Many may remember Evan Seinfeld from Biohazard. He has a new project called the Spyderz and I recently talked to him about it and everything else he has going on for Blistering.com. He's always an interesting interview and he's rarely lost for words.
The Spyderz
By: Rei Nishimoto
Being a musician in today’s world is a life that many encounter but very few truly experience. Those lucky enough to get that chance experience a way of life that places them in front of audiences that is beyond most people’s wildest dreams.
For Evan Seinfeld, he lived and breathed that lifestyle for 20 years in Biohazard, the New York based hardcore/metal outfit that produced eight studio records and toured with bands like Slayer, Sepultura, Machine Head, House of Pain and Korn.
Their influential sound fused metal and hardcore aggression with rap style vocal deliveries. Songs like ‘Punishment’ and ‘Tales From the Hard Side’ became well recognized tunes within their catalog of songs.
Seinfeld was the bassist and co-lead vocalist of the group, and is often recognized for his heavily tattooed appearance and matching persona. But he talked about how the time within Biohazard was a learning experience for him, especially landing a recording contract at such an early age.
This is the same person who got his first taste of the hardcore scene by going to New York City’s legendary CBGB’s matinee shows, and later became a roadie for Carnivore.
“I was a teenager when I got my first record contract,” he said. “I was in Biohazard for 20 years since it was founded. I started Biohazard in 1987. It’s 2007…where did my life go?”
Biohazard played its last shows in 2006, but Seinfeld was slowly moving towards a different direction in life. “Five and a half years ago, I got a phone call to hook up with Tera Patrick [his wife and adult film star]. She saw me on the TV show Oz. Next thing I know, I’m in love and getting married – my world’s getting turned upside down.”
He began helping Patrick run TeraVision, her own adult film company. “It’s not like I woke up one morning and said I wanted to run a porn company. When I met her, it was like meeting Mick Jagger with no money. She was this big star. She had money but she didn’t have any business. I built TeraVision for her. It’s her company and I built it for her. We’re considered one of the top three studios in the adult business. Tera’s the number one active adult film star in the business.”
Despite making a dent in the adult film industry, he has not quit music. He appeared on the VH1 reality television series Supergroup in 2006, as the band Damnocracy’s bassist, with an all star lineup of vocalist Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), guitarists Ted Nugent and Scott Ian (Anthrax) and drummer Jason Bonham.
He recently started up a new band called the Spyderz. Unlike his metal/hip-hop hybrid style in Biohazard, he returned to a roots rock sound that surprised many when they opened for Buckcherry at a club in New York in March 2007.
They played their first show opening for Buckcherry in Long Island, New York, in front of a sold out club. They have since played numerous shows, including opening for Black Label Society in Los Angeles.
Seinfeld knew that his next band had to represent in a way that suited his personality. “Things always go back to the fundamentals,” he said, explaining how he started the Spyderz.“I love baseball. If Derek Jeter bends down low and looks the ball to his glove, he’s not going to make the error. When he tries to hot dog it, he’ll blow the series.”
“What my birth into music was KISS, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Beatles and the Doors. What I found my freedom on as a teenager was punk rock, Bad Religion, and Social Distortion."
Much like his prior bands, the players slowly fell into place and the Spyderz became a reality. He met his guitarist Dirrty (Hollow NYC) at a meet and greet. He rounded the rest of the lineup with guitarist Johnny Jetson (Tattooed Millionaires), bassist John Monte (M.O.D., Dragpipe, Mind Funk, Ministry) and drummer Lee Nelson.
Musically, the Spyderz cross roots rock music with punk influences. Songs like “Little Lover” and “Walk Away” feature an edgy riff rock sound, while “Mama Tried” has more a bluesy vibe to it.
While thematically the Spyderz hit upon some personal as well as heavier subjects like he did in Biohazard, he feels that his new band musically is the next step in his career.
“When I was in Biohazard, I had nothing. I lived in a car and I used to deal cocaine. I wasn’t good at it. I used to snort all the coke! I tried to deal drugs…weed, coke, pills…to make enough money to pay for studios where we rehearsed, so we could do something.”
“When you have money, it’s like you don’t have money. The people in the middle are the ones who’re struggling. Now, I’m at a place in my life where I don’t worry about paying the rent. If I didn’t work for the next five years, I could pay the rent and live pretty well. I don’t have to do music to please anybody else. I could do exactly what I want to do.”
The Spyderz were invited to play a few British and European summer festivals. Despite being an unknown act outside of Seinfeld’s credits, he was surprised by the feedback they received during their brief trip.
“We read a review when we played in London,” he said. “The guy said we were a better Stone Temple Pilots with balls. I’ll take that! I hadn’t thought of that!”
“I’d say take some classic rock and some first Guns N’ Roses record, and mix that with Motorhead. I said Guns N’Roses meets the Misfits is the best way I could describe it. You can hear my influences in it. I’m open about the bands I like.”
“The Spyderz is melodic. It’s soulful, earnest and it’s real. It’s every bit as hardcore as Biohazard in where it’s coming from. But it’s not about heavy metal. There are elements of metal in it. There are definitely elements of punk in it. But it’s classic rock. It’s meant to be a young man’s version of Bob Dylan, the Allman Brothers…if I were 15 or 16, I wouldn’t want to listen to something my dad listened to. Rock music is the reason I wanted to play music in the first place.”
Despite the attention on the Spyderz, Seinfeld isn’t in any rush to take the band places quite yet. “The greatest thing is that I’m enjoying the journey. I never realized that the first time around, I’m just doing it. I didn’t know I was going to do anything. I just played music. Biohazard sold four million albums without one commercial radio spin.”
“I’m not in a rush. The vehicle that I have by being the lead singer in Biohazard and having my wife be Tera Patrick…we’re invited everywhere. I’m on the list. Unlike in Biohazard, they’re trying to keep me out! We were the guys climbing in the back window. Now the door’s open.”
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