Finally I got my wish. After years and years of pouring over near masturbatory apocalyptic scenario fetishizations I woke to find the world torn asunder. This Omega Man tip towed outside his bedroom now a mere shell of a living space into the dusty red and blistering streets of what was once Toronto. Unlike the classically Canadian, dry and sexually pervasive Last Night, I found my end of the world scenario full of rock. In the distance could be heard punk of a rythmic nature and then the lyrics fused with the dust in the air "Your own personal hell/burn in the winter/freeze in the summer time/blessed with a curse, it can't be any worse than mine". I met up with Robbie of Chasing Mercury, now quite possibly the last band on Earth, to talk about life, love and the pursuit of cowbell while torching the flesh hungry zombie corpses of our former friends and lovers.

ROLE CALL: BAND MEMBERS/INSTRUMENTS/FAVOURITE VICE
Luke Skyrocker: Drums/Max Ice
Jake Earthquake: Bass/Vox/a little from column beer and a little from column
weed
Robbie Mercury: Vox/Guitar/JR 5.5
Benny L: New guitarist/yet to show his ugly side

IN AN ARENA OF THE POPULAR SATURATED WITH PUNK ROCK OF A NON-HARDCORE VARIETY, WHAT MAKES CHASING MERCURY RISE ABOVE?
Well we're striving to be more of a technical rock band of a less punk/hardcore variety. And we don't whine about girls.

HOW DOES COMING FROM THE FOREST CITY, THE GREAT LONDON ONTARIO AFFECTED YOU AS A BAND?
We are all expert bushmen, capable of surviving in the forest for weeks.

IN YOUR SONG, POLITICALLY TONED "THE DEFLECTOR SHEILD", YOU SING "THE NEW MACHINE'S BEEN WAITING IN THE WINGS FOR SO LONG".... WHAT IS THE NEW MACHINE AND WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
The new machine is the American military. It's constantly being strengthened with new technology and weapons which they seem fairly eager to put into action.

FOLLOW UP... THE SONG IS CALLED THE DEFLECTOR SHIELD, IS THIS A THINLY VAILED STAR TREK/STAR WARS OR GENERAL NERDOM REFERENCE IF SO TELL US ABOUT WHAT MAKES YOU NERD OUT.
I think it had a pretty lame working title like Sticks and Stones or something and Luke thought the intro sounded like a Star Wars battle theme and he always wanted a Star Wars sample right before the song started - something about a deflector shield. Jake and Luke are huge Star Wars fans and are always giving me shit for not being enough of a nerd. Luke actually owns a replica lightsaber like the ones they used in the original
filming.

CURRENTLY TORONTO INDIE FOLKS HAVE DECIDED TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF MOBILIZATION IN TERMS OF AN ARTIST RUN MUSIC RESOURCE CENTER AND VENUE. PLEASE DESCRIBE TO US IN LUCIOUS DETAIL WHAT YOUR DREAM FACILITY WOULD BE LIKE.
It sounds like one of those ideas that has amazing potential, in theory'¦ A multi-purpose facility for rehearsal, recording, performance, media and merch manufacturing, web design, maybe an in house store for merch, CD's, DVD's, in-house music shop, a satellite radio station, fully stocked bar of course, hell even an auto centre to fix your van. I could probably fill a book with a detailed plan, but I don't think artists are the type
to run it. I think those people who love music above all else but for whatever reason don't play it should be the ones in charge. And it should be government subsidized.... riiight.

IN YOUR BIO YOU TELL OF "A TECHNICAL AND AGRESSIVE, ROCK PUNK BAND WITH CATCHY MELODIES, RICH HARMONIES, RIPPING GUITARS, AND DRUMS FEATURING MORE COWBELL". BEING A MAN WHO EAGERALY AWAITS THE COWBELL RENAISSANCE TELL ME HOW IMPORTANT THE COWBELL IS TO YOU AND HOW IT CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.
We joke about a drum kit made entirely of different sized cowbells. Actually, I think the cowbell may be the only thing keeping the cows from taking over the earth. For years we have pacified them with its soothing hollow sound, it must remain prominent in our music as a symbol of the strength and superiority of man kind. Plus it's a staple of the bobsled/luge community.

IF YOU WERE TO CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE TALLEST TREE AND SURVEY THE FUTURE THAT HAS ARISEN IN ALL DIRECTIONS FROM THE RESULTING REVOLUTION STARTED BY ONE CHORD FROM YOUR SONG WHAT WOULD THAT FUTURE LOOK LIKE?
Ever seen the Bill & Ted movies?

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE TO GET CRUNK IN THIS NEW UTOPIA AND WHAT WOULD BE ON IT'S SOUNDTRACK?
All Wyld Stallyns all the time.

THE BOILING POINT OF MERCURY IS 356.7°C.... ANY WARNINGS OR PRECAUSIONS FOR OUR WAVELENGTH AUDIENCE?

Raise your goblets of rock!

by Matt Thomas