There are few current metal bands that have the ravenous following of North Carolina sludge metal outfit Weedeater. Since forming in 1998 their energetic live shows have earned respect from all corners of the head banging world. The band’s most recent album Goliathan, released in 2015, is a testament to their Southern roots, with ear bashing chords and heavy, demonic basslines from vocalist and former Buzzoven member ‘Dixie’ Dave Collins.
“We’ve used the same formula for 18 years now and we have no intentions of changing that,” Collins says. “It’s not too hard to play, it’s not too hard to understand, we just do it all for ourselves and the fans who watch us play.”
One of the pioneers of sludge metal, Weedeater’s live sets are steeped in heavy metal folklore as something that must be witnessed to be truly appreciative of the genre. They encourage getting loose and having a good time, which is something that Collins hopes all punters will do when they hit Australian shores in mid July.
“It’s just all about getting fucked up and having a good time regardless of your situation. We come from the South where a lot of people don’t have a whole lot, but they have music and they have us – that’s what keeps us going,” he says.
Weedeater’s filthy antics and dirty stoner vibe almost brought them here back in 2014 with former label mates Corrosion of Conformity. Unfortunately, the tour was cancelled due to touring company Redline Music’s tie up in litigation that forced them to cease trade immediately. Collins assures Australian fans that the band will make big amends when they arrive.
“We were extremely disappointed in the situation, because we’ve never been to Australia” he says. “But this is a band which you must see live, and we’ll be showing why that’s the case this time around. We’re excited to get to all parts of Australia and get fucked up with our fans who have waited so long to see us.”
The band’s tongue-in-cheek antics are personified through their lyrics littered with drug references and parodies of bands who take metal too seriously. Collins attributes the band name to a hilarious and unsettling event that happened 17 years ago. “I left my weed out in the backyard and forgot about it so my dog ended up eating it. The name just stuck after I called him a ‘little weed eater’. He did get super high though, and passed out a couple hours later. I couldn’t not name the band Weedeater after that,” he says.
The name stuck and has inspired legions of diehard fans who throw joints, buds and even homemade bongs on the stage for the band to smoke, something which Collins says may help them out when they arrive. “It definitely has its perks, that’s for sure,” he says. “I’m sure we will have no problem scoring some, but the fans do help too. Despite our absence we still have a lot of friends Down Under, so it will be good to catch up and have a smoke with them as well. Just tell the cops to take it easy, yeah?”
While Collin’s raspy, screeching voice is the main attraction for punters, he claims that despite it not being melodic, he keeps his voice in perfect condition with an unlikely combination. “Lots of whiskey, lots of cigarettes, and lots of weed,” he says. “I have the occasion on tour where my voice starts acting up a little bit, and then I really have to be serious so I just take some cough syrup and then I’m fine. Probably not the best thing to treat it, but it works for me.”
BY BENJAMIN POTTER
