Interview with Jill McEntee and also John McEntee of the low-end old school death metal band Funerus |
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Funerus is a low end old school death metal band of the godly Incantation's godly John McEntee's godly wife Jill. Ahem…well you read that right, John McEntee's wife. I'm sure our readers closer to my home would be shell-shocked knowing this and I can almost hear one of them scream pathetically, “Shouldn't she be permanently in the kitchen washing utensils and sobbing endlessly, waiting for her hubby to return?” I'm sorry to break it to you guys, but wives elsewhere can be closely associated to a different type of ‘metal' than that and can thus be very cool. Read further to know more about this wonderful woman, her worship-worthy husband and lastly but most importantly, me. |
Diabolical Conquest (Kunal): I'll start my debut interview with the most boring question ever but it saves me the effort of making an exhaustive (and shitty) introduction of your band, so please excuse. What's the band history of Funerus so far? Funerus (Jill McEntee): Funerus became a complete band when I joined up with guitarist/vocalist Brad Heiple and then drummer Jason Foust in 1993. I had some guitar playing experience earlier on in my life, but they needed a bass player at the time, so I switched to playing bass to join the band. We did some intense practicing, recorded a demo by early 1994, and started playing some shows. Our name and demo started to circulate around the underground, but Brad suddenly left the band. Jason and I tried to keep things going with other guitarists, but things never really worked out. I looked for different members and at one point I had put the band back together with a completely different line up, and we did do one show, but things just weren't the same. I decided I was done with Funerus, I thought for good. Things fell into place as the years went by, actually it all happened very naturally. Before I even knew Kyle Severn and John McEntee (Incantation), they had the Funerus 1994 demo, and they both liked it, they thought it was good stuff, really heavy. So I was an Incantation fan, and John was a fan of our demo, which was totally killer that we both knew who each other was but just hadn't met. Anyway, I met John a few years later, and we ended up getting married. When John and Kyle were together for Incantation practice, they would always try to get me to jam the Funerus songs with them, and I never would. Finally one day they talked me into it, and the three of us played the demo songs, and it just felt so killer. The sound and the feel was incredible. We just knew we had to continue doing something with this band! So we got ahold of the original guitarist/vocalist Brad to see if he wanted to be a part of it, and it's been great ever since. That was in late 2001. We have done numerous shows, fests, tours, recorded our debut cd. Now Brad is no longer in the band and I have taken over vocals along with bass. That is it so far.
Jill: Because of the breaking up of the band really. There were years that went by that the band was inactive. Jason and I tried to get a line-up together, and then I tried holding things together on my own, things just never worked out until the molding of John, Kyle Brad and I.
Jill: The rest of the songs on the album were written by John, Kyle, Brad and I after we reformed. I think we did a great job writing in the old Funerus vibe. I think those songs blend in fine. If someone had to pick out the songs that were written about 10 years before the other ones, I don't think they could do it. Unless of course they had the demo and knew those songs.
Jill: In the studio we just turned the knobs to “sewage type sound”. Oh yeah, and ProTools all the way! DC: Haha and how did John and Kyle enter the band? It was all a planned conspiracy wasn't it? John McEntee: Kyle and I would jam on the Funerus songs after Incantation practice for shits and giggles. We decided to ask Jill to jam with us, we thought it would be fun because Kyle and I were fans of the band. The songs sounded kickass, so we decided to take things more seriously with the band. Before you know it we were playing shows and putting out a cd. Jill: I had all intentions of never doing anything with Funerus again. It was with the encouragement of John and Kyle that we just jammed out the songs because they were into the demo. It definitely wasn't something that was planned out. I had no idea 6 or 7 years ago that this was in my future, playing in a band again, playing shows, touring, writing, etc. And if someone would have told me 10 years ago that I would be playing in a band with John McEntee, I would have laughed in their face! And also Kyle Severn, he is one of THE most underrated drummers in metal today. Trust me, it's an honor for me to be on stage with both of these killer musicians!
Jill: John and Kyle are permanent members of Funerus. I can't imagine doing the band without them.
Jill: No, definitely not. People need to separate the 2 bands, and we need to take measures so as not to confuse anyone. Incantation has had a consistent line-up since 2001. But I know, people still like to rag on the fact that they have had many line-up changes. That's fine for people who don't know the reasons why, or for people who don't know what it's like to be in a touring band. It's easy for someone in a band that only records cds- never does shows or tours- to say that their band will never have a line-up change! But anyways, I'm sure I couldn't cut it as far as playing some of the Incantation songs, so it makes no difference.
Jill: Well Brad is unable to give as much time to the band as he or we would like. That makes it difficult for shows and touring, and that is one thing that is a priority for Funerus. So since Brad is no longer in the band, I took over the vocals. It's been working out really well. We actually just saw Brad at one of the shows we did recently, and he really liked it. I miss Brad being in the band, we had a lot of great times, and Brad is an awesome guy all around. He will always be a brother to me and have my utmost respect! But this is what has to be and like I said, things are going good and the response to me doing vocals has been great. DC: Which person or thing do you keep in mind while removing those supposedly vicious vocals? John? Jill: I'm not sure what I'm thinking about the entire time I'm doing vocals, most likely I'm thinking about doing the best job I can, and about the lyrics so I don't fuck up. DC: Have you had any creative differences with John? In that case which is your favourite weapon to use against him? Jill: No actually John and I don't have any differences when it comes to music. We share the same visions musically, we have the same goals. We like the same music, came from the same “era” of metal, and we know each others likes and dislikes. For me it's just great to be able to work with John. So we really don't argue about music or have fights about creative differences, I don't have to take out the spiked club.
Jill: I serenade him with Don Hoe songs while wearing a grass skirt and playing a ukulele.
Jill: Well it's hard to say. I really don't have anything to compare it to. I would like to say that the bands success is simply due to the fact that the band is good, and the music is good, and not that I am a female. On a personal level I do get a lot of support from female metallers which is a great thing and means a lot to me! I do get a lot of snail mail and emails from around the world from people showing support, and I would say that almost half of it are from females. I think in some way being John's wife has an impact on things, especially if people have been long time Incantation fans. They think it's really cool that John and I play in the same band.
John McEntee: Well definitely in the early 90's was a prime time for early death metal. There were lots of killer bands with distinctive styles. It's true that the mid to late 90's were not the best time for death metal. I think a lot of the bands lost focus to their original style, but there were some killer bands that kept forging ahead with their style and didn't cave to the trends. I think that the death metal scene is in an upward swing. There are a lot of great bands doing there own thing, but unfortunately too many bands are concentrating on technicality and speed, and not enough on heaviness and feeling. But overall I think it's the best now than it's been in years.
Jill: I think it's great! Bring it on! Hail old school death metal, hail the old days, the old ways! DC: It seems that you've been touring quite a lot, do have any funny/interesting incidents that you'd like to share with us? Jill: Sure I got a good one. When we were in Australia, we were on our way to the pre-Bloodlust fest, a roadie was taking us there in the car. He blew a red light and we ended up smashing into a truck carrying oxygen tanks at about 45 mph. So some of us go to the hospital by ambulance. I was really shocked at what I saw, because I am a nurse here in the states, and there are a lot of privacy laws…even more just passed within the last years, and they were just treating patients out in the open. They had no curtains pulled, they put a foley catheter in a man right beside Kyle, hahaha, oh man! Everyone was in one huge room in a circle. The doctor was real young and he was telling me information (not that I was asking) about other patients there and calling them pussies because they were complaining of pain. Just kinda weird to see how a hospital runs in another country. It was a strange experience, but cool in a way. Of course not our injuries! But Funerus and Incantation were still able to pull off a few songs the next night at the BloodLust fest with fill in drummers! Thanks to Matt from Oni! Kyle was way too sore to play drums, he got thrown around a little too much in the car.
Jill: I am a full time Registered Nurse, and I also teach a nursing class in the clinical setting. I have worked at the facility I am currently at for more than 15 years, so I have a lot of seniority and vacation time built up, which is why I can tour as much as I can. John has a computer repair/website business when he is not touring. Kyle used to build homes, now he is contracted out to do home inspections…Somehow we all work it out. DC: That's truly amazing. Say, do you know how to cook? That's mandatory for a wife over here... Jill: Hahaha, mandatory, really? I know how to cook, yes. I would say that there are a couple of things that I am extremely good at cooking, and most everything else I am just kind of average at. John does alot of cooking when he's home. He actually is a good cook. He makes really good shit like cashew chicken. DC: Wow, yet another reason to worship him. I guess it's very convenient and great to be on your hubby's own label – ‘Ibex Moon Records'. One thing's for sure, you're never going to be complaining for lack of attention towards your band! Do you plan to continue with this label or would you consider offers from other labels in future? Jill: We have had other label interest, but I am too "scared"....for lack of a better word, to make the change. I have been with John long enough to know about label problems. I know all too well of the trials and tribulations he's been through with Incantation and labels, so I just have alot of reservations. With Ibex Moon, it's very convenient. I know and trust John, I know his work ethic and his goals. Jill: Sure we have some songs written already. Either I write some riffs here and there and put them together in some way, or I will show some stuff I wrote to John and him and I will put it together. Or John and I will write stuff together, and then bring it to Kyle to put drums down. We just had a Funerus writing day last week with all three of us, and we had a very productive day, finishing 3 more songs. DC: When can we expect the next Funerus album? I can hardly wait. I've even asked someone if he could book my local sewer for me. Jill: It's hard to say. Even once we get all the songs finalized, it may be awhile. The thing about being in a band with John and Kyle, it has alot of positives! But it also has some drawbacks too, and one of those is that we have to work around Incantation's schedule. That's fine with me, I completely understand. I just have to be patient. So even once we have all the songs done and written, it could be a while till we record them and get the cd mastered and all that. DC: What on this festering earth does Funerus mean? Who made it up? Jill: Brad made up the band name way back when. I think he told me for him it meant “the funeral of the world”.
John McEntee: Obviously there are new bands I like because I release newer bands material. Some other newer bands I like are Serpents Aeon, Eviscium, Infinitum Obscure, Kaamos, Coffin, Nominon, Malas. Some of these bands aren't necessarily new, but maybe to me, or some people they are. DC: What do you think of Kyle's moustache? Are you attracted to it? Jill: I think Kyle's moustache is cool, but what I think is much cooler is the beard that he had when we did the photos for the album. It gives him a more grizzly, barbaric look. I think his wife didn't like it so much though. DC: I've heard rumours that you and John are starting a romantic gothic side-project. Please confirm. Jill: Hmmmm, no truth to those rumors. Sorry, can't confirm.
Jill: Your website is killer. Do you do it yourself, and what made you name the site after an Incantation album? DC (Kunal): Hey, thanks.. I think the site looks much better now after the makeover. Yeah I made the entire thing, had to. I first tried to get it made from a couple of guys but nothing happened and things were getting far too delayed. I realised that if I had to make this possible I had to do it myself in spite of me having absolutely NO clue about all this webshite business. A friend of mine from the band Impurity hooked me up with Dreamweaver and I just kept playing around with it trying to make sense out of it. My very close friend Jill from Razorback Records also helped me when I couldn't figure out a couple of things... and in a couple of months or so I managed to get it all up! I'm glad I had to do it on my own because this way I learnt it all myself and don't have to rely on anyone else now. Also the fact that I'm sort of a perfectionist makes it that much better. 'Diabolical Conquest' was the first ever cd I had "ordered" from abroad so it really means a lot to me. Back then the mp3/cdrs weren't really popular and we mainly used to listen to recorded tapes from our kvlt metal circles and friends. Getting access to metal was really difficult then, you know you had to be happy with what ever you got and couldn't possibly make demands on what you wanted, plus you had to go out of your way to acquire it like bunk classes and all that. I always hated to be dependant on others and it was my mom who asked me if there was any other way I could get access to my kind of music. At that time internet was really new and I told her that perhaps I could try ordering online. She then made the biggest mistake of her life by offering me her credit card number which I used to order Incantation's 'Diabolical Conquest' (that was newly released then I think) and Disembowlement's 'Transcendence Into The Peripheral' (that I never received as it was out of stock I guess). So thanks to 'Diabolical Conquest' my life hasn't been the same ever since and I even dedicated my forum which I started exactly a year back to it. When the idea of starting a webzine came to my mind, I couldn't think of a good reason why I shouldn't use the same name. Maybe in a few years I should start another site and name it 'Festering Earth'.
Jill: Who would your “dream interview” be with?
DC (Kunal): You'll be surprised to know that I still haven't witnessed any international band perform, in India or anywhere else yet. Abysmally sad I know. But I hope soon I'll be able lift my brown ass out of the country and drop it at some cool venue like say at the Maryland Deathfest in US or perhaps the Obscene Fest in Czech Republic. I almost made it to the Maryland Deathfest last year thanks to my friends in US who were desperate to get me there, but I had to call it off due to financial reasons. I hope it changes soon though and if things work out well then I'll try to be there next year in 2006 and will also try for being at the first ever Razorback Fest which isn't too many days away I think. Oh and the best show I've seen so far is Domination - Deathfest which took place in my city 2-3 years back where some Indian and local bands played.
What is it like living in India, is it difficult to get ahold of metal there, and what other countries have you visited? Sure I've visited quite some countries like UK and France in '90 and Western/Central Europe in '92 but very unfortunately that time I wasn't into metal and just a kid. Then I've been to these south east Asian countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia... but Malaysia was the only country I have visited when I was immersed in metal. I was really determined to buy some metal cds from that place and for that I stood near the 'rock' section of the music stores in those huge malls they have, waiting to pounce on my victims who browsed for metal cds. After getting some nasty glances I was finally successful in one store and even got a couple of fellows to take me to a place along with them where I could buy some metal cds. Luckily, just across the street in an obscure lo-fi building was the first ever metal store I would first lay my feet on and then my whole body. I felt a feeling more heavenly than entering a toilet after holding for hours. I couldn't believe that for once I could hear metal outside my room and didn't have to be embarrassed about it. The shop owner happened to be a member in some local band and he played lots of cds for me many of which I ended up buying. And after spending hours in there, I gloriously stepped out of that shop like a person who would step out of his girlfriend's house after losing his virginity. It was really a great experience and the coolest part was that these guys didn't know English at all and we communicated entirely through band names.
DC: Your last words, praises, etc.. Jill: Thanks so much for the killer interview Kunal. You totally rule! Hail Diabolical Conquest zine! Funerus hopes to spread our sewage in India someday soon!
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© 2005 Diabolical Conquest |
DC: Recently it seems that Brad has left the band (again?!) and YOU have taken over the vocal duties. How did that and that happen? 
Jill: I would tour any country! Particularly I would like to tour in South America, like Brazil, Chile, Peru and other South American countries. Sure, I would love to tour India! Millions of people huh? Sounds great! I remember talking to someone that said they played there, I can't remember if it was Disgorge, or maybe Fleshgrind? Maybe it was that they were supposed to play there….. 
