The next installment in the exploratory series that takes a comprehensive look at the complete catalog of a variety of artists shifts the focus on the rise of horrorcore.
The latest Disc Dive with Ryan J. Downey traverses the creative work of Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric, the dynamic duo from Detroit that would become best known as Twiztid. Beginning the expedition in the late nineties, Downey, along with Jamie and Paul begin their conversation with the band’s now cult-level introduction in, Mostasteless.
Jaime and Paul would detail the humble beginnings that started after meeting Insane Clown Posse while on tour in a previous group. After rotating home, ICP would follow up with Jamie and Paul, not in the loop that their existing outfit had since dissolved. Jamie however, had a plan to begin a new project with Paul and another friend. The guys would play two songs from that project and the rest was history.
Going from aspiring, self-released artists, Jaime and Paul would ink a deal with Insane Clown Posse for $3000.00. The modest amount of money managed to legitimize the project that Jaime and Paul began and set them on the path that afforded them the opportunity to do what they wanted creatively for a living. It was a reality that neither of the guys took for granted and seem genuinely grateful for to this day. Jaime would put the situation into context by explaining that Twiztid signed a record deal for $3000 and walked away with $3 million worth in education.
From the very beginning, the guys explained how moving it was to see their creative vision coming together. As avid fans of comic books, Jamie especially, it was a huge coup for the band to have Chaos! Comics do the artwork for Twiztid’s debut. To this day the guys refer to the artwork with such sincere excitement.
For the especially-versed Twiztid fan, Mostasteless includes samples from the film Halloween III: Season of the Witch. In much the same way the third film in the famous franchise was marginalized from it’s predecessors, Jamie and Paul see themselves as similar in being a bit of an odd fit yet still beloved on a cult level.
Moving forward to 2000, Twiztid would unveil their follow-up in what is arguably their most recognizable studio effort with Freek Show.
What resonates most with both Paul and Jamie for this particular era in the team was that the record seemed to begin a path of self-sufficiency that really allowed them to bloom creatively. Retreating back to their old stomping grounds to make the record, away from the label’s resources, Jamie, Paul, and Fritz were able to churn out a product that genuinely felt like their own, entirely. The kind of reception the record would go on to earn only validated the notion that the g8uys in Twisted, really did in fact capture lighting in a bottle.
Freek Show would go onto gain a strong position on the Billboard charts during a time when physical album sales dictated that you had to do a wealth of units to see your album hit the top 100. It’s not a reality that was lost on either Jaime or Paul but what really seemed to hit home was how that success translated when it came to touring. Paul would go onto to recall what it felt like seeing fans in the crowd all painted up just like the them. He recalled what it was like to hustle every position in the Turing party from stage strike to merch guy and still sign autographs at the end of the night. It was that kind of education that give the guys a real appreciation for the lifestyle and furthermore, a complete grasp of just how best to determine their own fate by knowing every facet of the business.
Watch part one of The Disc Dive with Ryan J. Downey and Twiztid below.
