Interview with JP Brown Guitarist for Hellwitch

Hailz JP and thanks for doing the interview.

You have been in Hellwitch on and off close to 12 years now. Where does the band now stand in comparison to when you first joined?
HELLWITCH IS MORE FOCUSED NOW. IT'S A TEAM EFFORT NOW.

How did you first come into joining them?
I ANSWERED AN AD IN THE LOCAL RAG MAG FOR A BASS PLAYER. I TOLD PAT THAT I REALLY DIDN’T PLAY BASS BUT I WAS DEFINITELY THE BEST GUITAR PLAYER HE WOULD EVER HEAR!!! LITTLE DID I KNOW PAT WAS THE GUITAR PLAYER!!!! HE INVITED ME UP TO TEACH ME A LESSON…AND HE DID.

In 1997, the ‘Witch called it quits until the Halloween show of 1998. What was the reason for all of you to get together?
DEICIDE!! WE ALL WANTED TO PLAY A SHOW WITH DEICIDE!!!

I understand that Glen Benton had chosen the bands he wanted to open that night. Was this true and how did it take place?
I’M NOT SURE WHO PICKED THE LINE-UP THAT NIGHT. I DO KNOW THAT I GOT TO MEET THE HOFFMAN BROTHERS BACKSTAGE!!! IT WAS A BIG MOMENT FOR ME.

According to the band’s site, Hellwitch remained inactive until 2004. Did you guys remain apart actually for that long?
YEAH… I LIVED IN ORLANDO FROM 98 UNTIL NOVEMBER 2006. PAT AND I KEPT IN TOUCH THROUGH THE YEARS. I BELIEVE CRAIG AND PAT USED TO PLAY TENNIS TOGETHER TOO.

In what sense do you feel Hellwitch has changed since you becoming a member?
THERE’S MORE MELODY NOW. THERE IS MORE TWO AND THREE PART HARMONIES. IT’S MORE AGGRESSIVE NOW.

The band’s trademark sound has always been influenced by speed thrash. How different of an outlook is the style now?
IT’S THE SAME. IF THERE IS ONE ABSOLUTE IN THIS UNIVERSE IT’S THAT PATRICK RANIERI HASN’T CHANGED!!!! I THINK THIS BAND IS ACTUALLY FASTER AND MORE AGGRESSIVE NOW THAN IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO!!!

The 2005 promo was just totally incredible. Does the quality of this promo reflect the present state of the band and the wish to keep on the good fight?
HELL YES!!!!! WE’RE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE LOVE IT!! THE FASTER, THE HARDER, THE MORE EVIL, THE BETTER!!!

A bit ago there was saying that Hellwitch was taking on a 35 or 40 dates tour earlier this Summer. Was this bullshit?
NO….WE HAD PLANNED ON A NATIONAL TOUR IN ’05. THE PROMOTER CALLED 14 DAYS BEFORE THE KICK OFF DATE DEMANDING A LARGER CUT OF OUR “GAS MONEY�. SINCE THERE WAS NONE TO BEGIN WITH AND WE REALLY DIDN’T FEEL LIKE TAKING AN EXTENDED HIATUS IN THE CENTER OF THE MOJAVE, WE DECLINED.

Concerning the actual shows that you played in Alabama and Louisiana how did that go?
I’M NOT SURE HELLWITCH PLAYED IN LOUISIANA. IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY, JOE DESTROYED HIS HANDS RIGHT BEFORE THOSE SHOWS.

THE HELLFIRE MANIFEST IN ALABAMA WAS GREAT! I LOST 4 TIRES, AND ACTUALLY MET SOMEONE THAT WATCHES GIRLS FUCK TREES!!!! IT WAS REALLY SOMETHING ELSE! THE FANS AND THE PROMOTER WERE TERRIFIC.

Hellwitch is undeniably still on an underground level as it was since its inception. On a collective way, how much longer does the band want to continue?
WE DON’T HAVE A TIMELINE SET UP. I THINK WERE JUST HAPPY DOING WHAT WERE DOING. I’M SURE WE WILL PLAY AS LONG AS WE CAN PHYSICALLY CONTINUE TO.

Florida did have its heyday with great bands, some of which have made a comeback. Does it feel a bit infuriating to see bands that have been gone for years like Atheist, make a comeback and play Wacken in Holland without having put up as much effort as Hellwitch has?
NO…I LOVE METAL AND I’M GLAD THAT KIDS WILL SEE SOME OF THIS STUFF. IT LOOKED LIKE FOR A TIME THERE, NO ONE KNEW WHAT METAL WAS ANYMORE. I REMEMBER MEETING KIDS THAT HAD NEVER HEARD OF DEATH METAL! DO I WISH THAT I WAS PLAYING WACKEN…HELL YESSSS!! I’M GLAD THAT THERE IS A RESURGENT INSTEREST IN OLD SCHOOL METAL.

Having been around for a bit, you have seen a lot of the trends that Metal has/ is living thru. What has made the band stick to its guns and not change using keyboards, abandoning its roots and going to become, let’s say a Black Metal band?
HELLWITCH HAS ALWAYS BEEN EXACTLY WHAT IT IS…AN ORIGINAL ACT. WHAT PAT CREATED WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST DEATH METAL BANDS IN HISTORY. THE LABELS AND DEFINITIONS HAVE ALL CHANGED OVER THE YEARS BUT HELLWITCH HAS REMAINED THE SAME.

ome details about this deal I hear about with Spaniard label, Xtreem Music. THERE REALLY ISN’T TOO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT. THEY’VE OFFERED TO PRODUCE AND DISTRIBUTE CD’S FOR US. WE’LL GET A CUT. THAT’S ABOUT IT.

Recently you told me that you had a guitar endorsement. How did this happen?
RICO JR. GUITARS! I FLEW UP TO CALIFORNIA 10 YEARS AGO TO VISIT BERNIE AND HIS DAD (BC RICH GUITARS). WHEN WE FINALLY DECIDED TO DO HELLWITCH AGAIN I CONTACTED HIM AND SET UP A DEAL. HE MAKES EVIL GUITARS!!!! WWW.RICOJRGUITARS.COM EXODUS, ICED EARTH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD AND DIVINE EMPIRE NOW USE HIS GUITARS AS WELL!! I’D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPURTUNITY TO ALSO PROMOTE THE OTHER COMPANIES WHO HAVE ENDORSED ME THIS LAST YEAR: ENGL AMPS, EMG PICKUPS, CELESTION SPEAKERS, KAHLER TREMELOS, AND ISP TECHNOLOGIES. I’M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE PLAYING ONLY WHAT I WANT TO PLAY!

What is the present day situation with Hellwitch? Any offers from other labels to you based on the 2005 promo yet which could be better than Xtreems?
WE ARE JUST CONTINUING TO DO WHAT WE DO AND IF AN OFFER COMES OUR WAY, WE’LL CONSIDER IT AND MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHAT’S BEST FOR THE BAND.

So Metal Maniac magazine got you in one of their recent issues. What was that about?
WE WERE IN THE TOP 5 EDITORS PLAY LIST. WE WE’RE ALSO MENTIONED IN TERRORIZER AS ONE OF THE FIRST DEATH METAL BANDS IN HISTORY. I BELIEVE BERNIE RICO MENTIONED US IN AN INTERVIEW WITH HIT PARADER.

The band will also be opening for Cannibal Corpse on 7 December. Will this be a sign that more frequent shows will continue?
I CERTAINLY HOPE SO!! WE ARE THRILLED TO BE PLAYING WITH CANNIBAL!!

What was it that made you want to play guitar at first and who were your favorite influences?
I WAS ONE PISSED OFF KID!!! METALLICA AND MEGADETH SOUNDED PISSED! THAT’S WHAT I WANTED TO DO. AS FAR AS INFLUENCES: DAVE MUSTAINE, JAMES HETFIELD, TREY AZAGATHOTH, KERRY KING, JEFF HANNENMAN, MILLI (KREATOR), CHUCK SCHULDINER (DEATH), SEPULTURA, CARCASS, PESTILENCE, MERCYFUL FATE, CORONER, AND MALEVOLENT CREATION. PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING THAT WAS ORIGINAL AND KILLED. YOU SHOULD KNOW GEORGE…YOU GAVE ME MY FIRST MORBID ANGEL CASSETTE!!!!

Self taught or studied under someone?
I’M SELF TAUGHT BUT I THINK IT’S A FAIR ASSESMENT TO SAY I STUDIED UNDER PATRICK RANIERI!!!!

I know you were a big time Megadeth fan at one point. What drew you into Mustaine’s work?
IT WAS TOTALLY ORIGINAL. NOTHING EVER DID OR HAS SOUNDED LIKE DAVE’S FIRST TWO ALBUMS!! IT WAS TECHNICAL AND AWESOME IN A TOTALLY ORIGINAL WAY! I LOVED HIS SINISTER WHINE TOO!!! IT STILL KILLS!!!

How is Metal in general to you these days?
IT’S AWESOME TO SEE ALL OF THESE OLDER BANDS GETTING TOGETHER RIGHT NOW. THERE IS SUCH A RESURGENCE IN METAL RIGHT NOW. KIDS CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF IT!

In your own words, how talented is Hellwitch. WOW!! WHAT A FUCKING QUESTION!!! I’D SAY WE’RE, AT THE LEAST, FAIRLY COMPETENT…BUT MORE THAN LIKELY, WE KILL!!! TALENTED, I THINK SO.

How are your solos for songs written and who does most of the song writing?
PAT HAS PLAYED ALL THE SOLOS IN THIS BAND TO DATE. AS FAR AS HOW HE WRITES THEM…I DON’T KNOW. AS FAR AS THE SONGWRITING GOES, CRAIG, PAT AND I ALL WRITE RIFF AFTER RIFF AND THEN JUST START FIGURING OUT WHAT GOES WITH WHAT. IT’S A VERY CONCERTED EFFORT AND IT REALLY DOES TAKE US QUITE A BIT OF TIME.

As Far as I know, HW has never done a cover song live or on record. Am I wrong?
YES. WE COVERED SWEET HOME ALABAMA AT THE HELLFIRE MANIFEST SHOW THIS YEAR (IN ALABAMA). IF ALL GOES WELL WE WILL BE COVERING KILLERS FROM IRON MAIDEN ON THE UPCOMING ALBUM!!!

You were living in Central Florida for a few years and still maintained your spot as a member of HW. Tell me about what kept you going the extra mile (literally) to still be in the band and what keeps you there now.
IT’S FUN!!! HELLWITCH IS SOMETHING THAT IS TRUE AND ORIGINAL. IT HASN’T BEEN DILUTED BY TIME OR TRENDS. IT’S GOOD TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING SO HONESTLY BRUTAL!

Hellwitch, like many other bands, has seen it share of people come and go. Some of which even terminated their liking to Metal (as in the case of Joel Suarez AKA “chickenboy� – I know he hates to be called that). How strong is this line up and will it continue to stand the test of time?
I HOPE SO!! WE’RE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY SO I CAN’T SEE THAT GETTING IN THE WAY!!!

Some years ago, there was a possibility of the band having done a release with a label called “Conquistador� from somewhere in Europe. What’s the story behind it?
WE HAD A DEAL AND IT WAS SIGNED. WE WERE PREPARING TO RECORD BACK IN ‘97 I BELIEVE. I THINK IT WAS A GUY IN GERMANY NAMED HARTMUS. WE HAD BOOKED THE TIME IN MORRISOUND AND 1 WEEK BEFORE WE WERE SCHEDULED TO GO IN THE MONEY “DISAPPEARED IN INTERNATIONAL MAIL�.

Now, in terms of composing music, what is the way you guys compose?
WE ALL COME IN WITH RIFFS AND THROW THEM AGAINST THE WALL. WE KEEP WHATEVER STICKS.

Is Patrick composing all the lyrics or is it something that other members have a hand in?
DEFINITELY PATRICK!!!!

Back in Summer ’05, Gus Rios (Malevolent Creation, former Kult Ov Azazel) locked you all up and molded the 2005 Promo. Tell me about these sessions.
I THINK IT WAS WE WHO DID ALL THE MOLDING!!!!! POOR GUS!!! I THINK HE WAS ABOUT TO HAVE AN ANUERISM AT ONE POINT! WE SCHEDULED A WEEKEND IN HIS STUDIO AND RECORDED THE SONGS IN ABOUT 4 DAYS. WE DIDN’T HAVE ANY MONEY SO IT WAS ALL ON THE FLY. WE DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO RECORD WITH A METRONOME. MISTAKES HAD TO STAY. VOCAL TRACKS WERE, FOR THE MOST PART, FIRST TAKES. THERE WASN’T ANY PRODUCING AND VERY LITTLE EQ’ING DONE. ON TOP OF THAT, WE ARE AN INCREDIBLY DEMANDING BAND IN THE STUDIO. ALL IN ALL, GUS DID A FANTASTIC JOB CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Hellwitch still performs older material live. Since I know you are more of a technical player, have there been any changes to how the versions you play are in comparison those from the late 80’s and mid 90’s?
I ADDED SOME HARMONIES TO A COUPLE OF OLDER SONGS. FOR THE MOST PART, I LEAVE THE OLD MATERIAL EXACTLY THE WAY PAT INTENDED IT TO BE.

Florida’s Metal scene was pretty much like a Iraqi market place, busy at one time then, the shit bombed and got abandoned- like other so called “Metal hotspots, Sweden, NY…) Your thoughts?
 IT’S ALL IN CYCLES. METAL’S POPULARITY HAS BEEN INCREASING THE LAST FEW YEARS AND I EXPECT IT WILL REACH A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL.