STONE SOUR Guitarist Contemplates Thrash Side Project

Mark Carras of Rock My Monkey recently spoke with Josh Rand of STONE SOUR. An excerpt from the chat follows:

Rock My Monkey: Corey [Taylor] and James [Root] have SLIPKNOT. But have you ever thought of-and you've already said that you do enjoy the downtime because it gives you enough time to write a follow-up like "Come What(ever) May", but have you ever thought about maybe getting some kind of a side project going to fill the downtime?

Josh Rand: Actually, I have this time around. Last time around it just, it didn't feel right to me to do that. This time around, there's stuff that I want to do that I can't do in STONE SOUR, for obvious reasons. We can only get so heavy in STONE SOUR, and then it kind of forces Corey to sound like SLIPKNOT. That's what people think, because his voice just doesn't sound right. I love heavier stuff. I love progressive stuff. I would love to work with a couple of guys that play in a couple of prog bands down in the future. I look for myself to do something. I just, at this point-my focus right now is on STONE SOUR until this album cycles done.

Rock My Monkey: So possibly the side project that might happen is probably going to be a little closer to maybe your thrash influences?

Josh Rand: Yeah, and a lot more-not saying that we're not guitar-oriented in STONE SOUR, because we are to some extent. But I'm still a woodshed player. Like today, for two and a half hours with a metronome. I'm constantly pushing myself. And I'm starting to really get into that style of music, the FATES WARNING, DREAM THEATER stuff. I could really see myself doing something in that vein, but with a thrashier side to it.

Rock My Monkey: I'd love that. I love it when bands mix the prog elements with the thrash elements. Now, with "Come What(ever) May" selling around a hundred thousand copies the first week according to SoundScan, do you think you guys have finally proven that STONE SOUR is more than a side project?

Josh Rand: I think on the first record we did that, too. We had some successful tours. The first record went gold, and we were nominated for two Grammys. It's the press making out whatever they want it to be. I don't think you can now deny us that we're more, we're definitely more than a side project. Our follow-up at this point is selling way more than the first one. I'm not one to toot my own horns, but as of, what is today? Thursday, Wednesday? Tuesday morning we had the number one single in active rock in the country. This is a feat that SLIPKNOT has yet to do. Twice we've charted higher with two radio songs than they have. I don't know what else we have to do to not be considered a side project.

Read the entire interview — and listen to the audio of the chat — at this location.