Over the last month or so, many metal fans have been patiently waiting for the 5th annual Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Right before the tour started I got the opportunity to speak with Daniel Williams from The Devil Wears Prada. During our conversation we talked about the weather, Mayhem fest, dunk tanks, and the band’s latest releases, Dead Throne and Dead & Alive.
Musically Diversified: You guys are about to take off on your first Mayhem Festival starting June 30th in San Bernadino, CA. Are you excited to be on a different summer festival after doing Warped?
Daniel Williams: I absolutely am. There are a lot of bands that I’m really into. Good to do something new.
MD: Do you think you’ll reach a Different fan base by performing at this year’s Mayhem?
Williams: I definitely do. Bands like Slipknot, Slayer, and such have a much different fan base than us. I’m sure we share some fans, but we’ll definitely play to people that have never heard us before, so I’m excited.
MD: Since we’re on the subject of summer festivals, what’s your favorite summer festival memory?
Williams: In 2008 when we played a festival in Toronto or Montreal, they had a dunk tank. Mike (Hranica) and I for some reason decided to climb up to it and let people dunk us for some money. It was a really bad idea because it was freezing cold and I was only in my underwear.
MD: You released Dead Throne in 2011, and have been touring behind it since. What was your favorite song off the album and your favorite to play live?
Williams: My favorite off the album I’d have to say is, “Mammoth” which is track three. My favorite song to play live is “Untidaled” because it’s a little faster, challenging, and fun to play. All of them are really fun to play though.
MD: Adam D. from Killswitch Engage worked on that album, what was it like working with him?
Williams: That was actually really cool. We toured with them on their headline tour, and Adam would come out and watch our set. We started joking around with him about working with us, and he said ok. Before we knew it we were in the studio with Adam and he was chopping up our songs and giving us some tips. I’m super happy with Dead Throne, so I hope we get to work with him again.
MD: Was it good as a drummer to work with someone who also plays drums?
Williams: It’s kind of frustrating actually because he’s really good at everything he does. You’d be playing something, and he’d just say ‘Nope’, and it was annoying to know he could just come in and do it himself perfectly. At the same time, he definitely pushes you to be a better musician.
MD : Your new CD/DVDDEAD&ALIVE was filmed in my hometown at the Worcester Palladium. ;What went into choosing the Palladium as the venue for the new DVD.
Williams: We always have really good shows in Worcester. We’ve played the Palladium many times before, and every time we go the crowd is always crazy. It’s also a really cool looking venue and has a lot of history. I’m stoked we did though, because the DVD came out great, and everybody looks like they had a good time.
MD: We at musically diversified try to cover a lot of genres. What is the most surprising thing from a different genre than the music that you play that is on your Ipod?
Williams: Maybe the Jackson 5! Actually, surprisingly to a lot of fans I don’t listen to a lot of metal. Mostly I listen to a lot of indie rock like Bright Eyes.
-B. Harlow
Musically Diversified 