Heavy Frequency: What are Garner Phellps and Pumpjack currently up to?

Phellps: Right now, we are making a home DVD. We are hoping it will be out sometime in January. It tracks the past nine years, and has some never seen before footage of Dimebag jamming with us on several occasions, and a bunch of other silly stuff. We are also writing some new material for another CD. Once we are done with the DVD, we will be able to really get the CD knocked out.

HF: What was it like to play Ozzfest 2000? How did you come across the opportunity?

Phellps: Playing Ozzfest was like the longest slumber party ever, only there was not much slumber! Most of the time we were like, “What the hell are we doing here?” But everyone was really cool and made us feel welcome. We came across the opportunity from knowing Pantera. Dime and Vinne got Sharon Osbourne’s tour coordinator, Jennifer Perry, to come and check out one of our shows. She dug it and I think she got Sharon drunk enough one night to put us on the tour. It is all about who you know.

HF: Who are your primary influences on guitar?

Phellps: I would have to say Neal Schon from Journey, Pat Travers, Gary Richrath from the old REO Speedwagon, Eddie Van Halen (of course), Peter Frampton, and Dime.

HF: What is your favorite band that you have toured or played with? Why?

Phellps: Pantera! Because it was a nonstop party, and they introduced us to a lot of other fun bands like Sevendust, Anthrax, Machine Head…

HF: What are your goals as a musician, and for the band?

Phellps: I guess to keep writing songs that we can be proud of. We wish a record deal would come around, but right now, if it happens, great. If not, well then that is the way it goes.

HF: Describe your songwriting process and your guitar playing technique.

Phellps: Thurber and I basically write the songs. I am good at coming up with intro riffs and since Thurber is our singer, he usually comes up with something for the verse. Sometimes I will have an intro and an idea for a song. That is what happened on “Sucker Punch.” I had just been dumped by a chick and felt like I was sucker punched by her. Thurber took that idea and ran with it. Usually the rest of the song is structured during practice. As far as solos, I wing about 50 percent of it and structure the rest. A pint of Crown and some trucker speed is all I need to track a lead. Then when the hangover is gone, I listen back and try to learn what I played!

HF: What is the biggest sacrifice you have made to play music?

Phellps: I think getting started on a more normal life was delayed, like a having a high paying career, a family with 2.4 kids, a wife that is not a whore. Back then it was not a sacrifice, though, it was just having fun. But we are all doing good and we would not change the past for anything.

HF: How has Pumpjack progressed as a band since its conception? When was the band formed?

Phellps: When we first started we had the whole trailer park trash kind of theme going. That of course had a lot of humor involved in it. I think we have progressed into more of a deeper and darker band. Our song \"Wish\" is about a friend of ours that tried to commit suicide and the relationship afterward with this person. We basically stopped writing songs about bubba teeth wearing people. Maybe we are more mature, but it does not feel like it sometimes! Oh, we formed back in the summer of \'’4.

HF: How has Pumpjack managed to hold the band together for so long? What is the secret?

Phellps: We all knew each other for years before Pumpjack even formed. Sometimes we even played in other bands together. I guess we just got all the bulls*** that breaks up other bands out of the way early. We bust each other’s balls a lot, but even that has become kind of a game. If one of us starts to lose it, we will usually just roll our eyes at him because we know that in about 10 minutes he will be back apologizing. That is how well we know each other.

HF: Do you have any pre-show rituals or routines to prepare for the gig?

Phellps: I start drinking about an hour before the show. We then try to find out where Thurber is crashed out and get him moving, and that takes about an hour! Then he decides at this point to take shit and a shower, which leaves me more time to drink. This is why I am too loaded to play most of time. So, if anyone knows of good ways to get lead singers motivated, let me know. I love busting this guy’s balls!