Lamb Of God vocalist Randy Blythe has revealed a desire that is perhaps unusual for artists in the metal scene: to tour with bands that are not from the genre.
Answering fan questions for Metal Hammer , the frontman was asked how he ended up in a metal band, and what other new bands he would like to tour with. “We started as a punk band with metal riffs and in the early years I refused to refer to us as a metal band because we weren’t,” Blythe states. “Metal as it is now with the speed and aggression wouldn’t exist without punk rock and the people who created the metal we play will tell you the same thing.”
Randy also reveals behind-the-scenes details of how a tour works, and thanks one veteran group in particular, “Many people don’t understand that when people put artists together on a tour, agents and management look to sell a certain number of tickets. That’s one reason why I have to praise Metallica ; they bring whoever they want because their shows sell out before the opening band is even announced. They brought my band when they didn’t have to bring anyone!”
Regarding young bands, he reveals, “I would bring a really good young band from Arizona called Holy Fawn , and a hardcore band that I really like from my city, called Division of Mind ,” he states. “I would love to do a tour where we didn’t have to play metal bands and it was all different genres, like a moving festival. I listen to many genres and they are part of what I do, from electronic to reggae to hip hop to country music. I would love to do something that brought all the music I like and that let people who truly love music show up,” he reveals, an opinion that sounded controversial to some.