@nu_metal_archive
1. When did you first realize that you can sing, love music, and want it to be a part of your life? Where did your nickname ‘Smily’ come from?
I always loved to sing, but never even contemplated singing with a band. I just graduated from high school. Got an overnight gig working in a big office. There with a
guy named Mark Patino, an incredible bass player, on the floor below me. I’d throw my headphones on and belt out Oingo Boingo, Alice in Chains, and Pearl Jam. He heard me over some time and we happened to meet up in the break room together one night and he asked me if I had ever sung in a band, or ever wanted to, and I told him na, never thought about it. I just love singing. He invited me over to jam. So the next night we both were off, boom! Went to his place and started writing. Without that crazy, weird night, who knows where life would have taken me? That was my very first ever band, Brother From Another Mother.
Smily and Stitches. Those were my nicknames in high school. Smiley because I was always smiling. Stitches because I had stitches dang near every month growing up, and in high school, haha
Anthony from Juice just started calling me Smiley, and it kinda stuck. We ran with it for a bit, just goofing off, and it kinda stuck. He came up with the nickname on his own. He had no idea that was what everyone called me back in the day.
2. Which bands/musicians inspired you, and how did that influence your choice of the nu-metal genre? What is your favorite nu-metal band? What’s your favorite movie and book?
The band growing up was Danny Elfman, Oingo Boingo. 100%. Absolute genius. It was dark and had always incredible melody. It resonated with me, and I could identify with the music and his lyrics. It became part of everyday. Alice in Chains, Layne Staley. He makes the impossible look simple.
So I used him to push my voice. Those two, for the most part. Really loved country as well haha Honestly, Juice. The history of the talent that I had the privilege of playing with, those guys changed the world, and no one knows they have. Without Ray Ray and his tuning and playing, music as we know it doesn’t exist. Definitely Slipknot. Beasts!
Favorite movie: Clue, Goonies. Both made me feel at home.
Book, any Edgar Allan Poe writing, or any nerd science book dealing with logic-based math, chemistry, human anatomy, and space.
3. What fueled the pain and rage in your vocal style? Would you say you’re more of an emotional person, or you tend to be more reserved?
Girls! Insane girls! Trust, love, belief, faith, hope, all being broken. Haha, growing up in the cult of JW’s. Those people are absolute lunatics. The joys of being a kid and not being able to have the choice. Hey, put hair on your chest, I suppose, haha. Then over some time the cancer gig. One month to live, non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and my ugly mug is still around! Let’s gooo!
I definitely side with the science side. Analytical, always thinking things through. Analyzing options. Unless it’s time to fight or time to protect my family. Then, all the years of Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai come out haha, I’m working really hard to keep that in the training room for the past decade.
4. What/when was your first concert?
So funny, I believe I was 8 at the Fox Theatre in Bakersfield, California, with my mom to go watch one of her favorites, Boz Scaggs. She couldn’t find a sitter, sooo I had to go haha It was fun. Had no idea what it was, or how it all worked, but loved the energy.
5. Can you tell us a little bit about Brother From Another Mother? If I’m not mistaken, you sang with them for about four months before joining SexArt. What kind of band was it, and in what music genre did you perform?
Brother was my very first band that Mark Patino and I started. Mark on bass, myself, Dave Gamble on guitar, and Chris Garcia on drums. We sounded like a scary melodic circus, haha. That’s what everyone said. We were pretty cool, actually. The guys were incredible musicians. Unfortunately, I don’t have a single recording. We played live constantly, but dang if I ever saved any. One of the big highlights to me personally was when Ty Elam from Cradle of Thorns came up and said, “Dude, awesome to meet you, you guys are good, would you wanna play a show with us?” I’m all “You’re Ty Elam, haha, You’re a rock star, I’m just a nerd trying to sing.” Super funny. But absolutely! I was blown away. We were together playing live 4 ish months, and then Dennis Shin from Sexart, after Jon Left and ultimately became Korn, asked me to sing for Sexart. I told him, “Dude, I’m absolutely honored, but I’ve literally been singing for four months, I have no idea what I’m doing, and Jon is incredible, I can’t take Jon’s place, he’s too good.” He told me, “I’ve been all over the country for the past year and have tried countless people out. You are the only voice that can bring what we are back to life.” So yeah, good times!
6. Were you in any bands before BFAM?
No, sir, BFAM was my very first.
7. Besides music, what else were you into at the time? Any hobbies? Were you actively training in jiu-jitsu and MMA?
Science. I was, and am, a total nerd. Science always spoke to me and made sense. From 7th grade into college, I was scientist of the year haha Logic just always made sense, finding a problem, questioning why it became a problem, and finding a solution, was fascinating.
Super funny, quick story. When I was in 8th grade, another gentleman and I were asked to be in a science competition with 30 colleges from around the country. I said let’s do it! We got asked to do an engineering challenge. You had one normal black piece of paper and a 12-inch strip of tape. The challenge was to build the most tall, freestanding structure that stood for a minimum of 10 seconds. Hahah, Dude, we placed 8th. We were kids in Jr. High against 30 colleges! What a blast!
I started training at 15, Jeet Kune Do, Bruce Lee’s art. My sister and I were coming out of a movie and got jumped by piece of shiz gangsters, four adults. They were beating her up like a dude, and I had zero idea of how to protect her. I fought, and we got outta there, but being able to destroy another man at that point, I had zero idea how to, and vowed that day that I would never ever feel like that again, helpless, and never ever let myself get into that situation again.
So yeah, began teaching myself Jeet Kune Do, then Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. Wrestled a bit and have been training all my life. The arts are an integral part of life to this day.
8. What made you start training at 15? Was it about getting stronger, being more disciplined, or was it just a spontaneous decision?
Haha, I think the above answered that. Too funny, I had no idea you asked this. Great minds!
9. How would you describe your time in SexArt? How did you join the band, what were your plans for the future? What eventually led to your departure from the band?
Sexart was a quick run. As Sexart, we never played a show. The band was in this crazy flux, to where they, what they, after Jon, were going to do, and the future was up in the air. I was a flash. I practiced with them, and then I believe Dennis left for LA. That’s how Juice was born.
Ray Ray and I pulled together, got Dave Carrline on Bass, and Shawn Barger on drums. That lineup was a few months, then Deroo started playing bass, and we found Anthony Cutshall.
Juice was a four-piece for a while, then Tim Fluckey tried out, and he was incredible and fit in perfectly, so that’s the Juice you know.
Dennis, just after he moved, came down a few times back to Bako to do some recording with some new material he was working on from LA. So somewhere out there are some crazy recordings, haha.
10. Did you know Dave DeRoo and Ray Solis before SexArt? Did your friendship and performances together play a role in forming Juice later on?
I actually did not other than hearing their music and being blown away. They changed my musical perceptions. We were on the air with Mark Montana on the B Town Underground, where a local station would have on a bunch of local bands for interviews. He threw them on while we were live, and it changed me. They were so good and ahead of the musical times. I knew the second I heard them that they were going to change music.
Yeah definitely. I was scared to death when Dennis approached me. Met the guys, haha. They set up a trial, and I was told to be at the studio ready to sing at 3 pm. I showed up with my long hair, no shirt, my black backpack, haha, everyone called me Back Pack Brian because I was always shirtless with my black backpack. What I DIDN’T know was that anyone would be there! I was already nervous, but when I showed up, the room was completely black, filled with candles, and there were at least 40 people lining the walls. I was petrified. No one at all knew who I was, haha, I was just some quiet nerd hanging out. Dennis jumped on the drums and began the cymbal entrance for Blind, Shuck began his entry, Ray Ray, and Deroo. I pulled off the wall, grabbed the mic, and well, the rest is history haha
11. Can you tell us about Glass Cut Eternity? What kind of band was it, and in what music genre did you perform? I couldn’t find any information or songs online—do you have any recordings you could share?
Glass Cut. Definitely. This was after Secret. This was a project between Matt Hoose and I. We just always got each other with music. His style and my style meshed incredibly. Hoose could play bass and guitar exceptionally well, he could program well, we both could write pretty decent so we just started playing. I am a goth at heart, haha, and this was pretty dark, electric, and Melodic.
Actually, Glass Cut Eternity started with an ex girlfriend of mine. She was a literal genius, top 10 in all of the country. She was equally as good with the bass, and I am a goth nerd at heart, she was a full on goth soooo shed play, and I’d sing. We never went anywhere with it, but the name is pretty heav,y and I told Hoose, let’s use the old band name. Boom.
Definitely, if you jump on YouTube and search my name and Glass Cut Eternity a few videos of ideas we had come up. Too funny, we only put those up just in case all the gear blew up, and we lost all the recordings. Haha, I made up some account that night after recording a few vocals.
So they are just ideas, but at least we have them! Love that stuff.
12. How did Juice come together, and why did you choose that name? Is there a story behind it?
The above should give a pretty fun story, but the name, yeah, too funny. Back in the day, we had all kinds of different names on the table, Red Head was one, hated it! I was all no way, man, we have to have something that is a fire inside, that means something to each of us, that passion.
What is a feeling that burns? Juice was a term in those days that meant you had the street Cred, the monsters!. Those guys have the juice, haha, so we ran with it.
13. Would you consider Juice as your best project? It felt like the band fully showcased/captured everyone’s energy and talent.
Juice definitely was the project that had the history to create a future. With the lineup of talent, had some of the guys not left to go play with Marky, Jon’s little brother, and we would have stuck Together, we could have done great thing, I believe. It was like a break-up man. Heartbreaking. But I genuinely loved all my bands. Each one was incredible in their own way, and to this day, I am beyond honored they gave my ugly mug the chance to sing with them.
14. Did you have dreams of worldwide success, or were you happy making music for yourselves?
Yaaa know, good question. Music was love. That place inside you feel whole. I think we all were just along for the ride, and it happened to get us to new heights quickly. I am a very quiet behind-the-scenes kinda guy, so being a rock star sure sounded rad, but it was never the reason to do music; if it happened, I’d learn how to grow with it. Music was life, passion, and Love. But world wide success, the boys deserved it. They are some of the most talented musicians on the planet to this day.
15. Were there any record label offers? A lot of Bakersfield bands were getting popular at the time-Korn’s Elementree label brought in Orgy and Videodrone.
Yeah, we had a few, but the one that was solid was C2 from Columbia Records. That was the one we were working with, Tim Devine. Recording to see if we were a good fit. Yeah, Jon never liked me, I don’t think. Guilty by association. At that time, the guys were working on some legal issues with Blind, and Blind is the Song that changed the world. So yeah, my being the singer of Jon’s old band, us doing well, and them having rights, I was part of the problem. So, no offers from Elementree. Just so it’s stated, I have zero against Jon. Jon, if you read this and would like to rock a song, have your people call my people, I would be honored. Maybe we can bring Ty in. How insane would that be!
16. I still can’t understand how such a talented frontman and vibrant personality like you didn’t get worldwide recognition. Or was that never your goal?
Haha, so funny. Thank you for the kind words, but I will always look at the guy inside, and I’m literally just a nerd that got super lucky, but thank you. Ya know, it would have been nice to make it big, not to be popular or famous, but to have the entire world hear such incredible music. If all of the other amenities came with it, great, if not, great. But the band as a whole was a very special group. To this day, I am very honored to have been able to play with them.
17. What’s your favorite Juice song?
My love 100%. It’s tattooed on my back. The lyrics and what they mean, yeah. Pretty heavy for me.
18. Describe Juice in three words. What does the band mean to you?
Great question. Powerful. True. Unfortunate. I just wish the guys would have stuck with the OG lineup and appreciated what they had and not believed that the grass was greener on the other side. Had they stuck around, I believe things in all of our lives would have been completely different.
19. Is it true there was a planned European tour that fell through?
We did the tour. It was awesome! Had an absolute blast. We won best unsigned band in the United States, and the company that brings over all the big acts into Europe at the time brought us over. Incredible experience.
20. Why did Juice break up? I beat ya to it, it is above.
21. My Beautiful Secret was very different from Juice—a breath of fresh air. How did the band form, and why did you choose that genre?
haha yeah. It was just a bunch of different dudes, different personalities, different tastes. It became what it became not by definition but through writing. Secret was Matt Hoose, Andre Krause, David Willliams and Christmas Collozo and then Mitch Pathe on drums. Love have love with all of us boys haha
I actually became friends with all of them in Juice. Came in to help write some music with them, and their singer left so I just started singing so they could continue to be a band and we’ll that turned into Secret haha Crazy how things work.
22. What’s the story behind the band name - My Beautiful Secret?
Secret. Well, I was given one month to live from non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Fought that cancer for years, and I never told a soul. Everyone thought I dropped out of the scene because I was strung out on heroin, haha, I just agreed and laughed. Thought it was super cool that people came up with a story on their own. If you step back and look, it made sense. I was 185lbs in good shape, 6’2, and out of nowhere went down to 140lbs, gaunt, deathly looking, haha. So yeah. That’s where the name came from. It changes the way you look at life.
And so everyone can internalize it, and it’s not just about me, all the guys could have the name be part of them as well, we’ve all done something good for someone that no one knows about. Plus, I love fighting, haha. Don’t talk about it much, but again, a little beautiful secret. I think every one of us has this in us. A little hidden attribute we don’t speak of, but just happens when the spark hits the fuel.
23. My favorite song is My Question—it always gives me chills. Can you share what it’s about?
Thank you! Yeah, that’s one of my favorites as well, to be honest. It’s legit one of the most vulnerable songs I’ve ever written. This is about a girl I was dating who was carrying my child and had an abortion. I was ecstatic to be a dad, but she chose otherwise. So yeah, heavy song. Thank you for digging it! That’s why I love music, you get to let out all that anger and pain without harming anyone.
24. Why only one album? Band had so much potential—what happened?
Girls man! Girls happened! haha I’ll just leave it at that out of respect for everyone in the band.
25. What does My Beautiful Secret mean to you?
It’s all the good, bad, and ugly you are willing to do for those you love. It’s all the things you just do, those things that are difficult that you don’t talk about that provide the safety and security for your family, friends, loved ones, and your pets. My pets are my family. They are my kids. It’s that little voice in the back of your head when things are happening quick that keeps you calm and ready.
The band Secret is love man. Those boys are just genuinely good men. Love everyone with my entire heart.
26. What was your relationship with Jonathan Davis like? Did you know him personally, or was he just a random dude from your friend circle? How did you meet him?
I have met Jon once. It was at their very first show in Bako with the ex from Glass Cut. Jon and I, we were actually never friends.
We were all in the same circles, but he and I never ran across one another. I think because we both are quiet dudes, especially back in those days. We weren’t out much if it wasn’t for the music. It’s actually super odd that we never hung. I had people all around me who were legit buddies. So it surprises me as well.
27. A few years ago, I heard a rumor that you were a vocal coach and taught Jonathan to sing(also that Ty taught him). Is there any truth to that? I sometimes hear bits of your style in his vocals—just an observation, not a comparison.
Well, thank you. Jon is a monster, so that’s a huge compliment. Ty, actually, from what I know, worked with Jon, not I. I think potentially if there are similarities, it’s due to where we grew up and having similar tenors. I think we all just do what we do. Bako is gladiator school. You either fought or stuck with those that did, orrr hid out and stuck in your groups.
My take, Jon and I are both naturally quiet guys, totally fine being in the shadows. When you are this person, I think we all have similar life experiences. Maybe that’s part of the similarity? We’re both tall and skinny, haha. Maybe that has something to do with the vocal similarities.
28. How did you meet Ryan Shuck? Did you stay in touch after SexArt? What was he like?
Shuck! I’ve always loved Shuck. He’s always been a great guy. Always super nice and positive. We don’t stay in touch, he’s way too cool for me. He’s got a huge personality, and I’m naturally a wallflower. I only knew them from the Sexart run. Shuck is super intelligent and funny. Always trying to make you laugh and feel comfortable. Great dude. I’d love for him to say hi, Shuck! Have your people call my people, we’ll do lunch. Haha
29. Did you know Jay Gordon? Did you ever cross paths? If so, how did you meet?
Yeah, we’ve hung out a few times. Again, never friends. He was already a huge rock star when we met, and Juice and I were just up and coming. But he was always a nice guy. He spent legit time with you and made you feel comfortable. Cool guy.
30. What do you think of Orgy’s original lineup? They had such a unique style and so much potential.
Dudeee Orgy was amazing! Absolutely loved that band. That’s one of those bands that you wish would have pulled through the issues. They to this day would be amazing, I’m sure.
Incredible songwriters.
31. Ty Elam. You and Ty are two of my favorite vocalists, true legends and pioneers of nu-metal in Bakersfield. How did you meet him? What was he like back then?
You have great taste, my friend! I am legit a huge Ty Elam fan. To this day, when I train, I sing Cradle. He is a musical genius. You should hear him when were just jamming. Everything he does is a hook. It’s nuts!
Thank you again for such kind words. I really put my heart and soul into music, so it means the world that you care.
I met Ty on the streets of Bakersfield, haha. Then, after that, we just became friends. Ty is music.
Everything he does is music. He’s literally a musical genius. He’s an incredible human.
32. Cradle of Thorns, Videodrone, KARMAHITLIST - which of Ty Elam’s projects was your favorite?
Cradle hands down. I remember being a kid, 15ish, going to Cradle shows at Bam Bams, and knowing I was watching a rock star and the next huge band. I’m super bumbed as a fan that they didn’t hit huge. Karmahitlist had some great music too. Videodrone. Everything that Ty does is incredible. Living legend.
33. Why do you think Ty Elam and Videodrone didn’t become global stars despite initial Buzz?
Ty once said the label didn’t see them as commercially promising and chose to invest in Static-X and other bands instead.
Yeah, I absolutely get that. Juice was told the same. We needed to write some radio music. I just think some of us have to write passion. I think perhaps Cradle and Juice, as we both screamed heavy before screams, and heavy was a thing. We played heavy music that wasn’t something you could put into a rotation with what was mainstream, that we were a bit ahead of the brutal scream stage of musical evolution.
34. Did you ever perform with Ty Elam? What were those shows like?
We did one show together, haha, we played with Karma at a tiny record store, like 5 songs apiece, haha.
I think I’ve sung with Ty way more just hanging out and jamming than anything else.
But no, unfortunately, I’ve never played live and an actual song with Ty. Buuuut there’s alwayys tomorrow, baby! Come on Ty! Call a buddy!
35. Do you still keep in touch with anyone from those days or is it all in the past?
Oh yeah, I’m still buddies with all of them. Love all those boys. Great men. Life happens, bills still have to be paid, responsibilities are still responsibilities, so we all go in the direction that keeps a roof over our families’ heads.
36. What do you think about Adema? It’s crazy imho how many bands are connected together ,share members —SexArt, L.A.P.D., Juice, Adema, Korn, Orgy, Videodrone.
I wish nothing but the best for every single member in a band still. Yeah, back in the day, we all were intertwined somehow. The good ole bad days, haha.
37. What’s special about Bakersfield? What comes to mind when you think of it?
Haha Bakersfield. Bako is a great place to settle down, established. If you want a nice river, not many people, way on the edges of town are some cool spots. I’ve only been in Bako a handful of times in the past several years. Only to visit my mom’s and pops. Outside of that, I’ve built a quiet little life up in the mountains, away from the world. I love being able to step outside my door and be in a forest.
38. How did so many talented musicians emerge from one place? Was it just a coincidence, or was it something about the local culture? Maybe they sprayed air with metal essence?
haha I think it was environmental. You either worked in the oil fields or on a farm, fought, or did music. I think it was a way for those who needed to express frustration, music was the way out, both mentally and tangibly.
You fought a lot in Bako. Everywhere you went, you got into a fight, or almost into a fight, haha I think that has a lot to do with it. You made music to find a way out, and we all just congregated to the same places with all that pent up. We needed a way to release it.
39. I see you as a strong person and a role model—a musician, athlete, and company founder. Have you always wanted to help people or was there a moment in your life that pushed you in that direction? Was it the conversation with the dark-haired girl with beautiful Apache eyes at the bar?
Thank you so, so much. That means a lot. Ya know, I’ve always been an underdog kinda guy. The ones that weren’t supposed to make it, I’ve always backed and been behind. It’s kinda in my DNA to protect. So from that perspective, everything I’ve ever done has come from a healing perspective. Take care of those who can’t and fight for those who need it.
Haha, being part American Indian, and too awesome that you read the bio on the website! Thank you. Honestly, that is super uncomfortable for me to write all that. I was told by people I respect that I need to tell my story so people who come to the website can know the guy behind the madness. (Zombiesportco.com for anyone interested.) That the story is important. So yeah, thank you for taking the time to read it. I promise I tried to in the least amount of words tell the story!
Long black Apache hair, black Apache eyes. She was a catalyst for the Zombie Lips. An amazing woman, incredibly sweet and kind, who every once in a while had HSV-1 breakouts and would hibernate, broken hearted. Soooo I vowed I would find a way to help her, naturally.
That’s when I realized that Zombiesportco.com could actually be something that helps in a real world setting, humans and animals.
If you’re reading this and stuck in this far, go check us out! It’s some pretty cool shiz! Zombiesportco.com
40. Judging by your career/background, you are highly educated person. Do you have any medical/biological degrees, or you are a self-taught prodigy?
Haha, I am a fire starter baby! Actually, I went to college a bit. Music happened. Chevron happened. Creating energy from microbiology happened. Zombiesportco.com happened.
For whatever reason, science has always made sense in my brains. I research a ton, ask a zillion questions, find anomalies, and try to extrapolate the lynchpin to being a synopsis and rework. I believe that, as incredible as something is, there is a more robust and simple way to build. Science dictates our future. If we don’t grow, we stagnate, infection finds its way in.
So find an impenetrable wall, one that most will turn away from, and improvise a way over. There are no limits. If your brain understands the problem, you can find a remedy.
41. Have you always wanted to do what you do now? Did it ever interfere with your music career? Did you ever have to choose between music and work career?
Great question. Yeah, daily. If I could afford it, I would play music for a living. Being such a quiet guy, the touring, spotlight, it’s all amazing in increments. I have to have some quiet time out in nature with my boys.
Having said that, Zombie is an equal passion, only a different avenue. Having built this literally from zero, just a thought in my head, to working the science, the testing, the iterations. All of this coming to fruition and watching it legitimately help is mind blowing. Not the science, the fact that the science actually worked haha I know theoretically it can and would, but to see it and how it changes people’s and animals’ lives, is mind blowing. There is huge satisfaction held within this.
Tangibly having to choose, I was incredibly lucky to have an amazing boss back in the day when we played and traveled. Ward Miller, The Blind Installer. I used to install blinds for him, and he 100% of the time, when we had a tour, an out of town show would let me off and come back to my job. He was 100% supportive. Without that, I definitely would have chosen music. Hence, I sure hope I would have had a buddy with a comfortable couch! haha
42. Was music an outlet for your emotions, a way to express yourself, and release feelings?
1000%. Without music and all the craziness, I’ve lived there was a lot of anger. That damn cult man, you weren’t allowed to do holidays, school, study, talk to people outside of the cult UNLESS it was for the church. Loathe. So good times!
The only reprieve is that I got booted out after years for asking way too many questions and pointing out the leader’s hypocrisy. So my heart is full knowing they couldn’t retort my rebuttals and their only way to silence me was to kick me out! Super exciting haha
So the music is and always has been as breathing to me. I lived it. I didn’t play music for anything other than to not go down a dark road. When you write and play music, it’s unadulterated. You step up to the mic, and it’s you and your voice. It’s very naked.
43. Did you ever consider making a living from music or was it always just for the love of it?
Heck yes. Once we started to get people who started to feel our music, it was super odd. I was always like how in the world can what I hold inside help and move another human. Once that began, it was full steam ahead. Catharcism on stage and people dig it, boom! Let’s goooo! Never thought in a million years it would have taken off as it did. Once we started getting these incredible offers, I’m all, damn, can you imagine paying the bills with music? Crazy.
44. Do you think sports kept you away from bad habits and helped you to stay disciplined? Nowdays so many talented young musicians don’t make it past 25 due to drugs and alcohol.
100%. But to be honest, I never drank until I was older. I was so disciplined on my own with huge goals that it never interested me.
Yeah, to this day, I’m pissed at Layne Staley. In my opinion, one of the most talented humans to ever live, within the history of humanity. To see him unalive himself builds this anger and sadness. The question, what if I knew him, could I have helped?
No drugs, kids! No alcohol! If you’re going to experiment with madness, go jump in a cage with a fighter. Go step on the mats of a Jiu Jitsu school. Walk into a wrestling room. You will get the same endorphine high, but will face the reason you wanted to start drugs and alcohol, and smash it as you grow and become a monster! No drugs, kids! No alcohol!
45. Your work now is crucial for society, athletes, and people in general. Infections and diseases are a part of our world, and dealing with them is a noble mission.
Thank you so much for asking about my company, Zombiesportco.com. It truly means the world that it’s important to you and that you see the value in it, which I as well do. We are working incredibly hard to change the lives of athletes by fighting naturally, staph, MRSA, HSV-1, bacterial pathogens. Becoming a preemptive protection for fighters and those in close combat. Everything was chemicals and synthetics. I had to build a better way.
46. Would you consider Zombiesportco your best project/achievement? Was it the next serious chapter in your life after music?
Tangibly, yes. Zombie is, and I know it’s a crazy name for athlete care, but that’s the entire point haha. As I begin to grow and we reach the right clientele, it resonates with the right people, those who refuse to quit. The monsters who face their demons and headbutt them, knowing you might get smashed, but you still fight. Those are Team Zombie. This encompasses every single human who faces adversity, pushes through, and never quits.
Also, the entire flip side, those adaptive Veterans, those in wheelchairs, with prosthetics, crutches. Anyone who has lost a physical limb or was born that way. We offer them an absolutely clean, non chemical or synthetic way to keep them safe and protected. Knowing that is out there for them makes my heart happy.
The next chapter is to get this beast to grow and buy a thousand acres in the middle of nowhere on water so that I can have a sanctuary for wildlife. Working hard to get there! Go check out my product! Zombiesportco.com, let’s goo babyyy!
47. That bar story really touched me. You have a big heart. I’ve always wanted to contribute to society, but I didn’t find the answer- how. And I’m glad you found the right approach and made it.
Thank you so much, sir. Everything in there is legit. Hard to talk about, hence why the music was so important. But getting older, I don’t think it helps anyone who might be going through something difficult, to keep that inside if they know someone else as nerdy as I made it out the other end, and this gives them the strength to fight. Then get comfortable in the uncomfortable and write, dude! haha
I beg to differ, sir. Look at what you are doing exactly right now. We’re becoming friends doing an interview, one that YOU built! You are contributing to making society a little bit better with every interview you do. You are helping people connect. People who otherwise would never have this opportunity. That takes major balls! So you are awesome, and thank you!
48. Is it true you were an MMA and jiu-jitsu coach? Do you still train?
It is. Not professionally, as when I was training in gyms, I never wanted a belt. My goal going to a gym was not to be a belt color, it was to learn how to beat all the belts in a dark alley. A belt color won’t help you when you have to square off with 5 dudes. It’s the ability and training. So, never having a belt, I felt outside of working with fighters where a belt color is needed. The way the system is built it would be disrespectful.
Heck yeah, I do. Three days a week. Do my Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. I have a brutal kettlebell regimen, and I go out in the wild every single day. It’s so funny, the older I get, the more I realize that my body has been built since 15 for brutal contact, harsh pressure, and pushing yourself to the limit, and then pushing more. The older I get if I can’t train for a few days, I start getting aches and get sore, haha, so I HAVE to train, or I’ll fall apart! The best advice I’ll ever give anyone reading is never ever get old.
49. Who’s your favorite fighter?
Ohh myyy goodnessss. Great question. You know what, anyone who has the balls to step in front of another human knowing they can die, and still engage, they are my favorite fighter. With Zombie, I work with so many incredible fighters and athletes that every single one in their own way, blows my mind. We all come from different places. We all have different stories. If you have it within you to stop, face yourself in the mirror, take that deep breath, and move forward no matter what you see. You are my favorite fighter.
50. Do you ever plan on returning to music or is that part of your life over?
Heck yeah! Not as a band or full time, unless something amazing happened, soooo you’re saying there’s a chance!? Haha, but I sing like an idiot every single day. Scream, grind, push my voice, just because I love it. I am working with Ray Ray as we speak on some music, dudes insane! Hoose and I have some music we are working on. Matter of fact, rumor has it that if we can make it happen, Ray Ray, Hoose, and I are going to be working on some shiz. Again, on what planet do I get the privilege of playing with such incredible musicians?
If life allows, we’ll have something coming out. I’ve been trying to get ahold of Ty Elam to run at least one song. Last I spoke with Ty, he, Ray Ray, Hoose, Christmas Colozo on drums, if you know Christmas, then you know what that mad man is capable of. Soo funny, maybe you’re good luck haha As I’m writing this Christmas, just text! So cool! Soo if Ty is in, we will definitely get him into a song. Again, it’s all up in the air, but if we can pull any of this together, boom!
What a fun new moment in time.
51. I used to train in MMA—not professionally, just enough to be sure that I could defend myself. Years later, it’s in the past, and now I’m battling bad habits and getting my life back on track. The last few years have been tough—serious health issues and personal struggles. As someone who’s overcome a lot, how did you find the strength to keep fighting? What advice would you give to me and others going through hard times?
You did!? Freakin awesome! Stoked you jumped in!
Heck yeah, bad habits are easy. Every day is a struggle. So happy you are finding a path home. I think it’s awesome that you’re learning what is not good for you and are able to address, face, and be honest with yourself. Only you can.
Serious health issues you can fix or permanent life altering? Either way, no matter what man, you got this! What facts you are presented with, face them, take a moment to get angry, pissed, fuck you! Scream! Get sad, cry, headbutt the mirror. Give yourself that moment, but only a moment. You can’t change a fact. No matter how much you hate it, it’s a fact. Take it in, make it part of who you are, close that door behind you, lock it, and look ahead to the new wide open options that you are able to build upon.
Due to the cancer, I was supposed to be on Lyvoxorine for my thyroid for the rest of my life. I quit three months in as I found out it was all synthetics. Synthetics that your body only vaguely understands, that have the potential to do damage. I started a ton of research and found a way to naturally accommodate the exact and better potential a synthetic would achieve. So if my ugly mug can work this problem, you can as well.
Everyone can if you find the strength inside yourself. Screw everyone else, and what they say, we get one of these things called life, find you! If it turns out to be something you can’t remedy, find one thing that is more large than anything you’ve ever done and pursue it until you cannot.
52. Your photos with your dog remind me of Snot’s frontman and his dog Dobbs. You two seem inseparable—do you have a deep bond with animals?
Oh my goodness, thank you for noticing. Heck yeah. He is my best buddy. These two are my kids, legit. Anyone that says dogs are not family can suck it. We recently added a little blind boy. He was supposed to be a foster, but I watched how other people treated him because he was blind and couldn’t let him go be alone with those people. Sooo he’s now part of the zombie family haha.
Yeah, man, from birth I’ve always had an affinity for animals. Every single animal on planet Earth. Their lives are predicated and dictated by the choice of a human. If those of us out here who are good protectors don’t keep them safe, what good are we?
So yeah, animals are my love.
53. Are you familiar with Lynn Strait’s tragic story? It’s a reminder of how life can change in a second.
I am. Absolutely horrendous. Life is a crazy journey.
We actually back in shoot, early 2000’s, I believe, were in an awards show in LA, Juice, A System of a Down, Papa Roach, Snot, Sevendust, all the big names back then, and a huge portion of the show was dedicated to Lynn and Dobbs. It was incredible. There is somewhere out there a huge panoramic of all of us against the stage out there in the wild somewhere.
It absolutely puts into place the reality that at any moment, you can be gone. Love. Protect. Do what’s right. Make the hard choices. Find content daily. Love your pets like children.
54. What modern bands do you listen to? Any metal bands? Who do you think is pushing the genre forward?
Oy! Good question. I love Lamb of God, Slipknot, Slaughter to Prevail. That new band President is really good. Bad Omens is good, King 810, Falling in Reverse, Whitechapel, Akudama. I knowwww most of these are old school, but dang there good. Also, no joke, one of my all time favs is Cradle of Thorns. Soo good.
I have a buddy we call him Skizzy, he sends me updates on all the brand new metal coming out. There are some amazing bands out there!
55. What are your plans for the future? Any new goals?
Man, plans for the future. If I can avoid the void for a bit longer, I’d really like to live another 20 years haha I’d really like to see Zombie kick off and grow so we can watch people and animals’ lives change. When Zombie does get to a certain level, I’ll open another business. I have a million ideas, but each one has to support itself. So crossing fingers.
New goals.... to find a way to elongate the lives of my boys! Haha, 12 years is not long enough!
There has to be a way of giving them 30 years, 40? 80? Goals....
Honestly, if ever I can make it happen, I genuinely would like to be able to buy a ton of land and create a natural sanctuary for animals. Same idea as a state park, but I own it.
Immediate goals: grow Zombie to be a prolific company that changes people’s and animals lives. Everysingle thing you see online that is Zombie I create, good, bad, and ugly, haha. So I’d like to hire someone that I trust to hand off all the social building to, to create the ads, videos, posts, etc. So I can stay in the lab and be a mad scientist!
I’d like to have a kiddo, but girls scare me nowadays, after Abby, solo might be the path, soooo not sure if that’s in the cards. Haha, any ladies out there who just want a best friend, have a best friend, that’s zero drama, laughs at stupid, stupid jokes, and genuinely just wants to be content? Haha. I knowwww, exactly why I’m pretty sure, just friends is ok.
56. Can you share your most unforgettable music-related story?
You know what’s funny.. There are so many amazing stories, but the one thing that immediately came to mind while reading this is the moment we got off the plane for the European tour and jumped on stage, a legit stadium stage for the first time. Walking up to the mic and hearing your voice sounding like it’s coming from heaven! For me personally, that was life-changing. Scary and beautiful all in the same moment. I felt like everything I’ve ever done in my life mattered, that anyone cares enough to hear my music this loud. Profound.
I’m just some dude from Bakersfield across a planet playing something that came from my soul, with these incredible musicians, and someone cares. Insanity!
57. What’s the story behind Jerry’s Pizza? So many legendary bands played there. Your show there was insane. Was it really a cult venue?
You know what’s crazy? Jerry’s Pizza was, before it became what it is today, a small local pizzeria. Then Jerry, who loved music, opened his basement to all the local bands. He gave us somewhere to play where there was food, drink, and belonging. There were only a handful of places to play back in the day, and Jerry’s was one of them. It was great, you could get some good food, a beer, a soda if that was your thing, and then come back that night to incredible live music. It’s so crazy that it’s become what it’s become. It’s amazing that it has, he helped change the Bako scene and gave all of us a place to call home.
So many huge acts started off playing there that it just grew into this, as you stated, cult venue. It is between LA and Sacramento, so it was a perfect place to stop off for bands just starting out, and for bands just before they hit it huge, to play a show, get an entirely new set of eyeballs, and hopefully gain a few new fans.
We are all very thankful for Jerry’s Pizza and very happy it’s grown into what it has become! Bravo Jerry! Thank you, sir, for giving Bako musicians a place to fine-tune our craft! You are awesome!
58. Are you happy that metal has had a resurgence/rebirth, do you follow the scene?
I think it’s rad! So odd that with all this new tech, the old school shiz is making a comeback. Drums, guitars, and a singer. Super interesting. I’d love to get Ray Ray and I to team up legit again so we can rock some old Juice and write some new music to maybe play some shows if anyone were interested in hearing the old dudes rock again.
I definitely love music and listen to what comes my way, I’m so immersed in growing Zombie that it’s been a bit since going to a live show. The last show I was at was 2 years ago with Hoose. Haha, we went to see Pucifer. Great live, by the way. Maynard is incredible. The entire band was incredible. Great show.
59. What was the wildest, most intense concert?
That’s an easy one. Germany. We played a show in Germany where I watched dudes bloody up other dudes, and they would just laugh and get back into the pit. I’m talking straight up Freddy Kruger style! Nails on backs, blood everywhere. Crazy shiz! haha
60. Looking back, are you happy with how your life turned out, and if you had a chance, would you change anything in your past? If yes- what?
Man, great question. Abby. I wish I could go back and immerse myself in the alternative remedies for breast cancer and metastasis, more, and not rely only on chemo as the only option. I never thought for two seconds she was going to pass. Up until the day she let go, she was laughing and smiling. That haunts me to this day. Some days I have to only focus on Zombie and get through, some days it’s heavy man. I get angry. I was working on natural options, but no one was sure how they would help or complicate her chemo. So we were holding off until she got to a plateau. Once she was not dipping and balanced out, had several days in a row that were good, we were talking about what we could start. I had several ideas.
She was very regimented and compartmentalized, being a chemical engineer, but I know myself. I find solutions for horrible problems. We just never got to a place where she was comfortable, and I never pressed, as I was exactly where she was once upon a time, and in my brains, we’ll have tomorrow. Tomorrow never came. So to this day, that haunts me.
For those who don’t know, she was my fiancée who had breast cancer and passed on the day we were to be married.
Zombie is a slight reprieve in the architectural concept of my being able to help in the way I wish I could have with Abby.
Ya know, for all the good and bad, I have a great family with my two boys. I’m a very simple dude, always have been. I’ve never needed much. So I’m happy. I don’t have big, bright, named cars or clothes. I don’t go out. I enjoy the mountains, being able to walk out my door and be directly in the hills. So yeah, aside from a few moments, I’ve been incredibly blessed to be able to live the life I have, impact a few people along the way, and become a good dad.
Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to read this, it means the world.
If you’d like to support a nerd trying to make the world a little bit better than the way he found it, go check out Zombiesportco.com. You are awesome!
Suzuki, thank you so so much for this interview. I am beyond honored. It honestly means the world to me. Thank you for taking the time to write out all these incredible questions and caring enough to want to do this. Had an absolute blast! Thank you, sir.