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No Pain, No Gain
Interview with "Metal" Mike Chlasciak
of PainmuseuM
By Thomas S. Orwat, Jr.
Dec 7 2004
Metal Mike Chlasciak has quite the Metal resume and truly deserves his monicker Metal Mike. After learning how to play guitar from the Metal Method guitar program, that he saw advertised in a guitar mag, Chlasciak quickly mastered his instrument and received a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee School of Music. After graduating, Chlasciak recorded three impressive instrumental CD’s. His shredding style soon caught the attention of Metal god Rob Halford, who at the time was in the process of putting together a new band. Halford called Chlasciak and after a short period of time, Chlasciak found himself recording and touring with one of his childhood heroes. Chlasciak recorded two studio CD’s and one live one while with Halford.
In 2003 when Halford reunited with Judas Priest, Chlasciak joined up with the legendary bay area band- Testament. Chlasciak toured with them last summer and played some of the biggest Metal festivals in Europe. Also during this period, Chlasciak found time to form a solo band, which he called PainmuseuM. The group which also includes Tim Clayborne-vocals, Bobby Jarzombek- drums and Steve DiGiorgio-bass released their first CD “Metal For Life” in November of this year. “Metal For Life” is a ferocious, aggressive, intense no-bull metal release that showcases Chlasciak immense talent for writing the perfect in-your-face metal riff.
IWe caught up with Metal Mike Chlasciak for this exclusive GlamMetal.com interview. In this interview Chlasciak discusses working with Halford again, recording with PainmuseuM and much more. So sit back, crack one open and crank it up.
Stop the presses!!! What's this I hear about you working with Rob Halford again in the future? How did this come about?
MM: Well, this stems from everyone wanting to be there again. The great amount of respect and friendship that the 2nd line up of HALFORD developed (Rob, Roy Z, Bobby Jarzombek, Mike David and Myself) was very strong and we have a lot, lot more to say musically. So, there you go.
You new project PainmuseuM just released its first CD last month. It is one of the most brutal metal releases that I've ever heard in my life. How long did it take to write and record it and were any of the material leftovers from your time in the Halford band?
MM: It took over 2 1/2 years from the time I wrote the first riff in "American Metalhead" of off the PainmuseuM album to the album being completed. So, this entire band was basically started by a killer guitar riff, that turned into a song, into a few songs, into an album and ultimately a band. There were a few things that I had in mind for the Halford albums, riff wise, but majority was new material. When we got into the writing process, the vision of what this band could be turned more and more defined. So, I felt to make something really exciting, something new, we had to develop new songs. I did not want PainmuseuM to be a Halford leftover band with a new singer, that would be a suicide for me ... professionally and personally.
Your music is so heavy and aggressive. Is it sometimes difficult to get into that state mind when playing?
MM: Oh no. With the Halford thing going down the way it did, and every fucker doubting this band, it made in every easy to write this music. There's enough assholes that I meet on a weekly basis that will enable this to continue, that's one thing we can all count on.
Tell us a little about the other members in the band and why you chose them.
MM: Tim Clayborne sent in a tape and a CD. This was after I put out a singer search. Tim destroyed everyone that sent in their tape in the aspects of hunger to succeed, originality and the ability to really write incredible lyrics. He's got an incredible frontman charisma and just is a fucking REAL Metal guy. I needed that type of bandmate, especially in a vocalist as in a way he would be compared to The Metal God, as far as the last voice that people heard with my guitar playing on a larger scale. So I wanted to know that Tim has enough of self assurance to be able to carry his own torch, do his own thing and then no-body could compare the two and all that shit. That is pointless. Steve DiGiorgio is one of my favorite bass players and we met when Testament supported Halford on several shows in 2003. I told Steve to just play like he would like to play and that's it. That appealed to him and he was in. Bobby was the last piece if the puzzle, although he was the first guy that committed to the band. Bobby is Bobby, he's a super talented fucker that is in the elite of Metal drummers. People don't even know 50% of how good he is as a drummer ... He's also a close friend of mine ... so, that is the line up.
What are your tour plans with PainmuseaM?
MM: We heard about Japan in January, the our label Demolition is looking for some dates in Europe for us. Towards the earlier part of 2005, I'd like to do some US shows. This band really shines live and I have seen the reactions of fans to this band. Realistically, the only way we will sell any decent amount of records is to play live and tour and then tour somemore. Luckily, both the band and our label understand that fact.
You're also the guitarist in Testament. What are the future plans in that band?
MM: Testament is finalizing the writing process for the new studio album due out on Spitfire Records in 2005. Then worldwide touring of course.
Could we possibly see a Testament/PainmeseuM tour in which you perform in both bands?
MM: Man, you people like to really make me work, eh?? Who knows, PainmuseuM opening the Metal Gods tour with Halford headlining was the last thing I thought that would happen. And, it did. So, really who knows .... we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
I think PainMuseuM would be a perfect fit for Ozzfest 2005. Would you be interested in it.?
MM: Yeah. And I hope that it will be a real Metal Ozzfest as well. I heard some interview that Ozzy mentioned asking Eminem to be on Ozzfest .... God, I fucking hope that was a mistake ... otherwise its fucking depressing. In any case, PainmuseuM will play anywhere that it makes sence .... I'll tell you one thing right now, they better keep us away from fuckers like Sum 41 and all that garbage .... at least time slot wise. All these pseudo Metal fuckers who are like "We like Metal, we grew up on it" but play some other god fucking awful piece of shit of music on the mean time. People .... these are not MetalHeads, ok? Same goes to FooFighters and Dave Growl, or whatever his fucking name is ... gimme a fucking break already.
What has the highlight of your career been thus far?
MM: Playing Madison Square Garden, basically my home town ... and having a pornstar wait in line to meet me.
What is the one song that you wrote that you are most proud of?
MM: I'm proud of all the shit that made it on a record, as by one way or the other it had something that made is special. I like "Golgotha" from Crucible, because it it gave a middle finger to all the fuckers who thought that just because I grew up in Poland, I was a Euro-Metal guy jerking off to Primal Fear.
Who are some of the other metal guitarist that you feel have broken new ground?
MM: Well, I think Alexi from Children Of Bodom is the real deal. Forget about your local guitar magazine covers, kids. Where the fucking guys on the cover have been paid for, scratch the surface and you will find some diamonds. www.planetshred.com
Updated on 12/14/04 Vocalist Mike C answers some of our questions as well
Your vocal range is fucking incredible. How long did it take you to perfect your skill? What is your practice regime?
Thanks a lot, but I don't think I have perfected my vocals just yet. I have had a band called Hatred for about 13 year's prior to Painmuseum so I have had a lot of practice. I think if you quit reaching to be better you’re done.
How challenging was the PainmuseuM CD for you?
The PainmuseuM material was cool because it was really close to the material I was doing in Hatred, except some songs were more midrange and tonal. The early Hatred material was more in the Thrash/DethMetal vein. The material recorded after the last release "The Offering" the vocals were getting more tonal, similar to the PainmuseuM material
Who are some of the other bands that you have performed with?
The only other band I have put my soul into and am a member of is Hatred, Some of the band's we've played with were, King Diamond, Cannibal Corpse, Malevelant Creation, Over Kill, Kreator, Immortal and so on.
What kind of groupies does a band like PainMuseum get?
Very beautiful ones. I'm serious, I have talked with and been approached by some of the prettiest girls, freaks than ever. For all of the freaks/girls out there we "are" taking applicants for the Official PainmuseuM Cheer Leader's led by Fun Erica, become a part of the fan club under fan hell on painmuseum.com
So when will PainMuseuM officially rule the world of Metal?
We have already started. Metal for Life!
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