An Interview with Mister Fister and the Bloody Fingers

The Hartford, Connecticut area has its fair share of rock bands. Some of these bands are loosely- formed aggregations of young people who are just learning how to play their instruments and others are made-up of seasoned musical veterans who have been plying their trades for many years.

One of the latter groups of musicians, which has been performing together for over twenty years,in various ensembles, is known as Mister Fister and The Bloody Fingers.These outrageously unique individuals,who prefer to be referred to by their stage names,produce a form of music that they readily admit has been influenced by virtually everything they have seen and / or heard during their lifetimes.That is not to say that they copy, mimic or even necessarily sound like any other musical acts,they just prefer at this point in their careers, to admit that they are influenced by virtually everything in modern life, as opposed to bands that claim they are completely original and like nothing ever heard before.

After years of "paying their dues" by playing in local venues, which routinely insist that bands'play cover songs,Mister Fister and The Bloody Fingers have re-focused their time and energies into recording and producing music,such as their driving new single,titled"Shift Gears" at their own custom-built recording studio.With a sound that at times brings to mind such diverse musical acts as Pantera, Alice In Chains, the Rolling Stones and Phish,the members of this group have been performing together for so long,that they have developed a synchronicity with each other.

When choosing to interview Mister Fister and The Bloody Fingers for this article, this writer was aware of the fact that some of their answers and / or comments might be deemed sarcastic or frivolous.Therefore, when reading this interview, please keep in mind that the answers provided by Mister Fister et al,may come across as being somewhat flippant,or unrealistic.That is just their way of speaking.

An Interview With Mister Fister and The Bloody Fingers
By Thomas J McCabe

A) Who, or what, is Mr Fister and The Bloody Fingers ?

Mister Fister & The Bloody Fingers consists of:
Mister Fister: Maestro, Lead Vocalist, Bassist, Lyricist, Inspirationist/Visionary
Pin Head: Lead Guitar, Musical Writer/Inspirationist.
Tinkerin Bell: Percussionist, Background Vocalist, Technical Advisor.

B) How long have you been playing together ?

We have been playing together for 35 years in one form or another.
C) Where are you based, geographically ?

We are an Intergalactic band that currently performs from Mister Fister's home base Earth.

D)Since you are now focusing on recording,where are you doing the work?

"Down by the Riverside Recording Studio", that is all the details I can give at this time.

E) Do you feel that your name is slightly anti- social ?

If you mean anti-social being that we perform out of the mainstream of what you would consisder a typical band to be then I would say: "Yes" (typical meaning: practice, perform live, get a following, create media [e.g. CDs, tapes, records], do interviews, etc.......................).

F) Why do you play music ?

Music is the glue that keeps us as Beings together. Mister Fister is the conductor while Pin Head and Tinkerin Bell have their own agendas.
G) What type of music do you play ?

We play any genre of music that you can conceptually imagine.

H) Are you guys making political or social statements ?

No. We just play with each other and that is what keeps human beings interested in us. They want to see what we will contrive up next. It is pretty amazing what we can do as a threesome.

I) Can your music be compared to anyone else's ?

Yes. You can hear/see everything and anything that was ever performed on Earth in any one of our songs at any given time.

J) Do you guys ( band members ) have distinct musical- influences ?

Yes. We have access to any sound/sight ever produced.

K) Original- music bands in the Hartford, Ct area traditionally have a hard time gaining recognition and gigs, because most local clubs tend to hire cover bands. Does this make you ever want to throw- in the towel ?

I am having a hard time understanding this question as mentioned above. Mister Fister does not follow what you would consider to be mainstream performance. Tinkerin Bell has translated this question for me and I would say No, as we tend not to perform in clubs due to the hysteria that it creates.

L) Is there a future for rock music ?

As far as I can tell if there is a future there will always be what you call "rock music".

M) Any future goals ?

Yes. We are currently developing a traveling outdoors tour/circus starring: Mister Fister and the Bloody Fingers with the likes of "Bucket Head", Mr. Bungle and about four or five other bands. Looking towards the summer of 2008 to begin.