Vinnie Paul: Oh man, things are goin' great. Already did about a month long tour in the United States and now we're in Europe -- our first real trek over here. We played in Berlin last night and we're going to destroy Hamburg tonight.
Goreripper: And then you're heading down to play some shows here in Australia. There's a few people a bit disappointed you're not doing more shows.Vinnie Paul: It's gonna be our first stint. We plan on being on tour for two years solid for this record, and we will definitely be coming back when they have the Big Day Out and all that good stuff, and we're planning on being there a lot longer. This is just to get out feet wet. Australia has got to be one of our favourite places to tour. I love comin' down there, I know the rest of the guys in the band are excited about doin' it. We get to do Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, but next time we plan on hitting Adelaide, Perth... the whole nine yards. Just be patient! If you got money and you can afford a flight or a bus trip, come on down and see us, man!
Goreripper: This is one of the first places you toured when you first got together with Hellyeah, wasn't it?
Vinnie Paul: Yeah, we came down just after we did a very, very short run in the US, and the fans treated as absolutely wonderful. Like I said before, it's just a fucking amazing place to tour. We love to tour there. I did it many, many times with Pantera and I'm so excited to be able to get down there with Hellyeah.
Goreripper: How did this new album compare with the first one. You've had a lot more time to work together, so is there a big difference in style or sound from the last album?
Vinnie Paul: Well I just think that the first album was almost like an experiment. We didn't really know each other, we were just getting to know each other. We wrote seven songs in the first eight days we were playing together, luckily we had great chemistry. And we came into this one we more confidence. We knew the fans had already embraced the band, we ahd the touring behind us, and we really had a focus on what Hellyeah was all about: a good-time rock, heavy metal band! We cover a lot of ground. This album is really, really diverse. It's like a rollercoaster ride, man. It's got all kinds of peaks and valleys and it just takes you on a journey right from the start. We're really, really proud of it and we think it's the record that will really establish Hellyeah.
Goreripper: You were the producer on the first album too. Was this one much more of a band effort?
Vinnie Paul: It was the same process, everything. We had Sterling Winfield with us, our co-producer. He's been working with me since Far Beyond Driven and he's sort of our secret sixth member. He's not really a musician or anything, but he's great with computers and all that good stuff so we just tell him what we're looking for and he's Johnny-on-the-spot. We like to keep everything in-house. We all like to think we're really strong songwriters, really strong producers in our own right. We know what we're looking for, so we just do it all ourselves.
Goreripper: Now, you obviously went through a very, very black period. What was it about this line-up that made you decide to get back behind the kit, and get back in the saddle?
Vinnie Paul: Right. Well, ah... I always knew that I would come back to playing music again, I just didn't know when. And honestly, I didn't know when it would ever happen. These guys called me a couple of different times, and the first time or two I just said, "Uh... let me think about it." And one day they just caught me at the right moment. I said, "You know, it's been a year and a half now, and I just need to fuckin' take a shot at something." They came down, met me in Texas. I really loved everybody's personality, I liked where everybody's head was at. We did a lot of drinkin', we did some barbecuin' and the next day we got up and wrote our first song called "Nausea" and I know from that day this was the place to be. These guys are fuckin' awesome, man.
Goreripper: And now you're back out there, and you're really touring hard. You said you're going to tour for two years on this one?Vinnie Paul: Yeah, our goal is to really break the band internationally. Hopefully when we finish this record, the third album will be on everybody's agenda and we can get right into it!
Goreripper: Congratulations on the signing to Riot! Entertainment too. They're a great bunch of guys.
Vinnie Paul: We're very excited to be associated with them there. Really, with the first record Sony didn't do a very good job for us internationally. They did a great job in the States. We nearly had a gold record there. But everywhere else we just didn't feel like a priority or anything. So we feel that with Riot! we're at the top of their list and they're gonna do a helluva job for us and we're real excited about it.
Goreripper: Hellyeah really reflects the whole vibe of the band. You really couldn't have picked a better name.
Vinnie Paul: I don't think we could have picked a better name in a million years. It really symbolises us. That's what we're all about. It's a very affirmative way of saying "Yes." Somebody says, "Hey man, you wanna go to the titty bar?" You don't say "Yeah." You say, "Hell Yeah!" If you wanna go to the fuckin' bar across the street for a beer, you say "Hell Yeah!" That means, "I really wanna do this. I love it!" I think that's the general vibe of the band and what we're all about.
Goreripper: And you dropped a hint that you'd be here for the Big Day Out next year. Is that true?
Vinnie Paul: Well I'm not supposed to confirm anything. Let's just say that if that opportunity presents itself we will absolutely be there.
Goreripper: That's such a huge event now, and Pantera never got a play it so it would be great to see you on the bill.
Vinnie Paul: There's a really good chance of that happening and if it does we're gonna be chomping at the bit and we plan on hittin' the rest of the continent while we're there.
Goreripper: Just before you go, I have to tell you this, because when you were here with Pantera in 96 I was just getting started in this business, you were the first big "star", if I can use that word, that I ever got to speak to and it was a big thrill for me, and I'm so glad that you treated me so well because I was so nervous and I hadn't been in the game all that long... so I've always wanted to thank you for that.
Vinnie Paul: Fuckin' A, man! That's very, very nice of you, man. I appreciate that.
- Goreripper
