Question 8:
What are the best bands from your area in Pennsylvania?
Hideous Mangleus started basically on March 25th, 1989; which was when a previous band I had been in, called D.B.K., played our last show. D.B.K., which stood, somewhat embarrassingly at this point haha, for Dead Baby Korpses. Which being as naive as we were back at the beginning of the band in ‘87, we changed the C to a K as to not be confused with D.B.C., Dead Brain Cells; even though we sounded nothing like them, and really weren’t even familiar with their music. D.B.K. was a punk/hardcore style band; with lyrics vaguely similar to what would later become Hideous Mangleus’s style lyrics, mixing horror, sarcasm and social observation; but, I guess how could thy not, since in both bands I (Sam Biles) was the main lyricist. But, anyway, when Hideous Mangleus started; three of the members from D.B.K., myself, Brad Lancaster and Tommy Jenkins; somewhat reunited with the two original members of D.B.K., feev and Joel Bonde, who had left the band like two years earlier, to make their own bands; Rancid Decay and Idiocy; both of which were “dirty sounding” hardcore style bands. This line up, at least as far as Brad was concerned, was short-lived, as Brad left the band probably within a month of joining; cuz he really just liked doing other stuff, like sports, etc. But, the me, feev, Joel and Tommy line-up probably lasted, at a guess, about four or five months. And during this time we rehearsed, and wrote new songs, as well as incorporating songs that previously had been D.B.K. and/or Rancid Decay/Idiocy songs into out repertoire. At this point, with Tommy on drums, the band had a slightly different sound from what it would become shortly after; cuz Tommy’s drumming style was a bit more, dare I say, jazz inspired; which, although we liked it at the time, because we had nothing to compare it to; really wasn’t a proper fit for the band. But, as it would happen, Tommy, being more into melodic hardcore, decided to leave the band and join another local band called Flagrant Violation; and, their drummer, Curt (Bonde), who was Joel Bonde’s (bassist) brother joined Hideous Mangleus. And, he was the missing piece; because he really brought a more bare-bones hardcore style drumming to the band, and as we would go on, also brought blast beats etc to really fill out our sound. ...initially, in Hideous Mangleus, I was “singing” more in the vein of something like Septic Death; but, once I heard the second side of the Scum album by Napalm Death with Lee Dorrian; I decided I would like to incorporate the “growl style” vox into the band; which, at first, the band really wasn’t into; but, as we played live, and realized people liked this style, they came to warm up to it. ...so, as we come into late ‘89; with the line-up cemented with myself, feev, Joel and Curt; we really started picking up steam with writing new songs, which put us in the position to try to record a demo. ...our first attempt at this failed, because the 4-track we rented broke; so what would’ve been the “Support the Core” demo never came out; and was never finished; and no versions of it ever existed. But, after that, we went into a studio in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, run by a guy named Bob McCutcheon, and recorded our “All Your Friends are Dead” ‘90 demo. Which shows a band that is in the process of learning their craft; we were still working on our sound, and I hadn’t yet gone full “growl” vox yet; cuz again, the band really wasn’t feelin’ it, haha. But, it contained 16 songs, and was a nice picture of where we were at the time. And, it seemed to be positively received by the “Worldwide Underground”, which at the time we really didn’t even know existed. ...when we became friends with another local band, called “Chaotic Plague”, they introduced us to tape trading, and spreading ads, making and trading demos, etc etc. ...but, as for what our influences were. As I was a couple years older than the other guys in the band; I came up on stuff like KISS, AC/DC, Ted Nugent, Scorpions, Black Sabbath, etc etc; but, by time I meet those guys, in around ‘87; I was already into LOTS of hardcore, thrash, crossover, etc etc; and this is what they liked; ...some of our main influences were say The Misfits, 7 Seconds, Dead Kennedys, The Ramones, Cryptic Slaughter, The Accused, and, as we went into ‘89 some early death metal, like Slowly We Rot, and ND’s Scum, etc. But, with that said; in the summer of ‘87; something occurred that changed us from strictly music fanatics, to deciding to try to write music; and that was going to a concert in Pittsburgh where some Pittsburgh bands were playing; I think it was Necropolis, Eviction, and maybe Travesty, and Infectious Disease or sum’thin. But, when we saw this, it was like a break through moment. Because, up to that point, at least for me, I just thought like say Iron Maiden and/or Judas Priest etc just came out of the womb writing amazing songs; but, seeing local young guys making their own music really opened our minds to the fact that anyone could write/make music; so not long after that; me, feev and Joel went up to feev’s house. And we had a cardboard box for “drums”, a guitar wired through a headphone jack for our guitar, and no microphone; but, we sang into a jam box; and did our first demo under the name D.B.K.; I think the demo was called the “shitty x2” demo; and had like 6/7 songs; one being a cover of D.R.I.’s Reaganomics. ...it was pretty terrible; but, everyone has to start somewhere, haha. ...and, as we continued, the guys got instruments for Christmas, and we kept getting better and better at what we were doing; which, as a started off saying, lead to Hideous Mangleus forming in March of ‘89.
Question 2:
What is the most sought after Hideous Mangleus release? You have any secret
demos?
To be honest, I really am not sure what Hideous Mangleus release is the most sought after; I guess it depends on who you asked. Both of our 7”s seem to be well respected in the Worldwide Underground; but, some seem to quite like the ‘90 demo, and some others really like the ‘96 CD release of the “All Your Friends are Dead” album. So, I guess, generally speaking, seems like people who like the band, like most everything and anything we ever released. ...as for “secret demos” and/or unreleased material. Generally speaking, there isn’t per se any “lost demos” cuz, as I mentioned, even the “Support The Core” demo, which was attempted has no existing recordings. ...I would guess, the closest thing to something like this, would be the rehearsal recordings from the time Tommy Jenkins was in the band; but, although this may be interesting for some of our fans to hear; if they really like the later stuff, I don’t know that they would like this stuff as much. But, with that said, if I ever find I have the time to maybe say upload this stuff to youtube, or release in some capacity: I have no issue with possibly doing that; but, it is pretty basic stuff. ...besides that, there are a few recordings from when Hideous Mangleus rehearsed and wrote in ‘00 and ‘01; but, it may only be a song or two at best; and some unfinished ideas. ...and, there are a couple songs from Rancid Decay/Idiocy/D.B.K. which HM played early on that haven’t really seen like light of day; but, I’d have to look to see what is there. ...there was a plan to record some of these left over songs for say a 7”; but, to this day this has not happened; and, barring me say putting together a “pick up” band for the express purpose of doing this, I doubt it will ever happen; as the band has been inactive for at least 20 years. With the possible exception, if you want to include it, of me doing some Hideous Mangleus sets with various musicians as “Mutated” and later “Sam Biles” in ‘09, ‘11, ‘15 etc. ...I really don’t think Hideous Mangleus will get back together; unless something miraculous happened; cuz at this point, we are all in our 50’s, and some have health concerns; and, as for me, I rarely see them ever; even though we surely are still all good friends.
Sandi
Question 3:
At what age did you start making music? You had a teacher?
I started making music when I was 17 with D.B.K.; feev and Joel would’ve been like 15 at the time at a guess, and Curt was 14. ...as for a teacher. ...I never played an instrument, so I never had a teacher. And the others were self-taught. ...but, with that said, our “teachers”; for me probably would’ve been Lee Dorrian, especially on the “Mentally Murdered” EP, which is my favorite “growl” vocal performance ever. ...with some style inspiration from say Bill Crooks from Cryptic Slaughter, Blaine from the Accused, Glenn Danzig, a pinch of Ross Dolan, etc. ...and, for them; it’d be the bands I mentioned earlier; like The Accused, Cryptic Slaughter, 7 Seconds, The Misfits, early Napalm Death later, etc.
Sandi
Question 4:
Is it true that Hells Headbangers is releasing a Hideous Mangleus boxset? Please
elaborate on that if you can
Well, it isn’t a “boxset”; but, in a way I can see why someone may perceive it that way; cuz what it is is something very special. A double 12” coloured vinyl (with the possibility of a picture disc version also) gatefold album with an OBI-strip. ...it is quite an impressive package. ...we are really happy to be working with them, cuz they really do put out very high quality releases. ...if I understand correctly this will be released in the first quarter of ‘25. So, surely something to look forward to.
Sandi
Question 5:
You are friends with Nunslaughter right? How did that start?
Yes, I have been friends with Don Crotsley of Nunslaughter since probably about ‘89, and also became friends with the late Jim Konya around ‘97 at a guess. Both are/were amazing people. ...as to how that started. There is a town right by were I lived in The 80’s called Belle Vernon, and there were two clubs there; one called The Jam & Skate and one called “The Pit”; which later changed to “The Odyssey”. But, we used to go to shows there, started in ‘88; and Don would often come down from Pittsburgh to Belle Vernon, about 45 minutes away to see shows. And as we would see each other all the time, we became friends. ...and, one time early on at one of Hideous Mangleus first shows; we were loading in from the back alley behind the venue; and I noticed Don was back here in the alley. So I asked him what he was doing, and he said “I am here to see your band”; which I found very flattering, cuz from talking to Don previously, I realized that besides being just a very nice guy, he was already quite a wealth of knowledge about all things music; so, we hit it off really well. ...of course, he moved away for some years. But, when Nunslaughter started playing shows in like ‘97 (?); I reconnected with Don, and used to go up to Cleveland to stay with him some weekends; and he introduced me to all the amazing music fanatics from that area; like Konya, Duane Morris, Chris Dora, Jim Lippucci, Paul Rubich, Wayne Richards, The Hell’s Headbangers brothers, etc etc. And still to this day, when the opportunity presents itself, I like to go up to The Cleveland/Parma/Lakewood area to see these people from time to time; cuz over the years, we have had MANY amazing times together.
Sandi
Question 6:
Do you have many original grindcore demo tapes, can you name some?
Um, I suppose I do, but, I wouldn’t really know where to start, haha. ...and, some, if not most of them, are probably dubs; not to suggest I don’t also have some originals; but, in ‘89 I became friends with the guys who would become Rottrevore. And Mark Mastro and Chris Weber were crazy tape traders; there wasn’t too much they didn’t have. So, when I would go visit with Chris in Monongahela, Pennsylvania; like ten miles (?) from my house; he would let me tape everything and anything I wanted; so I would kind of “cherry pick” his collection; which gave me access to great music from all over the world. ...but, as for “grindcore” demos; I mean, I suppose the normal stuff; like Napalm Death, Carcass, Fear of God, Phlegm, Pungent Stench, Disharmonic Orchestra, Agathocles, Terrorizer and many more I am forgetting at the moment, haha.
Sandi
Question 7:
What are your top 3 all time favourite grind bands?
Well, I guess, again; even though somewhat cliché I guess early Napalm Death (I don’t listen to ND after Mentally Murdered EP); early Carcass (I really don’t listen to much after Symphonies of Sickness; and early Terrorizer (I don’t listen to much after World Downfall; but the album “Caustic Attack” is pretty good. ...and, I guess I also have to include, early Pungent Stench. And, generally speaking, Anal Cunt also. They’re Defenders of Hate is Amazing. ...I had the good fortune of playing some shows with A.C., and becoming friends with Seth (R.I.P.); an amazingly talented and really cool guy. ...of course, Fear of God also. ...it’s hard to just name 3, hahaha. ...Phlegm was Killer too. ...I LOVE Paineater also; but, their more "HEAVY DEATH".
Sandi
Question 8:
What are the best bands from your area in Pennsylvania?
Well, I guess Nunslaughter, Dream Death, Exit-13, Bathym/Sathanas, Half Life, Necropolis, Doomwatch, Axtion, Eviction, Derketa, Mythic, Chaotic Plague, Rottrevore, Mi’Gauss, Sinister (Pittsburgh), Eviscium, Circle of Dead Children, The Zitheads (Joel and Curt Bonde’s side band) off the top of my head. ..and, dare I say, Hideous Mangleus, haha.
Sandi
Question 9:
What's your top 5 favorite thrash albums of all time?
Pleasure to Kill, Terrible Certainty, Eternal Nightmare, The Legacy, Taking Over, Spreading the Disease, Ride the Lightning, Serpent Temptation, Persecution Mania, Dimension Hatross, Haunting the Chapel, ...I guess that is more than 5; but again, it is a bit hard to narrow it all down to 5, haha. ...and, surely there are many more that could be named.
Sandi
Question 10:
Do you think the grindcore
scene is dead or you heard new talents,
Um, in a sense, I would say “the scene” died in late ‘91; because this is around when I noticed that unlike before, the bands that were coming out were no longer influenced by outside sources; since “Death Metal” and “Grindcore” didn’t exist before the early bands created it; and the bands were starting to be directly influenced, or inspired, by actual DM and GC bands; resulting in something that happens in any form of art, or genre of music, redundancy. ...you wind up with a thousand cookie cutter copies of bands that already exist. ...but, with that said, in a way, this is unavoidable. ..so, although it results in lots of clone bands; surely every now and then there still are killer bands that come out. ...P.L.F. is surely one of them. ...and, I will say, although I would be considered an “old prude” by some, cuz I mainly listen to all the stuff from say ‘80 to ‘91; I have continued to go to shows, and support the scene all the time through to today. ...but, I’d say, I may get into like 1 or 2 new bands per year, at a guess. ...which is kind of sad, considering there are 10 of thousands of bands coming out every year. But, that isn’t me being negative towards them; I wish all the new bands nothing but the best. But, as I came up through the classic era as it happened; it is hard to not to compare most everything that comes out to something that came out from say ‘84 to ‘92. ...so, I don’t think “the scene” is dead; in fact it is probably more alive, at least in so far as attendance and interest than it has ever been; but, as the music can only be tuned so low, and the vox can only go so low, and someone can only play so fast or slow; again, it is unavoidable that the “new” stuff, will sound like the original stuff, to some degree or other. But, the young people didn’t grow up as teens in the late 80’s, early 90’s; so to them, it is New; and their “ignorance”, beyond their control, let’s them enjoy the current scene as if it is something new and vibrant; which I have no issue with. In fact, I support it, because it reminds me of how I was as a teen when the scene was brand new. ...anyway, Thank You Sandi for the interview. It is always fun taking a stroll down “memory lane”. Especially to such a magical time as The late ‘80s/early 90’s.