Road Crew Magazine
Music Magazine with News, Reviews, Photos and Video

Just as you can be sure that the snow will continue to fall on the Rockies, you can be just as sure that you will find molten hot bands coming out of Colorado. If you haven't heard of them already, allow me to introduce you to Jag Panzer, a scorching metal band hot enough to melt the snow right off the mountains, and their guitarist/songwriter Mark Briody. Mark was kind enough to take the time to answer some questions for Road Crew Mag about himself, the band, and even played a little word association.

Road Crew: When did you first pick up a guitar?

Mark: When I just turned 15. I thought it would be a good way to meet girls.

Road Crew: What drove you to want to become a guitar player?

Mark: To meet girls! Seriously. I also thought it looked fun. But mainly it was to meet girls.

Road Crew: How would you describe yourself as a guitarist?

Mark: I'm really much more of a songwriter then a guitarist. I play guitar just as a vehicle for my songwriting. I'm not that skilled of a guitarist. There are probably 50 guys in my neighborhood with better chops.

Road Crew: How long have you played and used Dean guitars and how did you become associated with them?

Mark: I started playing Deans years ago when I was a kid. I bought my first Dean in high school. But the company Dean went through a lot of changes and I eventually started playing other guitars. But in the late 90's a new owner took over Dean Guitars and brought them back to their former glory. I ended up buying a new Dean in 2003 and I fell in love with the brand again. I officially became an endorser in 2005.

Road Crew: How did the band come up with the name Jag Panzer?

Mark: We used to be called 'Tyrant' but we found out there were a few other bands with that name. We hit the library to look for a new name. We saw a book with a heavy looking tank in it. The tank was called 'Jagdpanzer'. We couldn't pronounce it so we dropped the 'd' and made it 2 words.

Road Crew: I understand you are the primary songwriter for the band. What musicians influence your writing?

Mark: Tony Iommi and Ritchie Blackmore are my main influences. Steve Harris also. I suppose you could add Judas Priest as well. Basically any good metal. Outside of metal, I think the Beatles are an influence for any songwriter.

Road Crew: I am curious about knowing more about the CD "Thane to the Throne". What inspired you as a band to write an album based on Shakespeare's "Hamlet"?

Mark: It's actually based on MacBeth, not Hamlet. We picked that story because it's filled with elements that lend themselves to heavy metal. It's such a dark play, filled with drama and intrigue, perfect for heavy metal.

Road Crew: What can you tell us about the new album that you're working on?

Mark: It's called 'The Scourge of the Light' and it's almost complete. This is our first album with new lead guitarist Christian Lasegue. It's turning out pretty well. I hesitate to try to describe it because musicians always use the same adjectives to describe their new albums. They also say 'it's heavier' and things like that. I prefer to let people judge for themselves. I will say that I'm very pleased with it so far.

Road Crew: What are your hobbies outside of music?

Mark:  I love scuba diving, but I haven't been for a few years.  Otherwise I just like relaxing at home with my family and watching movies.  I enjoy watching football and having the occasional beer.

Road Crew: Are you a reader? And if so, what books and authors are you into?

Mark: I'm actually not a reader at all. I just don't have the time. The last book I read was 'Interview with the Vampire'. I didn't like it at all.

Road Crew: This is the first time that I have tried something like this in an interview, so I hope you don't mind being the first to try it. While working on questions, the idea to play a word association game came to my mind. Some of the words are music related while others are just random things. After each, please type the first thing that comes to your mind after reading each word.

Guitar

Mark: Dean guitars, my Soltero. I love my guitar. I play it every day, it's like an extension of me.

Road Crew: Football

Mark: The mighty Minnesota Vikings! I just watched them beat the Packers on Monday Night Football. I am a Vikings fanatic!!

Road Crew: Music

Mark: Life. Seriously. I can't imagine living without music. Music is like breathing to me, it's vital.

Road Crew: Food

Mark: Pizza. I love pizza. I'd eat one every day if I could.

Road Crew: Computer

Mark: Pain in the ass. I've got several computers and they are vital to communications, recording, etc. But they are so finicky. I'm not a big fan of computers at the moment.

Road Crew: Fans

Mark: Everyone is a fan of something. I'm a fan of the Vikings. I'm lucky that there are fans of my music. And 'lucky' really is a key here. I hate when musicians take their fans for granted.

Road Crew: Snow

Mark: I love snow. Sledding is awesome! I've been a fan of sledding since I was a kid. I could never live in a tropical locale. I love snow.

Road Crew: Holidays

Mark: Holidays are nice. They're a nice change of pace and good for getting together with extended family.

Road Crew: Touring

Mark: Awesome! I love touring. Seeing new places and meeting new people is great. Touring in an adventure.

Road Crew: Clown

Mark: Horror films are the first thing that comes to mind. The notion of a clown being scary has completed dominated the world of film and literature. They weren't scary when I was a kid, but now I (and I think lots of other people) associate them with horror.