| Interview by Burt Wolf with Lance Ozanix frontman of the infamous band SKITZO! Interview done 4-22-08. |
LANCE, MY FRIEND, I CAN'T BELIEVE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS I AM JUST FINALLY GETTING
AROUND TO INTERVIEWING YOU FOR MY ZINE. I APOLOGIZE! ANYWAY, I KNOW A LOT OF THE
HISTORY OF THE GREAT SKITZO, BUT FOR MY READERS THAT ARE NEW TO YOU GUYS, CAN
OF EXISTENCE?
It's a weird time for Metal these days, I seen a lot of bands emerge & submerge, change. I have been through 60
+ band members and survived 17 CDs and tons of pen pals over the years & now email to fans is impossible.
The 1 click instant gratify has taken over. The click to a next song has engulfed our brains. I am dumbfounded
to see the results of the future. It truly amazes me. I would have never thought we would had Rap Metal.
Hahaha! Funk Metal was bad enough... But I am just trying to express everything from 1981 ways of Metal &
experience to now.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE NAME SKITZO FOR THE BAND?
I had 2 drummers they both came up with the name SKITZO. I myself was pushing for MEPHITZO or SIX-66
& FLAIRHEAD, (in FLAIRHEAD I was going to light my head on fire & try to puke it out after every show).
No kidding. So SKITZO was the one we kept.
AROUND TO INTERVIEWING YOU FOR MY ZINE. I APOLOGIZE! ANYWAY, I KNOW A LOT OF THE
HISTORY OF THE GREAT SKITZO, BUT FOR MY READERS THAT ARE NEW TO YOU GUYS, CAN
OF EXISTENCE?
It's a weird time for Metal these days, I seen a lot of bands emerge & submerge, change. I have been through 60
+ band members and survived 17 CDs and tons of pen pals over the years & now email to fans is impossible.
The 1 click instant gratify has taken over. The click to a next song has engulfed our brains. I am dumbfounded
to see the results of the future. It truly amazes me. I would have never thought we would had Rap Metal.
Hahaha! Funk Metal was bad enough... But I am just trying to express everything from 1981 ways of Metal &
experience to now.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE NAME SKITZO FOR THE BAND?
I had 2 drummers they both came up with the name SKITZO. I myself was pushing for MEPHITZO or SIX-66
& FLAIRHEAD, (in FLAIRHEAD I was going to light my head on fire & try to puke it out after every show).
No kidding. So SKITZO was the one we kept.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN A BIG INFLUENCE IN THE BAY AREA
THRASH CROSSOVER SCENE. WHO HAS HELPED INFLUENCE YOU
IN MUSIC & IN LIFE?
My peers in school who kicked the shit out of me everyday for wearing a KISS
shirt or having Rock posters in the locker. They had the biggest influence, but
musically? Or Personally? I'd say dead people - possess my soul & body and it
just happened.
YOU HAVE HAD OVER 60 SOMETHING BAND MEMBERS IN THE
BAND OVER THE YEARS. WHY DO YOU THINK THERE HAS BEEN
SUCH A REVOLVING DOOR WITH MEMBERS?
We are a serious band with set schedules and most can't take the heat &
pressures. We got TV, radio, newspapers, shows tours, recordings, a lot
THRASH CROSSOVER SCENE. WHO HAS HELPED INFLUENCE YOU
IN MUSIC & IN LIFE?
My peers in school who kicked the shit out of me everyday for wearing a KISS
shirt or having Rock posters in the locker. They had the biggest influence, but
musically? Or Personally? I'd say dead people - possess my soul & body and it
just happened.
YOU HAVE HAD OVER 60 SOMETHING BAND MEMBERS IN THE
BAND OVER THE YEARS. WHY DO YOU THINK THERE HAS BEEN
SUCH A REVOLVING DOOR WITH MEMBERS?
We are a serious band with set schedules and most can't take the heat &
pressures. We got TV, radio, newspapers, shows tours, recordings, a lot
invested into time and we must turn out what we put in! Not a lot of musicians can deal with it! It's hard for
me... So I do respect the ones who stay for a year...at least. LOL!
MOST OF YOUR RELEASES HAVE BEEN SELF FINANCED. WAS THIS BECAUSE YOU HAD
TROUBLE FINDING A LABEL OR WAS THIS THE WAY YOU PREFERRED TO GO, SO YOU COULD
HAVE TOTAL CONTROL OVER THE RELEASE?
I got over 30 contracts of major labels sitting here, with no room for negotiations. They will have my balls &
soul. So I say no way. I'll do it my way and it's working fine. My contact list over the years is over a million
people world wide. I just find an investor to help promote & I let the 100000 folks know we got product and it
becomes a profit. Thus continuing the band for another release.
YOU'VE HAD SOME PRETTY SHOCKING ALBUM COVERS OVER THE YEARS. DO YOU THINK
THIS HAS HAD SOME INFLUENCE ON THE LABEL THING?
No...It repulses them and I like that. When you can shock a label you know your awesome. Hahaha!
YOUR LATEST ALBUM & 17TH RELEASE "FIVE POINT CONTAINMENT" CAME OUT IN JUNE OF
2007. HOW WELL HAS IT BEEN DOING? I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S YOUR BEST MATERIAL TO
DATE?
Thanks. It was a fast CD, in & out. OPEN GRAVE RECORDS family are all great people. How is it doing? It is
still early to tell. As far as units sold. My guess 20 to 30 thousand???
OPEN GRAVE RECORDS PUT OUT THIS RELEASE. HOW DID YOU GET HOOKED UP WITH
JAMES & HIS GREAT LABEL? HOW HAS IT BEEN WORKING WITH THEM?
It was through a friend, THE METAL DEN on Ebay. Mr. Hazzy, I've known for years. He was all the hook up!
WHAT IS SOME OF THE LYRICAL CONTENT YOU COVER IN YOUR SONGS?
Death, witches, ogres, starving people, zombies, killings, reapers, nightmares, homicidal killers, serial killers, rich
fat house wives on cell phones hogging up the road. LOL!
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COVER THE MOTORHEAD SONG "IRON FIST" & A BLIND ILLUSION
SONG?
Well, Marc from BLIND ILLUSION said do any or all BLIND ILLUSION & MOTORHEAD was Nates fave
to do! He sang that one. "Vengeance Is Mine" I sing.
YOU ALSO HAVE A LOT OF GUEST MUSICIANS FROM POSSESSED, VIO-LENCE, MACHINE
HEAD, THE MENTORS, METAL CHURCH & BLIND ILLUSION on this release. Who from these
bands did you work with & how did these collaborations come about?
Jeff from POSSESSED, Jon Marshall, Sickie, PCP Jeffro Hunter, to name a few. It was an amazing experience.
Oh and Phil Demmel shredded on "We Are The Dead".
me... So I do respect the ones who stay for a year...at least. LOL!
MOST OF YOUR RELEASES HAVE BEEN SELF FINANCED. WAS THIS BECAUSE YOU HAD
TROUBLE FINDING A LABEL OR WAS THIS THE WAY YOU PREFERRED TO GO, SO YOU COULD
HAVE TOTAL CONTROL OVER THE RELEASE?
I got over 30 contracts of major labels sitting here, with no room for negotiations. They will have my balls &
soul. So I say no way. I'll do it my way and it's working fine. My contact list over the years is over a million
people world wide. I just find an investor to help promote & I let the 100000 folks know we got product and it
becomes a profit. Thus continuing the band for another release.
YOU'VE HAD SOME PRETTY SHOCKING ALBUM COVERS OVER THE YEARS. DO YOU THINK
THIS HAS HAD SOME INFLUENCE ON THE LABEL THING?
No...It repulses them and I like that. When you can shock a label you know your awesome. Hahaha!
YOUR LATEST ALBUM & 17TH RELEASE "FIVE POINT CONTAINMENT" CAME OUT IN JUNE OF
2007. HOW WELL HAS IT BEEN DOING? I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S YOUR BEST MATERIAL TO
DATE?
Thanks. It was a fast CD, in & out. OPEN GRAVE RECORDS family are all great people. How is it doing? It is
still early to tell. As far as units sold. My guess 20 to 30 thousand???
OPEN GRAVE RECORDS PUT OUT THIS RELEASE. HOW DID YOU GET HOOKED UP WITH
JAMES & HIS GREAT LABEL? HOW HAS IT BEEN WORKING WITH THEM?
It was through a friend, THE METAL DEN on Ebay. Mr. Hazzy, I've known for years. He was all the hook up!
WHAT IS SOME OF THE LYRICAL CONTENT YOU COVER IN YOUR SONGS?
Death, witches, ogres, starving people, zombies, killings, reapers, nightmares, homicidal killers, serial killers, rich
fat house wives on cell phones hogging up the road. LOL!
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COVER THE MOTORHEAD SONG "IRON FIST" & A BLIND ILLUSION
SONG?
Well, Marc from BLIND ILLUSION said do any or all BLIND ILLUSION & MOTORHEAD was Nates fave
to do! He sang that one. "Vengeance Is Mine" I sing.
YOU ALSO HAVE A LOT OF GUEST MUSICIANS FROM POSSESSED, VIO-LENCE, MACHINE
HEAD, THE MENTORS, METAL CHURCH & BLIND ILLUSION on this release. Who from these
bands did you work with & how did these collaborations come about?
Jeff from POSSESSED, Jon Marshall, Sickie, PCP Jeffro Hunter, to name a few. It was an amazing experience.
Oh and Phil Demmel shredded on "We Are The Dead".
YOU JUST PUT OUT A SKITZO BOX SET. CAN YOU TELL US WHO
RELEASED IT & WHAT THE BOX SET CONTAINS?
AREADEATH from China, same ones who do the NECROPHAGIA box set.
They did a wonderful job. Comes with 2 CDs, t-shirt, patch, button, sticker, 12
page booklet. And it's all re-issue stuff. From 80's and our 1992 LP
"EVILUTION". Only 500 cassettes, all gone back in 1992. On Ebay they go for
$100 or more...I can't even get them.
YOUR KNOW FOR SOME REALLY WILD SHIT IN YOUR STAGE
SHOWS. OF COURSE, THE INFAMOUS PUKING ON GROUPIES
THING. HOW DID THIS WHOLE THING COME ABOUT?
Not sure...it just happened. Really. It started we me just puking at the
end of the show on stage then by 1992 chicks started to want to get
puked on...okay...cool for the show. So it remained.
RELEASED IT & WHAT THE BOX SET CONTAINS?
AREADEATH from China, same ones who do the NECROPHAGIA box set.
They did a wonderful job. Comes with 2 CDs, t-shirt, patch, button, sticker, 12
page booklet. And it's all re-issue stuff. From 80's and our 1992 LP
"EVILUTION". Only 500 cassettes, all gone back in 1992. On Ebay they go for
$100 or more...I can't even get them.
YOUR KNOW FOR SOME REALLY WILD SHIT IN YOUR STAGE
SHOWS. OF COURSE, THE INFAMOUS PUKING ON GROUPIES
THING. HOW DID THIS WHOLE THING COME ABOUT?
Not sure...it just happened. Really. It started we me just puking at the
end of the show on stage then by 1992 chicks started to want to get
puked on...okay...cool for the show. So it remained.
WHAT THE HELL DO YOU USE TO MAKE YOURSELF PUKE? DO YOU STILL HAVE & USE THE
CHUNKBLOWER?
I'm deformed in my throat and the chunkblowers I had 3 in my life. They all get stolen and end up on Ebay going
for $300 or more. Too much for me.
WHAT OTHER CRAZY THINGS HAVE YOU DONE ON STAGE AT ONE OF YOUR SHOWS OR THAT
YOU'VE SEEN A FAN DO?
Other crazy things? One chick wanted me to vomit on her new born... I did not because my manager said that if
the baby choked on my vomit, I'd get arrested.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER INTERESTING BAND STORIES YOU COULD SHARE WITH US?
In my old single days with groupies... Wow, they all wanted me to puke in them...
YOU'VE APPEARED ON JERRY SPRINGER, JUDGE JUDY, HOWARD STERN, RIPLEY'S BELIEVE
IT OR NOT AMONGST OTHER TV SHOWS. CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THESE?
Go to You Tube, they are all on there, but it's all a crazy journey each show was so crazy...
YOU ALSO APPEARED IN THE MOVIES NATIONAL LAMPOON'S LAST RESORT & NATIONAL
LAMPOON'S LOST REALITY. HOW DID YOU GET TO BE IN THESE FILMS & WHAT WAS YOUR
PART?
I was the Ipecac drinker for $500. (I got paid way more than that) to drink it and vomit on the streets of L.A.
Fun times!
YOU GOT TO PLAY SAM KINISON'S WAKE. WERE YOU GUYS FRIENDS WITH HIM & WHAT WAS
THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE?
Scary...6000 people. Sam was drunk & left after his show with no encore and the band started to play "Wild
Thing"... The manager promoter Joe, said for me to get out there...so I did with Sam's opener Carl Labove and
we both did the song...and saved the night. It was cool!
YOU'VE TOURED THE WORLD MANY TIMES. WHERE ARE SOME OF THE PLACES YOU'VE
PLAYED OUTSIDE THE U.S.. DID ANY OF THESE SHOWS STAND OUT FOR ANY REASON?
RUSSIA! One of the craziest places!
WHO ARE SOME OF THE BANDS YOU'VE TOURED WITH OR OPENED FOR?
MALEVOLENT CREATION, MENTORS, TOOL, POSSESSED, DEATH ANGEL, THE VANDALS,
T.S.O.L., BLUE CHEER, IRON BUTTERFLY, FASTER PUSSYCAT, JOURNEY, CHEAP TRICK, TOM
WAITS, PRIMUS, METALLICA/SPASTIC CHILDREN, ANGEL WITCH, EXODUS, D.R.I., OZZY'S ex-
JAKE E LEE, just to name a few...
CHUNKBLOWER?
I'm deformed in my throat and the chunkblowers I had 3 in my life. They all get stolen and end up on Ebay going
for $300 or more. Too much for me.
WHAT OTHER CRAZY THINGS HAVE YOU DONE ON STAGE AT ONE OF YOUR SHOWS OR THAT
YOU'VE SEEN A FAN DO?
Other crazy things? One chick wanted me to vomit on her new born... I did not because my manager said that if
the baby choked on my vomit, I'd get arrested.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER INTERESTING BAND STORIES YOU COULD SHARE WITH US?
In my old single days with groupies... Wow, they all wanted me to puke in them...
YOU'VE APPEARED ON JERRY SPRINGER, JUDGE JUDY, HOWARD STERN, RIPLEY'S BELIEVE
IT OR NOT AMONGST OTHER TV SHOWS. CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THESE?
Go to You Tube, they are all on there, but it's all a crazy journey each show was so crazy...
YOU ALSO APPEARED IN THE MOVIES NATIONAL LAMPOON'S LAST RESORT & NATIONAL
LAMPOON'S LOST REALITY. HOW DID YOU GET TO BE IN THESE FILMS & WHAT WAS YOUR
PART?
I was the Ipecac drinker for $500. (I got paid way more than that) to drink it and vomit on the streets of L.A.
Fun times!
YOU GOT TO PLAY SAM KINISON'S WAKE. WERE YOU GUYS FRIENDS WITH HIM & WHAT WAS
THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE?
Scary...6000 people. Sam was drunk & left after his show with no encore and the band started to play "Wild
Thing"... The manager promoter Joe, said for me to get out there...so I did with Sam's opener Carl Labove and
we both did the song...and saved the night. It was cool!
YOU'VE TOURED THE WORLD MANY TIMES. WHERE ARE SOME OF THE PLACES YOU'VE
PLAYED OUTSIDE THE U.S.. DID ANY OF THESE SHOWS STAND OUT FOR ANY REASON?
RUSSIA! One of the craziest places!
WHO ARE SOME OF THE BANDS YOU'VE TOURED WITH OR OPENED FOR?
MALEVOLENT CREATION, MENTORS, TOOL, POSSESSED, DEATH ANGEL, THE VANDALS,
T.S.O.L., BLUE CHEER, IRON BUTTERFLY, FASTER PUSSYCAT, JOURNEY, CHEAP TRICK, TOM
WAITS, PRIMUS, METALLICA/SPASTIC CHILDREN, ANGEL WITCH, EXODUS, D.R.I., OZZY'S ex-
JAKE E LEE, just to name a few...
WHAT DO THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND DO
WHEN NOT DOING ANY WORK FOR SKITZO?
Movies, BBQ, groupies, shows...
YOUR PRETTY OPEN MINDED & HAVE DONE
A LOT OF WHACKED OUT SHIT. WHAT IS ONE
THING YOU'D THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE
SURPRISED TO FIND OUT ABOUT YOU?
I'm creating a Jazz solo album right now & Horror
movie music.
WHAT CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT
FROM LANCE & THE GREAT SKITZO?
WHEN NOT DOING ANY WORK FOR SKITZO?
Movies, BBQ, groupies, shows...
YOUR PRETTY OPEN MINDED & HAVE DONE
A LOT OF WHACKED OUT SHIT. WHAT IS ONE
THING YOU'D THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE
SURPRISED TO FIND OUT ABOUT YOU?
I'm creating a Jazz solo album right now & Horror
movie music.
WHAT CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT
FROM LANCE & THE GREAT SKITZO?
We are currently working on new riffs for a new CD and talking with OPEN GRAVE RECORDS for another
deal?
WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE ANSWERING THIS INTERVIEW? WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW
THAT IT'S DONE?
Recording & then back to recording, then a photo shoot in 3 hours. Then going to dinner with my wife & her
kids then back to recording. Oh and I'm attending the monster trucks this weekend with her youngest. So I do
have some sort a life...normal...kinda?
LANCE, THAN FOR BEING SUCH A GREAT FRIEND AFTER ALL THESE YEARS & FOR
CHURNING OUT TONS OF AMAZING MUSIC.
Burt... thank for all you do with promotion of new & old bands. We couldn't do it with out your help & love for
Metal. Thanx! Lance Ozanix
deal?
WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE ANSWERING THIS INTERVIEW? WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW
THAT IT'S DONE?
Recording & then back to recording, then a photo shoot in 3 hours. Then going to dinner with my wife & her
kids then back to recording. Oh and I'm attending the monster trucks this weekend with her youngest. So I do
have some sort a life...normal...kinda?
LANCE, THAN FOR BEING SUCH A GREAT FRIEND AFTER ALL THESE YEARS & FOR
CHURNING OUT TONS OF AMAZING MUSIC.
Burt... thank for all you do with promotion of new & old bands. We couldn't do it with out your help & love for
Metal. Thanx! Lance Ozanix
