Tim Williams, vocalist of Bloodsimple
8/3/05 Interview
7:30pm in Philadelphia, PA

I was thrilled to be able to sit down with Tim Williams, the powerful voice of Bloodsimple before their show at the Trocadero in Philadelphia. He is not only very talented, but he is also a very down to earth and friendly guy. I absolutely love this band! They totally kick some serious heavy metal ass!!!

jo:  How would you describe Bloodsimple music to someone not familiar with it?  

Tim: Heavy, in your face and original.

jo: How did you come up with the name of the band?  

Tim: Nothing too beautiful behind that. We were touring around playing local shows, just getting warmed up under various names and we weren't really too comfortable with any of them. One day we were on our way to a show and it just popped into Mike's head. Bloodsimple. You know its a movie, obviously. The first Coen Brothers movie. We're big fans of the Coen Brothers, but it's not like we are paying a tribute to them or anything like that. That is basically it. My last band, Vision of Disorder, had a long name. Me and Mike didn't want to do that again. We wanted something short and sweet. You know so, it kind of represents what we do.

jo: Can you give me one word to describe each of you?

Tim: One word? Children.  

jo: So that will get all of you at once, children. (we all laugh)

jo: What made you become a singer?

Tim: Jim Morrison.

jo: Musical Influences?

Tim: Jim Morrison, Lane Stanley, Phil Enselmo. For the band though our influences would be Slayer, Pantera, Mastadon, Radio Head, Portus Head, The Doors. Stuff like that. Metallica.  

jo: What do you want your fans to get out of your music?

Tim: I want them to get out some aggression at the shows. That would be one thing. I just want them to enjoy it. Maybe identify with some of the lyrics. If I can reach some people and make them feel better or they can be like "oh, I've been through that too." Stuff like that you know.

jo:  I read about the inspiration behind the songs: “Straight Hate”, “Plunder” & “Flatlined” in your bio. Can you give me a little of insight into the writing process and inspiration behind “Running from Nothing”?

Tim:  Lyrically or the whole music and everything?

jo: Everything.                                                                                                                                            

Tim: "Running From Nothing" was one of the oldest songs we wrote. It's funny you said that because Me and Mike started the band and we wrote 3 or 4 songs on our own. Nick was like the third member that we found and as we pulled him in we did a couple of demos. We knew he was a studio wiz and stuff like that. We wanted somebody that could sing back ups and bring a different element in, which he provided. He did very well and the one song where he really started to shine and I think Bloodsimple started to become Bloodsimple was "Running From Nothing". We were all in Brooklyn at Mike's apartment hanging out, you know, (laughs) oh God. Nick gave me, he wrote half the song. The verses and stuff like that and the chorus I remember I really loved the the verse. I thought it was one of the coolest pieces of music I had heard in a really long time. I literally wrote all those lyrics, verses and all on the toilet with headphones on within like five minutes.                                                                                            

jo: Wow!                                                                                                                                                       

Tim: And that's when you know it's good. It comes that quick and that song was one of them. The defining moment when we really started to take shape was "Running from Nothing". We really started to...like that identified us as a band and that was cool.

jo: I love that song. I also love "Straight Hate".     

Tim: "Straight Hate" is a good one. "Straight Hate" was the second song I ever wrote for this band, but it almost wasn't on the record. Which is terrifying.

jo: Really?

Tim: And when we played it for Garth in pre-production he said "Oh, yea, it's a good song. Yea, its good, we should use that one." We were like "Are you serious?"  and he said "yea, it's a good song." I'm like "Alright" and we recorded it and the song became a monster when it was recorded properly. I got some new ideas and Garth had some ideas. BOOM, it just exploded, but that song was not supposed to be on the record.

jo: That is crazy.

Tim: Really weird.

jo: What do you like best about yourself and do you think others would agree?

Tim: Best about myself? Strange question. I don't know. I'm somewhat mellow. I am respectful of people. You know I find it a little, quote, a little motto: "it's so much easier just to be nice.". You get some singers and musicians that are dickheads or "I'm a musician. I'm not in a good mood today. Whatever. And people have acts and you can't do this and you can't do that. There is just so much, it is so difficult to be that way. It is easier to be like "hey what's up dude." That's it.

jo: What is the biggest misconception about you?

Tim: That I'm a big tough guy fighter.

jo: I would think that.

Tim: For real. I guess I've got some friends that you don't want to mess with, but I'm mellow. You know I learned a long time ago, fighting is just...it's not, the best thing to do is just to walk away. That is a real big misconception. I guess it's because the music we play is heavy and I scream a lot and I guess I'm from New York, so people are like "Oh, he's a big tough guy gang dude." It's funny like doing this interview with Kerrang and the guy said "So you're a big tough guy." and I was like "What?". I guess my old band had a reputation and also we were young. Yea we used to fight when we were young.

jo: How old are you now?

Tim: 30. But as you get older you...when you get 766 stitches in your face...

jo: Oh shit!

Tim: from a fight, you learn your lesson. That scar right there (shows us scar across the side of his face).

jo: Damn!

Tim: 1997 it happened and I was like you know, I think I am done fighting (laughs).

jo: If you could try any other profession what would it be and why?

Tim: I would be a navy pilot. If I could do it. Somebody asked me a question the other day. If you weren't in Bloodsimple what would it be? For some reason I said naval aviator. That's what I wanted to be when I was a kid or a navy special forces dude. I love those guys. I think they're cool.

jo: How have you changed in the past five years?

Tim: I grew up. I got mellow. I got smarter and learned a lot from my mistakes. You know, when you are young you are just pissed off at everybody and now I am not like that anymore. Now I am just level headed I would say.

jo: If you were a cartoon character, who would you be and why?

Tim: Oh man, a cartoon character...who would I be and why...I don't even know. I don't know any cartoons anymore.

jo: How about when you were a kid?

Tim: I don't know. Um, Snake Eyes from GI Joe.

jo: If you were a movie villain who would you be and why?

Tim: Movie villain like in past movies?

jo: Yes.

Tim: You know who was a really cool villain that I liked a lot was that dude. What was his name. Something Lewis from "Gangs of New York". Daniel Day Lewis? This fucking guy is awesome!

jo: Ok, let's pretend you are not on tour. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Tim: What do I do in my spare time. Well when I am not building something for my wife I like to mountain bike ride a lot. I like to run and work out. I also like to do that on the road. If I wasn't out drinking til 5AM in the morning  in New York, I'd work out too. I like to go to shows. Not when I'm playing though because that is the last thing you wanna do is go to a show. I like to play pool, playing pool is fun. Go to the beach, shit like that.

jo: What bands you are listening to right now?

Tim: Air is one. Mastadon is another. Just trying to go through my Ipod. (Kyle walks in). Hey Kyle. Mmm, Slipknot, Smashing Pumpkins, stuff like that.

jo: What do you miss most about home while you are touring?

Tim: I miss my apartment and my couch. The couch.

jo: Best concert you ever attended as a fan?

Tim: Roger Waters, Jones Beach.

jo: How do you feel right before you go on stage?

Tim: Tired (we all laugh).

jo: If you could switch lives with anyone for 24 hours who would it be and why?

Tim: Hmm, interesting. Who would it be. I'm trying to think of something half way cool. Who's intriguing? Bono, for sure, yea, that would be cool. Be Bono for a day, that would be fun. Red carpet treatment anywhere you want. Bono.

jo: Do you have any phobias?

Tim: Not really.

jo: Favorite song to perform live?

Tim: Running is a fun one. I like Backward a lot.

jo: What is the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do before you go to sleep no matter where you are?

Tim: I try to drink a big, gigantic thing of water in the morning. It is good for your muscles and actually it is good for your brain they say. That's what I try to do right away. Then what did you say?

jo: Before you go to sleep?

Tim: Sometimes I smoke weed, but I haven't been smoking weed. I listen to music. Brush my teeth and hit the Ipod.

jo: Message for your fans?

Tim: I hope you guys are all doing well. I hope you enjoy the record and hope you enjoy the shows. And thank you very, very much.

jo: How about some favorites?

Tim: Sure.

jo: Color?

Tim: Green

jo: Drink?

Tim: Alcohol?

jo: Yes.

Tim: The very first ice cold Bud out of this cooler. (opens cooler)

jo: Favorite place in the world?

Tim: So far where I have been. New Zealand, it's gorgeous.

jo: Favorite Star Wars character?

Tim: Boba Fett

jo: Favorite TV Show?

Tim: Seinfeld...6 Feet Under!

Joan: We were just talking about that earlier.

Tim: I can't believe what happened. I couldn't believe it, I was devastated. He was my favorite character. I don't know how they are going to recover, I don't know what they are going to do. He was the man.

Joan: They only have three more shows.

Tim: Is this the final season?

Joan: That's it.

Tim: Nate was the fuckin' coolest. Nate reminded me of myself in a weird way. I think that's why I liked him so much.

Joan: You identified with him.

Tim: Yea, definitely.

jo: Scent? (we all look at Kyle who is spraying his stage clothes with Febreeze)

Kyle: Febreeze (holds up bottle)

Tim: Kyle's Febreeze.

jo: Good one (we all laugh).

jo: Curse word?

Tim: Fuck! (laughs)

jo: Food?

Tim: I like Mexican food a lot.

I want to thank Tim again for being kind enough to do the interview. I can't say enough good things about this band and their music. They are an amazing addition to the world of heavy metal music. I was also lucky enough to meet Kyle and Nick. They are really great guys too! If you have an opportunity to see Bloodsimple live, do it! Check out my 8/3 show review to see what I mean! Be sure to pick up a copy of their CD "A Cruel World" today! My CD review is up now! Stay on top of all things Bloodsimple at their official website and check back for my live photos next week.

~jo~