What did you want to become when you were a child?

I think I wanted to be a footballer like loads of young lads my age I spent hours and hours in the back garden kicking a football around pretending I was playing for Ireland in the World Cup.

What is you first memory connected with music?

It would have to be my parents playing music in the house. English folk music like Fairport Convention or Steeleye Span. Albums I’ve ended up buying myself in recent years.

What was the crucial factor in your decision to become a musician?

I guess it was going to see bands like Metallica and Slayer back when I was 13 and thinking I wanted to do the same, or the first tapes and 7”s my uncle gave me when I was about 10 or 11 of AC/DC, Rainbow, Black Sabbath etc. Make the distinction between a musician and a singer o)

What was your first metal patch and what is your favourite metal t-shirt? Why?

I never had a denim jacket with patches for some reason. Was never really my style. I had one failed attempt in about 1989 which had a Kreator “Out of the Dark” backpatch and that was it. My favourite shirt ?, well I suppose some have sentimental attachments. An old Bathory horde shirt from the 80’s, Venom tour shirt from 85, Holy Terror demo shirt from 86…

Is there any music-style to which you cannot relate at all?

Loads, too many to mention and some of them what other people consider Metal !. R n’ B and Hip Hop is something I really can’t relate to and has me reaching for the off button anytime I hear it. But I don’t listen to the radio or watch music television or go to normal clubs so thankfully I stay away from music I don’t like. I also have to single out indie music as well, pathetic, bed-sit, shoe gazing, Oxfam glam, sexless, gutless, ball-less shit.

What do you do first after waking up?

Check to see what time it is and work out how late I am for whatever it is I have to do. Get up, make coffee so strong it would make most mortals pass out then take a shower. Turn on the computer and see what’s happening in the world.

Which is the fictional character or historical figure with which you can identify most?

Jesus. He had a hard time getting out of bed in the morning as well so I hear.

What is you worst nightmare?

Dying feeling I had places left to see, things to achieve and people to make peace with.

If the devil existed and you had the chance of meeting him – what would you ask?

I’d ask him how Bon Scott is doing…

With which producer, musician or artist would you love do go into the studio for one week? What would be the result of this cooperation?

I don’t know there are plenty of interesting people out there, maybe the Neurosis or Isis guys, a continuation of the theme of the song I sang on the last Marduk album with them. I talked with Sakis from Rotting Christ about creating something. Maybe some people from a totally different scene, industrial or neo-folk for example.

In retrospective, what was the worst and what the best decision of your career?

To be honest I don’t like to live life regretting too many things. What happens happens. I could say I wish we had never signed to some of those old labels we dealt with but who’s to say if we had signed somewhere bigger back then it would have killed us off. I still regret changing the cover of Journeys End from my original to the Misanthropy compromise. That taught me that artists are artists for a reason and business people are to be treated as such !. Not to let someone tamper with your vision of what you create.

Do you sometimes fear that your creativity, your inspiration might vanish? What do you do in such moments?

Very rarely. There are enough places left to see, inspirational people to meet and dark, fucked up things in this world to inspire me for as long as I’m breathing.

Which headline about yourself would you love to read on the cover of the Legacy magazine? Which headline do you never want to see on one of our covers?

worst : Nemtheanga in goth metal velvet duet horror…(pick any female fronted “goth” metal band for that one…) is he the new Meatloaf ?.

best : Nemtheanga scores winning goal for Ireland in World Cup Final…(pulls up shirt in celebration to reveal Rose Tattoo shirt o)

What reaction to your music was the most disturbing one so far?

I think the worst reaction to what we do would be is apathy. I would rather people love or hate us. The dull middle ground is no good to anyone.

What do you wish the Legacy magazine? (Curses and spells are as welcome as criticism and praise)

- Strength and Joy