Devin Townsend: Peavy Signature PXD Vicious seven-string baritone guitar

plus another interview

Devin Townsend:

Totally. 100%. Without making that life change, I’d have been stuck where I was and the writing was on the wall and I say that and again I can say that until I’m blue in the face and people still wouldn’t get that, but staying there would have stunted me emotionally for the rest of my life, so I chose not to. It’s nothing against the music. I’m very proud of the music, I think it’s awesome, but it’s not me anymore. A lady said to me before “Why would you not do it again?” and I replied “Why would you want me to?” If I’m not there, it’s going to ruin the romance for the people who expect it to be something I’m not anymore. When I was in Strapping, I was furious and on drugs and shit, and I worked a lot of it out – it’s not like it went away, but I worked it out. I consciously made an effort to work that shit out. A lot of people are upset when you work out your anger issues, but there’s a big industry for music which is furious and angry because in my opinion, the world is looking for a justification to feel the same way. “Look! It’s popular to say “Fuck Everything” so it must be O.K!” and I don’t think it is in a lot of ways. It’s O.K when you’re younger, but when you get older, you end up hurting yourself if you still feel that way. But again, the way I chose to write music and the way Slayer write music is different – I’m not saying Slayer are unhealthy… more