Interview with Mega Colossus Guitarist Bill Fischer

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello Bill! Welcome to the Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it is greatly appreciated.

CV: What drives you to continue to create?

Bill Fischer: Hmm… well, Rock is the most fun thing in the world, but I’m not super into playing music as mimicry, so really, by default the only thing to do is to create.  That way you get to enjoy rock without it being an act of imitation.  Plus, the act of building a song is satisfying in so many ways.  You get to nerd out on lyrical ideas, learn new approaches to harmony and rhythm, and when you’re done, if it all works, you get the thrill and adrenaline rush of performing the thing.

CV: Was music your first love?

BF: Ha! Probably my only love other than my wife.  I probably liked hamburgers before I met music.  And pizza… and tacos.  I probably loved music as a listener before I ever had a taco, actually.  Now I’m rambling.

CV: Would you say music has made you the person you are today?
BF: Everything you do shapes who you are.  I think music is one of many things that makes me who I am, but for sure  the decisions I’ve made and the way I have prioritized my life are definitely heavily influenced by my love for Rock.

CV: Could you see yourself doing something completely different other than music? If so, what would that be?

BF: Well, other than whatever day job would pay the bills, no.  But if somebody erased the concept of playing in a band from my brain, maybe I’d have time to have a car restoration project.  I’ve done that some, but really can’t find the time to do that these days, so not playing music would maybe free up some time for that.  But it wouldn’t be worth it.

CV: Which artist has inspired you the most?

BF: As far as a single musician would be concerned, my go-to answer is Eddie Van Halen.  Definitely the reason I decided to learn guitar.  There was an attitude he projected early in his career, on stage and in interviews, that really said that rock should be ego-free, fun, intuitive, loose, and like a party, as well as fully realized in terms of musicianship.  In retrospect, some of that may have been a bit of an act; that “hey, I just get drunk and rock out, I’m nobody special, I play a cheap beat up guitar, this is all fun and games” attitude may have been a bit contrived, but I totally bought it, and I’ve always tried to live that way.  It all translates well into a punk rock kind of approach to being in a band.  Even if it was bullshit, it was a lesson learned for me.

CV: Non artist…who has been your biggest influence?

BF: Tough question.  Non-musicians who have influenced me artistically?  Tolkien, Douglas Adams, Frank Herbert, Bill Murray… Han Solo?  But really, other than Han Solo, those are all authors and comedians, so those are artists really.  Someone who has influenced me heavily with things non-artistic?  Well that would be my wife, Cinnamon.  But she actually makes cool art too.  Again, that’s a good (and difficult) question.

CV: Was/Is your family supportive with your musical pursuits?

BF: Eh… 50/50 I’d say.  My folks were supportive of structured, typical musical endeavors, like school band and things, of which they were wholly supportive.  When it came time to learn guitar though, that was all up to me, and it was a bit of a problem.  I put a lot of time into learning a thing for which they had very little understanding.  They appreciate that I get to do cool stuff and put out records now, but they still aren’t sure what to make of heavy metal.  

CV: What do you find inspires your music the most as a songwriter?

BF: My own writing is pretty much just the distillation of everything I’ve been listening to and reading and movies I’ve watched, and sometimes science I’ve been thinking about.  If I can instill a sense of adventure to those ideas, then I feel like I’m on the right track.

CV: What's your go to album for motivation? Why that album?

BF: That changes constantly.  Like right now I can’t get enough of the new Propagandhi record, but I’m not sure I use it for motivation per se.   Mainly I’m just motivated by wanting to have new stuff to rock out.  As for albums I consider to be ideal examples, perfect records, the first two that come to mind are Queen’s Night at the Opera and Iron Maiden Powerslave.  Each is just the ideal record on its own terms. To change a note of either would be to its detriment.

CV: Some of your favorite artists... past and present, who are they?

BF: Well, obviously there is Queen, Maiden, and Van Halen.  So many, really into Scorpions, Thin Lizzy, those are all the obvious ones.  I’ve always loved well executed punk rock too, really into Descendents/All, Dag Nasty and the like.  As far as current bands, there are tons of bands popping up rocking the classic metal sounds in really unique ways.  Really love Slough Feg’s old and new stuff, Night Demon is killing it.  And weirder stuff like Mutoid Man and Kvelertak really excites me too.  Too many to name, really.

CV: The one album you feel every Metalhead should own and why?

BF: If you don’t own Powerslave, you really should beat yourself up about it.  But I already said that.  Rust in Peace is another perfect record.  Those two records should have been on the gold LP that NASA put into space.

CV: What do you consider is a defining moment in Heavy Metal history and why is it significant… how did it impact the genre?

BF: The birth of Ronnie James Dio:  game changer, that was.

CV: Who would you like to work with if given the opportunity?

BF: I think it would be neat to record with Kurt Belew.

CV: What do you feel are the top three things it takes to make it in the music business as an artist?

BF: Well, if by “make it” you mean make decent money as an artist, I’d say 1) luck, 2) luck, and 3) luck.  If you mean to make music you care about and be around for a while, I’d say 1) good sense of humor, 2) thick skin, and 3) a strong liver.

CV: There has been a lot of remarks among established rockers these days regarding young, up and coming bands, that they don't stand a chance at making a career with music into today's industry... what do you think? 

BF: I think those remarks come from a place that I’m familiar with, though I don’t think it’s entirely true.  I truly do not understand how the music industry works.  Other than door money and selling merch, I don’t understand where any money comes from or goes in this industry.  Things are definitely easier for established artists, but I don’t think that’s anything new.  In a way it’s a more open game, with more infinite possibilities, but then so is the lottery.  Truly, I think it’s a non-issue.  People will play Rock, regardless of whether it’s a good idea.  And for that, I am grateful.

CV: As an artist, what do you feel are your strengths?

BF: I got that thick skin, that sense of humor… I HAD a strong liver.  I travel well, too.

CV: What do you think separates bands of today from bands of the past?

BF: We have it easy in that we have the means to get our music out there regardless of support, and recording a good quality record is much cheaper than it used to be.   On the other hand, because of that, we are not special.  It is a much bigger pond, with many, many tiny fish.  

CV: With so many iconic women eligible for induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of fame, such as Cher, Stevie Nicks and Carly Simon many among others, why do you think they are being overlooked?

BF: Yeah, you’re right!  It is really annoying that Rock is such a sausage party.  I’ve never really understood it, but there definitely is a double standard there.  If a guy plays Rock, he’s a “rocker”, but if a woman plays Rock, she’s a “girl rocker”.  I wonder who it is that decides who gets in?  Probably a bunch of white dudes.

CV: We hear so much negative commentary regarding today's overall music industry. What's your take on it? Is Rock really dead?

BF: Oh no, Rock will never die.  I will go so far as to say that my take on the current state of music is that, internet being what it is, no genre will ever die.  Nothing is in or out, everything is in for somebody somewhere.  It’s just a question of finding those people, helping them find you, and getting to where they are so you can rock together.

CV: What’s next for you?

BF: This year, we’re playing cool festivals here in the US, Mad with Power, Legions of Metal, and Alehorn of Power for sure, there are others in the works.  We’ve begun on the next record and we hope to have it out in time for our spring 2019 European Tour, where we’ll end up on the Up The Hammers fest in Athens, Greece.  We are beyond stoked!  See you at the shows!!

CV: Thank you again Bill for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. I wish you all the best and continued success with all your projects.

Check out Bill and Mega Colossus at:
https://www.facebook.com/colossusmetal/

http://www.meltedfaces.com/