10 questions with Rob Taylor

its another edition of 10 questions with   Rob Tayler Vocalist for the band RoTTen Rails

1)  How long have you been playing your instrument

     I started playing drums when I was in grade 5 or 6, then picked up the guitar when I was 11 I think. Singing is something ive always done, but I never started taking it seriously until a few years ago.

2) At what age did you start listening to Metal

    I think I was 13 the first time I heard Slayer

3) Which Band or Bands introduced you to Heavy Metal

    At about age 11 I started getting into Korn and Limp Bizkit, and then bands like Mudvayne, Tool, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot and the Deftones really pushed me in the right direction

4) What are some of your favourite Metal Bands

    How much time do you got? Haha I could go on forever. Death is one of my alltime faves, and obviously anything that Dimebag has touched really tickles me in the right ways. Carcass(heartwork and swansong era especially), Down, Anthrax, Lamb of God, Machine Head, Sepultura avec Max Cavalera, Soulfly, theres honestly too many bands I love to pick favorites. Stone Sour, Steel Panther, *slowly fading out while naming bands*..

5) In your opinion which Metal band is the true Grandfather of Heavy Metal

   Thats a million dollar question my friend. I guess you would have to define how Heavy Metal we're talking here. Of course the go-to answer is Black Sabbath, who paved the way for bands like Death or Cannibal Corpse in the 80's, who sort of became the new grandfathers of heavy metal. But I think even bands like Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones deserve slight credits for the rock/metal breakthroughs back in the 60's.

6) Are there any other Genres or sub-genres set apart from your current style of music that you listen to personally.( if i was to look in your IPOD library what would we find)

   My player is riddled with all sorts of different music. The top of my artists list is 3 Inches of Blood, then at the bottom is Will Smith (ok its actually Zakk Wylde, but that wasnt a very good example of variety). Theres Elton John and Rod Stewart, then theres Deicide and Morbid Angel, then theres Def Leppard and Motley Crue, and then theres The Who and Deep Purple. Hundreds of bands on that thing. I love anything that is original, made from the heart, and maybe took a bit of talent to make. But no techno, dubstep, ravestep, queefstomp, or any of that computer-y crap. And no country unless your Rebel Meets Rebel.

7) Was your choice of instrument, influenced in anyway by possible band postioning?  (IE choose drums because you didn’t want to be up front)

     I guess you could say that. I had been focusing mainly on my guitar playing since high school, but when we started writing songs and made the band more of an official thing, the only thing we didnt have was a singer.

8) How would  you best describe your music and who are your influences?

    3 words - Straight crushing metal. And groovy too. I would say I personally am influenced in my writing by Corey Taylor, Phil Anselmo, Maynard Keenan, and Chad Gray. As far as our influences as an entire band, I think we've all learned a thing or two from the almighty Pantera. Lamb of God, Superjoint Ritual, Mudvayne, Tool, and others have also rubbed off on us i think.

9) What do you like or dislike about playing a live show?

    Likes : The people, the stage, the drinks, the energy, the good times, the noise, the vulgarity, the impending blackout.

Dislikes : All elements of a metal show already covered in the "Likes" section.

10) Lastly what is the most F!cked up thing you have ever seen or experienced at a live show you have performed.

     Hmm.. Well there was this one time where somebody in the pit lost their upper eye-lid. Ripped right out. Yup.