FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY interview from GODSEND 15 (1990)

Bill Leeb is the guiding force behind Front Line Assembly, a band he formed in 1986 with Michael Balch. Together, they've released four albums (2 of which are available in North America) of lurching industrial dance music. But unlike most of their peers, FLA also produce a more atmospheric, ambient type of synth music that compliments their 'hard beat' style. Their latest effort, entitled 'Gashed Senses & Crossfire', is available on Wax Trax! Records in America. Besides recording and touring with Michael as FLA, Bill (alias Wilhelm Schroeder) has also worked with SKINNY PUPPY (1985-1986) and done side projects called DELERIUM and NOISE UNIT (with Marc Verhaeghen of THE KLINIK). NOISE UNIT have a new album, 'Grinding Into Emptiness', also on Wax Trax! USA. Recently, Bill took the time to answer some questions for GODSEND.

Interview conducted via post by Todd Zachritz

G-FIRSTLY, SINCE YOU HAD A HAND IN SKINNY PUPPY'S EARLIER WORK, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THEIR MORE RECENT MATERIAL?
B-I think they have changed their sound considerably since the early days. Their last record, 'Rabies', is completely different from all their other records. The use of guitar gives it almost a metal sound. MINISTRY have also taken that direction.

G-WHAT OTHER CURRENT ARTISTS/BANDS DO YOU ADMIRE OR RELATE TO?
B-There is such a wide range of music on the forefront, it is really hard for me to be specific. My influences range from PUBLIC ENEMY to COIL, LAIBACH, etc. But my main influences come from the original industrial bands from the 70s.

G-WHAT 'INSPIRES' YOU WHEN YOU'RE CREATING YOUR MUSIC/SOUND?
B-Inspirations can come from so many different sources. The possibilities are endless. Other songs, movies, the news, a particular beat, daily experiences, political issues, these can be a big part in inspiring a creation for a song. Even the rain or the wind, or weird experiences can be inspiring. Basically, anything that makes my adrenalin pump.

G-WHAT EXACTLY IS DELERIUM AND HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY?
B-DELERIUM is another side of me that has to come out. It is much like a soundtrack, with an ethnic feel. I am able to experiment more with DELERIUM and use Middle Eastern influences. It also is a nice change from doing heavy-beat music, so doing both always keeps my ideas fresh, never getting tired from either. I recently got a letter from the Russian arts council, wanting to do a tour of Russia with DELERIUM. There are currently 2 LPs out, 'Faces, Forms, And Illusions', and 'Morpheus', which both are available on CD. A new LP will be coming out in Spring 1990, also available on Dossier Records.

G-HOW DID THE NOISE UNIT RECORDINGS ORIGINATE, AND WILL THAT BE AN ONGOING PROJECT ALONGSIDE FLA?
B-NOISE UNIT came about during our European tour 1989. We played in Amsterdam with the KLINIK at the Melkweg. It turned out to be an excellent gig. I became friends with Marc Verhaeghen, and we arranged to get together after our tour . After our tour, I went to Antwerp and we collaborated recording the entire LP and 12" in his studio. If time permits, we will be writing a new NOISE UNIT LP next year (1990).

G-ANY OTHER SIDE WORK PLANNED BESIDES DELERIUM AND NOISE UNIT? WHAT ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH TOM ELLARD? ANY FURTHER INFO?
B-Actually, right now I am working on a new project with cEVIN Key of SKINNY PUPPY. This is called Cyber-Aktiv. It will be released on Wax Trax! early 1990. So far, it's sounding great. I am still waiting for Tom Ellard to get back to me, as we will also be collaborating on a project.

G-HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE FLA'S LIVE SHOW TO SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER SEEN YOU PERFORM?
B-Our live show sounds a lot different from our LPs, which is what we wanted. It sounds more industrial. Using guitar and percussion (metal) makes it sound heavier. We use slides that are pretty intense, and the energy is at max volume. The feeling you get is apocalyptic.

G-ANY TOURS IN THE MAKING?
B-We have played over 60 shows this year, and we will be touring the US in the summer, and Europe again in the fall of 1990.

G-ON 'GASHED SENSES', WHY DID YOU BORROW EQUIPMENT FROM MEMBERS OF MOEV? IS THIS WHY THE LATEST RECORDINGS SOUND SO DIFFERENT FROM YOUR PREVIOUS RELEASES LIKE 'CORROSION', 'DISORDER', ETC.?
B-We bought some new gear, and used a better recording studio, as well as taking our time, which accounts for the sound change.

G-DO YOU KNOW OF ANY PLANS TO RELEASE YOUR EUROPEAN RECORDINGS LIKE 'THE INITIAL COMMAND', 'STATE OF MIND', OR DELERIUM IN CANADA OR THE US?
B-Those records are available here only on import, and it looks like it will stay that way.

G-WHERE DO YOU THINK YOUR MUSIC IS PLAYED MOST, EUROPE OR CANADA/USA?
B-Everywhere we toured this year, our music was being played, and we covered a lot of countries.

G-ANY PLANS FOR ANY SOUNDTRACK-TYPE WORK IN THE FUTURE?
B-There are some possibilities coming up, but for business purposes, I can't mention anything at this time.

G-WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON PIONEERING 'INDUSTRIAL' BANDS SUCH AS THROBBING GRISTLE, CABARET VOLTAIRE, NURSE WITH WOUND, EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN, ETC.?
B-All the bands above were the most influential bands for me. The only true industrial bands. TEST DEPT, ROBERT RENTAL and THOMAS LEER, and LIAISONS DANGEREUSES should also be mentioned. If it wasn't for all of these artists, the scene today wouldn't exist. Even today, most of the bands are imitators.

G-WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CURRENT GENERATION OF 'INDUSTRIAL' BANDS?
B-I don't think there are any real industrial bands around now. There are some heavy electronic bands, who use some metal, but not in the same true vein as the original bands. However, things have to change.

G-DO YOU CONSIDER FLA TO BE A POLITICALLY-ORIENTED BAND?
B-Sometimes, but never preaching anything. I just like to point things out, rather an awareness of issues. People have the right to their own opinions, but they need to know things first.

G-WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU IN THE AREA OF RECORDINGS?
B-FLA will be recording a new LP starting in March.

G-ANY CLOSING COMMENTS OR ADVICE?
B-People should be more aware of what is going on around them.

(UPON LEARNING OF ANOTHER WORK, MUTEUAL MORTUARY, FEATURING BILL AND ANOTHER PUPPY MEMBER, ON THE BELGIAN INSANE MUSIC CASSETTE LABEL, I DECIDED TO ASK BILL SOME MORE QUESTIONS, ON THIS AND OTHER TOPICS. THIS PART OF THE INTERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED IN APRIL 1990.)

G-WHAT WAS MUTEUAL MORTUARY AND HOW DID THAT OCCUR? WAS THERE ANY RECORDS RELEASED?
B-It was a collaboration between me and Ogre. And only two songs were ever released on a Belgian comp tape.

G-DID YOU TAKE PART IN THE CHUD CONVENTION 12"?
B-None whatsoever.

G-WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU JOINED SKINNY PUPPY? ANY OTHER BANDS?
B-None.

G-HAVE YOU DONE ANY OTHER SIDE WORK IN THE PAST (BESIDES DELERIUM, MUTEUAL MORTUARY, NOISE UNIT, CYBERAKTIV)? ANY FUTURE PLANS TO?
B-Those are the only projects I have worked on.

G-ANY WORDS OR INSIDE INFO ON THE NEXT FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY RECORD? WHAT CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO?
B-We have just finished recording 2 new singles and an LP and we are also doing a video and we will be touring Europe again soon.

GODSEND thanks Bill Leeb for his time and correspondence.