Gene Olivarri: Great food and pure metal! Lol!
OCZ: Would you ever go on the show, "The Heavy Metal Cooking Show" and show them how to make a kick ass burger?
Gene: Yeah show them how to make em Texas Style huge burgers EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS!
OCZ: How big has the metal scene grown over the past few years in Texas?
Gene: Well in Texas were like a small Europe in America. Many of your big metal artist today made their names coming here to play. Since the 80's there's metal everywhere from the smallest Texas town to the bigger Texas city's. the scene here in San Antonio,Texas is a good size but not what it once was in it's hay day in the 80's
OCZ: In your opinion, why do you feel that the scene has become smaller and how can we improve it?
Gene: I feel people should go to more shows feel the music nothing beats watching the drums,bass, guitar and, powerful metal vocals go at it in a live setting. to make it better well people need to stop depending on all this social media and YouTube to see bands i mean hell get some of your metal buddies and go out there and have some fun stop being such a lame hermit behind the computer all day and go chum up with your fellow metal-heads and have a good time.
OCZ: I agree, these days more people are taping the full shows and some feel why bother going when I can see it posted on You Tube in the the next day or two. There are some bands who don't allow anyone to tape them. Do you think more bands should put a ban on taping their shows?
Gene: Well its pretty much taboo good and bad it helps promote the band through people physically instead of using the old inter-web but it back fires on the artist people need to stop taking music for granted and go out their and support your favorite band instead of being like oh well i saw on this site or that one for free. I mean what do they feel oh i got one over the band no your only do it to yourself cause when the show comes the tickets are expensive and they ask why the t-shirts are so expensive too well your not buying the CD if people bought more Cd’s all these price's would go down cause being a musician is a job day in day out and these artist have to make a living to provide for themselves and families. How would an employee that works for a company feel if no one went to stores anymore where they work and everything went internet and better prices cheaper or for free they wouldn't make money to provide anymore i feel this is whats happening to music and for bands to tour its get really bad.
OCZ: Indeed, the internet has its pros and cons it helps bands in one way and destroys it in another. These days many venue bands have to sell tickets, rent out a venue themselves or have a huge head count at the door in order to take the stage. What is most of the methods clubs and venues do in Texas?
Gene: They do Facebook a lot photoshop and bam! their you go a flier to promote. It's mainly like everywhere else they use radio as well at times or physical fliers or word of mouth
OCZ: Speaking of Facebook, many bands use the event section to help promote their shows. I've noticed that some will say they are attending and as we both know things will arise they can't make it. Do you depend on those numbers for your shows?
Gene: Not too much cause I mean just cause a band has 2000 likes I mean really do 2000 people go to see you of course not there's only a small number of people there or no one just didn't come out to see you. I go out there to tell people and get them to go to shows the best way we can.
OCZ: Reckon the old school days, its best to attend shows at the venue your band will be playing at within a week or two and strike up a metal conversation. Do you find the old method of promoting through word of mouth, face to face or better through internet social media or a combination?
Gene: Yes, cause your inviting them to come out and have a few drinks and laughs and just an all around good time. We use a combo of it all but more telling people face to face.
OCZ: I agree, getting out there when you can and interacting with people with the same metal interest helps a lot more, besides gaining new friendships and supporters. I know that you're always pushing DiRiGiRi unstoppable. How many hours a week would you say you take time out to promote and do the other members help you with promotions?
Gene: To be honest I do it all day everyday I stay up into the morning hours calling other countries dealing with labels cause its 3 or 4 am here but its noon time over there and their up do business so I gotta stay up and keep the consistency going for the Dirigiri CD for people to know our music and us and my band members help out a lot too finding new distribution and different avenues for sales.
OCZ: I understand your sleeping habits get screwed up because of interacting with other countries. Before discussing about your different distributions. How often do you guys play shows and do you have any lined up in the next few months?
Gene: Right now the guys take their time off for the holidays to spend with their families as we get to mid January we pick up on practicing to get everything up to par for our live performance's. We will be doing more shows from February till the end of the summer playing shows here in our hometown of San Antonio, Texas and doing some outside of the state touring as well we just have to start talking to promoters outta state that were back up and running.
OCZ: You need that time with your family and taken a brief break so you're not burnt out. What states would you like to play this year that you haven't all ready?
Gene: We have been talking about playing New York, New Jersey, Arkansas, Louisiana, to name a few
OCZ: Great states to play. Will you be playing any fest this year?
Gene: As of right now we having been talking to the Maryland death fest about us getting on the bill there hopefully it goes through we just gotta wait and see.
OCZ: I would like to try an attend it myself this year. When you play shows do most venues allow you to set up a march table? What type of merchandise do you have at the moment for sale?
Gene: Right now we have t-shirts with the E.P. cover printed on the front and other designs with the Dirigiri logo on it and our CD. Yes we are allowed everywhere to set up and sell our stuff that’s really what it has come down to try to play at your best every night to sell your performance that way people will buy your CD at shows and t-shirts.
OCZ: I've noticed that you worked hard on getting many distributors to help with selling your E.P. and spreading the word out. How has Helldprod and Murder Records helped you so far? How often do you have to restock with them?
Gene: Helldprod and Murder Records just got their batch of Dirigiri Cd’s it just went on sale worldwide and also in the Netherlands,Holland,Portugal their 3 stores but other i have had to re-stock them pretty quick. They have also helped in putting us in magazines across seas and zines as well and playing our CD in
there stores pushing the CD really hard.
OCZ: That's great that they're also getting you contacts for interviews and reviews. Do you have any record label interest for your next release?
Gene: Yes, we do but we do not want to be owned by anyone Dirigiri just cut out all the middle men and we came outta Texas swinging with this CD we just do the business ourselves we won't put our future and musical careers in anyone’s hands but our own. the hard we work the more we see outta it and reek the benefits for our hard-work will, ambition and hard-work for great results.
OCZ: What about a label to help you with touring or do you see yourselves doing that all yourselves as well?
Gene: Yes we have been contacted by a few booking agencies but we just have to
choose who's going to give us a good amount of work and the right company to go with that is on the same page as us.
OCZ: Indeed, there are many great booking agencies out there. Do you plan on using a few of them them or would you rather just go through one?
Gene; I want to use a few of them cause they all have different contacts and certain areas they focus on and we need all these things for us to complete the goals we have.
OCZ: In the underground your self-title E.P. "Dirigible" has been mentioned a lot. How long did it take you to write this E.P. and where was it recorded?
Gene; It didn't take very long the band has great chemistry together so we always have good ideas in what songs we want to record on our Cd’s as of right now 3 Cd’s are already done we just gotta go in and record them all with good time but we want every CD to have its own life and live. The E.P. was recorded at DNR Studios with Dennis Munoz guitarist of the legendary Death/thrash band Soltice from Florida he took us under his wing he had major faith in us that this CD would do great for the metal masses.
OCZ: Did you learn any tips form Dennis Munoz during your recording process?
Gene: Yes, when you record it is always a learning environment for the artist in accomplishing what you wanna hear through those speakers and how to make your listeners a punching bag and keep their heads banging for a lifetime.
OCZ: Throughout your release you have some thrash, punk, hardcore elements besides Death Metal. Which never leaves you bored. Taken your opening track is "Death By The hands Of An Angel", brutality, catchy riff and sick solos. What made you choose this song as your opening track?
Gene: The song is very high-octave death/thrash we really wanted to give it to the listener when they first popped it in their radios just a big pow!!! to their ears and stereo systems.
OCZ: What inspired you to write this song?
Gene: It has to do with drug addiction I have seems many friends and people fall to this disease and that’s what the song is about and it becomes their fate cause it becomes everything to them.
OCZ: I feel “Boiled In Blood” would be important tribute in your career in the death metal scene now and in years come come. The song is based from true crime story that happen. How much research did you do before you wrote the song completely? When did you become fascinated with murder stories and which was the craziest you ever read about or heard about?
Gene: I won't mention names but this is a true crime story: a guy was in a nazi skinhead gang he was hanging out with his girlfriend at one of their party's well he wanted her to drive him to the store to buy some more beer while she was driving he told her drop me off here I will walk and just drive home. Well two of the gang members were following the truck and shot her thinking he was driving we when he got back to the party he walked in and saw his girlfriend lying dead on the coffee table. He helped his gang chop up her body and they put her remains in a metal barrel they left her in a field and when the detectives found her it was in the summer the metal barrel was left out in the heat so when detectives opened it they said she looked like she was boiled in blood.
OCZ: That's sick. Did you ever think about writing a song about John George Haigh who would kill his victims, drink their blood and then dissolved their bodies in acid?
Gene: Fun you mention that we did the song is called, Killed with Semen and Death by the Hammer its about George Haigh. But that will be on the next album.
OCZ: Indeed, many movies were loosely based on him and a few bands have written songs about him.The rhythm guitar sections on “Boiled in Blood” and “Straight from the Grave” the guitar work is raw. Your leads and rhythm sound are completely diverse from one track to the next. How important is it for you to progress your sound within each song?
Gene: It is very important because What Dirigiri is doing is tiring you up and strapping you in and taking you on a a morbid dark ride that you will never be able to get off of that will keep you forever. Plus my job is to keep different rhythms and feel to tell you every spine tingling tale we have in-store for the with different dynamic for each song.
OCZ: Have you ever witness a "Riot" and what was your inspiration behind this song?
Gene: The inspiration for that has to do with the metalhead character the song is about people are discovering the people he has murdered. Its everywhere on the news and people are rioting try to find or who they can accuse for these morbid actions just like in real life in other countries.
OCZ: It adds a nice twist. Out of the six songs on your E.P. which was the hardest to create and which is your favorite one?
Gene: The hardest one i feel was Bone Collector it was just very fresh to us at the time and we felt the song was great to be part of the E.p. My favorite one is Toilet Extermination that’s where we payed our homage of what we are which is major hardcore punk fans we loved the late 80's hardcore punk scene and the music that came out of it from San Antonio,Texas and New York.
OCZ: Indeed. Your 6th track, "Toilet Extermination" is one of my favorites. Pounded you right into your chest with an hardcore and thrash attitude and left me wanting to hear more. I felt it was a great ending song as well. With this song do you feel you have meet your own musical convictions?
Gene: Yes, what we did was pay our respect to what we loved Hardcore punk/Death/thrash metal we had to showcase it to the fullest and that song ends the E.p. by telling the listener wait theirs more but were leaving you in anticipation and telling the listener oh wait the ride is over your not going anywhere. The story isn't over.
OCZ: We'll be waiting for the next chapter. Who was in charge of putting all the songs in order on this release?
Gene: All of us were we agree on everything that’s why I love the members of the band were not just in a band together but we are friends our relationship as friends mean more to us than anything else.
OCZ: Getting back to your song, “Bone Collector,” this would be a heavy song to get the crowd into a frenzy weather you're playing it live or a DJ spinning it before another band takes the stage. Killer composition with a Thrash Metal vibe bring chills up my spine but what caught my attention was the lows and high with interchanging madness. What anger and frustration sharpens you to write and how does it motivate and give you that drive?
Gene: It's life we live it everyday. Everyday you wake up and you see it outside of your door or hear of it and its on the news everyday doesn't matter what part of the world your from. Everyone has their story.
OZC: Speaking of stories, tell us in depth about “Straight from the grave”...
Gene: Straight from the grave is Dirigiri's cry for the use of the traditional way of playing these style's but with our own ideas without recycling riffing that was used back in the day. We did it with pure eerie heavy attack. It has to do with the metalhead going back and digging up his past victims and now their coming back straight from the grave he has to control even in death just like John Wayne Gacy did.
OCZ: Yeah, he was also known as the "Killer Clown" who buried about 26 of his victims in the crawl space of his home and other victims were buried elsewhere on his property. I have no idea how he would have dealt with the smell of rotten corpses.
Gene: He did it with lime stone.
OCZ: Did you ever read the book, Buried Dreams: Inside the Mind of Serial Killer John Wayne Gacy, written by Tim Cahill?
Gene: I have heard of it but if you wanna read a good book its called the last victim by Jason Moss this guy made friends with Gacy Gahmer Richard Ramirez and what he wrote in letters to them he got in their heads and played the role of their ideal perfect victim and they fell for it.
OCZ: Sounds like an interesting read. Did you watch the The horror film 8213: Gacy House in 2010 and is based upon paranormal investigators spending a night in the house built on the former site of 8213 Summerdale Terrace?
Gene: Yes i saw some of it on the chiller channel my favorite channel to watch all day lol it was an okay movie but i got a little bored with it
OCZ: I never had the chance to see it, yet. One of the main components your album is distinctive artwork on your cover. Tell me about the artwork, who created it, and how it connects to the album and will you continue working with them as you move forward?
Gene: The metal-head on the album plays a big part it is actually a concept of this metal-head who is a murder. The way the songs are in order explains what he has done to people and that’s why he is holding the record in his hands he is a vinyl collector of metal music every time he picks a song he feels that our lyrics are telling him what to do to people. We may continue with this theme we are writing for the next CD which will be called, "Hacking IT UP FOR TEXAS BARBAQUE".
OCZ: Do you think he will become apart of all of your releases and your stage performance in the future, like Iron Maiden's Eddie?
Gene: I feel so our singer/bassist Derek Dishner looks like him.
OCZ: I agree, they do look alike. Have you ever listened to a song and felt you needed to go out and do it?
Gene: Yes when I hear KISS rock n roll all nite lol!
OCZ: Rock all night and party everyday! What would be your favorite Kiss album of all time?
Gene: Destroyer is my favorite
OCZ: “Destroyer” is a impressive album. Your album is filled with different styles of influences as we both mention...hardcore, punk, speed and Death Metal. Which this E.P. will get people a taste what DiRiGiRi is all about. With being in the underground Death Metal/Thrash Metal scene, how has your response been so far?
Gene: It has been accepted very well they feel its something new and fresh different sounding. We did a radio show in the UK and the DJ Gaz said it sounds like a new way of playing metal cause you guys are using flavors that people have forgotten a little about. My response was well it would be the biggest joke on us if it was a new way cause all we did was play what we wanted to hear and gave back to what we loved so much.
OCZ: In some ways it's like giving a tribute to your influences with your own edge. Which band members are available to do radio station, fanzine, and magazine reviews?
OCZ: In the years to come and fans revisit your self-titled E.P. , and think, “These were some Kick ass songs and I still like this.” What song off your E.P. would you like to be most known for?
Gene: I would say Toilet Extermination cause we are such huge hardcore punk fans the aggressiveness catchy feel that it has i love to play that song live a lot.
OCZ: What direction will you be taken on your Sophomore album and what approaches will you be taken that differs in sound from the last release?
Gene: The next album is going to be a bit more heavier. We are going to out due the first because the new music we are writing is more heavier but still in the catchy vein that’s gonna make you bang your head. The drumming and singing and playing in general has gotten more aggressive than the first.
OCZ: How many tracks are you working on for “HACKING IT UP FOR TEXAS BARBECUE”?
Gene: HACKING IT UP FOR TEXAS BARBECUE, the new E.p. will have 6 tracks again
this one I promise is gonna be a good one.
OCZ: Do you think that some hordes may think your sophomore release is a dedication album to Morticians' first full-length studio album “Hacked Up for Barbecue”?
Gene: Nope cause this is Texas style lol
OCZ: With some big juice bloody raw burgers. Although, it was based on loosely
on Ed Gein's who lived La Crosse, Wisconsin, who wore a human's scalp and face, wore a vest of skin complete with breasts and female genitalia strapped above his own because his his desire was to be a woman, not because of a skin disease as with Leatherface in the film. He shot women with a pistol, gutted them like a deer, and the heads had been removed. Would it be based on your concepts about The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Psycho and The Silence of the Lambs, the short film by Bryan Wolford and Tony Walsh “BBQ Massacre” and besides George Haighor, what details will you elaborate on as far as the lyrical content?
Gene: None of the above the metalhead has gotten worst no one has caught him so now he carry's a suitcase full of blood which is the first track on the next E.p. that is all i am able to release at this moment. Go out and buy our first debut self-title album enjoy it you can find it all over and the internet.
OCZ: Just like Al Gore. In the beginning, when DiRiGiRi formed was there a moment where you sat there thinking how your song writing process and sound should be like but bringing in all of your roots of music but not sounding like just another Death Metal band did you find that difficult when you first form and how did you go about agreeing what you wanted to do?
Gene: Yes very much so cause in reality a true metal-head loves all underground styles punk,heavy metal,thrash,death metal,black metal and grind-core. We loved them all and we put it together but the difficult part was making it make sense to not just ourselves to everyone out there to enjoy these flavors we bring as a unit to the table.
OCZ: When bands change their direction a bit, do you think you'll lose fans over it?
Gene: No cause we pushed that wall a little away from us in not playing one style or one direction of thinking we want to keep our listeners interested. That's what metal is about doing what you want putting that flag up and seeing who will stand there and salute it.
OCZ: What bands have changed over the years that you still stand behind them 110% when others didn't?
Gene: I would have to say Decide the guitar work is just so amazing on the last 2 albums I love it.
OCZ: Mainly your rhythms are your foundation to create a song, what is the foundation to keep the band together?
Gene: It is always the principal of things between one another and respect for each other just like any relationship whether it be band or girlfriend or friends people should never lose site of this and it will make things more easier to co-exist with each other.
OCZ: How do you handle disagreements? What was the biggest disagreement you has a band thus far and how did you over come it?
Gene: We have our sit downs and talk things out cause in the position we are in now it is pretty ridiculous for us to argue about anything with the great results we are getting cause of our music we make together. the biggest one we had was with a promoter who didn't want to let our drummer Omar Guerra use his own drum set for a show we had to do but at the end of the day this is what we do and Omar went up there a gave a great performance.
OCZ: Do you find it difficult at times when you have to use the clubs back-line instead of your own equipment and how do you adjust to using someones else and not your own?
Gene: It's hard i use my own things all the time every time and the guys too we never use the clubs back-line but it was just that one time years ago that it happened to our drummer Omar Guerra.
OCZ: There are many clubs who make you use their back-lines, how do you work around not using it?
Gene: Its in our performance agreement contract for promoters, clubs, venues if they want the best outta us we use our own things no one else
OCZ: How important is it for bands to have a performance agreement and how long have you been using one?
Gene: We have been using one for years now from our entertainment attorney. For other bands it should just be a simple no cause your comfortable with your things that you use to accomplish the sound of your band in the live setting No one should mess with that
OCZ: When it comes to having a rider, people tend to make fun of some of things bands ask for. From your own rider what do you think most promoters would think is a ridiculous thing to have as a request?
Gene: Alcohol none of us drink so they get stumped on that one lol! and we just ask for food,water, diet sodas for me cause I have been a diabetic since I was a child.
OCZ: While playing live on stage, how often do you have to check your blood?
Gene: I never do I never have had that problem on stage I have to poke my fingers 3 times a day so by night time I'm set and ready to go
OCZ: As a musician, there are many who will stop playing because they are a diabetic what encouraging words or advice can you give to them?
Gene: I say don't sit and dwell on it you have to live and do what you are meant to do in life even if it isn't music you gotta be happy too and enjoy life and everything around you. Never sell yourself short cause of this sickness
OCZ: Was there ever a time in your own life that you realized you were selling yourself short?
Gene: No cause I have lived life to the fullest that a person can and I have no regrets.
OCZ: You formed the band about 10 years ago if I'm not mistaken. You found your drummer Omar from an add who was looking to join a punk band back then...tell us about this interesting story how you got him to join and what year did this take place?
Gene: Well I saw the add and at the bottom it said no metal so I was like whats this guys problem so I called him. I played over the phone and he was impressed and I asked why he didn't like metal he said I'm a metal-head but I haven’t had luck finding guys that are good at playing real metal around here so we set up a practice and wrote 8 songs in 2 days this took place in 2004.
OCZ: What is the present line-up, the craft they master and tell us something interesting about each member?
Gene: The line up is Derek Dishner-Vocals/Bass who is getting endorsed by circle k bass strings and all around jack of trades type of man Omar Guerra-/Drums Omar just recently graduated from Berklee school of music for Drums and me Gene Olivarri-Rhythm/Lead guitars i just got a recent endorsement through Dean Zelinsky Private Label Guitars before i used DBZ guitars another company Dean was making guitars for but he converted it over to his new company.
OCZ: You are also endorsed with your picks. Tell us about your new signature picks...
Gene: The new guitar picks are from In-Tune guitar picks a great guitar pick company their picks have major stability in the materials they use I use a custom gauge a .73 1/2mm and they use a special ink on the picks so that way it doesn't smear off on your fingers so the guitar pick doesn't get slippery while you are playing live.
OCZ: Also, your picks will also have your album cover on it. How many picks do you go through in a week?
Gene: lots cause lots of people want them i throw them out at shows so in-tune guitar picks is really awesome! about hooking me up with all the picks i need.
OCZ: I've seen fans fight people over picks and drum sticks. Have you ever seen that happen at one of your shows?
Gene: Yes, I think its funny I'm like its just a pick with my nasty hand sweat on it. lol
OCZ: Did you ever fight for a pick for one of your own favorite bands in the
past?
Gene: Oh yes at a morbid angel show fists flying everywhere!
OCZ: I gather you won that fight. Do you like collecting picks yourself?
Gene: I never have I guess I just haven’t been that lucky or too close to catch
one lol!
OCZ: Now, from what I read that you'll have different picks for each release and completely different ones for your tour. Who's idea was that?
Gene: It was my idea I had that I talked about with in-tune guitar picks president Bret Legato and they got on broad for it they felt it was a great idea
OCZ: What do you like most about In-Tune guitar picks compared to other pick companies and how long have you been using them for?Besides the ink not rubbing off on your fingers.
Gene: They take pride in making a quality product with perfect light bend when I attack my guitar strings i have been using them since this past June and I love them.
OCZ: You started playing guitar at the age of seven in 1989, I was a senior in High School when metal was kicking major ass in those years. What metal, hardcore and punk bands grabbed your attention then and did you hear these bands because of your parents or MTV?
Gene: The band UFO Micheal Schenker my favorite guitarist G.B.H, The exploited, Cro-Mags, Repulsion, Morbid Angel, Autopsy, ZZ TOP and Pete Townsend from the who and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Maci heard them through family members that were older than me but loved great music.
OCZ: Great influences. If you could pick two guitarist to create a trio guitar album with who would they be?
Gene: I would say the man from outer space Ace Frehley and Micheal Schenker.
OCZ: Extraordinary, have you ever thought of creating your own guitar solo album?
Gene: No I like playing along with Dirigible too much I never want to do anything solo without them
OCZ: Your mother and you are fans of a group of Los Panchos. They were well known for there trio guitar playing. From growing up on them how has their combinations of harmonies, classic guitar work and sensual ballads impact on you as a musician?
Gene: Very huge how they complimented each others playing with all their emotions it was like they played for each other. This is the approach i take with Dirigible as well.
OCZ: Do you enjoy playing leads or rhythm more?
Gene: Rhythm more cause I feel I'm a bit more detailed but I love leads as well I love to play around with notes across the fret broad.
OCZ: What were some of the first things you learned as a guitarist?
Gene: The first thing I ever learned was strumming but I had no one to teach me anything I'm all self-taught the first song I learned by ear was AC/DC thunderstruck just the opening lick Angus Young does my parents were like hmm I think gene's got something and I was 8 yrs old when I learned it to play thunderstruck.
OCZ: Many amazing guitarist are self-taught and learned how to play by ear. While we are on the subject of learning... How important do you think it is for a young player to take some formal lessons and in your later years did you?
Gene: Formal are fine for some but when you become too formal I feel the playing becomes a little brittle. straight from the heat is how it has to be no thrills or frills just being yourself. I myself have had no formal training just learned chords from some catholic nuns but that’s really it.
OCZ: Some just have that natural instinct. Do you teach guitar lessons?
Gene: No, I don't I have been approached to do so but I wouldn't even know where to begin to teach someone every head is a different world and I can't teach feeling.
OCZ: Tell us about the technical progression. How did you develop what you learned on your own to the ability to play so fast and so accurately in a Metal environment?
Gene: Lots of years of wearing a ankle weight on my right wrist and playing until my hand got tired. I would take it off my wrist and just fly with the palm muting and practicing with drummers helps a lot as well. Drummers are your human metronome its best for accuracy instead of playing with a drum machine.
OCZ: I've never heard of anyone talking about wearing an ankle weight until now.
That's interesting. Do you still do that today?
Gene: Not anymore I have built the strength in my hands quite some like on the guitar neck I don’t use my thumb to apply pressure i rest the neck in my left hand and just play.
OCZ: I used to be an obsessed drummer as a kid, my mother would call me animal from the Muppet. LOL Did you have that same obsession as a guitarist that practiced all the time and how often do you practice now?
Gene: I use to practice for a hour before school and like 6 to 8 hours after school but now I just practice for 2 hours or if I have an idea I gotta get out on the guitar and transfer what I have in my head to my hands.
OCZ: What was the first guitar you've owned and do you have it now? How many guitars to you also own?
Gene: I own 5 guitars this moment my first guitar was a classical acoustic my father bought me for Christmas at 6 yrs old and no I don’t have it. It broke from the head-stock.
OCZ: What tips do you have on how to keep your guitar in good condition?
Gene: Every time you take it out to play treat it with respect these are your tools for the music trade and if you don’t take care of your tools and they brake you have no tool to get the job done. every time you take the guitar outta the case put it back in there or people will knock it down by accident or trip over it. Keep your fret broad well oiled so you don’t get cracks on the rosewood and always i mean always put a fresh pack of strings on your guitar when you play any show live it makes all the difference in your tone.
OCZ: What oil would your recommend?
Gene: I use bore oil what people use to oil guns with but not too much you don’t want to loosen your frets with to much oil on the fret board.
OCZ: You said, that you should put new strings on your guitar when you play a show. Do you change your strings each time you have a gig even if its back to back?
Gene: Yes, I always want that fresh crispy sound every time my string magnify through my passive seymour duncan invder pick up.
OCZ: What if the musician has no endorsement and can barely put a slice of pizza in his or her mouth to eat. How can he or she try to keep them crispy?
Gene: I use a small towel and wipe the strings of all your hand oils it will help for a little bit longer string life
OCZ: How long would you say that string life last for?
Gene: Depending on how hard you strike the strings a few weeks maybe everyone strikes the strings differently some have a heavy strike like myself more than others
OCZ: New guitarist complain about getting blisters, how do you avoid that from happening?Do you warm up before a show?
Gene: Sometimes the string gauge can irritate if their too thick just find a gauge that works for you. Yes a little not too much i don’t want to over do it before i get on the stage
OCZ: Do you have any finger or wrist exercises that you do on a regular basis?
Gene: Yes, I use a metronome her in my home I start very slow and strike the string once then twice and so fourth until I go faster and faster with my right hand and left hand.
OCZ: Any advice on gear?
Gene: Use nothing but tube heads that’s the way to go you want warmth and great tone and bottom end nothing beats the organic sound of a tube head
OCZ: Taken the dust off, you did a demo called, "The Live Loud Hymns of Death Demo", back in 2005. Have you ever thought of re- releasing it? Do you still have a copy of it?
Gene: No at that time the recording was okay but not good enough sounding cause it was recorded live in a club. I don’t but i think our drummer Omar Guerra does.
OCZ: Do you still play those songs from back then? Have you made any changes to them since they were first written?
Gene: No we don't but on the next CD we might bring back a song we use to play
called burned at the stake.
OCZ: How do you feel you have progressed as an individual and as a band since your live recorded demo?
Gene: I feel with the catchy-ness and the different faces of dynamics we use in our music it has helped us to grow in not putting up a wall in front of us and not being one track minded and giving ourselves some room to move around a little when it comes to writing the songs
OCZ: Do you set yourselves up for smaller goals to reach the larger goals or do you just go straight ahead for the big goals and cut out the small footsteps?
Gene: We take a good six footsteps for each thing we want to achieve and work hard at every aspect we work at with eh music business
OCZ: What achievements would you like to see happen in the Death Metal scene this year?And Thrash Metal?
Gene: That the true underground sound gets heard more and to more people to know who these bands are and give them a listen to
OCZ: What local bands do you support when you have a moment?
Gene: I support a local old school sounding death metal band by the name of Apocoliyptic Horror very good band
OCZ: Speaking of Horror, how big is your collection?
Gene: I have a very good size collection of rare hard to find 1970 to 1989
slasher and horror films i love em gotta have em.
OCZ: What would be your top 5 movies and how do you feel about horror remakes?
Gene: The Burning, Terror Train, Hell night, One Dark Knight, Scanners 1,2, and 3 I hate the remakes they need to leave those awesome story lines alone and make people buy the original movie.
OCZ: I agree. Do you think that they have ran out of ideas?
Gene: oh yes definitely
OCZ: What horror movie did you find the worst remake or do you even bother to watch them?
Gene: A ll of them just too painful to talk about I watched “Evil Dead” and they just messed it up.
OCZ: Yeah, it pissed me off too. Leave the classics alone. Have you ever written songs based on your movie collection and what topics wouldn't you cover?
Gene: No, I never have but I base our songs on real life murders that have happened.
OCZ: Murders that happen in Texas or around the world or a mixture of both? Do you and Derek write the lyrics together?
Gene: A mixture of both really. I'm really not a lyric writer its more Derek Dishner and Omar Guerra that hold the task they come up with great ideas when it comes to that.
OCZ: What would be one of your favorite lyrical lines each of them wrote?
Gene: I like on Death by The Hands of an Angel where Derek sings Halo broken
wings with needle in my eyes.
OCZ: Which song would best represent a hymn of grief or lamentation?
Gene: I would say straight from the Grave.
OCZ: Your band name stems from the word "dirge", what does your band name Dirigible mean to you?
Gene: Dirigible is a hymn of death the last song you hear as they lower you down and give you back to the earth you were part of.
OCZ: A part of a funeral rite with a somber hymn. Does death fear you or the way death can happen?
Gene: Yes cause no one can truly explain it the only way we know is when we get to that stage of our lives and the veil is up lifted and we understand why we lived the way we did i guess everything is explained to us once we cross over.
OCZ: Is your band name copy written or Trade-marked?
Gene: Yes both we are the only ones with this name so far.
OCZ: Do you feel that the poor mans copy-writing songs still holds up and protects the bands?
Gene: Well theirs so many loop holes these days and to be honest the music business is the horrible side of music they'll find a loop hole or way around it to take that copyright.
OCZ: These days what would be the best ways for bands to protect their music and lyrics?
Gene: Easy don't give publishing to the record label do the hard work yourself make your own success.
OCZ: I've heard but not sure how true it is though, that many musicians are using Sound Cloud to send different parts of there recordings, how well is that protected?
Gene: I'm not sure I have never used it but like I said theirs loopholes in everything.
OCZ: Have you ever thought of writing a book or making video's on how a band can be successful on their own?
Gene: No cause you really got to look inside of you and really want this I say that to most people and they just don't get it when I say it. If you can deal with all the nightmare of it then go for it you have to be an ambitious strong willed business sabby person to try to make a good dent in this business once you learn hey its not about chicks getting drunk partying like Motley Crue. then that's when you will know for sure whether your meant for it or not.
OCZ: You've mention there are loopholes, what is one of the biggest ones you have came across?
Gene: Covering songs on an album a lawyer was telling me prince actually mentioned it on TV how if you record it theirs some kinda loophole where you don't have to give the artist royalties and i thought that was nuts.
OCZ: How do you feel about a tagging a band in a music genre because music is universal and it can have many elements like you've add and did one hell of a job hailing it, what you want people to label you as?
Gene: Death/Thrash cause Dirigible uses both those elements for our music very much.
OCZ: Thank you for the interview, any closing words thoughts, words of wisdom or information on contacting the band
Gene: You can contact us through www.facebook.com/dirigiri our Dirigiri.com will be up and running soon!. to the kids that are learning metal if you really want go out and get it if you know what i mean the business aspect of it. I would like to thank Lady Chaos for the pleasure of this awesome interview and to the whole Obscure Chaos Zine staff thank you all for supporting Dirigiri.
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