DEVILDRIVER's FAFARA: KATAKLYSM Singer Should Think Before He Opens His Mouth

In a recent interview with Belgium's Concreteweb.be webzine, DEVILDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara (ex-COAL CHAMBER) was asked about the animosity between KATAKLYSM and DEVILDRIVER over the fact that DEVILDRIVER were added as support for OPETH's last U.S. tour — a slot that KATAKLYSM were up for and didn't get (Story#1, Story#2, Story#3, Story#4, Story#5). "Well, apparently Michael [Åkerfeldt] from OPETH came on later and said [KATAKLYSM] weren't even supposed to be on the tour, that they never were even considered for the tour," Fafara said. "So I guess the whole beef that [KATAKLYSM vocalist Maurizio Iacono] started was for no reason."

Asked about Iacono's statements that condemn Dez and his position towards touring, suggesting that Maurizio's doing it because he loves touring and it is what he believes in, while Dez is only doing it for the money, Fafara said, "I think he should think out what he says next time that he opens his mouth. Because every time he sells an album or every time he plays a gig and sells a t-shirt or for every time he charges people to get to a show… Aren't you making money? If you're so in it not for the money and it's just for your music, then I want you to give away your CDs, give away your t-shirts, let me come in to the shows for free and have your mom drive you to the show because you cant afford a van, obviously, or anything for that matter, transportation-wise. He needs to really think before he opens his mouth and I think that's one of the things that I do."

"I'm fortunate that I have great management and booking agent and label and other people to take care of those things and I can just be an artist. I am very fortunate in that matter. But this is the music business and anyone will tell you that there's obviously a business aspect to it. When you see IN FLAMES' buses and trucks and lights, there's obviously a business aspect to make themselves be able to do this. So he just needs to think. I mean, he's gonna hope that he one day has a couple of tour buses and lights and can go play big shows, I'm sure. And at that time, he's not gonna be doing it for free. Whereas actually [for] the last eight months, I've been working almost for free, so he has no idea what he's talking about. I've been sleeping on the floor of RVs, almost dying in the snow, putting my best foot forward, which is what only any good man can do really."

Read Dez's entire interview with Concreteweb.be at this location.