Bassist, singer and songwriter Piggy D. chatted with me earlier this year via telephone and was awesome enough to answer questions I had about his life and interests. Piggy D. plays bass in Rob Zombie and also has a really cool solo project, plus he’s working as one half of the band Black Foxx. He’s also a graphic designer and artist. His debut solo album, The Evacuation Plan is absolutely worth checking out, and new songs “Locust Dance” and “God Save the Queen Bee” floor me. You’ll be able to hear and see his bass playing prowess this Saturday, August 6th at WaMu Theater when Rob Zombie co-headlines with Slayer.
The song “God Save the Queen Bee” is fantastic. Are you going to be releasing more songs one by one?
Piggy D.: Thanks. I seem to be one of the only people that bought into this philosophy, as much as an album nerd as I am, especially with other bands, I think for lesser-established solo artists that’s 100 percent the wrong way to go. I’m kind of following my own BS theory. I just don’t think in 2011, technology the way it is, people have the attention span to listen to a 10 or 12 song record.
Piggy D. – photo courtesy of Piggy-D.com
I really liked your first solo album. “Roll Call” is very moving.
PD: Thank you, that’s one of my favorites.
How did you decide on your look for touring with Rob Zombie?
PD: It’s been a constant evolution. I think anybody who has the remotely artistic disease just kind of puts the paint to the canvas and whatever happens, happens. “God Save the Queen Bee” was a lot like that. That was the first time I’ve actually done stream of consciousness writing. I was up at 4 in the morning and I just started writing, and I didn’t stop. I didn’t think about what I was writing. The makeup kind of happened the same way. I didn’t sit down with Photoshop. I just kind of put the brush on my face and that’s what happened.
Kind of a natural thing then. Your family are musicians too?
PD: Before I was born my older brother played drums, my dad played bass, my mom played guitar and they’d play country and gospel songs. I grew up in Texas and was raised on that music. When my brother got into KISS and Van Halen I didn’t really stand a chance. I had Dolly Parton records, The Oak Ridge Boys records, and then I had Diver Down. I was screwed.
