Interviews: BONEBAG (formerly TURD) & more - ARNO MENSES, the voice of SIEGES EVEN
Posted on Wednesday, October 19 @ 08:07:16 EDT
Topic: Articles
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In from the Outside -
BONEBAG (formerly TURD) & other stuff regarding to Arno Menses
by Rita Bayer
Ronald, Martijn, Arno and Mike
A band named TURD, a singing performance on “Navigating” that made me speechless :), a guy who managed it to get the frontman position in one of his fav. bands, respected & praised by press, fans and band-members equally.....reasons enough for having a good look at Arno Menses, the guy, who is rising together with SIEGES EVEN and their latest release“The Art Of Navigating By The Stars” like a phoenix from the ashes.
This article is dedicatet to Arno´s recent brainchild TURD at first, including his bio in brief; not to SIEGES EVEN who just released an album which propably will be my “Prog Album Of The Year”.
Checking out TURD will give you opportunities to discover more aspects of Arno´s musicianship and personality. TURD is a Dutch band, musically influenced by the Texas Trio King´s X, formed by a bunch of crazy but talented musicians, who present their special sense of humor [at times quite bizarre ;)] as well as TURD´S music [multimedia-section] through their website [full tracks for download].
Arno is an extravert guy who stands for high creativeness and this special sense of humor, I mentioned above. Raised up in a school run by nuns, located in the backyards of Rotterdam / Holland, he finished years of study successfully. [Final-artist / graphics, DTP ].
Anyway - he started his musical career at the early age of 10 behind a drumkit, self taught with 2 years of basic drum- lessons. Arno, is a multi- instrumentalist as well as a remarcable songwriter, besides from drumming, he´s familiar with keyboard-bass- & a bit guitar-playing. Later on, at the age of 29, he discovered his interest in singing lead vocals and took singing- lessons for 1 year.
He raised up with the music of Kansas , Zappa, Symphony X, WatchTower, King´s X, Sieges Even, to name only a few of his favorites. Arno, musically active and well known in his area since a decade, began to appear in public as one of the founding members of Wastelands. The band started out as a school band in 1987 who evolved from that into a pretty good school band. The band´s music was influenced by Dream Theater, Sieges Even, Police, Yes, Symphony X. All they left behind: the memories some fans still might have, 2 demos and a mini cd. Arno seperated with Wasteland due to personal reasons.
Long time before he left Wastelands, Arno got involved in Fluff, a guitar-rock-band in the style of Lemonheads, Posies, Toad the Wet Sprocket, who did many live performances, won a few competitions and recorded 2 mini cds. Around 2000, Ronald Utens joined Fluff as a second guitar player and when the band disbanned, Arno & Ronald got together to form what now is TURD.
Of course, I´m not alone with liking TURD´s music, Jim Weaver´s (radio guy, who was searching for unsigned rock bands to play in his radio show) first comment when he checked them, was as follows:
“I checked out "Turd". I was a bit intimidated by the name and their title page, but they sound great and I would love to play them.”
While I was typing this article, I decided to send a few questions to Arno, so he himself could introduce TURD to us. He replied immediately... ENJOY!!!!
Online Interview with Arno / Oct 18th, 2005
Rita: Hi Arno, a) Who came up with the name TURD ; b) was it your intention to provoce people ?
Arno: First of all a big hello from the band. They're behind me here at the "burn your girlfriend campfire charity meeting".
It was me (Arno). We discussed the music-industry one day and how it all comes down to not WHAT you can do but WHO you know. Not that a hint of talent isn't necessary, but more it's about knowing the right people to get things really done. That day we came to the inivitable conclusion that "it's a shit business" and i came up with the name TURD.
It is most certainly our intention to provoke people ... to have a laugh. Just to take a good look at us and themselves. I mean when we all produce those horrible smells once seated on a toilet, basicly we are not so different from each other. Better to have a laugh at it then. With so many bands so full of themselves, we declare ourselves so full of shit. Then again when it comes to playing music we're dead serious. It's just the lyrics that sometimes have a "different approach".
R: Introduce the band members, please. (name; instrument; role within the band)
Arno:
Ronald: lead vocals, guitars. He's mostly responsible for the lyrics and arranging the songs.
Mike: lead-guitars, backing voc. He's the guy that comes up with the cool guitar-rifs that later on will be melted down to a TURD song. Sometimes he brings those really nice salami sausages as well.
Martijn: Bass, backing voc. This guy is incredibly gifted, you ask he plays. He's the second guy to come up with riffs, licks 'n tricks.
Arno: Drums, (keyboards), backing voc. and fluffy cow. Sometimes i have a cool idea too.
R: How would you describe your music and what are the themes your lyrics are dealing with?
Arno: It has too many influences to mention. Paw, King's X, Frank Zappa, Van Halen are "butt" a few. It is melodic guitar-rock, that's really all i can say. But i'm sure there's someone out who has some a fitting name for it. One gig we were announced as surprise-rock ... haha.
The themes are litteraly sometimes about taking a shit, sometimes about anger, loss and other serious shit. I mean anything that comes to mind really. As long as it doesn't become too phylosofical, just getting the mood you're in on paper.
R: If someone were looking for new interesting music, what would they find in your music that sets it apart from others in your genre?
Arno: I don't know, we sometimes refer to riffs as "that Paw thing". I'm sure people can link it to some genre, which is no problem for us. We're not that band claiming to have found a new sound. We just play what we like and it is nice when people who hear it get a bit of that feeling also. So i don't think it sets us apart from others in whatever genre. We're not trying to re-invent the wheel.
R: Imagine I`m a major label representative. Explain why you think I should sign TURD.
Arno : Cause we can clean your house or car really well (toilet included). We're also not afraid of perverse sexual favours. No ... I think it's a matter of taste and having some sort of vision like "i can make this band big". One thing: TURD is not pretentious, you see what you get and you take what you damn well please. Four poorly educated guys that can play some nice tunes, TURD has energy, especially live and above all humour (though very dull). So i think with that package you could have the next "one day fly".
R: What does being a member of TURD mean to you?
Arno: One big party every time we rehearse, play live or just hang in the pub. 4 guys absolutly crazy about all sorts of music, that makes it so easy to communicate.
R: Where do you see TURD in 5 years?
Arno: On the dole haha, I don't know. Ofcourse it helps when you get signed to get things going. So far this is the easiest band i have ever played in. Nothing ever is a problem. No endless discussions about some riff or a title. No-one going solo.
So this could last real long i guess.
R: Anything else we should know about TURD?
Arno: No.... I'm surprised we even came this far. Most of the time all people shout at us is to get off stage.
thankx Rita
Arno + TURD
TURD Official Homepage
CONTACT: TURD
Noordmolenstraat 32
3111PD Schiedam
Holland
06-28406503
mailto: info@turd.nl
Note: In 2007 TURD changed the band name to BONEBAG
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