Bill “Metal Nerd” Xenopoulos of Greek zine Rock Overdose had a Q&A with Corrosion Of Conformity's Mike Dean about the current events surrounding the band and some other topics.

An excerpt below:

Rock Overdose: Since Pepper Keenan is back, would you like to describe to us what happened at the time of his departure and what led to the return.

Dean: “The last time we played with Pepper was just after the release of In the Arms Of God. We had a good run but Down really started going strong and didn’t let up.

“As for what led to his return, I think he missed singing those songs and doing something a little different and I think we all feel like it’s time to write another record.

“It’s actually something we’ve talked about since before we resurrected the trio.”

Rock Overdose: I was informed through your site that this tour was planned with a very specific idea in mind. From the fact that you are now the line­up that gave us what are considered the classics of C.O.C. Tell us more about it.

Dean: “I don’t know. I’ve been too busy to look at the internet.

“Basically we are enjoying playing songs from Deliverance, In The Arms Of God, Wiseblood etc.

“In the process of going out and doing that we are getting the chemistry right to make a new record, no question.”

Read the rest of the interview at RockOverdose.gr.

Corrosion Of Conformity reunited with vocalist/guitarist Pepper Keenan for a new studio album and their current European tour. Keenan played his first full show with the band since 2006 on March  at Manchester Academy 2 in Manchester, England. Fan-filmed video can be viewed below:

Clips from the band's pre-tour rehearsal ssessions can be seen below:

The tour is the first time Keenan has toured with the band since 2006. This will also be the first time the Deliverance lineup of the group has played together since 2001.

C.O.C. recently emerged from hibernation as a trio and released 2012's eponymous album and 2014's IX to wide acclaim, but many have been eagerly awaiting the return of Pepper Keenan.

The band were originally an influential hardcore punk/heavy metal crossover act before reaching critical success with a new lineup on 1991's Blind album. That trajectory continued with wider appeal as Keenan took over as primary vocalist on Deliverance (1994) and Wiseblood (1996). These two recordings in particular fused the raw energy of the previous albums with some great strides forward in classic rock inspired songwriting and more spacious production and execution, which were often copied but rarely equalled.

This juggernaut gained mass and momentum with relentless touring alongside Metallica, Clutch, Eyehategod and many more. Eventually following In The Arms Of God, 2005, Keenan focused all energy on his hometown band, Down. Until now, that is.

Recent internet chatter on the subject of a reunion turns out be true.

Asked about future plans, bassist Mike Dean said, "This is all about going out and celebrating some of the classic material, and at the same time it's about tuning up the chemistry and the energy to possibly create a new album or two with this lineup."

Go to this location for the band's complete tour schedule.

(Photo by: Linda Dahlberg)