The Obelisk Questionnaire: David Gein from The Cimmerian
The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.
Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.
Thank you for reading and thanks to all who participate.
The Obelisk Questionnaire: David Gein from The Cimmerian
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
I’m not sure how define what I do other than I just try to write cool riffs people will dig.
I started off playing bass in Jr. High. My first “band” just did Sabbath and Metallica covers for the most part. Later I started playing guitar and went from metal to punk, to instrumental surf, and ultimately, back to metal.
Describe your first musical memory.
Listening to AC/DC’s Highway to Hell with my older brother around 1980. I remember him pointing out the members of the band on the album cover, telling me that Angus and Malcom were brothers and that Bon Scott had just died. At the time the music seemed so dangerous, like we shouldn’t be listening to it. I got to see them 10 years later, on the Razor’s Edge tour and I still dig them to this day. This was definitely what started me on my path to heavy music.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
As a musician, my favorite musical memory would be when my old band played in a Belgian prison for an auditorium full of inmates. That’ll be about as close to Johnny Cash as I’ll ever get. As an audience member, I’d have to go with seeing Samhain in 1999.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
This is a tough one. I guess it would be when I was let down by a close friend. My belief that you could truly know someone was certainly tested. I came out of it realizing you can never be in someone’s head and know how their brain works, regardless of how well you think you know them.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
Artistic progression should lead to opening up new ideas and approaches in your creative process. Basically, taking more chances with your art moving beyond what you’re comfortable with so you can explore new territory.
How do you define success?
Going from a few riffs and ideas to a fully arranged song and getting it recorded/playing it live and having it connect with other people.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
I don’t think there’s anything that I wish I hadn’t seen. I feel that good or bad, all of our experiences shape who we are. So, I guess I wouldn’t want to “unsee” anything because who knows how taking that experience away would impact who I am now?
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
I would love to do a soundscape album that could double as a movie score. Something along the lines of Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s F# A# Infinity album.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
I think the essential function of art is, ultimately, catharsis – both for the creator and the listener/viewer. For me, nothing is more cathartic than the whole process of creating and playing with the band. Playing loud, aggressive music is the ultimate release. As a listener, I can reach that same level of catharsis when blasting my favorite band, after a long day or, better yet, seeing them live.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
My friend and I have been putting out a digital comic book called We Are the Dead. We’re a few issues in now and I’m looking forward to seeing the whole project through to completion and, hopefully, a physical release in graphic novel form.
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