GOD FORBID Guitarist Talks About Upcoming DVD, Illegal Music Downloading

Cameron Edney of Australia's Inside_Out666 recently conducted an interview with GOD FORBID guitarist Doc Coyle. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Inside_Out666: Now that "Constitution of Treason" has been released and you guys have had a chance to tour on it for some months, is there anything you would have changed?

Doc Coyle: There are a few things I would like to change. There are few vocal performances I would have liked a bit different. But I'm sure I would have to argue about that. I still think I could've written one or two better guitar solos. There's always something you think could be different about your albums. Hindsight is 20/20. But you just live with it, and try and learn for next time. Overall, I am still happy with the album. I think it's our most evolved record yet.

Inside_Out666: While you guys are on the road, are you writing for the next album? Are there any titles you can share with us at this stage?

Doc Coyle: We don't really write on the road. Outside of writing riffs on our own time. We toured for eight months immediately after "Constitution" came out, and then we took the summer off. Since then we've had a U.S. and European tour and the holidays so we haven't had a lot of time to write. Once we get home from Australia we're going to start for real.

Inside_Out666: Doc, [in February] you guys shot some footage from your hometown show in Sayreville, NJ which is going to be used for an upcoming DVD, has a release date and title been set yet?

Doc Coyle: No title or release date yet, but we're hoping to have it out by the end of summer. The show was incredible and should make for a sick concert DVD. Dave Brodsky, who directed the "End of the World" video, directed the show and will be editing it. Eric Rachel, who co-produced our last couple records, recorded and will be mixing the audio. There will also be a documentary portion with the DVD. We want to make it as complete as possible.

Inside_Out666: Can we expect to see any extra footage such as rehearsals, backstage debauchery etc?

Doc Coyle: We have footage from our entire history, so I'm sure we'll have a little bit of everything. We don't want to make a cliché DVD though and just try to rip off the PANTERA videos. It's important to show our personalities!

Inside_Out666: Speaking of backstage debaucheries let's talk a little more about life on the road! Over the years you have had the pleasure of touring with some amazing bands such as LAMB OF GOD, CRADLE OF FILTH, and OPETH, to name a few! Who have you enjoyed touring with the most and can you share a funny story from the tour?

Doc Coyle: We are very close with MACHINE HEAD, LAMB OF GOD, HATEBREED, CHIMAIRA, etc. We really bonded with those guys. There are definitely plenty of stories to tell. Let me think of one. On my 21st birthday in Dallas, Texas on tour with LAMB OF GOD, SIX FEET UNDER, and DARKEST HOUR we were going to PANTERA's strip club, but we were told that none of them were in town. I remember it was about a 40-minute ride, and I had to piss bad as hell. As soon as we got there, I ran inside and went right up to the urinal. I'm pissing, and I look to the left and it's Vinnie Paul. Needless to say, I started kissing his ass. He was cool as shit, and made us feel at home. He signed a shirt for me and I still have it.

Inside_Out666: When the time comes to work out the set list, do you find it hard to choose the right songs. There will always be fans who want to hear the old stuff and the occasional obscure song and of course you have to play some new tracks. Do you find it hard to make a set that is for fans of all eras?

Doc Coyle: It is tough because we have four albums and an EP's worth of material not counting B-sides and covers we like to play. We're definitely a band where certain fans favour a particular album, and it's hard to please everyone. Our last two albums are much more successful and well known, so we focus more on those albums. I wish we were bigger so we could do an hour and a half or two hours, but when you're not IRON MAIDEN, people tend to get worn out when you play for too long. I wish we could play more obscure tracks. It's more fun when you can.

Inside_Out666: Doc, what's the craziest rumor you have ever heard about yourself and/or the band?

Doc Coyle: Some people in the industry apparently think we're a band who beats people up or is violent. We haven't been involved in a fight with anyone in music probably since '98 or '99. I think some people see people of color and are scared and assume we are trouble-makers. Who knows?

Inside_Out666: During the Eighties I can remember seeing so many different hard rock and metal videos on our televisions but these days they are few and far between. Being in a rock/metal band these days do you feel it is still important to spend so much money making film clips that don't get anywhere near the airplay they deserve?

Doc Coyle: First off, I don't think bands are spending the type of money they used to anyway. Most of the videos you see on "Headbanger's Ball" probably cost between $5,000-$20,000. I'm just glad there is a show that plays metal. Metal will always be underground to some extent. Unfortunately, rock and metal isn't as popular in the mainstream as it used to be, but you wouldn't know it by going to a concert. The fans keep it alive. It doesn't break my heart that we're not all over "TRL".

Inside_Out666: What's your take on downloading and file sharing? Do you think it hurts artists like yourself or do you look at it as a great way to get your music out to so many more people around the world?

Doc Coyle: It's helped slow down overall record sales. But there have been a lot of factors in that not just downloading. Just the ability to burn discs makes it a hell of a lot easier to get free music from a friend than downloading. The influx of new technology and other things for people to spend their money on has hurt music sales more than anything. People would rather spend money on dvd's or video games. Not too mention iPods and satellite radio. I think for newer bands, it helps tremendously because it's almost difficult to have a band go unheard of these days. The speed of information is so fast. It certainly hurts the huge bands, but it really means that a band is double platinum instead of triple platinum. I think it hurts a lot of bands who may get a lot of fans who will buy an album for one or two songs.