NSM
How did you learn to play the instruments you play? Lessons or self-taught?

Colonel Ego - Every instrument I play was self-taught.

NSM
When did you start playing them?

Colonel Ego - I played piano a little bit before I was a teenager, then picked up the bass around 13 or 14 and played in a live band as a bass player for a number of years. But my main instrument; guitar didn’t actually happen til’ I was a freshman in college. As far as drums are concerned, well, I don’t really consider myself a drummer by any means…but, I can keep the beat to a certain degree. For the most part the drums are programmed, and I might add a part here and there with a Roland electronic kit.

NSM
You mention several guest musicians on your site, but you’re basically a one-man show. Do you have plans to put a band together?

Colonel Ego - Well, currently I am with a full band…”The Midnight Biker Chicks”, which is playing live and releasing a full-length record this summer. But, as far as Colonel Ego is concerned there is always a possibility of a live band situation, but as of now that would appear to be a pretty daunting task. Truthfully, I think it would be pretty exciting for that to materialize…but I want to get the vocals down on the record before I commit to anything like that. Unless Professor West and me get on stage with a laptop…can you imagine it? A Mac, a guitar, and a violin…. I would dig it.

NSM
Can you tell us a little more about “The Midnight Biker Chicks” new CD?

Colonel Ego - The full-length Biker Chicks disc is entitled "The Hugeness", and it is just that... A full-length balls to the wall, whiskey drinking metal record with a touch of the odd. We truly don’t hold back with the Midnight Biker Chicks, it is shaping up to be my favorite Metal Record of all time...no shitting you. We recorded it ourselves as we do with all our projects, and Captain Destructo is editing and putting it together. “The Hugeness” should be available for purchase around August.

NSM
I have to ask. Why the name Colonel Ego?

Colonel Ego - Evidently to some people I come off as slightly egotistical, and was actually my nickname from Miles (Captain Destructo), who is the main vocals on “Dark Day Friday”, and the singer of “Midnight Biker Chicks.” Personally, I just think I’m confident, haha. Also, I’m currently in the process of becoming a Kentucky Colonel. But, regardless, I just really like the name.

NSM
Name a few of your musical influences and what makes them important to you.

Colonel Ego - I started off listening to “The Doors”, and got into metal, and grunge in the early nineties…then it just started to get weird. I really took a lot from bands like the Melvins, King Crimson, Fantomas, John 5, Meshuggah and Buckethead… But, bands like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Massive Attack, Portishead, and Tom Waits also influence me. I appreciate anything that dares to push the bounds, but still retains good song writing ability. Although, structure isn’t as important as being creative.

NSM
Let’s get off of music for a minute. Tell us more about yourself. What do you do for fun outside of music, what do you do for a living, how old are you, etc.?

Colonel Ego - I am 24 years old and live in Owensboro Kentucky. I enjoy golf, shooting guns, reading Hunter S Thompson, and rock climbing on the side. Currently I am finishing up my Sociology Degree at Western Kentucky University, and I work at LinGate Hospitlity, which is a development and Management company in the hotel industry.

NSM
Describe your ideal music video for “Dark Day Friday.”

Colonel Ego - Good lord, that’s a tough one… I initially envisioned a creepy park tour guide, who led children on these tours in the woods and he points out places where he might have hidden bodies, but the children either don’t catch on, or are too young to realize what they are witnesses to. I don’t know how you could make a video for something like that… I always seem to have odd scenarios running through my head as I record. Most of the time they are slightly comical.

NSM
What is your ideal recording environment?

Colonel Ego - I would say it has to depend on what I am recording… with a live band I think it should be done on a larger scale. But the Colonel Ego project is usually all done in a small room in a house in Bowling Green Kentucky. Usually I have the whole song finished before I let someone add anything to it. But, the environment is always slightly chaotic and also bordering on too much fun…

NSM
What is your ultimate goal as a musician?

Colonel Ego - Of course I would love to be on a label but, pretty much only for the means for more people to hear the music. Even if someone was putting money out for advertising and booking shows…I would be happy. But it’s not like I’m going to stop just because most labels don’t have good taste.

NSM
If you were the head of a major label, how would you envision running the company?

Colonel Ego - By making sure that the most creative and talented bands were the ones getting signed and making the money. I really like the way Ipecac conducts them selves.

NSM
If you could choose one musician/band to perform with, who would it be and why?

Colonel Ego - I would have to say “Meshuggah.” I recently saw them with “Ministry” and they are hands down some of the best musicians on the planet.

NSM
If you could name one aspect of your musical career you need to work on what would it be?

Colonel Ego - Not being lazy about playing shows. I absolutely hate trying to book shows. I dread it.

NSM
Can you elaborate on this? What is it about booking shows that you dread?

Colonel Ego - Well, within our music projects we are completely self-sufficient. We write, record, produce, and edit everything ourselves...but when it comes to booking shows, I have to plead ignorance...anything short of sending an e-mail to the venue. Plus, when people figure out how knowledgeable we are when it comes to running sound we get thrown into the soundman seat as well...with no additional pay of course. HAHA

NSM
Is there anything you would like to say to the people reading this interview?

Colonel Ego - Listen to Colonel Ego and Midnight Biker Chicks…it’s good for yah!

Colonel Ego Website