MAJOR MALFUNCTION: April 2020

Hi James. How are things with you man? How are you coping up with the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis?

HF : I'm pretty much going with the flow, as they say. I own 2 tattoo shops that have been shut down for about a month and a half at this point, so there's a certain amount of stress that comes with that. I've been a shop owner for around 24 yrs now, so tattooing is my livelihood. It's a "expendable income" business. So, even when the shutdown does lift, it's not like everything is going to go back to the way things were. Many people are going to be behind the 8 ball with their income and finances. A lot of small business' might not be able to survive this. Which is very very sad, as being someone who worked and continues to work hard as fuck to make your passion a business, I see this situation from a few different angles. I'm hopeful that we are not a casualty, but confident we wont. I worry most about my employees. They have families, or are starting families and depend on the shop to support them. But hands are tied and you want everyone to be healthy at the same time. Personally, I stay busy and have many projects and design jobs that I have to work on. But, in general, the over-all "art and design" world/market has been dealt an extreme blow with the shutdowns. But I continue to have a strong hustle, and get find work where I can.

Musically, it's even worse. Live performances, touring, venues have all come to a grinding halt. Although I don't depend on the band for a living, there's so many people I know that do depend on live music, and I really feel for them right now. And that goes far beyond just bands and venue owners and their employees. Caterers, printers, manager, booking agents, etc all are really feeling it right now. RINGWORM was a couple of days from leaving for tour, before we had to call it off. Like all bands, we had invested some serious $ into the tour, so now everyone down the chain are shit out of luck. We were really excited to get back on the road, but there was nothing that could be done, of course.

Other than all that, I'm always busy as fuck, virus or no virus. I find it hard to sit around and do nothing. There's been so many times that I'm so busy and have so many ideas and projects I want to do or have to get done that I wish I could just "pause the world" And this is kinda what I feel like is going on in a certain respect. Not to say that this is the way, you'd want that to happen. Mentally I'm well suited for the isolationism that is the norm now, as I work from home so much, but I really miss tattooing, performing music and seeing my family, friends, co workers, and clients quite bit. But I feel its important to try and keep a work/life routine in place as best as you can. When the world comes out of quarantine, it may change people, and not always for the better.

What’s the story behind your moniker, “Human Furnace”?

HF : There's a story. But I never tell it. Sorry.

Let’s talk about your Creature From The Black Lagoon collection, what’s your most prized possession? Besides Kay Lawrence and the Gill-man, how would you describe the fascination that you have for this movie?

HF : Well, there's many things in my collection that I really prize. My autographed Creature pinball machine is one. Signed by Julia Adams and Ben Chapman.

But I think the most prized thing of all is the experience of being able to watch The Creature of the Black Lagoon while Chatting with Ben Chapman, who was sitting right next to me in the theater. He described things that were going on while the scenes were happening and behind the scenes stuff. That's def my most prized, thing. I always was drawn to the creature. I think maybe for the fact, that out of all the "classic" universal "monsters" The Creature was the only one that wasn't a human or was once a human. I dunno, I've always thought The Creature was just cool and he's a big fan of pretty ladies.

Besides collecting Creature From The Black Lagoon items, you also collect KISS memorabilia, correct? How did this New York band influenced you as an artist?

HF : KISS, for a lot people my age, was a huge part of my musical up bringing. They were larger than life. All the way around they captivated me, the music the show, everything. They really made me want to play music at a young age. They were like superheroes to me.

Can you share a brief history of Ringworm? What’s the first show like?

HF : Well, we first got together in the summer of 1989. Myself and Frank, had a band called Force of Habit previously, in 1988, but that didn't last. We both knew we wanted to do something different than that band. We played our first show in 1990, I think. It was incredible. It was a packed out and a stacked bill of some great local bands of the time.

Your latest record “Death Becomes My Voice” came out spring last year, how would you compare it to your previous records “Hammer Of The Witch” and “Snake Church”? What’s a typical Ringworm song writing process like?

HF : Well with the newest record Death Becomes My Voice, we went for a more natural and raw sound. The music was recorded live and we opted to go with a different studio and a different engineer for mixing. We all think it made a big change sonically speaking. It was time to change things up.

Our song writing process is quite simple really. It usually starts with our guitar player Matt writing something, then sending the track over to our drummer to work on. After that they usually get some sort of a demo version put together and that comes my way to start putting some words together for it. Sometimes I make a few suggestions as far as arrangements but usually the band doesn't really hear the finished version of the songs with vocals until they get done in the studio.

How are things in the Gluttons camp? Also, do you have plans of releasing a new Holyghost record?

HF : GLUTTONS are doing well, staying busy. A lot of writing. We have enough for another full length, so hopefully when things open up we can get back into the studio. As far as HOLYGHOST goes, that's a project that I have continued to work on for years, I have many songs written, but finding the time and musicians to put it all together and record. I'd love to see the songs come to light some day. Until then I just keep writing.

Can you shed some light on the darkness that surrounds most of the Cleveland hardcore bands in the 90s? What inspired bands like 9 Shocks Terror, Ascension, Integrity, Ringworm, and Pale Creation to write songs about the bleak existence of mankind and dystopian society?

HF : I'm not really sure. I think perhaps its the crappy weather, or perhaps the rust belt, underdog mentality. Things aren't always sunny and cheerful here. It a steel town, so that perhaps rubs off on your general attitude. I dunno I can't speak to why other bands sound like they sound, but for us I've always been attracted mentally and artistically to the darker side of the "human condition" I find it interesting and compelling. Personally, I've never been one to sing about things that I don't know about. I sing about things in my life and effect me and my life. How I view things. It's never been about trying to write something that panders to group sing alongs or anthems. I just sing about how I, myself, feel.

Besides touring and playing shows, you’re a full-time tattoo artist for 252 Tattoos. How long have you been doing this profession? Who are your influences?

HF : Ive been a tattoo artist for 30 yrs now. That's really my bread and butter. I've owned my tattoo shop 252 TATTOO for about 23-24 yrs. Primarily I focus on detailed oriented tattoos, but early on, I realized the importance of being well rounded. So, as I usually focus around detailed work, I still quite a bit of everything. It's not always about what I want to do, many people want something else, and that's fine, I like to be able to give them something that they want, to a certain extent. I do a lot of horror related pieces , which is quite fun.

Your top 5 Vincent Price movies:

HF : Hmm that's tough. I'll try. in no order.

Witchfinder General
The Raven
Fall of the House of Usher
House on Haunted Hill
The Masque of the Red Death

Your top 5 hardcore-punk records:

HF :

The Accused - Maddest Stories Ever Told
Circle Jerks - Group Sex
Misfits - Earth AD
Raw Power - Screams from the Gutter
Discharge – Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing

But that's what My list would be today, tomorrow it would be different

Thank you so much for your time, James. I sincerely appreciate it man.

HF : No Problem, Stay Tough.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Fashion Statement

Not Dead Yet 2017

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Interview : James "Human Furnace" Bulloch (Ringworm)