Barbara Fara
Editor-In-Chief
MusicIncider Magazine

I spoke with Travis Crider, the lead guitar from the Bloomington, Indiana
based band Black Earth. Here is what he had to say when I put him under
the MusicIncider Microscope. Read on.

MusicIncider: What is your birth date?
Travis: 10/18/1972

MusicIncider: Tell me the story about how Black Earth was born.
Travis: Brian Tonne and I were in a death metal band that broke up when
the bassist graduated from school and moved back to Wisconsin. We knew
a couple of other guys that were in a band and more into what you would
consider the traditional type metal. Our basic goal was to get together
and combine our influences and make some stuff that was heavy, and could
still be played on the radio. We wanted to get something that was
commercial, and still not feel like we were selling out.

MuscinIncider: How did you get the name Black Earth?
Travis: It was something I got off the back of the Necronomicon ( The Book of The Dead).

MusicIncider: Who are your musical influences and why?
Travis: Kiss. I don't think I really have to explain that. I think
everybody, whether they want to admit it or not has been influenced by
Kiss in one way or another. Elvis is another, in a round about way. I
grew up on it. Those to me are rock stars. You don't see rock stars
like that anymore. Black Sabbath, Pantera, and Metallica-those came a
little bit later. That's about it.

MusicIncider: How long has the band been together?
Travis: We have been together right around four years. When we started
out, we were all in other bands. Black Earth was a side project.
Rehearsals were a once or twice a month thing. It grew from there.

MusicIncider: Who is your favorite metal guitarist and why? Who would
you compare your guitar playing to?
Travis: My favorite guitarist is Ace Frehley. I compare my playing
most to Andy LeRock of King Diamond.

MusicIncider: Who would you compare Black Earth to musically?
Travis: I would compare us to later works of Corrosion of Conformity,
Black Sabbath, and Godsmack. Definitely music to thrash your head to.

MusicIncider: What is your most memorable live show and why?
Travis: That's a tough question. We have had so many good
experiences. Probably when we got to open up for Michael Angelo's band
C4. They were there for the sole purpose of seeing good rock and roll.

MusicIncider: Who in the world would you like most to open for and
why?
Travis: Kiss, if they ever tour again, or Black Sabbath I would say.

MusicIncider: If you could sign with any label, who would it be and
why?
Travis: Probably Sony. I would say Sony because they have enough money
to push, promote, and really advertise their artists.

MusicIncider: Where do you see the band five years from now?
Travis: Hopefully, we could be signed to a major deal and be doing some
major tours.

MusicIncider: Tell me your feelings about America going to war.
Travis: I think that its going to be one of those things that's going
to be tough to avoid. We have to do what's necessary to keep ourselves
safe.

MusicIncider: What do you think about President Bush?
Travis: I think he is doing what he has to do to keep us safe. Every
since September 11th, I think things have went pretty good. I don't see
any terrorist attacks happening over here. I think he's doing a pretty
good job.

MusicIncider: Describe yourself as a person.
Travis: I am pretty laid back person. I am pretty set in my mind. I
definitely know what I want, and I will do what it takes to get it.

MusicIncider: Have you ever inhaled?
Travis: Uhm, Yeah I have.

MusicIncider: Do you believe in psychics? Why or why not?
Travis: Yeah, I do. I think there's something there. I don't know how
to go into it in depth, or explain. I think there is something there.

MusicIncider: What is the message the band's music is trying to get
across?
Travis: I don't think there is any message. We just want to put on a
good show. The ultimate purpose is for everybody to have a good time
and get there aggressions out. Goal achieved.

MusicIncider: What is your greatest achievement?
Travis: I haven't gotten there yet.

MusicIncider: What is your stance on gun control?
Travis: I personally am against gun control. I was raised around
guns. I hunted as a child. There are bad people, and the criminals
find a way to get what they need. Criminals will find a way no matter
what. People kill people. It is a matter of who is on the other side
of the gun.

MusicIncider: Who is your all time hero and why?
Travis: I have a couple. First, my parents. They have always been
very supportive of this music thing. They have never said when are you
going to give this up and get a real job. The other one is Gene Simmons
from Kiss

MusicIncider: What age did you start playing guitar at?
Travis: Seriously, at about fifteen.

MusicIncider: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be
and why?
Travis: I would like to go to Jerusalem and Israel. I believe in God.
It would be neat to see where all the events from the bible really
happened.

MusicIncider: Are you getting any airplay?
Travis: We got some airplay on internet stations. We are getting a
little airplay. We are working on college stations. Black Earth has
music on an adult film that was filmed on the Bloomington Campus. The
name of the movie is called Shane's World #32: Campus Invasion.

MusicIncider: What is your favorite book of all time?
Travis: The bible. Am I getting too godly on you?

MusicIncider: What do you want people to know about you and your band?
Travis: Well, just listen to the music and figure it out for yourself.
That's what I want people to know.

MusicIncider: What is your favorite quote of all time?
Travis: Don't base your happiness on the deeds of others, because what
can be given can be taken away.

Black Earth is a band to watch. They are a star on the rise.
I look forward to seeing who gets to them first.

MusicIncider Magazine is a wholly owned and copyrighted subsidiary of
Barbara Ann Fara Productions, Inc. 2003