Phone interview with Alex Webster, bass player for Cannibal Corpse
May 16, 2006

Formed in 1988, Buffalo born/Tampa raised Cannibal Corpse helped found, manipulate and transcend the very boundaries of death metal beginning with the scandalously controversial debut, Eaten Back To Life. Raising the eyebrows of inquisitive metalheads and incensed parents and politicians, the record - produced by Scott Burns at the now renowned Morrisound Studios - was more extreme and confrontational than anything the metal genre had ever known. As a result of the band's brilliantly gruesome cover art, grisly lyrics and song titles like "Hammer Smashed Face," "Meat Hook Sodomy" and "Addicted To Vaginal Skin," follow-up records Butchered At Birth (1991) and Tomb Of The Mutilated (1992) were met with further contempt by the likes of such organized censorship leagues as the PMRC. In just three years, the sale of Cannibal Corpse merchandise was (temporarily) prohibited in Australia, Korea and New Zealand (in fact, the sale of Butchered At Birth and the performance of those three records is still forbidden in Germany). But dissuaded they were not.

Dennis: Hey what's up Mr. Webster!
Alex: Good, how are you.
Dennis: Man, my wife just walked in and asked if I wanted her to record "American Idol" for me (laughs). I told her no and how could she ask that while I am getting ready to interview the death metal masters, Cannibal Corpse.
Alex: I've watched that show a few times. (both laugh)
Dennis: I won't tell anyone.
Alex: I like to see if any of the singers have good pitch every once in awhile. I haven't watched any of them this season though. 
Dennis: Well, that is good I guess. (laughs)

Dennis: I know most bands tend to hate this question but how did you guys come up with the name Cannibal Corpse?
Alex: Actually you have the right guy since I am the one that came up with it. I thought it was a pretty cool name. I like messing around with words and helping with the other guys on the lyrics.  We were a band that was inspired by other bands that hand violent or horrifying lyrics like old Slayer, Kreator and Morbid. We also watched a bunch of movies like the old "Night of the Living Dead" type movies.  The zombie movies were really cool. When we were thinking of a bunch of names, the name Cannibal Corpse that I came up with was one that everyone seemed to like and really had a ring to it.  That's what we went with.

Dennis: Man can you believe Cannibal Corpse has been around for almost 20 years.  You guys are now the main influence for so many bands in your genre. How do you continue being the death metal band that everyone uses for influence?
Alex: Yeah it has been 18 years actually. A lot of it was Slayer, Morbid Angel, Kreator, Death, Sadus. Morbid Angel, even though people think we started at the same time, they had actually been a band for a couple years before us. We had their demo and then their debut album came out about a year before ours.  The first Sadus album was an inspiration for Cannibal Corpse. Kreator and Sodom were big for us and old Death. Those answers are pretty typical for those of us that came out around that time.  We like the darker sound and bands that had an aggressive side but also an eerie sound. 

Dennis: Your latest album, “Kill” is complete and total metal mayhem.  The bass lines are completely insane.  How long have you been playing bass and who inspired you?
Alex: Thanks man. I started playing in 1984.  I was listening to like AC/DC and Iron Maiden.  I was trying to imitate the bass players that I had the capability of doing do but many, Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, Cliff Burton, but they were playing stuff to hard for when I first started.  I had known Jack and found out he was a guitar player. He loved the same music I did and we went to the same school. He told me he had a guitar and came over and was playing "Master of Puppets" by Metallica and I was like 'Man, this guy is awesome." We started the band and I started learning more and we were playing like "Seek and Destroy" by Metallica and "Die by the Sword" and "Hell Awaits" by Slayer, well tried to (laughs). Anyway, that was the kind of stuff.  A few years later as I got more comfortable with the instrument I really then started getting more technical and tried to push for boundaries further. I was listening a lot to Steve Digiorgio and he made a big impact on my playing on the first album. 
Dennis: Yeah, that's cool because now you probably hear new bass players saying that about you and your playing.
Alex: That makes me feel good you know. All of us in music, you know we aren't the beginning or the end and everyone carries the torch and passes it on. You know someone else will take it and go further or even take it in a different direction or genre. It makes me feel good that I might have been a part of that.

Dennis: Cannibal Corpse and/or merchandise has been banned or partially banned in Australia, New Zealand, Korea and some of your albums are still not even allowed to be performed in Germany. Do you fear censorship to be a problem in the United States, not just for you as a band but in general, anytime in the near future? I mean we here it a lot in the news now with Howard Stern and others. 
Alex: I think it is always something we always have to keep an eye on. That is one of the great things about America and other democratic societies, our freedom of speech. Believe me there are certain things and I mean I've heard people say our band sucks and I think 'd*** I wish they would shut-up.' But you have to put up with hearing the good and the bad and that is the great thing with freedom of speech. You mentioned Howard Stern and he has dealt with a lot of s***. His movie, "Private Parts, the Larry Flynt movie and even the South Park movie have all helped fight the battle for censorship. They are three movies that are money especially the South Park one.  It is something that people need to remember that it isn't something we should take for granted. Freedom is important and freedom of speech is so important and I can say that all of the band would be in support of that.

Dennis: Much of the bans have been due to the graphic and violent images and lyrics. How do you think your lyrics affect your listeners?
Alex: Hopefully they are just being entertained. The lyrics are just there to conjure up images for the music.  The music is most important and the lyrics supplement that. It's like reading a book and everyone gets a different image and picture of what is going on.  In interviews I try not to say too much about the lyrics because I want the listener to get their own ideas.  I do want to make it clear we do not promote violence but it is a part of humanity.  Our music, video games, movies and such are a reflection of our society. Violence has been around for tens of thousands a year and movies, music and games have only been around for a few.  If the censors were really interested in change and what caused the violence they would go after religious zealots, people who are ignorant and prejudice.  You want to stop violence then improve education. That would go much further then trying to censor the latest version of "Doom". 
Dennis: Yeah, I'm sure people hear your lyrics and think you guys are all evil.
Alex: Yeah, but it can be expected. It isn't like I am that angry with these people after hearing our music.  Joe Leiberman complained about us and was talking about our song and having sex with a severed head. I mean I was like 'dude, are you f***ing stupid, we really don't want people doing that.' This guy was the same ones that didn't want Elvis being shown from the waste down in the late 50's on Ed Sullivan.  Now you got bands like us singing about zombies eating people and pounding nails in their victims.  So, maybe if they weren't disgusted by it we would be worried (laughs). It is supposed to be disgusting, it is nothing more than fictional horror stories.

Dennis: Being in a death metal band, naturally death and those topics are at the center of attention often.  What do you think will happen after you die?
Alex: Well, I don't know.  I mean physically my body will rot. Depending on how well it was embalmed or if it is embalmed at all. That's all I know.  I have no concrete evidence that anything happens to my soul when my brain stops functioning. I have no idea whether that is all there is, if it is that is a grime thought. I sure hope not. I have no proof that there is no more but until I have concrete evidence it is tough to have faith in anything else.

Dennis: Now going along with death, this question may throw you. What are your thoughts on Jesus claiming to be God and the only way to eternal life with Him in heaven?
Alex: Well, anything can happen a few thousand years ago.  Remember some guy named Steven Blair a few years ago with the New Republic. There was that movie Shattered glass.  He wrote a bunch of bulls*** stories and none of them were true.  It just goes to show you can't trust what is written today.  I mean why should we believe something written thousands of years ago that was passed down by word of mouth.  I mean how warped and twisted have those scriptures become over the years. I mean I can't put much stock in that.  I'm not a religious guy and I'm not blown away by any of it.

Dennis: Cannibal Corpse has spent much of their career dealing with misconceptions and rumors.  What is your first thought and perception when someone tells you they are a Christian?
Alex: Not much really. It usually tells me they were born into it.  They were born into it and like I was I would be like 'I'm Protestant Methodist.' I don't really read much into it. You know some people are born again and that means they are probably a little more excited about it.  Most people are like not into it.  It's like they think, 'yeah my parents are Christian, I'm Christian, big f***ing deal.' For most it is very mundane. I mean 80% of American would say they are Christian but it's no biggie.
Dennis: Well, believe it or not I am a licensed pastor.
Alex: You are?
Dennis: (laughs) Yeah, in the Baptist faith but I'm a bit different than that average Christian.
Alex: So you have an open mind unlike other certain Baptist ministers. Bit I'm not one to judge. (laughs) 

Dennis: What band, past or present, would you love to have the chance to tour with and why?
Alex: Oh I gave this same answer every time I hear that. Slayer!
Dennis: Wow, you guys have never had a chance to tour with them?
Alex: We have played the Milwaukee Metal Fest and a few European festivals.  But that' really been it.  We've hung out and met a few times.  They are really cool. Those guys have everyone asking them to tour with them. They have an audience that would be very receptive to us and we would leave tomorrow if they asked.

Dennis: You guys are headed out on the Sounds of the Underground tour.  I found out because I saw an ad for it in HM Magazine.  Ever heard of that?
Alex: You mean FHM?
Dennis: No, HM, it is a hard music magazine with a Christian influence and some of the bands on the tour are Christian, As I Lay Dying, The Chariot and others. Are you guys excited about getting out there on tour?
Alex: Yeah, this tour will be a lot of fun.  We are playing a shorter set and we aren't the last band.  It gives us time to do our set and then hang out and watch other bands.  It's a wide variety of bands in hardcore.  We are usually the headliner on death metal tours. This will be great because we will play in front of several thousands ever night that may not normally hear us.  
Dennis: Yeah, we hope to make it near St. Louis.
Alex: Yeah, in Sauget.  Well, that would be killer.
Dennis: Yeah, I can find you and just tell you I'm the drug rep, tattooed metal pastor (laughs).
Alex: Yeah I can promise I wont forget this.  You know I do a lot of interviews but this is the first (laughs). There was this joke I saw back in the day on Hee Haw or something. This Baptist pastor gets to heaven and they are showing him around and he goes by all these other people from other religions.  They get near a closed door and they tell him, "Hey, be quiet, the Baptist think they are the only ones up here." (laughs)
Dennis: (laughs) Yeah being Baptist I am familiar with that one all too well. The problem is many denominations in our faith think that.
Alex: Well, hopefully we are all going.
Dennis: Man, thanks a ton!