FEAR, EMPTINESS, DECIBEL: OUR FAVORITE MAG’S NEW MERCH IS FREAKIN’ SWEET
Before there were blogs there were these things called magazines, and the only metal magazine we still get excited about reading every month is Decibel. Here’s managing editor Andrew Bonazelli…
By now you know that our latest Decibel tee pays direct homage to Chuck Schuldiner’s unfuckwithable Death. Here are a few words with the shirt’s designer, gnarly underground visual artist Aye Jay .
What inspired you to pitch a Death-themed Decibel shirt?
My friend Aaron Horkey — who is much more of a metal authority and much better artist — got me reading the mag, so I was inspired to get into contact. I’ve done a series of comedy-meets-metal/punk T-shirts with Shirts and Destroy (think Larry David + Motörhead = Larrydavhead), so when I started talking to Decibel, it only seemed natural to make a shirt along those same lines, especially since the letters are so similar between the two. Also, I thought it would be funny to have the reaper reading the mag, ’cause what is he really gonna read in his downtime? Rolling Stone?
What is it about the Death logo that makes it iconic so many years after the fact?
Much like the band, the logo is timeless, raw and knocks the brain around a bit. My only regret is not getting the spider webs from the older version of the logo in there.
Tell us about some of your other specifically extreme metal-inspired art.
In 2005, I followed up my Gangsta Rap Coloring Book with the Heavy Metal Fun Time Activity Book, fulfilling my dream of making a Spinal Tap backstage maze, and playing connect the dots with Lemmy’s moles! There’s also the aforementioned Shirts and Destroy stuff, with more coming soon (like the Louie C.K. Dead Kennedys shirt, or the Samhain Sam Kinison shirt). Also, MetalSucks readers may remember my metal ABCs print? That became a shirt also. I was also able to do a collaborative poster for Shrinebuilder with John Dyer Baizley a year or two ago. He’s such a talented dude; it was great to work with him. Plus, Baroness rules.
What projects are you working on right now? Any exhibitions or gallery shows of note?
I’ve been asked to be a part of a couple group shows, and love to do so when I can, but the freelance stuff keeps me kinda busy. Just had a new book come out through Chronicle Books, finished some work for RVCA and DC Shoes, a Black Dahlia Murder shirt, some skateboards for Baker and Cliche, and even art for a shoe insole company! Also about to start the next run of my Pop Sub 7-inch art print series. Based on the idea of the Sub Pop 7-inch record club, I thought it would be cool to do the same with 7-inch screenprints. Each set has a theme and special guest. This next run will have guests like Baizley, Jacob Bannon, Florian Bertmer, and Frank Kozik. I’m pretty hyped on working with so many super talented folks. They are all way better than me, so I try to learn something.
-AB
You can order one of these killer shirts here. Decibel’s September 2011 issue features Opeth, Toxic Holocaust, Sepultura, Cradle of Filth, All Shall Perish, Skeletonwitch, and an awesome Krallice flexi disc. That issue is available here, but why not get a full subscription to ensure you never miss an issue?
