Rob: Roadburn is a pretty extensive site with lots of information about the stoner rock scene...Who got the idea to do Roadburn, and give us a break down on how it works...
Walter: I used to work as a professional rock journalist in the 90`s and started to write about stonerrock from `96 on. My articles were published in a Dutch magazine called Watt, and one day Roadrunner got in touch with the magazine about doing a stonerrock compilation. They released the "Burn One Up", the first stoner comp. ever, as a result --all my articles were used as a resource for this comp, but I had nothing to do with the actual album, unfortunately.
I wrote some articles about stonerrock and doom to coincide with the release of �Burn One Up" and shortly after Zomba/ Rough Trade gave me the opportunity to put together a compilation, titled "Stoned Revolution, The Ultimate Trip", including sleeve artwork by Frank Kozik and with liner notes from Lee Dorrian.
Throughout the years I had got in touch with both of them and the likes of Josh Homme, Michael Amott, Dave Wyndorf, Scott Hill and Eva from Beaver. We were trading tapes and they were also the resources for all my writings about stoner and doom. When the magazine suddenly went bankrupt, I became unemployed. A very good friend of mine, Peter, liked my articles, and he builds the Roadburn website [in June 1998] so that I could continue my work.
Eva and Jurgen [he worked for Watt as well] joined us, and together with Michel from 35007 we put up my articles from Watt-magazine at first. With the help from some of the aforementioned artists, we started to put up articles in English as well, and suddenly lots of bands and readers [like Dave Gedge from Bad Acid, Drew, Sean Plamerston and later A. Descartes] asked if they could join us in making of Roadburn.
From that moment on the site really exploded [1999] and we decided to entirely focus on the English language in order to create a direct link between our readers and the underground -that was and still is our main goal, and everyone from John Garcia to Lee Dorrian and from Wino to Bill Steer have been writing for us since then.
Another goal is to provide the bands writings with artwork that fits their music, and from the first day on the artwork is a major part of the website --thanks to Eva and Chris Dexters.
Throughout the last couple of the years we have been covering the cutting edge while still honoring the forefathers. We recently cut back on reviews to just a handful each month coz` we couldn`t keep up with the avalanche of mediocre releases. We like to write about music that really moves us, whether its stonerrock, doom, riff rock, heavy psych or garage rock. We focus our attention on a handpicked selection of `underground bands` and albums to benefit our readers by providing better writing and to benefit us by keeping our sanity. We all have our day jobs and make Roadburn just for the labor of love.
The Roadburn Festivals are a spin off from the website and have gained a cult reputation; on the bill were bands like of Masters of Reality, featuring Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri, Fu Manchu, Nebula, Spirit Caravan, Firebird, 35007, Beaver, Cathedral, Orange Goblin and Atomic Bitchwax among others.
We have been able to put up live webcasts [audio and even some video] from almost all the festivals we did. One of Holland`s foremost national networks` VPRO/3VOOR12 has helped us out the last couple of years by doing live webcasts from the 7th and 8th Roadburn festival. These webcasts are still available on demand.
Another part of Roadburn and the Roadburn Festivals is the Spaced Out Roadburn Video show [that`s me and Xander77]. We provide bands with strong, mind altering imagery while they play live, and have done over 60 video shows the last two years --for the likes of Electric Wizard, Zen Guerrilla, WE, Raging Slab and Sons of Otis to name but a few. We recently got in touch with Rich from Robot Monster who`s helping us out with the video shows; we`re currently working on shows for Los Natas, Bongzilla and Astrosoniq.
Rob: What do you think of the stoner rock scene? And how has it changed your life?
Walter: I think that the stonerrock scene changed a lot over the years. At first it was all about a genuine form of music inspired by a firm love for the heavy 70s It was also about meeting like minded people, trading tapes and helping out each other. That�s a main part of Roadburn as well. When we started out, we tended to help out all the bands that we were or became friends with, and we still do, although on a lesser extend [like promoting them as good as possible or help them to get in touch with bookings agencies, label executives etc etc].
I finally got the chance to get in touch with people who where on the same wave length and over the years I met tons of bands and people like Jadd and Aaron from Meteorcity who stayed at my place when they were in Europe a few years ago. The same goes for Luciano Gaglio from Stonerrock Rules; he came all the way from Italy to be a part of the first Roadburn Festivals in 1999 [even Nicole Warpburner dropped by]. It was a huge kind of family back then, as Josh Homme liked to put it, and I was very happy to be a part of it. I dropped by at gigs to spin cult records that both the bands and the audience liked a lot. There was certainly something going on at that time!
When stonerrock suddenly became the next big thing the scene really changed; opportunistic bands, labels, promoters and venues tried to capitalize financially on the stonerrock trend only to find out that things weren`t as lucrative as they fantasized.
The `stoner scene` also started to stagnate [showing signs of over saturation] and part of it became really superficial. Too many bands took the sound of Kyuss, QoTSA, Fu Manchu or Black Sabbath as a blueprint for this kind of music, and the scene started to decline.
Last year was a transitional year for stonerrock. The excitement level seemed to lessen a lot [with the exception of a few bands], and now we are left with quality doom, hard rock and garage music. I can only hope. As far as 2003 goes it seems that it will definitely be Wino`s year coz` both The Hidden Hand and Place of Skulls are doom history in the making. These kind of releases give me the energy to keep working on Roadburn and offer our readers quality.
Rob: What are some of your favorite bands that you are listening to right now? How about your 10 favorite CDs that are in heavy listening rotation as we are speaking...
My all time favorite bands are Jim Hendrix, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Birds and Hawkwind. I also firmly embrace Dusty Springfield, Carole King, Emmylou Harris & The Carpenters. All of them are always in heavy rotation here at the Walter house.
As far as stonerrock and doom goes, I have been listening a lot to The Hidden Hand - "Divine Propaganda", Colour Haze - "Los Sounds De Krauts", Place of Skulls -"With Vision", Firebird - "No.3", Five Horse Johnson -"The Last Men on Earth", 35007 - "Liquid" , The Glasspack - "American Exhaust" [vinyl], Dead Meadow -"Shivering King and Others", Paul Chain - "The Improvisor" and Gas Giants` "Mana" this year.
Rob: Working on the internet can be tough at times, what do find is your most frustrating experiences doing what you do.
Walter: The most frustrating experience about working on the internet is to find out that several websites use stuff from Roadburn without quoting it. It`s very hard to maintain such an extended site as Roadburn. I don`t mind when other website editors use it, but it would be really nice to quote Roadburn as the source.
Rob: How often do you work on the site?
Walter: I work on Roadburn all the time, especially on the news pages. I like to come up with extended news features instead of official press statements and that takes a lot of hard work. I have to divide my time between either writing for Roadburn or editing video shows. When we didn`t update the site for a couple of days, I have been editing video shows instead.
Rob: What are some of your special interests outside of music?
Walter: I really love mind altering movies and art. I love to read about it [I recently discovered the hand painted pictures from Stan Brakhage], and visit friends to see some good films. I also love the company of my long time girlfriend and just hangin` on the couch, the two of us, watching mind numbing television or walk around the city.
Rob: Who are some of the trippiest people that you have done interviews with in person?
Walter: Very tough question...most of all the bands I`m in touch with are quite trippy, but I`m kinda freakish myself, hahaha. I met the most trippiest people when I used to work as a professional rock journalist though. I witnessed a huge argument in the Korn camp, and got thrown out of the interview room. I spoke to Danzig about SM and asked him if it`s the most tender thing a man can do to a woman; he wasn`t amused at all. When I was introduced to Peter Steele he was quite busy to persuade two girls to have a threesome with him -one girl said yes immediately.
I also witnessed Manowar`s Joey Demaio sticking his finger into a girls` drippin` pussy while we met. As she was moaning like hell, an outrageous fan came up, clad like a Viking, and asked for his autograph. The fun part was that he was carrying a wooden sword which Joey had to sign. When he did, the guy bursted out in tears, yelling that Manowar were the kings of metal.
Rob: How has the internet on a whole change your life? And just how important is it to your everyday life?
Walter: Internet gave me the opportunity to got directly in touch with the bands I love and to make a website like Roadburn. And I got to know people like Drew, Luciano & Chris and happen to meet them as well and become friends. That`s so amazing! I can`t think about a life without internet.
When I want to read about bands, artists and movies I love, I surf the web for info instead of buying lots of magazines [I love to read Mojo and Uncut though]. There are really no boundaries anymore and that is what I like the most about the web.
Rob: Give us a list of some of your favorite websites on the internet - whether it`s band, zine or just plain out of control funny...
Walter: I use the internet mostly as a resource for the making of Roadburn, and I visit lots and lots of sites from bands and record companies. It`s almost impossible to list all the sites I love, but I visit Stonerrock.com several times a week and I `m visiting these sites about 60`s and 70`s rock a lot:
Dreams, Fantasies & Nightmares
http://www.borderlinebooks.com/dreams/dreams.html
Fuzz Acid & Flowers
http://www.borderlinebooks.com/us6070s/fuzz.html
The Tapestry of Delights
http://www.borderlinebooks.com/uk6070s/tapestry.html
Rob: Anything you would like to say or share with the community at StonerRock.com?
Walter: I feel honored to do this interview. I have done over 500+ interviews since 1989, but this is only the second time I got asked questions, and the first time for a well known website. Thanks for the opportunity to tell you all about my passion called Roadburn!!!
Rob: If you weren�t a webzine editor, what would you most like to be?
Walter: I`m a website editor for fun. Roadburn is just a hobby. I wanted to be a social worker, and I became one.
Rob: What was your worst gig attended and why? What was your best gig and why?
Walter: I`ve seen Nebula, Unida, Fatso Jetson and Goatsnake play De Effenaar, Eindhoven Rockcity the day after Dynamo Open Air [can`t remember the year though, but I think it was 1999]. It was by far the most legendary stoner/doom gig that I ever attended. When Goatsnake played it seemed that the walls came tumbling down.
I ran away when I saw the Smashing Pumpkins. I loved that band, but they sucked live.
Rob: Top three movies, books and albums of all time?
Walter:
Movies:
Francis Ford Copola`s - "Apocalypse Now"
Kenneth Angers "Scorpio Rising"
Woodstock - "3 days of Peace and Music, The Directors Cut"
Albums:
Jim Hendrix - "Electric Ladyland"
Led Zeppelin - "I"
Crosby Stills Nash & Young - "Deja Vu"
Books:
Hunter S Thompson - "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas"
Charles Bokowski - "Post Office"
Herman Brusselmans - "De Man Die Werk Vond"
Rob: What is the most rock `n` roll thing you`ve ever done?
Walter: Being stoned for almost 8 years and still graduate from college !!! The day I quite smoking pot and gettin` sober was rock and roll too though.
Rob: What`s the most rock `n` roll thing you`ve seen someone else do?
Walter: Witnessed a friend to almost thrown away his life, but gladly he came to his senses and went into rehab. That`s also rock `n roll!
Rob: What`s your worst "bad trip" story?
Walter: Smoking pure hash oil, going to a gig and waking up in a ditch, sitting in a car with several friends. I still can`t remember the ride though.
Rob: How old were you when you first realize you wanted to rock?
Walter: I was 15 when I heard Motorhead for the first time and that completely changed my life. From that moment on my life was dedicated to rock and 23 years later I`m still enjoying rock music as much as I did back then.
Rob: What`s the most embarrassing job you ever had?
Walter: Working at a supermarket. I still have nightmares about it. I dropped out of high school and my parents forced me to work there. When I got sacked, I got back to school right away.
Rob: If you could date any rock star dead or alive in the world, who would it be? Movie star?
Walter: I would love to date Karen Carpenter.
Rob: what would be the ultimate dream gig of all time line-up be (bands dead or alive) and Where?
Walter: I`d love to see Hendrix. Or the Birds. Don`t matter where!
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