Exclusive Interview with Vampires Everywhere’s Michael Vampire
by Michelle Oberg
WHOOZNEXT winner of the month went to Vampire’s Everywhere. I caught up with Michael Vampire while the band was touring through Arizona. They’ll be headed into the City of Angels at the end of the month for The Sunset Strip Music Festival, August 18th-20th. Here’s what this self proclaimed “weirdo” had to say (for the record, he was remarkably nice and spoke like a scholar).
RUKUS MAGAZINE: Tell me about your image. Did this look start with the band?
MICHAEL VAMPIRE: It’s always been me; it’s always been in me but I’ve also been in a lot of bands. Whatever band I’m in, the concept is always different but I was just always the same. For the first time I really feel like I’m being myself.
RM: How about your band mates, did they come with the same branding you created for Vampire’s Everywhere?
MV: When I was recruiting I only went for people that already had that and the knowledge behind what I was trying to do. Rather than try and dress somebody up and expect them to go for what I’m trying to achieve. I’m pretty happy with the line-up.
RM: Being an L.A. local, what is your favorite venue in the city?
MV: I would have to say House of Blues. I go there every Monday and go watch Steel Panther and shit like that. I definitely think that venue has ambiance and the best staff.
RM: Given Steel Panther’s laundry list of guest appearances, have you had your opportunity to play with them yet?
MV: They’re definitely cool guys and I have a lot of respect for them. We’re actually in the process of talking with them now. But I let them do their thing. I am as far from the stage as you can possibly be in the House of Blues.
RM: Have you ever played the House of Blues before?
MV: Yes, I have. Not with this project but with other projects. It’s funny, we [Vampires] have probably played every single place on Sunset [blvd.] and in Hollywood except for the House of Blues. I’m pretty sure that will be the next thing to hit that venue.
RM: Since forming in 2009, do you have any crazy fan or tour stories yet?
MV: Well, tour stories I would say are a little X-rated but I would say…
RM: We love X-rated tell me…
MV: No, no… [laughs] It’s a little too Motley Crue, but I will say so far one of our fans was just the weirdest. He sent an actual vial of blood in the mail. I remember the person who got it was like, “What do I do?” And I said, “I don’t know.” To be honest with you, that was really fucking weird and we ended up throwing it away. There could be something brewing in there. It could’ve been anything, I don’t know. It was pretty creepy.
RM: Do you have any stage rituals?
MV: I listen to my favorite song or two just to get really pumped up on repeat while drinking. It’s definitely a ritual to stop at the liquor store and get ice for my cooler. I get everything I possibly need for a picnic inside this van and then we show up and I have one drink before I get on stage and then drink while on stage. Even if we get a green room, we still like to come out to the van so that’s part of the ritual too, that incorporation. We’re not weird in that aspect.
RM: Is the make-up part of your everyday life?
MV: It’s my every day life. I do change it though, based on how I feel. We have a sponsorship with MAC.
RM: I’m jealous. You get the top of line gear and I use CVS makeup…
MV: I’m sorry. The next time I see you I’ll hook up
RM: Lots of black eyeliner, please.
MV: That’ll work.
RM: Prior to Sunset Music Festival, what is on your schedule?
MV: We’re doing a new conceptual Sims-type thing for Rock Band. We’re being put in to virtual characters that battle in rock bands. It sounds really cool. We’re also redoing our stage show and moving things around and making things better for upcoming tours— which is already being planned.
RM: Not bad. I’m really impressed that your formation was only 2 years ago.
MV: I appreciate that, but it only took me 10 years to be here. I’m happy. Things have been so contrived in the past and I was kidding myself between what I wanted to do and what was happening. This was something I wanted to do because I love it. This is what people, I believe, are grasping onto…this not-giving-a-fuck attitude. A lot of bands nowadays don’t talk to fans at all and we try to stay in contact. It’s hard and it’s taxing, but it great.
RM: Is there anyone personally you would like to meet that you idolize?
MV: Of course, Marilyn Manson and Trent Reznor. The whole industrial, creepy feel that they got going on… There are so many different people out there but I definitely think those two people inspire me a lot.
RM: Have you met them?
MV: I actually met Trent Reznor very quickly. I’ve met everyone in Marilyn Manson except for Marilyn Manson. The one time I was going to meet him this one girl who I know that is friends with his whole family pulls me aside and said, “I [you] am going to creep him out.” So, I was like, “Okay?” I mean, I must be very creepy because she wouldn’t take me to meet him. I guess he’s more withdrawn and I am more in people’s face with my image. I have a lot of OCD and stuff and I guess she thought that it might not work.
RM: At least it didn’t turn you off from him. Since you mentioned OCD, what kind are we talking about here?
MV: I can’t really go through it. Everything has be in order and very neat. The last tour we got off with Aiden, they thought I was weirdest, freakiest person they’ve ever met. People in the industrial Goth scene say that I bring on an extra creepy into their lives; which is funny to me because I just try to be myself and if that’s what it is than that’s what it is.
RM: What are 3 things that most people don’t know about you?
MV: I try to tell everyone everything about me, but let’s see: I grew up in New York City. There’s not much that people don’t know about me…I treat almost everything I do as me trying to make people understand without them trying to guess all the time. A lot of people try to stay very vague and I just try and put myself out there. It’s funny you asked me this, I was supposed to tumble things about myself a while ago that people want to know and it’s like I’ve already told everyone everything. There’s not in depth things to tell, except there’s nothing. I feel very ‘8 mile’ about it, like at the end of the movie when Eminem is rapping everything about himself to leave the other guy with nothing to talk about. It’s like I am this, I am trailer park and I thought that was cool. If everyone knows everything about you than it can’t come back and haunt you. The only ridicule I’ve gotten online really was when I was in a really bad accident 6 years ago and it left me in a coma. I broke my jaw and I broke my arm it really did fuck me up and the only thing people have on me is an accident that is thrown in my face. Especially when it’s something that was not my fault.
RM: Do you care to elaborate on some details?
MV: Oh, sure. I was in a tour van and an ex drummer was driving. A drunk driver was driving on the wrong side of a major interstate in Miami, Florida. He was completely, annihilated drunk and hit us head on. Our van flipped and he actually killed himself upon impact. I had woken up in the van holding a majority of my teeth; the drummer, because he was entangled in the seat, had a broken back. I ended up crawling out of the van toward the guy that hit us, and I’m walking near his body. Some guy on the highway gets out of his car to try and help and hands me his phone and I don’t know how I did it but I called my mother who called an ambulance but it was already on the way. I blacked out and woke up in the hospital later on.
RM: Wow!
MV: Yeah, it was definitely a game changer in my life. I think that a lot of people don’t understand that seeing people dead and looking back at yourself and feeling like you’re going to die. I think that’s a lot of reason why I started touring with this band because it’s closer to me. Vampires Everywhere is a part of me.
RM: A life changing impact certainly influences your music as well.
MV: For sure. There is a lot of bits and pieces of music that have a lot to do with that. The girl who was in my life in that period, but not anymore, has a lot of presence on the album as well.
RM: Is there anything you want to share on behalf of the band?
MV: We’re doing our best to get our name out there and spread the evil world and stay true to ourselves. Our next album coming out is called Kissed The Sun Goodbye, so go to Hot Topic and FYE to support us and check it out.