1. Tell us a little about your new solo project. How did it come about? How did you end up working with singer Jeff Borden?

Jeff and I met in the spring of 2003 in my home town. After a while Jeff asked me if I would like to records some stuff with him. We tried it and I thought the results where good. After a 1 year interruption we started to work again. We got a deal with Sudden Death Records and the rest is history.

2. Working with En Esch in KMFDM and Slick Idiot for so many years, how does it differ with Jeff when it comes to a working environment?

En Esch and I are much more like an old, odd couple. We started to work together in the mid 80's. So our relationship has much deeper roots and we usually know what to expect from each other. We both program and we are both classically trained musicians. With Schulz, I am the only one doing the music.

3. You guys do a fantastic cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart". Why did you choose that song to cover?

Thanks so much. It is one of Jeff’s favorite songs, probably one of the most morbid love songs ever. We just had fun doing it and a lot of times it is easier to have something played on radio that was already a hit before. So, two reasons: A homage to a great song and some commercial accessibility.

4. Let's talk guitars for a bit. Tell us about your gear that you are currently using (guitars, amps, effects...) live and in the studio.

After 15 years I started to buy some new guitars. I bought my first Stratocaster, ESP sent me a M II, the perfect heavy metal tool and I still use my old, trusty Paul Reed Smith. The frets on the Paul Reed Smith had to be redone because of the constant use over the years. Finally I have my Svetlana Zombie Slash back at my house, the one of a kind, really cool looking guitar that some people might remember. Amp wise I used a Mesa Boogie Roadking, an Engl Straight 100 and a Marshall JMP 1. I also used some Amplitube and the build in Guitar processor in Logic. I started to use a Mesa Boogie Lonestar recently, but usually more for Jazz and clean stuff.

Effect wise I started to collect distortion pedals, at the moment I have a Robert Keeley moded 4x2 Tubescreamer, Boss DS 1, Zakk Wylde overdrive, Fulltone Ocatafuzz. Other stuff is the Wylde Wah, really cool for heavy distortion, not so cool clean, the Eddy Van Halen phaser, really cool, only two buttons that always sound good, Demeter tremolo, Boss NS 2, DL 4, DD 20 and some other stuff. At the moment its more collecting than using, Amp by itself usually sounds the best.

5. To my ears your using standard tuning with an occasional "drop D" on some songs. Am I in the right ballpark?

That’s right. One song is in drop C though. When I got the ESP it was setup for drop C. I changed it back. I don’t think this really low tuned stuff works for me. Guitars sit even more in the bass than usual, and I think they are loosing punch as well. Playing live with low tuning means for me to bring out two more guitars. I can’t be bothered with that shit.

6. You have come up with so many memorable riffs over the years and you never seem to run out of them. Do you ever find it difficult to reach into that grab bag of idea's and come up with a great guitar part?

Of course I do find it difficult. When you play with the open string for your low chucks then the possibilities are not endless. When I look for inspiration these days I am going back in time. Good songs from Elton John, the Beatles etc. Shit, even Reign in Blood is over 20 years old.

7. Your alternate picking is very precise, and I love the fact that you let loose on several songs and just shred. Who influenced you early on when you started playing guitar?

My heroes where John McLaughlin, Al DIMeola, Miles Davis etc. I started to listen to Chick Corea again, what a writer and performer. I really loved Earth Wind & Fire, always puts me in a good mood. My first guitar hero was probably Ritchie Blackmore, and I really liked Tommy Bolin on Come Taste the Band, the last Deep Purple record. It was one of the first records I owned.

8. Have you ever thought about doing just an instrumental guitar album? You certainly have the technique to pull it off.

Thanks for the compliment, I might have enough technique but I didn’t have the guts yet. Hopefully that will change. If so, it would be much more in a Jazz direction.

9. Are you and Jeff going to tour for "What Apology" ? Or is this just a studio project?

We are starting to tour parts of Canada, specifically Alberta and BC in late September. A little later Ontario etc. After that we will see.

10. What is next for you? Is another Slick Idiot album in the works?

I hope so, but I can’t promise anything. En Esch might relocate to other grounds and I am not sure that he comes by my place first.

11. Finally, what are you currently listening to these days? What's in your CD player at the moment?

Today it’s Depech Mode, Ultra. Other CD in the car are the first 4 Stevie Wonder albums, Marvin Gaye, What’s going on, some Burt Bachrach, John Scofield, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass etc.

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