UGLY KID JOE
"MAYBE FOR FUN WE'D DO A SHOW IN BALI"
(by Heavy Metal Annoyment - October 2000)
© all rights reserved

Aren't we all sad that Ugly Kid Joe broke up three years ago? So many questions remain unanswered and it's time for the fans to find out the real truth about the split. Guitarist Klaus Eichstadt agreed to do an online interview. He said he would answer any question, "... just don't talk about my mother!"

HMA: Were you all disappointed that Menace To Sobriety only sold 30,000 copies in the States vs the copies sold in Europe? Do you feel these record sales were a direct result of lack of Mercury promoting the band or the fans not ready for that level of rock from UKJ, or both?
Klaus: Both. We felt prior to the release that there was no hope for us in the States. We could just sense it, so we made a totally heavy metal album, enjoyed making it, and didn't expect much in terms of sales.

HMA: Although your sound changed a lot after the addition of drummer Larkin in 1995, the press still named UKJ "that band that hates everything about you..." Have you ever thought about changing your band name and do you think that would have improved the sales of Menace and Motel?
Klaus: We joked about changing our name, but never seriously considered it. I don't think it would have made much of a difference in terms of sales - probably would have sold alot less.

HMA: When did things in UKJ start reaching the point when you all felt it wasn't right anymore, for you anyway?
Klaus: After our European Tour ended in December of 1996, we came home to Santa Barbara and started demoing new material. Our manager said we had a couple of offers from record companies to do a record so we had to make a choice. It felt (to me) as if most of us were contemplating other options, directions, etc. Speaking for myself, my heart wasn't in it any more. I let everybody know how I felt and the reaction didn't surprize me. We agreed to disband UKJ. Maybe it was the 7 year itch? It was a very amicable split-up and I'm still friends with and in touch with all of the other members. We broke up in mid 1997.

HMA: What was Whit's reaction?
Klaus: Whit was in India. He and I talked for a long time on the phone. I told him how I felt and he agreed with me to disband. I think we were both a little relieved, but also a little sad. We knew it was the right thing to do.

HMA:. Don't you think that you guys broke up a little too early? As far I as I could tell from the gig in Amsterdam '96 that I attended I would say that you still had a lot of fun playing and with the Internet as a new medium and maybe a song on a soundtrack for a cool movie you could have made it big (again) with a new album?
Klaus: Sure, it was still fun, especially in places like Amsterdam (!!!), but you gotta be a hundred percent to keep it going. I think it was the right time to call it quits.

HMA: Most fans agree since UKJ split that each member is not nearly as successful as they were in UKJ, including Whit's. How do you feel about that?
Klaus: So far none of us have been in any project nearly as successful as UKJ, but then again, we sold 5 million records and that's pretty hard to top. Hopefully everyone will have success in whatever else they do in the future.

HMA: The split in 1997 was amicable. Do you still keep in touch with every member, including Erik, Roger and Mark?
Klaus: Yes. I've seen or talked to everyone in the last 3 months.

HMA: Is there anything in UKJ that you regret or that you would have done differently?
Klaus: I would have done alot of stuff diferently but I have no regrets.

HMA: Do you ever see UKJ regrouping, if not for another record deal but for some sort of reunion? If not, why?
Klaus: No, not really. I think UKJ was something we did in our youth and that's the way it should be. Maybe for fun we'd do a show in like Bali or something.

HMA: The-Best-Of-UKJ was a half-assed CD that probably nobody (band-fans-record company) felt comfortable with. Wouldn't it have been a better idea to release a live album and have the fans decide the tracklist?
Klaus: We had no say in that. Mercury just did it.

HMA: What is your favorite band or style at this time?
Klaus: AC/DC and Johnny Cash.

HMA: Last questions... AMEN or Life Of Agony?
Klaus: Amen.

HMA: Napster or Metallica?
Klaus: Metallica.

HMA: Mercury or Castle?
Klaus: Neither!

HMA: Santa Barbara or Amsterdam?
Klaus: ......?

Thanks so much Klaus!

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