Metal Inside(r) Home Quarantine is Metal Insider’s new column during this time of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We asked artists five questions on what’s been keeping them busy ranging from their favorite movies, food they’ve been eating, music they’ve been listening to and more. We caught up with Infared bassist Mike Forbes as he’s been spending this time trying to stay busy.
What have you been doing to pass time during Quarantine?
It has become somewhat challenging to keep busy for such a long period of time under quarantine. When the weather permits, I spend a lot of time at my getaway property that will become a cottage in the future. It is my pet project where I get to be a lumberjack, construction worker and vacationer all in one. When I’m at home, I spend a lot of my time listening to music and playing my bass. I also like to read non-fiction books and watch documentaries to keep my brain engaged. Being at home a lot more than normal stirred up ideas for renovations that could be done to make the place more pleasant on the eyes and more comfortable in general.
Have you been listening to any music or have any playlists worth checking out?
I listen to quite a bit of music, even more since being through quarantines and lockdowns. I like to check out bands that I haven’t heard of before as well as keep an eye on new releases from bands I already know. Artists that have been catching my attention lately would be Gojira, Mr. Bungle, Flotsam and Jetsam, Black Mass and Armored Saint to name a few with new albums released since the pandemic. I’m still old school at heart and will always have room to throw on a classic Megadeth or Slayer album for example. I tend to get bored listening to the same type of music all of the time. It’s very common for me to put something on like some Rush or Pink Floyd or a guitar instrumental just to switch things up.
A lot of people have been spending this time cooking, including making their own bread. What food have you been prepping during this time?
I’m no chef by any means but I do like to get creative in the kitchen once in a while. I don’t like to use exact measurements when I cook, hence why I don’t bake. It’s much more important to be more accurate with measurements when baking. I like to look around the kitchen and see what catches my attention that I could use to make a unique creation. A little bit of this, a little bit of that… I rarely make the same thing twice as I’m always trying to change it up a bit each time I make something. I’m not a picky eater so I don’t have anything specific that I like to make.
In terms of entertainment, what movies, TV shows, books, or games have been keeping you busy?
I’m a big Rush fan and have acquired two huge (they weigh a lot) books along with that subject. Reading Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass and Rush Wandering the Face of the Earth, The Official Touring History 1968 – 2015 has definitely occupied a good chunk of my time as well. I don’t watch a lot of TV but when I do, I usually like to watch documentaries, especially if they are related to music in any way. I will watch the occasional movie but TV really isn’t a big part of my life. I found the ZZTop documentary movie to be top-notch. Really a one-of-a-kind band. Due out soon is the long-awaited Triumph documentary that I will be checking out for sure when it’s out.
What advice do you have for your fans in isolation during this time?
In order to maintain some level of sanity during these times, I find it important to stay physically active, whether it’s a workout schedule or going for walks, it keeps the body and mind stimulated. It can be easy to feel depressed being away from the normal that once was. Keeping in touch with family and friends through messaging and video chats has also helped me from feeling depressed. Of course, for me, being isolated gave me more time to work on my bass playing. For those who don’t play, this would be a great time to start if it was ever of interest to you.
