If you were to take a dive into the underground of all that the Greek scene has to offer, it wouldn’t be long until you would start to see a person that keeps coming around over and over again albeit under different monikers. Far more recognized in the world of black metal with the magnificent entity that is Dødsferd, true talent for music is something that can rarely stay pinned and satisfied within one genre with all the opportunities and possibilities that are out there ripe for the taking.
In one of his lesser-known acts, Drunk Motherfuckers, a different route was clearly taken from the very start of the band with an attitude that lends credence to the idea of the eternal party where the beer flows like rivers for all time, and it’s with such talent in tow that the band has managed to achieve a sound that’s quite hard in such a style that’s done with such a mindset. Recently, the band has released the long-awaited EP of “Dead End” that gives us a new glimpse into what the band is still capable of even after a nine-year silence.
Graciously, the vocalist, Father W, was available to answer some questions of mine as I’ve always wanted to pick his brain for some time now, and what better time than when one of his bands has put out yet another album that I couldn’t help but find myself neck-deep in? I hope you will find the conversation as enjoyable as I did, and I cannot implore you enough to check out not just “Dead End” but all that Father W and his fellow bandmates have put out up to now. Truly, they’re all a driving force in keeping the Greek scene the wonderland that it is.
- Anyone who knows you knows that you cover a vast swathe of what metal has been able to accomplish in the last twenty years, but it is definitely with Drunk Mfs that I think we have one of the more outlandish acts to come from you. How did you come about being a part of this band with it being so different? I created Drunk Motherfukers back in 2009 after the Drunk Earth split up a year before.
Drunk Motherfuckers were created under the ashes of the Drunk Earth, a band that I created also in 2004, some years later after the creation of my whole world, the world of Dødsferd. Two different bands, but with the same philosophy and attitude towards humanity and their pathetic views of life! I created Drunk Motherfuckers in order to express feelings I couldn’t do it with my other bands and projects; an underground band with a provocative name and attitude, messing with the brainless masses and their trends. All our live performances were like a broken bottle in the face of the followers of the trends and the ones with the “I wanna be a rock star” attitude!!! I had a very clear message and I still do; I am not willing to make any discount on my vision.
2. In my experience, there has always been a stigma against rock/metal of your sort where it does nothing but glorify alcohol and an attitude of “the eternal party” even though I’ve never understood why it could ever be a bad thing. Have you ever seen people give the band a hard time for being such an act, and how do you feel about people who do simply because of the subject material?
Alcohol, drugs, irony, violence, and everything that stands against the preservatives masses, are the “heroes” of my lyrics since the early days of my bands, the Drunk Earth and Drunk Motherfuckers later. Rock ’n’ Roll is not for everyone. We do not create such an uncompromising art in order to earn money, to please the masses, or be the next rock stars! You do your best in order to spread your message and always be loyal to your vision. A lot of bands that we started together here in Greece, either disappeared, or they changed their messages in order to be approved by the majority of people and of course, live the dream. That’s not Rock attitude. Labels, festivals have understood how stupid the masses are and the only thing they offer is more of disrespect to this uncompromising art; they have transformed it into a circus of irrelevant kids, the kids of nowadays. So these kinds of people have created only negative vibes, which we ignored and never cared for their existence!
3. Before the release of “Dead End”, it had been damn near ten years since the band had released their first album, “…and Alcohol for All”. What was it that brought you all back together?
When we terminated our activities with Drunk Motherfuckers, we always knew that we still had a lot of things to offer, firstly to ourselves and secondly to our dedicated followers. So it was a matter of time, to get back together and record this new EP of songs, that we were performing them live along with the older songs before we split up. We had a debt to ourselves and to our vision! We have fulfilled it in a way.
4. You have numerous acts of all kinds like I said, and many would find that difficult, especially with the vast difference between many of the bands. Did you find your other projects bleeding into the production of this latest effort, or is it pretty seamless for you to separate them all?
They must be different; otherwise, there would be no meaning to creating a new project, if it is similar to already existing bands, projects of mine. I have a lot of things to say, but not in the same way. I cooperate with musicians that each of them fit in the band, project I want to express at the period of time I need to. Even in Dødsferd, you can see a different approach on each of my releases; that would be production, style of music, but in a way that could fit and take my band to a new level; to turn the page of my diary of life. This is my music!!!
5. You are single-handedly one of the more eclectic musicians that have made their base in the Greek underground for the better part of this century so far. Looking out amongst your contemporaries, would you say that the Greek metal scene is healthy and going in a good direction, or would you say otherwise?
Thank you very much for your words!!! I really feel honored by them and your valuable, nonstop support!!! For years I was trying to create my own scene, cause I never felt that I belonged to the existing one. Especially, how it has evolved. And I am finally doing it with the creation of my label, FYC Records. It’s a family with bands and individuals sharing my vision and my thirst to differ from the masses and their likings. It’s an underground movement, working and bleeding for the underground scene!
6. I don’t have to tell you that many bands change their sound or even their style overall over time every now and then. Would you ever think about maybe taking the sound of Drunk Mfs into a different direction, or are you quite content to keep this band’s sound virtually the same?
I have a certain vision; certain voices to listen to carefully and heal through my music. The same goes for the other members of Drunk Motherfuckers. If that means to change our style, then Drunk Motherfuckers would end their activities and a new band – project would be created. We are changing as people, but this change is in a way that serves our own existence, not the others. I do not follow also specific recipes, so if we continue this band, only time will show our state of mind and the road we are going to follow. 
7. Going forward for yourself, personally, where do you see yourself going from here? You have plenty of other bands under your belt that you could do anything with, but what band of yours do you think that we’ll be hearing from you next? Personally, I’m always ready for a new Dødsferd, but I’m quite keen to see what else can be done with Gin Lane.
During this period of time, I am recording the new album of Dødsferd; it’s a procedure really soul-destroying for me every time I record a new release for this uncompromising band. And this time is heavier than before! Gin Lane’s preproduction for the debut full album, is also ready. But I will have to complete the recordings of Dødsferd before I enter the studio to record the album. Drunk Motherfuckers have just returned from the dead and only future will show if we are going to continue or not. Last, the recordings of a new project of mine with m.Sarvok have been completed, as also mixing and mastering, and by the end of the year, it will be released on various formats. The name of it is G.N.L.S. (Geometric Nictation of Lament’s Space). A single of it, “Vulnerable Secret” has been uploaded on the official Youtube Channel of Dødsferd / FYC Records. I am also working on my second book. There is no rest for me. And I am glad that there isn’t.
8. In the promotional material for “Dead End”, it was made surprisingly apparent that this was going to be the final release from Drunk Mfs as we know it. Is that a set-in-stone statement or is there a possibility that we will see another resurrection?
We have just released our brand new EP. Time will show if we reached a Dead End. But we have already started working on some new live performances and by the end of the year, I will release through FYC Records, the acoustic EP, of “Drunk & Wasted” that was self-released by the band in 666 copies in 2009. I will release It through FYC Records, re-Mastered and with a bonus unreleased song. So it seems from our activities that this may not be a set-in-stone statement. But no one knows!
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions! I’m still having a blast listening to “Dead End”, and I hope that you and your bandmates are nothing short of satisfied with what you have created.
Thank you very much, Kris! We have a lot of things to offer and say through our music!
LISTEN to “Dead End” on Bandcamp here.
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