DIRTY ROTTEN IMBECILES (D.R.I.) To Enter Studio In October

Hardcore/metal crossover pioneers D.R.I. (DIRTY ROTTEN IMBECILES) will enter a Southern California studio in October with producer Bill Metoyer (SLAYER, SACRED REICH, ARMORED SAINT) to begin recording a brand new EP, to be released in early 2015.

Speaking to Steve Dallaire of BoulevardBrutal.com, D.R.I. vocalist Kurt Brecht described the band's new songs as "more punk rock than metal" and explained that "for me, it's not that important to come out with the EP, but the fans want it, and the guy that's gonna record us really wants us to do it too."

Asked why it has taken so long for D.R.I. to record the follow-up to 1995's "Full Speed Ahead", Brecht said: "Album sales for the last couple of albums, we put everything that we had into them, and they just didn't do very well. So we just kind of said, 'Well, let's just keep on touring.'"

He continued: "The problem is, for us, with putting out an album is that we stop touring and just focus on writing, 'cause we don't wanna get sidetracked. We're in the middle of writing songs, and now we've gotta stop and practice the old songs and then go play some shows. [So] we would just shut down the touring and do one or the other. And now, because there's not much money in recording [and releasing albums] anymore, we can't really afford to stop touring just to put out an album. That's why we're gonna go in and just try to do it while we're on tour — [lay down the] songs that we already have, just go in and record those."

Brecht also spoke about the changes in the music industry in the last 30 years and how they have affected D.R.I.'s ability to survive without having to get day jobs to support themselves.

"For a long time, we couldn't make a living, but now, just the way that we tour and stuff, we're starting to be able to make a living just from the music," he explained. "That's touring, that's not to do with record sales; bands can't really count on that anymore."

He added: "I don't really think that much about [the music industry nowadays]. I've just adapted, you know.

"In the old days, bands could go on tour and lose money on tour, and it didn't matter, [because] they were selling a lot of records and they could live off that money. So it was, basically, just an advertising type of thing; you go out and advertise the album after you put out the album… travel around and advertise it, and you make your money off selling the albums. But nowadays, you have to just forget about all that. You put out a record so that you can go on tour and make money touring."

Regarding the inspiration for his lyrics in the new D.R.I. songs, Brecht said: "It's a similar vein of lyrics, I'd say [to my other band PASADENA NAPALM DIVISION] — basically, just talking bad about society and human beings in general, that sort of thing, but never really offer any kind of solution… 'cause I can't think of one. Advertising, I talk shit about a lot… Mass marketing and stuff, even though I do it, so I'm a total hypocrite. I advertise the band, I sell our products at the shows and all that kind of stuff."

He continued: "For [the upcoming D.R.I.] EP, some of the lyrics — at least one of the songs — is, I think, one of my best lyrical tunes yet. It's called 'As Seen On TV' [see video below]. I won't tell you the lyrics right now, but it's basically about advertising, that sort of thing. I went to school for it, and that's why I talk about it a lot, 'cause I learned a lot [when I was there].

"So, I'm really excited about the EP, if it ever does come out or whatever, [and] I'm more excited about getting those lyrics out there, 'cause I don't think people could really understand what I'm saying live."