APOPHIS THEORY is a group of talented musicians who are the genuine article. They are fun to hang out with and will always put on a good show. I can’t wait to see them again and I would like to recommend that everybody, if they should get a chance to… check out this band. They give you a personal experience you will never forget.
APOPHIS THEORY has opened for such bands as DOPE, (HED) P.E., SEVENDUST, PUDDLE OF MUDD and MOTOGRATER.
APOPHIS THEORY is:
Deakon Grage – Bass and Vocals
Brandon Edwards – vocals
Jimme Wagley – Lead Guitar
Jake Halfmoon – Rhythm Guitar
Joel Hunter – Drums
APOPHIS THEORY ‘(X)(C)M(X)Cmlii’
INFRARED MAG: Joel, Who was your biggest influences on the drums?
JOEL: My biggest influences were three guys, #1 Scott Cuthbert he taught drums at the high school I went to and really begin the technique and reading music process for me. If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t be here. He was also Everclear’s first drummer. #2 Mike Apodaca also a high school drum teacher and still teaches the drum line at multiple High Schools. #3 Wesley Johnson he was the first guy that made drumming look cool to me because he could play the kit.
SHOUT OUT TO JOEL’S INFLUENCES!
Scott Cuthbert | Mike Apodaca | Wesley Johnson
INFRARED MAG: Joel, from what I understand and please correct me if I’m wrong, you live a very healthy lifestyle and I can’t imagine how hard that must be playing in venues that serve alcohol. What is some advice you can give to other musicians who play in venues to stay sober?
JOEL: For me, I had to focus on being away for a minute and just be clean. I had been a criminal heroin addict for more than a decade so in the first two years clean, I didn’t play. The first bands I played with when I came back to the scene was with two other guys that had been clean around the same time as me. We held each other accountable. In Apophis Theory two of us are totally sober, so that helps. It’s definitely a dangerous arena for some. I never really cared for drinking so that helps. For me personally, I think doing some work on myself with anonymous self-help groups and being conscious of what my consequences are AND if I choose to be stupid, helps me stay on track. I know where it leads so I just choose not to. Hell how many other bands have a sober drummer with a car, house and a job?
INFRARED MAG: Joel, what is your view on the Pacific Northwest music scene? What would you like to see happened to improve it?
JOEL: I feel a huge lack of unity. Like people are in competition. I wish we all helped each other more. I’ve been booking and promoting shows here, California and Washington. Seriously, the best music connections and help I’ve received are from guys like myself and bands in other states. There are a few key guys here who I feel “get it” and are a pleasure to work with. I wish I saw more bands going to other bands shows in support you.
INFRARED MAG: Jimme, Who was your biggest influence in the guitar world?
JIMME: Dimebag – He did what he liked and liked what he did.
INFRARED MAG: Jimme, I know you put a lot of your mind, body and soul into your music. Please describe to us What pushes you to do this?
JIMME: I feel the music. It resonates through me and is a major part of me. The stuff that makes you move and the groove that gets deep in my soul and fires me up.
INFRARED MAG: Jimme, Where would you like to travel and play if it could be anywhere on this earth?
JIMME: I have traveled the world working and tech’in for other bands and one place I really liked was Perth Australia. The weather, people, ocean and hospitality was amazing.
INFRARED MAG: Deakon, What inspires you to make music?
DEAKON: The ability to make others “feel”. Even people who say they cant feel, still can’t deny that music stirs something in them.
INFRARED MAG: Deakon, What do you think needs to happen to influence the PNW to come out and see more concerts?
DEAKON: Honestly, What needs to happen is the PNW needs to become a juggernaut for music, be it metal or rock or whatever. Bands need to not be afraid to grind and hustle. Bands are not willing to sell tickets to push themselves to the next level. If you won’t invest in yourselves then who in their right mind is going to invest in you themselves? Take the initiative, don’t rely on venues to promote. In fact, do away with promoters all together. Bands, pony up money to rent venues yourselves. Put money where your mouths are. But then again, bands say that’s “pay to play”, it the money that the promoter would have made, the bands could make themselves. This is a frustrating subject for me. If you can’t tell already “lol”.
INFRARED MAG: Deakon, What would be some advice that you would give to the next generation of musicians.
DEAKON: Quit relying on computers to make SHIT for you! That is all. Create your own fucking God Damned beats.
INFRARED MAG: Jake, Who is your biggest guitar influences?
JAKE: So many influential guitar players in my memories. Chet Atkins, Chuck Schuldiner, SRV, Iommi, Rhoads, Dimebag and Alex Skolnick. I think the one who probably shows the most, in my own writing style though would be Hanneman. Why? I’m not even sure.
INFRARED MAG: Jake, What kind of guitar do you play, do you have others and which one is your favorite?
JAKE: With Apophis Theory I play a Sean ML. I own many other guitars. 10 in total and they are all my favorite. HaHa.
INFRARED MAG: Jake, Please try to describe for us What the word “passion” means to you.
JAKE: Passion for me is having an overwhelming compulsion to do something. Everyone needs to be passionate about something. Whether it’s making music, taking care of your family or doing your job. Find your passion.
INFRARED MAG: Brandon, I know you are one of the most entertaining singers I have ever witnessed. Why do you feel it is so important to engage the audience the way you do?
BRANDON: I think it’s very important to engage with the audience and the fan on a personal level. It makes them remember you easier then just the name of a band. They could have seen hundreds of bands in their life and the second the band interacts with that person it changes the whole perception of the band. Definitely highlights a show.
INFRARED MAG: Brandon, what can potential fans expect from you when they go see you live?
BRANDON: People can expect one hell of a show for sure. We do not ever have the same set and we never do the same things on stage. We try to do something different every time we have a lot of energy and the fans feed off of it as we do off them.
INFRARED MAG: Brandon, you always love your fans and express a lot of love to the audience. What is a message you want your fans and audience to know?
BRANDON: Music is my life and my expression it has helped me through some of the darkest days of my life. Music has shown me my life and my purpose. Music is my savior it is my religion. I share my passion with every one of our fans and they share our passion and love just as we do for the music. They are our family. It’s better than religion because unlike religion music brings people together and heals the broken. It has no judgment nor limits. It doesn’t divide like religion everyone has the gift of Music within them that must be found and fed. Even those who think they aren’t musically inclined have music deep within them they just need encouragement. Music brings all religions, genders and ethnicities together with no judgment. I want fans to know that no matter how hard things get, music will always prevail when everything else is falling apart.