You guys are from here in OC. Are you excited to play at home? How do you think this show will be different from playing other shows around the country and around the world?

We haven't really played Orange County that much, we used to play here a lot when we were starting out. We're usually on tour and we mostly play LA, or maybe San Diego. So we really haven't played OC that much. That's cool, ya know, we'll get a bunch of friends. All our friends can actually come see us without having to drive to LA. It's pretty cool this should be a cool show.

What are some of your musical influences? Are there any bands that have had a hand in shaping the Fu Manchu sound?

Stuff from old ZZ top to ACDC, Black Sabbath, that kind of stuff-- to old hard core punk rock stuff. A lot of us listen to different stuff, but when it comes to the band we pretty much have all the same influences.

Have those influences changed much over the years, and is it evident in the sound of the new record?

We've always been into old bands, but what we listen to doesn't really influence what we write or anything. On the new album we wanted to do a couple of songs without the fuzz on the guitar. We wanted to change up the sound some.

What was the first rock song you remember hearing that had a lasting effect on you?

It was by KISS... the second song off of Destroyer.

You have a new album coming out, "King of the Road." Please tell me what was different about putting this album together from those you've done in the past?

The record we did before, we actually worked with Jay Younger,who was in White Zombie. He produced it. We'd never really worked with a producer we'd just always done it ourselves. On that album the label wanted us to go with a producer, so we did it with Jay. He was used tto the tight clean White Zombie sound, which isn't really us. So with this record we told the label we wanted to go in with a friend of ours, Joe Barresi, and kind of do it both together. They liked the idea. You know, after being in this band for over nine years, we know better than anyone how it should sound. We just wanted to handle it ourselves

There's an obvious resurgence in real Rock and Roll today. More kids are getting into rock that may have been into punk or alternative. Did you make a conscious effort to appeal to that new audience when you were writing "King of the Road?"

No, we stayed the same, no matter what. Whether ska was big, or punk metal. We don't even pay attention to what's out there, if this kind of rock catches on, cool.Iif not, it doesn't matter we'll still be playing it.

What are the band's plans to support the album after its release?

Yes, we'll be on the road for a while. We'll be going to Japan and Australia. After that we'll come back to the states and tour here more.

Why did you choose to cover Devo's "Freedom of Choice?" Is Devo a band favorite?

We usually do a cover every record we do, whether it makes the album or not. On our web site we asked all the fans what song they'd want us to do. We asked them to write in or email us, and that got the most votes and "Slowride" by Foghat. But we thought people would expect us to do Foghat. We've done Blue Oyster Cult, Thin Lizzy, so we were like "nah, people are gonna expect us to do that." We're all big fans of Devo and we figured we could turn that song into a song of ours.

You have toured all over the world. Where are some of you favorite cities to play in?

Anywhere in Europe is awesome. We did Greece for the first time last year. Everywhere in Australia is good. Even here in the States, like Cleveland, or Chicago those were some really good shows. Every where's pretty cool. There's never a bummer place.

I have noticed a recurring theme of cars, trucks and driving in the lyrics over the years. What "drives" you to write about the road?

A lot of it is old muscle car stuff, old custom vans, biker stuff, and science fiction. Just stuff that I was into growing up as a kid. We've always lived by the beach my whole life down here in Orange County. I was just into the whole skateboarding, surfing, and a big old muscle car thing growing up. I'm still into the same stuff now. I was born in Huntington Beach, but I grew up in San Clemente.

How do you feel about the heavier, more industrial edge rock has developed in the past years?

For us we want nothing to do with any of that, but it's cool. I know that White Zombie did some of that. For us we'll just stick with guitar, bass and drums, and just keep it as natural as we can.

What do you think the future of rock is?

Hopefully rock will come full circle and it will go back to just guitars and bass and drums. Just the natural plug in and play. Just four guys setting up and playing. I'm not really into adding a lot of computer effects, we've always been about the four of us getting in a room and and basically going one..two..three..GO!

Is there anything you would like my readers out there to know about your band?

If they want to hear just straight ahead rock music pick up the record.

Check the band's Official Web Site @ www.mammoth.com

We review xxx's new CD "King of the Road" in this issue.