FIREBALL MINISTRY
by Mike SOS
LINKS:
MIKE SOS:
What is the Second Great Awakening?
EMILY J. BURTON: The Second Great Awakening was a religious
revitalization that took place in the US between 1790 and 1840. Great
numbers of people were converted en masse to the Protestant religions
through wide-scale emotionally charged revivals.This fire and brimstone,
tent revival imagery is something that’s always been with the band,
just substitute the religion with rock. Being that this is our second
album, the name seemed to fit perfectly. And the great Dan Brereton gave
life to the idea with his painting.
MIKE SOS: How has the MTV exposure (You Hear It First segment)
changed the band?
EMILY: The You Hear it First segment definitely
helped generate label interest. And it has helped open some doors at MTV
as far as getting mentions in the news, etc. It actually took about 2
years to get through the channels at MTV from the time we were pitched
for YHIF until it aired, but it seems once you’re in, you’re
in. MTV has a lot of power; our web site blew up after the segment aired.
MIKE SOS: What are the plans for the next six months
for the Ministry?
EMILY: In December, we’re going to Germany to support
Blue Öyster Cult and Uriah Heep for 3 weeks. That’s about as
far ahead as I can go right now.
MIKE SOS: What would be your ideal touring package?
EMILY: Opening for Judas Priest on the Reunion
tour.
MIKE SOS: Do you enjoy the road, the studio or both
(or neither) and why?
EMILY: Both. The studio is rewarding in the sense that
you have a tangible product in the end that you’ve created. In general
though, the studio’s kind of tedious and the pressure of it always
seems to stress me out. The road can be hard work and you never know what
you’re gonna get, but variety is the spice of life.
MIKE SOS: What made you decide to pursue music?
EMILY: Black Sabbath’s Greatest Hits
MIKE SOS: How do you feel about the term "stoner
rock"?
EMILY: To me, “stoner rock” proper implies
a certain amount of “jamming” which usually turns out to be
a bad thing. I think what’s awesome about stoner rock is the emphasis
on great tone, but I also think a lot of stoner rock bands forget to write
songs. A 10-minute song should not have only one riff. I do think it’s
pretty lame that all the stoner rock bands get called “retro”
in a negative sense like it’s “your dad’s music”
but bands like Jet or Kings of Leon are fucking hailed as the New Era
of Rock. Cream did it 800 times better 35 years ago.
MIKE SOS: Any cool cover songs floating around left over
from FMEP?
EMILY: No-we weren’t able to record any extras,
but we’ve been kicking around some ideas for the live show.
MIKE SOS: When I'm not playing in Fireball Ministry,
I'm...?
EMILY: Sleeping; hanging out; hot-tubbing; consuming;
reading magazines; at my computer; sewing; watching my TIVO; petting my
cats; planning and scheming.
MIKE SOS: What does it take for a Fireball Ministry
song to get written?
EMILY: Divine intervention/a riff is born. Then we’ll
all get together and work out the song parts and arrangement. James always
comes up with the vocal melodies and then the lyrics come last.
MIKE SOS: Who's your greatest musical influence?
EMILY: I would say Geezer Butler or Dave Mustaine.
MIKE SOS: Where do you see Fireball Ministry in five
years?
EMILY: Hopefully not in the 99¢ bin.
MIKE SOS: Any parting words?
EMILY: Try before you trust. Your own tricks can kill
you.