Q&A with John McBain

What quirky talents do you posses?
I can remove myself from any conversation without the other person noticing that I would rather smell a Klansman's fart than have to subject myself to another second of annoying chit chat. I hate chit chat. Call it the art of disengagement. You remove yourself from the picture and they think that you are witty and engaging. Fuck them.

Are you an inventor of any kind?
I have ideas on an almost daily basis. I just can't find the right sucker to finance my dreams. Here's one; an eatery for single people. Picture a long row of sinks. Above each sink is a TV set. All meals come served in large bowls and/or pots. And all meals are to be eaten over the sink. No seats. Just stand there, eat from your pot, watch some TV, toss your bowl in the sink when you've finished, wipe your mouth with the supplied dish towel and your done. And if you're fortunate enough to meet that special someone there, you can be assured that it will be a match made in slob heaven.

Make your own pedals?
I can rewire any existing pedal and turn it into a theremin. No joke.

Have a unique approach to the recording process?
I treat the recording process like an extended bowel movement. i just sit there, strain a little bit in the beginning and then relax and let it flow. When I'm done, I clean up the messy bits, wash my hands and make a sandwich or something.

Can you cook?
I'm a cooking sonofabitch.

What's your favorite dish?
I make a wicked roasted eggplant sauce. Prep em' with olive oil, fresh garlic, fresh oregano, basil, chives and some red pepper flakes. Throw in some panko, then slow roast them until they collapse under their own weight. Toss the eggplant with heirloom tomatoes, freshly grated Parmesan and plop em' on a bed of high quality pasta. Dinner is served, motherfucker. And don't forget the wine.

Would you care to share the recipe?
I just did.

Other hobbies you wanna talk about?
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle. Every single day. And not the cheesy online version. I need paper and pen, damnit!

You have a favorite book?
Nope. But I do like William Kennedy a whole lot. And David Lee Roth's "Crazy From the Heat" is up there as well. Off topic, can I just say that the first four Van Halen LPs kick ass on the entire Beatles catalog? Seriously. Best band of the late 70s/early 80s. Fair Warning is damn near perfect. Sgt Pepper was a pussy.

Favorite movie?
W.C Fields classic, Its A Gift. Or any movie with Gene Hackman. Yes, any movie. Hackman is the greatest actor of all time. And this topic is not open to discussion.

Social networking... discuss.
Creepy, yet increasingly essential.

In the studio

John's currently in the studio working on a follow-up to 2006s "The In-Flight Feature." I asked him, "How long is it going to take to complete the album?" "Dunno," he says. "I'm in the middle of so many production gigs, it may not happen for a while. In fact, the Ark may show up again with animals in pairs before I get to the last track." "Rumor has it your friend Matt (Cameron [Hater, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam]) is going to be on the record... that true?" "Yep. Sure is," he said. "Wicked," I say back. "Will you keep me posted on how things're developing?" "Of course," he said. "In fact, I can tell you that there are more special guests that make this record a 'reunion' of sorts." "Really???" "WHO????" "Eh eh eh....," he says. "Can't let the cat outta the bag just yet. Trust me; when it's time to tell, you'll be the first to know; except for me, of course." "Always the comedian, huh?" I say... "Ya gotta laugh; otherwise, what's the point?," he replies. "Agreed," I say. "Agreed."