"3SKS".
(Tri-State Killing Spree).

Interviewer: Gordon Taylor of Infectious Unease Radio

Interviewee: Sean, Lee, Tim, Jyri, Michael

Date: 6th July 2000

At what Age did you all take up music, what inspired you to take up music?
And how did Tri State Killing Spree meet and begin?

Sean:
All of us started at various ages; however, all of us have been musically involved in one way or another since grade school. 3SKS was formed in 1996 as an anthology of all our ideas and musical experiences, which had not worked in previous projects we had been involved with.

What previous bands have you all been involved in? What styles of music did you play in these bands?

Lee-:
All of us have played in numerous different bands which range greatly in styles of music! I've played with "Phoenix Rising", "Abney Park," & "RadioStar"
Jyri:
Prior to 3SkS, I played in a Portland, Oregon, Goth band called "Cerulean Winter".
Tim:
I have played in quite a few different groups through the years "Tongue 'n Cheek" was the most known.

What instruments and equipment do you all use when producing and performing your music?

Lee:
Guitar 7 string Ibanez, Bass Ibanez Ergodyne (Bass Ampeg head through Peavy amps, Rocktron Chameleon through Mesa Boogie power mp)
Michael
I use the Vox AC15TBX and a Mesa Boogie, Danelectro chorus and
echo pedals, Boss RV-3, Big Muff Pi (for the most part). Gibson Les Paul and 335
guitars.
Sean:
Korg Trinity, Yamaha Bass
Tim:
I play a custom DW drum set!
Jyri:
I use a variation of electric violins ranging from Barrett to Zeta. For FX, I run most of my instruments through an Alesis QuatraVerb. I also play a Steinberger Bass.

Jyri you had an interesting family background what was your family reaction when you became involved in this style of subculture?

Jyri:
Oh, they weren't to supportive, that for sure! I grew up in a very religious family; which sheltered me from the rest of world. I wasn't allowed to listen to the radio, watch television, or read books that weren't religious! Once I "escaped" from the restraints of this upbringing, I became engulfed in the underground subculture, music and the occult. This naturally scared the hell out of my family for many years but I think they thought I was just "going through a phase" and would eventually grow out of it. Now fifteen years later, I think my family has finally started to realize that I'm not going to change and they just have to accept the fact, that it is not a phase!

Jyri, In your earlier years you went to different clubs and saw many bands. What sorts of bands and clubs did you go to, What where they like?

Jyri:
Well, I have always loved to dance so a lot of my younger years were spent in underground dance clubs eating acid and dancing my ass off! As for bands, I have had the rivilege of seeing many incredible bands at the start of their careers! Bands like Skinny Puppy, Depeche Mode, Severed Heads, Legendary Pink Dots, etc, etc. There are so many great bands that have influenced me over the years; it is just impossible to mention all of them. It has always encouraged me to watch the evolution of these artists though!
To see them struggle as small "no name" bands and evolving into very well know bands! I find it inspirational to see that they too once started small and built up from there much the same way that 3SkS is presently doing!

Sean you spent your up bringing in the city of Angels. What was your childhood like in this environment?

Sean:
I have nothing to compare Los Angeles with. It's an amazing place surrounded by incredible dreams and vicious, cutthroat nightmares. If anything, it made me driven, strong, and very adaptable to change. LA "is"
the extreme! ~the city of lost angels.

Sean could you tell me more about your experiences with learning piano.Sean:
I started at six with 'three blind mice' I believe. I went through several piano teachers. I was difficult to work with because I hated rules. I typically loved to rewrite existing classical compositions and thus
offended my teachers. At fourteen, I gave up lessons, and moved on to something more constructive... rock music!

Sean how did you survive going to a Christian school?

Sean:
It was easy! I was so anti-religious that it made holy school entertaining and gave me my individualism and popularity. Granted, I got to know Mr. Cronquist, the Vice-Principal more than I would have liked, but in
the end, I was asked to leave anyway. Apparently not all-great minds think alike.

Tim is there a particular style of percussion or percussionist that you admire?

Tim:
I have always loved all kinds of percussion, at least as long as I can remember. I like orchestra, hard rock to jazz any thing that has a lot of emotion. My most inspiring percussionist are Terry Bozzio ,Stewart
Copeland and Trilok Gurtu. These guys play with amazing feeling.

Tim What do you feel when you play the drums?

Tim:
I try to feel what the songs emotion is portraying, it can be quite taxing at times. We have some songs that at one moment I'll go from being totally pissed off to being very sad, and at the same time I'm in euphoria
because I'm playing on my drums. It's awesome fun!

Mike I came across a wonderful quote I really enjoyed reading in your biography: "There is a dark side to every soul. Through an eclipse of the eyes and the subconciousness appears a mirror image of the unseen." Would you have any other quotes to express?

Michael:
I am currently working on a book that contains my lyrics and poetry (there really is a difference). I will be posting quotes and poetry on the web site with periodically.

Mike what aspects of Druidry interest you?

Michael: For the most part, I love the ancient wisdom that is passed on to us from trees. If I ever would say "save the trees", it's not just because we need them to simply breathe (ironically), but they are of the roots of everything that we ever were physically and spiritually since life began to exist on this planet. The ironic thing is that I have always had ideas, thoughts, and beliefs, from never reading anything until I got older. Then I realized how everything is so tied together when Druidry, Buddhism, Christ (not the religion). All of these, with what many others, have written and taught what I always believed before I ever read about them. Druidry (like Buddhism), in my opinion, is the most peaceful philosophy to use in order
to obtain the very secret links between the existing worlds (however, an extremely dangerous tool if in the hands of a fool).

Mike, is there a particular species of wolf that you admire?

Michael: I love all species of wolves (and other animals for that matter). I have a stone with a wolf spirit imprinted on it. This was used by the Shamen for meditating and contacting their animal Spirit. The one that I have is
the Grey Wolf, and I have made contact.

What creative process do you go through when composing your music?

Jyri: The majority of our creative techniques are pulled from all of our classically trained backgrounds. The origin of most of the music is conceived around a basic idea that one of the members presents to the rest
of the band. From this we create our own individual parts around this person's idea.

In your compositions you talk about themes such as lost love, Religion, Death, Water, what is about these subjects that inspires you to write about them?

Michael: Death is Romance, Romance is mutable like Water, Water washes away Religion...
Sean: and Religion is a really nice story!

What was the inspiration behind such songs as Chance, My Socrates, Saint Possession, Some Where as Me, Antarctica, Toy Matinee, Sometime Silver?

Jyri: Each one of the songs on our latest album have their own story behind them but for the most part "Happy, Death, Heaven" is a collection of work which dealt with a variety of different subjects. The main three themes on the album were emotional happiness, death and spirituality. Thus the title
of the album.

Are you influenced by books or movies or plays?

Michael: The creative process is usually sparked by something spontaneous . For me personally, it's mostly a thought out of the blue. Being a Pisces (always in the dreamy mode), there is already a manifested world of books, movies, and plays collected throughout many lifetimes for myself to slip into for a little while when I feel like being creative.

When you get the time what music do you all enjoy listening to?

Lee: Sisters, Siouxsie, Duran, Cult, etc, Old school Funk. Old New wave?? I like it all!
Jyri: I listen to a wide variety of music ranging from Classical composers such as Mauler to Industrial artists like Skinny Puppy and Wumpscutt.
Tim: I like to listen to meditative types of music tribal drums comes to mind and instrumental music.

Your music has many styles of sound. To people who may not of heard Tri-State Killing Spree how would you describe your sound to them?

Lee: We take a very orchestrated approach to underground music. Our music is very passionate and people can feel emotion in our work. This alone sets us aside from the average main stream band out there.

What is the subculture like in Seattle?

Sean: I believe Seattle is presently where LA found itself eight years ago after the Glam, heavy metal era ended with the grunge scene. LA found itself in disarray then as I find that Seattle has lost itself now. As for an
underground scene in Seattle, there is a Goth presence here, but unlike many other cities I have lived and visited, the majority seems to be very cliquish like a soap opera. They tend to lounge at their tables sipping
cheap wine and expresso during shows. Also many of the great venues and clubs, which featured and supported Industrial and Goth bands have closed down in the past six/eight months. This only adds to the disarray of the music scene as a whole.

What has the response been like for Happy Death Heaven?

Mike: It has been great! We find that people are moved by listening to our music.

You had an interesting method of production for Happy Death Heaven would you be able to tell me a little bit more about it.

Sean: Well, due to the lack of financial backing, the album was recorded in our own studio; which seriously lacked the sophisticated equipment of high-end studios. We recorded the entire album using no punch ins or outs without compromising the over-all quality of the release. I have to say
though, that we don't ever want to do this again!

Jyri: The cool thing was that we were able to create somewhat of a spontaneous, "live" feel to the whole album. You can hear the exhaustion, sadness, and ecstasy that we all felt at the time.

I was impressed with the album's artwork and also the artwork for the web page. Who designed the artwork for both and what Mediums and Methods were used to produce the work?

Jyri: We were working with a friend of the band named Dave Kadzielewski at that time! David is an incredible graphic artist. I am unsure of the details of how he is able to create "the magic" but I do know he utilizes mass textures and layers of artwork! With many of the ideas circulating between the band and David, he was able to create a "dream-like" feeling to our album!

Where have you toured, are you planning any up and coming tours?

Lee: We were working on a west-coast tour; however, we came to the conclusion that it was just too expensive to do without finical backing! The majority of the clubs in the LA (which is where we wanted to focus most
of our attention) are pay to play venues! Everyone wants to play in LA so the club owners have started charging the bands to perform! It’s really screwed up but then thatz LA!

Tim: We are currently working back in the studio with a well known co-producer (whom I am not at liberty to disclose, as of yet) recording new and improved material.

What was it like to perform with such bands as Delerium, Kristy Thirst, The Church, and Written in Ashes?

Sean: -Its always a blast performing live, no matter who we play with; however, performing with national acts is always a tad bit more exciting!

Jyri: I have been friends with "Written In Ashes" for years. They are always a blast to play with and I have always enjoyed my friendship with them. They are just good people!...but don't tell them I said that!

What gigs did you enjoy the most and what was the audience response?

Tim: One of the most memorable experiences we had was playing with The Church last fall here in Seattle. It was a real privilege to share the stage with a musical icon.

Have there been at any gigs in which you have not so much enjoyed?

Lee: Yes but I'd rather not mention those people names or business'. Lol!

Mike: Well like ever band, you have really good shows and you have really bad ones!

Tim: Yes, but that is when you have to realize that it is all for fun anyway!

Is there anything special incorporated within your performances?

Tim: There is so much intensity live. Playing in front of people is what We love doing. Hearing applause, seeing the eyes of a crowd and sharing emotions with them is orgasmic.

When you have a performance what goes through your mind when you are on That stage. What is it that you feel? What sort of emotions do you go through when the eyes of the audience are on you?

Lee: King of the world, my dick is ten feet long!!!! LOL! Seriously, it's hard to describe. Every heartbreak, triumph, victory, loss everything. An emotional bleeding. I become a ifferent person. Its Hard to describe where I go and who I become when I'm onstage.

What memorable experiences have you had when touring?

Lee: Different Sights, sounds, and meeting new people. Finding out about different Goth scenes in other parts of the country. Certain record, clothing stores etc.

In which countries do you receive the most response from?

Jyri: We have been receiving radio and club play throughout the United States, Russia, Netherlands, Germany, UK, Spain and Australia (not to mention the countries I can't think of off the top of my head) but since we have never had the chance to actually tour over in these other countries, it is hard to say! We have received great response across the US, especially on the East Coast!

What are your future plans?

Sean: Our current plan is to continue to establish a wider audience base. Not going mainstream pop shit, but through better distribution and business administration, we can reach a wider, larger audience and touch more people that way!

Is there anything you would like to say to the readers out there?

Mike: We wanted to introduce Lee Tillman, our new addition to 3SKS. Lee is playing bass and guitar with us and is an inspiration and awesome addition to the group!
Jyri: I wanted to mention that we have actually been using the name of 3SKS, instead of Tri-State Killing spree, for marketing purposes lately and I believe we will continue to move in that direction. We now have a new web site, which will reflect that: http://www.3sks.com we also have mp3's for your listening pleasure at: http://www.mp3.com/3sks and our CD is available for purchase on line at: http://www.cdnow.com
Tim : Thank you to all of our supportive fans! We couldn't do it with out you!