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. In 2008, SNOT is back and re-formed with new singer, Tommy Vext, formerly of Divine Heresy.
The Metal Den's Randy "Rocket" Cody conducted a recent interview with SNOT's bass player:
JOHN FAHNESTOCK
Rocket: What first drew you to playing music?
John: It was actually Johnny Cash. I used to strum my uncle's acoustic and mimic Johnny at a very young age.
Rocket: How did you land the gig with SNOT? At the start, I recall hearing Lynn Strait was actually going to be the bass player but then switched to vocals, right?
John: I got the call from my best friend Shannon Larkin (AMEN currently Godsmack) he called me from Santa Barbara and was like "Hey bro there's some cool guys in this cool band and they need a bass player now!" So I said ok and moved to Santa Barbara from Pennsylvania in 2 weeks. Not sure about Lynn being bass player originally he had just auditioned recently for Corrosion Of Conformity and was pursuing singing when Mikey picked him to front SNOT.
Rocket: Who are a few of your biggest playing influences?
John: Early KISS 76-79, The Ramones and The British Heavy Metal Invasion.
Rocket: What kind of bass guitars do you play live and in the studio?
John: I play Fender P-Bass Live and In Studio I also play many different G&L's which is also Leo Fender's company.
Rocket: What kind of amp rig?
John: Ampeg SVT Pro 2 and Classic.
Rocket: How did you get the nickname “Tumor”?
John: Well, I used to play bass in a "Grindcore" band called Ripped Clit! when I was 17 with Shannon (Godsmack) and at the time he was signed to Atlantic Records and was afraid of breaching his contract by playing in a side project, so we decided to make up nicknames to hide behind as to elude the wrath Of Atlantic Records. So being that every song RC (Ripped Clit) wrote was utterly disgustingly gross, I took the moniker "Tumor" from my other band with Shannon (I know, another band) Kiddie Porn, we had a song called Malignant Tumor which started with a fast bass riff so Shannon would yell on stage Tumor to call the song and I started it… That's that long ass story.
Rocket: You guys just announced a new singer is taking Lynn’s place (Tommy Vext/Divine Heresy). How hard was it to finally replace such a respected musical legend as Lynn Strait in the SNOT lineup and begin to move forward when most acts would not?
John: Honestly, we never intended to move forward. We sat for 10 years holding SNOT in our hearts always hearing "what if" "too bad" "you guys would have been…" and when INVITRO started doing "Stoopid" live the crowd response was overwhelming, especially when all four of us took the stage in HOB Anaheim CA last year. I think seeing that excitement that our fans still had made us think "Wow, maybe we can put SNOT back together again" and yes it was hard, still is and always will be but our attention is in "RESPECT", in Lynn's honor. We gave our 10 year grief, now we want to pay homage and carry this to the level Lynn would have wanted it to be taken to.
Rocket: Before the untimely death of Lynn, SNOT was definitely on a major roll. Looking back, what was the peak moment for SNOT as a band in your mind?
John: OZZFEST 1998. I mean, that had to be The BEST OZZFEST ever. C'mon, almost every damn band went on to be successful: Limp Bizkit, System Of A Down, Incubus, Soulfly and then you had Tool, Motorhead… I know I'm missing someone else …but yeah and then Lynn's 'Naked Antics' on the Main Stage "Toilet Blow Job" deal… that was just great fun!!!
Rocket: What is your favorite SNOT song to play live and why?
John: Man, I love them all except "Unplugged". It's probably easier to ask me what I don't like. It's a blast to play these songs now after 10 years, kinda feels "Classic".
Rocket: What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to a kid starting out on bass guitar for the first time?
John: Man, I would learn to attack the instrument like a guitar at times but also learn how to ba a "bass player" and do the extreme opposite not following every guitar part and trip out your own vibe as a compliment. Learn scales and use them if possible in little catchy bass runs.
Rocket: Being he was such a respected force in underground heavy music, what is the fondest moment you can recall from back in SNOT’s early days that involved Lynn Strait?
John: There's a Million stories to tell of Lynn . But here we go for one, SNOT played a show in a park in 1996 in Isle Vista, we went there early in the day to check the stage out as it was an all day show. There was two guys that were throwing a football and it came too close to Lynn several times. Lynn asked the guys to kindly throw the ball in another direction and well the guys did not listen. They threw the ball again and said "Fuck You"… Well, Lynn very calmly walked over face to face with the "Smart Ass' and he took his water bottle he was holding and tossed it in the air. The guy watched the bottle go up and that's when Lynn smashed his fucking head in with one punch and the guy fell "strait" to the ground. A crowd drew around in a circle and Lynn walked away and very calmly said, "Let's go".
Rocket: Will there be a new SNOT studio album and do you have any idea where you will record it and the producer that’ll be involved?
John: Yes, 2009 we start writing. As far as a producer, NO, but I'd like to mention that Dave Fortman who did our very first demos is a possiblity. We are very close friends and well, he has made his mark as a producer very successfully: Evanescence, Super Joint Ritual, Mudvayne, and the New SLIPKNOT to mention a few!
Rocket: What can fans expect? Will the rest of the new material be as heavy as the first demo track you guys just cut with Tommy?
John: I do not know. SNOT is a Mish Mash of many musical stlyes all injested and blown out our nose! We just don't sit there and go let's write a "Heavy Song" we just DO what we DO and DO it well together!
Rocket: What are some of the upcoming shows for SNOT?
John: West coast run with Devildriver Oct 15th thru 26th and then a BIG ASS US Tour to be announced soon!
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.
John: Hi, Mom. Love you!!
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