Whether you love or hate the opinions of Bryan Erikson, the outspoken founder of Electro/Industrial project, Velvet Acid Christ, the influence of his music is undeniable. VAC has survived in a slowly dying genre, creating music that’s left it’s mark on the listener since the early 1990s. They've delivered 12 full length albums, been featured on countless compilations, remix albums, and box sets; a major accomplishment in this day and age. Known for doing controversial interviews that, at times, piss off his fans, Bryan has remained a controversial player in the wargames of the music industry.
However, as of late, a close observation would display problems in the Erikson camp. At one point Bryan was a well-received artist who constantly toured, but has, for several years, all but dropped out of the public eye. Mix into this equation his blogs via MySpace, riddled with contempt for the scene in his home town, Denver, CO. Add subtle hints of discouragement with his own work, and it would be difficult to not ponder “what the hell is going on with VAC?” With that question in mind lets dig up the answers with the source of the disease himself, I give to you Bryan “Disease Factory” Erikson. VF: Let’s kick this interview off with the question that I am sure has been burning in the minds of your fans. What is going on with VAC right now?
Bryan: I’m starting the new LP, working title (Songs for Villains). I’ve written three songs, and I’m producing them now. I was thinking I would go in a more techno direction again, but it has ended up sounding like Death In June meets Def Leopard (High and Dry era) meets Goldfrap, Ladytron, and Astral Projection. Its a strange mix up, but some of it is really catchy. And that is what I am after now, making catchy songs that stick in your head. I'm still out of it from the partial brain transplant I did a while back; I still get ants in my ears too. So sometimes I really struggle in the studio with the bugs crawling out of my skin...
VFour last tour was in support of Twisted Thought Generator, back in 2000-2001. Are there any tours, even a European one, in store for your fans?
I thought so, but I cannot find the right people here; finding people who look decent for the band image, can actually play worth a shit, who would be dedicated to this anti- Christian electro goth act is really tough in the Buckle of the Bible Belt... shit hole Colorado, redneck-cow-town-bullshit. No one here is willing to do skinless, naked fire juggling, guitar playing for me, so it makes it impossible to get things right.
VF: In previous conversations I have had with you there was mention of album sales dropping after the US tour. What would you say were the causes of this?
My lack of putting on a good live show. I couldn't play any of my guitar hits(Phucking Phreak), I didn't have a guitarist, seriously, I did not have good musicians on tour with me, and it was a lot of the karaoke industrial shit. No one wants to see that! All the musicians I knew backed out at the last minute and I had to take my friends who have no musical talent, so hardly any of it was live. It was a joke, and I know my fans could tell. This hurt me. I always wanted to have a great live show, but I cannot find musicians here. It sucks. So I end up doing it all myself. I could never get a good band together, one that practices and gets super tight. I still can't, thanks to living in this shit hole. The decline in the scene, internet piracy, decreased distribution, record stores going out of business. all kinds of things… A number of things. We are still viable and have not fallen off the map, but in Europe we are not what we used to be, and I think that is because I should not have left Dependent Records. Stupid me… oh well…
Music is dying because of the Internet. This point and click shit is bullshit. Music needs big sound, lights, friends, dancing, attractive people having fun. That is when songs leave their mark the most, when its a huge event, an awesome show, or a kick ass club and scene. Without this, if people think clicking on blogs and web banners and iTunes can replace the spectacle of a great music scene, they are dead wrong. People are spending five hours a day managing their twenty blogs. This lazy, sit on your butt, point and click bullshit is another reason the scene has died... FUCK THE INTERNET! No Flash apps, no fancy web page, and no blog is going to impact a music listener like a club sound system with lights and a cool scene....
VF: Post Twisted Thought Generator VAC released several albums that were solely pre-released material that was remastered. How did it feel to go backwards on your musical timeline? Well, I was in a musical slump, and I was not inspired. Making music from TTG to Hex Angel was a long time, as was from Hex Angel to Lust for Blood. The tour broke my spirit in 2000... So we released the back catalog while I figured out how to pull my depressed head out of my ass.
VF: How was it received by your fans?
I don't have a direct line to every fan out there, and on the net, its not an accurate reading of the whole demograph. So I'm not sure how.. oh wait. Let me use my psychic painstick. Channeling....... ok, they are really happy with the emotion of the old records.
VF: On the most recent VAC albums, Lust For Blood, you brought in a studio guitarist (Todd Lumis) and drummer (Chris Kutz). Where did you find these individuals and how did this collaboration come to be?
Well, Chris was only drums on one song on the single. Todd helped on about 15 to 20% of the LP and single. He was great, but short lived. The band is just me again. He is working on his own project now that is nothing like VAC, or this kind of music. Its more pop.
VF: That coincides with what I’ve read in recent interviews, that you are working on the new album alone, I am interested to know, as well as are our readers, if anything has changed in this department?
Alone, so far. What I really want is a permanent female vocalist, but I cannot find one here.. Too bad... no one is devoted to the VAC religion. I am its sole member.
VF: On that note, I want to touch on a few personal details. Recently you posted a blog on MySpace stating your discontent with Denver, CO., and its scene. What prompted you to be so vocal about these issues?
How alone I am out here. I never meet the right people to make music with, just a bunch of phonies and fakes, here. Half ass. Too many family people… No one has time to make hit songs here, especially for someone as warped as me... It's depressing, I want to make videos, video games, all kinds of stuff. I want to work with make up artists, but I cant find anyone good out here.. it really sucks. I know I would fit right in LA. but who knows.. I might move out there to find musicians, video people, and make up people... I am no where close to being done with VAC...
VF: Do you worry about offending or alienating your home town fans?
AHAAHAHH! I don't worry about offending anyone! Life is about controversy and wars.
VF: In the same blog you had mentioned the desire to relocate VAC. In addition to L.A., do you have any destinations in mind and how will your reception differ in those particular places?
Portland, LA, Seattle. I would never move out east... So far, I'm favoring Portland... I hear Portland has these amazing swamp aliens that abduct you through underground tunnels. Sounds like my kind of thing.
VF: Speaking of sounds, you have spoken about several new bands (i.e. Psyclon Nine, Combichrist, and even Suicide Commando) and how you weren’t excited about theirs. Has this caused any backlash, as with your comments regarding VNV Nation?
The only band I still listen to from this scene is COVENANT! I think every one else is just… hmmm. Psyclon Nine has a great image and decent live show, but its about the songs in the end, and I cant remember any hooks or melodies from any of their stuff. Old Suicide Command is the fucking BOMB! The new stuff is too digital and I don’t like the production. Combichrist is just too simple for me, and any guy that wears a shirt that says “I hate goth,” Hmmm.. no thanks.. it's not that I hate these people, I just don't hear the "HITS". At least VNV had HITS OUT THE WAZOO! Who's stepped up? No one. The truth is, I listen to Goldfrapp, Fisherspooner, Miss Kitten and the Hacker, Ladytron, Meatbeat Manifesto, Juno Reactor, Astral Projection, Covenant, and Mindless Self Indulgence. Those are the bands I like, who are doing music now. It all has an edge, great production, and memorable songs. This is what music is about.
The public agrees with me. Look at how the scene has shrunk in all the towns. I mean, back when the scene was kick ass, from 1995 to 2002, Haujobb, Wumpscut, Covenant, VNV, and VAC, carried the scene through tons of catchy songs with memorable hooks and lyrics to sing along with. Now it is so dumbed down and simple, repetitive and boring, and no one cares. The only new band to come out recently that really has any promise is The Birthday Massacre. If P9 got some producers to help them with their songs, I think they could rise up next, but the music just isn’t strong enough right now. I hope they get help because I think the P9 guys are cool and have a ton of potential... When is the last time you heard a great song like "The Calling” or “She Said Destroy"(Death In June) that was super catchy come out of the Industrial/Goth scene? IT'S BEEN A WHILE....
VF: As a more positive example of your relation to other artists, you recently did a “VampireFreaks.com only” remix of NIN’s “Survivalism”. What influenced you to do this remix? Was it officially aligned with Interscope records, and did Trent contact you about this?
No, I just did it on my own to pay homage to NIN. I still respect him, even though he sold out. He still makes ok music. I liked the last two NIN records more than the last two Skinny Puppy records. Not as much as Ohgr’s Welt though. Welt is amazing. I wish Ohgr would have stuck to making stuff like that... VF: Surviving in the face of adversity has been a staple of VAC, whether it is label problems, drugs, or inner band turmoil. What has kept you going all these years, despite the hard times?
Now, my love of analog gear, my love of great songs, my love of music, my love for animals, and my love of being healthy. My loves, the few that I do have. Oh, and my hate for the world and the way it is. I am a misanthrope at heart.. Fed up with mankind... That is a huge staple in my musical diet.
VF: You also have the side project Toxic Coma to your credit. Has there been any further development of a release from this aspect or your work?
Toxic Coma is dead. The last one was the death nail. It was released for free, and in the end, no one cared really. It didn’t make me any money.. its too strange. I may do it again later, but now its all about VAC…
VF: One album that stands out in VAC’s vast discography is the remix wars with Funker Vogt. Are there any more plans for future remix war albums?
Not from me.
VF: Any particular artists that you would like to collaborate with on such a project?
I would love to work with Douglas P. from Death In June, or Rose Mcdowell. That would be the ultimate.... or hell, Gary Numan... he is amazing still too…
VF: Back to the topic of the new album, VAC has always used an endless amount of samples from movies (i.e. Seven, Fight Club, Star Trek, etc.). Are you going to continue in this theme, and if so, what movies are you planning to use for the upcoming VAC release?
There are not really good movies any more. I think that was a product of the times, now movies lack memorable lines. It’s gotten a lot worse.. So I don’t bother with samples anymore.. they are not inspiring.
VF: In the past, you’ve talked about VAC being featured on a video game. Has there been any progress with it?
NO. But lots of songs for lust for blood are featured in this Indy movie called The Highway Home.
VF: It is no secret that you are a strong Vegan. How do you think this way of life will affect you should you choose to tour again?
I will have twice as much energy, well, if I am a raw vegan that eats correctly. I will manage..
VF: With all of the ups and downs in your career you must have learned a great deal, to say the least, what advice can you offer our readers and your fans about pursuing a career in music?
It'S about the SONGS! The image and the rest comes later. No hits, no career. Its that simple. You need songs that stick in peoples heads, makes them think and feel and relate. If you cannot do that, do not even bother. So learn to write good songs. This is the most important aspect of it.. Oh, and being a devoted hardcore-never-quit-freak will help you along the way. This business is not for people who cannot take insults.
bryan i respect you 100% man, i got a few of your albums and a t-shirt, you were the first industrial band i listened to, i'm sorry you're going through hard times, you should goto college and get a degree and just continue your music career as a "fun" project and not worry about money due to everyone knows electronic bands can't make their career making money from albums
Bryan is amazing. So intelligent. His music means so much to me, and im glad to hear that VAC will still be going strong. Good luck finding musicians, Bryan. I have faith in you. <33
if you hate where you are move its not hard it feels hard, the romanticism of home but remember hate is not romantic it is in fact the exact antithesis equally beautiful, but opposite dreaming of life elsewhere and its possibilities is to remain invincibly ignorant, to go to those places is to be strong. i can't make someone elses art or live there life and the makeup of that life is the makeup of the artist so i can't be true to criticisms but i am a friend of logic and that is my recommendation to any parties in sympathy. if you rock you pack your shit and go to a rockin town. period. sorry for the rant i'm lit and trying to learn something and my time has been wasted. for future reference:
NIN has not sold out. TRENT has gotten old and content.
if you hate where you are move its not hard it feels hard, the romanticism of home but remember hate is not romantic it is in fact the exact antithesis equally beautiful, but opposite dreaming of life elsewhere and its possibilities is to remain invincibly ignorant, to go to those places is to be strong. i can't make someone elses art or live there life and the makeup of that life is the makeup of the artist so i can't be true to criticisms but i am a friend of logic and that is my recommendation to any parties in sympathy. if you rock you pack your shit and go to a rockin town. period. sorry for the rant i'm lit and trying to learn something and my time has been wasted. for future reference:
NIN has not sold out. TRENT has gotten old and content.
This is going to sound rather dumb but if you're looking for musicians, especially musicians who give a damn, go to the midwest. Specifically the Wisconsin-Minnesota-Illinois area.
Having lived in this area all my life and being much into music and all its facets, I'd say that you should have no problem finding people who're willing to go with you and play for the sake of playing.
Do you know what Socrates' last words were?
"I drank what?"
Bryan you're the best and I cant live without VAC I hope you find some good musicians and get to tour some time and bring toxic coma back I Love it!!!!
aS USUAL i DON'T AGREE WITH A DAMN THING YOU SAY BUT i STILL LOVE YOUR MUSIC AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEW ALBUM. i WISH YOU'D CONSIDER DOING A LIMITED TOUR THO. i KNOW PEOPLE WOULD COME SEE YOU IN hOUSTON.
our last tour was in support of Twisted Thought Generator, back in 2000-2001. Are there any tours, even a European one, in store for your fans?
! Make Me A Sign Damn It ! 
I love VAC!
:neurogenocide | 
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never subtle, always effective 
sadomasokitten 
