Released last week, “NÓS SOMOS FAMÍLIA” marks the union between Suicidal Tendencies and the Brazilian public. The band released a version of their old song “We Are Family”, from the album Freedumb (1999), but now with a difference.
Fernanda Lira ( Crypta ), João Gordo , Supla, and Badauí ( CPM 22 ) were some of the names invited to participate in this new song, which creates anticipation for the American band's visit to Brazil.
The tour across our country begins this Friday and includes five shows: Rio de Janeiro, at Sacadura, on the 12th ; São Paulo, at Rock Fun Fest, on the 13th ; Curitiba, at Tork N Roll, on the 14th ; Florianópolis, at John Bull Floripa, on the 16th ; and finally, in Belo Horizonte, at Mister Rock, on the 17th .
Last Tuesday, the 9th, Mike Muir , vocalist of the group and also of Infectious Grooves , participated in a press conference in the city of São Paulo.
During the conversation, the Diário de Shows asked him about the criteria used to select who would participate in this new project, highlighting the different styles that these people play, to which the musician explained: "(...) And so, for us, it wasn't so much about trying to find specific people to draw a straight line.
“These were people I had the opportunity to meet, some, many of them. And obviously, people who were willing to change their schedules, which is a completely different thing when you can all come at the same time. And with schedules, it's difficult with bands, family, all that kind of thing.”
"So I think as a person, my discomfort is asking someone, because I hate asking people 'would you like to?' or it would make someone uncomfortable. I was impressed by the fact that so many people wanted to do this. And we're excited to do it. So it's a great feeling."
Roadie Crew magazine covered the topic of Brazil. When asked what Muir liked most about the country, he didn't hold back on praise, replying with "several things".
“One of them goes back to the fact that my brother is a professional skateboarder, so the first Brazilians I met were skateboarders and other things. That was my original connection.”
He also commented on the fact that some of the trips he took on tour were somewhat impersonal: “We saw the roadside. You know, you're going from one city to another. You don't know the places. You can go on a map or something, but when you spend time and meet people, you see what it's really like.”
Regarding Brazil, he considers this a good thing: “I saw a different side than what tourists would see. I met many people who I know, if I had grown up with them, these are people I would have been friends with for life.”.
He also spoke of pride: “There are many things that are wrong anywhere in the world, in America, everywhere. It could be better. But this pride really comes from a good place.”
“And I like that passion to come from a good place. So, whether it’s football , we call it soccer , whatever it is, skateboarders, surfers, whatever they do, Formula 100, there’s that passion there, and there’s that passion with which people follow them in a good way.”
“And I’ve always really liked that, whereas I think in some other places it’s a bit noisier or more theatrical. This place is more from the heart, and I like that.”
“WE ARE FAMILY” is also notable for being the first Suicidal Tendencies song recorded with their new drummer, Jay Weinberg , formerly of Slipknot . Wikimetal conducted an exclusive interview with him which can be found here .
The question from Confere Rock was precisely about that, to which Muir responded by recalling a tour the band did with Slipknot when Weinberg had just taken over his position and had an interaction with his son, Tyson . Years later, he suggested to his father that the musician play some shows with Infectious Grooves, since Brooks Wackerman , drummer also of Avenged Sevenfold , was unavailable.
“And I know Jay had just had surgery, and I saw the clip of him walking earlier in the year. I said, ‘I don’t think he can do it.’ He said, ‘I think he can.’ He kept doing it, and I didn’t even have Jay’s contact information, and I got it from Robert [Trujillo] and wrote to him and said, ‘How are you?’ And he said, you know, ‘Good.’”
“And I said, ‘We’re doing these shows. Would you be available with Infectious Grooves?’ He said, ‘I’d love to do that. But technically it’s a month later that I should be ready to play.’ And he said, ‘Let me see.’ And then he said, ‘I talked to my doctor and physical therapist. Let’s try it.’”
The initial idea wasn't for him to play with Suicidal Tendencies, 'and I thought, no, no, no. We're just taking it one step at a time.'
“But obviously, given all the circumstances, we recorded a song with Infectious, so we were able to be in the studio beforehand, and it’s been great playing with Jay, absolutely great. And having him in Suicidal and transitioning from that has been incredible.”
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