Behemoth, O Father O Satan O Sun!
“I’ve wound up in so many boycotts and legal battles in Poland [because I’ve torn a bible up onstage or dressed as the clergy, or made a T-shirt that too closely resembles Poland’s coat of arms]. Those jokes became front-page news, and I’ve ended up wasting so much because of them. I have no agenda. I’m not a politician, I’m a stage persona. I like to poke at things – it’s cool, it’s inspiring, it’s life. When people share views, the more radical they are the better the discussion is. But there is no discussion there.
“It’s not about provocation, either. It’s about honesty. I equally adore GG Allin and Jack White, but that doesn’t mean that Jack White needs to get his dick out onstage and cut himself. They’re both part of rock’s wider canon and I respect them both equally for who they are. Even [beyond conventional rock parameters] I look at bands like [San Diego synth-punks] Prayers whose members are ex-members of Latino gangs. There are some crazy stories in the closet and you can hear it in their music. They’re very credible to me, very honest – and I’m dying for that.
“We’ve got to remember that this genre is about that freedom, that honesty. Sometimes rock’n’roll can hurt you. If you don’t want to be hurt, you should go listen to Justin Bieber…”
Words: Sam Law
Photo: Oskar Szramka
Behemoth are on tour this summer. For more information click here. The band's latest live release Messe Noir is available now on Nuclear Blast. You can stream it below.