My Diablo are a new Stoner Rock band who formed out of the ashes from sadly missed UK Stoner Rock/Metal band - Mother Corona. Featuring ex-Mother Corona members Lee on Guitars and Dave-O on Drums.
As I stated in my initial review of their excellent debut album:
My Diablo is a different band to Mother Corona. As the band incorporate elements of Punk Rock, Garage Rock, Hard Rock, Stoner Rock and even a Funk based sound. My Diablo have more in common with Clutch than Mother Corona.
With their album being released very soon, I wanted to find out more about My Diablo and discuss the formation of the band, making of the new album and future tours.
Dave-O (Drums/Vocals) kindly agreed to do this interview.
Hi Dave-O. Thanks for doing this interview. How are things with you today.
Before you go do you have any words of wisdom to say to your fans. Best of luck with your new album as it’s a great sounding and progressive album.
Great thanks! No worries, it's a pleasure
For people not in the know can you give a brief history of how My Diablo came together and what the current line-up is today.
For people not in the know can you give a brief history of how My Diablo came together and what the current line-up is today.
Myself and Lee were in a band called Mother Corona who were together for roughly 10 years, in 2015 the band split up so a few months later. Lee and me decided we wanted to carry playing, we did think about getting another bass player for Mother C but I think we wanted to start a fresh and have a new challenge so we formed My Diablo in April 2016.
Was it an easy decision to form a new band after being part of a successful band such as Mother Corona
Was it an easy decision to form a new band after being part of a successful band such as Mother Corona
Yeah it was, it was just exciting to start something fresh and A little bit different.
Why did Mother Corona split up.
Some people just aren't into it any-more and other members had a number of personal priorities that came first and so our bass player left after a tour and that was that.
How would you describe My Diablo sound. As you have many different elements in your music.
How would you describe My Diablo sound. As you have many different elements in your music.
Hard/Heavy ,a lot of energy, a lot of Melody, a bit like Black Sabbath meets The Sex Pistols.
You’re about to release your debut album. What can people expect from your album.
You’re about to release your debut album. What can people expect from your album.
There's a lot of raw energy on this record, the songs are riffy, melodic and short, It's more like a slap in the face rather than the Space Rock of Mother Corona. It's a bit like Lemmy going from Hawkwind to Motorhead, ones more spacy and trippy and weed induced and the other is a drunk kick in the bollocks! Ha Ha Ha
Was this a hard or easy album to write and record for.
Was this a hard or easy album to write and record for.
Very easy to write and record, very hard to put out though.
The thing I like most about the album is how different it sounds from Mother Corona. It’s a more heavier affair. With the emphasis primarily on progression and different sounds. Is that a fair assumption to make.
The thing I like most about the album is how different it sounds from Mother Corona. It’s a more heavier affair. With the emphasis primarily on progression and different sounds. Is that a fair assumption to make.
Absolutely, it's a different band, we've already done Mother Corona so it's nice to tackle a different side to us.
Who will be releasing the album and what formats will it be released on.
It's going to be self released by us on our BMR Label, It shall be on CD and on Spotify, iTunes, Deezer and all those online places, but not vinyl unfortunately, to expensive for us to do on our own.
I know you have a UK tour coming up with High Fighter and Tuskar. Are you looking forward to that tour. What can people expect from the My Diablo experience.
Yeah man! Both bands are the bollocks and it'll be great to share the stage with them... expect the unexpected, that's all I can say.
Will you be doing any-more gigs this year to promote the album.
Will you be doing any-more gigs this year to promote the album.
Yeah we have the O2 Academy in Oxford on the 30th of June which is our album launch night, and we have a few gigs spotted about here and there, we just take them as the some.
The Stoner Rock musical landscape has changed dramatically over the years and you have been willing participants. Have you noticed any dramatic changes over the years. Or is has it remained the same
The Stoner Rock musical landscape has changed dramatically over the years and you have been willing participants. Have you noticed any dramatic changes over the years. Or is has it remained the same
It's changed a lot in the UK, it's become more geared towards death growls and no melody, which is fine but not all of it is for me. I don't think My Diablo is a Stoner band though, maybe some traits, but we're more influenced by early UK punk and Bleach era Nirvana as well as Zeppelin & Sabbath
If you could change anything about the UK Stoner Rock/Metal scene. What would it be and the reasons why.
To be honest with you, scenes are scenes and don't really mean much, It's the bands that are important and the people who come to shows which I suppose is a scene but some people get stuck in scenes and want to fit in with whatever's cool and not what's in their hearts and that's where bands start sounding the same, we're friends with a lot of bands but I wouldn't say we're a part of a scene, we've always been a little bit outside of it so I wouldn't change any thing really.
What is the song-writing dynamic within the band. Is it a group collection or is down to one individual
What is the song-writing dynamic within the band. Is it a group collection or is down to one individual
Both Lee and Myself, total 50/50
What comes first. Lyrics or music.
What comes first. Lyrics or music.
Definitely music first cause it sets a back drop for the lyrical themes
When recording or performing live. Do you have an advanced setup or basic setup. What current equipment do you use.
When recording or performing live. Do you have an advanced setup or basic setup. What current equipment do you use.
It's all basic gear, Lee splits his guitar into 2 different amps cause one he uses for bass sound and the other for regular guitar and blends them together for the band sound, And I just use a 4 piece drum kit with a big old 26 inch bass drum and I use 3 cymbals, hi hats and of course a cowbell.
Stay cool man, have a good time and be positive about life cause it's way too short!
Thank You mate! All the best to you too.
Words by Steve Howe and Dave-O
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