Trey Spruance

Band:
Secret Chiefs 3

Album:
Book of Horizons

Return of the Chiefs

Music columnist Danny Canak caught up with obsessive composer/producer Trey Spruance last month to chat about the new Secret Chiefs 3 album and to clear up all of those rumours concerning his other band Mr Bungle.

According to Spruance, he has not spoken with his Mr Bungle buddy Mike Patton for almost four years and the future of the band is uncertain. However, Spruance has revealed that this is not the main issue preventing the band from continuing - contrary to popular belief. It's Mr Bungle's management situation that he is not happy with.

He says, "Put it this way, we know that (Mike Patton) feels most comfortable with our management situation the way it is...he certainly is not willing to budge on something like that. Some of the rest of us were able to take that as far as we could. We would exist under those conditions to our absolute limit and then we reached our absolute limit and now we just sit at our absolute limit and wait. That’s all we can do.”

He adds, "From my perspective, that’s what the problem is. I mean Patton and I, we always have like little stuff that we would butt heads about - that’s nothing new. But he and I could fight until the end of the universe and this situation wouldn’t get resolved because it’s not really about Patton and me. It’s a political situation that has not fared very well for Mr Bungle - let’s just put it that way. It’s just not a good situation for the band, the band members, or the musical direction, or any of it.” Here's hoping that the situation gets resolved.

Spruance also revealed he's planning an Australian tour in early 2005. He says, "Secret Chiefs 3 might go over there in January. Australia has always been really good for the Secret Chiefs 3. We’re definitely going to do our best. I’m pretty sure that we’re going to come over there man. I think it’s the best country that that band has ever been to.” In the meantime, check out the new Secret Chiefs 3 album 'Book Of Horizons'.

The album features an astonishing number of guests including composer/violinist Eyvind Kang, Danny Heifetz (Dieselhed, Mr Bungle), Shazad Ismaily (Brian Eno, Air, Elysian Fields), William Winant (Xenakis, Sonic Youth, Yo Yo Ma), Phil Franklin (Barbara Manning, Sunburned Hand of the Man), John Merriman (Cephalic Carnage), Ches Smith (Theory of Ruin, Good For Cows), Unhuman, Ursula Knudesen, Estradasphere, and many more. Pick it up now!

Danny Canak

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