James caught up with Kirk Windstein from Crowbar to talk about touring Europe, playing Bloodstock Open Air 2012 and much more.

You have been touring Europe since the start of July, how have you found the shows so far and have you had any main highlights?
We’ve had a lot of great shows it’s been really good. 95% of the times the reactions have been great and the receptions been fantastic, it’s great to be here we’ve got the good weather. It’s what we do man its work, we love it.

You are back in the UK playing a one off show Bloodstock Open Air, how does to be back in the UK and playing such an solid festival?
Very good because the UK and Germany I was saying earlier on are the 2 territories that really embraced us really early on as far as our hardcore fans is really solid, plus I was born in Middlesex so it’s great haha!

How did you find your set today?
We had a great set today! A good song selection, the crowd response was really good I thought, everyone seemed to have a good time.

Will you be sticking around to check out any bands across the weekend?
I’m hoping to catch Testament and I’m really hoping to catch Machine Head but I’ve gotta hit the hotel. Last summer though with Kingdom of Sorrow we did Mayhem Festival so I was able to see those guys every day, doesn’t mean I don’t wanna see them again. If I can catch half an hour I will, I haven’t even eaten today! I didn’t eat yesterday! Got to get that done haha.

What do you have planned once your current European tour comes to an end?
1 day off then I start filming a new Down video. Then Down rehearsals, Down tour, lots of down haha.

You released your ninth studio album ‘Sever The Wicked Hand’ a good 18 months ago, are you happy with how the album has gone down with your fans and the press?
Very Pleased.

You have been going as a band for over 20 years now but what would you say your main high and low points have been so far?
My lows are you know those times in the 90’s where down didn’t exist and Crowbar wasn’t doing very well, I was doing a day job trying to keep it going and times where I was the only member of Crowbar. Phil was busy with Pantera and his own issues so down wasn’t around but my highs are with Down, we only got back together in 2006 we supported Metallica in stadiums across Europe in stadiums, we did it in America as main support too. We supported AC/DC in 2008, we did a Heaven and Hell/Megadeth support tour in Canada we did a Heaven and Hell/Down tour across Australia and New Zealand, we played a handful with Motorhead. I’ve shared a stage with most of my idols and that’s unbeatable.

One last random question that we ask every band, if you could be an animal out of a zebra or Giraffe which one would you be and why?
Zebra because theres a band called Zebra, their guitar player Randy Jackson is an extremely jolly guy and he’s a friend of mine, watching him since I was a kid. Nothing to do with the animals but I’ll take zebra for that haha.

Thanks for your time is there a message for your fans reading this? I’d just like to thank everyone for supporting us for this long , through the lean years and the good times so thats really it, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Interview by James Webb