Rackets and Drapes is a band that I'm not really familiar with, or like for that matter. To me, they sound too much like old M. Manson, and I didn't find them to be all that original, though opinions vary. Although not a fan, there are plenty of people out there who like this band, including my friend Kari, whom actually gave me some of the questions that I asked in this interview. If you're into M. Manson, or even if you're not, you might want to check this band out. Interview with Candy Cane on 10/31/99 by Mike Coles

The Outcast: I heard you guys used to be called "Human Soup"?

Candy Cane: Yeah, way back then.

The Outcast: When did you guys actually form?

Candy Cane: We formed four years ago under that name, and we played more of a gothic style, which only lasted about 4 months, we were too heavy for gothic, so we changed.

The Outcast: What would you categorize yourselves as now?

Candy Cane: Shock rock, that's it.

The Outcast: Have you guys been compared to M. Manson a lot?

Candy Cane: A lot. Those are just people who are misinformed though. There are a million shock rock bands out there. White makeup and black lip stick doesn't necessarily mean that you're M. Manson wannabes. We have some sounds and our music is freaky like theirs, but we're definitely not trying to rip them off or wanting to be like them. We have our own sound, and once people start learning our history, and start hearing our music, then they'll be like, "You are different."

The Outcast: How many different "looks" or outfits have you guys had since the formation of the band? I remember getting to see some old pictures of you guys.

Candy Cane: Not many really, just different things here and there, mainly clothes. We've always gone with the white makeup. Kind of more like fish net stockings.

The Outcast: What does throwing cookies to the crowd represent?

Candy Cane: Um, I've been throwing cookies out now for over four years, and a lot of people don't understand why I do it. Every fifteen seconds in the United States a child is abused. Each cookie represents every one of the children who are abused. Until I reach that number, I won't stop throwing the cookies, that's what it means.

The Outcast: I heard that you were raised Catholic?

Candy Cane: Yes, I was.

The Outcast: Are you still?

Candy Cane: No, no, no.

The Outcast: Do you think that particular religion has faults in it?

Candy Cane: All organized religions have faults in them. Man created religion on his attempt to reach God in his terms. Christianity is God trying to reach man for a relationship. I don't believe in organized religions.

The Outcast: Why do you think people go from one extreme to another?

Candy Cane: I don't know, but I see a lot of Christians go to Paganism real easily, and I think that's a rebellious thing.

The Outcast: Why do you think that happens?

Candy Cane: Peoples commitments to themselves. A lot of people go through that. I went through that. I questioned, I searched, but I didn't go completely overboard. I think its demonic powers. They get in there, and they think that they can do better without God and it's really tempting to get into that kind of stuff because of the struggle you may encounter sometimes. You see all these people who are just doing as they want, and you're over here struggling, and I think that's why, it's inviting.

The Outcast: Have you guys been Christians all your lives?

Candy Cane: Nine years for me. I'm not really sure about the other guys.

The Outcast: Have you guys been in any other bands before this band?

Candy Cane: Oh yeah. I used to play glam rock; I played in a death metal band for a while also.

The Outcast: Since your smoking and all, what's your opinion on drinking and smoking?

Candy Cane: I think smoking is terrible. We all have weaknesses, we all sin, and I don't judge anyone else for what they do. I'm addicted to it and it's hard for me, you know?

The Outcast: How long have you been smoking?

Candy Cane: Eighteen years. I was a drug addict and an alcoholic for a long time. Drinking, to me, if you're of age and you're drinking a beer in the privacy of your own home, I don't see why God would get upset with that. It doesn't say anywhere in the Bible that drinking is bad or a sin; it's getting drunk that's a sin.

The Outcast: Do you ever feel like a hypocrite?

Candy Cane: All the time. We're all hypocrites. We say we're supposed to be Christ like, but we're not. It also depends how you want to look at the term hypocrite. Let's say I am to be like Christ, but are we really? I think we all fail in a lot of areas, but that's where grace comes in.

The Outcast: Yeah, man, it's hard not to be hypocritical. I've claimed to be a Christian for about 3 months now and I just can't quit having sex, and I'm sure people question my beliefs because of this action, and others, that I've been doing for over ten years now, you know?

Candy Cane: It was tough for me too, but you just have to pray about it. That's a tough one. I lived with myself after I got saved and I was so convicted to get married but we couldn't afford it, and then we finally did and it was such a blessing because I was about to blow my head off. It's tough you know it really is. God has put that in us, God created sex for a reason and you just have to wait for God to bring you that person you're going to be with the rest of your life. But yeah, that's a tough one man. You have to hang in there though.

The Outcast: Does R&D play a lot of secular shows?

Candy Cane: More now. The Christian scene where we come from doesn't really care about us that much.

The Outcast: Why not?

Candy Cane: I don't know. I think it's the image and the sound, and they are just not into us, but the secular scene digs our stuff and they know what we're about, but they just don't care because we don't try to shove the gospel down their throat.

The Outcast: So you guys don't preach on stage?

Candy Cane: Oh, we preach all the time, but it all depends on the crowd. If you're playing a rough crowd during a secular show, sometimes you have to be bold enough to keep your mouth shut. I don't care who you are, you can be anyone on stage preaching and no one is going to be listening to you. The ministry is going to happen afterwards when you're talking one on one with an individual, and you both get to see where you're coming from. That's when respect and a possible friendship come up. To me, your ministry is your life. It doesn't matter how you dress, what you listen to, that doesn't matter, and you have to let the light shine through you in your life. You can preach all you want and it doesn't necessarily mean you're saved.

The Outcast: What do you think of all of the commotion concerning the 2000 bug? Do you think it's a sign?

Candy Cane: I think that something will definitely happen. I believe that because of the computer thing, but that's mans fault. We're dependant on computers to do everything for us, and nobody really thought about this. I think it's another sign that we're not as big and as powerful as we think we are.

The Outcast: Do you still struggle with your faith?

Candy Cane: At times, but then you have to look at where you're at. Are you really staying close to God at the time, or are you just kind of slacking along? You're going to struggle, but that's good for you. It builds you up.

The Outcast: Do you believe that heavy metal is the devil's music?

Candy Cane: No, Adam sinned, not the drums. No, I don't. The biggest Satanist in the history of Satanism was Anton Lavey. Anton Lavey had a very nice haircut and he wore a three piece suit. To me, he is the image of evil, and he listened to classical music. So, no, I don't believe that heavy metal was the devil's music.

The Outcast: Do you believe that evil can be used for good and good for evil?

Candy Cane: I don't know. I guess it depends on what you're talking about. If you're called to share the gospel of the transvestites, that doesn't necessarily mean you can become one, you know? I just don't know.

The Outcast: Have you guys been working on new material?

Candy Cane: Yeah, the new album is all done.

The Outcast: When will it be released?

Candy Cane: It's been pushed back. "Candy Land" is going to be released in the U.S. and in the UK in December, so we don't know for sure.

The Outcast: What are some of the new song titles?

Candy Cane: "On Your Knees", "Murder Me", "Kill Yourself", "Suicide Machine", and we have some others.

The Outcast: Has anyone ever gotten the wrong idea from your song titles?

Candy Cane: All the time. They don't give it time to see what it's about. We know we're going to get hammered for "Kill Yourself", but it's scriptural. Jesus said to crucify your self daily, and that's what the song is about.

The Outcast: What does the symbol mean that has the star and such?

Candy Cane: It's the gospel.

The Outcast: Did you create it yourself?

Candy Cane: Yeah. I went home one night and got a vision for it and I drew it up. It works really well, because people are always asking what it means. It has the Jewish star for the birth, it has the three crosses for the crucifixion, it has the "I AM" for the resurrection, it's the whole gospel inside one little symbol.

The Outcast: Any closing words?

Candy Cane: Um, no, not really. I'm tired and I want to go home. I want to see my kids. Just watch out for the next album. Thanks.