Interview with Keef West and Ian McWilliams of Aiden

Tim Wenger | February 12, 2012 | 0 Comments

By Max Giffin

Aiden, an American rock band from Seattle, started out the Something Wicked This Way Comes Tour with some unfortunate luck when their tour bus broke down in Reddings, California and they were forced to continue in a U-Haul truck. Despite the inconveniences, the members of Aiden never let it get them down and made the best of the situation. Part of the unwavering excitement was due to the fact that for drummer Keef West and guitarist Ian McWilliams, this was the first tour with Aiden. When the band played at The Gothic in Englewood, Colorado I got a chance to sit down with Aiden’s newest members and talk to them about what their experience has been in the past 3 months since they joined.

CMB: For those who have never heard of Aiden, would you introduce yourself and explain your sound?

Keef West: My name is Keef, I’m playing drums now for Aiden. I would say Aiden is primarily passion sound. It’s pretty much hard rock mixed with punk. So it’s a powerful message pretty much. We come out every night. We try and thrash and have a good time

Ian McWilliams: I’m Ian, I’m playing guitar.

CMB: How was starting off the tour in a U-Haul truck?

IM: Being in the U-Haul sucked. I had to ride the most in the back on a bunch of sleeping bags and a little egg foam and just constantly feel like I’m going to fall off this edge and possibly to my death landing on a bunch of other gear. Yeah, that wasn’t that fun. But at the same time, I was able to sleep while these guys had to drive around doing stuff.

KW: Yeah it was pretty much Nick, Roya, and I in the cab and Ian in the back because Will had to go to the slide bar and play acoustic for the Nightmare Secret Anatomy Show.

CMB: As Aiden’s new members, what do you think you bring to the table that might not have previously been there?

IM: I have swoopy hair.

KW: I don’t know. I’d say what I bring to the table is awesome-ness. I like to try and take off my shirt as much as possible.

IM: He brings the abs.

CMB: What Aiden song is your personal favorite?

IM: Mine is Hysteria. I love that song.

KW: I Set My Friends On Fire. That was pretty much my anthem growing up.

CMB: Do you have a zombie apocalypse plan?

KW: Yes, yes I used to be obsessed with this man named Dick Proenneke and he built his own cabin in Alaska by hand. So I would follow in his footsteps.

IM: I think that would be really good but I wish I had more of a plan. I think I’d just buy as much candy as possible and hide out in some little bunker.

KW: You can hide out in my bunker.

IM: Okay good, I’ll bring the candy!

CMB: When can fans expect some new music?

KW: Well after this tour we’re actually gonna get back and Will and Nick were talking about writing a new CD. They just put out Some Kind Of Hate before Ian and I were both in the band so hopefully we’re gonna be recording in the summer and try to put that out by the end of this year.

CMB: What do you think makes Aiden’s music unique or stand out?

IM: Just the intensity behind it. I think everybody is just so passionate about trying to get a message across. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an anti-religious thing but everything that Aiden creates is about an intensity.

KW: Yeah I mean I’ve met a few kids especially on this tour that have actually came up and said they are Christian. They say, “Yeah we disagree on that aspect but at the same time it’s such a positive message and it gives me strength.”

CMB: So how has joining Aiden changed your life?

IM: I now regularly feel like I’m awesome.

KW: I would say it gives me the chance to do what I love. I mean I love playing drums, I love the music, and I’ve loved Aiden pretty much since they came out. The actual life change is just being on the road more and having more attention, which who doesn’t want more attention? But at the same time, it gives me a chance to play and do what I love doing. So I think the main goal for every musician is to expand more.

CMB: What would you do if you won the lottery?

*in unison* Two chicks at the same time.