Ask Me...I'm Right

ASK ME I'M RIGHT Returns – New life changing advice from RED CHORD bassist Greg Weeks

A fan and THE RED CHORD's Greg Weeks

That stud machine of a man on the right is me, Greg Weeks, and I’m the bassist of the Red Chord. Want to ask me about my band, your band, or this new president of ours. Don’t hesitate to popup your mail program of choice and send me a question to askmeimright@metalinjection.net and I’ll be sure to respond with some life-changing advice.

deer greg:

my awesome question is two-fold:
one. what's the deal with you using a pick all the time?
seriously.
two. how old is gunface? it looks like he and some floozy conceived the rest of the band and formed a musical outfit with them.

-a dylan

Dear a dylan,
This is an advice column. I use a pick because I'm not a very good bass player. Gunface is as old as time itself and knows the secrets of the elder trees whose roots grow thick and deep into the earth. His mighty beard and hard eyes have seen the passing of ages. He has existed before you and will be alive long after we are all dust. Gunface is, forever,
-Greg

P.S. Gunface is 27

Yo, Greg! First off, I'd like to say: F**ing amazing show in Arizona! Now, on to my question. What do you think you'd be today if you hadn't picked up that bass and joined The Red Chord?

Rock on,
Gabe

Gabe,

Better off.

-Greg

(more…)

Latest News

Greg Weeks answers questions about beards, futuristic extreme music, cannibals and more

Ask Me...I'm Right

Hello again to all those who need advice. I've been gone for awhile but I'm back to irritate you once more with "Ask Me I'm Right". I'm also back to promote Traben basses who were kind enough to give me my own signature series bass . For more info go to Trabenbass.com . Enjoy. Don’t hesitate to popup your mail program of choice and send me a question to askmeimright@metalinjection.net and I’ll be sure to respond with some life-changing advice.

Ahhhhhh Mr. Weeks,

You might remember me as "that kid who stuck his pinky in your throat in Orlando, Florida" Anyways, I've seen far too much lack of mustache as of late, and not even any corpsepaint to make up for it. I mean come on, pick a side. Don't go all "Green party" on me, they never win. Sure, you have the excuse of a totally bitchin' beard. But what's Guy's alibi? He doesn't even have windmill-worthy hair like Gunface. What's up with that? He better not be going for the Jamey Jasta approach, because thats a disgrace Speaking of such things, when are you gonna bring out your sax onstage?

SO MANY QUESTIONS, I SAY

But yeah, Seriously, Sax solo, pronto!

Eternal Kvlt Kisses,
JJ Polachek IV (or, "the kid who stuck his pinky in your throat in Orlando")

Greg's response:
You're a weird kid. In Guy's down time he's an Abercrombie model so no facial hair allowed. He will however wear a corpsepaint mustache on the next tour. Get ready,
-Greg

Hey Greg. I've been listening to heavy music for at least a couple of years, and I've seen many trends come and go. Where do you see extreme music in 2010? That's the year i graduate, and i don't want my graduation present to be a Red Chord CD with acoustic guitars in it. Another quick question, how long does it take for you to get your beard at that EXACT length? I go to a catholic school (have to shave at least every other day, and dress like the gestapo), and the only real time i get to grow facial hair for at least the next couple of years is summer time. ONE more question. WHY is there a huge uprising of amazing heavy bands from Boston (besides killswitch)? Your answers would be much appreciated. Thanks a bunch man. take it easy.

Greg's response:
Here's some advice. Use the catholic gig as an advantage. Tell the world that's why you can't grow facial hair and then find yourself a nice catholic school girl. Hopefully they make them shave as well, I am of course refering to their legs. It takes me exactly one week, three days, six hours and thirty two minutes to my beard at the exact length your talking about. I, of course, have no idea which length you mean but that's the answer.
-Greg

Hello, I'm Josh.
Me and a friend are working on a horror film for some class in school. It is called Ameri-Cannibal, about some portal that takes a few guys into a land of cannibals. Why cannibals, you may ask yourself? Welp, zombies are cliched, and we all know cannibals love them some of that white meat. We are really looking forward to spinning some heads in the class. Because working with gore, blood and guts is, as the dudes in TRC would put it, wolf. We are wondering what kind of death scene you would suggest to us. Do you have any suggestions to share with us?

Greg's response:
Hello Josh,
This rules. Have one of the scientists, I'm assuming they're scientist because who else can create a portal, or military men, I'm assuming there will be military men because who else would go through the portal, fall out of sed portal and hit his head on a rock and die. Everyone else gets captured but his body is over looked. Two weeks later a cannibal comes across the body and brings it back to the other cannibals where they feast upon it. Little do they know the bodies been out in the elements for two weeks and the meat is rotten. Everyone gets the shits. Hahaha. The cannibals poo themselves. Oh man that's rich. Have fun making the movie,
-Greg

As someone in a band and who probably has dealt with band ego problems at least once, I thought you could give me some advice on this:
I was a singer/songwriter in a band with a friend of mine, who I'll call "Steve". Just as the band was forming I went over to his place and after a couple of beers I borrowed his guitar and showed him a song that I had been working on – it wasn't much, but the chorus was really good. Well, at least Steve thought so, because he asked if he could use it. I was glad at the time that he wanted to do something with it – I'm just a singer, so I couldn't do much more than clumsily strum a guitar to it, while Steve can play guitar really well and he even has a little production studio set up in his apartment. I told him he could use it and hoped we could perform it sometime when it was done.

He wrote some music and lyrics around my chorus, which basically remained intact – even the words of the chorus weren't changed. It became a part of our repertoire and the other band members added to it as well. One night the drummer got on the mic and introduced the song as a Steve original from the time before we became a band. We talked about it after the show and I explained to them that I felt that the song was actually a band creation, because without my initial contribution of the chorus and without the band's further work on the song, it wouldn't even exist. We all agreed then that the song was a group effort. – The problem is that after the band split up, Steve put out a homemade album in which he sings his original version (built around my chorus) and he doesn't credit me at all. I'm really angry about this. And I'm pretty sure I know how Steve will react if I confront him about crediting me on his album: he'll act insulted that I'm making a big deal about nothing. To make matters worse, Steve is part of a group of friends of mine and if Steve and I are no longer friends, it'll be hard for me to meet up with those friends, since we usually all go out as a group.

Am I wrong to feel slighted? Am I just being childish and egotistical? Or considering that we were basically a mediocre garage band and Steve isn't making any money off the songs, should I just shrug it off? Or should I confront him about it anyway, even though I could effectively lose the other friends in the group as well, because I wouldn't want to hang out with Steve anymore after he dismisses my complaint?
- just a singer who wants a little credit

Greg's response:

Off the bat your biggest mistake was giving your drummer a microphone. Unless your the Eagles or the Romantics it's a bad idea. I think you should let it go. The guy will eventually write other tunes and your song will be on the back burner. What you should do is bring that chorus to a newly formed band. Mustain did that with 4-Horsemen. If Steve" was making money off of the song then there would be a problem so I say you go and make money off of it. Take that "Steve".
-Greg

Has anyone ever told you that you look like Groundskeeper Willy?

Greg's response:
Yes.
-Greg

Gregg,

First off I just want to say I bought the new Plant Vochestra cd, and it blew all my expectations from last weeks highly anticipated record of being superior in all of it's ways of divine achapello music. I was just a little curious about the history of plant vochestra, and how long the super band had planned on going through with such an ingenious approach to music these days. Also what's the writing process like for your side project, "The Red Chord?" Phenominal stuff, in every way.

-Gabe

Greg's response:
It's Greg, not Gregg. Plant Vochestra have been a band for longer than their side projects, the Red Chord and Between the Buried and ME. We saw huge success in the late 80's with our hit "Monster Sunshine Got Ate Today" but when Duran Duran covered "Monster Sunshine…" at Live Aid the band were considered sell outs and decided to hang it up. Only recently have we gotten back together to perform live. A new record is in the works and also one of those myspace things. Look for it,
-Greg

About to do something regrettable but need that extra push? You can get advice from Greg Weeks. Just email askmeimright@metalinjection.net

Ask Me...I'm Right

Greg Weeks returns with a new ASK ME…I'M RIGHT answering questions about 7 strings, life, the universe and everything

Ask Me...I'm Right

Hello again to all those who need advice. I've been gone for awhile but I'm back to irritate you once more with "Ask Me I'm Right". I'm also back to promote Traben basses who were kind enough to give me my own signature series bass . For more info go to Trabenbass.com . Enjoy. Don’t hesitate to popup your mail program of choice and send me a question to askmeimright@metalinjection.net and I’ll be sure to respond with some life-changing advice.

Hey Man,
I had to ask you…because you're right! Haha. Anyway, hi my name is Austin Beck, I've been playing metal/metalcore (damn i hate labels) for about 3 years now, not long at all, but I've been playing hard rock since I was 13. even in my early years I tried to do metal screams. Well, I've only just now got a hold of it, and I'm doing much better, I don't hurt my vocal chords, and people on YouTube seem to like my screams. But it seems, there aren't any good teachers for metal screaming…I've done my best at trying to teach screaming onYouTube, and I have gotten some awesome feedback, but I know there MUST be someone better suited to teach this. Do you have any advice?

I already bought both Zen of Screaming DVDs, and even though Melissa Cross has some great ideas for vocal warmups and helping you understand from an anatomical view…her scream has no power??? And no one in her DVDs screams like her…if you don't know which scream I'm talking about, it's that THING that sounds like Marge Simpson…I definitely respect Melissa Cross, but no one on stage uses that kind of scream unless they're doing super low growls.
But, if you do know any good metal scream teachers I'd love to know! Thank you so much for reading all this crap! lol.
-austin beck

Greg's response:
Austin,
Although the youtube community are enjoying your screams I think you need to venture out into the world of rock and talk to real people about your problem. Are there any bands in your area that have screamers? If their singer isn't a douche bag, good luck with that, then sit him down and ask him how he does it. I personally don't know any "screamers" but I do know some "moaners". I don't think they can help with your situation but I'll get you there numbers anyway.
-Greg

Hi,
There is a bully at school, and he KEEPS eating MY lunch! What should I do?

p.s. Are 7 string guitars metal?

Greg's response:
My good friend Gunface once had a co-worker who had his lunches stolen. He put ground up glass in his sandwich. His food was never stolen again. To answer your other question, did Jimmy Page play a seven string?
-Greg

YouTube Preview Image
Do you think this is cool – i mean apart from the crappy playing – i made it :p

Greg's response:
Thank you. I think it rules! We are also sorry for the crappy playing.
-Greg

Whatsup Greg,

First off i must say that you are one kickass funny dude. Second, I'm digging the epic beard. I must say though that I think I have you beat on that. Not only do I sport a badass epic beard myself, but I also happen to have one eye. Yep…one eye. I'll show it to you when i catch your next show. Do you think this will impress other awesome band members such as yourself?

P.S. I do NOT wear an eye patch.

-Andrew from Miami, FL

Greg's response:
Weird,
This is the second "one eyed" question I've received. Ummm… I'm excited about your beard and I'll be impressed only if you show up to our show dressed as a "one-eyed jack" and you play cards with me.
-Greg

Hi, my name is Mark and I would first like to say I am a rather big fan of your music. I have yet to see you live but I plan to the next time you hit up Iowa! *cough cough* Cedar Falls the Reverb *cough cough*. But anyways, I have to questions for you today. 1. Me and my friends have started a sludgegrind band and are looking at practice PA's and a bass amp *obv. for our bassist* and was wonderin if u had any suggestions for us. 2. We have been playing for about 2 months and our guitarist are "kind of" understanding eachother on how to write, but each of them still wants to play something the other dosent know and dosent blend at all. What would you say could help us with these problems?

thank you kinda sir
-Mark

Greg's response:
Kinda sir? I thought my doctor was the only one who knew that I was a hermie. You can find a cheap PA and Bass rig in your area I'm sure. Look through the want ads or Craig's list and steer clear of shifty music stores. The one good thing about your situation is that great bands like Television and Guns and Roses had guitar players that were doing completely different things at the same time. Try to use it to your advantage.
-Greg

About to do something regrettable but need that extra push? You can get advice from Greg Weeks. Just email askmeimright@metalinjection.net