When I was younger I may have attached myself to Luke Skywalker, obviously. But since then, after seeing the evolution of Obi-Wan and that perseverance he has to the Jedi Order, and to what's truly right and good, and how he rolls with the punches, I have to say he's a character I identify with more. And Ewan McGregor was perfectly cast for the role in the prequels.
Who in your band would blend in well in the Star Wars galaxy?
We already call cEvin Key Chewbacca, actually. [laughs]
Which character would feel right at home playing in your band?
The character who would make most sense in Skinny Puppy...hmmmm...that's a tough one. I could see General Grievous coming in handy with his extra arms to play keyboards. But I also like Anakin's main nemesis in the podrace -- Sebulba.
Star Wars has had a huge influence on me. I come from a more horror monster background; I like the creepier side of things. But Star Wars was the one film that merged all the things I liked into one film. Films about historical events tend to take on a bias, as opposed to horror and fantasy. The purist form of filmmaking, to me, takes hold of the collective unconscious and this Jungian world of putting shapes behind our eyes and imagination. Skinny Puppy took a lot from horror films throughout the ages, whether it's Fritz Lang or The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. We tried to reimagine that into something presentable to modern-day audiences. And it became a cathartic release for me in a lot of ways. It was a huge inspiration to me to have this backdrop of images that filled me up when I was growing up. These films created the tableau from which I was able to take little bits of them and put them in the performance.
Star Wars to me is more about these kind of heroic concepts and Greek mythology which I had a huge interest in when I was younger. The themes I appreciated from Star Wars had to do with overcoming the odds and pushing yourself beyond what you think you can do and that's where the transformation takes place. Facing your fears, and taking what's best out of a dark situation are also a big part of the films. And all those elements play into Skinny Puppy's music.
That might be a verbose way of presenting it. But at the time, Star Wars was a complete joy for me to watch; and that's what I want to hold more than anything is that memory of going into a theater for an hour and a half and being suspended above myself in a realm where I was in awe that these types of movies are being made. I was allowed to be taken along on a fantastic voyage.
Why will Star Wars always be cool to you?
Star Wars, for me, was in a way life altering. It took me to the next level of how I saw things and viewed storytelling. It wrapped up everything I loved as a child -- Greek mythology, science fiction, monsters, robots and the future. And this entire story gave me a sense of both suspense and hope. I'm proud to say I'm a Star Wars fan because I first experienced it at an age when it debuted and I can be proud to say I was there first!
To learn more about Skinny Puppy, visit their official Web site here. Also check out Skinny Puppy on MySpace to listen to music tracks.
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