The DeeBees
In the underground world of North American Post-Apocalyptic metal, few groups have gained the notoriety or momentum of the nine member death/thrash ensemble The DeeBees. Loved and hated by many, this controversial group from the seedy Burbs of the Coalition capital, Chi-Town, has been both praised and criticized for their unruly stage shows and graphic anti-Coalition lyrics. Led by the incomparable Sid Seditious, formerly of the high octane metal group Sedition, the DeeBees exploded onto the music scene with a brazen vigor and fearlessness that has sequestered the hearts of every Coalition hater and impoverished non-human who has heard their message.
Formed in 103 P.A. by Sid and his childhood friend Spike Mosley, the duo acquired members through numerous open auditions, the likes of which include notable ex-members of Samsara and the Magic Zone Rejects. They quickly signed with the Black Market label Nemesis Productions and gained a sizeable following thanks to a merciless touring schedule and energetic live sets. Their politically charged songs have struck a cord with countless victims of Coalition oppression, making the DeeBees the headlining band of their label within half a year’s time. Several of their songs, specifically “Megaton Meltdown”, “Fuck The CS”, and “More Bodies Than Graves”, have even received airplay in places like Kingsdale, Ishpeming, and the Pecos Empire.
The DeeBees’ concerts are regarded as something of an experience, attracting fans from various walks of life, not just metal enthusiasts. Seditious’ frenetic vocal style and stage presence, combined with DJ Mystic Rick’s magical pyrotechnic displays have earned their shows a formidable reputation. The fact that their concert tickets sell out with unprecedented quickness is a testament to this. The group’s popularity and influence have even spawned a series of imitators and cover bands, many of which have opened for the DeeBees over the years. However, detractors have criticized the band’s music for its blatant anti-Coalition (and arguably anti-human) messages and sentiments, as well as their endorsement of violence, drinking, drug use, and the dark arts. Though bassist Smiley has commented in interviews that a certain degree of their song lyrics should be taken with a grain of salt, it has done little to stem the tide of attacks from conservative groups and Coalition sympathizers. The censorship of their music in CS friendly nations like Ishpeming and the Manistique Imperium has also been a source of consternation to the band.
Nonetheless, the DeeBees’ most recent release, the highly anticipated double-disc tour de force Conflagration, has been certified Platinum, topping even the sales of their sophomore effort Nemesis. The album is a powerful musical experience, sending the listener along a soundscape of unrelenting solos, riffs and fills, accompanied by Seditious’ trademark jumps between falsetto vocals and throat-wrenching screams.
Sid Seditious 
A.K.A. #8
“We must resist Prosek’s fist!”
Position: Lead vocalist.
Species: Quick-Flex Alien.
Height: 5.9 ft.
Weight: 150 lbs.
Age: 25.
Birthplace: Firetown Burbs, Chi-Town, Coalition State of Chi-Town.
Instrument: Voice.
Former Bands: The Plasma Pistols, Cataclysm v2.0, Panic! At The Fortress City.
As frontman and co-founder of the DeeBees, Sid has become a symbol of sorts for freedom, revolution, and resistance in the face of adversity. His involvement in the North American metal scene is long and eclectic, and his time as lead vocalist of the ill-fated metal quintet Sedition secured him a place in the CS Suspected Dissident List. Sid has long been an outspoken opponent of the Coalition States and their policies of human supremacy, sentiments which he conveys clearly and unmistakably in his lyrics and music. The Quick-Flex’s one-of-a-kind voice and energetic, emotionally charged stage shows have garnered him an impressively loyal fan base and hundreds of female admirers. Sid is the group’s primary lyricist, and his unpredictable stage antics (which include burning CS flags, pissing on Dead Boy armor, and sending offensive messages to Emperor Prosek via magic pigeon) have earned him a reputation as “the wild one” in the band.
DJ Mystic Rick 
A.K.A. #0, Mixmaster P.P.E.
“I’m walkin’ the line all the time… and I ain’t talkin’ about no ley line.”
Position: Turntablist and stage effects master.
Species: Token Human.
Height: 6.0 ft.
Weight: 178 lbs.
Age: 28.
Birthplace: Kingsdale.
Instrument: Stormspire SS-3000 TW laser turntable, SS-900 series TW audio mixer, Song Magic spells (see Rifter #18).
Former Bands: Magic Zone Rejects.
Known for his over-the-top hair styles and incorporation of magic into performances, DJ Mystic Rick has the distinction of being the only human member of the DeeBees. Equipped with a techno-wizard enhanced turntable and audio mixing console, Rick provides the band’s music with elements of electronica and industrial. He can even adjust his sound to fit genres of music besides metal, like reggae and hip hop, making collaborations with other artists a smooth endeavor. Considered the “artistic one” in the group, Mystic Rick supplements his DJ skills with spell magic. His use of General Invocations and Song Magic to create stage effects (like illusions, fire spouts, etc.), makes the band’s shows visually stunning and interactive.
Eight-Arm Pete 
A.K.A. #1
Position: Drummer.
Species: Octoman.
Height: 4.0 ft.
Weight: 230 lbs.
Age: 27.
Birthplace: Ishpeming.
Instrument: Cyberworks EXR 20 piece drum set with a quadruple bass pedal and full range of effects pads.
Former Bands: Samsara.
Formerly of the musical powerhouse trio Samsara, Pete was forced to seek other musical opportunities when the group disbanded after the suicide of its lead vocalist and guitarist. The octoman is considered a prodigy with the drums, and his eight arms make him the equivalent of four percussionists in one. Known by fans as “the quiet one”, Pete hardly ever speaks and has never spoken in interviews or on stage. Presumably he speaks to his bandmates, though even this is disputed.
Smiley 
A.K.A. #2
Position: Bassist and backup vocalist.
Species: Grackle Tooth.
Height: 8.5 ft.
Weight: 450 lbs.
Age: 33.
Birthplace: New Del Rio, Pecos Badlands.
Instrument: Customized Cyberworks T-27 5 string fretless bass with high gauge steel strings.
Former Bands: Brodkill Bill & the Subdemons.
Smiley made waves in the North American metal scene when he was fired after a three year stint with the group Brodkill Bill & the Subdemons (apparently because he was the only member who wasn’t a subdemon). He was quickly snatched up by several metal acts before making his way to a DeeBees audition, when which he almost lost the position of bassist to the dwarf Orick Bashhammer (of Elf Slayer fame). Widely known for his chain smoking and penchant for heavy drinking, the Grackle Tooth claims these vices help to give him the distinct raspy voice he uses to back up Sid Seditious. Considered the “joker” of the group, stories abound of Smiley’s various pranks and elaborate plots to get a laugh at the expense of his bandmates.
To’Bor G’Frall
A.K.A. #5
Position: Keyboardist.
Species: Trimadore.
Height: 7.0 ft.
Weight: 200 lbs.
Age: 24.
Birthplace: New Town Burbs, City of Iron, Coalition State of Ironheart.
Instrument: Cyberworks PSR-50 electric keyboard and sampler.
Former Bands: None.
To’Bor was once a guitar tech and mechanic for Sid’s group Sedition as they toured North America in the late 90s P.A. When the band broke up in 101 P.A., To’Bor went to work for the Ottawa power metal group Juggernauts. After forming the DeeBees, Sid sent the Trimadore an invite to once again work as his technician. Instead, To’Bor arrived for an audition with a keyboard. Though Sid originally didn’t envision the DeeBees with a keyboardist, he was so impressed with To’Bor’s skill that he hired the Trimadore into the group anyway. Widely known as “the smart one”, To’Bor has shown great creative, as well as technical, skill. He is credited with having written the lyrics to several of the band’s songs, most notably the introspective and oft-played “Megaton Meltdown”.
Spike Mosley
A.K.A. #4
Position: Rhythm guitarist.
Species: Vanguard Brawler.
Height: 6.2 ft.
Weight: 240 lbs.
Age: 25.
Birthplace: Firetown Burbs, Chi-Town, Coalition State of Chi-Town.
Instrument: Pre-Rifts Gibson Les Paul restored by Golden Age Weaponsmiths.
Former Bands: The Skullcrushers.
According to Mosley, he’s been known as “Spike” since childhood after an incident in which he gored a psi-hound in the eye with a rairoad spike. Little wonder that he is considered “the mean one” in the group. Mosley is a born fighter and quick to anger, even when dealing with fellow band members. His surly disposition is legendary, and Sid is on record saying that Spike seems to have been “…born to be in the DeeBees. He’s one mean son of a bitch.” The two are old childhood friends who met during their early days in the Chi-Town Burbs. In fact, the Vanguard Brawler has been credited with introducing Seditious to the World of Metal. For this, all the DeeBees fans should be thankful.
Hera 
A.K.A. #7, Shessa Shandriel
Position: Lead guitarist and backup vocalist.
Species: Great Horned Dragon Hatchling.
Height: 40 ft. tall, 70 ft. long.
Weight: 42,000 lbs.
Age: 8.
Birthplace: Somewhere in the Appalachians.
Instrument: Customized Cyberworks Double-Neck Sonic Predator Electric Guitar.
Former Bands: None.
Hera is the group’s lead guitarist, resident dragon hatchling, and only female member. Introduced to Sid and Spike by way of her friend Smiley, Hera blew the band away by mastering the guitar in a matter of weeks. Seditious and Mosley were so taken with her musical ability that they fired their then lead guitarist Dieter Von Metzger and hired her on the spot. During performances, Hera takes on the persona of a beautiful raven-haired elven woman with the stage name Shessa. This has earned her a reputation as “the hot one”, even though most fans know she’s a dragon. Hera’s innate magical and shapeshifting abilities have aided her in shows, usually accompanying Mystic Rick’s arcane displays. One of her most popular antics is to grow an extra pair of arms with which she can more expertly play her Cyberworks Double-Necked Sonic Predator guitar.
S’koloth Ülüwatü 
A.K.A. #6, Bartleby
Position: Rhythm guitarist.
Species: Vrill.
Height: 5.6 ft.
Weight: 140 lbs.
Age: 23.
Birthplace: Queenston Harbor.
Instrument: Triax Jaeger Series Flying V Electric Guitar.
Former Bands: None.
S’koloth is “the scary one” (usually called Bartleby because of his difficult to pronounce name) due to his startling visage, which is shocking to most when first meeting him. Though a rather friendly individual, the Vrill often enjoys playing up his frightening appearance in order to scare those around him. He does this most often during shows. Fans have noted that S’koloth’s eyes tend to roll without focus or control, and his body trembles in rhythm with the music. His unique semi-amphibious biology provides him with sensory organs that are attuned to vibration, giving him a bizarre mastery of rhythm and harmonics. The Triax guitar that he uses for performances was given to him by former lead guitarist Dieter Von Metzger, before the cyborg was fired from the group. S’koloth is the most experimental of the band’s members, often incorporating musical instruments and sonic motifs from various non-human cultures; sometimes even objects that aren’t traditionally meant for music.
Tanus Jjelru 
A.K.A. #3
Position: Percussionist.
Species: Larmac.
Height: 7.0 ft.
Weight: 310 lbs.
Age: 29.
Birthplace: New Town Burbs, New Waukegan, Coalition State of Chi-Town.
Instrument: An assortment of steel drums and barrels.
Former Bands: None.
Tanus initially auditioned to be the primary percussionist in the DeeBees, a position which he lost to Eight-Arm Pete. Still, Seditious had been considering using multiple percussionists so as to achieve a truly pulsating effect in their music. He also wanted heavy beats that would counteract the three guitars in the group. For this reason, Tanus found a place in the band. It wasn’t until after his recruitment that they realized he had a multitude of eccentricities. Known as “the strange one” (a title designated by the band itself), the Larmac has been confirmed to be mentally unstable through use of aura reading, though his insanities seem mostly harmless. His weird behavior includes randomly speaking in foreign languages, talking to himself, occasional hallucinating, attempting to eat inedible objects (like his drums), bouts of nudity, etc. During live shows, he will only play with his back turned to the audience, though some say this is merely a sign of timidity. Many fans theorize as to the source of his insanities. Some believe they resulted from a traumatic childhood. Others claim that the spikes on his head are growing into his brain. Whatever the cause, Seditious has been making overtures to his expulsion, though Tanus seems completely oblivious (or unconcerned). Some fans fear that his time in the DeeBees may be coming to a close.
The DeeBees
(self-titled, aka The Red Album,
104 P.A.)
The DeeBees
Thrasher (bootleg, live in the Chi-Town ‘Burbs, 104 P.A.)
The DeeBees
Pecos Empire Live! (bootleg, live in the Pecos Empire, 104 P.A.)
The DeeBees
Nemesis (104 P.A.)
The DeeBees
Purge (105 P.A.)
The DeeBees
Conflagration (105 P.A.)
Disc One
Disc Two
* Live in Chi-Town ‘Burbs
^ Live in Mechanicsville
Unreleased and bootleg live material from shows in Chi-Town ‘Burbs, Merctown, Mechanicsville, Ottawa, Pecos Empire, etc.
The Interview: Warhawk Magazine
An Exclusive Interview with the DeeBees
November 24 th 105 P.A.
After the break up of legendary apocalypse metal group Sedition, the North American metal scene staggered into a lull that some music fans feared would be more than just temporary. Merc-net and vehicle comm. traffic was inundated with rumors and speculation about Sid Seditious’s next project. Fortunately, fans didn’t have to wait long to find out. Right from the CS’ own backyard sprang the nine member metal act The DeeBees, whose volatile stage shows and unapologetic lyrics took the World of Metal by storm. Now, two years and four albums later, the band’s following is still as strong as ever and growing. Warhawk’s Simone LeSage talks to Sid Seditious (#8) and Smiley (#2) of the DeeBees about politics, their new album, and their personal crusade to be a pain in the Coalition’s ass.
Simone: Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to us, guys.
Sid: No problem.
Simone: Now, the DeeBees are playing in New Paducah tonight as the first stop on their Tolkeen Triumphant tour. Tell our readers about this concert.
Sid: We’re holding a concert at the MercTown Battledome to raise money for the Tolkeen war effort. Tickets are 5 credits at the door, and all proceeds go directly to the government of the City of Tolkeen. We’re trying to do our part to grind Prosek’s Campaign of Unity to a halt.
Simone: Are you expecting a large turn-out?
Sid: About 10,000 people. A lot of them will be recreationing mercs in between jobs. We’re hoping our show gives them some ideas about where they should hire themselves out next.
Simone: To Tolkeen… how many soldiers of fortune do you think you can reach with your message? Many mercenaries believe Tolkeen is a lost cause.
Smiley: (laughs) Sid can be real persuasive when he wants to be.
Sid: Anyone who’s already pegged Tolkeen as down for the count needs his bone-box checked. The war’s just beginning to heat up, so it’s too early to say. That kingdom and its people are tough sons of bitches. Hell, they have Marcus Larsen himself training their troops. I think the Tolkeenites may surprise us all.
Smiley: I agree. One of the CS’ biggest advantages is that everyone thinks they’re unbeatable. People are so convinced of the Coalition Army’s invincibility that many times they won’t even bother putting up a fight. All the Dead Boys have to do is hint at the possibility of invasion, and most leaders crack. They give the CS what it wants without even lifting a finger in resistance.
Simone: So you dispute Lazlo’s assertion that King Creed and the Circle of Twelve is making a terrible mistake?
Sid: Fuck Lazlo.
Simone: Really?
Sid: Well, not all of Lazlo, just its leaders. People like Plato and Erin Tarn need to be a little less concerned with their academia and more with the real world. It’s not the bugs in Manitoba that are the big problem, it’s those puritanical techno-fascists in their cities of stone.
Smiley: The people of North America have become apathetic. They don’t give a shit what happens anymore, as long as it ain’t happening to them. No one’s doing fuck to help Tolkeen except the Cyber-Knights, and even then, only half are going to the Kingdom’s aid. People don’t realize that if we don’t do something to stop the CS now, it’ll be worse for all of us in the future. We should all be uniting to put those Dead Boys in their place. Prosek’s on a power trip a mile long, and yet the average person doesn’t seem to care. It’s pretty sad, if you ask me.
Simone: Speaking of Emperor Prosek, fans have heard reports that the band is discontinuing its tradition of wearing face masks modeled after various members of the Prosek regime. Is that true?
Sid: I have no clue how that rumor got started, but it’s fucking bunk! We have no intention of getting rid of those masks. They’re our babies. As always, I’m good ol’ Karl, Smiley here is General Cabot, Spike’s still Joseph the 2 nd, Hera’s Lady P., and the list goes on. Like you said, it’s tradition. We’re not planning to stop it any time soon.
Simone: I’m sure many fans will be relieved to read that. On the subject of rumors, can you guys confirm or deny another widespread rumor, this one stating that DJ Mystick Rick is leaving the group?
Smiley: Hell, no. Number 0 ain’t going nowhere.
Sid: That rumor came about because Rick went to collaborate on a few tracks with Kid Crazy after we finished recording Conflagration. Rick and the noli rapper are old friends, so we didn’t mind that he went ahead to do a side project. Their stuff should be out early next year.
Simone: What about the rumor that you’re planning to kick out Tanus? Is he going to end up another Dieter Von Metzger?
Sid: That’s a complicated situation. For now, all I can say is Tanus has been pretty lucid lately. We were able to get him off Psi-Cola, which seems to have helped, but it remains to be seen if he’ll stay stable. [Ed: While the rest of his bandmates are frequently reported to explore altered states of consciousness while on various narcotics.]
Smiley: Next question.
Simone: Sid, how do you feel about the fact that the Coalition States have put you on their Declared Enemies List and placed bounties on your life.
Sid: (laughs) How do I feel? I think it’s fucking great, not to mention hilarious. It means I must be doing something right if I’ve made the CS uncomfortable enough to consider me a threat. I’m that itch that Karl Prosek can’t quite scratch, and it’s a fucking honor! Spike Mosley and I grew up in Chi-Town’s Firetown Burbs, right in the shadow of the fortress city. We got to see Coalition oppression first hand and had our share of run-ins with Dead Boy patrols and Dog Packs. Any way we can stick it to the evil empire, we will.
Smiley: Yeah, let them send assassins after us and see what happens. Spike vs. a squad of CS commandoes. It’d be death metal holocaust. [Ed: Not to mention the scores of Hades’ Angels who are the DeeBees “unofficial” security detail.]
Sid: Actually, the song “Maximum Collateral Damage” off our new album is about what would happen if the CS came after The DeeBees. I think the song’s title is self explanatory.
Simone: The DeeBees’ music has always had strong political sentiments. What is your response to people who say music and politics don’t mix?
Sid: They’re full of shit. Politics is a subject that can be addressed through any kind of medium, whether that’s art, literature, or music. We use our songs as a way to put out there what we’re trying to say. In the end, it’s all about the music and the connection you make with the fans. The music is what’s important.
Simone: It’s been difficult to pin down the DeeBee’s exact political views. Many fans have cited the writings of Rulian political theorist Vül Erghann Turak as a strong element in your songs. How would you guys define your position on government?
Sid: That’s a hard question to answer. Our political views come from a mixture of different ideologies; some from this dimension, some not. We’re not anarchists, which some people has accused us of being, because we’re not interested in abolishing government. Turakism does have a big influence on our music and personal beliefs, but each member of The DeeBees has his or her own specific opinions as well. If I had to label our beliefs as a band, I would say that we’re deliberative social democrats with Turakist leanings.
Smiley: I could easily tell you what we don’t believe in any form of government that’s despotic or fascistic in nature. Totalitarian dictatorships don’t work, at least not for long. They tend to collapse in on themselves. That’s why the Coalition States are doomed to fall one of these days. It’s inevitable. Question is: Who will they drag down with them?
Simone: What do you guys have to say about your ongoing rivalry with Ishpeming-based metal group Melech’s Eye? There are rumors that their upcoming album 36 Thornheads may contain several “dis tracks” aimed at The DeeBees, particularly you Sid.
Sid: I hadn’t heard that. Those guys are a bunch of jerk-offs! They insult our fans in interviews, mock us during their shows, and now they’re going to attack us lyrically? They have no idea what they’re getting themselves into. I met their frontman once, Trenton Helmes, at a show in Escanoba a few years back. I wasn’t impressed. He thinks because he has a cybernetic arm that he’s tough or something, but he’s just a stupid human. He forgets I’m a Quick-Flex. The man doesn’t realize that with my reflexes, it’s like he moves in slow motion.
Smiley: Melech’s Eye is all talk. Unfortunately, when you sell as many albums as we have, you make some people jealous. I hope they decide to try something one day, besides releasing a few fucking attack tracks. We’ll see what happens then. They have six members, we have nine. They can do the math.
Simone: Describe your music in two words.
Sid: Abrasive. Original.
Smiley: Mind frag, man.
Simone: That’s three words.
Smiley: (laughs)
Simone: Who came up with the idea of number designations for the band members?
Smiley: That was Eight-Arm Pete. And yes, he does speak. Just not much. There was a time, when the band first formed, that we thought about keeping our identities a mystery to our fans. The plan was that we’d get on stage with our masks on, Mystic Rick would create a few illusions to further conceal us, and instead of our real names, we’d use numbers. Eventually, we trashed the idea but decided to keep the numbers… I guess as a novelty. They don’t actually mean anything, and the band’s members are numbered in any particular order.
Sid: It stuck pretty well. Some people only know us by our numbers.
Simone: Tell us about your new album Conflagration. How does it differ from your previous efforts?
Smiley: Conflagration is our best album yet. It’s got some really amazing songs, I think. Recording a double-disc album is demanding, but everyone in the band stepped up to the challenge. Sid and To’Bor wrote a lot of great lyrics, and Hera did some incredible stuff with the guitar that I’ve never seen her do before.
Sid: It’s definitely our most experimental effort. We sampled a few other styles of metal, and S’koloth brought in some weird instruments from his homeworld into the studio. We had a great time exploring new sound textures and sonic motifs. Fans will probably notice that the songs are more versatile, cradling several different genres, but they shouldn’t be worried. We’ve kept our edge. All our usual outrage, pain, and heart is very detectable. Everything fans have come to expect from us; it’s all still there. I also think this album is more mature than the others. It shows how we’ve grown as artists and musicians.
Smiley: Sid did some interesting things with his voice too.
Simone: Why a double-disc release?
Smiley: We had a lot of material on the backburner, stuff that didn’t make it into our third album Purge. With the Siege of Tolkeen on the horizon, it seemed proper to record some extra songs in support of the beleaguered kingdom.
Sid: Poor bastards. Fuck the Coalition States!
Simone: How was it working with producer Gamjum Goratt? It was the band’s first time with him, right?
Sid: Yeah, but it was very positive. Nemesis Productions recommended him to us, and we’ve always trusted our label’s judgment. Gamjum was a fan of The DeeBees before we ever worked with him. He really had a feel for our sound and understood what we were trying to accomplish. He gave us a lot of creative freedom. You can’t ask for much more from a producer.
Simone: Finally, why was “The DeeBees” chosen as the group’s name?
Sid: Most of us “dimensional beings” didn’t choose to come to Earth. It was circumstance that displaced us or our ancestors. For better or worse, many of us are stuck here, not that that matters to the people of the CS. The term “D-Bee” was created by human supremacists as a pejorative for nonhumans. In defiance, we chose to adopt that term and transform it into a point of pride. We feel that over time “D-Bee” has grown to symbolize the collective nonhuman cultures and societies sharing this planet with humankind. No term more appropriately reflects the eclectic mix of creatures and styles that compose our band. For us, the title “D-Bee” is a badge of honor. Our group acts as a voice for all those faceless nonhumans and magic-users who’ve been victimized by the Coalition States and don’t have the will or ability to speak up for themselves. It’s why we’re here.
Simone: Alright. Any final words?
Sid: (shakes his head)
Smiley: Go Tolkeen!
Simone: Thanks guys. Good luck on the road.