Interview: Michael Amott of Arch Enemy

[My first in-person interview. it really sucks, and the guy was kind of a dick]

Being on tour most of the year, traveling around the world playing concerts in Europe, America, and Japan; is it hard on your family and friends back home?
Um, well, we don’t have any friends [laughs]

Since Wages of Sin, metal magazines all over the worldgiven you all kinds of praise. Have you let that get to your head?
Oh yeah [laughs]. Um, you know it doesn’t really… see I don’t ever believe the good reviews. If you believe the good ones then you have to believe the bad ones. I definitely don’t believe the bad ones [laughs]. You know, I know more about metal than anybody I know, and any of these so-called music journalists. I know where it is coming from; I know its roots. I’ve dedicated my life to it. That’s more than a lot of these people have done. I’m pretty comfortable with what we’re doing, you know.

Do you remember your first headlining show?
Our first show was a headlining show. It was a show in Sweden.

What do you think of the response to the release of the DVD?
Oh, it’s been phenomenal. It’s been great. Which is well deserved I think, cause I’m pretty happy with it. The fan reaction is amazing, you know. It has been very, very strong. You know we made it for the fans, so it’s very… gratifying.

You’ve been all over the world. Where have you found the most responsive fans?
Well, you know fans… metal fans are kind of the same the world over. The love for this music is universal so… people react with little variation, but I’d say it’s pretty much… metal fans are metal fans.

There is a lot of elitism with metal fans…
Well they are passionate about their music. They have strong opinions.

Who are your biggest musical influences?
Well, you know a lot of older metal I grew up on. Especially bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer. I guess those are the big three. Especially when I started playing guitar. Even older metal bands now, Saxon, Judas Priest, Merciful Fate.

What made you pick up a guitar?
I just wanted to be in a band really. I guess I was the kid, the typical kid in the back of the classroom, drawing imaginary logos. Logos of my imaginary bands. I was planning my first band even before I could play. It just seemed like a good thing to be into. It just seemed exciting and uh, I ended up living the dream [laughs]. I’m still drawing logos.

Author: everloss

I'm a dude that writes about stuff on the internet. View all posts by everloss