TYPE O NEGATIVE Drummer Talks About SEVENTH VOID Side Project

In Utah This Week recently conducted an interview with TYPE O NEGATIVE drummer drummer Johnny Kelly. A few excerpts follow:

In Utah This Week: I haven't had the opportunity to see you guys live yet, so tell me, what can fans expect at a TYPE O NEGATIVE show?

Johnny Kelly: I think the set list that we're playing this time around is mixed pretty well; it's a good mix of old and new songs. I think ["Dead Again"] is our seventh studio album, so it's getting tough to pick songs to fit in the set and make everybody happy. But everybody complains anyway. [laughs] They do!

In Utah This Week: Do you have a lot of songs off "Dead Again" in the set?

Johnny Kelly: Actually, we do. We have a lot of them in there now. We've been playing "Profit of Doom", which has been getting a lot of radio play, and we've been playing "These Three Things" on and off, which is cool because it's like the epic song on the record — the full version runs almost 15 minutes.

In Utah This Week: How do you feel about having "Profit of Doom" on the radio? Have you ever had your music played on the radio before?

Johnny Kelly: Well, I heard that it was being played on the radio. I've yet to hear it being played on the radio. Back when I was home, I didn't listen to much radio anyway. But I do off and on.

In Utah This Week: Speaking of "Dead Again", does this album represent anything in particular for TYPE O NEGATIVE as far as accomplishments or longevity goes?

Johnny Kelly: I think it's an accomplishment, especially for a band that's been around since 1989. You know, we're still here and still making music — still trying to accomplish something. [laughs]

In Utah This Week: What are you most proud of about this album?

Johnny Kelly: I think the thing I like most about it is that it seems to have more of a jamming element on it. So that part I enjoyed. I think it's a pretty solid album from start to finish.

In Utah This Week: Are you still working on your side project, SEVENTH VOID?

Johnny Kelly: Yeah, well, everything right now has obviously been put on hold. But the other guys from the band are supposed to be home, back in New York, completing some tracks and stuff. We did a lot of recording before the TYPE O record was released.

In Utah This Week: Has SEVENTH VOID been signed to a label yet?

Johnny Kelly: No, we haven't even looked into that aspect yet. We thought first we'd make some solid songs; getting them recorded and everything. Vinnie Paul has been helping out with that. He's mixed like half of it so far, so we've got to finish the other half so that he can mix it. His talents have turned the whole thing around.

In Utah This Week: Wow, how cool. [Bassist/vocalist] Peter Steele does most of the songwriting for TYPE O, right?

Johnny Kelly: That's correct.

In Utah This Week: So how do you feel about working around someone else's idea in TYPE O, whereas in SEVENTH VOID, you're used to being more of the creative force?

Johnny Kelly: Well, the thing is, with Peter, his writing is constantly changing, and it's constantly looking for something. Most of this record was really written on the fly — by the seat of our pants in the studio — and there were only a couple of things Peter had written and prepared when it came time to record. So, we would try to come up with things on the spot and that's how the rest of us got to be a part of the writing process. It's not like Peter just writes everything and is like, "This is how you're going to play it" and "I want it this way."

In Utah This Week: Do you have any hobbies outside of being a musician?

Johnny Kelly: Well, yeah. I guess I'm like a "jack of all trades, master of none." [laughs] I have a thing for old hot rods. I have one at home that I work on from time to time — when time allows. But most of the time when I'm home, I'm a parent.

In Utah This Week: Oh, really? A parent to how many?

Johnny Kelly: I have a 6-year-old and my girlfriend has a daughter, so both of them keep me busy.

In Utah This Week: I bet that's hard leaving them for the road.

Johnny Kelly: Well, I've been traveling a lot since my daughter's been born, but now she starting to come to that level of consciousness where my being gone affects her more. When she was smaller, she couldn't really talk to me, but now when I talk to her on the phone, she's like "Oh, Dad, I miss you so much. Can't you come home now?"

In Utah This Week: Aw, how cute. Has being a parent made you slow down from the infamous TYPE O NEGATIVE partying?

Johnny Kelly: No, actually, it kind of made me appreciate it more. [laughs] Because before any of us had kids, we'd party on the road then when we got off, we'd party until we got back on the road. I mean, it just kept going. Now, a lot of the time at home, it's like "Ah, I can't do this tonight. I've got to get up early because in the morning I have a lot to do," like taking care of all those responsibilities that come with getting older and all the things that come with being in aband. ...

Read the entire interview at In Utah This Week.