| 1. How did the band get started? How did you meet
and how long have you been together? Ryan McCombs: It all got started When Adam (Zadel), Tim (King) and Tom (Schofield) started writing some music that varied from the style of tunes that they were playing at the time. Music that just came with ease and was simply natural. Shawn (Glass) was a long time friend and liked what he heard coming from them and after some talks started jamming along. I (Ryan McCombs) was contacted awhile down the road and after some time had passed hooked up and two weeks later we were in a studio recording our first demo which was then picked up by Olympic records and released as our first EP, what we refer to as the worm disc. 2. How would you describe your music? Ryan McCombs: A friend of mine put it this way, " Take the real 80's rock, before the puss-ass glam shit, and imagine what it would have turned into by itself had it not been for grunge, thrash or any of the other music trends that left it behind. Now add todays tones and power and you have SOIL." 3. What are your biggest influences? Ryan McCombs: We all grew up on various forms of music, form Motley Crue to Venom. I myself was raised on bands such as Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and even the Grateful Dead. They were the bands, to name a few, that my Dad and brother listened to as I was growing up. So they were my first real influences. 4. What influence do you think your bands has in music and metal today? Ryan McCombs: It's been kind of funny for me because I have viewed things from a different seat than the rest of the guys. I heard all the comments from the others friends who were into hard core, or death that our music was pussed out, And now I see these same people at our shows, still coming out, and now when you talk to them, a lot of them are starting bands or side projects that they describe as "kinda like you guys ya know... more rock type feel". I wouldn't go as far as to say we influenced anyone, and I really don't care to. We do what we do cause it makes us happy which should be the only reason to do anything someone does. 5. What made you want to be in the band? And if you weren't in the band what would you be doing now? Ryan McCombs: I saw 4 other talented musicians that were every bit as serious as I was. Not to cut on anyone I have played with in the past but for every serious musician I have played with there has been 5 whining little bitches waiting for the music world to pat them on their backs, wipe their rears and sit them on a throne of respect. If you want to earn a dream, make it music. I have more respect for musicians that have made it than just about anything else. It is a hard ass road to walk and most of the time you have to crawl. There is someone around every corner waiting to tear you down or trip you up and for the most part every Metallica, Aerosmith or Korn out there has paid their dues and then some, they have eaten the dirt and kissed the foul ass to taste their dreams and they deserve every bit of the respect they get. SOIL is no were near where we want to be, but we love doing what we do and that makes it worth it. For every band that makes it to the promised land there is 100,000 that end up where we are or worse. If i weren't a member of SOIL I would still be back home in Indiana playing in a band back there. It's in my blood and I'll probably die trying to realize this dream. 6. Are any band members in side projects? If so what are they, and explain a little about them. Ryan McCombs: No, Soil is a 24/7 band for all of us. 7. How would you feel if a band took their sound from yours and became very well known? Ryan McCombs: Congrats... In this day and age there is no such thing as an original band or sound it's all been done time after time. Why do you think every review you read on a band compares them to other bands. it's almost the year 2000... It's all been done before. 8. What current bands do you like or respect? Ryan McCombs: Skinlab!!!!! Big time respect goes out to Paul, Steev, Snake and Scott. They are the real deal and deserve all the success in the world. Also I would have to say Rebels Without Applause, Yeah Right and any of the "where are they now bands that are still out there beating the path because it's what they love to do. 9. How many demos/albums do you have? Tell me about them!! -AND- 10. What demo/album do you like the best? Ryan McCombs: Playing a lot of shows as we have been, we come into possession of a lot of demos from a lot of bands. Not a slight on the bands involved but it is rare that a demo really catches my attention. This would mainly be due to the fact that unlike a lot of musicians I'm not really up on staying within the music scene. I love music, but when you write it and perform it day in and day out the last thing I want to do is listen to it in my spare time. I am a big fan of talk radio, believe it or not, mainly sports talk... FOOTBALL!!!! There has been a couple of bands though that have really hit my interests. "Yeah Right" out of Iowa has a killer demo titled "New Era". The band is tight and the vocalist Rinat RULZ!!!! Also "The Goodyear Pimps" has a good demo out. As far as my own album collection goes I don't purchase many albums since I don't listen to music to often but "Skinlab" has a fairly new one titled "disembody/The New Flesh" which is worth the cash and then some. I also like "Jewel", Tori Amos though if asked again I may have to deny it. 11. What is the meaning behind the songs? Ryan McCombs: Ours or theirs? Ours life, theirs the same. If the music doesn't sound honest then I don't have an interest in it. A lot of big bands are writing party songs right now that really makes me want to puke. Music is a gateway to a persons soul and music that comes across that way will find itself in my collection. 12. What are the bands favorite songs? Ryan McCombs: Ours?.... Everything and F-hole . Mine Rd 2 Ruin and Crucified. Others?.... I have no clue to be honest. 13. What does the future hold for the band? Ryan McCombs: If I knew that, I wouldn't be the miserable stress ball that I am. People around us seem to really believe in us and think there's good things coming but I always expect the worse. That's what life has given me thus far. (excluding Jaydon, my son, my everything.) 14. If you could play with any band who would it be and why? Ryan McCombs: Any band that consists of human beings instead of big headed, full of themselves jackass'. I personally would love to play with some of the greats like Aerosmith, Metallica, etc. A couple of others would be Pride and Glory (mainly to see Zack Wylde play all night), Stuck Mojo and Godsmack. 15. Who writes the majority of the music? Ryan McCombs: We all have our part. Shawn and Adam write most of the riffs and Tim comes up with a few goodies. I would have to admit though, even though he would play it down, Adam is the chief writer. He is the one that takes this riff or that one and makes it what you will end up hearing. I handle a lot of the arrangement and Tom keeps us all in the song together. 16. Who has been the favorite band you’ve played with and why? Ryan McCombs: "SKINLAB" Without a doubt. They are intense live and they are the ideal band to be on the road with. REAL human beings. A group of guys I'm proud to call friends that I also respect musically as much if not more than any other band I have ever met. If you haven't realized it yet I REALLY like these guys. 17. Where did you get the band name from? Ryan McCombs: Shawn came up with it and I'll leave it at that. A lot of people like it cause they say it doesn't classify us but personally I can't say I care for it. SOIL=dirt....wow. It is better that I didn't have a say or it would probably be some dumb ass word that no one can pronounce because I like the meaning. 18. Describe what the band is like live? Ryan McCombs: Different. People say we are a extremely different live. The live side of us is what allows us to play with rock, Hard core, Industrial or stoner rock bands. We just really go off. Adam, Shawn and Tim perform live like there may never be another show again and their letting all of the shit out while they can. In my case I have to keep moving as not to get ran over. 19. If you are gonna do any kind of video what would be in it? Ryan McCombs: For me something that means something, that opens the door on a subject that others prefer to leave closed. Make you think type video. 20. Are there any touring plans made; if so tell me about them? Ryan McCombs: There is a couple of things in the air right now and the way the bottom tends to slip on things, I prefer not to say anything until it's etched in stone. When I know something I'd be more than happy to send the word. 21. Where do you think the band will be 20 years from now? Ryan McCombs: Going to see my boy play college ball. Other than that I don't really care. All a person can do is work on living the best he or she can. Like it or not shit just happens, sometimes it's good... a lot of times it sucks. I love music, but I can't control what will happen in that aspect of my life, I can just try my hardest and then we'll see where SOIL ends up. hopefully the guys and gals out there will give us a shot and hopefully they'll like what they hear.The people reading this are the ones with the power. They are the ones that will end up deciding where we end up. We can only do what we can do... Play music that matters to us... |
