BURNT BY THE SUN

Ted Patterson (bass): "The Perfect is the Enemy of the Good" is a wake up call, get up, and take a look around. Inform yourself; make your own informed decisions based on fact, not media bullshit. Find out how we got where we are.

-What are for you the main differences with 'Soundtrack to a personal revolution'?

With "Soundtrack..." we were a five piece. We were looking to create a record like "Soundtrack...". We were in that frame of mind, the steamroller, heavy, crushing state, where we just wanted to convey our feelings of heavy, aggressive music.

With "The Perfect is the Enemy of the Good", it was more of the core members of Burnt by the Sun, the four of us. We knew what we had done with our previous material, we knew where we did not want to go based on that, and this album just happened, from turning inward and looking at the band as the four of us, and becoming closer as a group.

-This record has been produced by Matt Bayles, well known for his work with Isis, Mastodon, Blood brothers and others: how and why did you choose him?

Well, we worked with Matt on "Soundtrack to the Personal revolution" and we all got along really well. We were all really satisfied with what he did with "Soundtrack..." and felt that he would do an even better job this time around.

-I suppose that, for this second album, you were more confident, musically and vocally speaking?

I don't know if you would say more confident, but we felt better as a band. We have been together longer than the last time we recorded and know what we need to do to get the job done. We all are more comfortable with each other, of course, so that make it easier if anything.

I think we knew exactly what we did not want to do on this album, which in turn made it a lot easier for us to do what we wanted this time around.

We knew what we wanted the music to be like, Mike knew what he wanted his vocals to be like, and when we got in there with Matt, we just all dug in and did it.

-What have been your influential music and bands?

Music really does not influence us, we do not listen to a record and say "let do something like that!" I think we have all be playing long enough that we have our own style and sound. Our influences are each other and our life experiences, emotion and life changing events that we have experienced. That is what dictates what we sound like.

-What bands do you feel close today?

Sonically? Dam, I don't know. I look at Burnt by the Sun as a forward moving aggressive rock band from New Jersey. Who ever wants to join my new "category" can!

-What strong themes can we find in 'The perfect...'?

On "The Perfect..." you will find Burnt by the Suns outlook on life, love, God, history, secret societies, war, and current events.

-Does the actual American and worldwide situation inspire you in terms of lyrics or is it more personal or social subjects?

I would have to say it is a little of everything. With this new album, Mike took all the discussion we have had on the road while touring, about life, love, God, politics, history, religion, and everything we discussed and made a band consensus of what Burnt by the Sun believed. From there he composed the lyrical content of "The Perfect is the Enemy of the Good". So this album is more us than anything we have done before.

-Could you tell 4 records which changed your life at one moment?

Records have not changed my life. Some of their content might have helped me make decisions in life. Music can support the person that you are, and you can identify with other peoples ideas. So, although music has been and is an important part of my life, I have to say that there is no particular record or artist that has changed my life.

-And one record to which you would have loved to participate, at any level?

Not really, I am just happy that I have had the opportunity to participate in what I have done up to this point. You're not going to get anywhere wishing that you could have done something that you didn't.

-If Burnt by the sun were a movie, which one could it be?

It would probably be some perverted hybrid of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", "Death to Smoochie", and "Time Bandits"!

-What do think of Internet as a media?

I think the Internet is one of the best things that a band can have going for them. I remember when the only way you had to get your stuff out was where ever you played and via tape trading. Now, every band can put up a website, put up some mp3's, post on message boards and literally get a GLOBAL response. This can actually happen almost over night as opposed to taking years for you to get your music out there via the old fashioned way.

-Is the website of the band important for you?

It's important, but not critical. It needs to be up to date. I go there often and check the message board and converse with the people that post there. It's great to be able to talk to people like that.

-What are your next projects?

In 2004 it's going to be all "BURNT BY THE SUN", we all have our little side projects here and there, but next year, the tours are being booked and we are getting ready to steamroll the planet!

Interview made by e-mail on 29/10/2003 by Jean Paul Coillard

Photos : DR.

Thanks to Frank Van Liempd for his precious help.