The NM4U team did an exclusive interview with former bass player from Soulfly and Primer 55 's member Bobby Burns! In here he talks about his band, family, Brazil and of course, his unfriendly departure from Max Cavalera's band
NM4U - What was the main reason that you guys decided to get primer 55 back together? Was it about just a reunion thing or you really missed playing that sound?
BOBBY BURNS - We never really broke up.. Its my baby. I had to step away for awhile which is when I went on to play bass for Soulfly back in 2003. We'd still play shows and small tours from time to time. We even released a DVD/EP in 2007 called Family for life.
And how is the new material? Is it a new sound or something like the older stuff?
Its a mixture I'd say.. I cant really write the same records over and over like most bands do.. It's more punk/hardcore with the new songs Id say.
when the upcoming new album will be released? It will have the 17 songs that you mentioned before or there will be some leftovers?
There will be 2 songs that I recorded in 2009 that will be on the new album but the rest will be all brand new.. Not sure how many of the songs will make the cut though.. Some of the left over tunes will be used for my solo record that Im recording.
how do you found about the scene nowadays? And how you guys do to keep your roots in the sound?
Im not really sure there is a "scene" now adays… Music is in a strange place.. Lots of people don't have money to buy tee shirts or come to shows like they used too.. As far as the sound goes, I just do what ever I feel like doing.
could you do a resume about Primer 55 musical influences in general and then your personal music background
Wow.. thats a really great question! I have SO many musical influences rock, metal, hip hop, punk, hardcore ect ect… I just love good songs.
Did you watch the Rock In Rio? What do you think about the concert of SOAD and Slipknot.
Im so glad SOAD is back and playing shows again! Really great band.. and Slipknot I've been friends with for about 10 years now..
you were the longest remainning stage player in Soulfly. Is there any difference about touring with Max and touring with your bandmates?
Yes and I can promise you that noone will stay in the band as the bass player longer than I did… I think I was going through a faze of being stupid haha. There is a BIG difference between Primer 55 and Soulfly… P55, we're not rock stars and we don't try to act like we are. We don't hide on tour buses and we hang out with our fans.
by the time you were in soulfly, did you get to know something about bands from brazil or brazillian music in general?
Im a huge fan of Brazil.. I love Sepultura!!!!! Im also still a big fan of them today as well.. I love the lineup they have and I think Derrick is a great frontman for them.
you seem to be a family guy type of person. Is there any difficulty to keep your family and your musical work at balance?
I love my family dearly.. My wife and son mean the world to me. Its not difficult to balance at all.. When Im home from tour Im Daddy and Husband. A lot of people say I quit Soulfly because of that but thats far from being the truth.
Soulfly will maybe playing in here by the end of the year, unfortunaly we won`t be able to see you if that happen, is there any chance to have a Primer 55 world tour that includes Brazil?
Im trying to get Primer 55 to Brazil for sure!!!! That would be a dream come true.
about quitting soulfly ( if we may talk about it) is there anything left to say about what happened? Did you feel that you was being treated unfairly?
Of course I was totally being treated unfairly.. Max talked a lot of shit about me right after in the press that was all untrue and he knows it. They all know it. I was thinking about quitting the band while we were recording the Omen record actually but I didn't want to let them down or fuck up any of their touring plans so I stayed. It wasn't a healthy environment to be in that band or around most of the people that worked for the band. Full of lies and deceit. At the end of the day I have no disrespect for any of the Soulfly fans I admire them for their dedication to the band and I made lots of great friends with them over the years and along the way.
Could you leave a message for your brazilian fans and NM4U readers.
THANK YOU ALL for taking the time to read this and support your favorite bands.. Without the fans there are no bands.
Check out PRIMER 55
CHEERS!
The NM4U team thanks for the consider and time of Bobby Burns for doing this interview. THANK YOU SO MUCH BOBBY!
