Lotus_Style: What�s the title of the debut CD, where was it recorded, and who engineered/produced it?
Minnesota Pete: It�s self-titled. We didn`t want to name the album �cause �The Mighty Nimbus� is powerful enough. We rented a shit load of gear and recorded in Dinis� house. It was fuckin� cool, �cause we could take our time and be relaxed and not worry about studio time and breaking other people�s shit, ha ha. It was produced by our dear friend, Killer Keith, whom I think will be our producer for life. Everyone just flew in, we had a few days of practice and then we hit record. Dan was still writing lyrics in the studio, ha ha.
Lotus_Style: Set me straight on the band lineup - Erik Larson plays on the debut CD, but basically had to leave after recording to devote himself fulltime to Alabama Thunderpussy?
Minnesota Pete: That is correct. We all knew this coming in to TMN. SWS and ATP are #1. Seeing how Sixty Watt kinda took a shit (only for now, I might add), TMN is my baby. Ya never know what can happen in the future. And I love Larson to death. He is a true brother and I would take a bullet for that hairy Nordic weirdo, ha ha.
Lotus_Style: Who�s handling second guitar now?
Minnesota Pete: Well, no one. The door is always open. For the tour we did when we played Emissions, my boy Alex of the best band in Canada, Mister Bones, stepped up to the plate. Alex is a hard working motherfucker - dude knew every song before he got here and I would like to jam with him again in this setting.
Lotus_Style: Cool. On to the CD - on the early tracks I heard, you and Erik have killer distinct guitar tones going on, really producing a thick-as-brick-wall sound. What�s up with your tunings, gear, etc.? And how do you write your parts?
Minnesota Pete: Why thank you. We tune to standard C. Nothing new. Erik had all kinds of cool vintage shit and I just run a �64 SG through a Peavy 5150. No fuzzbox or anything. I can`t believe I can get that nasty fuckin� tone from just a head and a fiddle! When it comes to writing, I write most of the stuff and Dinis, Andy, and myself fine-tune the music and then send it out to the other boys. What�s really cool is everyone is free to do whatever they want with the music. I know a few songs on this album that Erik put his 2� on and they became my favorite songs on the record.
Lotus_Style: You�ve got a Saint Vitus cover, �Born Too Late,� on the CD, featuring guest vocals by J�rgen Sandstr�m from Entombed/ex-Grave. How did that come together?
Minnesota Pete: Threeman wanted some bonus stuff for the album. We have a shit-load of demos, but to tell ya the truth, I wouldn`t let anyone hear this if ya paid me. So we said, �Fuck it, lets do a cover.� Then we had to decide what to cover. So I brought up "Born Too Late.� Dinis, Big Andy and I jammed it once at the jam spot and fell in love with it so we went in the studio and got it to tape. We we`re going to send it to Dan but then we thought, "Lets get some bad ass dude to do guest �vokills.�� Right away we asked our brother and friend Jorgen of Entombed/The Project Hate/ex-Grave. J`s voice on that old Grave shit is just plain sick and he`s a huge Vitus fan. We sent it off to him and two weeks later we had a finished copy of the song. Trust me, there is not much in the world of HEAVY that can match this song. Pure evil. I�m getting goose bumps just thinking about it, ha ha.
Lotus_Style: I read about Nordic mythology working its way into some of your lyrics. Which to me is perfect, because you live in Minnesota, the band looks like menacing Vikings in some photos, and your music is powerful enough to conquer Greenland.
Minnesota Pete: All of us have some Nordic blood and Minnesota has a lot of Nordic Pride, as well as a lot of history with Vikings and other beings! I�m Scottish so what do I care, ha ha ha. Kidding�.
Lotus_Style: Who�s based in Minnesota besides you?
Minnesota Pete: Dinis, our bass player. My brother, Big Andy (drums), lives in North Dakota and drives here all the time for rehearsal.
Lotus_Style: Are you working on a follow-up CD?
Minnesota Pete: Yes, we have seven new songs we just demo`d for the second album. We will more than likely have about 12 songs on the next record. There are a few that didn`t make it on the first that need to be heard. If we play our cards right, the second album will be out middle of 2005. Our goal is to bang them out once a year. We�ve got two more albums for Threeman and I�m sure more after that. This label is so cool and we love being a part of the family. I mean come on - it`s fuckin� ENTOMBED!!!
Lotus_Style: Will there be another U.S. tour this year? Maybe more extensive than the last one?
Minnesota Pete: Looks like we are going over to Europe in December to tour for the new album. We`re talking about touring in January in the States with a super fuckin� cool band. Keep your eyes on www.themightynimbus.com for all the details!!
Lotus_Style: You ended the spring tour at Emissions � how was that?
Minnesota Pete: It was great. That was our first little tour and it kicked our ass. It was kinda like a family reunion, so to speak. Every band I love was there and it was an honor to play for all the people. Maybe you`ll see us back next year for!! I would like to thank Greg for the great time.
Lotus_Style: What�s going on with Church of Doom Recordings?
Minnesota Pete: Man, we got all kinds of shit up our sleeve. We just moved the office to NOLA. Gypsy`s down there now. We came to the conclusion that NOLA was the best place for CoD. Our long awaited compilations are done. FINALLY!!! We also have the new Ocean Chief album sitting in our hands as well as some bitching 7-inches, including Church of Misery. I think we are doing really well for only being around for a year. Keep your eyes peeled!!
Lotus_Style: Any other projects going on?
Minnesota Pete: I`ve got a few new groups going on now here in MN. Sly McGee is a blues/funk power trio in the vein of Hendrix and Cream. Spiritual Outlaws is my new love. It`s kinda like if ya mix Rush, The Allman Brothers, Zeppelin and Deep Purple together, ya got the Outlaws.
Lotus_Style: So who is Nimbus and how or why is he or she so mighty?
Minnesota Pete: Ha ha ha. The Mighty Nimbus started as a vision. Nimbus is the supreme ruler of the underworld!! He has the power to give and take lives, and the ability to love and hate. He sits on a pile of skulls, drinking cups of blood of the nonbelievers, while the believers live a bountiful live in bliss. Make sense? Ha ha ha. We try and build up a story with the music. For one, it`s fuckin� cool, and two, it makes writing music fun and intense, ya dig? If you have an idea in your head for a story, you can write a tune to that. Minnesota has a lot of history behind it when it comes to Vikings and the Northwoods. Some people may think it`s gay to have a band based of a fictitious being and the world he rules, but if ya really think about it, it`s not that fictitious at all!
Lotus_Style: I read something on the StonerRock.com board about you hooking up with Place of Skulls on drums. Details?
Minnesota Pete: I`m doing the European tour with them as of now (October). No real plans for anything after that but that could all change, ya never know. I�m sooooo fuckin� pumped to jam with Victor and Dennis. If anyone can make it to a show while we are there please do. Come have a beer with me and jam out to some fuckin� DOOM!!!!
Thanks bro for everything and thanks to everyone at/on StonerRock.com. You just kick some ass!!!
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