Garza Podcast - 34: Art Cruz | LAMB OF GOD

Episode Date: June 27, 2022

Art Cruz is the drummer for Lamb of God. We talk about the new record "OMENS" How he went from drum teching Suicide Silence to getting the gig with LoG and much more. SPONSORS: distrokid.com/vip/garza 30% OFF! emgpickups.com Promo Code: Heavy 15% OFF!

This episode is brought to you by EMG Pickups. I've been using the 81-7 for many years. Our new song, Thinking in Tongues, are these pickups. So head over to emgpickups.com and use my promo code heavy at checkout to get 15% off. That's EMGPickups.com promo code heavy, and you will get 15% off your entire order. We are also brought to you by DistroC. If you want to get your original music up on streaming platforms, I'm talking Apple, Spotify, YouTube, TikTok. DistroKid can do that for you.

I personally use them and they've been great to me. Just head over to distroKid.com slash VIP slash Garza to get 30% off your entire membership. That's distroKid.com slash VIP slash Garza to get 30% off. Brother, good to see, good to see. What's up, what's up? I'm like two metal guys walking through a very quiet, you kind of want to turn it up and break something. Holy moly.

Hey, look, I know those guys. What's up? Those catoes? Oh, look. Is that it? This is it. This is what started everything for me. Literally, that's the, like on a grand scale, big, big scale shit, this tour.

Might have to take a shot at the field before we start, because why not? Man, oh, wow, look it. It's like a TV, dude, this is like, real, man, this is the Garza podcast. There's no joke over here. What is this? A teacups, dude. I have a teased at home, dude. I don't buck around, dude.

Not the best, but... Go to that out. I'm scared. Today is a special day, and this is going to be a full circle conversation. And today I have Art Cruise. My old friend went from... from drum-teching us to Wends a Plague, to Prong, and now you are the official drummer of one of the biggest metal bands on the planet, Lamb & God.

And you were born and do it, man. I saw it. I saw it. I felt it. As soon as you guys took me out, I mean, as soon as you guys took me out that first time, I'm sure we'll get into it. But, man, as soon as you took me out, I kind of just had a real taste of, like, that real touring. real touring you know what i mean i think that was one of your guys's first first bus first bus tour yeah you're right you know my first bus never been on a bus all that stuff and the green

monster man what i don't know do we name it it's it could be the green monster it was the it was the green one with the it was the old prevo yeah and we had that really big driver those fucking dude was awesome uh great but man yeah to to just be here uh it's super emotional and special to be here with you. You know what I mean? I'm glad we can make this happen. I was bugging you about doing it on tour, but I think this is cool right before we actually both get really busy and the chaos of tour and just being in that moment. So, man, this is a very surreal podcast. It is. Really. It's really special to me. And as soon as you asked me, I was like, yeah? First of it, like, you asked me, I was like, yeah. And then when we figured out that you guys were going to be on our tour in the

gentleman's tour. I was like, yeah, I got to do this as soon as possible. Totally. I'm happy to be here, bro. I'm so happy. I'm so stoked. You're here, art. And also, I don't know if you remember this, but when this whole thing started, I text two people, Alex first and then you. This podcast. Yeah. I text you like, that's right. It might have been two years ago now. Yeah, wow, because I just started a podcast. I'm like, yeah, I want to get into it. We're in the middle of writing or so I was like back and forth in Richmond. And you were one of the first people that came to mind. And so it's really cool that you actually know we're doing it and you're here in person and the circumstances are insane. Unbelievable sometimes. Yeah. But very inspiring.

And I think people who are watching and listening like this is probably like if I can be that same kid like we were both the same kid, you know, listening to these bands and to be doing it like this and then kind of coming back around doing it together. It's going to be, it's going to be an emotional tour. You know what I mean? And I think for you guys as well, I don't think you guys have ever done like amphitheaters and stuff like that. Like on a tour, have you? Like a full... It's been a while, right?

It's been a long time. It's been 2009. Wow. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. On the corn tour. I think you did it on the corn tour?

It was Mudvane. Mudvane. Yeah. They were bouncing back and forth. And yeah, so they get like, we got the opera. It was one of those moments. I mean, it's mudvane for one. It came out.

For you as just the new metal guy. God, like, it's, it's, it's, that's, that's what you grew up on, you know, I mud vink corn, limbiscuit, you know, but I think, uh, I remember when you guys got that tour because I was like blown away. I was like, this is, because we just did mayhem. It was a year after mayhem. Yeah. Everything was really just blooming and, uh, very pure and special. And yeah, I think, uh, when these guys started getting all those tours and I'm seeing your logo come up on, from our scene, you know, from even Winds of Plague, suicide. science that scene that era are our generation to see bands like that on on an ad mat I was like wow like

these guys are they're doing it now like they're they're they're the ones and like as a soCal kid I'm like wow this is a special thing happening for sure so it was incredible to see that man and it's it's unreal that you without even knowing you pretty much went along for the ride yeah like you did uh which I want to talk about how you even got to that point but you did our first big tour which was the first mayhem and we saw the poster out in the front which in 2008 was a slip knot disturbed 5 finger was way high up in the bill yeah like they they they they they I think 5 finger was like on the side stage yeah yeah um under was that under oath no that was the tour I did with them uh this was 36 crazy fist

like yeah yeah yeah from Alaska Jericho red court I mean I'm sure you can put the the the ad mat up there at some point but man like We're talking like, I'm a kid. You know, I was still playing local bands, you know, trying to do that. And you guys just, Alex, between Alex and you guys, you guys just gave me this shot. You needed somebody. And it was kind of last minute. It wasn't like, it wasn't, we didn't know, like, way months in advance.

Like, it was just like, you know, I mean, as us, as we grind in our industry, it's like, you always got to find someone. Hey, man, what are you doing like a couple weeks? Or, hey, what are you doing tomorrow? Whatever. But I remember when he called me, we were hanging out, we went over his house and Whittier. And he's like, yo, like, we need somebody to just, like, kind of help. Like, I need somebody to help me, but, like, kind of just an overall gamer that's going to be able to, like, assist in everything. And I'm like, cool.

I've, I had done, like, maybe one tour, like, with my local band, like, to, like, Whittier and, like, Arcadia. Yeah. And Smart City Grines and maybe Ranchukamonga, the nitty gritty. But that wasn't a real tour. And I was like, you know what? Like I've always worked really well, even to this day under pressure. And that was a very high pressure situation because I didn't know what the hell to expect, you know. I mean, I was already knew that you guys were like blowing up.

And I was like, wow, I got to go on tour with suicide science. Like I knew you guys, but not on a very personal level. I only knew Alex for the most part. So like I wasn't really deep in your guys' scene. And like that's showcased scene with the old winds of plague days, you know. But I was going to those shows. But for him to ask me to do that, and then it become a reality.

And when we went to your house, and we, for rehearsal, we start packing up all of our stuff. And I remember, I think we were spraying the merch tent in your backyard. Oh, wow. We were spray painting it. Yeah. And that, like, those were days that, those are moments where all of us were together. and it was just like, you guys welcomed me with total open arms.

And it was just a special time for everybody. I mean, even me as a crew member to be there and witness that and that climb. It was super cool, man. And that's kind of where it really started, like really deep, deep started, deep cut shit. Yeah, because you only had one job. You had one official job. Yeah. And then now you're on tour.

Yeah. And it was quick. It really happened quick, man. And I mean, I learned so much. And we had Martin with us, right? Was it Martin? Oh, yeah, yeah. It was me and Martin.

And it was just us and Joe, Joe Potenti doing merch. And that was the crew, you know, and Dan and Dan. Yeah, Dan and Robin. So it was really overwhelming, but I kind of went in, like, not knowing anything. And you guys really were patient and it worked out to for us to be on a giant tour like that and not know what the fuck Realistically we did not really know how things worked and I know we were all in it, but we learned and as you do when you tour. But like that was very overwhelming. But like I told you, working under pressure, my career has always been that.

Like, yeah. All right, tomorrow. Oh, next week. Oh, boom. Like just kind of thrown into shit. Every band, even wins a plague. I mean, from out. After that tour, that's when I joined Winds of Plague, too.

It was Jerry Club was still managing Winds of Plague at that time. Yes. And it was, man, Mayhem Fest has always been like that special place. 2008 Mayhem Fest with suicide silence. Like, it changed my life. Completely changed my life. Like, to this day, it's the reason why I always have to think back to that. And remember, like, wow, this is where it started.

Like, for real started, you know? I tasted it as a kid and one yeah I wanted everybody wants to be a rock star everybody wants to play in a band yeah tour but when you get on tour with Slip N9 and disturbed and these bands and guys that you looked up to like you guys as a kid of our generation it becomes real really really fast man really fast so Alex asked you and what's going on to your mind because it sounds like he just did you just said yes without even thinking yeah and I didn't even I didn't I was I was what 19 maybe I was mad at

I've been like 19 18 or 19 years old so I mean still living at home and I was still like I think I just came home and I told him yes I'm like yes because I wasn't going to do I wasn't going to do anything else I was working a job at Sam Ash where

we're talking about your your camera guy your your boy right here like I worked one job one job and I left that job like to do this because I don't know

there was just I had this really if you go with your gut it's really usually it's better for you you know what I mean for the good or for the bad whatever you have to

figure it out but that was a moment when he asked me I didn't even think I was like yes no yeah I'm going yeah hell yeah I had a job

I didn't I didn't know what the hell I was doing I was just like fuck yeah let's go I went home to my mom like I'm gonna quit my job and I'm gonna go on tour

with suicide son she's like what fuck are you talking about I'm like, I just, I don't know. She's like, are they paying you? I was like, I don't care. I don't know. Wow.

They're going to feed me and I'm on a tour bus and I'm just more, I'm more like, I'm more excited. Like, yeah, we're on a tour bus. Like, yeah, it's going to slip knot, blah, blah, blah. That's what happens as when you're excited with things, usually that it, it kind of puts you into that gear of just like, not a fuck it mode, but more of just like, yeah, let's, I think I'm supposed to be doing this. right now. Like I don't think, and I've always lived like that with my career and the career decisions just jumping in and out of bands and when to leave a band or this or if I'm uncomfortable.

And it's always been, yeah, just do it. Like, if it feels like this needs to be happening, yeah. And that's what I felt. He asked me and I was like, yeah, all right, let's go. Wow. So you always had like this gut instinct and intuition. Yeah. It seems like you always had it. Yeah. And I don't have that. Especially when you're talking money. Oh, dude. Well, I mean, I'm still, now I'm learning how to, like, how, you work. Here's the thing.

We grow up so difficult. Our times are difficult in local bands and things like that, like, from trying to make it. Like, trying to make ends meet and trying to eat and trying to, like, when you have no money, you know what I mean? Or when you barely have money enough to just get by. So now it's become that, like, you know, yeah. You got to learn how to spend money when you're making money. And like there's just part of getting older and becoming more wiser and a better person and a human being. Like it's just these things are part of life.

And thankfully, it's starting to happen now. So it's crazy. It's crazy. Well, hopefully, I mean, we're doing the same thing. We're just trying to figure out how to save money. That's it. That's it. Yeah.

In our mid 30s. But that's not a big deal. It's fine. In our mid 30s, dude. And it's embarrassing. you're listening dude it's it's kind of like well the thing is a lot of like the general population of people don't really understand like what we've all gone through like to get to this point uh you think like oh yeah they sacrifice their no but like the sacrifice is like extremely

real like in this life and i and i and i'm sure people many people have talked about it many musicians and stuff like that but the true sacrifice and like that having that intuition of just dropping what you're doing that is a sack that that's a that's a that's a sacrifice number one like your family your friends um and if you have the blessing of having a good family and you're close with your family like leaving them and and missing birthdays and and and weddings and and baptisms and i'm i'm mexicans so you got all that stuff you know and we're there's a party for everything but yeah i missed everything i missed it all and i'm sure you've missed so much and even the the deepest things that losing loved ones and all that stuff like we've missed it we've missed

it and we have to like figure out what we're going to do at that moment and yeah so the sacrifice is extremely real and the way that we've come this far to do that and still do this in our 30s and trying to figure out our life and I that's all I think about is like you know what like those sacrifices that were made it's it's worth everything like to figure it out to have to figure it out now. So I got no choice. I got to figure it out. You got to figure it out.

That's constantly all we're doing, really. Yeah. And you, first of all, you did the hardest part, which is sacrifice. Yeah. And it's so bizarre art that one simple, split-minded, brainless decision has completely changed your life to where you're out now. Oh, I'm going on tour. I'm going to quit my job.

No money. SS not paying me anything. Yeah. Yeah. But I didn't care. I don't even remember. I don't even remember. remember if you guys are paying me.

But I didn't, but that goes to show you, though. Like, I didn't give a fuck about that. You know what I mean? I saw an opportunity of just, you know, I've always been the people guy. I love hanging out. I like making friends. You know, I'm, I like just being, I like, I might have liked the attention, you know. I mean, as a kid, I had a lot of attention between my parents and my family.

And, you know, I think, obviously when things, things happen when we're younger and we, we, we carry that with us as we get older. So I loved the attention. And I was just like, yeah, I want to make friends, but I loved making friends everywhere. I like being the hangout guy. I want to hang out with everybody. Like, no, no enemies, no nothing, just like constantly just making friends in every single band, every crew member, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. So going back to like when we were talking about my magic tattoo, like the whole magic thing, magic was like, I was doing magic on Mayhem Fest after every show. And I remember one, I don't remember what city, but man, but we would always have a moment where we would always have a moment.

were like showing bands magic and it was just a memorable thing and man there's just so many full circle I feel like I can't even I can't even fathom

I can't even like put together in my brain how many full circle moments Mayhem Fest of 2008 like literally every it's the first time I met Rob Flynn and Phil demo and then Phil just recently

just has been filling in for us for Willie and John and he's like our go-to guy when we need some help if somebody needs to go home for an emergency or something. Wow. And we've talked about that tour countless times when he's out with us. I'm like, yeah, remember the time I just, I met you and I didn't know any of you and just showing you magic and whatever, Slipknot? And now we're co-managed by 5B with Slipknot and like just having that relationship

and talking to Corey about, remember the time I showed you magic and he's just like, the dude, I remember I first showed him Corey Taylor Magic and he just like, I showed him magic. We were in the backstage at a mixer or the metal mixers, the mayhem metal mixers. or whatever. And he just like, I think he like literally ran away, like sprinted away.

And they had like jumped in a golf cart and left. Oh my goodness. Oh man. But I, there's a lot of people, um, from that year, from that tour.

John Reese, man, like dude, like that tour really changed all of our lives. And, and, you know, it's just there's so many crazy full circle moments because of that year,

like working with you guys. It was, It's kind of fucked up. It's kind of scary. It's kind of creepy. It's like, whoa, like, man, like, or just kind of coming back around to it. And as a friendly reminder, like, just don't forget where you came from, man. Don't forget.

Don't forget. And that's why I'm sitting here with you, man. Like, it's just, it's so cool to be sitting here with you. Like, I'm kind of fan-boying, you know? Shut up, dude. Showcase theater, baby. Let's go. No, it's a trip.

And something that we're now doing that you naturally did is, uh, You're, I think you're naturally an outgoing guy. And you were doing that. You're on tour and you really knew how to take an opportunity to the fullest. And you naturally just hang out with people. Not even, I don't even, why you weren't even thinking about anything. You were just hanging out with everybody. That's it.

Hanging out. Yeah. And something that we learned later on in our career, like, you were just doing it. And look. And the amount of people and who you met, oh, the way is I can't even comprehend that. Yeah. That is mind blown.

And like coming back to the full circle thing, it's like you, those relationships, I didn't like, I wasn't like strategically planning like, okay, I'm going to hang out with this person and this person. And then, yeah, yeah, I'll see them in five years from now. And that's going to be a good thing that we met. No, it's like, it's just a natural blessing to have. And I got to thank my father for that one. He's always been that guy, the outgoing dude.

And just like, I mean, this is the guy that you're talking about. that like takes my mom to a concert back in the day. This is a good story. But takes my mom to a concert back in the day. And he ends up like, they're going to go see the Texas tornadoes or some shit. And he's just like, my mom can't find him. He's like,

where's your dad at? She's telling me the story. I don't think I'm born yet at this point. And he's, she's like, I can't find him. And somebody comes and finds her. And he's just in the dressing room,

in the trailer hanging out with Texas tornadoes. I'm like, that's me. You know what I mean? Unintentionally not like, not punishing, not trying to be like, oh like where can I go where can I be like oh can I be hanging out with this cool person it's just a natural instinct thankfully that I have of just trying to make friends and carrying a conversation

and I'm man all my ex-girlfriends all of them but like it's like you know like when we go out and I'm like talking to people and I'm talking I'm like I'm friendly I'm just friendly and like everybody's like yo like do you know this person like no I don't know them but it seems like I know everybody but I just carry a conversation with everybody as a human being and trying to treat people with respect and just like, hey, what's up? Like servers at a restaurant. It's like, how's your day? And they're just like, what?

I'm like, yeah, all right. Well, what's your name? Okay, where are you from? Like, just getting to know people because it brings me, like, joy of talking to somebody and making a friend. And little did I know that that type of trait that I was blessed with would help me will get me to where I'm at today. And it's pretty much how I'm in Lamb of God.

It's like, you know, like we became friends. It became friends. And it's how I got with you guys. It's how I got with you guys. It's how I sat and toured with you guys. And we became friends. And it's just the beauty of being nice and cool and trying to hang out with everybody. And, you know, that's pretty much what it is.

And I'm really lucky to have that. I can't really teach that you know what I mean yeah it's tough dude um you can't teach it but it's I'm just really lucky man I'm such a lucky guy I'm really lucky wow dude yeah I mean so with with that tour when did how did it when once a play come up yeah this is beautiful I love this story and it's I tell it to like some people sometimes and people don't really they're like how did that really happen like yeah it's literally what happened but like we were I think our last show Mayhem Fest with you guys. I'm talking we're packing the trailer in Buffalo.

I remember it. That was the last show. Buffalo, New York. We're packing the trailer. And it was you, Mitch, both, and I think it was all of you guys, realistically, like, you pretty much

backed me. You backed me up to your manager. Now, Jerry Club, who was managing Winds of Plague at the time. And you backed me up and they had an incident with Jeff, the old drummer. Dude was jacking money. Jeff, I hope you're all right.

Who knows where you're at, bro? I hope you're okay. But this guy I was stealing money from the band, and it was just like a whole thing and they obviously you can't keep somebody like that in the band, like it's super toxic and terrible, unfortunately. But

they're in the middle of the first thrash and burn tour in 2008. It's like Darkest Hour, Parkway Drive, Misery Signals, bunch of bands. Remember that. And decimate the week just came out. And it's a time for wins to be really,

they're getting their steam right after you. You know what I mean? Yeah. And they're in the trenches. And I remember everybody in the suicide silence camp because Jerry was like, yo, do you know somebody? Or I think he was just,

they were desperate at the moment because you can't have like 10 drummers filling in. They're like, we need somebody to just come and learn this shit and fill in. and figure it out. So we're in Buffalo, and I remember like a couple days prior to that, Joe and you guys and Alex

and everybody is letting Jerry know like, yeah, this dude is cool. It wasn't, you didn't even really see me play drums. And that's the fucked up part, dude. That's what's crazy. But that goes to show you a lot of where my confident factor of just like,

yeah, I can do it. Because, I mean, I would sound check with you guys. And I would just like, you know, you see that I had some, shops or whatever and everybody and i remember phil demo coming up and rob flyn like they're like

yo you should probably be in a band i'm like well i'm in a local band you know yeah i'm in a band called zusa you know like yeah but yeah you should be in a band i'm like yeah but not knowing later in that tour that i would you know be doing what's what what i'm about to tell you but so we're in buffalo i'm going in and there and jerry calls me and he's like hey man like this is a situation everybody speaks highly of you in the suicide silence camp we have like four more shows can you fly out and learn the songs in a couple days and finish the tour i'm like again back to like when

alex asked me you want to go on tour with us i'm like i'm like yes i can do it because i believed in it at that moment i'm like i was playing drums i never like i was listening to winds of plague but i never played winds of plague totally different things i'm sure you know that can you do this i'm like yes I will do that. And it was a combination of confidence and your guys's strong will and words of positivity of my character that allowed that to happen. And here we are, Buffalo, New York. I packed the trailer with Martin, close the fucking trailer door, and I got to get on a flight.

I'm going on a flight. And my flight is straight home to have one day in my garage, my mom's garage. And then I fly out the following day to Andrew Glover, our base player's dad's house, in Phoenix, Arizona. We never rehearse. I have my lap and Nick Aish and Nick Puno

playing an acoustic guitar in Andrew's dad's living room. The day before we were going to play my first show, which is at this point my biggest show that I've ever played in my life. At this point.

And this was at the, it was in Phoenix. What's that theater in Phoenix? It's like the only, man, I can't believe I can't remember this. there's a Phoenix damn how big is it

it's like maybe 1500 is it the marquee marquee okay the marquee oh wow your first show my first show was the marquee that's a lot of people dude for like a kid that's like playing in front of 20 people

like in his local band that's a lot of people and I am and it's just funny because this feeling this emotion it's happened in my career more than five times the same exact way of panic of can you do this art talking to myself like trying to psych myself out can you actually do this bro can you do this yeah you can do it yeah just having a conversation and

to go from buffalo to my house for one day to Andrew Glover's dad's living room with an acoustic guitar and my lap and then the chaos of of loading in on a drum kit that you've never seen before and like it's a backline kit everybody's sharing it I'm like yeah what hey can you use these drum triggers like what the hell is a drum trigger never used them okay yeah let's do that like the on the fly shit for my first show marquee we play the show best show i've ever played in my life to this day the best show i've ever played with the chaos and the panic it was the most electrifying set that i've ever played with any band at that moment in my life that's the moment i remember it and it was the best show that i ever played and i learned seven or eight songs in the course of a couple days

like one day on a real drum kit on a makeshift like I had a really shitty drum kit at the time of my mom's and to go on a shared kit and try and figure it out play the show it's it's a very I don't know what I'm doing I don't know what to expect I'm like did I do good you know and everybody's there and we're talking like some prime drummers are in that that on that tour and everybody comes up to me like man you crushed it like you did so good and uh it was the that was a very pivotal moment of like you know what i can i can work under pressure i can do this and i did it and play the rest of the the tour as like four or five shows up north or whatever and we're in a taco bell on a day off and and john and nick puno are like yo man we just you want to

just be in the band like yeah let's yeah let's do it man and and oh my god and i feel like i'm talking a lot but that's what a podcast is but then it's like fast forward not at then we pick up steam. Then it really picks up steam at that point. Like I'm talking, the record just came out. Now we're doing all these tours. My first tour was with Danzig, with the guys. I remember that.

Yeah. Wow. And we're opening and our tours with like a Vail of Maya opening with I wrestled a bear once and I've never met any of these people before. All those bands friends to this day and Danzig love Glenn.

Always been great. But this is a more, again, full circle. I feel like this podcast should be about the full circle episode or something because it's so like that. And I've never got to really talk about it like this, but that first

wins of plague tour properly as a member or whatever, it's when we got home, reset, whatever. We got a Danzig tour. We got this. I'm like, whoa, like this is like what really being in a band

is like, damn. It's like, they plan tours ahead of time? Sick. I don't know what I'm doing, man. You know, I'm so new to it. It's Danzig.

We're doing Danzig. Demi Borgier Winds of Plague, Moonspell, Skeleton Witch. Great tour Black is of the Black 2008.

That's my first Winds of Plague tour. And first time I've ever been in a dressing room on my own, like seeing the sign, and just these moments that you guys experienced

on your way up and you remember those moments, I imagine, to just see your band name on a door. Like, wow, that's my dressing room? Wow, I never had that. I was sharing it with like 15 bands,

usually, but. Yeah. Tommy Victor That's when I met Tommy Victor On that tour Did I know I was going to be in prong Years prior to that Or years later

You know what I mean? No, but it was just me being me Making friends with all those guys And that's how that happened Tommy knew me We toured on that That first Winds of Plague tour I didn't know that

Five, six years later I'd be in his band Or he'd ask me to like Do it and we could probably get into that later But like that's how it's always been with me. It's been get up, go, can you do this? Do you want to learn this?

Can you learn this? Can you do this? Are you able to do this? Okay, here you go. And that's, I mean, that's pretty much where it really started. And that's because of Mayhem Fest. It all, it's because of Mayhem Fest. Do you know what I mean?

Yeah. And then fast forward, you, because you join when it's a plague, they end up getting an offer to be on a following year of that scene festival. The same festival. What the fuck? Really? Like, I'm like, but I'm not thinking about this then. I'm young.

I'm stupid. I'm like, yeah, I don't, I'm not thinking about that. As we get older, I'm thinking about it. I'm like, that's unbelievable. So when's the play gets an offer to do Mayhem Fest, 2010? What was that like? What was it like? Not to mention that it's my favorite band of all time is playing, and that's the

Lamb of God. What are the odds of it being Lamb of God? Like on that tour? Was it? No, it was, yeah, it was corn, lamb of God, five-finger death punch, again, hate breed, Chimera, bro, we had tour with Chimera. Like, after that, man, there's, and then Mark, oh, there's so many stories. I mean, Mark Hunter just filled in for us on the last tour that we did for Randy.

Yeah, I saw that. Weird, there's always some weird, like, and we always circle back to Mayhem Fest. All the time. story. Phil, Mark from Chimera, the Lama God guys, the Slipknot guys, you guys, disturbed guys. Now we're doing a bunch of shows with Disturbed coming up. It's just like

it's always a weird coming back to that tour, man. And yeah, we get that offer of Mayhem Fest and I'm like, is this like really a real thing? Is this really happening right now? You know? And

that tour is really, that's when I met Lama God. And that goes again, back to where just being friends and trying to be cool and hang out. And that's when I met those guys for the first time. I think I rode with them for like half the tour. You serious? Yeah. Oh my goodness.

Just because we were just having a good time. Like, yeah, just ride with us. I'm like, yeah, I'm dying inside. I'm dying. It's like you hanging out with your idols, you know? But we come to that point where it becomes like our peers and it's special. Yeah. And I imagine your, my Lamb of God is your corn, right?

Yes. Straight up. And to be, yeah, come ride with this art. Like, yeah, okay. I'm dying. I'm inside. My band hates me like, oh, whatever, man. Wow.

It's just, but those were moments where you become brothers, man. You become friends and you get close and you just have good times and you make memories that you cherish, you know. But it's always been like that. It's always been a really weird. All right. Well, come back here. quick and remember this art don't forget this come back here art come back to this tour so and you your part is blowing their mind with magic always always magic man it's been a real thing and like it's like

recently i've been starting doing more magic but like it's like i stopped doing it because i was focusing more on drumming and music but some people don't a lot of people remember like wow yeah that's right you used to do magic it was like yeah but like it's cool to see the people that have no clue that I did that or I've been doing it since I was like 13 and I'm like yeah like I love magic and it's so fun man it's it brings people together it does it's you took the words literally out of my brain I was about to say it you're like no I'm gonna say it first yeah it's really it brings people together man you can be in the worst you can be in the very worst place in your life and somebody shows you a magic trick and for that one split second of happiness and excitement and

it's so special from from from all ages, man. It's the best, it is the best thing that's ever happened to me. And that was just, I saw it on TV once. And again,

like, I've always had that intuition of like, I think I want to do that. It's like, I think, wow, that's cool.

I'm going to do that. Just started doing that, going to the library. The library? Just going to the library, make just reading books and then. Unbelievable.

Going to Disneyland and going to the magic shop at Disneyland. Like, dude, silly, silly shit. Yeah, like just being interested in the art of magic.

And from becoming a member of the Magic Castle, like in Hollywood, as a kid. And, like, nobody's like, wait, they let kids be members. I'm like, yeah, underground type thing. Like, it's called it's a junior program. It's the whole thing. And it's just like magic has taken me to places, you know, of happiness and joy and friendships. And like you said and we said, it's like you just brings people together. It does, man.

And it's always a memorable thing. like oh yeah art the magic dude and like i'll take it you know it wasn't art the drummer it wasn't art the the blast beater it wasn't art the like amazing drum like you know it was art the magician and i was totally cool with it and it was just like that means that i had more friends and people that i can hang out with and talk to and that was fine with me you know but it kind of became who who you were and you didn't ignore it you like you leaned into it totally leaned into it um and i didn't But again, I didn't know what the hell it was doing. I was just like, yeah, I like magic.

And like, oh, you like magic? Cool. I'll show you magic. And then you begin to get that whole circle of like the entire tour at the end of a show. Everybody's hanging out. You're in a big circle and everybody's watching. And it's just, man, it's just, you know, a lot of those times, uh, it's just very special. You get to remember those times of making people happy and bringing people together.

And I think most of the stories that are always told, it's like I remember. It's like, oh, yeah, I remember you were showing magic at this venue or, oh, you were showing me magic and I was with this person. And, like, you gave him this card and they blah, blah, blah. It's, it's really special. It's really cool, man. But I'm still doing it, so I'm trying to do it more as much as I can. I still do the same shit. You should.

Oh, dude. I mean, you literally create, also create memories with people and their positive memories. Like, I remember what you have, you had the trick where you put the cards to one's hand and you slap it off. I remember where I was sitting. I was hammered. Yeah. But, you know, I had the card and you slapped the cards in my house. I was like, what the fuck?

But then it had the one card you had it. And it was the card you were thinking. Super. It blows your mind, dude. For that, but even for that second, you know, it's just that one second. You're like, wow, magic's fucking cool. And now it's become, it's crazy because such a mainstream thing now. You know, America's got talent and all these other talent shows.

And that's, I think it's great for the art. Yeah. I don't watch much of it because I kind of focus on the same things that I'm doing. and it's now you got people on YouTube it's like fully like giving you the secrets and I'm like ah it's kind of lame but I've always kept true to like trying to keep the secret of magic and the art of magic in my life

and it's got me through doors you know what I mean it's it's a tool you know but not knowing that it is a tool not like ooh I'm gonna do this because I mean nah it's just it's always been a very natural like because then somebody like a tour manager like hey art can you come show this person a magic trick? Yeah. Yeah, I'll be over there right now.

Come show a magic trick. And then that person remembers it and they'll keep going and it just completely, constantly adds up to more people and again, bringing people together. It's so cool, man. Who is that something that you started when you were 13? Yeah. We're kind of have like the snowball effect

that you now you're doing in front of like your favorite bands. Yeah. That is bizarre. It was crazy. I mean, it was, it came from just videos and magic set, Lance Burton magic set and my aunt and my dad bought me a magic set and like for Christmas one year and I used to just always set up the little stage like okay I'm gonna show a I'm gonna show a magic show now I just have been in front of the light

I think since at a young age and unknowingly I it it prepped me for like what the world of music came and being in the light and the pressure and performing young you know performing at a young age and that kind of helped me and the magic castle was like one of those places that helped you do that used to bring magicians in and lecture you and teach you how to like respond to people and like what tricks to show and help you do tricks and wow you'd meet other kids that that were doing it it was straight some hoggworth shit bro it was it was straight up some hoggworth shit and i'm still friends with a couple of dudes to this day from that period of time they may not be doing magic anymore more, but this guy Dennis, who's a good friend of mine, he's a metalhead.

Back then, he wasn't, but we grew up, we grew, and little did we know that we come back and circle back together and be like, yo, like, I'm Dennis, and we were members of the Magic Castle together, doing magic, and like, holy shit, I remember you. And he's like, yeah, I love, I love Lamb and God, I love metal, blah, blah, blah. I just hung out my other friend Pavon, who's a stage magician that got in with me that year. We were like kids, man. We didn't know what the hell we were doing. We just wanted to do magic.

And it's, I was just prepped at a young age to like perform. I was, I guess I was born to perform, you know, I just liked it. I just always had that in me. And I think it's just, uh, a blessing and a curse. You know what I mean? You, you create these like attention seeking just, you always want the attention. But like, yeah, as I got older, I realized, all right, how do I, how do I control this? And how do I use this?

Absolutely. You know what I mean? And with the attention of being in a band and this and this person, this, and like, oh, let me take a picture with you this. It's like, you tend to like really like, it's overwhelming, but like it's kind of messing you up. Not unknowingly, it's messing you up and you don't know it until you get older. Absolutely. Start to like think about it and have time to reflect of like, all right, well, I can't do it this way. I got to be cool this way. And I got to be a good person this way.

And it's, it's been great. It's been a really great journey, man. It's been really great. How old were you when you were going to the Magic Castle? That was like 14, 15 maps. That's young, man. Yeah, and so I just went. My dad took me one year back in the day when they used to let the public in.

So for those who are listening and watching, the Magic Castle was a very private magician society club in Hollywood, California. One of the most prestigious private clubs in the world. You've got to be invited by a member. And the process is really difficult. and I went one year when they let the public in and kids, because it's 21 and over, and my dad took me, got tickets through his job,

and I remember I was already interested in the art, and I'm like, there, we're watching a show, and I remember this guy's name's Alonzo, and he's doing a show 15 minutes or so, and I'm, like, talking to my dad, I'm like, I see what he's doing. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to, I'm like, I'm, like, confused. I'm like, I'm young. I'm like, yeah, like,

I see exactly what he's doing, whatever. He's like, you should tell him. So we walk out, and he's greeting everybody as you walk out the theater. And I talked to him, and was like, did you do this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this. And he's like, and he stares at me. He's like, how old are you?

I'm like, I'm like, 13. I was like, might have been 14. And he's like, you need to come with me right now. I got to introduce you to somebody. Introduces me to the general manager, Michael Gringis, rest in peace. He pulls me in his office. And he's like, Arthur, we have a very special place. here called the junior program and we want to we want to welcome you to try out and be a member of this

junior program of the magic castle and it it teaches you the art and it keeps the art alive and it starts you at a young age so that way it's it's deep-cut magician society stuff and it's really incredible and i tried out like a couple months later got in got a letter and we had meetings on the last saturday of every month and i got to meet magicians and comedians and performers and kids of like-minded interests like me, access to the library, and literally that place is what molded me to be a performer.

Like, I wasn't playing drums yet. I wasn't in a band. I wasn't doing drumming. I was doing magic. Wow. I took that with me and fell in love with drums, and it kind of just became one of a performance. And maybe one day I'll have a performance in Vegas

or somewhere where I'm doing drumming. and magic, you know, that's the vibe, you know? You never know, man. So if anybody's trying to invest in that situation, we can figure that out, you know. But I think it's, it's been cool, man. It's been really cool to take those skills and apply them to get where I'm at now. And but, yeah, it's pretty crazy. Magic.

Magic, dude, it's crazy. So you got accepted in the Magic Castle. Yeah. when you were 14, I assume that's, because you got in, you joined the, like, the marching band in high school. Yes. So that's what, that's what, sophomore year or junior year? Junior year. Okay, so.

Really late. So, like, I, so the following year, now you're playing drums? Yeah, I've always been interested in drums. You know when you have that interest, but you don't really have the resources to apply said interest. Of course. I've always been interested in drums and with our culture, a Mexican, you know. I grew up, I'm a Chicano dude, and my dad and my mom listened to great bands of their era, Santana, Tower Power, Earth Win and Fire,

and all the Chicano bands from East LA, like El Chicano and Malo and all these groups that were very drum-oriented, percussion-backed bands, you know? And the song was called Jingo by Santana. And drum, huge drum intro, it sounds like a damn tribal shit, which is what got me into Sepultura later. Like, I was like, oh, that sounds like Santana, but not knowing, you know what I mean? But percussion and the sounds of drums and thunderous drum sounds is what got me into, like, what is that noise, what is that?

And then asking like my mom and dad what that is and telling me what it is. and my uncle Steve was in a band playing saxophone once. Or not once. He still does it, but I was a kid. So I'd always like be, see his band. And I'd be like, wow, those are drums. Okay, I see what drums are. Like, wow, that's cool.

Look at all that cool stuff. You know, like, look at all these cool stands and these cool knick-knack parts. And, wow, there's so much stuff. It just looks cool. Yeah. They do. You have so much shit. It's just like, yeah, look at all this cool stuff.

Yeah. So, I mean, I'm listening to Santana. like interested but it didn't really it didn't really get me it didn't drag me in until like high school when I had that opportunity was my band director I'm still friends with to this day's his name's frank you know host and he was my band director and I was just a clown you know I was again when you become a young age you have attention and you start to do all this magic you make friends and you start to be like the class clown and you're like yeah you know you're the jokester you're the hangout guy yeah wasn't really good at school didn't really pay attention very much

I just had a hard time. I was too busy trying to like entertain people. You know what I mean? And I'm in, I have piano as an elective and he teaches a piano class. So I'm sitting here. We got digital pianos at this point. Later, little casios. I'm like, I'm changing the settings to drums.

Like, yeah, and I'm just like, class clown kid. You know, I'm like, you know, everybody look at me, you know. Start playing drums with the drum sounds. And he's like, you know, I would do it every class at a, at a, at a specific moment. So one day he comes out to me after the class. He's like, why don't you come join the high school band, the drumline?

Or come watch the drumline. And you should just join the drumline and I'll give you a grade. I'm like, yeah, whatever, eh? I'm like in my mid, like, wannabe be cholo phase. Of course. Whatever, you know. All right, cool.

Yeah, dog, I'll come by. I come by, bro, and I see a drumline rehearsal. And I'm, it reset me to that Santana like listening to Santana, that thunderous sound. I'm like the sound of one band, one drumline, thunder. And I'm like, trying to be cool. Like, yeah, this is kind of cool, you know. But wow, this is actually really cool.

He's like, you should come by tomorrow and like, just play. And I think I just had this, dude, I'm very lucky to have a natural instinct of rhythm and drums. And I started playing. And he's like, yeah, you should be in the drum. drum line. I was like, really? He's like, yeah. That's when I got like my first drum set. My mom and my dad took me seriously. Like I was going to school and learning how to play drums. And I just had hands, man. It was before my feet came, I had hands, you know? And it was just a rhythm of always listening to this music thanks to my parents and my family that was music that was inspiring me. And I joined the

drumline and I'm talking, bro. I'm talking. I was the summer of my, so summer of my sophomore year. So after my sophomore year, they do band camp during the summer. And we're just a marching band. So we, I go to band camp, I go to summer school, I'm learning. And I'm learning how to march. I'm learning how to hold my sticks properly. All this stuff. And it just happened naturally.

And I didn't have to go in drum core and drum line. You have to make your way up. You start from like symbols. Then you go to bass drum and then you maybe go to second bass drum. Then you'll go to snare. And then you go to the tenors, the quads. I immediately was on the quads. Really?

Instantly. Instantly on the quads. I just had it. He saw it in me and I think he had it. He hasn't told me this, but I think he saw something in me even in piano. I don't know if it was just me or my character or who I was and or the, I don't know what it was, but he saw something in me and he pulled me out of the bullshit of trying to be some clown hanging out with bad people. I'll give you a grade here.

it'll help you get better grades because you'll get you'll get an A because you're really good and like all right I joined the band I'm crushing it at this point it just happened like snapping my fingers under pressure can you play this yeah I'll play this don't know how to read music can you learn this yeah I'll learn this I just had that like yeah I'll just learn it I can't anybody else just learn it isn't that how it works apparently not and I'm just like I'm doing it I'm playing everything and I ended up becoming the percussionist of the year, kind of like the MVP of the band. Wow. For the drum line. Two years in a row. Not bragging, but I did it the following year as well. That's what's up.

And I wrote, I ended up writing music and writing cadences and starting my first band in Thrall from South Amani and doing all this stuff. And it was drumline. It was the unity of a band, of high school band, and learning how to play with others music.

That trained me to like, yeah, I can do this. I can start a band. I started a band and got my job at Sam Ash, met you guys. Here we are. It's crazy, bro. Meet us. You go on tour.

Now you realize you could go on tour. Then you join Winds of Plague. Yeah. And then now when was, when did the overlap? If there was an overlap. Yeah. With the, when's a plague and prong? So at this point, as a musician, we all, I think this happens to most of us where we have this moment in time.

Like, am I going to do I still want to do this? You know. Of course. What else do I want to do? Maybe, you know. It's kind of like a premature midlife crisis that's not really, you're like, you're still in your 20s and it's not like, what are you talking about? But you're having these moments, you're like, do I want to do this? It happens.

You know what I mean? It creeps in, dude. And I think it was just, it happened. And it happened in 2012 when I left Winds of Plague. And I had great years with Winds of Plague and I learned a lot. You learn. You learn every, as we get older, you learn your lessons, you do everything. You learn how to do things.

you become just a bigger person of skill and qualities and things of your character, everything. You just learn so much. So I'm like, I had it with the time with them and it was great. I was just done with it. I just couldn't do it anymore. And I had that moment of like, I think I'm done with music. I think I'm, I think, or I'm going to take a break or whatever. And that's when I, again, another full circle moment of meeting Chris Fulchertz, who owns,

and founded G-Pen. Oh, yeah, Chris. Worked at Samarian Records office. He was in a closet. This was like 2009 or something before he was what he is now. Yeah. And I think this was after Jerry was managing us, Ash and like Sean Keith were managing us. And I'd go to the office and I'd meet Chris and became friends.

And it was one New Year's Eve, he like, it was right when I was just about getting over being in Winds of Plague. And we spent a New Year's Eve at Asch's house. And he's like, yo man, like, you smoke weed? I'm like, yeah, I smoke weed, you know. He's like, hit this. And like the first ever G-Pen that ever existed, like electronic, vape, cigarette, whatever you wanted to call it nowadays. It was the first of its kind. Did not exist.

And he's like, hit this. I'm like, what is it? And he's like, yeah, you just suck. You just push the button. You suck on it. You're smoking weed. I'm like, word, all right. Cool.

Got super high. It was the first time it was like extracts and weed extracts and all this. It was a turn of a century at that moment. Like, whoa, like things are going to get real. And he started that company like the year after. And we reconnected when I left Winds of Plague at the California Metal Fest in, man, I can't remember what city. But I was at this point, I saw him. And I saw all these people that I had met on Mayhem Fest working for G-Pen.

Whoa. Timmy Pete, Timmy, like a partner in the company, was working for, he was running a tent on that tour that we did or something. And then there was Trey Malone who was working for a magazine cover,

like a revolver or a label selling. They were all just working on Mahem Fest. And now they're at GPN. I'm like, wait, what? I'm confused. Really? So like, he's like, yeah, all these people are working for us.

We've got all the metal guys. I'm like, clearly you do. So I'm like, all right, well, you know what? I'm going to move out. I move to Hollywood and I get a job at G-Pen. And I do it for a year. And I'm there. I'm like having a great time.

I cut my hair off. Like, I was going through this moment. I remember that. I was going through a moment, man. I cut his hair. What the fuck, man? Yeah. I was like, yeah, I'm, I don't know if I want to play drums anymore or whatever.

I'm having a great time, you know? We're doing really life, crazy changing, like, life-changing things for the industry of marijuana and all this crazy stuff and it back then it's super low key you can't really talk about it it's like weird but and then i'm there and i'm having a great time and then i get that itch as it happens if you have this passion in music you get it and i'm like i want to play again because you know why this is going to blow your mind i don't know if you know this story gpen is like we want to start sponsoring events we want to start sending a team on music tours what music fucking tour do they send me on. Of course. The fucking

Mayhem Fest. Of course. Again, as this point, I'm an ambassador. I'm representing the brand. I'm like, my hair is short. I'm like, yeah, I'll go on Mayhem Fest. I know everybody that runs it. And that's why they sent me on it. You've done it. You've done it multiple times. I'm like, cool, all right.

So I go on Mayhem Fest again as a sponsor now. I've been on Mayhem as a tech. I've been on mayhem as a band member. I've been on Mayhem as a sponsor, a crew member, whatever. And I'm on that tour and I'm seeing all these bands and I'm getting that itch. I'm like, what am I doing?

I'm supposed to be out here right now. And I'm sitting on the sidelines. What am I doing? Get back from the tour. I think I spent two more months and I quit. Not knowing what I'm going to do. I'm just like, I need to get in a band or I need to do something. In that moment, that two-month gap, I get a call from Mike Gitter.

Oh, my goodness. And Scott Cohen, rest in peace, who were managing prong at the time. And they're like, hey, man, like, we, we heard you're, like, kind of available. Do you, would you be interested in driving and doing merch for prong on a tour? I'm like, again, I have no ego at this point. I just want to get back into it. I'm like, yes, I will drive.

How much? Doesn't matter. I will drive. Like, I will figure out how much will pay you. Like, cool. I'll drive and I'll do merch for prong. no problem because i know tommy and tommy's always been good since that danzig tour we do it with winds of plague and i'm there and i'm like yeah fuck it why not dude i want to get my feet wet get back in the

door so i go from all of this this this grindry and this the success of winds of plague and the hype to working at gpenn to going back to the bottom you know what i mean back to the but i'm not like slum and i'm like oh man i'm bummed i'm bummed i'm not i was so stoked to be there i was so stoked to be on that tour again, to be on a tour again in a part of a group. And lo and behold, middle of the tour, shit goes down, shit hits the fence,

the drummer and him, they're not getting along. Dude, he sends him home. Whoa. Middle of the tour. Again, under pressure art, under pressure. I'm like, yo, I can play the songs. And Tommy's like, yeah, you're going to have to play it. What's the first show the next day,

after he goes home first show is the first ever not fest the first one in iowa and minneapolis that's my first show we rehearse at a guitar center we drive and we rehearse at a guitar center uh rehearsal spot didn't know this existed apparently to do on the other side of the country and i play a show with prong my first show with prong is at not fest randy blythe's first show back after he gets out of prison in check Republic. And he comes and sings London Dungeon with us, the Misfits cover. And then I see the Lamb of God guys and we reconnect at that moment. We're sitting. We're having lunch. We're hanging out all day, whatever. Very special day. Another one of those very pivotal, like, full circle moments of like Tommy believed in me from because of a relationship that we had from the Winds of Plague Danzig

tour. Reconnected from the Mayhem Fest in 2010 with Lamb because they're playing Not Fest. And we're all there. We're having a good time. We're reconnecting. And at that point, I'm in prong. Immediately. We start to write a record. I do three albums with them. Fast forward. I'm in Lamb of God now. So, I mean, that's how it happened, bro.

That's exactly how it happened. Mayhem Fest. Again, swear. Yeah. All I need to happen right now, all I need to happen is Mayhem Fest to come back and Lamb God is going to headline it. That's what I need to happen. Yep, that's gonna happen. And then that's what's what I need to happen. You just said it in existence.

Dude, I put it out there. John Reese. Yeah. Come back, baby. Come back. It's, it's, but it's like, man, it's fucked up, you know, but it's a very heartwarming, inspiring thing. And it just, I have to always reset. Sometimes as human beings, we have to reset the button.

You do? Go back to the ground and not forget, not forget. where you came from and lessons learned, everything, and you've got to go back and fix things and just reset and get your mind right and figure it out. So that's what all these moments of my career have always been. It's always been a reset button of just, okay, just before you start getting, you know, oh, all right, come back, come back down, come back down, come back down. And, you know.

I feel you, man. But that's, yeah, that's how the prong thing happened. Just like getting thrown into it with wins of plague. Just like getting thrown into it with teching with you guys. Just like getting thrown into it like that. So it sounds, you guys pumped out three records pretty quickly. With prong?

Yeah, like it was like back to back to back. Yeah, he was on a tangent and just, I want to put out new music. Let's go, let's go, let's go,

we did a cover album. We recorded in Hamburg. That was special. In Germany? Really? Yeah. And we, and what we did is like,

with all of these moments, I learned so many different things from these different types of characters and these different types of bands and these styles of music and metal and, you know, to go from you guys to playing in a deathcore band to playing in a classic, like, legendary hardcore thrash band prong. Like, you learn a lot and I learned a lot to be with Tommy and I give him so much thanks too, man. That guy taught me so much.

Like, he came from the trenches too and he has his life and came from New York City. And I think he just moved back to New York, which is awesome for him. and it's just a very kind of crazy surreal thing the way that it works like that. But that's how that happened in that situation. It was kind of weird. Wow. Yeah. So now for a few big moments in your life, we now reach there.

So when does it come up that you're at least going to fill in for Lamb and God? Yeah. I moved to Toronto. At this point, I'm still in Toronto. You moved to Toronto? I forgot about that. Yeah. With my ex-girlfriend, I'm there in Toronto, and I'm like, yeah, wow.

I'm like, again, even like my life moves, the way that I make these decisions, it's like, it's not a fuck-it thing. It's more of like, I think I should just be doing this right now. I think this is what feels right. My intuition of just having that. And that's what I did. I just moved to Toronto. And I never really legitimately moved there. I was so busy on tour.

all the time with prong and doing this and that and so i never really fully had a time to settle but i was there for like a year and a half and it was great and i learned a lot up there so i'm there and the first this is 2018 and the first leg of the first however many slayer farewell tours are happening and they have a date in toronto and i'm living in toronto i'm like wow i haven't seen the lamb of god guys in a long time i should probably go out and see them right so i I go out. I go, we go to the show and we're there and I, I, I reminisce and we're having a good time. Like, oh, my God, like, it's so good to see you, whatever. And, like, I'm just like, this is so cool that I got to see these guys again. Like, wow, this is so special. Did I realize that a couple months later I would be reached out to? No. Like, hey, you know what, man?

Like, what are you doing for the next few months? John Campbell calls me. He's like, what are you doing for the next few months? And I'm like, I think I got a couple prong dates. nothing nothing really in stone you know and he's like uh would you be interested in helping us and like filling in for us uh for chris i'm like i'm sitting in the house in around i'm like i'm looking at my girl at the time i'm like uh let me call you back i'll call you right back i'll call you right back i'm like yo uh we had just hang out with them you know i was like yo uh john just call me he's like asking me if i want to fill in just like what Play drums? Like, yeah.

She's like, but like for Lamb and God, I'm like, yeah. She's like, so what are you doing? I was like, you should do it. I was like, yeah, I think that's my first instinct. I'm like, what do you think? I should be doing this, right? Like, this is what I'm doing? Yeah, I'm like, all right.

Okay, then I'm doing it. And call them back. I'm like, I'm in. No information. I'm just like, yeah, I'm in. Don't know when it is. I don't know when the dates are. I don't.

And again, this is probably a bad. representation of how I didn't handle it right like I handled it right with prong but I didn't think about that at that moment but in these moments you cannot and I will say that with with the positive big heart that I have

that I'd you have to just decide end that moment like yo there's like three prong shows in Europe or something it's not for a while not for a couple months I can figure this out I'm taking this gig like I have to

I have to take this gig. I'm not missing this opportunity. This is my favorite metal band of all time. These are one of my best friends over the years. I'm doing this without thinking. But I thought about that after the fact, after I said yes, I hung up. I'm like, oh, fuck, I got to figure out what the fuck I'm going to do with prong.

What am I going to do? So I'm thinking, I'm like, okay, I got to just, I got to be honest here. I got to be real. I'm not a hired gun, you know, in prong. I'm not in this point of, I don't have a lot to like, I'm a touring guy, you know, I get paid a tour. Pretty much my entire career for the most part. So I'm like, yo, okay, I just going to be honest with them.

I got to be honest with them. I got to be honest. I'm like, hey, you know, this gig, I call Tommy. And I go, hey, you know, I can help you. I just want to let you know that I got an opportunity that I really believe is going to be good for me in my career. I really want to take this tour with the Lamb of God on the Slayer tour. It didn't go that smooth as anybody in their, if you got a band and you have, a couple months, but it was a couple months. And it was rough at the beginning,

but thankfully we were able to find somebody to play. I wasn't going to be like, I'm out, you know? Yeah. It was very, in my opinion, very fluid. And we were just like, you know, it worked out for what it is. And Prong is still kicking ass right now. And it's great. So I thank him.

I thank Tommy for allowing me to do that and being cool. and it was a special time. So I'm there. I'm in Toronto and I have, I think at this point I have like three weeks, maybe three weeks. Sounds like a long time. Hell no.

I learned like 10 songs and like four more for a headlining set for the off days. Yep. So I'm in my ex-girl's mother's house in Toronto in her basement and everybody's on deck. And my Toronto family, We're all still great. We're all still great friends.

My Toronto family is beautiful. And they all went up to bat for me and got me a kit. I didn't have any drums at that point. I had like an electronic kit. I was like just got there kind of thing. And it was a whole. Really? So they're scrambling.

We're getting drums. We're going to like backline companies and this. And the band's helping out, lamb's helping out, cover some costs. And I'm in a basement in northern Ontario, like above Toronto, like about an hour, Canada. Learning Lamb of God songs. And bro, this is for the first time.

in my entire career of just being thrown into shit, I am in my head more than anything. And I can't do it. I'm sitting there and playing and I'm like, I can't do this. Like I literally, why I hear it? I know the songs. I know how to play it. Why can't I play it? I can't execute the songs.

I literally go a week trying and I cannot do it and I'm freaking the fuck out. So I'm like, okay, let me just figure out what the fuck I'm going to do. And everything was in my head. I'm like, the neighbors are going to get, they're going to get mad. Literally, I was making excuses for everything. The neighbors are going to think I'm playing too loud. No. So finally, we get an electronic drum kit and I'm there.

And now I have that out of my mind. I got my headphones in and I start jamming and I'm like, fuck yeah. And I'm ripping it now because I'm hitting hard and nobody can hear me. It was the self-conscious side of me. And it messed me up for the first week. the last two weeks I did well. I said, you know what, I can do this shit. Went to Richmond.

Met the guys at the practice space that I used to watch on the sacrament and the sacrament DVDs and that space in Richmond. And I'm freaking out. I'm like, oh my God, what is this? But I know these guys.

It's my boys, you know? It's just different, though. It's a different situation. I'm in. We rehearsed one time, one time through the set, the Slayer set. and Mark and Mark and Willie and John and no Randy but they're like

yeah we're gonna be fine I'm like you don't want to do it again like nope see you at the first show I'm like I'm still losing my shit I'm like okay what the fuck

so first show's in in Bangor Maine and I'm dying man I'm dying inside you know and Slayer

Lamb, Testament, anthrax, like, what is happening? You know, what is happening? And I remember announcing that on my social media that on the day, the day of, like, I'm, I let the band announce it first and then I did it. And it was the most interactions and most support that I've ever gotten in my entire career. And it was very special to see it. And everybody was just, and I was just filling in. This wasn't a thing. I was just filling in.

It was just, it's never happened, though. Chris has never missed a tour. So it was really different, a special time to do it. And this band, my favorite band of all time, I'm playing for them and do the tour. And we just keep going. And I think that we just felt that it was just there. I just, we had a thing going. It was great.

And now I'm in the band. And it's just, it's a very. surreal thing, you know what I mean? And it's just kind of crazy. Was there any thought or feeling like, I mean, this might go more than me just feeling in. There was a moment. There was a moment.

And you think Chris, you know, Chris had my back on it. He was like, yeah, if there's anybody that's going to fill in, it would be me, you know, art and that was cool. I never knew that it would get to this point. I think when you have time away from people at times, you tend to like really, you just kind of, maybe it just, for both parties, you know, like, both people, I think it just kind of, it blooms a whole. You know what? Like, yeah, maybe, maybe this was, maybe I need to be away or something. I can't speak for any one of them.

You know what I mean? But it, just to be the guy and have that, uh, um, you know, that. approval from both sides in a weird way it's something that I'll take with me for the rest of my life and understand that everybody was I was the guy it was nobody else it was never anybody else and I remember when John called me fucking asshole he's a I love that guy that's my best friends but he's

like hey man you know nobody else was answering their phone so we figured we'd call you but I know I was the guy And it wasn't just the skills. I think it was, I'm kind of reversing real quick back to that 2010 mayhem. Chris had to leave on an emergency. His wife was getting back surgery and he pulled me aside. And I skipped this story, but this is actually maybe the moment to talk about it.

But he pulled me aside in 2010 and he said, I have to fly home for an emergency and I got to travel back on a show day. There's a chance that I might not make it. Things happen. We fly. Cancellations, blah, blah, delays. do you think you can play the Lamb of God songs? And back then,

I'm what, 22? Different me. I'm a kid. I'm like, what the fuck? I'm like, but I still had that intuition, bro. I'm like, yeah, I can do it. Fuck no, I couldn't do it.

I'm telling you right now, I could play like maybe three or four songs. The whole set, fuck no. I would have crashed and burn. Straight up. But so they had this idea as a band back in 2010,

like, yeah, we should let him up and he can play a song. each day for a couple days to kind of get the feel so I would go up there and I would play like late to rest or whatever and we'd go and I would just play a couple songs and and it turned out to be like really fun and I felt comfortable I'm like yeah I can do this still didn't know all the other songs I could barely like I would have gotten through but I probably wouldn't have I wasn't confident you know below me whole that show day came up though he wasn't there yet and like fucking sweating and panicking I and I have to play my winds of plague set out in the in the parking lot I'm like all right

I'm in the trailer trying to listen to music. I'm like, oh, my God. I need some water. Yeah. It's like, I'm like, man, what is happening? All right, cool. We're talking like 4 o'clock, 5 o'clock comes around and Chris shows up. I'm like, oh, my God, thank you, God.

I have a blast. I think I partied really hard that night because I was just out of relief. And I was like, oh, my God. And I think universally, the universe was talking to all of us at that moment. And I think later in time, eight years later, we didn't know. But I think that was a time that everybody was like, art can be the guy. Like in a pinch or something. Like, art, you know, guitar players come, you know, they always have guitar players that can learn music and shit.

But something about drums can be a little bit trickier. Yeah, it's true. With a sound like Chris Adler's sound, it's really special. And I feel in my heart that that 2010 Mayhem guest appearance, if you will, I feel like that might have been my tryout unknowingly I just have that feeling in my heart that maybe that was a moment

that they remembered when they needed to find somebody to cover or fill in like hey remember when art I don't know I've never I've never dissected it I've never bothered to like talk to any of the guys about it

but I kind of like that mystique of it yeah I really do and I like to stay away from like hey what did you guys think or how did you guys think or how did you how did i come up now i kind of really as a as a person i'm like i think i like where it's at i i feel good about it and to have chris's blessing and everybody else's and to for it to become real uh it's special and now i mean what's today tuesday yep i'm moving to richmond

virginia on thursday you're making the move man the east coast richmond virginia never i mean i've been in toronto yet but this this time is different in my career. It's for my career. It's for my future. And it's for myself as a person and my mental health and everything in between. I love L.A. to live and die, I tell you what, I will be back. But I think at this point in life, I need to be with the guys.

And I think we're going to create something very special because of it. Yeah. And when we meet up on our tour, I'll be able to. Richmond I'll be living in Richmond and we get to play shows together and I can't even wait. Unbelievable. It's so crazy how life would just take you and it seems like you had like this natural feeling. You just let life take you where it needed to take you. Yeah. Unreal man. Very unreal. I'm very blessed and I'm very thankful for it. But like man, but like it's just the amount of full circle experiences for it to come back to me and you and suicide silence is what is it's

very special you know our our records coming out my second record with the band um which is one of the first albums that i feel like i really the guys the first self-title one we did great it was great man we wrote some great songs but i was still learning their vibe you know i'm of course you know i don't you know i was green to that level of like this guy's been doing it for like 28 29 years. I'm like almost 30 years and I'm like I'm the new guy young kids coming in you know like yeah you have to go through the through the trenches in every which way and that first album was a was a very secure safe way for all of us to just all right let's here's the tunes let's figure it out learn how we work and this this this one that's coming out man omens is they really let me

spread my wings and they really let me like play me. Let me be me. And I'm always inspired by Lamb and Lamb is a signature sound. Lamb of God to me is that sound as a unit. It's a unit. It's not one individual. It's Randy. It's Mark. It's Willie. It's John. It's Chris. That's to me what Lamb of God was. So I'm not far off from that. That's what inspired me to be listening to metal and shit. You know what I mean? It's my favorite band of all time. So to take that inspiration and then become my own person, my own player, from Winds of Plague to Azusa to my first band in Thraw, to prong, to finally come to this point. And this is the album. It's all of those bands.

It's all of those struggles, all of those trenches, all of those challenges, all those tours. it's what this is the album that I was able to really I learned it's like I I I the process of the last album and then the last Lama God album it that is all the what built me to be to this omens album like for real and it's just we're just getting started man we are so just getting started you are and I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm ready and I'm mentally in a better place to do that and I'm ready to do it and the band is, they're my brothers and just like you are changes happen in bands.

It happens and luckily we've created this new it's just a crazy wave coming man it feels so good like the music that we're putting out is the best it's all

of our challenges. It's all of our challenges from member changes and this and that. It's like, and I feel like this tour coming up with you guys on it is another reset button for you guys. It's going to be, it's going to be that reset button of we're okay. We are okay. And your guys's challenges have been up and beyond more than some of your average people. And I'm, fuck, I miss Mitch, you miss Mitch. We all miss Mitch. But you guys. guys, he would have wanted you to continue and do this. Like, you know what I mean? And now we, yeah, Alex's not in the band anymore, but like, bro, the music is great.

You have Ernie, an incredible drummer kicking ass out to you on tour with you guys right now. It's like, this is, we're just, it's just a new chapter in life, man. And it's so beautiful to be a part of that with you and you be a part of my next chapter because that's what we're doing. We're doing it together. We are. And we started, we started together and we're doing it again. I'm going to remember these moments, man, for the rest of my life. It's unbelievable.

It's fucking unbelievable. Well, Art, I'm here to remind you that you are playing drums are one of the biggest middle bands on the planet. Remember, correct, correct, I remember wrong, but I remember you went to a show at the Wiltern, just a spot. Members. Can you think of back at that and now where you're at now? That's a pivotal moment. I was still, I mean, I wasn't even working with you guys. Yeah, I was barely in my first band, and I was in high school.

I'm at the will turn. We go early, me and my buddy Josh, love that guy, who's in my first band, and I waited in line for like six hours. Something stupid. Some stupid, like, really, like, I'm like, but it's like, I get it, though. Like, when I see people in line like that early, like, some people are like, oh, what are these guys doing? Like, I was one of those kids.

I was one of those dudes just to get a glimpse. And at this point, I wanted to get a glimpse. I wanted to meet Chris Adler. I wanted to meet Willie. I wanted to meet Ryan. I wanted to see somebody like in the flesh. Like the internet was not as big as it was. It wasn't you couldn't just, you know what I mean?

I had the DVDs. I lived through like the Kiladelphia DVD and it was just like, you have this moment of you know everybody. And it's all the same crew. And I'm there. I'm in line. I'm looking back behind the barricade. I'm like, look, and trying to get a glimpse of somebody. And I'm there.

and I even see like Jerry, not Jerry, Larry, Larry, Larry, Larry, who's a guitar tech for Lamb. He was the guitar tech in the Philadelphia DVD. Oh, yeah, yeah. And I remember him walking down. And that's the kind of kid I was, though. I was excited to see a tech from the DVD, like, whoa, that's the guitar tech from the DVD. Like, whoa. Yeah.

It strikes you, it hits you in a place. your heart like whoa that's so cool and uh quick jab larry club ended up being prongs guitar tech later in time when i was in the band weird cool full circle uh but i'm there i'm sitting there it's like 16 years old and i'm and chris walks down from the steps and i'm like holy shit that's chris and it's chris and willie willie smoking a cigarette chris smoking a cigarette and i'm like oh my god like can i take a picture and he's like yeah i'm like signs of my ticket i still I'll have my ticket, he signs it, takes a picture with me. And you'll probably pop this picture up at some point.

I'll send it to you. Please. This picture of me and Chris. And I'm just, it's a moment that I won't forget. And it's, that's where it gave me that extra drive, man. Like, yeah, I could do this. Like, I want to do this. And that was my first time ever seeing Lamb.

It was Lamb of God, Machine Head, Trivium, Gojira's first tour. Wow, dude. Holy shit. Yep. And the metal tour of the year that we just did had trivia on it. Trust me, they knew the story. And that was the first time I'd seen them. They were young.

Matt Heafie, loved that guy. Sent me a big shout out on one of our shows and, like, made out an old, because they had to play a longer set. And he played an old song of that era for me. Wow. And made it out to me. And he's like, told the story real quick. And it was just like, man, like, very lucky. you know what I mean and um Phil was there with us at the time and like machine head was on that same show

it's just you know what I mean it's a lot man it's a lot to really take in sometimes and it's kind of a weird I'm like how does that happen like that though you know but it's it happens by just being cool and making friends and not being an asshole you know what I mean very hard and and it's difficult bro it's it's difficult because you get there's so much the life on tour is just like so crazy and like distractions everywhere and you just have to like remind yourself like don't be an asshole don't be a fucking asshole you know what I mean and um that's that's kind of like where that moment came that was a big moment that was a huge moment like uh and then I ended up yeah like Wiltern like changing my life at that moment I try to go to shows all the time when I could and

man yeah uh it's crazy to be in this band you're in the band and now you're in the band and now you're fucking movie to Virginia. You're going to lead the Dodgers. Yeah, I'm going to leave, how dare you? How dare you? I'm going to leave them not I'll believe him in spirit. I'm going to be an everyday

Richmond Squirrels minor league goer because that's where they have they have the squirrels there. Oh really? Yeah, and you know about the squirrels? Yeah, what are the odds though? It's the Giants affiliate, of course. My ultimate enemy, the Giants. I thought I thought your enemy would be the Angels, which

my shit. Yeah. Good thing they're not my enemy as they are but not as much as I hate the Giants so. Oh my goodness. Brad my manager is a big, he's from Northern California. He's a giant fan. Is he? We get into it a lot. You tell. Okay. I want to have What are you doing right now? I want to have a quick competition and lose your pace for lunch. Okay.

So okay. I get the pick, I pick one ready. So you get to pick the best Dodger play of all time and I'm going to play the best angel play of all time and whichever play we all agree on is the sickest they win and loser pays for lunch all right okay so so so so so when you see mine you get to think what you're going to come up with okay all right so so start so start from the this is jim edmunds center filter this is 1997 prime angels all right the with the Disneyland with the Disneyland outfit yeah it's cool all right do it is going.

Oh, fuck. I remember that. Is that the best catch of all time? It's one of the best catches of all time. Jim Edwins was sick, man. 97, Jim Mambins, dude. Wow. Damn.

What a legend. Yeah. Wow, all right. Walking and running light like nothing. Like nothing. Respect. Look at this catch, bro. How did it?

He was looking at the ball the whole time. Oh, my. Oh, my God, dude. How do you fuck? fucking do that. Disney, the Disney magic, bro.

Those are the Disney wings. Now, I'm going to Disneyland, right when I get home. Oh my God. That's funny. That's a great one. So does it have to be in our era?

Or can it be of all time? No, it could be of all time. The all-time greatest Dodger, Dodger moment. I have two. I'm not going to cap it off. But the one is the Kirk Gibson, 1988,

walk-off home run. 98? Yeah. Or actually, I don't think it was a walkoff. No, 88, 88. Wow, so you go back with the Dodgers. I was born in 88, so I have, I have, I'm technically out of the womb. I was a Dodger fan.

I got lucky. That was the last year before the COVID year that they won the World Series was the year that I was born. Are you serious? I was like six months old. But my family's been Dodger fans. I'm obviously a huge baseball nut, you know that. Got tons of good friends in the league now. but like

yeah specifically your moments probably no my moment's better but it's because yours was our era okay your your clip is from our era though so that's kind of special it is the special moment for me it would be when they won the World Series but that was like you know it's just you know but it was more of um that

Kurt Gibson Let's see what happens here The Kurt Gibson Home Run Against the A's Yeah, just put Yeah, Kurt Gibson home run It's 88

Home run 80 And put Vin Scully That's the Dodger announcer Vin Scully, yeah Home run, Vin Scully Yeah, that one, that first one Right there Oh, here we go

Boom, we're going Yeah Add it up I gotta get the premium YouTube I don't have it I just had it I just cancelled it Is it good can you notice a difference? It's just no ads, right? Wow okay And when I stop it I'm I was spoiled and this dude's injured He's been injured all week, but back then you didn't you can come back okay and this one their best players

But he's injured he's got like a bad hip and he's like he's all messed up holy shit Wow and he can't even run he can't even he can't run game over Look at this shit. And he does the pump because he can't... Dude. I think that was a high note. But the question is, that might be tired, man. Yeah.

That was a big... Mine was quick, but that was a big build. Yeah, it was a big build. I think I would say, because of the era and the catch, I'll give you that one. Really? Mine had more build-up. But that was one of the best catches of all time. I don't know the game.

situation. This was like more of the whole game situation is a bigger moment in my opinion, but I liked that. It was in your era. And I'll just give it to you, man. I love you. I love you. Appreciate that. Art Cruz love you.

Love you, man. So where can people find you, man? Yeah, Instagram. I'm only on Instagram, really. I don't use my Twitter. I don't use Facebook. I don't use anything else. So I'm just on Instagram actively The Art Cruise, T-H-E-R-T-C-R-U-Z. obviously follow the Lamb of God

Of course New record out October 7th New song just rock Excited New song just rock Nevermore Oh shit

And we were about to go on tour together To support that record Show Wait wait What are these pictures What is these ones What are those dude That was

What the fuck's going on there? I was having a moment I was like Oh my God I think we hadn't hung out in many years. I didn't see you. This is at your show at the House of Blues. That's me not giving consent.

And then that's me, I'm like, I like it. I love it. I love it. I love it, bro. All right, let's see this tour dates. Oh my God. The Omen's Tour. Dude, this is insane. Lama God is headlining amphitheaters.

Yeah. That's insane, dude. It's great. Holy fuck, dude. Great lineup. You guys are on the whole first half of it. It's going to be. I love that.

we're starting it together, bro. Like first show, suicide, fucking dropping in. What are you gonna open with? Unanswered? You have to. You have to. I just want to hear that intro and that snare drop,

and then I'm like, all right, show started. Perfect band to open this motherfucker up. Dude, perfect band to do it. I'm so excited. You guys, Killswitch Engage, our leg is with Baroness, and then we're gonna open.

Starts in September 9th and Brooklyn, New York. Yeah, Coney Island. How are you? Woo, baby. We're going to have a slice of pizza. We're going to ride some rides. We're going to have a blast. This tour is going to be incredible.

You got to be hitting Jersey, Virginia. Yeah. A new home show for you. Ohio, Maryland, Georgia, Florida, Tampa, Florida. Yeah, I love it. Boston. Louisville, Chicago. When do you guys drop out?

When is your last one? The 30th in Denver. Oh, I love. And do you play Denver? Yeah. That show is so intimate. The Fillmore, right? The Fillmore.

That's me great. So, because I mean, dude, nowadays there's so many bands touring and getting back into it. It was kind of a challenge trying to find the rooms. Really?

Yeah, because there's so many bands on tour and like, so many holds put in place and whatever you're competing with all these tours. But we're like, fuck it.

Let's just play a small show. So the last show is a very small show. I think it's like, what the Fillmore is like not even 5,000 people. I think it's like 3,000 or something. And that's a small show for us. It's a small show.

Unbelievable. It's going to be great, though. What a way for you guys to go out with an intimate... I love that. Ah, that's great. Love it, man. I'm so pumped. I'm so pumped.

We played there once with the corn. It was fucking epic, dude. I bet. It was epic. And you guys keep going on October 1st. You're in Salt Lake. You go all the way to the 20th. Fucking badass, man.

Texas. You're playing the forum. No, I think we were trying to get the forum, but we ended up at the new YouTube theater. Oh. shit really? At so far. Oh, that's dope.

Yeah, it's like 9,000, 10,000. I think that's perfect. Oh, my goodness. Are you on tour after that? After your leg with us, are you on tour? We don't have anything until we do never say die in Europe in November. Dude, so you're going to come to LA show? I am, yeah.

I'll be there. So we're going to drop off in Denver. I'm going to be right back in L.A. Oh, my God, dude. I love it. It's going to be sick. I love it. Art, I fucking love you, man.

I got a person to tell you, I'm so proud of you, man. Thank you. It's fucking crazy. It's been a ride. I'm hanging on and I'm, I'm, the engine is, we just started it, man. Just started it. For, as you said earlier, for both of us, that's crazy, man. Yeah.

This is a new chapter in both our lives, man. And I think, uh, for both of our bands and, uh, I'm glad we can do it together. It's very special. It is, man. Very special, man. All right, everyone, until next time, I appreciate it. Later. Later.