Nine Questions

Miguel Carter is best known as the charismatic and confrontational frontman of Helldriver and Great American Tragedy, and is currently putting together a revue-style soul band. Though mostly inactive in recent years, Great American Tragedy will be performing alongside Vanish Twin, Giant Destroyer, and Anakim at Speaking in Volume, a benefit for the legal fund of Pamela Williams at Club Congress on January 17th. Pamela Williams is Miguel’s mother and was recently convicted (many believe wrongfully) of charges stemming from an altercation with Pinal County police officers.

What was the first concert you attended?

Bob Marley and the Wailers at the Santa Barbara County Bowl in 1976. I want to say they opened for the Stones but I was 6 and can’t remember.

What are you listening to these days?

Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, and neo-soul like J.C. Brooks and Sharon Jones. The Daptones rule!

What was the first album you owned?

Iron Maiden, Killers.

What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone seem to love, but you just don’t get?

Current rock, current country, current everything.

What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?

The Ramones, again. I’ve already seen them twice.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

Hall & Oates.

What song would you like to have played at your funeral?

Joey Ramone’s version of “What a Wonderful World” directly followed by Louis Armstrong’s original.

What band or artist changed your life, and how?

Iggy Pop—need I say more?

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?

I hope we’re playing Russian Roulette because it would be AC/DC’s Highway to Hell and The Cult’s Electric.

This article appears in Jan 9-15, 2014.