After touring their asses off with the likes of Pantera, Megadeth, Sevendust and 3 appearances on the Ozzfest, Coal Chamber has solidified a massive fan base and a sound that is contagious. Following the release of their sophomore release "Chamber Music" the band set out again for another relentless round of touring, which this summer includes the much talked about Tattoo The Earth Tour! On Wednesday, June 14, 2000, I had the pleasure to speak with Mike "Bug" Cox. He has to be the sweetest, funniest, and nicest guys I have ever met. I wasn't sure what to expect when I was waiting for him. I admit, I was super nervous. I'm usually pretty cool with interviews and what not, but I heard people comment on how Coal Chamber are such rock stars. This is so far from the truth! Even after just being in the hospital and having throat problems that could have led to tonsillitis, Mike was just so pleasant and fun to talk to. In the following interview, we talk a bit about "Chamber Music," plans for a home video, plans for a new album, The Osbourne/Management situation, some personal info, and why he's a geek. :) Read on for all the fun.
Meilani: How did the band get it's name?
Mike: Miguel liked Coal, Dez liked Chamber. I know we always wanted something that was dark, heavy sounding. It could mean it's own little thing. There's really no... it's a weird name. It doesn't really mean anything. Just something dark and heavy I guess. [laughing] Miguel and Dez are the "creators."
MG: Did you guys do anything differently while recording "Chamber Music" as opposed to the debut album?
MC: Took our time, which I think messed us up a little. I think it took way too long to come out. It took like over a year, but we've had people die while we were making the record and stuff like that. It kind of messed everything up. We spent way too much money and it made us go in debt for a little while, which wasn't good. So, we're going to do the next record after Tattoo The Earth and we're going to do it in three months, totally finished rather than a whole year. (Waitress interrupts... Mike orders... he eats a salad with tons of cheese and ranch dressing and a massive plate of cheese fries... aka. cheese with a side of fries... he's trying to gain weight... everyone throughout the duration of the interview, loves his fries and so conveniently comments on them. Mike is awaiting his royalty check as you read this. :)
MG: Are there any songs on "Chamber Music" that were outtakes from the debut album?
MC: Yeah, there were. "Not Living" was supposed to be on the first album. "Shock the Monkey" was supposed to be on the first album. None of them are outtakes, but ideas. "My Mercy" we wrote when we wrote "Loco," but we didn't think it would fit on the first album. Some of the songs are really old. Then there are some that didn't make this album that are b-sides.
MG: Is "No Home" the first song that you wrote lyrics for?
MC: No. We've always collaborated on everything. For some reason the record company put my name on it. Rayna wrote "Blisters." Rayna wrote the whole thing and they didn't put her name on that. I don't know why they started doing that. We're a band that no matter who writes whatever, we all get the credit for it. Say I wrote the whole song, we don't say that. It just creates problems with the band. You know, money wise, "Oh I get more money for this." Everything is 25%, just the same with the headaches.
MG: Who's the guy on the inside tray of "Chamber Music?"
MC: He was an assistant for Sharon Osbourne, who is actually not our manager anymore.
MG: Was he on the cover of the first one too?
MC: No, thats a different guy. That guy did a bunch of heroin and is homeless somewhere, so we couldn't find him. So, we had to get a new guy. I don't know who will be the next one [Mike coughs (again)]
MG: What were you sick with?
MC: Tonsillitis. Well, a small case of it. They put a shot into my mouth, into my tonsil with a needle like that long [uses his fingers and demonstrates... the needle was about 4 inches long or so]. They told me to sit still and hold it out, so I was sitting there like [has his tongue out]. :)
MG: Was "Wishes" written especially for the "Heavy Metal 2000" soundtrack?
MC: No. That was supposed to be on the record instead of "Notion." "Notion," which I think, is a horrible song.
MG: So, basically you have a lot of songs?
MC: Yeah, we had like 23 songs for that album. We were just writing. Writing, writing, writing. "Notion" wasn't supposed to be on it and we were going to put "Wishes" on instead, because "Notion" is one of those songs... We had this radio guy come in and took us to dinner and he said blah, blah, blah and told us to put that song on and we put it on and I actually think it messed up our record because we really didn't even like the song. So, we got swindled into putting that song on. He schmoozed us, but that will never happen again. That was the first single out and I think it set a bad taste for everyone. Everyone was like "Oh, that's not as heavy," because of that song. Your first impression is your lasting impression. Say you meet a girl and the first time you're talking to her she farts, you're going to remember that forever. It's the same thing. I think that's, to put in perspective, how "Notion" was to our fans that we already had. They were used to "Loco" and this and "Notion" was just a little too different. That will never happen again.
MG: That's a great story. :)
MC: [laughing] Not that it has happened to me!
MG: Do you have any more "rare" tracks coming out anytime soon? Singles?
MC: No, we're just going to concentrate on writing the record. They're doing like a rap-rock compilation thing and we were going to do "Insane in the Brain" by Cypress Hill. We had it almost done, but we're not really rap-rock. So, we kind of thought it might be weird to do it just for the money or whatever. We're going to concentrate on the record. I think our next record, and the whole band thinks this, is our most important record. We're writing right now. In the back of the bus we have a studio, drum machine and shit. I think this is the most important record. The first record did really well and the second one kind of didn't do as well, which usually happens to bands. Sophomore jinx they call it. Whatever. So, I think the next record is really important.
MG: How long do you think it will take?
MC: I don't know, hopefully quick. I did my part for "Chamber Music" in four days. [laughing] So it ain't me taking my time! The vocals always take the longest. You want to concentrate on it the most. We're going to try to do it quick, but not rush it and not spend so much money on it. It's going to be more raw sounding I guess.
MG: Are you going to have fun with it?
MC: No! I hate the studio. There's so much pressure.
MG: Do you guys have any plans for a home video?
MC: We do and then we don't. We have so much footage of stuff, but it's at our old management's office, whom we fired and she's suing us right now. So, I don't know if she's going to give that right over to us.
MG: So things aren't better between you guys?
MC: No, she said it was, but it never was better between us. If it was better, we wouldn't have fired her. She's good for Ozzy and that's it. They're very powerful people and they like to dictate things, which is cool if you're on their side, but if you're not on their side, they can really hurt you. It sucks you just can't play music anymore, you have to deal with all that bullshit.
MG: I guess the media didn't blow up the situation...
MC: Yeah. All the shit I said was totally true, because I'm the one who did all the press releases and I got into trouble for that. Well, not trouble but you know what I mean. She called me and left me crazy messages and shit. Whatever. She's very successful and she always will be, but I think her dealing with other bands besides Ozzy, she can't do it. She tried it with the Smashing Pumpkins and I know they are not the easiest people to work with either, but she falls into the drama of the band. Coal Chamber has lots of drama inside the band, which I'm sure every single band does. If you're hanging out with somebody every single day... so then we started playing sides against each other, it's just not good.
MG: Are you looking forward to resolving everything and becoming friends again?
MC: No. I don't care. If I see her or whatever, but I'm not dying to become her friend again. Me and her, personally, never had any problems. As far as Coal Chamber and her, personally, had a lot of problems. So, like I said, she'll do Ozzfest and it'll be successful and she's a great business person and all that, but I think just dealing with Coal Chamber just wasn't working.
MG: Who is your new management now?
MC: They're called Left Bank Organization. They really don't have anyone new. They have like Duran Duran, Blondie, Meatloaf... They are this really huge organization, so it's not like one manager, it's a whole company.
MG: On to the personal questions. :) Is it true you dropped out of school to join Coal Chamber?
MC: No. I graduated high school when I was 17, because I cheated a lot. People think, "You were smart." Even my mom still thinks it, I'm like, "Mom, I cheated." So, I got out early and I went to college for half a day. I went two weeks after I got out of high school, I couldn't handle it. You know after being in school so long and then only getting two weeks off from going to college for another eight years, I couldn't do it. So I just stopped going. I never really went. I was a bum pretty much everyday, sitting around doing nothing and then got in the band when I was 19. I got lucky.
MG: Would you ever go back?
MC: Yeah, I'm going to go back soon to go learn like recording stuff. Music related stuff.
MG: I read somewhere that you are quite the sushi fiend, what's so special about it?
MC: Miguel's worse than me. He'll eat it if it's still moving. I like sushi, but more of the safe stuff. He's had some with quail eggs cracked on top. Me and him are really into Mexican food, so we eat like cow brains. We always try weird stuff and I always end up getting sick. I like oysters and stuff like that. Miguel is more of a freak. He was born in Mexico and they like some crazy shit. He said he eats stuff sometimes and it still moves in his mouth. [laughing] That can't be good for you!
MG: What has been the highlight of your career so far?
MC: I don't know. You know, everyday is totally different. We've done shows with like 60,000 people, those are always pleasant. Shows like this I don't get nervous at all, but when you look out at 60,000 people... [Mike's food arrives] Thank you. Ooh, it looks pretty. [Ed. Note: It was really funny on tape] There's ups and downs. The whole Sharon thing when we got her as a manager was like the greatest thing that happened to us, but you know, it all fell through. A lot of things you take for granted and a lot of thing come back that you think are perfect and would never fuck you and the come back and do that. We're pretty humble about everything. We're pretty grateful for what we have. Everyday is a highlight for me.
MG: What would you say is the most challenging aspect about being a musician?
MC: Not being at home. If you have a good home life, which I do (the dogs, the girlfriend...), you go away for like six weeks, it's the hardest thing. My cell phone bill is so expensive. I get brain cancer from being on the phone so much. It's hard. When I first was in the band, I didn't have nothing at home. I loved being on the road everyday. I never wanted to go home because I would have to go live with my Mom. Now that I have a place to live, dogs, I want to have a baby soon. So, pretty much everyday I'll start flying home.
MG: Do you still live in New York?
MC: No, I just moved back to LA.
MG: What are some of your influences, musically or otherwise?
MC: Musically, I like everything. I like depressing stuff. I like The Cure and stuff like that. I don't really listen to anything heavy. Have you heard the new Deftones record yet?
MG: Not yet.
MC: It's the best. It's going to be the record of the year. It's so good. The first song I was about to cry. It's so awesome. It's probably the last record to give me goosebumps. I love the Deftones. It's definitely the record of the year. It's probably the last heavy thing I've listened to, because I've had it for a while now. I love Duran Duran. I love 80s stuff. All the 80s pop stuff I love. Dead Can Dance I like when I just want to chill. When you play heavy music, you really don't want to listen to it all day long. I used to listen to Pantera and Korn and all that. I'm listening to more mellow stuff. I like Marilyn Manson a lot. I think his last record was his best record, everyone hates it. Everyone thought it sucked. I thought it was the best record.
MG: Are you involved with the Internet at all? Do you have a say in...
MC: Yep, yep, yep, yep. I just got a computer like half a year ago. I'm the geek now. On days off all I do is go on our website and talk to other kids every single day. Our website right now, Artist Direct owns it, and our new management is trying to get it from them, that's why our website hasn't been updated in a while. Legal shit. Bullshit like I said, you can't just do stuff anymore. There's always bullshit. I go on there everyday. People don't even think it's me. They're like, "Scan me your autograph." [Mike makes a face that just says, "What the hell!?!?"] [laughing] "Ok, here."
MG: Do you think the Internet has played a role in you guys being successful?
MC: When we first started, the Internet was nothing. This guy started our website and I was always scared of computers. Years passed and computers started running everything. A website is like the number one thing for a band. Every kid in America has a computer and pretty soon the Internet is going to be free, they're trying to pass that law. I think it's a good thing. The Internet is the only thing left that doesn't have any laws to it.
MG: So far.
MC: So far.
MG: I have some drumming questions for you. I'd like to say I'm a drummer, but well, I'm not. :) How long have you been playing?
MC: Six years. Seriously, like six years. I've been playing a little longer.
MG: Did you ever take lessons?
MC: No, my older brother, he used to be really good at playing drums, he quit to sing, he taught me pretty much everything. Now I don't practice at all, which sucks. I'll be home for two months and I would never play. Come back and play a show. It's like being a bartender. Six weeks straight and then going home. If you have a party, you're not going to be the bartender. [laughing] You're going to be the other guy on the other side of the bar. I would love to practice and stuff, but my mentality, I can't there. I do a lot of stuff on drum machine, which is easy.
MG: What kind of set do you have?
MC: Tama. That's who endorses me. Whoever gives me free stuff, because I remember before I was signed, that shit was expensive. I'd crack a cymbal and I'd be crying. I'd go to my Mom, "I need a new cymbal." And my Mom would be like, "Hell no." Now that I get it for free... how endorsements work, you buy it the first time and then if it breaks they replace it for free, which is good because I break my stuff a lot. That's my joy of my day is breaking my stuff. So, whoever gives my free stuff is what I'll take. I'm so sick of paying for it. I've spent thousands and thousands of dollars on this stuff. I think it's time to get paid back.
MG: Well, that's it, do you have any last comments?
MC: We just thank the fans. That's basically why we're out here. We're not out here making that much money. People think, "Oh, you're rich." We're so far from rich. It's all about the fans for us. If it ended tomorrow we'd be totally happy. I think we have the best fans, they stay with us for so long. We do appreciate it.
MG: Thank you.
MC: Thank you.
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