“It feels great to be back at Wacken” – interview with Vended

Vended is an American metal band, and they returned to the Holy Ground of Wacken Open Air for the second time this year. We got the chance to talk to Griffin, Simon and Cole about the festival, life on tour and more.

I’m here with the incredible Vended today. How are you doing guys?

Vended: We’re doing great, doing fucking amazing. It’s a good day so far.

Awesome. So you’re playing Wacken in its 35th anniversary edition. How does it feel?

Simon Crahan: Well we played here, what was it, 2022? 2022, it was our first time and now we’re back for a second time and it feels great. And we’re playing at like 10 o’clock tonight so it’s like a big jump from last time. And yeah, it’s awesome to be back and we love Germany so it’s awesome. 

Griffin Taylor: The last time it was really much like a drop and go kind of day. So we had to like get there and then immediately play. Now that we’re on the 35th anniversary we get to actually be here and we’ve gotten to walk around and buy some stuff. I got new earrings and yeah, it’s been a really nice time. We get to enjoy it. I’m getting a tattoo later. I started walking around and at one point I was just like, “Did I just wind up at like the freaking Renaissance Fair? Where am I?” It’s a maze.

You have a lot of experience in playing live shows, but you also have experience in the studio working on music. Do you think that the life of an artist is a lonely life?

Simon Crahan: Yeah. For sure. Absolutely. I mean, we have each other and we’re best friends and we’re family, but we have family at home and that’s probably the hardest part is leaving your family behind. But they understand what you’re doing and they know what you’re doing, but there’s not a lot of people out here supporting you in many ways. And there are also, at the same time, there are people here for you, and it’s like some days are good and some days are bad. Everyone’s different here. But I definitely think it’s lonely for sure.

Griffin Taylor: I’m just neurodivergent, so I just self-isolate like a motherfucker. I just like to be alone. And then eventually I’m like, “I hate being alone”. And then I go and I hang out with people. And then I realize I fucking hate people, so then I go and self-isolate again. I don’t hate on people.

Simon Crahan: Like I said, we’re brothers, so that helps a lot. Being really close to each other and being best friends is definitely helpful with these long tours and stuff.

Do you remember the first CD or vinyl that you bought? Maybe even not metal-related. Just the first CD that you remember buying with your own money.

Griffin Taylor: I do. It was King 810‘s “Midwest Monster” CD, because they came to Iowa and they performed. I’m a huge fan of them, so I had a really great time with them. They were selling a bunch of stuff at their merch table, and they had their EP, I think it’s their EP, probably. Yeah, “Midwest Monster”. I bought that, and I still have to this day. But my CD player in my car broke, so I can’t listen to it. And I’m like, fuck! 

Cole Espeland: I think it was one of The White Stripes, the first album.

Simon Crahan: That’s a good one. Mine was Frank Sinatra. It’s an album, a vinyl, I forgot which one it is. It’s just one of his best ones. But that was the first vinyl I got was Frank Sinatra.

Griffin Taylor: I mean, shit, the first CD I remember ever actually legitimately listening to, because I would listen to music to go to sleep, and my parents would help me with that. It was Paul Simon. It was like Simon and Garfunkel, Paul Simon, and all that jazz. And that’s what I used to, on CD, listen to to go to sleep.

Guys, thank you so much for taking the time to do this. Is there anything else that you want to add to our viewers and readers?

Simon Crahan: Just everybody stay safe, healthy, connect with each other. Be friends with everybody. Hopefully we’ll be back again. Just look out for some stuff from us and we’ll be doing our thing as always. Be good, and if you can’t be good, be safe.