BALTIMORE ARE YOU READY TO GET YOUR BODY BEAT?

That’s right kiddos, it’s that time again that CombiChrist comes into town to have a good time, listen to some good music and just enjoy the company of insane like minded  folks… oh ya and of course. Joe Letz..

Empire Extreme got to sit down and talk to Singer Andy LaPlegua, about old things, new things and every oddball in between.

Empire: How’s the tour going so far?

Andy: It’s doing really good, it’s been a lot of fun. It’s a good package, we are all so different. There’s nothing worse than listening to the same style of band for every band throughout the night. The crowd has really good energy throughout the night, which is good for us since we are the 5th band to come on.

Empire: How would you describe the change of sound from old CombiChrist to newer CombiChrist?

Andy: It’s like life man, everything changes and evolves around you. It’s all about exploring within the same genre, I think that the album This is Where Death Begins I reached an end of that road on how far I wanted to go, I kind of turned around and walking back down the path. The new material that I’m working on now, it’s way more back to the roots, which everyone is thinking I’m going to do more like the first albums, but it has a lot more from that time era though.

Empire: So you are working on a new album?

Andy: Yeah man, I was actually supposed to do it with this run, but then we got a new management and new team around us, we just put a hold on it. After the summer we will go back and look at it again.

Empire: So more than likely early 2019?

Andy: Yeah.

Empire: Any chance of doing Icon of Coil or Scandinavian Cock again? ( which I accidentally said dick not cock)

Andy: I loved that you called it Scandinavian Dick, it’s great that will be the reunion name. I need to change that rooster emblem and put Dick Chaney instead (Laughs). Well it’s not dead it’s just not something I’m working hard on now.We did an Icon of Coil Show couple months ago in Berlin, every time we do it, it’s just me and one other guy, and we’re like “yeah man, we do this more it’s so fun and simple”. We are talking about a few show but nothing serious, we’re still working on the album that we have been working on for like 10 years (Laughs), One day it will be out.

Empire: What’s your favorite song to play from the CombiChrist catalog?

Andy: It’s hard to say, you’ll hear the songs tonight on the setlist are basically my favorite songs. We have 2 songs tonight, they are old songs but haven’t played them on tour before, because we never made it sound good before but some reason now it does.

Empire: Who would you like to see do a cover of a CombiChrist song?

Andy: I’m not sure, I wouldn’t want anyone within the same genre to cover it, I think that’s dumb when you have covers like that, but out of genre I would like to hear maybe Hank III would be fun or anyone from that genre or the folk scene. I think it would fit too. I always wanted to covered Wild Boys from Duran Duran that makes more sense.

Empire: Do you have any plans on doing a cover on a CombiChrist album?

Andy: If there is it might be out soon. (Both laugh)

Empire: Are you saying that there might be a cover on the next album?

Andy: There’s a possible one in the future.

Empire: With all the bands reuniting, what band would you like to see?

Andy: uh Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots.

Empire: Yeah those would be pretty tough. (Both laugh)

Andy: I’m actually no big fans of them I was just being a dick (Both laugh). I feel like that bands that went to Pass, they never feel the same. Seeing Misfits in an arena, come on, Misfits belong in a dirty small club, that’s the way you have to see them.

Empire: If you could bring back one dead musician who would you bring back?

Andy: That’s a hard one, I mean how long can they live though (Laughs) my two big ones would be David Bowie and Johnny Cash. But Cash his story is legendary and wouldn’t want to fuck with it, Bowie still had lots more to give us.

It was supper cool to just shoot the shit with Andy, drummer Joe Letz was on the bus and talked a little got a photo with them both and Joe told me to come meet them before the set to get a photo with him in his full makeup gear, which was amazing. CombiChrist put on one hell of a show, not a dull moment. As much as I love CombiChrist’s music to me, it’s always entertaining to watch Joe play the drums because even without the costume on , he just is insane and fun to watch, I do fill a little sorry for his drum tech having to pick up pieces of drums and sticks all the time. Andy runs around the stage like a madman possessed such a great front man, and such a killer band to see. I’ve seen them plenty of times and every time is just as exciting as the first. CombiChrist ended the set with What the Fuck is Wrong with You and invited the crowd to forget the barrier and come to the front of the stage and sing along with the band. It was a perfect ending to an awesome set. Can’t wait to see what CombiChrist brings to us in the future.

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Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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