photo by Bruce Bettis
When he’s not rocking out with his bros in Unearth, guitarist Ken Susi enjoys listening to hardcore bands like Judge or Sheer Terror, eating hot wings and pizza and downing about a case of beer — usually with his bros in Unearth. He also enjoys nerding away on guitar, watching sports for hours and taking long walks on the beach. He especially likes the way the wet sand feels between his toes. Just kiddin’! Susi’s no pansy, and anyone who says otherwise is liable to wind up with mouthful of shattered teeth. The dude’s from the streets of Boston, after all, and has been known to get into a few scraps from time to time. But he’s also got a wicked awesome sense of humor, which probably explains how we exited our interview unscathed.
So, since Susi fielded our obnoxious questions with grace and wit, we feel obligated to promote Unearth’s latest effort before digging into the Q&A. Unearth have just released their first home video, the double disc DVD “Alive From the Apocalypse,” which debuted at number 13 on Billboard’s Top Music Videos chart with 1,800 copies sold in its first week. The band is currently on the road with Bury Your Dead, As Blood Runs Black, My Children My Bride and The Destro. And now, on with the stupid questions:
Has anyone ever confused you with Underoath?
Surprisingly, no one has ever made that mistake with us. We get a lot of, “Hey what’s your band called again, On Earth?” I love that one. We hear that all the time. Oh, I also like it when people say, “Hey Ken, do you still play lead bass? Want to jam? I can play some sick double bass.” Life is way too good to me.
Those guys in Underoath have God on their side. Do you think your band could take them in a fight?
I love Underoath as dudes! They have always been good friends to us and, heck, our bands started out around the same time. We spent, like, two years on all the same tours, too. It would never happen. But if It did… Are you kidding me?! Our dudes know how to fight. As far as Underoath goes, I bet the guitar player, Tim, would put up the best fight for them. He’s a scrapper. You can see it in his eyes.
Your new DVD is called “Alive From the Apocalypse.” When’s the last time you thought your world was going to end?
Two days ago when I got diarrhea in Iowa. I was at dinner with some friends, and we went outside to head back to the club and then, boom. I felt a kick! Let me just tell you, I knew I wasn’t pregnant. I ran all the way to the club and got my pants off just in time to get most of it in the bowl — the rest overshot and covered the wall. Oops! At that moment, I thought the world was over, for sure.
Did you ever get teased because you’re last name sounds kind of like Sushi?
Dude, I never got teased in high school. I was actually captain of my high schools hockey team and soccer team all-American. But I have heard it before. I always thought it was funny because some people thought they were being original when they tried to say it. And other people just don’t know how to read that well and think there really is an extra letter in my name. The only time I ever got mad about it was when I was 14 years old during a little league all-star game in some other town. Some kid called me “Sushi” over the loudspeaker and laughed after. So, I got frustrated and hit a ground ball and singled out. That pissed me off so bad I walked upstairs to the announcer’s booth, opened the door and knocked the kid’s teeth down his throat with a barrage of haymakers to the face. I got ejected from the game for fighting. I didn’t feel that bad because that kid was a pu–y. I grew up around my grandfather, who was a semi-pro boxer, always getting into street fights in south Boston. And my father was a tough ass motherf—er, too. Fighting is in my blood, for sure.
What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
I found out that my childhood family pet died. I was really close to my cat and it crushed me. Black Kitty — RIP. Best cat ever. That cat tapped out inspiring breakdowns all the time on his litter box for me.
What’s your most embarrassing puke story?
A girl was going down on me backstage on the Damageplan tour, and she took it a little to far and puked a little on me. I can’t say I was bummed. It was gross, but funny.
What’s your greatest guilty pleasure?
Sports. I Love hockey. I have a man crush on Terry O’Reilly — toughest man alive!
You’ve had various drummers come and go over the years. Does that have something to do with all the mean drummer jokes you tell on the bus?
[laughs] There are more bass player jokes, for sure. No, we loved Mike Rudberg a ton as a family member but he left [in 2003] for life reasons. And Mike Justian was really talented and cool but it was better for everyone that we all parted ways [in May, 2007]. We all just had different style, likes and views. I wish him the best. He’s a great player.
You recorded with Terry Date. What the best Pantera story he told you?
At the end of “F–king Hostile” Phil [Anselmo] slammed his mic in a metal trashcan, which made that cool-ass feedback noise. Terry said when he went to get the mic it was covered in hot wing sauce, and they had to get a new one.
You wrote a song for “Aqua Teen Hunger Force.” Did that impress the ladies?
I am still collecting the return on that one, sexually! [laughs]. It was so awesome to be a part of a cool-ass movie like that.
What’s the closest you’ve come to being in a Nike commercial?
I thought Nike was next right after I did a major national ad for Verizon wireless, as their token metal dude smashing a guitar. It’s strange to see yourself on a billboard. My mom loved it.
Obviously, you’ll never be the ones to stop world hunger. But if it were up to you, how would you stop Internet piracy?
I wouldn’t! I believe people have been charged way too much for CDs, movies and other luxuries in the past. Who hasn’t purchased a $15 CD before? It really only costs a few dollars to make. The Internet is a big f–k you to everyone who has overcharged us in the past. I love the Inter-nerd. Download away!
Have you ever had a stalker?
No, just crazy girls that would either show up to shows or show up to my house. It’s all been done before. It’s crazy to think someone looks at you like that.
When do you think Unearth will finally rest in peace?
I don’t know! As long as bands keep selling out writing pop metal albums, I think its up to us to continue to keep writing heavy records!
MR. Whatever the hell your name is, you must not know @~%~ about @~%~. The Dudes in Unearth are the coolest motherfuckers. My buddy and I were broke at Ozzfest in 95 degree heat we had no Cash so we deceided to leave. Over by their bus was Unearth, We shook every one of their hands and BS’d with them for like 10mins. They would have offered us a drink but I think as Buz put it all they had in the bus was Alcohol. Ken might seem like kind of an @?#%%?% but he’s just having fun; he finds his antics to be funny @~%~, Maybe try pulling the stick outta your ass and having some fun yourself?
I would back the Unearth guys up in a fight at any given time. I may not have came from the same place as them but you can’t touch BOSTON ??~%~%? METAL. As for hockey, It’s a brutal ??~%~%? sport. Metal and hockey just fit together.
Ken is a *##$?* ?#?… unearth kicks ass but ken is easily the gayest dude of all time.