The following interview took place in July of 1998 at the offices of Rockasaurus Records. The band Synthuser had just finished it's OFD release in May of the same year, and the final mix sessions had just been completed. Swedish rock journalist Jan Imbordt sat down with OFD producer Daniel Byerly and the band members to discuss the new cd, musical direction and life in general.

Jan Imbordt: This new cd is very different from the Witchking cd. What happened?
Andrew Blayer (guitars): Um ten years passed?
Brad Windel (bass guitar): <laughs>

Jan Imbordt: Well I meant the band is called Synthuser and yet the new cd is so much a guitar cd. Not a style very close to Witchking.
Lee DiBane (keyboards): Yeah well it's 1998. Witchking was 1988. At the time it was just myself, Brad and Andy. Witchking was more me, OFD is more Andy.  Throw Alan into the mix and it's a whole new ballgame really. Alan just adds that Cozy Powell feel I grew up with and loved. Synth's are still an important part of this band, but we want to go beyond that.
Andrew: Damn I can't believe Cozy's gone. Listen to the first Rainbow album... shit that stuff was awesome.
Daniel Byerly: Yes, Witchking was a very keyboard dominated effort. When the guys brought me aboard, it was obvious what was going on with those sessions. A lot of things have changed since then. But it's all just music isn't it? I liked the Tolkien theme very much. At first I was just doing the artwork for Lee as a favor but at the same time, I was really impressed with what they were doing musically.
Lee: Yeah and then I put a voodoo spell on you. <laughs> The Tolkien stuff was for my Dad. And myself as well I guess.
Brad: I thought it was for me?

<laughter>

Jan Imbordt: On the new cd October Fool's Day, the drums are very simple, yet very powerful. Almost orchestral at times.
Alan Reed (drums): I think that's a fair statement. I mean, the simple concept I might disagree with to a point. <laughs> I play what I feel is needed, what I think works for the the song. I don't worry about whether it's simple or not. I care more about if it fits the tune.
Lee: Look, I love to program drum parts, and on Witchking I think I did a decent job, considering the gear and the time. But I gladly defer to Alan's playing. It's just what I hear in my head and hell, it's a lot easier, means I can go drinking while he's laying down tracks.
Alan: Gee, thank you Lee  <laughs>

Jan Imbordt: Ok, well enough about Witchking. Let's talk about October Fool's Day a bit. Where did the title come from.
Lee: It's from a bunch of things really.
Andrew: It started out as April Fool's Day because of this Mark Twain quote I came across. And then Anita, one of my e-mail friends told me her son was born on April first so it was a bizarre coincidence.
Brad: And since we all think Halloween is the the coolest holiday <laughs> Alan suggested October Fool's Day. Who would have thought it, I mean, well, he's the drummer. So we told him his idea sucked, but then the next day I suggested it and everyone went "yeah what a cool concept."
Alan: Asshole <laughs>
Daniel: The guys had all these tunes and the running theme turned out to be somewhat fantastical...
Andrew: What's that mean?
Lee: <laughs>
Daniel: ...the little childhood fears concept just grew out of all these song titles.
Brad: It wasn't a preconceived thing. It just happened. We have this blackboard in the studio that we write the titles on and one night we went drinking after rehearsal,when we came back a bit drunk, Andy looked at the board and said "Oh my God it's a horror film!"
Andrew: No I didn't, I said "Oh my God it's a nightmare."
Alan: No you didn't. You said "Oh my God I have to piss."
Daniel: <laughs> See what I have to deal with.

Jan Imbordt: <laughs> Ok, let's talk some music. If Witchking was a keyboard offering... well than OFD is really a guitar offering.
Not so much rhythms but lots of lead work and acoustic. What happened to Lee's keyboards.
Andrew: Oh shit, did he lose them again?
Alan: We tried sending him for pizza when we were mixing...<laughs>
Daniel: The keys are definately there. But you are close. We all talked about this prior to the mix sessions. Lee wanted the guitar to be more the focus. Basically on Witchking, poor Andy really didn't get much attention.
Brad: Alas, poor Andy, we knew him well.
Lee: Exactly Danny. I wanted to do parts that would support the guitar. I mean I didn't just roll over and die on this one! <laughter> The keys are there, all over the place really. But this cd is more about guitar and drums and just songs, not tons of little keyboard parts. This cd isn't a key wankfest. <laughs>
Andrew: Ouch. <laughs>

Jan Imbordt: And what about the cd cover photo?
Daniel: My brother Tom took the picture. We shot it in Sacramento, very near where he lived. It was done in this field, near these model homes. Needless to say we got quite a few odd looks. There are some other great shots from the same day.

Jan Imbordt: And who is wearing the mask?
Alan: It's not a mask.

<laughter>