Oct. 5, 2026

Cavalera Family Legacy, Touring Stories, and Roots Album Magic at Aftershock 2026

Show Notes
Transcript

In this energetic and candid festival interview, Pipeman sits down with Igor Amadeus Cavalera during their Roots album performance tour stop at Louder Than Life and Aftershock. They talk about touring, the power of family in metal, balancing passion and business, generational connections in heavy music, the importance of authenticity, and the realities—often far from glamorous—of life on the road. Igor Amadeus Cavalera also shares stories from Nailbomb reunion shows, insights into his writing career, and the joy of performing with his legendary father.Main Topics Covered

Cavalera performing classic Sepultura albums and the Roots show at Aftershock and Louder Than Life
The intergenerational spirit of metal festivals and family bonds in music
Surviving severe weather and the chaos of large festivals
The economics of touring: struggles, realities, and appreciation for fan support
Nailbomb reunion: connecting eras and fulfilling Alex Newport's legacy
Authenticity, personality, and creative freedom in metal music
Igor Amadeus Cavalera's hobbies outside music: writing and literature
Advice for aspiring musicians: forging your own path and sound
How fans can support artists meaningfully

Key Discussions & Stories

Roots Album Live & Brazilian Influence
- Igor Amadeus Cavalera explains the significance of playing the Roots album, celebrating its Brazilian and Latin roots, and the privilege of performing alongside his family (00:25).
Aftershock & Louder Than Life Weather Chaos
- They recount nearly being evacuated from a festival due to storms and lightning, and reflect on the unique festival experience (01:09).
Cross-Generational Audiences
- Discussion on how metal now bridges old and young fans, evident at both festivals and small-town shows. Grandparents, parents, and grandkids share the pit (04:14).
Touring Hardships & Financial Realities
- Honest conversation about expensive touring, business vs. passion balance, and how every fan ticket or merch purchase helps bands survive (06:06, 08:23).
Nailbomb Revival & Alex Newport's Authenticity
- Igor Amadeus Cavalera on stepping into Nailbomb after Alex Newport declined for heartfelt reasons, and discussing authenticity in music choices (15:15).
Creativity, Routine, and Hobbies
- Igor Amadeus Cavalera shares his passion for reading/writing sci-fi and horror novels, the peace it brings after chaotic tours, and ways to channel energy productively off-road (13:14).
Playing with Family & Musical Approach
- Reflections on sharing the stage with his father and uncle, their contrasting personalities, and the dynamic it brings to their music (17:18).
Authenticity Over Perfection
- Rejecting technical rigidity in favor of uniqueness—“You ain’t never gonna sound like me because you ain’t me.” (18:38)
Parental Influence & Self-Discovery
- Growing up around music but never forced; Igor Amadeus Cavalera highlights the importance of finding your own path (20:30).

Notable Quotes

“The passion comes first, and then you find a way to make a life out of it.” – Igor Amadeus Cavalera 05:21
“It’s a big harmonious effort on everyone’s part. It’s love, really, at the end of the day—as much as the music might be angry.” – Igor Amadeus Cavalera 09:04
“You ain’t never gonna sound like me because you ain’t me.” – Igor Amadeus Cavalera, quoting Al Jorgensen 18:38
“Don’t worry about your technical proficiency. Just figure out what you do best and just build on that.” – Igor Amadeus Cavalera 22:30
“I'm never going to take their hard-earned money and give them a half-assed show.” – Igor Amadeus Cavalera 08:35
“As much as it sucks, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” – Igor Amadeus Cavalera 10:39

Resources & Links Mentioned

Igor Amadeus Cavalera on Instagram:
Search for Full Moon Wizard (his only real, verified presence)
Bands:
- Cavalera
- Cavalera Conspiracy
- Nailbomb
- Healing Magic
- Go Ahead and Die
Books:
Igor Amadeus Cavalera is writing horror, sci-fi, and fantasy novels—keep an eye out for releases via his social media.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-adventures-of-pipeman--941822/support.

Click Here to Subscribe for PERKS, BONUS Content & FREE GIVEWAYS!

Follow @pipemanradio on all socials & Pipeman Radio Requests & Info at www.linktr.ee/pipemanradio

Stream The Adventures of Pipeman daily & live Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays at 1PM ET on W4CY Radio & Talk 4 TV.

Download, Rate & Review the Podcast at The Adventures of Pipeman, Pipeman Radio, Talk 4 Media, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & All Podcast Apps.

WEBVTT

1
00:00:05.019 --> 00:00:13.240
Hey, you're listening to Adventure on W4CY Radio.

2
00:00:19.410 --> 00:00:21.550
This is the Pipe Man here on the Adventure's Pipe

3
00:00:21.570 --> 00:00:23.690
Man W4CY Radio, and I'm here with.

4
00:00:24.170 --> 00:00:27.649
Igor Amadeus Cavalera. I'm playing today with Cavalera. We're going

5
00:00:27.670 --> 00:00:28.550
to be doing the Roots album.

6
00:00:29.089 --> 00:00:32.549
Oh, that is so fucking exciting. That's all I got

7
00:00:32.590 --> 00:00:38.109
to say. Oh, yeah. And you're here at Aftershock. Have

8
00:00:38.130 --> 00:00:40.450
you guys ever played Aftershock?

9
00:00:40.689 --> 00:00:43.289
We actually did last year. We were on tour doing

10
00:00:43.329 --> 00:00:44.070
Chaos A.D.

11
00:00:44.490 --> 00:00:45.570
Yeah, I remember that.

12
00:00:45.670 --> 00:00:49.729
Yeah, we've been following all the tour cycles, album cycles,

13
00:00:49.810 --> 00:00:54.039
all the way back to Bestial Devastation, Morbid Vision, Schizophrenia,

14
00:00:54.100 --> 00:00:57.759
Beneath the Remains, everything you can imagine. from the Max

15
00:00:57.780 --> 00:01:01.509
and Igor era of Sepultura. And this is only our

16
00:01:01.549 --> 00:01:05.230
second time doing Roots. Nice. We did Louder Than Life

17
00:01:05.489 --> 00:01:06.430
about three weeks ago.

18
00:01:06.450 --> 00:01:07.769
I was there for that.

19
00:01:07.829 --> 00:01:11.090
Yeah, it was awesome. Almost got canceled from the storms,

20
00:01:11.709 --> 00:01:13.420
which is crazy, the lightning and stuff.

21
00:01:13.480 --> 00:01:15.599
I've got to tell you a secret about that, okay?

22
00:01:16.219 --> 00:01:20.219
We should have been evacuated that second time. I think

23
00:01:20.340 --> 00:01:23.780
because my chem was there and all the emo kids

24
00:01:23.819 --> 00:01:27.590
would have flipped out. They kind of let it slide.

25
00:01:27.629 --> 00:01:29.150
No, I believe it. I mean, we were even on

26
00:01:29.269 --> 00:01:33.349
stage and there was like the most epic lightning bolts.

27
00:01:33.730 --> 00:01:34.000
Yeah.

28
00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:37.060
And I couldn't believe they, you know, they evacuated like

29
00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:39.780
four hours earlier. And then here I am on stage.

30
00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:43.459
It's like pouring rain and lightning every couple of seconds.

31
00:01:43.959 --> 00:01:47.019
I was just like, whatever, we're winging it. Whatever happens, happens.

32
00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:49.379
It's going to be fun. And it ended up being

33
00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:52.390
really sick. And today I think it's going to be

34
00:01:52.420 --> 00:01:56.879
even better. Better weather and... California has a great fan

35
00:01:56.900 --> 00:02:00.379
base for, you know, especially the Latino culture out here

36
00:02:00.500 --> 00:02:03.019
for Max and Igor and all of us is, like,

37
00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:05.019
just unbeatable, you know?

38
00:02:05.219 --> 00:02:08.740
Oh, yeah, and you got big today, too, because right

39
00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:11.860
before this, I was at La Drone's set.

40
00:02:12.180 --> 00:02:12.439
Okay.

41
00:02:12.860 --> 00:02:17.020
And, oh, my God, how many Latinos were there for

42
00:02:17.060 --> 00:02:20.340
their set? Because, of course, Jose Mangan, that's his band,

43
00:02:20.379 --> 00:02:24.250
so he was pushing it, and, man... I mean, it

44
00:02:24.300 --> 00:02:27.439
was just a sea of Latinos. It was so cool.

45
00:02:27.580 --> 00:02:31.419
No, it's great. Especially for the Roots album, it has

46
00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:36.500
such a Brazilian influence, which for me, that's my family.

47
00:02:37.319 --> 00:02:41.039
That stuff, it courses through my blood as well. It's

48
00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:43.289
easy to look at me and overlook that because of

49
00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:47.490
my complexion and whatnot. But I do have a connection

50
00:02:47.530 --> 00:02:50.810
with the Latino roots of everything and the music and

51
00:02:51.050 --> 00:02:54.490
the rhythms, the percussion. um you know I'm playing bass

52
00:02:54.530 --> 00:02:57.270
for this band so getting to lock in on those

53
00:02:57.330 --> 00:03:00.530
rhythms with my uncle is is just awesome I mean

54
00:03:00.550 --> 00:03:03.389
he's one of the best drummers like ever of all

55
00:03:03.430 --> 00:03:05.430
time I mean I don't think anybody would argue that

56
00:03:05.469 --> 00:03:08.229
you know so like getting to be the other end

57
00:03:08.250 --> 00:03:10.449
of the rhythm section with him is just like a

58
00:03:10.530 --> 00:03:13.879
really like magical thing to be a part of you

59
00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:16.099
know and I can't wait to play it today.

60
00:03:15.979 --> 00:03:20.240
I love the whole family atmosphere of your whole family

61
00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:23.870
yeah okay like I wouldn't happen in my family. So

62
00:03:23.909 --> 00:03:26.280
that's why I think it's cool, man. Like I go

63
00:03:26.340 --> 00:03:28.379
back to the 80s, like I was at the first

64
00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:32.240
Metallica and Slayer shows ever. My dad would never showed

65
00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:34.159
up to A & O' s and I certainly wouldn't have

66
00:03:34.180 --> 00:03:36.849
gone to anything he wanted to go to. I think

67
00:03:36.889 --> 00:03:40.210
that's what's cool about today. It's like you go out

68
00:03:40.270 --> 00:03:46.250
there in these festivals and there's grandparents, kids, grandkids. It's

69
00:03:46.289 --> 00:03:49.199
like three generations out there. Yeah.

70
00:03:49.460 --> 00:03:52.900
No, you really see it, especially in the club settings.

71
00:03:54.460 --> 00:03:56.759
We're not on tour for Roots. We're actually on tour

72
00:03:56.780 --> 00:04:00.139
with Nailbomb right now, which is weird because Nailbomb's not

73
00:04:00.180 --> 00:04:03.000
playing today. But we've been on the road for the

74
00:04:03.020 --> 00:04:07.580
last three weeks doing Nailbomb in lots of, not as

75
00:04:07.620 --> 00:04:10.699
an insult, but D and C kind of tier cities,

76
00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:14.039
smaller towns. We played Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

77
00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:15.560
Wow.

78
00:04:15.580 --> 00:04:19.370
A little town in Illinois called McHenry. And to see

79
00:04:19.990 --> 00:04:23.009
the front row at those shows is really crazy because,

80
00:04:23.250 --> 00:04:26.750
you know, there's people that bought the Nailbomb record when

81
00:04:26.790 --> 00:04:30.509
it came out in 1994 all the way to people

82
00:04:30.689 --> 00:04:34.529
born 15 years after that, like, in the front row

83
00:04:34.990 --> 00:04:37.689
rocking to it. And I don't, you know, I'm sure

84
00:04:37.730 --> 00:04:42.149
the situation here at the festival is very similar. You know, yeah,

85
00:04:42.189 --> 00:04:46.160
like you said, grandparents to grandkids to everything in between,

86
00:04:46.180 --> 00:04:50.699
you know, metal... Was stigmatized for a really long time.

87
00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:53.680
And I think it's starting to be a bit more

88
00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:56.990
just acceptable. And I think a lot more people are

89
00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:00.689
realizing it's not all demons and evil stuff and whatever.

90
00:05:00.730 --> 00:05:03.629
It's the exact opposite anyway. It is. If you really

91
00:05:03.689 --> 00:05:06.529
get into it and you meet people... We are a

92
00:05:06.629 --> 00:05:09.810
big family and some of the nicest people you ever meet.

93
00:05:10.269 --> 00:05:12.779
No, exactly. And you see it in the crowd. And

94
00:05:12.899 --> 00:05:16.939
I really love that. Going on stage and just... kind

95
00:05:16.980 --> 00:05:20.129
of like bridging the gap between different generations you know

96
00:05:20.269 --> 00:05:22.790
it's it's so cool and yeah i mean to be

97
00:05:22.810 --> 00:05:25.350
a part of a family that does this as our

98
00:05:25.689 --> 00:05:29.769
you know our our business and our passion our neck

99
00:05:29.810 --> 00:05:32.230
and neck you know what i mean because the passion

100
00:05:32.269 --> 00:05:34.139
comes first and then you find a way to kind

101
00:05:34.180 --> 00:05:36.519
of like make a life out of it make a

102
00:05:36.519 --> 00:05:38.439
living you know we all have to pay rent we

103
00:05:38.459 --> 00:05:41.040
all have to you know, go to the grocery store

104
00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:43.540
and spend $ 500 for like four bags.

105
00:05:43.370 --> 00:05:44.250
Of food nowadays.

106
00:05:44.310 --> 00:05:47.129
And you know, so as much as I'd love to

107
00:05:47.189 --> 00:05:50.370
give away my music for free and, and let people

108
00:05:50.410 --> 00:05:52.250
enjoy it, you know, I, I live in the same

109
00:05:52.310 --> 00:05:55.430
world as everybody else. And, you know, we, we've found

110
00:05:55.470 --> 00:05:57.889
a good way to make it a business and to

111
00:05:57.939 --> 00:06:00.800
make it successful where we're able to do this. And

112
00:06:00.819 --> 00:06:03.699
we're able to go to so many places and, and

113
00:06:03.939 --> 00:06:06.060
play for our fans, you know, cause it's not cheap.

114
00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:09.120
There's no way to do it out of pocket nowadays. And, um,

115
00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:14.379
You know, seeing that front row of three generations of

116
00:06:14.430 --> 00:06:17.370
people makes it all worth it. It makes the travel

117
00:06:17.410 --> 00:06:21.769
worth it and the expenses. The $ 7 a gallon diesel.

118
00:06:21.810 --> 00:06:24.370
I mean, to fill these buses is insane nowadays.

119
00:06:24.389 --> 00:06:25.170
Oh, my God.

120
00:06:25.209 --> 00:06:29.439
I can't even imagine. So little moments like that kind

121
00:06:29.480 --> 00:06:32.720
of reinforce the passion for it. Because when you fall

122
00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:34.720
into the business stuff, that is where you can get

123
00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:36.699
a little jaded and you can get kind of burned out.

124
00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:37.279
Totally.

125
00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:41.329
But just seeing that crowd every night, and especially at

126
00:06:41.629 --> 00:06:45.689
a festival like Aftershock, It makes every moment of crap

127
00:06:45.730 --> 00:06:48.269
that you deal with just so much more worth it.

128
00:06:48.350 --> 00:06:52.110
You know? Oh, absolutely. And to your point, I talk

129
00:06:52.129 --> 00:06:56.310
about it all the time because I own radio stations.

130
00:06:57.149 --> 00:07:00.129
I'm licensed. I pay royalties. And yet I pay more

131
00:07:00.209 --> 00:07:04.529
royalties than Spotify. There's something wrong with that picture. Absolutely. Like,

132
00:07:04.670 --> 00:07:06.209
who knew Lars was right?

133
00:07:06.540 --> 00:07:06.720
Yeah.

134
00:07:06.899 --> 00:07:10.680
And that's true. You know, and I do run into

135
00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:12.860
other people that are like, you know, the ones that

136
00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:15.589
started their own thing and run it at her house.

137
00:07:15.649 --> 00:07:18.230
And I'm like, well, you know, you have to get licensed,

138
00:07:18.269 --> 00:07:20.810
you have to pay royalties and they don't even know.

139
00:07:20.829 --> 00:07:23.350
And then they're like, well, they should just be happy.

140
00:07:23.689 --> 00:07:26.110
I'm playing her music. And I'm like, um, do you

141
00:07:26.189 --> 00:07:28.649
work for free? Like, how do you think they get

142
00:07:28.689 --> 00:07:31.589
to the gigs? Like they, they have this image, like

143
00:07:31.629 --> 00:07:34.689
you're making all these, all this money and living the life.

144
00:07:34.790 --> 00:07:37.240
And like, I'm sure you get it all the time.

145
00:07:37.300 --> 00:07:39.180
I even get it with what I do. Oh, you

146
00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:41.139
lived a dream life. That's because you're looking at my

147
00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:43.600
social media. I'm not putting the shit on there.

148
00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:48.699
No, it's so true. We do a good job of

149
00:07:49.540 --> 00:07:52.759
not advertising a lot of the bullshit that comes with

150
00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:57.860
doing this. Like I said, just the expenses. The market

151
00:07:58.040 --> 00:08:01.339
for all of this is pretty rough now. To be

152
00:08:01.379 --> 00:08:03.680
able to go out and do it and not lose...

153
00:08:04.250 --> 00:08:07.079
you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars, maybe even millions

154
00:08:07.180 --> 00:08:10.899
over the years is, is tough. And that's why I

155
00:08:11.899 --> 00:08:15.160
try to give the fans such a good show and

156
00:08:15.220 --> 00:08:17.759
always give it my all because just as much as

157
00:08:17.819 --> 00:08:21.670
we're spending money to get there, they're spending their hard

158
00:08:21.699 --> 00:08:22.569
earned money as well.

159
00:08:22.870 --> 00:08:23.009
Yeah.

160
00:08:23.069 --> 00:08:25.230
And I'm never going to go up there and give

161
00:08:25.269 --> 00:08:27.870
them a half assed set when they, for all I know,

162
00:08:27.889 --> 00:08:30.569
they work in a factory or they, you know, they

163
00:08:30.610 --> 00:08:34.139
deliver packages, they, they, they cook, they clean and, They

164
00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:36.500
do whatever. They do construction. I'm never going to take

165
00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:40.440
their hard-earned money and give them a half-assed show. It

166
00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:43.379
goes the same way. They're spending money to be there.

167
00:08:43.419 --> 00:08:46.740
We're spending money to be there. It's a business. It's capitalism.

168
00:08:46.860 --> 00:08:49.159
It's a bunch of shit that I really hate, but

169
00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:52.230
I have no option but to go with it. You

170
00:08:52.470 --> 00:08:56.769
have to just roll with the machine. It makes it

171
00:08:56.809 --> 00:08:59.889
all worth it in the end. Giving them a good show,

172
00:09:00.610 --> 00:09:03.049
them supporting us in return by buying merch and doing

173
00:09:03.090 --> 00:09:07.450
things like that You know, it's a big harmonious effort

174
00:09:07.610 --> 00:09:10.950
on everyone's part, and it's love, really, at the end

175
00:09:10.970 --> 00:09:13.600
of the day. As much as the music might be angry,

176
00:09:14.360 --> 00:09:17.299
there might be some hate-fueled lyrics and things like that.

177
00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:21.440
But that's what gets it out. Like, it's therapy, man.

178
00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:24.720
I've always said that if it weren't for the pit,

179
00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:27.120
there'd be a lot of people that would get their

180
00:09:27.340 --> 00:09:29.919
asses kicked in the outside world. I get the shit

181
00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:32.460
out in the pit, and then we all hug each other,

182
00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:33.419
and you're good.

183
00:09:33.669 --> 00:09:35.950
Yeah, it's love at the end of the day. And

184
00:09:36.789 --> 00:09:38.389
we love doing it as much as the fans love

185
00:09:38.429 --> 00:09:44.039
seeing it. Getting these opportunities, even just our stage alone,

186
00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:48.720
is like Cro-Mags, Municipal Waste, Pops doing Double Duty with

187
00:09:48.779 --> 00:09:54.230
Soulfly and Cavalera, Body Count, Suicidal Tenant. That stage alone

188
00:09:54.289 --> 00:09:55.429
is insane.

189
00:09:55.629 --> 00:09:59.470
Which pisses me off because media is about, I think,

190
00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:02.399
it's over in San Francisco compared to here.

191
00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:03.100
No, it is.

192
00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:05.919
And all my favorite bands are playing here. When I

193
00:10:05.980 --> 00:10:07.620
even came over here, I'm like, oh cool, I get

194
00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:09.669
to catch the Cro-Mags now for a few minutes.

195
00:10:09.710 --> 00:10:12.690
Exactly. No, it's great. But it is a huge festival.

196
00:10:13.230 --> 00:10:15.809
It's really hot. You can probably tell sitting here, our

197
00:10:15.870 --> 00:10:17.750
generator on the bus has been going out. We have

198
00:10:17.789 --> 00:10:21.070
no air conditioning right now. It's like 91 degrees outside.

199
00:10:21.110 --> 00:10:24.990
We're sweating. We're dying. It's not comfortable walking around out there.

200
00:10:25.009 --> 00:10:27.990
That's the dream life part of it, right?

201
00:10:28.009 --> 00:10:28.149
It is.

202
00:10:28.210 --> 00:10:29.090
It's the dream, you know?

203
00:10:29.669 --> 00:10:31.529
Using a port-a-potty first thing in the morning.

204
00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:31.909
Right.

205
00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:36.500
And the 90-degree California heat. That's the glamorous champagne and

206
00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:39.279
bubble baths that we get to do every single day.

207
00:10:39.960 --> 00:10:42.759
And I wouldn't trade it for anything. As much as

208
00:10:42.820 --> 00:10:47.509
it sucks and a lot of people could not handle touring... Um, it,

209
00:10:47.620 --> 00:10:49.840
you know, it breaks a lot of people and even

210
00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:51.379
a lot of people attempt to do it and it

211
00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:54.460
breaks them. Um, you know, I, I started when I

212
00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:56.399
was really young. I actually, I dropped out of school

213
00:10:56.419 --> 00:10:59.320
when I was like 16 to start doing music and

214
00:10:59.860 --> 00:11:02.379
I'm 31 now. So I've been going for about 16

215
00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:05.789
years and it's hard. There's no doubting it. I, you know,

216
00:11:05.809 --> 00:11:09.279
I've lost friendships and relationships and Been through every up

217
00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:12.000
and down you can imagine. Broken down in South Florida

218
00:11:12.100 --> 00:11:15.460
in the middle of May. Broken down in the desert before.

219
00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:18.539
Broken down in the freezing cold. Like, there's nothing that's

220
00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:21.639
going to stop me from doing this as uncomfortable as

221
00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:23.639
it gets. That's just part of the rodeo, you know?

222
00:11:24.100 --> 00:11:27.039
Well, you made a point there. It's like, it's not

223
00:11:27.059 --> 00:11:30.379
for everybody. You have to love it. Like, my youngest daughter,

224
00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:34.659
she's 31. I'll bring her sometimes to festivals with me.

225
00:11:35.289 --> 00:11:37.450
Halfway through the first day, she's like, Dad, I don't

226
00:11:37.490 --> 00:11:41.370
know how you do this every weekend. I'm done already.

227
00:11:41.750 --> 00:11:45.789
I have the opposite feeling. I don't know what to

228
00:11:45.850 --> 00:11:48.500
do when I go home. All my friends are out here.

229
00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:51.320
Everybody I know is out here. When I do go home,

230
00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:55.320
I seclude. I don't even leave the house for a week.

231
00:11:57.120 --> 00:12:01.460
You really ride those highs of being on tour. Even

232
00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:04.250
doing media, you're traveling and going to the festivals and

233
00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:07.799
And experiencing a very similar thing to what we're all

234
00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:10.639
doing as well, you know. And, yeah, you ride that

235
00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:14.639
high for so long, you get home, it's quiet. I

236
00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:17.669
live by myself, so it's, like, particularly quiet.

237
00:12:17.710 --> 00:12:19.129
Me too at this point.

238
00:12:19.149 --> 00:12:21.490
And it's, like, just me and my two cats. And

239
00:12:21.509 --> 00:12:24.210
that first day I wake up and I, like, am

240
00:12:24.269 --> 00:12:25.210
twiddling my thumbs.

241
00:12:25.809 --> 00:12:27.210
Right, you don't know what to do.

242
00:12:27.289 --> 00:12:29.509
Yeah, I'm trying to, like, you also go from such

243
00:12:29.549 --> 00:12:33.429
a schedule, you know, load in, set up, sound check.

244
00:12:34.259 --> 00:12:37.559
go grab dinner, play your show, tear down, pack up

245
00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:40.820
the trailer, hang out, party for a little bit after

246
00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:43.679
whatever you're into. You know what I mean? You're so,

247
00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:46.620
you're so regulated in a chaotic way. You know, it's

248
00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:48.960
like controlled chaos being on tour. Right. Then you get

249
00:12:49.019 --> 00:12:52.100
home and, um, you know, the first couple of days

250
00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:54.360
you're just sitting around kind of like, man, I don't,

251
00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:57.169
I don't know what to do with myself right now. And, uh,

252
00:12:57.700 --> 00:12:59.370
You need to have some hobbies. You need to have

253
00:12:59.509 --> 00:13:02.919
some stuff to fall back on. Even just for me,

254
00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:06.100
playing music, going home, practicing other stuff, trying to write.

255
00:13:06.730 --> 00:13:09.450
do things like that. It really keeps me from going crazy.

256
00:13:09.629 --> 00:13:13.149
You have other hobbies besides music. Yeah. I always ask

257
00:13:13.169 --> 00:13:14.529
that cause I want to hear about that.

258
00:13:14.549 --> 00:13:17.309
Yeah, I actually do. Um, I'm a, I'm a huge bookworm. Uh,

259
00:13:17.990 --> 00:13:22.000
I always have been, I'm really into horror, sci-fi and,

260
00:13:22.129 --> 00:13:25.840
and like fantasy. And, uh, I write novels when I'm

261
00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:28.259
at home. Uh, I've written two horror novels and I'm

262
00:13:28.299 --> 00:13:29.200
on my third one now.

263
00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:29.740
Nice.

264
00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:34.240
And, uh, writing for me is like the piece from tour,

265
00:13:34.379 --> 00:13:38.240
you know, cause that controlled chaos, uh, uh surrounds me

266
00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:41.659
for almost six seven months out of every year so

267
00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:43.500
when I get home I like to sit down and

268
00:13:44.870 --> 00:13:46.909
put my glasses on and I get on my computer

269
00:13:46.990 --> 00:13:48.909
and I'll write for a couple hours and then I'll

270
00:13:49.009 --> 00:13:51.809
edit it and I'll run through the whole rigmarole over

271
00:13:51.870 --> 00:13:54.669
and over you know what I mean and um writing

272
00:13:54.690 --> 00:13:57.320
and reading for me are like the just the best

273
00:13:57.399 --> 00:14:00.980
way to unwind after a stressful crazy tour and.

274
00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:04.080
And again, good therapy because you can kind of like

275
00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:08.049
get out of your own head and into your own head.

276
00:14:08.590 --> 00:14:11.629
And you know what I'm talking about. It's like, you know,

277
00:14:12.129 --> 00:14:15.710
all the other shit you don't even think of. Exactly.

278
00:14:15.950 --> 00:14:18.860
You know, and then you get creative and that's the

279
00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:19.980
fun part, you know?

280
00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:20.779
No, it is.

281
00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:27.169
And, you know, it's interesting. I was at Bloodstock once. Yeah.

282
00:14:27.250 --> 00:14:30.769
When you did that first Nail Bomb show coming back. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh,

283
00:14:30.789 --> 00:14:32.649
my God. That was fucking insane.

284
00:14:32.710 --> 00:14:34.610
It was crazy. That tent was nuts.

285
00:14:34.830 --> 00:14:36.490
I was in that fucking tent.

286
00:14:36.509 --> 00:14:38.750
You could barely fit another person in there. It felt like,

287
00:14:38.909 --> 00:14:39.210
you know.

288
00:14:39.309 --> 00:14:41.889
It was insane. Like, I made sure I didn't book

289
00:14:42.090 --> 00:14:46.340
any interviews during that set. And I got over there.

290
00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:49.779
And I was like, holy shit. Like, I got to

291
00:14:49.799 --> 00:14:51.360
get through this crowd. Yeah.

292
00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:53.580
No, Nail Bomb is super fun to be a part of.

293
00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:59.370
And getting to fill... Alex Newport's shoes, because, you know,

294
00:14:59.409 --> 00:15:03.629
we obviously contacted him about doing it first, you know,

295
00:15:03.730 --> 00:15:06.440
everybody would love to see Max and Alex do it,

296
00:15:06.990 --> 00:15:10.629
myself included, like, I'm a huge fan of Fudge Tunnel, and,

297
00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:14.580
you know, even albums that Alex has produced, but he

298
00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:17.419
wasn't interested, you know, he straight up told us, like,

299
00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:19.950
I'm not into heavy music, and I don't want to

300
00:15:19.990 --> 00:15:22.289
play it. And it would be kind of, you know,

301
00:15:22.389 --> 00:15:24.029
he was like, it would be almost a little phony

302
00:15:24.070 --> 00:15:24.830
of me to do it.

303
00:15:25.090 --> 00:15:27.370
Which I totally respect. I have respect for that.

304
00:15:27.389 --> 00:15:29.370
To me, that's like the most punk rock answer you

305
00:15:29.389 --> 00:15:31.929
could ever give is saying, no, I don't want to

306
00:15:31.970 --> 00:15:35.720
do it. That's not authentic to me. So when he declined,

307
00:15:36.769 --> 00:15:40.440
you know, he suggested getting someone else to do his

308
00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:42.450
parts if they, if they really wanted to play it.

309
00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:44.759
And that was when they asked me, but because like

310
00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:46.990
I said, I'm a, I'm a huge Alex fan boy and,

311
00:15:47.450 --> 00:15:49.289
Like I said, Fudge Tunnel is my favorite band of

312
00:15:49.350 --> 00:15:54.379
all time. Nice. Getting to fill those shoes was crazy.

313
00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:58.500
I was in contact with Alex. We talked about what

314
00:15:58.519 --> 00:16:04.159
the writing and recording and everything was like for Nailbomb.

315
00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.950
I like to think I'm doing a pretty good job.

316
00:16:06.950 --> 00:16:10.289
It's a very mixed bag of opinions on me doing

317
00:16:10.309 --> 00:16:12.610
this stuff, but I don't listen to it. I just

318
00:16:12.629 --> 00:16:13.389
go up there every day.

319
00:16:13.450 --> 00:16:14.570
It's always a mixed bag.

320
00:16:14.590 --> 00:16:18.149
You know that. But it's cool, you know, between that

321
00:16:18.629 --> 00:16:22.320
and Cavalera, like, getting to play these old records. Once again,

322
00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:24.960
you know, it's like it's a bridge between my generation

323
00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:28.299
and my dad's generation. And even the kids younger than

324
00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:30.480
me are coming out to the shows. You know, I've

325
00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:34.000
seen plenty of, like, 9, 10, 11-year-olds in the crowd.

326
00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:37.240
It blows your mind that they even know the music.

327
00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:41.360
No, definitely. Like, some of these kids absolutely love these records,

328
00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:44.659
even though, yeah, they were born 15 years after they

329
00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:48.529
came out. Right. And, yeah, I mean, once again, it's

330
00:16:48.570 --> 00:16:51.570
such an honor to be able to do this stuff. And, yeah,

331
00:16:51.690 --> 00:16:54.029
between Nailbomb, Cavalera, and then, you know, I have my

332
00:16:54.070 --> 00:16:56.110
own bands as well that I do all the writing for.

333
00:16:56.129 --> 00:17:00.269
I'm busy, but it's like that's the best problem a

334
00:17:00.289 --> 00:17:03.659
person could have is just always having something to work on,

335
00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:04.039
you know?

336
00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:08.920
Yeah, you might have nothing, like, and that definitely happens

337
00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:10.500
a lot in this business, you know?

338
00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:13.720
It's infinitely worse to have nothing going on than too much,

339
00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:16.609
so I just... Try to never take it for granted,

340
00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:16.980
you know.

341
00:17:17.269 --> 00:17:18.670
What's it like playing with your dad?

342
00:17:18.690 --> 00:17:23.289
Oh, it's great. He's fun. Like, his energy is crazy,

343
00:17:23.470 --> 00:17:27.349
you know. He's 57 years old, and he's doing double

344
00:17:27.390 --> 00:17:30.750
duty this whole tour. Today he's doing Soulfly, Cavalera. Yeah,

345
00:17:30.769 --> 00:17:32.930
that's mad respect for that. Yeah, every other night he's

346
00:17:32.970 --> 00:17:37.369
doing Nail Bomb and Soulfly. And his energy is crazy,

347
00:17:37.390 --> 00:17:41.369
and it's really inspiring to me. You know, it gives

348
00:17:41.430 --> 00:17:47.390
me hope that I'll be 57 still up there rocking, jumping, headbanging, screaming.

349
00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:51.359
He really hasn't lost his voice, which is impressive.

350
00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:53.140
That's very impressive.

351
00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:55.940
A lot of guys hit their 50s and really can't scream.

352
00:17:56.269 --> 00:17:58.950
Rightfully so sometimes, you know. It's not an easy thing.

353
00:17:59.670 --> 00:18:00.509
to do all the time.

354
00:18:00.549 --> 00:18:03.509
Especially the old school people, because I come from that time.

355
00:18:03.569 --> 00:18:05.890
I sang thrash metal in the 80s, and I didn't

356
00:18:05.930 --> 00:18:07.089
know what the fuck I was doing.

357
00:18:07.150 --> 00:18:07.630
Exactly.

358
00:18:07.789 --> 00:18:10.420
You didn't have technique back then, and I blew out

359
00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:10.980
my voice.

360
00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:13.900
And you definitely didn't have YouTube videos explaining how to

361
00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:18.660
do it like a lot of people have nowadays. I'm

362
00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:22.019
kind of a firm believer in not having technique. I

363
00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:26.220
do think what gives you personality... is maybe doing some

364
00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:30.779
things wrong, particularly with your voice. You know, technique is

365
00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:33.890
great and awesome, but you end up sounding like a

366
00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:36.829
thousand other guys who have perfect technique. And at least

367
00:18:36.869 --> 00:18:39.549
for me, I don't like that. You know, I think

368
00:18:39.569 --> 00:18:42.960
it was someone like Al Jorgensen said... you ain't never

369
00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:45.339
going to sound like me cause you ain't me. And

370
00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:47.880
I do it the way that I do it. And

371
00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:49.940
nobody's ever going to replicate that.

372
00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:50.880
Nobody will.

373
00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:53.809
Nobody will. Exactly. So, so I'm a firm believer in that.

374
00:18:54.069 --> 00:18:55.730
And honestly, my dad is kind of the same way.

375
00:18:55.769 --> 00:18:59.509
You know, he's not, um, he's not like learned, you know,

376
00:18:59.589 --> 00:19:03.579
everything that he's written and done, he's just like figured

377
00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:08.619
it out as he's going. And that's just super inspiring. And, uh,

378
00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:11.599
We're also very different, me and him, which is cool.

379
00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:15.519
We bring different dynamics to our live show and to

380
00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:20.460
our approach to things. He's a little more sporadic. I'm

381
00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:23.799
a little more like, let's think this out before we

382
00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:26.380
do it. He's very by the seat of his pants.

383
00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:28.819
I'm a little more like, let's come up with a plan.

384
00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:31.640
But I think having the two of us together makes

385
00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:32.819
that really cool.

386
00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:36.920
The happy middle, but putting it in the funnel and

387
00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:38.460
then what comes out of that funnel.

388
00:19:38.970 --> 00:19:41.759
So, no, it's great. Getting a jam with family is

389
00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:44.160
truly such a blessing.

390
00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:49.089
Yeah. That's way cool. And I do agree with what

391
00:19:49.130 --> 00:19:52.240
you're saying Cause I've been saying a lot lately, like, listen,

392
00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:55.460
the big four thrash did not sound the same at all.

393
00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:57.779
It didn't even sound like it was the same genre. Yeah.

394
00:19:58.200 --> 00:20:01.700
But yet you have these bands nowadays, like I say,

395
00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:05.059
they like kind of use an algebraic equation to, to

396
00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:09.730

Cavalera Family Legacy, Touring Stories, and Roots Album Magic at Aftershock 2026

Listen On

Featured Episodes

Recent Episodes

Support On