EMQs With CARTOONS CAN’T DIE
EMQs With CARTOONS CAN’T DIE
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with UK Multi-genre Metal band, Cartoons Can’t Die. Huge thanks to their Vocalist, Mac, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
I’m Mac and I’m the vocalist, ex-guitarist, and sound designer for the band Cartoons Can’t Die. The band originally started in 2011 before a 10-year break, and reforming with a brand new line-up. We reformed in 2022 with myself and Dan as the main writers, before I brought Maria and Ryan into the fold. We still had assistance with drum writing from the old drummer, Luke. We have set off this year with regular releases and shows.
How did you come up with your band name?
The name came about from some very sleep-deprived nights between Mac and the old Guitarist Ellie when they watched cartoons and playing zombies until 5am. They were watching old shows like Wacky Races and Roadrunner, and the phrase Cartoons Can’t Die popped up at some point, and it stuck as a band name. After thinking about it, the name almost changed, but then it’s also a name that nobody would forget due to its oddity.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We are now from the UK as we are spread across Aldershot, Liverpool and Dundee. The scene across these areas isn’t the best, unfortunately, but there are lots of close connections where we are. London has a good scene, as do all the cities within an hour or so of Liverpool. Dundee is relatively close to Edinburgh and Glasgow, so the scenes are very good in those areas. Lots of connections to be made across the board.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Our last release was ‘On A Mission’, a djent/metalcore cover of the Katy B classic. ‘Kinslayer’ is our next release, which just went up on Friday, and where we jump genres again to power metal.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Lamb of God, Periphery, Whitechapel, Tremonti, Gojira, Spiritbox
What first got you into music?
I just remember when I was younger, my 2 friends had just picked up drums and bass, so I didn’t want to be left out.
So, my mother took me to the charity shop to get my first acoustic guitar. Then it was an amalgamation of my friends’ brothers introducing me to songs and going to HMV and buying the 3 for £5 albums.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Oooh now… You’ve asked a hard question to the wrong band member. The obvious choice would be someone of the same genre, right? Lamb of God, Spiritbox etc. But I’d love to write a prog deathcore track with either Eminem or Katy B.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Gotta be Wacken. Huge festival, always epic line-ups and it’s in Germany, one of my favourite countries in the world.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
A free haircut
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Yes you can come meet Bruenor and Shieva (our band dogs)
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Dimebag Darrell
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I enjoy hanging with the guys, writing songs and that feeling of being on stage with them. I think they’re the reason I enjoy it so much.
Hate fake and rude people who clearly have no manners. Just some people need a lesson in how to talk to people.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Fair pay for all original artists across the board, even if it’s to cover fuel for out of town bands that’d be great.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“Color Decay” by The Devil Wears Prada
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
CDs, but only if we rewind time by 20 years, because then you had to check out the entire album after a couple of singles. Now, barely anyone checks out full albums because it’s too easy to skip.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
BOILEROOM a very long time ago, almost sold out show and split the entire room for a wall of death.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Handyman and Property Maintenance, probably become a personal trainer
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Miles Kennedy, Tom Hardy, Marty Friedman, Jimmy Carr, Bill Bailey
What’s next for the band?
Shows! Lots of shows, hopefully festivals, and more recording! Then, expanding our fictional world.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Tiktok
https://www.facebook.com/CartoonsCantDie
https://www.instagram.com/cartoonscantdie
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
Tea cake if it’s wide, roll if it’s smaller.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Yeah! All the shows we have coming up!
24th January – Scunthorpe – Brumby Hall
8th February – London – New Cross Inn
14th February – Southampton – The Hobbit
21st February – Sheffield – Network
22nd February – Birmingham – The Flapper
8th March – Leicester – Firefly
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