Interview: Electric Wizard’s Jus Oborn on weed, satan, and the band’s first North American tour in a decade

How did you find that stuff back then? Did you have it hunt it down by mail?

You had to hunt it down, and I think that was part of the charm, you know? It was more secretive; you’d have to go to some fucking weird bookshop down by the harbour. You’d find this weird shit, but you had to be prepared to look for it. It really would be underground; you’d have to go into these dark and more cryptic places. It was kind of the same really; it was actually a physical world, instead of a virtual one. I think I preferred it though, ha.

What do you think about the resurgence of doom, with the popularity bands like Pallbearer and Yob?

Um, I’m not a big follower of modern music, I’ll probably hear their albums like 10 years from now, when they’re like out of date again. I don’t follow much new stuff, but I’m kind of tired of the way heavy guitar is going at the moment. Too much emphasis on technology and stuff, and not much groundbreaking playing, you know, actual decent riffs and shit. So I’m waiting for something to happen, something cool. There doesn’t seem to be much individuality anymore. When we started, I knew each band, I knew everyone, you know? I could tell you who was who, because I could hear their sound, the vocals or the guitar playing. These days I could listen to 50 bands that sound identical, to me anyway.

How is your book on European porn coming along?

It’s a tormentedly long book to write. Every time I start a new chapter I end up finding new people, and getting new stories. It’s not a very well documented thing, so you end up finding whole new labels, new companies, new models, new fucking directors, ha! I’m trying to encapsulate it into one thing. The main idea is that no one really knows anything about the European scene, I think. In America, it’s better documented, everyone knows who Linda Lovelace is, but no one knows what happened in Europe. And it was kind of a heavier and darker scene, you know? I got into it by looking into like, borderline snuff movies and satanic stuff. It was creepy. No one’s prepared to touch it, as far as like, working on the book. It’s not going to be easy. There’s always research to be done, but usually during European tours I get to interview people on the road.

Is there anything in particular you’re looking forward to on this upcoming tour?

Well, we haven’t been to the States in a long time, so I think it’s going to be cool in many ways. I think the fans are going to be fucking nuts. I think it’s going to be pretty fucking good, you know? I think we’re going to be solid, with any luck it’s going to be fucking killer, you know?

Are you brining your whole stage setup over here?

It’s not quite as easy, there aren’t so many halls and stuff that we’re playing. In Europe, we’ve got a video show really, not really a stage show. This is kind of like dipping a toe in, to find out where we can play, show people we sold out a fucking tour, and come back and do those halls where we can put on the full show, you know?

Anything else you want to let people know about this upcoming tour?

Not much, just that we’re coming to your fucking town, so if you really want us to play anywhere else, just tell us how much weed you got, you know? It works! Really!

Electric Wizard play the Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre on April 4, with guests Satan’s Satyrs and Blood Ceremony. Sold out.