Interview With Roger Of The Most Brutal Band Ever Mortician

Roger, I must say first off that it is an honor to be able to interview you. I know that you are really busy and i thank you for taking time out to do this for me.

1) Who are some of your major influences when it comes to guitar playing?

RJB) Everyone from Jimi to Stevie Ray, Yngwie to Eddie, Trey to Terrence, etc. I really find it essential to draw influences from everywhere, stupid jingles, elevator music, noises. Anything that can spark a neuron and make you write something is cool to me. I also never really try to get too into anything, otherwise I find you get too influenced. It also all depends on the project what mode you're in.

2) How did you come about joining Mortician?

RJB) The old story... Will and I were friends back in the 80's and knew each other from where I worked at the Yonkers flea market. When he needed a guitar player, he asked if I was interested and I told him I'd help him out temporarily. We went on to record Mortal Massacre and I just ended up staying with the band.

3) What is your favorite Mortician Song To Play Live?

RJB) That's a tough one. For years I really liked playing Cremated because it is such a slammy mosh song that gets the crowd going and that is what it is all about for me. I dig reaction in the pit and if I can I like to get in there for that song myself if it's a small enough club. Embalmed Alive is also one of my favorites to play, on drums as well as guitar for the chaos factor. Lately though I'm into Rampage.

4) How long have you been playin guitar and drums? Have you ever played
Bass for anyone?

RJB) I started playing guitar technically at 8 but was forced into it by my mom because my dad was a guitar player. He grew up with some of the guys from kiss and Aerosmith and those guys at Roosevelt High School in Yonkers and after he died my mom wanted me to follow musically. Being forced into it I wasn't really into it, I was more a computer nerd at the time, still am majorly. I was into rock music growing up but was also into science and basic programming. I didn't really take guitar seriously until I was about 13-14. I started with a BC Rich Warlock, drum machine and a four track. I've played bass on many side projects and most of the actually Mortician recordings and all my solo projects.

5) Is there any other band you have played in or currently playing with?

RJB) I was in Malignancy on drums for years but left recently because of the lack of time to fully devote to the project. I also have three side projects: Prosthetic Cunt, Primitive Brutality and GRIND.bot I always think it's better to start new projects for other musical ideas than try to morph a band into something it's not. Bands that drastically change style drive me nuts.

6) What instrument brands do you prefer to use?

RJB) BC Rich, Line 6, Old Crate, Tama, Zildian, Sabian, D'Addario and Steinberg. And I don't even make a dime for saying that, that's what I buy and own.

7) There seems to be alot of bands out there that try to take the Mortician sound and make
it their own. What are you feelings on that?

RJB) I'm down with all metal and it's growth. There's only one Mortician and it will always be that way. There can be plenty of other similar bands but they are all unique in their own way. I like the idea of making people think differently musically. Mortician was definitely one of the first bands to play so detuned, ultra-fast, with a drum machine and so close to the noise barrier. If things we do make other people try it then that's cool that they can really get the same feeling I do when I play or create the music. I don't write music for anyone but me really anyway and the feeling I get when writing/playing. That other people dig it is awesome. I actualy love it when they hate it too.

8) I know you are a HUGE Star Wars Fan. But what are some of your favorite Horror Films?

RJB) Texas Chainsaw, The Devil's Rejects, Night of the Living Dead series', etc.

9) What do you do in you spare time when not playing Metal? Hobbies?

RJB) I spend most my time running my companies PrimitiveRecordings.com, DomainsUnlimited.com, GetShirtsPrinted.com and soon DeathMetalTV.com, BeneathTheUnderground.com and TachyonMedia.com. I am a workaholic to the extreme. Most people go home after work. I am at home when I work and it never ends until I sleep. When I do take a break lately it's been writing GRIND.bot songs or just listening to nothing and getting stoned while drinking chocolate coffee, best way to simmer down the brain from thinking in too many directions. I also dig travel, I'm heading to Amsterdam again next week for the weekend. Soon I'll be converting my lifestyle to completely mobile and I will just travel and run the companies remotely via satellite.

10) What's your feeling on the whole mp3 or bootleg trading on the Internet?

RJB) I think it really hurts bands that are trying to make a dollar. Money should get to the artist eventually if that is what they are aiming for. If there is no money, there is no budget for bands to buy shirts, travel, finance a tour, etc. So stealing music and never buying metal will ultimately lead to what we have the beginings of now; Tons of bands and no tours. That is all well and good if you want the scene to consist of millions of internet fans that support you by checking out your website and never buy anything or go out of their house. I am working on several projects that will help get more money to the artists directly by bypassing the labels and distribution houses. Nowadays bands need to rely on shirts to make money because their music is stolen. That is how GetShirtsPrinted.com was created, out of necessity. You can't download a shirt... yet!

11) Do you ever miss the old tape trading days?

RJB) YES!!! It was so fun and gritty back in the day. The zines and everything ruled. I think the internet is great but it's so massive, dispersed and dificult to navigate for metal. In the day there were maybe a couple of dozen top zines and you knew what was going on. Now the scene is so huge we need the internet though and print is just undoable to stay current.

12) What's in your CD player? What do you listen too the most?

RJB) Regurgitate, Bob Log III, Rompeprop, John Williams, Crumsuckers, CBT, Possessed. Just the current stuff this week, but it changes often.

13) How do you feel about the whole NYDM scene? And How much are you involved into the scene?

RJB) I'm down with the NYDM and proud of what Will has built. I don't do too much affiliated with NYDM because I've kinda been doing my thing for the past 20 years helping the scene. I guess eveything I do can be considered affiliated because of who I am but I see the scene as one big brotherhood. The NYDM is a great way to organize and find true metal brothers though so I support it.

14) Do you think cover art is just as important as the music? If so give some reasons why?

RJB) Yes! I hate when a band just slaps together some photo of a dead whore and calls it their cover. It just implies a lack of effort to me. Your cover should say as much as your music. So in that respect I can see why some choose to re-use an autopsy pic. It's kinda like reality TV. There's so much of it that real TV shows with stories and concepts are dissapearing and real actors have less work. I like to see thoughtfull creative artwork. I get the same buzz like when you hear new music from new art.

15) Do you have a website or link so people can get more info or merch from the band?

RJB) See links above.

16) Which bands do you enjoy playin music for the most? Mortician/Prostetic Cunt/Grindbot

RJB) GRIND.bot! Mainly because it is my most recent. I'm all about what I'm currently doing vs. older material.

17) Is there anything else you would like to add to this interview?

RJB) Thanks much for the opportunity and for the great questions. Keep doing your part for the scene with great interviews. For all the metalheads out there STAY BRUTAL and turn someone on to something new!!!!

18) What can we expect from Mortician in the future?

RJB) New split with Dead Infection in a few months with support shows in various US cities to follow. We'll work on a full length later in the year. Sam Inzerra will be playing live drums on the split.

19) Any last statements?

RJB) Smoke weed, listen to everything, sleep, drink coffee, travel, support the scene and STAY FUCKING BRUTAL!!!!!