|
Interview with Jim Sheppard, bassist of
Conducted by Dave Larmore
This month’s edition of Unchain The Underground’s music interview is truly a gem; Unchain The Underground’s Dave Larmore was
originally fortunate enough to obtain a portion of time belonging to none other than NEVERMORE Bassist Jim Sheppard! This interview was originally published in August merely an interview with Jim
Sheppard before Dave went to Gigantour on August 24th, 2005, but has since morphed into a brief interview with Guitarists Jeff Loomis and Steve Smyth while Dave was at the FYE booth to meet
NEVERMORE after their 30 minute set. Jim discusses the album sales for This Godless Endeavor, his thoughts on Gigantour, how the crowds are reacting to NEVERMORE’s performance, the set lists,
Enemies Of Reality, Death Metal legend James Murphy and the band's plans following the conclusion of Gigantour.
Dave Larmore - Jim, it is a huge pleasure to have the opportunity to interview you, how are you doing this evening?
Jim Sheppard – Shitty, thanks for asking!
Dave Larmore -That's not so good to hear! The record sales for This Godless Endeavor are doing pretty good in the local chain stores around here in Maryland; all of the copies sold out on
the morning of its release, seeming to indicate that this album is going to move some big numbers. Has there been a progressive growth in the number of albums sold over the
band's career or has any one album done especially better than others? Now, especially with Gigantour this year, it is reasonable to think that your sales will reach an entirely new
peak. Is there a considerable level of excitement in the NEVERMORE camp as a result?
Jim Sheppard – Every album has done better than the last, and with this release the excitement is boiling over in every fucking hot parking lot we sit in everyday.
Dave Larmore - It's ironic that you guys are going to be participating in Gigantour this year, the brainchild of Megadeth's head honcho Dave Mustaine, who produced
SANCTUARY's "Refuge Denied" record a good 17 years ago. Back then, you (along with Warrel Dane and Van Williams) were just breaking out in the metal scene, and now you are on
a two-stage tour package with your former producer. Considering the progression of time since "Refuge Denied" and present day, what was your (as well as the rest of the band's)
reaction when you heard that Dave Mustaine wanted to take you guys out on a fairly big North American tour as one of the main stage bands?
Jim Sheppard – My reaction was after the superior treatment we received from Dave on the earlier SANCTUARY tour we were obviously very excited to be included on the Gigantour. He's gone
out of his way to make sure every band on this tour is happy and has everything they need everyday.
Dave Larmore - How is the tour for you thus far, and how is the audience reacting to NEVERMORE's set?
Jim Sheppard – So far the tour has been an amazing experience in the aspect in being able to meet so many great musicians and share the stage with them as well. The fan reaction has been overwhelming.
Dave Larmore - I myself am going to be attending a Gigantour gig on August 24th in Holmdel, New Jersey and am particularly looking forward (and curious as) to which set (of three) you
guys are going to choose to play. The reasoning behind the decision to play three rotating sets this tour was due to the limited amount of time (half hour) you guys have, and because
you want to give each audience the benefit to go home and conclude that they got something different one night than the previous, according to various quotes. Will any of the sets
contain material from the band's earlier albums, such as "Nevermore", "Politics Of Ecstasy" or "In Memory"?
Jim Sheppard – We are doing three sets because we have only one day off between this tour and our European headlining tour so we are making sure we are ready for that tour as well. Yes we are doing
early material, but nothing from NEVERMORE or the In Memory EP.
Dave Larmore - Everyone is already aware of the circumstances surrounding the 2002 to early 2005 period of time concerning the band's contract with Century Media and
the two editions of 2003's "Enemies Of Reality". The only question I have regarding that is despite the Andy Sneap remixed and remastered edition of "Enemies Of Reality" being
released this past April, the standard Kelly Gray version still appears on the shelves. Why has the new (and improved!) edition not replaced the widely criticized original on the shelves yet?
Jim Sheppard – Century Media is phasing out the old stock. Those copies that are still on shelves will eventually be replaced by the new version when they are restocked. That's why there was no
official release date either.
Dave Larmore - To focus on the new album a bit, legendary Death Metal musician James Murphy does a solo on "Holocaust Of Thought", which is a Bass instrumental track penned by you
. That is certainly a new concept for a NEVERMORE record! How did it come about, and how did the rest of the band members react to it initially?
Jim Sheppard – We've always had melodic bass interludes in our music. As far as adding James Murphy in to do a solo, that came about due to the fact that he was engineering in the studio for
Andy Sneap at the time. He recorded the bass movement for me and was so familiar with it that I asked him if he would play a solo over it… and he was very excited to, and I couldn't be happier with
the way it turned out. After all, we all know he's a guitar God!
The following is from the FYE Meet and Greet Booth at Gigantour in Holmdel, New Jersey:
Dave Larmore - The only thing that's made the news grapevine thus far concerning the band after Gigantour is that Jeff Loomis will be recording a solo album. What will Nevermore be up to
following Gigantour's conclusion?
Jim Sheppard - We will be taking a week off following Gigantour to rest up, and then we are headed back out on the road again for a North American tour.
Dave Larmore - Steve, great fucking gig! I have been curious as to whether or not you will be playing on Dragonlord's upcoming second album, "Black Wings Of Destiny"?
Steve Smyth - Yes, I will be on the new Dragonlord album. We (the band) actually recorded it awhile back, and it's supposed to be coming out soon (October 4th), so look out for it man.
Dave Larmore - That's a great fucking band (Hatesphere) on your shirt there!
Jeff Loomis - Yeah man, they're heavy!
Dave Larmore - Will anyone from NEVERMORE be participating on your solo album?
Jeff Loomis - I don't know, it's too far out in the future to tell right now.
Dave Larmore - Do you mind if I get a picture?
Jeff Loomis - Sure man, no problem.
Dave Larmore - Thanks a lot Jeff, you are the fucking man!
NEVERMORE can be seen live at Gigantour this summer, a two stage tour package being co-headlined by Megadeth and Dream Theater, who will be replaced by Anthrax on the last leg of the tour
during late August-early September.
This Godless Endeavor, NEVERMORE's latest studio effort was released on July 26th via Century Media Records.
Photos by Jarrod Vrazel : zrock.com
www.nevermore.tv
|
