In Keeping Secrets of Columbia...
Brief, witless banter with Coheed and Cambria
By Jeff Murphy and Homie Pooser

Enough time on the road can take its toll on a band, especially when that time is compounded by an increasing demand in popularity. Point and case? At the Drive-In and the desolving of such promise at the release of Relationship of Command. After touring for six years, the limelight and threat of even more work is something that the true artist is not about. Times are testing the waters now for sophmore act Coheed and Cambria. On the road for nearly three years, and touring on their second release, the band is finally breaking into daylight and coming into headliner recognition of their own. With new material in the development stages and continual touring that has them cris-crossing the country, consider yourself fortunate that SMASH magazine was able to get even the terse interview found here:

Smash Magazine: How old are the band members?
Michael Todd: I am 23, Josh is 24, Travis is 25, and Claudio is 26

SM: Why the orignial name Shabutie? Any special meaning behind it?
MT: Yeah, we were corny.

SM: How much Shabutie material was officially released (including demos)?
MT: None

SM: What's the difference in personnel between Coheed and Shabutie?
MT: Shabutie was Michael, Claudio, and a different drummer. Travis joined toward
the end, then we booted the drummer, added Josh, and poof! Coheed and
Cambria was born.

SM: Was the concept of each Coheed & Cambria album being an installment in a
series entirely preconceived, or have you been making it up as you
go along?
MT: We know where it starts and ends, and some of the basic details, but
some of the specifics come with the writing of each record.

SM: How's the comic book coming along? Who's doing the artwork for the comic?
MT: It's coming along great, and it should be out by summertime. Wes Abbot from California is doing the artwork.

SM: When is the next album due out?
MT: We're hoping to start recording next fall.

SM: Any truth to the rumor that Columbia Records might be involved?
MT: Some...

SM. What is your take on the state of the music industry today:
Sinking fast, or just sinking? Or not sinking at all?
MT: Music industry is definitely sinking; however, musicians are definitely getting stronger.

SM: How much has the internet helped increase awareness about the band?
MT: For us it was very instrumental to the early and continued growth of
this band. Burn away kids. Just come to the shows and get a sticker
or something.

SM: Did it come as a surprise that your video was selected to be in
heavy rotation on MTV2? How long did it take before they started
airing your video regularly?
MT: Its not in heavy rotation. They don't play it regularly. They wanted
us to edit it, but we didn't want to.

SM: You don't seem like the typical Warped Tour band...how did your
slot on this tour come to be?
MT: We did a few weeks last year, and it was a lot of fun. The guys in charge liked
us and we liked them so we said "lets do it again."

SM: The last 2 times you played Vegas, the crowd was treated to a
taste of "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden, and I've heard your cover of
Night Ranger's "Sister Christian." Care to mention any other of your
favorite 80's metal bands?
MT: Many aren't so "metal," but here goes: Foreigner, Hall & Oates, the Police, the
Outfield, Iron Maiden, Pat Benetar, Men at Work, Spandau Ballet, Kim
Wilde, etc. ect.

SM: Did you expect to sell out the venue last time you played Vegas?
Any amusing tour stories to share?
MT: No...selling out the venue was a nice surprise. One time (actually like six times)
Travis stole every plant on every floor of the hotel we were in and
put all of them in his room. Huge ass house trees and shit. You
couldn't see the walls. It looked like a jungle. A maid walked in in
the morning and after a few moments of silence started hysterically
laughing saying, " I ain't NEVER seen no shit like that!!"

SM: And finally, are you glad that we didn't mention Geddy Lee at
all during this interview?
MT: Yes. Imagine if he got asked about us all the time. He'd be pissed.
THANKS!