Interviewer: Kidman J. Williams

Illustration by: Joey Feldman

This is the second time that I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein. And I do mean a pleasure. Doyle is nothing like his monstrous persona, he is simply the guy next door that you want to hang out and have a beer with or in his case, eat a bunch of peanuts and work out seven days a week with.

Frankenstein’s newest project simply called Doyle, has now come out with their sophomore album titled, “As We Die.” The album comes out on April 27th.

This modest monster and I got to sit and chat again about everything from the Misfits’ reunion, a possible Misfits album, our kids, and even the move to a new label.

Doyle Interview

 Kidman J. Williams:  So, it is a nice day in Florida.

Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein: I bet! (laughing)

Hell yeah! It is beautiful, once we got through the tornado weather last night.

Oh, sorry man.

Well, you know. It happens. I just wanted to say sorry. Not that you would remember me from an interview two years ago.

It is frightening, I’m horrible.

I just wanted to say sorry. You were very cool. You personally invited me to your show on Halloween and I just wanted to say sorry I couldn’t make it out. The show was on Halloween and I had to take my kid trick-or-treating, just wanted to say sorry.

Yeah, I miss all that stuff. When I’m out and doing my stuff. You’re lucky.

It was cool and now he is eight and he talks back and —

(Laughing) Yeah, wait four years and see what he says then.

I’m sure it can’t get better from here.

Now he’s got a opinion for everything.

So, how are you doing man?

I’m doing great man. Everything is feeling good man, bands doing good, the crowds are getting bigger and they are starting to sing all the words. Excited about the new release. So, pretty good.

I  haven’t had a chance to hear or review the new album yet.

Well, we are still working on it! We got to finish it by tomorrow, it comes out on the 27th. (laughing)

Oh, I didn’t realize you guys didn’t finish it yet.

Well, I just want it perfect. If it isn’t perfect I just won’t like it.

The last time we talked you did a self-release off of your label Monsterman.

Yeah.

What made you decide to release on a big label, EMP. What made you go with the big label this time?

Distribution, promotion, and the stuff that I just couldn’t afford this time. And they are very excited to have us.  They are also taking on Monsterman Records on as a partner. And sign other bands. So it is pretty cool.

Plus working with David Ellefson (Megadeth) who owns the label. I’ve known him for a long time. I brought him Abominator and he got back to us. I was like if you want us make an offer. He asked what do you want? I told him what we wanted and he was like “ok.”  I was like “Really?!?” (laughing)

NICE! Did you guys self-produce this one or did the label assign a producer for you this time?

Yeah. We recorded the stuff at the same time as Abominator. We had to do the drums over because we got a new drummer Brandon Pertzborn. It came out better, better performance.

Last time I did the guitar, drummer did the drums, Alex did the vocals in his underwear in his kitchen. It just came out better.

So, you just said that a lot of this came off from Abominator. Last time we had spoken you said that for Abominator you had written 40 songs, recorded 25, and then used only 18. So a lot of this album came from the other tracks from the Abominator sessions?

Umm, yeah. They were all written. We had to write 9 or 10 more. We — (incoherent mumbles)

What was that? It is really hard to hear you wherever you are.

Yeah. We are driving. We are driving through, I don’t even know where the fuck we are…umm, Nebraska.

Nebraska?!?

Where are you headed to?

Wisconsin…somewhere I’ve never heard of.

You took care of my next question, how did the signing come about. Now did you take a different approach with the writing of the new album “As We Die?”

Umm, no. We just do what we do. I don’t approach it with “I’m going to write a song like this or I’m going to write a song like that.” Whatever is comfortable for me to play I use it. If it is too hard I don’t use it. I don’t need to be standing out on stage having a panic attack because I don’t know what is supposed to be played next.

What can we expect on this new album? Are there any big surprises on this new album?

Yeah! We have some guests on this album. We have Randy from Lamb of God singing with Alex Story on one. Alisa Winkler and Michael from Arch Enemy on “Kiss Me As You Die.”

We got this new drummer who is fucking insane. He is just so good. Brandon Pertzborn was playing with Black Flag. Our drummer, he just had to go.

We met up with Brandon and we weren’t even going to rehearse with him. I was just like, let’s just do it. He got the stuff perfect in like two days.

Are things still as easy with the chemistry and writing between you and Alex as they were on Abominator?

Oh yeah. It is just so easy.

You had been playing with Danzig for years off and on, but how was the vibe when you ALL got together for the reunion shows?

It was really funny man. (laughs) It was good times man. We all laughed. I know it was an easy gig. It was fun.

I’m sure somebody had to have asked this. But, could we expect a new Misfits album in the near future?

That would be sick wouldn’t it?

It would be! It think a lot of fans would love to see it.

I think I would love it MORE than them.

I know we have some limited time. I figured though, since we have done the interview dance before we could do something a little different. So, we took the questions to the fans and asked them if there was anything they wanted to know. You ready for this?

Yeah, yeah!

We will start with Mike Vest asks, “Would you ever play on a Cancerslug album?”

Yes, absolutely. We already talked about that. Why wouldn’t I do that?

Now we have another one. He must be a really big fan of yours. We have Chas “Frankenstein” Riley. He wants to know… oh, this is a pretty good question. “What was the punk scene really like? I’ve always wanted to know from a musician who was around at the time.”

It was pretty crazy. The shows were pretty violent, rowdy, very cool man. I was pretty young then though.

How old were you then?

I did my first recording when I was 15.

Wow.  This is a weird one. Jesse Chapman wants to know, “How did you like your time managing Vampiro in WCW?”

Let me go on the record saying that wrestling is all absolutely real (laughs). It is really happening. It was all very violent. Getting hit with steel chairs.

Did you ever get hit with anything?

Oh fuck no (laughs)! I didn’t want to get fucking hurt bro.

(Laughs) John Burden wants to know, “Is the Devil-Lock real or just a hair extension?”

It is fucking real as Hell.

Right (laughs). Right! Like stupid bastard.

This is kind of a two parter. Octavious wants to know if you are a vegan?

I am.

You are?!? I didn’t even know that. And how much do you have to work out to keep the look?

I work out 7 days a week.

Do you find it harder to keep in shape now than say 10 years ago?

Of course it is what kind of question is that (laughs)? I’m 10 years older. Let me ask you.

I would say yes

Yes of course. I’ve been doing it for so long that it is just part of my job. Plus it makes me feel good. If I don’t do it, I don’t feel good.

(Laughs) I get it man. Even in my 30’s it is harder to stay in shape.

Yeah. And everything gets heavier every day (laughs).

(Laughs) You aren’t joking there. I know you guys are doing a lot of touring right now in the UK. Are you going to extend your touring in the US?

Yeah. We have some shows in June, I don’t have the list. I know we are also going to be doing South America and some more in the UK as well.

I like to usually end on this. Is there anything that you would like to say to your fans reading this?

Yeah, don’t steal music. Go to the shows.