New Interview: Chad Gray of HellYeah, Mudvayne (podcast)

by Erin Rice

Last week, the southern rock, metal, country (whatever you want to call it) "supergroup" HellYeah stopped through town for their second time since opening for Korn on the Family Values Tour. With a local connection through drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott (Pantera, Damageplan), this group is turning heads, particularly those of many supergroup skeptics. HellYeah's debut, self-titled album entered the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart at #9 earlier this year and has sold over 220,000 copies. In mid-November they released a DVD through Epic Records titled Below The Belt. DFW fans will get a third chance to catch HellYeah live as they were recently added to the December 15 How The Edge Stole Christmas lineup at Nokia Theatre where they will share the stage with various national acts, as well as local legends, the Toadies.

Before HellYeah's show at the Palladium Ballroom last week we scored an interview with lead singer Chad Gray (Mudvayne). The podcast is separated into three 8 to 9 minute segments, with additional information about what you will hear if you choose to listen in. To the right you will find some photos of the band's recent local performances as taken by Kenneth Smith.

Part One

• Talking about the "Balls, Volume, Strength Tour" with OTEP and Bloodsimple.
• The differences they are seeing in crowd recognition between their previous tour opening for Korn and this headlining tour.
• The injury that canceled their November 20 show in Amarillo
• The decision to call the band HellYeah and how this band's music and vibe differ from their other projects (Mudvayne, Damageplan, Nothingface).

Part Two

• The supergroup stigma, Gray's thoughts before getting involved in HellYeah, and whether it's lived up to his expectations
• With their success and name recognition from other bands, are there fewer/more stresses involved in this project?
• Talking about the Below The Belt DVD.
• Thoughts on recording their debut album at Chasin' Jason Studios in Arlington, the home of Pantera and Damageplan's Dimebag Darrell.

Chad Gray goes off on politics, the environment, etc.

• An initial closing question asking which presidential candidate would be most likely to own a HellYeah CD turned into nearly a 10-minute long spoken treatise about politics in the country, the upcoming election, and environmental issues. Here's a teaser: he is against pollution. Who knew?

There is language in the interview that some may find objectionable. Earmuffs!