BAND: Cancer Bats
INTERVIEWER: Sarah Connolly (SarahC@bandvibe.com)
INTERVIEWEE: Liam Cormier of Cancer Bats
DATE OF INTERVIEW: 02.16.09

BAND MEMBERS:
Liam Cormier - Vocals
Scott Middleton- Guitar
Mike Petters- Drums
Jaye Schwarzer- Bass

Sarah: How did you guys come together as a band?

Liam: The band started four years ago. Scott and I met and he was playing in a metal band at the time. He was like you know i like this stuff but I would love to be in a hardcore band. I wanna do something a little more straight forward. He was always into bands like Down and Pantera but we also into all the same hardcore bands. We got really excited by all the up and coming bands at the time and wanted to take things from our favorites and do something. So Scott and I just literally started writing songs together and a weekend where we had band practice. I was playing drums and he was playing guitar and we wrote twos songs. We thought it was awesome so it seems like from that point we just started kinda making it a full time thing. It was funny cause I was supposed to go on tour with his band and do merch for them, so i got time off work and was free but it ended up getting cancelled. I had a month to do whatever. So I took the month to sit there and we both really concentrated on Cancer Bats. In the end i went up to the singer of his band and was like if you band isn't gonna do anything then I am gonna make Cancer Bats Scott's focus and he said it was fine. So i got the sign off form him and I was like its on.

Sarah: Where did you come up with you name?

Liam: I came up with the name before we started the band. I was at work putting animals with diseases and I thought of Cancer Bats and really liked it. I thought it sounded exactly how I wanted the band to sound like a dirty, metal, rock and roll band.

Sarah: What inspired you to make music?

Liam: It has always been a really big part of my life. When I was a little kid listening to records and getting into stuff like that and eventually playing music. Originally I was gonna play drums in a band but when I was 17 a friend of mine asked me to sing for his punk band and I just stuck with it.

Sarah: Being from Canada, How is it touring in the states? What do you like better?

Liam: It’s different. I don't think it’s better or worse. There is defiantly up sides. We have been touring so much in Canada so we have like a built in fan base. For us coming to the US its like starting over and part of that is really fun. Having a ton of new kids around finding out about out band but going home and playing shows on our own and being really successful is really nice. Especially with a tour like this mainly in the US and the last two weeks in Canada its like our victory lap. I love how cheap how you gas is in the US.

Sarah: How is Taste of Chaos so far?

Liam: So far it’s been awesome and even though its still early on everyone is already getting along. It’s running like a well oiled machine. I think cause its a bigger tour and its been running for a while the people and the crew know how to get everything done. For us its just rad and we are friends with all the other bands. So to now be on tour with them its great.

Sarah: What city are you looking forward to playing the most?

Liam: There are some spots we do really well. I love mid-north east. Anything close to Canada we do really well but i love Chicago and the whole west coast.

Sarah: What is your favorite song to play live?

Liam: We have a song that we have been playing since our very first demo, that we still play every single show, that’s still really greats. Its a song called "Shilaeli" and its one of my favorites.

Sarah: How do you know when you've had a good show?

Liam: When your soaking wet with sweat, can’t hide the smile, and high fives to the kids at the end.

Sarah: What do you think you would be doing for a living if you were a musician?

Liam: I think i would do tour managing and merch until I am forced to get a real job. This whole world is what i love to do so just to be connected to it.

Sarah: Have you gotten the response you wanted from you newest album, Hail Destroyer?

Liam: Well the thing is that when we were finishing it we were really really nervous. At first we were stoked but cause people were listening to it and say like this is heavy but then it was like what if its too heavy. So we though kid would be bummed and the fact that in the end people liked it and a bunch of new people liked it just made it that much better.

Sarah: What is the craziest thing that has happened to you on tour?

Liam: I don't know if its that crazy but we got robbed. In Canada we sometimes play two shows in one day, one all ages and the other at a bar. So while we were playing someone broke into our van and stole all my stuff and all of our merch guys stuff. Passport, all my clothes, it was just a bad situation.

Sarah: Where would you like to see yourselves in a year?

Liam: I don't know. The thing about this bad we have never set out any specific goals. Personally I would just like to be tour at this level still and if nothing changes i will still be happy. I find if you build this stuff up you get let down. When you just go out and work as hard as you can and not get expect anything you tend to not get let down. I know that’s more of a non answer but I feel that’s what we have be doing with this band the whole time and we are stoked with anything that happens.

Sarah: Any thing else you want to say to your fans?

Liam: We are thinking new album 2010 just to keep the momentum going. Playing a tour in the fall and tour more.

Sarah: Anything else you want to say?

Liam: Well I am really excited to be in Chico and I can't wait to party here tonight. After everyone coming up to me and telling me that Chico is crazy. I am excited.

For more official information on Cancer Bats, please log onto:
http://www.cancerbats.com/
http://www.myspace.com/cancerbats