Mister Monster is somewhat of a legend in the horrorpunk-scene. With their very own style called "Boo Wop" the band gave their fans something unique. They are definitely
one of our all time favorite bands and actually one of the reasons why the
Graveyard Greaser Gang was founded in the first place. After years of silence,
Mister Monster thrilled their fans with a reunion show last year to celebrate
the 10th anniversary of their debut album “Over your dead Body”. As proud
Skeleton Crew members, we’re happy that we got the opportunity to ask J~Sin
Trioxin some questions about the past, present and future of the band. 2-4-5...Read!
GGG: Mister Monster is one of the milestones of Horrorpunk. Did you ever
expect that when you started the band?
Jason Trioxin: Not at all. Im still surprised to this day when I see how much people dig this music. I don't think it's bad music, but it's just amazing to me that people love it as much as I love The Stray Cats or The Damned. Mister Monster was originally started as a side band, I was in a band and around 1996/97 is when I wrote "Prom Night" "Dead Flesh Gurl" and "Little Frankenstein" the singer for the band hated these songs and told me to go do them somewhere else, probably some of the best advice I ever got.
GGG: Not too long ago, you had a reunion show. How did that idea come up?
J.T: We had realized it was coming up on 10 years that "Over Your Dead Body" was released and we wanted to give the fans a reason to celebrate. It was gonna be with the "Over Your Dead Body" line-up or nothing at all. So after JV and I spoke about it, we talked to Paul Lifeless and Germs who were both really into it. We only did about 2-3 rehearsals and just got up, did our thing, and it was fuckin great.
GGG: Why did Mister Monster quit in the first place?
J.T: We never really quit, there was no nail in the coffin. We just kinda all separated because we were all doing our own thing. Im always writing tunes and not a day goes by where I don't get asked about it.
GGG: Between “Over Your Dead Body” and the reunion-show you joined different bands for short time - like Blitzkid, Michale Graves or Wednesday13. Did you ever have the thought to stay with one of these bands?
J.T: I never expect to stay in any band for an extended time, so when I end up doing more than 1 tour it always feels nice for me. I was very pleased when Blitzkid asked if I'd join and produce their album. I was even more honored when Michale Graves called me up and asked me to jump on the "Punk Rock Is Dead" tour. And I had an amazing time playing guitar for Wednesday 13. That band took me around the world and back, some of my favorite show experiences were in Wednesday 13. They all hold a special place with me for different reasons.
GGG: What’s the main-diffrence for you playing with Mister Monster or another band?
J.T: With another band it's more relaxing for me mentally, because I know its not MY show, Im playing for someone else's band, which is fun as hell. Being in Mister Monster is more of a mental challenge for me. Im more nervous because these are my songs that I wrote and I sing, and I know more eyes are on me than in any of the other bands I've been in. So its a little more nerve racking but at the same time the appreciation from fans is that much deeper.
GGG: How did it feel to stand on stage again as Mister Monster after so many years?
J.T: Almost like we never missed a beat. I wasn't worried about us messing up because it just felt right, and the crowed was WAY into it.
GGG: Have you missed the band? Your fans sure have!
J.T: Thanks! thats great to hear! Of course I miss it. What I miss most is making records. Don't get me wrong, I Love singing all those old Monster songs for the die-hard fans. But Im reeeeally anxious to get into the studio and make some new Mister Monster songs. My career has brought me onstage for most of my adult life, so while I do miss being onstage in Mister Monster, I miss the creative process much more.
GGG: How was the reaction to the reunion show and how many people were there?
J.T: It was amazing, we sold the place out by the time we went onstage. I had fans come up to me after that I remembered meeting when we first released "Over Your Dead Body" and people that got into the band later on, who never thought they'd get to see us. So I'm glad everyone was happy, because I know they came from all over the country. I didn't want to do it as a nostalgia-act or as a new membered band. I wanted to do it right and I think we did.
Jason Trioxin: Not at all. Im still surprised to this day when I see how much people dig this music. I don't think it's bad music, but it's just amazing to me that people love it as much as I love The Stray Cats or The Damned. Mister Monster was originally started as a side band, I was in a band and around 1996/97 is when I wrote "Prom Night" "Dead Flesh Gurl" and "Little Frankenstein" the singer for the band hated these songs and told me to go do them somewhere else, probably some of the best advice I ever got.
GGG: Not too long ago, you had a reunion show. How did that idea come up?
J.T: We had realized it was coming up on 10 years that "Over Your Dead Body" was released and we wanted to give the fans a reason to celebrate. It was gonna be with the "Over Your Dead Body" line-up or nothing at all. So after JV and I spoke about it, we talked to Paul Lifeless and Germs who were both really into it. We only did about 2-3 rehearsals and just got up, did our thing, and it was fuckin great.
GGG: Why did Mister Monster quit in the first place?
J.T: We never really quit, there was no nail in the coffin. We just kinda all separated because we were all doing our own thing. Im always writing tunes and not a day goes by where I don't get asked about it.
 |
| "Over Your Dead Body" |
GGG: Between “Over Your Dead Body” and the reunion-show you joined different bands for short time - like Blitzkid, Michale Graves or Wednesday13. Did you ever have the thought to stay with one of these bands?
J.T: I never expect to stay in any band for an extended time, so when I end up doing more than 1 tour it always feels nice for me. I was very pleased when Blitzkid asked if I'd join and produce their album. I was even more honored when Michale Graves called me up and asked me to jump on the "Punk Rock Is Dead" tour. And I had an amazing time playing guitar for Wednesday 13. That band took me around the world and back, some of my favorite show experiences were in Wednesday 13. They all hold a special place with me for different reasons.
GGG: What’s the main-diffrence for you playing with Mister Monster or another band?
J.T: With another band it's more relaxing for me mentally, because I know its not MY show, Im playing for someone else's band, which is fun as hell. Being in Mister Monster is more of a mental challenge for me. Im more nervous because these are my songs that I wrote and I sing, and I know more eyes are on me than in any of the other bands I've been in. So its a little more nerve racking but at the same time the appreciation from fans is that much deeper.
GGG: How did it feel to stand on stage again as Mister Monster after so many years?
J.T: Almost like we never missed a beat. I wasn't worried about us messing up because it just felt right, and the crowed was WAY into it.
GGG: Have you missed the band? Your fans sure have!
J.T: Thanks! thats great to hear! Of course I miss it. What I miss most is making records. Don't get me wrong, I Love singing all those old Monster songs for the die-hard fans. But Im reeeeally anxious to get into the studio and make some new Mister Monster songs. My career has brought me onstage for most of my adult life, so while I do miss being onstage in Mister Monster, I miss the creative process much more.
 |
J~Sin
Trioxin and J.V. Bastard at the reunion show, december 16 2011
|
GGG: How was the reaction to the reunion show and how many people were there?
J.T: It was amazing, we sold the place out by the time we went onstage. I had fans come up to me after that I remembered meeting when we first released "Over Your Dead Body" and people that got into the band later on, who never thought they'd get to see us. So I'm glad everyone was happy, because I know they came from all over the country. I didn't want to do it as a nostalgia-act or as a new membered band. I wanted to do it right and I think we did.
GGG: You’ve played another show together with CK5, Vagora and Darrow Chemical
Company. Can we expect even more?
J.T: Yes! But not until we are releasing our new album, I don't want to keep playing the same songs over and over, Its time for some NEW BLOOD.
GGG: Back then, there was talk about another album. "Generic For Vicodin". What ever happened to that one?
J.T: Well I had this guy in the band who I thought was a good fit, but after review of some of the demos I didn't really like where it was going, so i scrapped it all. I haven't been working on "Generic For Vicodin" this whole time. That album got scrapped long ago.
GGG: There was a plan to release a cd and dvd of the reunion show. According to some posts on internet, this recordings will never see the light of day. Can you tell us why?
J.T: That is internet non-sense, that show will definatley see the light of day. We are just deciding how we want to release it. We dont know if we are going to release the show on its own, or as part of an entire DVD of shows/interviews/studio footage etc. I don't want to release a live DVD, and then 6 months later make people pay for another DVD with some other stuff we could've put on the first one.
GGG: For Xmas you recorded “Baby Please Come Home” and put it up on boowop.com for free download. How did that idea come up? And why did you choose this song?
J.T: We wanted to do something for the fans because we know they're always hungry. So I called JV and asked if he'd be into the idea and he was all about it. I chose that song because I knew we could do it and make it sound like one of ours, and It's no secret I'm a fan of Phil Spector. It was free download because I didn't feel right making people pay for one cover song...plus we recorded it for a bottle of Maker's Mark at Loki's studio so it all worked out great.
GGG: Ofcourse, your fans were thrilled seeing a comeback on stage. Will there ever be a real comeback of the band?
J.T: Absolutely. JV and I speak almost daily. It's always there. It's just a matter of 4 guys with 4 separate careers. So getting everyone together to put an album together is kinda tough, getting them together for a tour is even harder, but it will happen with all the usual suspects on board.
GGG: What’s your favorite memory, thinking about the beginning of Mister Monster?
J.T: Probably the first show, and seeing that everyone was into it. I was known as a bassist in a Ministry-type band back then, so for people to accept me as a front-man was cool. Then the first time we traveled out of state and I saw people singing our words, that was cool. I guess just realizing that this side-project was now a full-fledged band.
GGG: Out of all you’ve accomplished with the band, what are you the most proud of?
J.T: Seeing people get our logo tattooed. I mean, to me, getting a tattoo is a sacred thing. I know in the more recent years it's become more popular and commercial, but still, to see people are into our music that much just really means the fucking world to me. Also, the fact that we've withstood the test-of-time. Let's face it, Mister Monster hasn't toured or put out a new album in years, but we still have a growing number of fans and the original fans are still there. To survive in a sub-culture of music, where new younger bands are popping up almost monthly, really means alot.
J.T: Yes! But not until we are releasing our new album, I don't want to keep playing the same songs over and over, Its time for some NEW BLOOD.
GGG: Back then, there was talk about another album. "Generic For Vicodin". What ever happened to that one?
J.T: Well I had this guy in the band who I thought was a good fit, but after review of some of the demos I didn't really like where it was going, so i scrapped it all. I haven't been working on "Generic For Vicodin" this whole time. That album got scrapped long ago.
GGG: There was a plan to release a cd and dvd of the reunion show. According to some posts on internet, this recordings will never see the light of day. Can you tell us why?
J.T: That is internet non-sense, that show will definatley see the light of day. We are just deciding how we want to release it. We dont know if we are going to release the show on its own, or as part of an entire DVD of shows/interviews/studio footage etc. I don't want to release a live DVD, and then 6 months later make people pay for another DVD with some other stuff we could've put on the first one.
GGG: For Xmas you recorded “Baby Please Come Home” and put it up on boowop.com for free download. How did that idea come up? And why did you choose this song?
J.T: We wanted to do something for the fans because we know they're always hungry. So I called JV and asked if he'd be into the idea and he was all about it. I chose that song because I knew we could do it and make it sound like one of ours, and It's no secret I'm a fan of Phil Spector. It was free download because I didn't feel right making people pay for one cover song...plus we recorded it for a bottle of Maker's Mark at Loki's studio so it all worked out great.
GGG: Ofcourse, your fans were thrilled seeing a comeback on stage. Will there ever be a real comeback of the band?
J.T: Absolutely. JV and I speak almost daily. It's always there. It's just a matter of 4 guys with 4 separate careers. So getting everyone together to put an album together is kinda tough, getting them together for a tour is even harder, but it will happen with all the usual suspects on board.
 |
| Mister Monster logo of their fanclub the Skeleton Crew |
GGG: What’s your favorite memory, thinking about the beginning of Mister Monster?
J.T: Probably the first show, and seeing that everyone was into it. I was known as a bassist in a Ministry-type band back then, so for people to accept me as a front-man was cool. Then the first time we traveled out of state and I saw people singing our words, that was cool. I guess just realizing that this side-project was now a full-fledged band.
GGG: Out of all you’ve accomplished with the band, what are you the most proud of?
J.T: Seeing people get our logo tattooed. I mean, to me, getting a tattoo is a sacred thing. I know in the more recent years it's become more popular and commercial, but still, to see people are into our music that much just really means the fucking world to me. Also, the fact that we've withstood the test-of-time. Let's face it, Mister Monster hasn't toured or put out a new album in years, but we still have a growing number of fans and the original fans are still there. To survive in a sub-culture of music, where new younger bands are popping up almost monthly, really means alot.
J.T: I recently graduated with a 3.5 from the Institute of Audio Research in New
York. I learned the in's and out's of the technical end of recording. I always
wanted to be a producer, and I knew if I really wanted to go forward with this,
I had to learn all aspects of recording. So I'd like to start producing bands
more. I did the Blitzkid record (5 Cellars Below) and I am real proud of that
album. The writing was there from the beginning, and TB and Gools did an
amazing job with the songs, but it takes more than good writing for an album to
sound good. I didn't feel that Blitzkid was properly captured in the studio
prior to that recording. I have people coming up to me telling me they can hear
my style on that album. So I'd like to continue doing that kind of work,
pushing bands to get the best they can give. Im not making anyone better, just
bringing out their full potential.
GGG: Thanks for your time. Is there anything you'd like to say to the people out there?
J.T: Thank YOU for the oppurtunity and thank you to the Skeleton Crew for constantly giving me and the rest of the guys a reason to continue to make this music..Stay Dead!! JT
GGG: Thanks for your time. Is there anything you'd like to say to the people out there?
J.T: Thank YOU for the oppurtunity and thank you to the Skeleton Crew for constantly giving me and the rest of the guys a reason to continue to make this music..Stay Dead!! JT
Mister Monster on the internet:
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