PEREZ, JOHN John Perez is a legendary figure in underground music as he is the guitarist from cult doom purists, Solitude Aeturnus, a band whose wide reaching legacy can still be felt today. He is also the head brain behind Brainticket records, and talented music producer of quality doom acts that include 'Las Cruces' & 'Well of Souls.' 
Line up Solitude Aeturnus:
Could you tell me when exactly you decided to create Brainticket records and what is your main agenda for the company? JP: "The idea was to dedicate my life in the pursuit of making great music known and available to as many people as possible. I simply want to turn people on to what I consider to be good music. I'd like to make a living doing this since it's the only thing that I'm truly passionate about." For those of people who aren't familiar with the record label, what bands are currently involved with brainticket records? JP: "Our roster has decreased in size mostly due to the fact that t he bands have disbanded. We currently have Well of Souls from Houston, the Solitude Aeturnus re-issue's and John Frankovic [psychedelic, ex-Plasticland]. We'll be working with more bands in the very near future. Past bands have included Las Cruces, Dixie Witch, Datura, Last Chapter, Archie Bunker, Sorcerer, Virgineers, Oversoul, Liquid Sound Company and Farflung." 
What do you have planned for Brainticket's immediate future? And are there any bands you'd care
to plug here?JP: "Immediate plans are to keep pushing and promoting our latest releases; Well of Souls - 'S/T' [epic doom metal], SA - 'Depths' and we've just released a new psychedelic album from John Frankovic - 'Space Zombie' [ex-Plasticland from the 80's]. We'll also re-issue SA's 'Crimson Horizon' in the next few months. The Texas Metal Archives will also eventually happen. We have other things in line as well but don't want to say anything until we've finalized things." Should anyone be thinking about establishing an independent record label what advice could you give him/her, are there any pitfalls one should especially try to avoid? JP: "It's really the money that is tough. I would advise to start off with a good amount of capital, no less than 20,000 to start. It takes so much money to make money and if you don't make money you don't stay in business. Try to work with bands that are willing to play live and/or tour as this is one of the best ways to make the public aware of new music." I am a huge fan of Las Cruces, their 2nd album, "Ringmaster" is in my humble opinion a bang to rights doom classic [splendid job you did as co-producer by the way]. How rewarding do you find the role of producer, and could you tell me a little about the construction of "Ringmaster." Can you remember what equipment you used to get that thick and decidedly mammoth sound? Do you feel that your skill and reputation as a guitar player is a boon when wearing your producer hat? JP: "Thanks for the compliments! I'm really happy with that album as well. It's so freaking heavy and I agree that it is a heavy classic. I find producing very rewarding especially when it turns out a s good as 'Ringmaster.' I basically just try to steer the band and sound in the best possible way I know how and the results happen. Equipment on that album was nothing fancy if I can recall. Marshall and Randall heads for the guitars and bass direct into the board I believe. I do think that my experience helps in the studio. I learn every time I work in the studio and get better with every release that I'm involved in." In the 80's you formed the band Solitude, but at what age did you start to play guitar and when did you realise you wanted to be a professional rock musician? Were family/friends supportive of this? JP: "I first wanted to play in a band when I was probably 4 or 5 and heard the Beatles for the first time. From then I got hooked on my parents rock and roll [Elvis, Beatles, Stones] and then naturally I progressed to the heavier stuff. I've wanted to play music seriously since maybe 12 years old. My parents and family have always been 100% supportive of me -I couldn't' ask for better." 
There are many schools of thought about why folk derive so much pleasure from ultra
heavy doom, for some it's the purest form of the metal riff, and it
almost becomes a heavy metal grail for them to find THEE ULTIMATE RIFF, to others it's a form of
misery catharsis, musical therapy for the depressive amongst us, and some
miserable misfits clearly enjoy wallowing in the abject gloom and
despondency that churns out of the speakers. [I am very much of the latter!].What are your thoughts on the mysterious appeal of this much maligned and mis understood musical genre? JP: "I suppose for me I'm more of the riff hound, always looking for that next doom evil killer riff. I suppose it's different for some people and I must admit that I have liked doomy music for any number of reasons including a misery catharsis. I generally don't feel depressed at all anymore and the appeal of doomy music is a bit more sinister to me in some respects. It tends to supplement ideas that I have about life in general and feelings of overall blissful, yet tragic doom [make sense?]." The world has a glut of heavy metal guitar players, some excellent, some merely workmanlike, but very few have a signature style, [i.e. Wylde/Iommi/Jim Bower/Wartell-Franklin/Holt/Hunholt etc]. It doesn't take too long into a Solitude Aeturnus album to enthuse about the proliferation of quality riffs and fluid sounds coming from your axe, how much of a struggle is it to come up with original riffs? What brand of instrument do you favour and what Guitar FX/ amps do you use to create that full and weighty John Perez destructiod-doom sound? Do you collect guitars or are you a more practical person, just what you need to get the job done? JP: "Wow -I truly appreciate being spoken of in the same sentence as the guitarists above as I hold them all in the highest regards. I do think we have a unique sound and style that is somewhat of a signature sound [along with the music]. We put a lot of thought and time into our song writing process and generally don't let anything out that we don't feel is quality. Maybe it's as simple as a quality control issue and being honest with ourselves about our music. There is no room for mediocrity or conformity in Solitude Aeturnus. Therefore we are highly self critical so that when the music if finally presented to others for judgment, we stand behind it 100%!" "Edgar and I have used Randall amps for years and we're now using Line 6 heads as they can sound like a Randall with more balls!! Washburn and Jackson guitars are our main weapons of choice. We don't use too many effects, mainly a little delay for leads, chorus for clean and I like to use the Wah-pedal quite a bit for my lead work. I dont' really collect guitars; I'm not very interested in equipment actually." 
Solitude Aeturnus is a band which brings many metal
fans to a state of much tremulous excitement, but paradoxically a band that
were ignored by the majority of mainstream rock media... was this simply down to the
marginal/cult appeal of SA's brand of classic doom metal or inept support from the
record labels/low key marketing etc?JP: "I think it's down to the appeal of the type of music we play. We're not super charged like thrash, death or nu metal and we're too heavy and simple to be loved by the Dream Theatre / prog metal crowd. Our music is not good time metal or party music in anyway so I think this may be a reason. I suppose if there were more support and money behind us in the earlier days we might have gotten a bit more popular. I mean Candlemass was fairly huge in Europe during the late 80's so...." Do you feel that vacillating trends in rock music can effect a band with obvious integrity such as SA? JP: "Not at all as we don't do this for a living therefore we are not affected by it whatsoever. We do what we do no matter the current trend and that includes any trends set forth in the Doom Metal scene as well." Solitude Aeturnus produced 5 excellent doom albums, do you have a particular favourite and why? [I really groove on "Through The Darkest Hour" -damn fine album]. JP:"'Darkest' may be my fave as well, although we got more of the sound I'm looking for on 'Adagio.' However the songs on 'Darkest' were special to me as we made great breakthroughs in song writing and the overall recording processing the UK for that was highly rewarding. So I suppose 'Darkest' gets my vote although I'm quite fond of all of our records." One of the many ingredients that make Solitude Aeturnus's sepulchral ] music such an appealing doom-gumbo is the skilful song writing and the mellifluous vocals of Robert, how did you meet this talented fellow and what is he up to now? JP: "It was a stroke of luck really. Robert played in a punk band with Lyle [ex SA bassist] and Lyle knew that he could actually "sing", so when our original vocalist left the band we simply asked Robert and I knew instantly that he was the voice for the music that I/we were beginning to create." There is a pleasant surprise to be found on the recent Candlemass DVD, viz a viz an impromptu performance from Solitude Aeturnus, [I have to admit to re-playing that section a few times!] and while that was decidedly ace I couldn't help wanting a git load more, are there any plans to release a Solitude Aeturnus DVD? And how much footage do you have of the band? JP: "Yes! That was quite cool! We played two shows with them here in Texas in 1990 I believe and during sound check in Austin we played 'Well of Souls' for them. It was great fun to be able to play for the Gods! We may do a DVD version of the Day's of Doom video that we've had for a few years now but no immediate plans other than that. We don't have a lot of footage from 1997 onward and I suppose it's a result of our general state of inactivity." You have re-released the first Solitude Aeturnus CD, "Into The Depths of Sorrow" with previously unavailable material, would you and the other members of the band ever consider reforming and writing another SA album [it would come at a most welcome time, as there are rumours that Trouble might be recording some new material]. Do you plan to re-release any of the other Solitude Aeturnus albums with similar bonus material? JP: "Actually we never really split up just took a very long time off! New album 'Alone' due out late summer early fall!!!" Doom metal has been around in differing forms for over 30 years now, and its heathen influence can be felt far and wide, are there any current doom acts you enjoy? JP: "I'm still very much into the underground metal and doom scene. I never close my mind to new bands so I'm happy to listen to plenty of great new heavy stuff coming out today; Reverend Bizarre, Orodruin, Forsaken, and Until Death Overtakes Me are currently getting heavy spins over here!! I'm very much into underground Black Metal as well with bands like Countess, Inquisition, Dark Funeral, Pest, Demoncy, Wind of The Black Mountains being some current heavy rotation over here." When you have the prospect of a lengthy drive what CD's do you make sure you have in the car? JP:"Some Beatles, XTC, Wondermints, Cloud Eleven -lot of psychedelic happy music. I prefer to listen to happy humming tunes when I drive. Maybe some old school heavy metal like Maiden, Priest or Sabbath. I dunno -I really don't like listening to music in the car. I like to hear music at home on my stereo to be able to give it proper attention. When I'm driving it's merely background music to me." Aside from the record label and musical endeavours do you have another day job? JP: "At present time I work part time at a local record store but I do nearly make a living from the label. It's a lot of work but I'm in it for the long haul." Does the idea of playing live still hold an attraction? JP: "Yes, but it's still never a priority with me. Never has been but I do enjoy the energy and mayhem of performing live." Should the memory allow do you remember a particularly righteous Solitude Aeturnus tour? JP: "Merciful Fate in 95 for 5 weeks was incredible. We had already known King Diamond [he moved over here in the early 90's] and we got along and became good friends with all of the other guys. Hank Sherman is still one of my favourite guitarists in the scene today. Also touring with Paul Dianno in 92 was insane." Do you have a quote or saying that you have found useful? JP: "Sure a few; 'A good sense of humour is a good thing to have', 'Fuck it' and 'Some call me the Warlord, 'cause I'm a goddamn bad machine.'" Read any good books lately? JP: "I'm currently reading the 'Dark Side of the 60's' which is a book concerning the influence of the occult on the 60's counterculture movement. These are the types of books that I read mainly. Don't care for fiction at all." REVELATION Revelation were another classic sounding doom act on the specialist German Doom Label Hellhound. They were part of the burgeoning Doom scene in DC during the early 90's, and produced three quality doom albums that merit the effort required to track them down. The bands guitarist and vocalist Dennis Cornelius fronts another quality Doom act, Oversoul and is currently playing bass in Place of Skulls. Line up:
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