DAMAGE PLAN INTERVIEW With Pat Lachman
By Steve Anderson and Robin Steeley
Texas based Damage Plan came together after brothers Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul finished their impressive fourteen year reign over the metal world with the legendary Pantera. After Pantera imploded, the influential brothers carried on to form Damage Plan and to release their latest breed of metal, New Found Power. They are currently on the Devastation across the nation tour in support of the new release.
The band solidified when they added Pat Lachman, former Rob Halford guitarist who impressed them with the ability to sing effortlessly to their original tracks. On tour in support of their new album I was able to catch vocalist Pat Lachman before the show.
Crave: You’re originally from Portland? Do you miss it?
PL: Every time I come here I miss it, but I have moved around so much over the y ears that I have friends across the nation, across the planet almost. I love to come here and see my friends and my family. It’s where I came from.
Crave: What has the tour been like so far?
PL: My liver is divorcing me! That’s how it’s going. It’s been fun were having a good time.
Crave: How is the chemistry between the line up of the band?
PL: You’ll see in about two hours!
Crave: Do you miss playing guitar at all; was it a hard transition to switch to vocals?
PL: I don’t know if it was a hard transition necessarily, it’s just a different position on the same team. As far as I’m concerned music is music. I still get to let it out.
Crave: What has the response been like to New Found Power?
PL: It’s been real good. Our whole goal is to establish Damage Plan as it’s own thing.
Crave: What was the first album you ever owned?
PL: I think I wanna say AC/DC “Highway To Hell”. I got it as a birthday present.
Crave: Who are your biggest influences?
PL: There is really too many to name. I started out with Classic rock, you know AC/DC and The Doors and progressing into heavier and heavier music but the landmarks are definitely Priest, Maiden, Sabbath.
Crave: Do you think the industry has changed a lot over the last ten years?
PL: Little Bit. (Laughing) I think its going in a whole new direction. It needs to be more fun and less money driven.
Crave: How often do you expect to be in the studio?
PL: We’ll be back there pretty soon, starting probably January.
Crave: What CD have you been listening to or bought lately?
PL: I’ve been listening to the Haunted rEvolver, A lot.
Crave: What’s your favorite city or venue to play?
PL: All of them. Its hard to say, sometimes the big gigs are amazing but sometimes the smallest ones you don’t expect to be off the hook and they turn out to be the best.
Crave: What would be a perfect day off for you?
PL: I don’t know, umm …(laughing)
Crave: What is the writing process like for the music?
PL: It starts with Vinnie and Dime coming up with their signature riffs and grooves and I’ll just kind of grab it and throw some ideas on there and chop and slice and it mutates.
Crave: Do you have any advice for new artists looking for a career in music?
PL: I think I have to quote my buddy Burton from Fear Factory “Don’t do it for the money!”
Crave: So tell me what’s in the future for Damage Plan?
PL: Finish out this tour, back in the studio, album number two, right back on the road.
Crave: If you could share the stage with any bands, past or present, who would they be?
PL: I would have to say Metallica.
Thanks for the interview, thanks for your time, That’s a wrap!
