My introduction to Lizzy Borden came when I was shopping at a record store in Portland, Oregon called Dudley’s.  I went there regularly and checked out album covers.  By that I mean albums, i.e. vinyl.  I’d pick one out based on the artwork, save up for it, then buy it.  Among some of the albums that I discovered based on the covers were Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All, Mercyful Fate’s Melissa, and Lizzy Borden’s Menace to Society.  How could you pass on an album that featured glammed out rockers posed on a camouflaged all-terrain military vehicle?  How rock 'n' roll!  And a patriotic red, white, and blue Lizzy Borden logo?!  I couldn’t wait to get that record home and play it.  I was so proud of this one that when I got to the car I pulled it right out of the pink Dudley’s bag (which for some reason had a cowboy riding a horse backwards), and I looked at the album for the whole 50 minutes that it took to get home.  We recently had an interview opportunity with Lizzy Borden, another dream come true for me.  Anyway, he was gracious and answered everything I threw at him. Enjoy.

 

I saw some of the press shots for the new album, and it looks different than what we have seen of Lizzy Borden in the past. How would you describe the new look?

 

Well, like we’ve always done, we pick a certain look that represents the concept of the record and this one is no different. Almost all of our 80’s entire look was done in just a few short years so most people seem to lump it all together. But on every record we have a different look. On this record I’m playing death, so the look for me and the band as well as the cover had to represent our vision of what that would be.

 

Deal with the Devil was a fantastic album, and one of the highlights of that one was the cover of Alice Cooper’s “Generation Landslide.” Clearly Alice is an influence.  Who else are influences?

 

Early on I knew if I pattered myself after one influence it would kill me, so I opened my ears to everything, but Cooper started the ball rolling for me.

 

What was the reason for the gap in between albums? I know there was a Starwood album in there. The last Lizzy Borden album came out in 2000 and now Appointment with Death in 2007. That’s a great title for an album, by the way.

 

After Deal With The Devil we recorded another Lizzy record, it took over a year and in the end we decided it just was not a traditional Lizzy Borden record and chose not to release it. Then we recorded the Starwood record (If It Ain’t Broke, Break It!) we did some touring, went to Japan and then we recorded another Starwood record and that record remains about 95% done. It was time to return to making Lizzy records again. When I get some time I will finish the new Starwood record and it will be released and we will tour to support it. It’s a fun project but I’m very focused on Lizzy Borden at the moment.

 

Is there a recurring theme on this album or concept album of sorts?  Or are these songs individual pieces of music?

 

Every Lizzy Borden record is conceptual, I find a theme that I like and work in characters that I can play and write for.  I don’t call them concept albums because I like to keep the story line vague. If you hear the individual songs on this record you may never know that it’s sung by this character or that character. But I could write a script around each record.

 

How was the writing process for this album handled and who else contributed? Who is currently in the band? As I said, I saw the press photos. I was unable to recognize anyone as they were wearing silver and black make-up and costumes.

 

Joey Scott is on drums, Marten Andersson on bass and Ira Black on guitar. We all wrote the music for the album together.

 

How would you describe Lizzy Borden in 2007 as opposed to Lizzy Borden in 1987?

 

We still do things the same for the most part, we haven’t strayed away too far from the original blueprint of the band. But we’ve learned a lot in 25 years of making records so that changes things a lot in terms of creating new ideas and turning them into something we can offer out.

 

Visual Lies was another great album. “Me Against the World” on Headbanger’s Ball . . . oh, the memories!

 

Thank you . . . that was a first for us, using a real producer in the studio.

 

What are your plans to promote Appointment with Death?  Will we be seeing some headlining dates?

 

We plan on staying out on the road off and on for at least a year. We’ll see what ends up happening in terms of a tour, we plan on getting out there to promote the album.

 

Lizzy, you've done a few covers in your career.  Which is your favorite and why?

 

I think maybe the Scorpions’ “We’ll Burn the Sky” because I kind of took liberties with the lyrics and in my opinion finished the thought from the original. I liked the way it came out, I think I put my own stamp on it more then the others.

 

You covered The Tube’s “Don’t Touch Me There” but brought in labelmate (at the time) Betsy from the band Bitch and made it into a duet.  How did this come to be?

 

It just seemed like it would be fun. And it was! That was a great time, good memories.

 

Are you in touch with Betsy these days?

 

I see her every once in a while.

 

Joe Holmes was in the band a while back.  How was he as a bandmate?  Did you ever think he’d move on to bigger things?

 

Joe was the guy that always had a guitar on his back; I think he even slept with one.  He put more time into his playing then any one I’ve ever known.

 

How many takes did you guys do for “Born To Be Wild” on The Metal Years?  Any regrets in being lumped in with a lot of shit bands?

 

Just one take.  They just filmed our show one night.  I had a great time working on the movie; I came in and did a few narration things for it. In the end, she had to cut a lot of footage out for time, but we had fun . . . I try not to regret anything I do.

 

I’ll end with Pick Your Poison.  I’ll mention two things, and you pick one and tell us why.

 

Tuff or Skid Row?

 

I never heard Tuff, but I love Slave to the Grind, balls out gut wrenching screaming. I love it!

 

Alice Cooper or King Diamond?

 

I’d have to say Cooper, but I’ve met King way back when.  Nice guy.

 

Motley Crue or W.A.S.P.?

 

I’ll go with Motley Crue because they were the soundtrack of the 80’s. We toured with W.A.S.P. one summer and I watched a few of the shows.  Blackie has some really good songs in the set.

 

Master of Disguise or Visual Lies?

 

Master of Disguise.  It was the record that freed me from the confines of a band. Now I have a band because I want one, not because I need one.

 

Vinyl or compact discs?

 

I love clarity in music so I would have to say the CD, but that will be gone soon.

 

The Roxy or The Whiskey?

 

I like them both.  I grew up at The Whiskey and played there many times but I have fond memories of us headlining 2 shows a night to sold out crowds at The Roxy with the line stretching all the way down Sunset. To be hot on the strip was a big deal for us in the early 80’s.

 

L.A. Glam or Uncle Sam?

 

The original glitter rock of the seventies.

 

Youtube or the Boobtube?

 

Both!

 

iTunes or Shopping for tunes?

 

I just got my first ipod.  I’m just now converting my CD’s, so I guess itunes.

 

Thanks, Lizzy.  You rule, man.

 

Thanks to you as well.

 

Thanks to Vince at Metal Blade and also to the man called Lizzy for the great interview.  Do not forget to pick up the new album, Appointment with Death, which drops in time for Halloween on October 2nd, 2007.  And don’t forget to drop by the official website www.lizzyborden.com.