A brief history of Babylon Mystery Orchestra and how do you define your name?
Babylon Mystery Orchestra as a musical act can be said to have really began in 2001 though the ideas for most of the material go farther back than that. I really started seriously considering doing something like this by myself in about 1997-98 but finally had everything assembled in 2001 and made up my mind to go for it. The first CD, "Divine Right Of Kings," came out in 2003. I was impressed by the amount of attention it drew considering the limited options I had for promoting it. The second CD, "On Earth As It Is In Heaven," was released in March 2004.
The name Babylon Mystery Orchestra is derived from the subject matter of the first CD. It is about the "Mystery Babylon the Great" of Biblical infamy. Since I look upon it as telling the story from their perspective, I just named the band for it. I had some notion of just calling it or-kestra. But that idea passed......fortunately.

How exactly it does mean your logo?
Its called a triskelion, but so is any three legged design. It has no particular meaning in and of itself as far as Babylon Mystery Orchestra is concerned. It resembles somewhat a symbol used in an old "Star Trek" episode. It also kind of looks like three KISS S's stuck in a circle. It reminds me of a pinwheel. I worked on it awhile to get it to look like I wanted and I really think it looks cool but it only is meant to represent BMO nothing else. I kind of wanted a symbol to represent the band much like Blue Oyster Cult has one.

"On Earth as it is in Heaven" it is a quite original and creative disc, tell me, how is the idea of this work born in your head?
The first time I was actually exposed to this idea was 20 years ago at a seminar against rock music. At the time I was doing a heavy metal radio show for the University Of Alabama and I thought it would be amusing to go. I thought the story was preposterous at the time. I grew up going to church regularly and knew that wasn't the way the story was told in the Bible. But it did plant a seed that kept me interested. I would eventually find the texts that it was derived from and learn their importance and relevance to Biblical history. The way music has evolved in the time since I first was exposed to the story has convinced me that this story is most likely true. Music's method of operation is identical today as it was then. Ultimately music is not a uniting force in the world....It is a DIVIDING one.

What do defiant rebel angels, music, and a worldwide deluge have in common?
Ultimately they all came and went at the same time. The Bible makes the suggestion in Genesis 6 that the preflood world was where all the stories we know today as classic mythology originated. The "Gods" were in fact Angels that chose to violate the heavenly laws and came to take the earth and dominate it for themselves. It is in the other texts "Enoch" and "Secrets of Enoch" that we are introduced to the details of just who these angels were by name and deeds. It is also where the story of Satan personally introducing music to the world appears. It is important to remember that this was the belief system of a good part of the world 2000 years ago. Prior to the rise of Christianity this was the prevailing belief of the world.They all believed in elements of this story. Either as the old religions worshipping these gods or condemning them. It is Christianity that is actually guilty of hiding the story. When Constantine ordered the assembling of what would ultimately be the first attempt at making a Bible close to what we know it as today, they chose which books to include and not include. These were left out supposedly because of their violence. It didn't go with their concept of a "forgiving" god. Or so we are told. But they have always been around. They are said to be contained in the famous "Dead Sea Scrolls" as well. These are the oldest known and intact forms of the old testament. By putting together all the pieces of the story we can see it was a very interesting time to be alive.....and a very dangerous one.

How so important the music is in your life?
Like most people I have always loved and been surrounded by it. I am as much a "victim" of this story as anyone else. From the time I discovered the Partridge Family through my love of KISS and Ronnie James Dio and even today. I am surrounded by music even as I come to understand it is sooooo much more than just "entertainment." It is a force way more potent than perhaps any in the world today. Certainly its ability to motivate people and elevate their emotions (any emotion is equally suitable) is unquestionable.

Well, do tell us which your thoughts are about the man's existence?
Well you can bet man was put here for a purpose and it was not neccessarily to pursue his own interests. That purpose has been lost and distracted as man has to play out this long dramatic lifecycle to expose and ultimately purge evil from the universe. That, in the end, may be man's true purpose.

Well "Unrepentant" it could have been an excellent song. Why did you make it so short?
Actually it was intended to be part of "Rainbow's End." When I recorded it I was going to mix it together but it sounded like a totally different piece so I made it a separate track. Maybe I will make a whole song out of it yet. There is nothing that says I can't go and make another full song out of it another day.....maybe I will.

"One man" is one of the deepest songs that I have listened lately! Tell me, for you like the archetype of a man should be?
Man was originally made in the image of God. That is what it ultimately should and will return to. Sin has separated man from God I know there are a lot of people out there who don't want to hear such things in the world of heavy music, but you asked. The archetype of man is Jesus Christ. After all he referred to himself as the "son of man." In the end God brings man back to him and his original purpose by giving a part of himself as the means of redemption. Through the sacrifice of his son which is a part of him. Although the song "One Man" is about Noah and the extreme strength of spirit it takes to resist the entire world. Can one man be right and everyone else on earth be wrong. Yes.

Many press means complained about the drum machine. In your later works you do plan to have a real battery, as well as other session members?
If a label would take an interest in BMO it would be real easy to remove the drum tracks and replace them with a real drummer. I don't know how much difference that will make. I would always record a drummer last anyway as I don't like the way they get overplayed in most metal bands these days. I think some people in the metal world just don't like the idea of drum machines. But they are on more metal records than you know. Just because there is a picture of a drummer in the booklet doesn't mean he played on the record. Most bands write their songs with drum machines and some find out their drummers can't keep real time when they try to replace them. The good thing about a drum machine is you can get a good dependable sound. The drums always sound good. They may be predictable but that isn't a bad thing either. You don't need a drummer taking off on his own do you? But having said all that. I would like for Babylon Mystery Orchestra to have a real drummer and everything else as well. This music would do well in performances. The potential visual imagery alone is enormous. Maybe it will come to pass.

What bands are you listening lately, do you like the current Tiamat and Moonspell? Did you listen your countrymen of Brain Dance?
I love both Tiamat and Moonspell. I am particularly fond of the new Tiamat CD. I think "Cain" and "Cloven Hoof" are especially great tracks. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new Therion records. I just ordered them. I believe Therion is the best band in the world today. But I am also an unashamed lover of hair metal as well. Until you mentioned them I had not heard of Brain Dance. However I have since looked at their website and I am curious. I shall check them out.

For those that didn't still listen to Babylon Mystery Orchestra, describe us musical and lyrically your work.
I would describe it as gothic metal that delves into subject matter that noone else does. In many ways it is lyrically dominant music in that the lyrics and the subjects of the songs determine the entire approach to the music. You don't see much music these days where the words are the decisive element of the music. I think if you don't pay attention to the words that you won't pay attention to Babylon Mystery Orchestra at all. I suppose that, in and of itself, is an original approach to take. I am sure its not for everyone but then nothing is.