, whatever...)

F : Once this album is released, we won't have to promote it. It'll promote us. Our shows have become more of a performance art type thing that is hard to tour (think Vegas meets Blue Man Group meets the Cramps) without an orifice full of funding. But don’t worry about that. Mark this down, "We are taking over the world." *Nsync has already written us a letter of apology for taking up so much time on the charts and have graciously offered to step down as the world's biggest pop stars. In their words, "It's your turn, Franky."

D : Who all is in the band right now, playing what?

Franky Vivid - vocals, synthesizers, computers
Sid Precious - synthesizers, guitars, editing
Simon Fine - bass, effecting the snot out of stuff
She Rex - guitar, bass, visual trash

D : Tell me about some of the lyrics on this new album that really jump out for you... (tell me what they're about and why, etc?)

F : The album begins (after a spooky intro) with a song called "Resonate [FM]". This really sets the tone for the album because it illustrates a philosophy that we really have as a band. I feel that being happy is not the goal of life, but to be alive is. There are many things that we do that don't make us happy, but are right and good in the grand scheme of things. Take breaking up with a girlfriend, for example. Sometimes it’s the right thing to do even though it feels terrible.

I get a little sick of people saying things like "I just want you to be happy." That's such crap. Life isn't about being happy. Sure, being happy is nice and all, but it shouldn't be our goal. God gets sad.

Life is about resonating. Whatever the Maker put in your heart that makes you resonate with the molecules around you is what you should pursue. We are wired to resonate, but what makes me resonate is not what makes you resonate. What makes me come alive is not the same for everyone. So people should figure out what makes them alive and do that and let other people do theirs. That's a complete oversimplification, but there you go.

Another song is "Vivimerica," and it’s about how life is gonna be once I'm president. It’s a little cheeky and a lot dastardly. Just another end of the spectrum lyrically. The album contains everything from somewhat ludicrous exhortations to absolutely meaningless pecks at famous people. It’s not nearly to be taken that seriously. But you should buy several copies, since you'll wear them all out.

It’s funny how the song with the least amount of lyrics is probably the heaviest and thickest. "The Devil I Know" has been described as the "uncomfortable moment when the clown gets serious and tells you about his alcohol problem. You really just want him to juggle some more."

Hmmm, schizo-much?

D : Have you gone through any significant philosophical changes recently (whether it's about art or life in general)? Like what? Tell me about it...

F : It would seem so, however, it is not the case. What has occurred is that I have decided to not try and be someone that I am not, no matter who hears me. I am a Christian. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and that He is the Son of God. He is the Savior of my soul. Other than that, I'm in a pretty messy place. My faith has always been under my fingernails and I've lived most of my life with my face in the dirt. But that's where I have the best relationship with God. That is where I find that I resonate. Things are not cut-and-dried for me. Sometimes I wish they were, it would keep people off my back.

For a while, I tried to write things that were very cut-and-dried. Very black, very white. And though it really touched a lot of people, it did a lot of damage to me. I can’t do that anymore. I can’t put on the face that everything is peachy when it’s not. God expects me to play with all my cards on the table and now I'm doing that.

Not to mention the fact that I patently disagree with a serious metric buttload of things that are propagated by the American Christian church as "faith." But that's a completely other discussion.

D : Update us on the history of Massivivid (from its inception, thru recent changes, to the new album)...

F : Massivivid was born in 1996 during a spin on a production label called Ear Candy. Ear Candy was owned by Mike Knott and paid for by his dough from East-West (Records, who signed Aunt Bettys -- Not to be confused with a band of the same name). We were originally called Vivid, but seeing that there were just shy of 400,000 bands named Vivid we decided to go louder (well it’s one louder isn't it?).

After recording the Vivid demo of 7 songs, we got picked up by (now defunct) Tattoo Records and released Brightblur. Singer/Writer Wally Shaw teamed up with Producer (and PFR drummer) Mark Nash to co-produce. The result was a stellar, albeit safe and shiny, Dove Award winner for 1998's Hard Music Album of the Year.

A heavy tour schedule followed and then a much needed hiatus. Feeling that they'd achieved as much stardom as was necessary to facilitate their lifestyle, the band pawned its Dove Award and headed for the hills of Malta.

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