 It has really been a long time since an album has impressed me as much as “This is a hospital” by The Ghost. As they even have to say something, I decided to set up an e-mail interview with Brian Moss. So witness what he had to say.
Q: Introduce yourself first, please.
A: Greetings and Best Wishes, my name is Brian Moss.
Q: What´s your role in The Ghost, beside playing an instrument/ singing?
A: I do the singing and guitar thing.
Q: If I weren´t playing in The Ghost, I would...
A: Be in school working on becoming an English teacher, or travelling Europe all by myself.
Q: Can you please give us some facts about The Ghost´s history? What have you released so far?
A: We formed in The Bay Area (Northern California) in March of two thousand and one. We pretty much started touring immediately and recorded an album six months later. In January of two thousand and two we moved to Chicago and soon there after replaced our guitar player. This past March our debut album "This Is A Hospital" got released on Some Records out of New York City. We've been running our headquarters out of the Windy City since then and have been touring heavily. This month we released a new split 12' with our friends The Prosperity Wallet.
Q: If The Ghost sound had to be compared to a meal, I would compare it to...
A: Pad Thai with some gravel hidden below the noodles, and splashed with a bit of arsenic.
Q: Do you believe in ghosts?
A: Somewhat, I had a bad experience with a quigi board when I was a kid. Our bass player Jordan once told me that he lived in a Haunted House.
Q: How did you get in contact with Some Records?
A: I basically contacted Craig over at Some through a live demo and some letters. We began talking and eventually we agreed to work together on an album. Since then we've built up a great friendship and we've recently been planning to record another record for Some.
Q: What´s your most favourite record label of all times?
A: Either Death Row or Jade Tree, both labels consistently release great albums. It's a tossup. I would love to have Suge Knight be our manager.
Q: I read something about the band having moved from Bay Area to Chicago. Why did you move? How was it possible to move as a whole band?
A: All of us we're born and raised in the Bay Area and in need of a change. The cost of living in Northern California is pretty unmanagable for a poor touring band, and the music scene is somewhat small and pretentious. Our previous experiences Chicago really drew us to the city. We had some close friends there and being a big city with a blosoming music community really appealed to us. I believe Chicago is the last affordable big city in the country, it's a poor mans New York. The Windy City is a rough, raw and no bullshit place. It's tons of fun and we don't plan on leaving any time soon. As far as us moving as a band we packed our van up with whatever we could fit in after the equipment was in, shipped a couple boxes out and booked a two week tour out to Chicago. Anything is possible!
Q: "This is a hospital" was produced by Steve Albini. What´s the job of a producer in your opinion? How has Steve Albini influenced The Ghost´s sound by producing the CD?
A: Albini doesn't really produce or tell bands how to play, he more so provides an amazing sound for the artist. He engineered the entire record and did a great job, but I wouldn't really call it production. Albini doesn't seem to be the type of recording technician who is terribly into polishing bands. His work with technical recording is amazing, I feel he gave our songs a raw and purist quality while maintaining an overall huge and clear sound. I think his best work is heard in the drum sounds. It was quite an experience and blessing to be able to work with him.
Q: Warner Bros. showed interested in The Ghost. Have other "major" labels showed their interest, too? Make up your mind now: Can you think up the marketing slogan major labels would use to sell The Ghost?
A: A couple other labels have spoken with us at shows and what not. It's really quite amusing how all these A n' R reps try to approach punk bands from a street credit level. I think all of the members in The Ghost see right through that bullshit, we don't want to hear how some major label rep booked a show for DRI twelve fucking years ago, if you work for a major label be honest about being a corporate employee, don't try to play it off in the name of punk rock. I don't think that we are very marketable band as far as the mainstream is concerned. Perhaps a good slogan would be "The Ghost, topping the major label tax write off charts".
Q: Where do you draw the line between major and indie label?
A: Good question, it's very hard at times. Anytime an indie is subsidised by a major they become a major in my mind. That initially knocks down a lot of bigger U.S. indie labels. When turning any band or artist into a commodity of cash flow becomes the number one priority and goal a label sets it's heart into a major label motion. It's very hard to mix business with ethics, but it is possible. A labels goal should be to treat their bands well, love the music they put out, work hard for their bands, Making some amount of money is always nice for both the label and the artist, however it shouldn't be expected nor should it be a priority. Anything else is icing on the cake. Greed is a very dangerous thing.
Q: The movie "Bowling For Columbine" by Michael Moore deals with the obsession for guns in the USA. Have you seen it? What are the most serious problems in the USA (that aren´t even problems in the eyes of most of the US citizens) in your opinion?
A: I remember coming across a couple guns during my High School years, as of recent I have been lucky enough not to have seen any. I think that weapons are a huge problem, especially for the impoverished groups within the United States. Cavemen style Redneck hicks and jocks seem to also have a problem with weapons. As far as problems are concerned....well there are so many.... In my opinion the United States government is an International bully who's goals base themselves in power and economics. Wool is pulled over the eyes of our citizens by crusading in the name of human rights, when in truth that has nothing to do with it. Sooner or later the schoolyard bully always has his ass kicked. George Bush is a idiotic mad man who does a great job of representing the American publics tendencies of selfishness, righteousness, stupidity, violence and greed. The number one problem that most people suffer from within the United States is ignorance and lack of tolerance and love. It amazes me how cruel people can be at times, hopefully the world will learn that kindness and compassion are the best qualities of human life before we blow ourselves to bits. If things over hear get to hectic, I may just up and move to Europe!
Q: What´s coming by The Ghost in the future?
A: We have begun writing material for our second full length which we hope to record sometime late this Spring. Other than that we are doing a couple small regional tours over the next couple months and in February we will embark on our first European tour. We will be overseas for three weeks and hopefully some of you readers out there will have a chance to see us.
Q: Last words?
A: Keep playing, keep writing, keep speaking. Please be kind to each other and take care! Thanks so much for the great interview Jan!
Brian, thank you very much, too!
Further Links:
 The Ghost
Some Records
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