DOWN Guitarist On Songwriting Process For Next Album: 'Everyone's Got That Spark Now'

When DOWN performed at this year's High Voltage festival at the end of July in London, England (see video below),the U.K. branch of Roadrunner Records sat down with guitarist Kirk Windstein for a quick chat regarding the group's current and upcoming activities. On the topic of the songwriting sessions for DOWN's next album, Kirk stated, "[We've written] two songs and we're really happy with them; kinda getting in that [songwriting] groove now.

"We're at different points in our lives because of our age... We're all in our forties. I have a daughter... and a girl at home... Jimmy's [Bower, drums] got the same thing, Phil's [Anselmo, vocals] got the same thing, Rex [Brown, bass] is married and has twins — a boy and a girl, Pepper [Keenan, guitar] just had his first child...

"Like Phil was just saying, we basically recorded and toured for two and a half years and that's a long time! I think now we're up to 36 countries we played, including twice in Australia, Japan, we did METALLICA summer tour, we hit over in Europe, we did METALLICA first leg of 'Death Magnetic' U.S. tour, we did a bunch of Sonisphere stuff last year with METALLICA, we played with SLIPKNOT, ANTHRAX, SAXON — you name it, so it was like when we got home, we needed a break. We'll email [each other], but nobody will call anybody. Basically, when we get off the plane from the last show on the last tour, we'll get off the plane and it's like (laughs),'I hate all you motherfuckers, fuck you! Do not call me. Goodbye!' But it's all in fun.

"When you're stuck up each other's ass 24/7 for two and a half years, it's pretty difficult, you need a break, and now everyone feels rejuvenated, fresh, now's the time [to get back into writing].

"We know when the time is right — everyone's got that spark now. But we didn't want to force ourselves to do it if we didn't feel it. I mean, music is emotion. It's got to be real; it's got to be from the heart. We didn't want to force ourselves to do it if we didn't feel the time was right, and now, we've had two great jams, three great jams, wrote two songs, and at the end of the third night it was like, 'Dude! I had fuckin' fun today, it was great!' The spark's back, the desire's back, and it's time to be DOWN."

DOWN's "movie" "Diary Of A Mad Band" has been delayed "due to recent legal issues" and is now expected to surface sometime next year. The set will feature footage of DOWN members "tearing up Europe" — literally and figuratively — on their first European tour. This special DVD/CD collection contains over 130 minutes of live video material and a full, never-before-released concert. (Note: The CD is different from the DVD.)

DOWN bassist Rex Brown has fully recuperated from his fight with pancreatitis, a sudden inflammation of the pancreas which can have severe complications and high mortality despite treatment.

In October 2008, DOWN released a "deluxe edition" of its critically acclaimed third album, "Over the Under". The deluxe package, which was made available as a Best Buy exclusive, included a DVD with over 30 minutes of previously unreleased live performances and behind-the-scenes footage.

The album was released on Down Records in conjunction with Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group (ILG).