Metal Blade records just released Whitechapel’s latest album Mark Of The Blade this past Friday, June 24th. As luck would have it, the band are routed all cross the United States as one of the main acts on the Warped Tour. And while many don’t like festivals of that ilk which rely heavily on corporate sponsorship, it’s really the wide variety of music that is the lure. Additionally, ticket prices for these Warped Tours are very affordable given the United States’economic situation. Metal Insider set out to prove that Whitechapel’s singer Phil Bozeman is a really cool dude and cares greatly about his music, family, band and, of course, their many fans. If you hate them, they have no time for you. One listen should prove all the naysayers wrong yet again. Whitechapel have delivered the goods and no Slayer-themed parody shirt will get him or his band members down.
Are you gonna tour until the wheels fall off?
We want to tour as much as possible, of course. However, due to our own sanity, we also need to make sure we have our personal lives handled as well.
Whitechapel’s sound has changed dramatically with each successive release. Was that your intent?
Honestly, we just have a lot of different styles of music we are all equally into. We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into any one genre and we most certainly don’t want to be pushed into something by any other than ourselves. With music, you should not expect anything less. Creating music for a living is a huge privilege and we do not take it lightly.
How much do you hate changing members? You have lost two drummers already.
It’s definitely not a fun time for anyone when members come and go. However, it has its upsides as you’re also doing something new. Once more, we do not consider personnel changes anything that would completely puts the brakes on the bus or throws a wrench into the mix.
Who would you fire in the band if you had to?
I would probably keep Ben Savage as I have known him since I was eighteen (that’s twelve years, folks). If I had to fire anybody, it would be Alex because he came on later. Ha! The band’s 3-guitar assault was not planned. We had members that contributed and didn’t want to get rid of anyone and still feel the same way.
Do you eat fast food like all of our musical heroes did in the 70’s and 80’s?
Not really. The older we get, the more health-conscious we get. If we do pick fast food while on tour, it will be Chick-fil-A whenever we can find one.
It must be crazy backstage. All the internet know-it-all trolls think it is. So who gets rip-roaring drunk the most?
There’s drinks backstage but nobody gets belligerent drunk these days. We all have a few beers before the show or even onstage. However, there have been times where we went through drunk phases (certain members and not all) and got hammered or crazy out of control. Those days are pretty much behind us.
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What style (fast or slow) do you like best about Whitechapel?
I definitely like the groove-oriented stuff as we have done the fast stuff so many times, We not not need to impress people anymore but it sounds better than playing fast all the time. We write music because we enjoy creating and doing it live.
Ever thought of doing a stripped-down tour to make more money? Could you tour in a Sprinter or do you really need a bus?
We actually did our last tour in a van. We go back and forth as the need arises and try to use a bus if it is economical. Of course, we like the bus because it’s easier and way more comfortable. We are not kids anymore and like the comfort of a big bus. The standard rate is around $1000 a day and it’s well worth if they budget is there.
Were you pissed at Goatwhore’s “Less Whitechapel, More Haunting the Chapel” shirt?
It’s a funny shirt and I do know their intentions behind it. They wouldn’t print ‘em up all over the place if they didn’t. However, people have said worse things and we just brush it off. Even that incident with Pantera/Down/Superjoint Ritual’s Phil Anselmo will eventually go away. People get over that stuff quick and we all know he made a mistake and apologized. I understand there is always going to be some kind of criticism but we have many loyal fans who stay with us.
Who makes you laugh the most?
Dave is the funniest. He is one of those guys who is quick witted and always having fun. He says the most off the wall stuff. If I were to pick my favorite comedian, I would say Bo Burnam or Kevin Hart. I also think that guy Mike Epps is super hilarious.
Warped Tour 2016 Tour Dates:
June 29 Nashville, TN @ Tennessee State Fairgrounds
June 30 Atlanta, GA @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
July 1 St. Petersburg, FL @ Vinoy Park
July 2 Orlando, FL @ Tinker Field
July 3 West Palm Beach, FL @ Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre
July 5 Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
July 6 Virginia Beach, VA @ Farm Bureau Live
July 7 Syracuse, NY @ Lakeview Amphitheater
July 8 Camden, NJ @ BB&T Pavilion
July 9 Wantagh, NY @ Nikon At Jones Beach Theater
July 10 Hartford, CT @ XFINITY Theatre
July 11 Scranton, PA @ The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
July 13 Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
July 14 Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
July 15 Pittsburgh, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion
July 16 Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 17 Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
July 19 Indianapolis, IN @ Klipsch Music Center
July 20 Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center
July 21 Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
July 22 Detroit, MI @ The Palace Of Auburn Hills
July 23 Chicago, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
July 24 Shakopee, MN @ Canterbury Park
July 26 Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheater
July 27 St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino & Hotel St. Louis
July 28 Bonners Spring, KS @ Providence Medical Center Ampitheater
July 30 Salt Lake City, UT @ Utah State Fairpark
July 31 Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center Arena Lot
Aug. 1 Albuquerque, NM @ Balloon Fiesta Park
Aug. 2 Phoenix, AZ @ Quail Run Park
Aug. 5 San Diego, CA @ Qualcomm Stadium
Aug. 6 San Francisco, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
Aug. 7 Pomona, CA @ Pomona Fairplex
Aug. 9 Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Aug. 11 Boise, ID @ Ford Idaho Center
Aug. 12 Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
Aug. 13 Portland, OR @ Portland Expo Center
