Interview - Christophe Liglet of SKINMASK

By David Vaickus

Christophe Liglet, bassist of a new unsigned band from Los Angeles called Skinmask talks about his band, his influences, Zoltan from Five Finger Death Punch saving his life and Skinmask taking over the world!

David Vaickus
Please give us a quick synopsis of Skinmask, background, what you guys have done thus far and what you are currently up to.

Christophe Liglet
Well..i started to put the band together in 2009,..took a year to get to this final line up which is Laz on vocals, Fossface on guitar, Mike Trenholm on lead guitar and Jimmy Wooten on drumz..oh...and me also..on bass!!! We've been touring the Midwest and the East Coast for the past 4 months,..now we're back home in Los Angeles..getting ready to finish recording the Skinmask album.

David
In many ways Skinmask is very 80's influenced. I hear the dual guitar work, the bass fills and the vocal harmonies, not to mention the makeup. Who are the major 80's influences over you and the rest of Skinmask?

Christophe
I was always into the makeup type bands..KISS being my all time favorite....but also Motley Crue, Wasp..Twisted Sister...but I also liked the more metal bands with dual guitarz..like JUDAS PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN. As for the rest of the band...it goes from Guns N' Roses...Avenged Sevenfold... My Chemical Romance..Velvet Revolver to..Slayer..Metallica...Korn..Rammstein..In Flames.

David
Is there a main songwriter in Skinmask or is it very collaborative?

Christophe
I write all the music and then Laz and I get together and write the lyrics. Mike will come up with the solos for his parts.

David
You guys travel across the US without a label or having any recognizable name in the band. How are you able to get booked and headline shows nationally?

Christophe
We had booking agents and also Jimmy booked the majority of the tour.

David
Is there someone in the band that is fairly wealthy? You travel the US in a nice RV, gas alone would cripple most bands. How do you afford this?

Christophe
Well..basically the shows pay for the gas, food and some expenses... like the RV's monthly payments for example... the rest come out of our own pockets..savings, credit cards etc..

David
What's the deal with the makeup? Musically you do not need the makeup. It seems like makeup actually will hinder most bands in the beginning stages. People look at the makeup instead of the music and negatively judge you. Just look at Black Veil Brides and all the preconceived notions about them. On the flip side though it gets people talking which is always free promotion. So why exactly do you choose to wear the makeup?

Christophe
I always wanted a band with an image..something visually and sonically exciting!! But you're right, the makeup can be a double edged blade, it can go right or can backfire on us but the thing is we do it right - everything makes sense in this band, from the name, the music, to what we wear, to what the makeup looks like... I think we pulled it off - people love it!!!!

David
Are you in talks with any labels? You definitely have the ability to be a national act. How are you working on getting signed?

Christophe
We do have label interest..but nothing concrete yet..first we wanna finish the album before really focusing on the labels.

David
Alright, time for a stupid question, do you drink before, during or after the show or is it all 3?

Christophe
We usually do a shot before we go on..then another half way thru the set....but most the drinkin' happens afterward.

David
When I had met you back in December you mentioned you had previously worked with Zoltan from Five Finger Death Punch. What ever happened to that band and are you still in contact with Zoltan after 5FDP exploded?

Christophe
Haha...of course we're still very much in touch... we text each other frequently. I've know him since 2000... so that was wayyyy before the 5FDP thing. We used to play in a band called MAYA HYENA - a female fronted band... not as heavy as 5FDP but you could definitely notice his guitar style and sound already back then since he was the one writing the songs. When the band broke up he started to put together 5FDP, he asked me to actually play bass for him... but I wasn't into it at the time... hahah! Later on he told me I should put Skinmask together - his success really kicked me in the ass to get the motivation to make Skinmask happen!!! We were also room-mates... he's a cool guy, love him!! He saved my ass - at one point in my life I had nowhere to go and I had lost everything, he came to the rescue - I owe him a lot!!!

David
Vocally you sound a lot like Gene Simmons. Who are your vocal influences?

Christophe
I don't really have an influence... I just do what comes natural to me... but if you think I sound like gene... well... fine with me!!!... haha

David
Rate the following bassists 1-10, 10 being the best.
Nikki Sixx – Motley Crue/SIXX AM
Brent Ashley – Ex: The Dreaming currently with Wayne Static
Gene Simmons – KISS
Ashley Purdy – Black Veil Brides
Chris Kael – Five Finger Death Punch
Eric Bass – Shinedown
Johnny Christ – Avenged Sevenfold
John Moyer – The Union Underground/Disturbed/Adrenaline Mob
Marty O' Brien – We Are The Fallen/Tommy Lee/Kelly Clarkson
Rachel Bolan – Skid Row
Blackie Lawless – WASP

Christophe
I can't really do that... some I don't even know... some..I could care less... but here's who I do like... Gene Simmons, Nikki Sixx, Steve Harris and Blackie... just because they actually are awesome song writers... not just bass players.

David
Who would you say is the biggest “Rockstar” to have come out in the last 10 years?

Christophe
NO ONE..I can't think of anyone..music has kinda lost that "rockstar" type status.

David
Who are some of your favorite bands to have come out in the last 10 years?

Christophe
Five Finger Death Punch is one...Gojira and Hollywood Undead.

David
Who does all the programming and keys? The keyboard/programming work is put together very well, accenting the songs with their own rhythms and melodies but never prominent enough to be a lead instrument in the song.

Christophe
I do all the programming..I try to stay away from the typical techno industrial sound..so I mostly use hip/hop.. or even disco/pop samplers - it might not sound like there's much but there's actually a lot of stuff going on in the background...when we go to the studio to record..the engineer always freaks out as to how many tracks there are just for the samplers..hahaha..I'm insane when it comes to that stuff..!!!

David
What are your future goals for Skinmask and how do you plan on achieving them?

Christophe
Finish the album..that's the main goal..then we're gonna showcase for labels..we have one happening in May at the Whiskey a GoGo on Sunset.

David
What should we expect next from Skinmask?

Christophe
Taking over the world!!!

Review posted 3 May, 2012