Interviews: Phantom Ass

We have had the opportunity to interview the Hardcore/Thrash Metal band Phantom Ass from France. Check out the interview and follow the band on their  FACEBOOK PAGE.

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that? 

Barbez: In 1990 and 1991 we had no name for the band and one day my grandfather said to me: why don't you call your band “Fantômas”? He was probably thinking about the character “Fantômas”. We wrote it “Phantom Ass”.   

2.Why did you want to play this genre?   

Big Butch: We play this genre because we like it and it’s a way of saying our way of thinking or being.

Den's: for energy, power and brutality  

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?   

Big Butch and Totof were studying together Totof and Barbez are brothers. Barbez and Den's plays in another band together. 

4. Each band member favourite band? 

Big butch: My favourites bands are motorhead, judas priest, Wendy o wiliams and the plasmatics, iggy and the stooges, S.O.D., agnostic front, sick of it all. I listen Neil Young Too. I like singer and songs with commited lyrics.

Den's: Iron Maiden, agnostic front

Totof: Butcher Babies, Wendy Williams

Barbez: Judas priest, Pantera, Ozzy Osbourne, Motorhead, Sepultura

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?   

Barbez: All the songs of our 2 EP “After the nightmare” and “Freedom” have been composed between 1990 and 1992. We stopped the band in 1992 and we reformed it in 2020. When we composed this songs, I was probably influenced by the album “Painkiller” of judas priest and the guitarist Marty Friedman on the album “Rust in peace” of Megadeth.

Big Butch: Many things inspire me : Nature, society issues, freedom, government oppression. I love making fun of everyday life's scenes.

6. Where was your last gig?   

Big Butch: Our last gig was in november 1992, in the city of Marseille, France. The band got back near to 30 years after.

Barbez: The next gig is tonight, we're very exiting to play.    

7. Where would you like to act? 

We would like to play at the Hellfest festival in Clisson, France.   

8. Whom would you like to feature with? 

Big Butch: I'd like to feature with nice groups with whom we can laugh

Barbez: I'd like to play a solo for ozzy osbourne.

Den's: I'd like a featuring with Agnostic Front

Totof: With Iggy Pop

9. Whom not?  

Big Butch: We don’t like to feature with money suckers bands, as I said in our song “MONEY SUCKER” in english, “DARDENO CHUCAIRE” in Prouveçau and “SUCHJA SOLDI” in corsu (people who don’t like music they play and playing only for money).  

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that? 

Barbez: No, we don't have stage fright. When we started, we played many punk's covers very loud. We didn't play very well but we did many concerts. It was our way for not having stage fright.

11. What bands have inspired you the most? 

Big Butch: Agnostic Front, S.O.D.

Barbez: Suicidal Tendencies, S.O.D

Totof: Wendy Williams, The stooges

Den's: Agnostic Front  

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for? 

Nothing special to mention !  

13. What do you think of your fans? 

Big Butch: They are great. We laugh together.

Barbez: We try to involve them in the life of the band.

14. What do you think of our site?

Big Butch: Your site is good and gives place to all the bands!

Barbez: Your site is very good. Thank you very much for taking care of extreme music.  

15. Something to add?

Barbez: Our 3 rd EP is recorded. It will be released at the end of the year. We have created some videoclips. Stay tuned and visit our YouTube channel: (1) Phantom Ass HCTM - YouTube Follow us on Facebook: PhantomAss HCTM | Facebook Thank you very much !!!