Interview with Derek from Medium by Jen

How did you guys all get together with each other? Give us some Medium band history.
Well - basically - Pete Cortese (formerly of OVERCAST) and myself played in a band called LONG DISTANCE RUNNER for two years. We were recording down in D.C. and we started talking about how the two of us had such SIMILAR musical influences. Well - LDR split up shortly thereafter, and, Pete and I IMMEDIATELY began writing songs together. We recorded 5 tunes on a four track so we could pass the stuff around to people because we still needed a bass player and singer!!! We found our bass player, Kevin Schuler pretty fast, but, it took a good amount of time to find our singer, DEAN!!
How long have you been playing together?
Well - Pete and I have been playing together for approximately four years now, but, MEDIUM has been together for a little over a year!!!
How is the debut CD, Terra Firma, doing for you guys?
The response to "Terra Firma" has been SO overwhelming!! I REALLY didn't think people were going to be SO POSITIVE about the stuff!! We didn't have very much money, so, we scrounged up what we had and that gave us TWO DAYS in the studio!! We POUNDED out the basics in ONE TAKE and worked pretty much ONE WHOLE DAY on the vocals!! I think it came out AMAZING for the amount of time we had to work with!!
What is Bullpen Promotions doing so far to spread the Medium name around?
Well, basically - our good friends Tara Buzzelle and Brian Faire (of Shadows Fall) run Bullpen Promotions. They are shopping our disc around to indie and major labels, promoting the disc to commercial and college radio, and taking care of regional PRINT media!! We're negotiating with Tara right now to possibly take over management responsibilities for Medium.
You have played with the legendary Scattered Remnants. Tell us about that experience.
WOW - Scattered Remnants is OFFICIALLY "Legendary"? Well - I guess I feel PRIVILEDGED to have ever been a part of that band, then!! HAHAHA!!! Actually - Jay, Rob, and Dan were all REALLY great guys and I enjoyed playing with THEM as people, but, I was never really into death metal, so, it was sometimes hard for me to get into that stuff!! I ALWAYS thought they were an INCREDIBLE Death Metal band, though, so, when I was approached to help them out - I had to do it. I'd say ALL IN ALL it was a good experience. Plus - Jay is SO DAMN sexy!! That's why we call him "Big Sexy"!!! I DID hear through the grapevine that he has a VERY small cock, though!! Could be rumors - NOT SURE!!!
(Editors Note: We spoke to Derek's wife Amy to confirm the small cock rumors and she adamantly refuted these allegations. "He is the best lover I have ever had!", she exclaimed. "It is very difficult though, to take days off from work after I am with him because I cannot walk. That, and pretending I can feel Derek after Jay is done with me. It's a strain on my acting abilities.")
Now that you have done some touring, compare MA to the other states you have been to. Is the scene better or worse?
I wouldn't say it's BETTER or WORSE!! The reality is that it's our HOME!!! Boston is EXTREMELY political, but, the Boston rock scene has been VERY cool to us!! We're already playing MAJOR venues on a consistent basis!! But - we're DEFINITELY NOT a Boston band - we're four morons from the Suburbs, ya' know?!
Favorite club to play at?
I'd say The Key Club in L.A., LUPO's in Providence, R.I., and The Lucky Dog in Worcester, MA.
Compare Medium to the other bands you played with. How are they unique?
Well - simply put - it's the band that I've ALWAYS wanted to be in!! Pete and I NEVER REALLY thought that MEDIUM would be a band!! We figured that it was just going to be a "project"!!! The two of us write ALL of the music for MEDIUM together, but, it's SO AWESOME to have a band where EVERY MEMBER is a crucial element to OUR sound!!
Who designed your web site?
Our singers girlfriend, Robin Andries - she designs the site!!
Who are some of the bands influences?
I'd say Led Zeppelin, Cactus, Soundgarden, The Cult, Kyuss, Queens Of The Stone Age, Black Sabbath, Only Living Witness.
How long have you been playing drums? Are you self taught, or did you have lessons?
I've been playing drums for almost 20 years now!! Man - that seems like SO LONG!! But - I've been playing bass for about 6 years and guitar for about 5 years, too!! I'm TOTALLY self taught - I've NEVER taken one music lesson in my life!!!
Who are some of your favorite bands right now? What are you listening to in your CD changer?
Well - I have such a WIDE RANGE of music that I listen to!!! I DEFINITELY go through PHASES with some stuff!!! Right now, I've been listening to a lot of Bjork's stuff!! Other than that, A lot of underground classic rock and old thrash stuff - Cactus, Nazereth, The James Gang, Thin Lizzy, Vio-lence, Entombed, Testament, Anthrax (pre Persistence Of Time), and ANYTHING that has to do with Maike Patton. As far as NEW STUFF - there's not a lot of good NEW stuff out there, but, I REALLY enjoy Doves, Kenna, Coldplay, Sub.Bionic, Tool, Scissorfight, Atomic Bitchwax, Operator:Generator.
Describe your sound to someone who never heard you.
We're a BULLDOZER OF SUBURBAN ROCK~N~ROLL from the SEEDY suburbs of Massachusetts.
Anything else you would like to add?
ANYONE can e-mail me for questions and copies of the cd at mediumband@hotmail.com. And a HUGE thank you from lil' ole' me!!!http://www.seemlessband.com/
http://www.myspace.com/seemless
http://www.myspace.com/derekkerswill