ROCKET Interviews Mikey Doling of SNOT

SNOT is a punk/funk inspired metal band that formed in Santa Barbara, California back in 1995 and released their debut studio album “Get Some” on Geffen Records in 1997. The band played Ozzfest ’98 and then soon after lost their lead vocalist Lynn Strait in a tragic car crash the same year. SNOT released the follow-up studio effort “Strait Up” in 2000 as a tribute featuring guest appearances by the lead vocalists of Korn, Slipknot, Sevendust, Hed PE, Coal Chamber, System of a Down and Soulfly.

The Metal Den’s Randy “Rocket” Cody has conducted an interview recently with SNOT guitarist:

Rocket: Where were you born and raised?

Mikey: I was born in the Coachella valley… growing up there is kinda rough, cause it is a hot mother fucker in the summer!

Rocket: Do you come from a big family?

Mikey: I have three brothers and two sisters.

Rocket: What first drew you to playing music?

Mikey: I was a real insecure kid. I found that playing gave me an identity… so I picked it up and just ran with it. Damn, I’m glad I jammed!

Rocket: When exactly did you first start playing the guitar?

Mikey: I was 14 when I got hooked.

Rocket: Who are some of your biggest playing influences of past and present?

Mikey: Angus Young… and the king himself Dimebag fucking Darrell!!

Rocket: Did you ever take any formal guitar lessons?

Mikey: No… I just jammed with the records I liked at the time.

Rocket: When you initally started jamming with Lynn Strait, did you fully realize what a great rock talent he was?

Mikey: It took me about five seconds to realize how bad ass he was. He was magic…. I miss the hell out of him.

Rocket: What is your favorite all-time Lynn Strait story that you’re willing to share?

Mikey: He liked to bring me chicks to the hotel after the shows across the country. He’d already have ’em all worked up and ready to roll by the time he walked in the door. He’d show up with two and come in the room and yell to me “You in or you out?!”

Rocket: What kind of guitars are you playing live and in the studio?

Mikey: I love Gibson guitars, so I play’em live mostly… also have Washburn V’s and some ESP Vipers, Ice man and I think I’m getting a couple Shecters soon.

Rocket: What kind of amp rigs?

Mikey: I love Marshall and boogies… I heard a new amp it’s called Diamond… crunchy!

Rocket: You guys are working on a new full length album, correct? What can you tell us about that? And when is it due out exactly?

Mikey: Well, I can tell you we are ready to drop a bomb on the Snot fans. I’m so excited for y’all to hear the new music we came up with. It fuckin rocks… strait the fuck up!! We start recording with producer Dave Fortman (Superjoint Ritual) May 30th… not sure of the release date but we’ll let you know when we do. It should be around Feb of 2010!!

Rocket: How does Snot band handle the writing process currently? Does it pretty much start with a riff?

Mikey: Lots of different ways… jamming together or Sonny and I will bring ideas already recorded with a drum machine.

Rocket: With all the great metal releases that have come out so far in 2009, what’s been your favorite album this year?

Mikey: Lamb of God… I’m looking forward to the new DevilDriver too.

Rocket: Who are some of the local un-signed metal acts on your scene that you think are worth mentioning right now?

Mikey: INSTINCT OF AGGRESSION, CORUPT DEFILE… AND JAMESON!!

Rocket: I like to have fun with this next one. What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you while performing live on stage?

Mikey: Shitting my pants.

Rocket: What are your personal feelings on how difficult it’s become to sell records today because of the internet?

Mikey: I don’t know. Hahaha. I just like to rock!

Rocket: What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to a kid picking up the guitar for the first time who has dreams to make it as far in the music biz as you have?

Mikey: Practice, practice, practice…

Rocket: Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Mikey: Still rocking!

Rocket: What are some of the big upcoming Snot shows we need to watch out for?

Mikey: We are doing some kick ass shows across the US in May… go look on our MySpace for dates!

Rocket: Thanks very much for rocking this out with me. Best of luck with it all! Go ahead and give a shout-out to your biggest supporters.

Mikey: Thanks, Rocket and The Metal Den. And to all the SNOT fans!!

http://www.myspace.com/snot