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REGLAR WIGLAR: Sixteen years... any insight you learned?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Not really. I learned that Willie is a gross human being. I know what dudes in the band's drinking and drugging habits are.

RW: You pretty much been all over the world. So what now?

JOHN CAMPBELL: I need some time to see my home, the world can wait. It has all been the clichéd blur. Some cities we were in for less than twenty-four hours, some all we saw were the shit-holes that we played.

RW: Yeah, that said, you think if it ended tomorrow... would you miss the dynamics of traveling and get bored at home all the time?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Eventually I would get bored, but then I would hope to travel on my own terms. I know my wife is anxious for that. She is very bored sitting at home.

RW: Where would you go first?

JOHN CAMPBELL: My wife really wants to see Holland, and not for the relaxed drug laws. I’d like to get back to Australia or New Zealand. But that's a real kick in the dick getting there.

RW: I hear Copenhagen is pretty down.

JOHN CAMPBELL: Copenhagen is amazing! Amazingly expensive too. I could spend some time there... on someone else's dime.

RW: Thought you were rolling?

JOHN CAMPBELL: That's what you get for thinking! I'm doing all right, but I ain’t rolling.

RW: Dispel the myth.

JOHN CAMPBELL: Should I forward you my tax returns?

RW: Most would think with you chumps all up in the media, you must be in the goods.

JOHN CAMPBELL: Unfortunately, I can't pay my mortgage with printed interviews. I do get to do what I really do love doing; playing shows. It has never been about money anyway.

RW: Which brings up an insiders view of mainstream label life...

JOHN CAMPBELL: Record labels are dead. We, in some ways, were lucky to get in before the huge collapse. But it has been on its way out for awhile.

RW: So who's gonna release the LOG Christmas album? K-Tel?

JOHN CAMPBELL: LOG if it were ever to happen. There's no way K-Tel is still around. (Oh really?--Ed.)

RW: You could bring 'em back.

JOHN CAMPBELL: No point, it's a dead industry. At least on the grand scale. Boutique is where it’s at. Have you seen the Dischord site recently? Great stuff, buy music directly from them.

RW: You guys tour with a lot of older bands—Metallica, Slayer, etcetara. You ever tell Lars to suck it?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Not in those words, but we had a moment that was mildly awkward. I was warming up backstage and had just gotten in ears. He walked by and said something. I heard nothing. I looked up and saw a buncha people kinda staring at me.

RW: Ears?

JOHN CAMPBELL: In-ear monitors... molded earphones basically. You can't hear shit but what you have put in them.

RW: Ah, so kinda like you were ignoring him?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Correct. But then pulled them out, fumbling with an apology and blah, blah, blah. Kinda shrugged him off.

RW: Feel like you missed much?

JOHN CAMPBELL: I didn’t. He repeated what he said with a strained voice, "I said, are you having fun?"

RW: Ever feel like asking those dudes why they didn't pack it in after Cliff?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Are you kidding?

RW: Nope.

JOHN CAMPBELL: They’re the biggest band in the world!

RW: Don't mean it's good.

JOHN CAMPBELL: They would have never gotten there if they "packed it in.” Take your snobby opinion out of it. They have accomplished a lot! And they do put on a good show to sold out arenas every night they play, in any city in the world. That's pretty impressive!

RW: Brings up a good point. You said earlier it ain't about the money but if it becomes somewhat sub par, musically, do you know?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Who says it's about the money for them? Maybe it's looking for a broader audience that puts you off so much?

RW: Hypothetical question...

JOHN CAMPBELL: I hear ya. I ain't mad at 'tallica… least not like I used to be. The Black Album was disappointing, to say the least.

RW: Seems like a lot of bands, big or small, after going so long, just get mechanical... going through the motions, you know?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Ha! Don’t I ever! I'm reading a book about Led Zep.

RW: Which one? Hammer of the Gods?

JOHN CAMPBELL: I forget. But they talk about Page being in the Yardbirds and how they were self-destructing and going through the motions. I can’t remember the title, just cracked into it. Saving it for tour. Also got White Line Fever, Lemmy's autobiography.

RW: You ever read Our Band Could be Your Life? Ever miss the days of touring in a van, "living the life" as described in the book? Keeping it real?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Not really. In 2008 I ran around with RPG in a van.

RW: How was it?

JOHN CAMPBELL: As I get older, that ain't no way to live! Its not bad for the weekend warrior, but if you are trying o pay the bills that way.... forget it.

RW: Thought it ain't bout the money?

JOHN CAMPBELL: That’s not money, that’s about comfort.

RW: Fair point... but what about playing smaller clubs verses bigger places?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Smaller clubs are good. Its all relative. Again, it's all right for the weekend warrior, not if you’re living it, at least not for me. I’d rather be home working a schmedley job, playing once a week with my friends in a practice space.

RW: So most all of you got kids. When they get older maybe they could carry the legacy... start a band called "Lamb Chop." Got massive marketing appeal! Keep it in the family, yo!

JOHN CAMPBELL: Sounds like a terrible idea. You come up with that yourself?

RW: Do you guys talk about the life of LOG or just roll with it? Got a master plan?

JOHN CAMPBELL: You forget to pay your Internet bill?

RW: Transatlantic connections can be bunk sometimes. You shining this question?

JOHN CAMPBELL: We talk about the life of LOG, it's our business! We have a vision, a plan if you will. We are touring up until Thanksgiving, then taking time off, then writing/recording another album and touring on it for a couple years. From there, who knows? That's the three year plan, anyway. Hope that doesn’t kill the romance for you.

RW: When do you think you'll reach the pinnacle? You think kids will keep following?

JOHN CAMPBELL: I think that will be better evaluated down the road. I'm suspecting we may have hit it. I think we could maintain where we are now for as long as we wanted.

RW: Just curious about how the winds blow. Metal fans seem to be quite loyal.

JOHN CAMPBELL: Sure, probably more loyal than metal bands.

RW: Ever think of doing your own side project?

JOHN CAMPBELL: I would love to be in a shitty old man band that played a shitty local bar once every three months. Maybe once every six months.

RW: What about making records?

JOHN CAMPBELL: I think recordings would be more fun than actually trying to print/sell product. Itunes release maybe?

RW: I'm sure some LOG fans would follow it. What have you been listening to recently?

RW: The new Black Mountain record is pretty nice. Wilderness Hearts, heard it? I got In The Future, I need to get their first record.

RW: Yeah, I dig em. I tried to tell you about it last time I was in town but you weren't having it.

JOHN CAMPBELL: My only critique of them is that they sound like other bands all the time, from Thin Lizzy to Bowie to Sabbath.

RW: Yeah well, who doesn't?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Not as blatant as they do. But they do it so well that I end up not caring. They mix heavy and mellow real well.

RW: Kinda hard to find anything original anymore.

JOHN CAMPBELL: We'll see about that.

RW: How do you mean?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Just when you make a statement like that is the perfect time for something new and creative come out.

RW: You guys thinking bout incorporating more keyboards into your sound? It is the hip thing these days.

JOHN CAMPBELL: For your smart assed info, Sacrament was full of keyboards.

RW: Well, no shit. Thought I was listening to a harpsichord concerto there.

JOHN CAMPBELL: We went the opposite direction for our last release as a reaction.

RW: Still a good record. Got some ol' toe tappers on it.

JOHN CAMPBELL: Morty (Mark Morton) writes sweet riffs, lyrics and arrangements.

RW: What about Willie? Thought it was about half and half?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Musically. He writes the esoteric, weird riffs. Morty does almost one hundred percent of lyric arrangement and at least eighty percent of lyric writing.

RW: You guys still argue about song titles/album names? (reference to a scene in the “Walk With Me In Hell” video where the band debates the title for the upcoming release).

JOHN CAMPBELL: No arguing for me. I think some of those dudes argue for the sake of it. Not for my personality.

RW: Ever think of just signing off?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Sure, but I'm too stubborn. This thing has a life span like all things and one day will come to pass.

RW: Either way, sounds like you guys have tapped into a "working" groove and the results are all good.

JOHN CAMPBELL: That’s what I'm saying! Two years into this tour cycle, I need to be off the road for a bit... I'm definitely on the hating side of things at the moment.

RW: Maybe we'll do another interview after you've been home for a year and see what you say.

JOHN CAMPBELL: Yeah, I probably will be anxious to get out on the road.

RW: Ever think of changing it up and swapping instruments?

JOHN CAMPBELL: You mean within the band or personally? 'Cause I really wanted to play drums when this all started.

RW: The band, moron.

JOHN CAMPBELL: That would be a "hell no".

RW: Why not? You were just talking about something new and creative. Maybe you could sing? Or get back on them keys?

JOHN CAMPBELL: You are really full of terrible ideas. No wonder Wiglar hired you.

RW: Ah shit... that's cold... you self righteous bastard.

JOHN CAMPBELL: When you're right, why can’t you congratulate yourself?

RW: Moving on... what's next for ol' J.C.?

JOHN CAMPBELL: I’m waiting on my fucking clutch cable so I can ride my motorcycle... leaving in two days for South America. Waiting to get home so I can forget about the road for a bit.

RW: You gonna put a fifth seat on that bike?

JOHN CAMPBELL: A fifth? I got a solo seat. One came with the bike, one replaced that. Then I put on struts, so I needed a seat with springs.

RW: Saw photos with a bunch of different seats. Somebody can't make up their mind? Have anything to do with an ever expanding ass?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Such a nit-picking motherfucker! The solo seat is smaller, fucklips, and my belly expands, not my ass.

RW: You wear leather when you're on the hog? Chaps?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Now you're fantasizing. Jeans, boots and gloves.

RW: Got any "colors?" Redwings?

JOHN CAMPBELL: Ha! No, I’m no where near cool enough to be a real biker.

RW: Still gotta show the world who's boss.

JOHN CAMPBELL: Ha! Fuck the world! I just wanna be left alone!

RW: We'll on that note, we'll end this here interview.

JOHN CAMPBELL: 'Bout fucking time!

Read Reglar Wiglar LOG 2001 Interview with John Campbell

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