Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?
The name “Low Gear” was Gotti’s idea. Its really to reference a sick, mentality. Not sociopathic. More like a neurotic savant. That was the original concept for the music. Turned out we didn’t need a concept after hiring Minister Roach as the front man. He’s got hundreds of hours logged with several psychiatrists. They’ve studied him for years.
Low Gear is:
Minister Roach – vocals
Gotti – drums, media production, sound engineer
Goat – bass guitar/earthquakes
Mucky – 6,7,8,11 string guitars
Sam I Am – guitars, hawser-ligature composer
Low Gear is a Dallas, Texas based heavy metal band that has been recording and performing together for over 20 years. We recently released Siktunes Redux under WormHoleDeath Records / Sony Music.
When we show up, it gets loud.
Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?
Dallas, Fort Worth Metroplex.
Gotti managed to recruit the Dallas Metal Scene top draft choices for 2000.
Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?
Conway Twitty, Meshuggah, Mr. Bungle, Bolt Thrower, Judas Priest, Pantera, Dead Industry, Henry Rollins, Slipknot, Willie Nelson, Motley Crue…….
As a musician, when you experience music produced by someone that’s connected with the universe it helps to decipher what’s quantified through experience and creation. Musics inclusion into anyone’s life circumnavigates emotion and directs the flow of energy into the ether and our eben flow. A conclusion to existence that refuses to cease, perpetuates rhythm and intersects with the masses. That pinnacle of sound gives life to the dark, provokes thoughts of fantasy. Its influence demands creation from the creator.
Makes Goat drink beer.
Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?
I think Sam I Am was an author or something. Goat had a career in the Porn industry early on but to many injuries, he decided it wasn’t worth it so he moved on to metal. Gotti was about to get his associates in medicine I think, or maybe it was bull fighting when music called him up to the majors. Mucky has played guitar since he was 2 days old. That fool wants to jam, get out of his way. Roach wanted to be a rock star since 6th grade when he found out he couldn’t be himself, because of the massive amount of traffic in his head.
What songs or albums are on your current playlist?
Siktunes Redux – album
Chemical Burn
Scablab
Mexican Radio
Bloodworm
Its My Train
Carnival
Do you sing in the shower?
I scream getting in and getting out, but not in.
Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?
We have colossal plans. We are recording 4 new songs in about 4 weeks. We’ll be releasing those individually every 4 or 5 weeks.
Netflix is using 2 of our songs in some upcoming movies. Very cool.
Our label is discussing some dates in Brazil, Germany, and Finland. And of course Italy. I think were staying at Carlo’s pad. The chics love us over there. Its crazy. They love us in Brazil too. They do not like Roach in Canada for some reason.
Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?
So, Siktunes Redux is a remake of our debut album from 2002 titled Siktunes. The one after that was Picture Show. We’re about to start work on Picture Show Redux. The reasoning behind all of that is that those albums are bad ass. Unfortunately the recording equipment back then was not able to envelope the true sound, the essence of the audio, Gotti had in mind. So we went in around July 2020 and fist throated it like trippin, and it was like full throttle ! Holla at them ho’s! you know? It’ll ride on the cool. For Real. Look out though, it can break your fingers too. Its right on, these fools Do Not mess around. I mean, These fools Do Not fuck around. May need to edit that.
If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?
Michigan Stadium with: Ozzy, Slipknot, Five Finger Death Punch, Megadeth, Judas Priest, and Meshuggah
Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?
Motley Crue – Too Fast For Love
Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?
No! I do.
If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?
Conway Twitty and Kiss. But they could only play Lick it up.
Mr Bungle for like 5 hours straight. Then Kiss with Love Gun.
Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?
Motley Crue, no wait it was Eddie Murphy. I do not have it. My grandfather took it away after about 12 seconds. But I learned all 12 seconds of curse words instantly. I still use those same curse words today.
As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?
Yes, to our fans: Thank you for listening to our music. We set out to create awesome music with a very distorted flight plan. Our intent was to expand through sound our experiences with the world . A lot of which was disturbing and dark. I imagine much like the rest of the world. We diced all that up and added our twisted sense of humor and turned it up to boil. The reason we suffered in the beginning, and the reason we make music, is so that you will listen. Listen to our song. We made it for you.
Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!
This interview is solely the property of The Metal Asylum