ICED EARTH Drummer Discusses Illegal Music Downloading

Adam Ortiz of Loucifer Speaks recently conducted an interview with ICED EARTH drummer Brent Smedley. A couple of excerpts from the chatfollow:

Loucifer Speaks: How did you get into ICED EARTH?

Smedley: "How I got into ICED EARTH is a rather interesting story. It goes something like this...I had heard of ICED EARTH and seen an ad for Century Media Records (the band's record label at the time) in a magazine. I sent for a free catalog for Century Media. A few days after the catalog arrived I received a Century Media sampler CD which had one song from most of their top bands on it. I believe it was the second Century Media sampler they made. Anyhow the CD had the song 'Last December' on it. I liked the song so much that I put the intro from it on my answering machine. I was referred to the band by a mutual friend by the name of Steve Woodham from Alabama. So when Jon Schaffer called me to ask me about auditioning he heard his song on my answering machine...I"ll never forget that message. It seemed it was fate for me to play in ICED EARTH. I was the next to the last person to audition, they had me play 'Last December' and 'Dante's Inferno'. The rest, as they say, is history."

Loucifer Speaks: The promo version of "Framing Armageddon" was leaked some time ago. How do you feel about people downloading albums before they are officially released?

Smedley: "As to how I feel about downloading of music. I think it is a crime and a shame that so much theft of music goes on today. If you were a master painter would you give your paintings away? Or a builder, would you build your homes or offices for free? Downloading has reduced the music industry by 20%. I think it is one of the biggest problems facing the music business in modern times."

Loucifer Speaks: Do you have formal training, as in did you study at institutions and clinics?

Smedley: "I took four and a half years of private drum lessons, a year and a half of marimba lessons (a mallet percussion instrument),I played in school band my last 4 years of high school including marching band, symphonic band, percussion ensemble, and jazz band. I also studied music at the University Of North Florida, taking drumset and percussion lessons, and percussion ensemble.

Loucifer Speaks: Do you have any goals that you want to accomplish with the band now?

Smedley: "Goals I wish to accomplish with the band would consist of making the best records we can possibly make, giving the best live shows we can and staying true to ourselves, the music we love to play, and to stay true to the fans."

Read the entire interview at this location