As Reported on the @ Battle Creek Enquirer – You can head there to see the full article, or the highlights about Juggalos and Video Games are quoted below.
The heavy metal band Dope has been working hard to rock for 16 years and they’re bringing that energy to Battle Creek.
Dope’s lineup has been an ever-changing list of hard rock musicians, but at the center of it all, founder and lead singer Edsel Dope has been keeping it going through touring, producing and getting their songs into Hollywood movies.
Dope will perform at The Music Factory, 191 Angell St., at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 30. The singer talked to the Enquirer about crowdfunded albums, video game fame and their mini-arena show, as well as answering a question from the previous subject of The Note.
You’ve had your music turn up in “The Fast and the Furious,” the WWE and Guitar Hero. What’s it like knowing someone’s out there playing a game where they’re trying to play your song?
“It’s pretty cool. I’ve always been into those touch points. I’ve always tried to get music into films and video games, and those other places that touch people. Guitar Hero itself is just a crazy game. But I was stoked. A lot of people found that song and found the band through that. Any opportunity for people to find the band and connect with a piece of music that we made, I’m all for it.
What is the experience of seeing Dope live?
“You’ll never see a more well-put-together show in the size of venue that we’re playing. I can assure you that if you like a live music experience, you will not see a more entertaining show in that venue than you’ll see for the Dope concert.
“We’re traveling with a hundred square feet of high-res LED wall. The production is sick. It’s pretty mind blowing, what we’re able to put on these smaller stages and the intensity that we’re able to capture with that. It’s like a miniature arena show put into clubs. That’s something we’ve put a lot of time and expense into making sure that it will be memorable for people.
“It definitely is hard one to walk away form and not go, ‘Holy shit, that was insane.'”
Because this is Michigan, I have to ask about the experience of playing at the Gathering of the Juggalos (Dope performed at the 2003 gathering for fans of the Michigan-born Insane Clown Posse)?
“We’ve always done good with the Clown fans. I don’t know if it’s our message or our middle fingers or what it is, but the Gathering was a lot of fun. The Juggalos seem to respond well to the message of Dope and our vibe.
“We’ve always connected in that circle, and Michigan’s always been a good market for us. A lot of fun and hopefully all the Juggalos will come out and give us their best ‘whoop whoop,’ which is spelled w-h-o-o-p, I believe. If you want to quote me, you can say we’re down with the clown.”
