7/29/2010 Rob Zombie Bassist Piggy D. on 'Hellbilly 2' Special Edition: "It's Like a Director's Cut"
As Rob Zombie, John 5, Piggy D. and Joey Jordison await the special edition release of Hellbilly Deluxe 2, set to street on September 28th, bassist Piggy D. catches up with Metal Insider to talk about the new tracks and packaging of this upcoming venture.
For this expanded version of HD2 will feature 3 brand new tracks: "Everything Is Boring," "Michael," "Devil's Hole Girls And The Big Revolution," as well as a reimagining of "The Man Who Laughs." The disc will be accompanied by a brand new video for "Mars Needs Women" (shot during the Gruesome Twosome tour with Alice Cooper), a live version of Cooper's classic "School's Out" with Cooper himself and a DVD tour documentary entitled "Transylvanian Transmissions" -- all packaged with brand new artwork.
Explains Metal Insider, "Piggy D. is more than just a backing bassist. In addition to playing a heavy role in Rob Zombie’s stage show and new music, as well as his own solo material , Piggy has worked as both a musician and artwork designer with artists like Alice Cooper, Lita Ford and many more. During the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival’s stop in Camden, NJ, the bassist/guitarist sat down with Metal Insider to discuss the new version of Hellbilly Deluxe 2 (which includes three new songs, re-edits and new artwork), his experience with working with Zombie, Cooper and Joey Jordison and how the art of the album is dying in a struggling industry."
Read an excerpt of the interview below, go right here for the full feature, and stay tuned for more information on how to snag your special edition copy of Hellbilly Deluxe 2.
You’ve been in the band for a while now, but Hellbilly Deluxe 2 is your first record with Zombie.
The first studio record, yeah, as well as the live record [2007’s Zombie Live]. It was really cool. We just did it as a band and now we’ve redone it. So now it’s coming back out. The version that’s on the market now is going away. You’re not going to be able to buy it anymore. So there’s a new version of the record coming out with three new songs that are in the record. So it’s a new record.
Wait, so it’s a deluxe version or a new album altogether?
It’s a deluxe version, but it’s actually the original or ‘what it was supposed’ to be version. It’s very confusing. This is the way the record was supposed to be the first time. There’s new artwork, there’s a DVD, and there’s music that’s not on the version that’s out now. This is Hellbilly Deluxe 2 “redo”/the way it should be.
So you re-recorded each song?
No, we didn’t re-record it, but there’s edits and there’s new music on it in the context of the record that really makes it.
Well what makes the “re-edits” different? Besides the artwork and new songs.
It’s got a different vibe. The artwork plays a huge part of it because it’s all new and it’s really dark. The new songs are really dark and really heavy. Probably some of the heaviest stuff he’s recorded ever. It’s really cool. We’re all really jacked up about it.
Why couldn’t you have this original version come out the first time around? Did it have to do with you guys switching from Geffen to Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records?
Yeah it was just kind of a mess. We did the record, we had it ready to go, then we were going to Japan and we were starting to tour. And whatever happened with the label happened. We had to do it fast and get it out because we had people waiting for it and we didn’t want to dangle the carrot we had but couldn’t give it to them. So now this is kind of a new jump start for us.
What made you guys feel that this had to be done for this record, and not just save it for the next one?
We felt that because of the time constraints, the artwork and the way the record was laid out, we were really psyched about it, but there’s more to the story. It’s kind of an unofficial sequel without it being a sequel. It’s like a director’s cut. You get a director’s cut of your favorite movie and you’re like “Oh my God! I never knew they shot that scene!” Well there it is! So it’s all there now.
Once the [original version of the] record got released, Tommy [Clufetos, former drummer] left the band to join Ozzy Osbourne. Granted you got Joey Jordison (of Slipknot and Murderdolls fame), who is arguably one of the best metal drummers in the world, to replace him, but was it difficult to reshape everything?
No, not at all. In fact, as soon as we played the first song with Joey we went “This is exactly where we need to be!” because he makes us play harder and I know we’re a better band because of him. Obviously, he’s got other bands and other obligations he’s going to have to fulfill one of these days. He’s definitely raised the bar for us in a lot of ways. So it was all a very happy accident, and Joey plays on the new songs.
How was it working in the studio with him then?
Amazing! He’s the man! He IS the best drummer! I mean, he is THAT guy! We have that guy in the band, so we’re pretty psyched.
