By Charisma Say hello to the goddess of Internet radio: Charisma. Her show Charisma’s Chaos can be heard on Global Pirate Radio. Each week she brings her listeners the finest in hard rock, metal and sleaze. Now she graces our pages. This month she gets down and dirty with metal masters, Mouthful of Flies. Charisma: Fist of all congrats on the super album you made, “Ten Negative Sixes.” It kicks major ass! Dean: Yep! Thanks. We think so too. Dan: Excellent. You have fallen for our evil ploy. Charisma: (bows down) Yes masters! I have fallen completely for your evil ploy! How did you come up with the name of your band? Dean: We made a list, dug a whole in the ground, threw the list in and both pissed on it before covering it up. Six days later when we dug out the list, the words Mouthful of Flies were underlined in blood. Dan: Amen, brother. Amen. Charisma: So the musicians that create evil ploys do say, Amen? (giggles) I can already tell this is going to be fun. So tell me, When did you form your band? Dan: We still haven’t decided to call is a band – more like an experiment in sonic perversion. Dean: It’s pure insanity, bro. Writing songs is how we exercise rather than exorcise our demons. Charisma: OK! Humm. Interesting. Have you changed the bands name before? Dean: Yes, we used to be called “Smell your Mama” Dan: Pfffffhahahahaha! Charisma: What the hell? I think I need some of what Dean’s having. “Smell your Mama?” You’re killing me. Tell me about the band members. Dan: we’re going through a line-up change. Dean and I form the heart and soul of the band. In fact, we are the band at the moment. Everything you hear on “Ten Negative Sixes” was written by Dean and myself. We are responsible for everything, artwork, websites, merchandise, distributions, management and personnel. This will need to change as nobody can do it all themselves, but we have come a long way on out own steam. So any potential investors, promoters and management, please get in touch. Charisma: How did you meet? Dean: We met at a grotto in the deepest blackest heart of London. A mutual friend introduced us. Dan: Don’t mention his name. He would be pissed off. Dean: No, I don’t think he would. Dan: Trust me dude. He fucking would. Charisma: Let’s try not to piss anyone off. What’s his name? (smiles) What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Dean & Dan simultaneously: METAAAAAAL! Charisma: Of course, metal. Personally, I think you guys are amazing, and your music shreds. Do you think there is a lack of music like your genre today? Dean: Thanks Charisma. It’s always nice to hear someone say they like the music, makes us think we are doing something right (ahhah). I don’t think there is a lack of heavy metal bands, just a lack of support for heavy metal in general. Dan: You know, Dean, you’re such a polite fucker. (eyeballs Dead suspiciously for 10 seconds) I personally have no fucking idea what the world is up to. I don’t know what is happening to metal music. I don’t know where all the good bands have gone, and I do not know where all these shitty bands have come from. How in the name of fuck did we get here? I have to say, I find it had these day to discover as album that I love. There are rare moments of genius, but consumerism has meant that every band and their brother has an album or solo album out now. Music has become very inbred. Labels only seem interested in signing the next big sound-alike. We have tried to be different. We have not tried to sound like anyone else. Out music is hand-crafter and pure. It stems from a love for all things heavy. Charisma: Thanks for being polite Dean. There is a lack of support for heavy metal. I have to agree with you there. You guys are different for sure. I think it’s important to keep your music crafted and pure and not be a copycat! Who is your major influence? Dean: Iommi is GOD! Dan: I grew up listening to lots of different stuff, as did Dean. I have been all the way to weedly weedly heaven with the likes of Vai and Malmsteen and back. I had to learn to write songs, learn to structure and arrange the music. I am influenced by everything I hear, from earworms of Abba to frenetic intricacy of Zappa. Charisma: I heard frantic masturbation makes you a good musician. Is that true? Dean: What the fuck? You oughtta know dude. I hear you’re the king. Dan: Who the fuck thought up that question? Your mama? Charisma: Ok, I’ll leave that one alone. Moving on, What inspired you to make music together? Dean: Probably a musical affection for heavy metal and and undesirable taste fo the dark side. Dan: Lucifer whispered in my ear, “He’s the one.” Charisma: Where have you performed? Dean: As Mouthful of Flies, we have performed in the U.K. only so far. As a musician, I have performed all over the world, including Southern Africa. Dan: U.K. stages only so for with MoF. Several other countries with other bands, including Germany, France, Africa and Australia. Charisma: Wow! So you guys have been around. What are your favorite venues? Dean: I would love to play at London Astoria before they tear it down. Brixton Academy is cool, and Hammersmith, Apollo, Camden Underworld. (All in the U.K.) Dan: We would both love to play in the U.S. Charisma: Have you guys ever visited the U.S.? I would love to see you live. Hey, would I get a backstage pass? Also, any upcoming shows soon? Dean: Well not immediately. We are looking for a kick ass metal drummer to complete the lineup for gigging again. Charisma: What is your ultimate direction for the band? Dean: To get Mouthful of Flies into every fucking home in the world! To make a kick ass heavy metal music and party all over the world with whoever wants to party. I suppose to keep is going is a good start, keep recording songs and keep releasing them. The story must go on and hopefully Mouthful of Flies will have a long discography and many stories to tell. Dan: To promote the first album. It is tough to sell records online. We are not big enough to attract attention of major distributors, so we have chosen the Internet route. Self-promotion, Internet distribution and major download sites. Charisma: Are you seeking fame and fortune? Dean: I am already massively famous in my own circle of friends and family, but yes, it would be nice to make a living from this band and not have to work a day job. The fame sounds good, yes, but I love eating good food and living life to the fullest. So, if fame is going to bring that to my table, then bring it on. Dan: Damn right and anyone who says they are not is full of it. Charisma: What advice do you give people that want to form their own band? Dean: Don’t do it, HA, kidding. Make sure you all want the same thing for the band. That’s why it’s a band. If you want to be Axl Rose, then start a solo career. If you like the way something you are working on sounds, play it and play it proudly. For me, doing it with all honesty is the first step. Dan: Make sure you can actually play your instrument before going public please. For the sake of us all…but yes…for sure, go ahead and start a band. It will teach you invaluable lessons about life, love, creativity and people skills. Charisma: One thing I have noticed and found interesting about you is how in focus you are with the metal genre. Mouthful of Flies’s music is blistering. Did you or have you ever considered another path of music? Dean: My mom played Sabbath, Priest, Kiss, Zep and AC/DC while I was in the womb. I guess I was born into is and feel very fortunate for that. It was all metal and rock for me since day one. Thank fuck she wasn’t into the Jackson Five or something as lame as that. I have always played in rock and metal bands, and I guess I always will. I have played in one or two bands for a short while that were not rock/metal. Dan: I would love to be a great classical guitarist or a jazz pianist. I can see myself doing that for relaxation in my old age, but for now, I like it hard and loud. Charisma: How can fans gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs? Dean: www.mouthful-of-flies.com Charisma: What do you like to do in your spare time? Dean: I like eating, sex, sleeping, smoking, drinking, eating more, more sex, more smoking. I do like the outdoors too and a bit of anything that stops boredom. I suppose I like most things. Dan: Marital arts and I love cinema. I will watch just about anything. I am a movie junkie. Otherwise, I love to spend spare time with my family and friends, pretty normal on that front. Charisma: (winks at Dean) Ok, we can see who the real party animal is here. Dan on a personal note, are you into horror movie? If so, what’s your favorite? I have to ask. I love horror movies. Have you seen Hostel? Oh my Zod, those movies are sick! Love ‘em. Any last words? Dean: Yes, thank you Charisma for taking the time to interview us. Dan: Indeed. Many thanks. Keep it heavy.