TEN EMAILS with JONATHAN CANADY!

Jonathan Canady is one of my favorite voices in the noise community. DEATHPILE's "G.R." is an album I often use to introduce friends to the genre. Tracks open with vocal outbursts like "Marcia, my high school sweetheart, my first wife, my first whore" and "I'm addicted to prostitutes like some men are to alcohol".

Since closing the book on DEATHPILE and more recently Angel of Decay, Jon has started a new solo project called Diamond Cult, and Nightmares with Mark Solotroff of Bloodyminded. Jon is also a sought after graphic designer and has been showing his work around the US and Europe. His artwork can be viewed on his website art.malsonus.com

Email 1

Jon, from your recordings in DEATHPILE to your more recent artwork, your output

seems, well a bit harsh and violent.

Is their an angry person inside of you coming to the surface in these works or

is it a way relieve stress for a normal average guy?

- I am an angry person but much less so than when I was younger. I am a level

headed old man now compared to how I was in my twenties. I look back at that

time and am pretty amazed I made it to this age without getting put in jail or

an insane asylum.

I have no idea about a normal average guy. I commute to work on one of the main

train lines in Philadelphia and I often wonder why everyone around me accepts

their lot so easily. Or do they just hide their frustration better than me?

To attempt to answer your question, the violence you speak of comes out

naturally. I couldn't stop it if I wanted. It's as much a part of me as my skin.

So much so, I sometimes don't even know it's there.

When people see your work in a gallery or hear one of your recordings, what do

you hope they walk away with?

- You know, I do my best to not think about that too much. I create work to

satisfy myself. Whatever people take away from it is fine with me.

Email 2

so is it a real relief to be able to let loose a bit of that hate and angst in a creative outlet like your music and art?

It s sort of like the sex drive. You do the deed and feel relief for a bit. Then the urge comes back before you know it.

Email 3

In April of this year, the US Supreme Court overturned a federal law banning the depictions of dog fighting and animal cruelty.

Why should violent media always be protected by the first amendment. In my opinion if that law stayed on the books, album artwork like that featured in your Blunt Force Trauma release could have been banned, even if the violent gore shown was human.

I see your point. There should be no differentiation between depictions of animal vs human cruelty.

That said, I would personally rather see barrels full of babies being fed into a wood chipper than a kitten being verbally abused but... I don't make the laws.

Email 4

You just started a new project and website for a band called Diamond Cult which you describe as a "one-man electronic / rock project" and as having "a less dark vibe". Why did you choose to take your musical efforts in that direction? Is it something you've considered a while, or did it just kinda spring up?

I have loved weirdo rock and pop music since I was a child but I've generally kept it on the down low. So since I have been doing various forms of well-worn experimental music for creeping up on twenty years I figured it was time to try something else for a change.

Email 5

What's your take on pop stars appropriating bondage and s&m images for their music videos? You could say it started in the 90s with Madonna, so its old hat. Yet in the past few years you have Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, Rihanna all using the same types of imagery.

Do you even care to have an opinion on that?

I wonder if we can do all 10 emails before I pass out?

Anyhow, I have always disliked S/M or fetish fashion no matter who is doing it.

Jon then sent this second response to the email

No 10 in one night. You missed out on getting me in a drunken spiral. Too bad. Ha ha.

Email 6

I miss took your last email for thinking that I was boring you to sleep. but now i've cracked a beer too, so there is still time for you to go on a drunk downward spiral!

i like alot of pop and weird music too, but also a big abrasive advocate, so don't think you are alone there. I've also see Prurient dance to trance music.

Dmoilmp. Lyouirj? Jollllhpoppbvbb!

Email 7

man you should not have signed up for an unedited transcript interview :)

That was a test... Only a test. Had that been a real drunken response you would have been directed to do something official and extremely important.

Jon then sent this second response to the email

The suckling pigs in this house are very evil.

Email 8

well here is your chance to spread something really official and important to the masses drunk or not

Life turned me into a sort of mad dog. But now I am here, it all seems so different. I have the feeling that something beautiful, and very profound is going to change my fate.

Email 9 (editor’s note: sent in reference to the suckling pigs email)

is that some veiled tori amos reference?

Please reference my last message.

Email 10

I hope so too, I don't quite know what life has done to lead you on the mad dog path but I'm glad to hear that you are open to change and have excepted that things are moving forward for the better. Thanks again for the awesome interview and if you wanna send me a picture to accompany it when it posts, please do so.
xo

Thank you Mark. Please don't take my drunken nonsense (and random Spanish horror film quoting) the wrong way. This has been my most entertaining interview experience yet!

I'll send you a photo asap.

2^nd email sent the following morning

Hi Mark,

Shockingly... I am not too hung over. Thanks for putting up with my drunken retardation last night (ha ha). I had fun.

Here's a photo for you:

http://malsonus.com/vergeimg/DiamondCult_8893.jpg

PLEASE credit Scott Kinkade for this photo.

Thanks. -Jonathan

uffie does not need more free press, but i cant believe this is not tearing up pop charts

Frank Zappa, The Mothers of Invention and Burt Ward

Back in 1966, Burt Ward recorded and released a
single called "Boy Wonder I Love You". It featured Burt reading fan letters over musical backing of The
Mothers of Invention. After soaring to number six on the charts in Chicago, the record was pulled off
the air by religious groups and network censors who complained that it was too sexual! Kapow! Bam!

TEN EMAILS with MIKE ALLRED!

Welcome to my new interview series 10 EMAILS. There are lots interesting media types out there I would love to have a chat with and this is my opportunity to do that and post our unedited transcripts.

My first installment is a real treat! I chatted up Mike Allred, an incredibly sought after comic book artist and graphic designer. Allred has worked with everyone!!, and his creation MADMAN is bring bought to the big screen by Hollywood heavyweight Robert Rodriguez.

Allred is also know for his run on X-Force / X-Statix at Marvel and adapting the Book of Mormon into comic book form with The Golden Plates. So sit back, relax and enjoy!

Email 1

Mike,
I noticed when you agreed to do this interview, you replied via an I-Pad. You have been drawing comics for over 20 years, has the technology in creating comics changed for you?

Big time! Our first Mac when Laura started doing all the color separations was the biggest step, and we finally have the tech working for us instead of the other way round.

When you tackle different projects say drawing Madman & the Atomics vs. inking Catwoman, is different technology used?

Not really.

Meaning, is their one title you will only use pencil and ink for the whole process and another you or Laura will computer color, etc. Or do you have one approach and like to stick to it?

I prefer to get as much organically on the art board as possible on every project.

Graphite, washes, tones, rendering.

Laura then adds her keen color sense to the mix and voila!

Members of the music industry are often scared that the internet is stealing their revenue with illegal downloads. Comic book scans are beginning to pop up on illegal download sites more and more, do you think this will have a large impact on the comic industry?

It's possible.

Marvel has already begun to offer a digital comic service for people like yourself with an I-Pad. For a flat fee, around $60 I believe, you will get all the titles Marvel offers for a year in a digital form. Is this a good thing? Or will you always need to be able to smell the dusty pages of an old comic book in your hand? Do you think this will this have a major effect on how creators develop their comics?
xo

I prefer the feel and smell of paper. A tangible object. Hopefully there will always be enough folks like me who feel the same way.

Music is still done basically the same. And there are still hold outs to old school techniques and formats, even a resurgence of vinyl records. But digital has bridged the access gap for all artists who in the past needed a record company or publisher to bless them in order to enjoy success.

The indy movement has helped all artists and has even made corporations "honest" to a large degree.

I've seen musicians and illustrators embrace technology. It's a wash really.

Ultimately, good work is celebrated and supported. If revenue dries up? Things could get slim.

In the meantime, I'll remain optimistic

Email 2

You mention: "The indy movement has helped all artists and has even made corporations "honest" to a large degree."

Does this statement have anything to do with or relate to your decision to produce a title at Marvel namely your work on X-Force and X-Statix, as well as moving Madman from Dark Horse to Image. Or were their other factors involved and simply they just made the right offers at the right time for you to transition to those publishers? Such as Erik Larson becoming Publisher at Image, or having the oppurtunity to work with Peter Milligan at Marvel?

You pretty much summed it up.

But there are multiple factors in why I've published where and when I have.

For instance, at Dark Horse my great friend, Bob Schreck left to form Oni Press, and then his replacement, my best pal, Jamie S. Rich left to join him at Oni. This got me interested in forming my own publishing entity, AAA POP. Jamie has been my editor on all my indy stuff ever since.

Diana Schutz is still at Dark Horse as well as other great friends and colleagues, including Mike Richardson, Mike Mignola, Gerard Way, and Eric Powell, who make it still a very very attractive place to be published. If Bob and Jamie never left, or if I was given Diana to edit my books earlier, Madman and Co. might possibly still be there. But I always feel the need to challenge myself and stretch, and self-publishing was something I had to give a go.

With very few exceptions, I've always enjoyed my publisher/creator relationships, and hope they've all enjoyed working with me.

But moving on, I have great respect, fondness, and admiration for Erik Larsen at Image who pointed out that I would have absolute control with them while having their entire excellent team working with me. Essentially self-publishing but without all the administrative headaches. So, I found a very groovy chemistry there for my Madman/ Atomics/Snap City stuff. And Image's success, being started by creators is a perfect example of keeping the big boys honest. As long as there are fair outlets for artists, the old sweat shop days and unfair profit sharing should hopefully be buried in the past.

When I work on a "big Two" book, like an "X" book with Marvel, I go in with eyes open and great enthusiasm.

But on every project my first thought is to who I'm working with, will I enjoy it, will others, and will it allow me to progress on some level.

I don't regret any project. In fact, I have enormous affection and gratitude for almost everything and everyone I've worked with. Everything has brought me to where I am and have been. "My Happy place!"

If I came into the biz years earlier before those who "fought the good fight" laid out a solid path for me to follow, my attitude might be different. I'm very aware how fortunate I've been, and don't want to ever take anything for granted.

Email 3

It seems your happy place in the industry finds you surrounded by your family. Your wife Laura has been your colorist for some time and now your son Han is following in his family's footsteps. I'm sure growing up having a name like Han is cool for any child star wars fans, but honestly did any other members of your family or your peers question the name? Or is it a traditional Mormon name :)

Did Han always have an interest in art and the family trade or were you worried he might end up a dentist or firefighter?

Hah! Everyone questioned all our childrens names. But being named Michael along with half of my class growing up, always wanted my kids to have special names, which they love by the way.

The kids all have their own unique interests to, in addition to "the arts".

Email 4

There is a huge trend right now in Hollywood of making comic book movies. With all that can be done with computer and special effects, an audience can really be transported to another world. The film industry has also come along way in terms of taking the source material seriously. I mean just compare Batman Forever and Batman & Robin to Batman Begins and the Dark Knight.

And sure some comic book films look great, but they seem to be lacking depth and emotion. OR you have something like Spider-Man 3 where you have Venom just thrown in, because market research shows the kids love the Venom!

What are your biggest fears if/when characters and universes you've created make the jump to the silver screen?

I don't allow myself the luxury of worry.

The main reason I've stuck with Robert Rodriguez so long is my confidence that he'll ensure my vision being on the screen. And no one I know of has more control of what they create.

Email 5

I'm not sure how much you can talk about this topic so feel free to tell me you cant comment.

I did a little wikipedia reseach and it says there Mr. Rodriguez has owned the rights to the Madman film since 1998, and you have teased fans saying the lead role has been cast.

How far along is the film? You seem like a great pairing but also extremely busy and sought after creators. Is Madman the movie on the horizon, and without giving anything away, what can we expect?

We have a screenplay that I co-wrote with george Huang. Very very happy with it. It largely follows the over all plot of the first series with several latter elements accessed. It has a lot of heart, thrills, chills and slam bang-o-rama!

But we got thrown back with the writer's strike.

So our casting is in limbo, pretty much square one. Now mostly scheduling concerns with Dimension.

But, as Robert says, it'll happen. The patience I've learned through this process may now be my greatest virtue. I continue to make the most of every day and remain hopeful that when it happens it'll be the best movie possible.

But most of all I've learned how important the comic book medium is to me and value it with complete awe and passion.

Email 6

I mean, I could be wrong, but I don't remember seeing Spy Kids underwear and swarms of toys. Was one of your fears always an over exposure of your characters once you made the jump to the big screen? Does the prospect of burger king toys and pajamas scare or excite you?

More toys the better. Always always loved toys, tie-INS, and the like.

I did artwork for the Spy Kids happy meal bag by the by. There was some cool spy gear for kids that came out with the second movie.

Email 7

See, I didn't even know any of that haha

I'm sure working in the comic field deadlines are always a factor. From cover to cover roughly how long do you spend drawing an issue? And once you finish a comics how long does it take from being finished at your desk to being in a store?

On average it takes me a full month to do a book.

Some issues have taken three weeks. Some six.

On average I'd say three months from completion to the shop shelves.

Email 8

So I have to ask, aside from the Madman movie, whats next? Any big mind blowing projects? Are their any characters you have not gotten to work with that you hope to in the future?

Axel Alonso keeps talking about Peter Milligan and I doing an X-Statix mini-series. But that'll be a ways off.

So,

It's all about I, ZOMBIE and my Madman projects for the foreseeable future.

Email 9

I know you are a big fan of music, what stuff have you been checking / rocking out to out lately?

I try to spend as much time with pals the Dandy Warhols for any possibility of hearing new stuff, their label mates, 1776, are amazing! Got an advance of their debut which I highly recommend. Big into Grizzly Bear, looking forward to a new Arcade Fire disk, and dig the new MGMT album big time!

Email 10

Well Mike, its the tenth email, I want to thank you so much for your time and responses, I'm really glad you made the effort to chat with me. Thanks again and if you want to send a promo image of yourself or madman for use in the interview let me know. best wishes for the future.
xo

A pleah-zhah!

Howziz?

the future

im working on a new interview series, the results will be nothing less than surprising xxxo

man i cant wait to see this movie

AsDSSkA - Hold On

Aska Matsuymia and David Scott Stone's "Hold On (25)" one of mademan Sir David Scott Stone's best use of moody modular synths video by Crystal Moselle and Spike Jonze