DOWN guitarist Kirk Windstein is featured in a new interview with Amanda Chamberlain at InThisWeek.com. An excerpt from the story is available below:

Kirk Windstein has earned a little R&R.; The 44-year-old dipped his big mitts into Louisiana's underground metal scene in 1987, and hasn't silenced his bass since. In 1989, he created the genre-storming sludge-metal band Crowbar, and in the 2000s, he started up a side project with Hatebreed's Jamey Jasta called Kingdom of Sorrow.

Windstein's also a founding member of New Orleans metal quintet, Down; the band -- if you walked down the hall of heavy metal history -- you'd see on display as "Best Metal Supergroup: 1991-present."

Down's members come from some of the most worshipped bands in modern American metal: Pantera (vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Rex Brown); Crowbar (Windstein); Eyehategod (drummer Jimmy Bower); and Corrosion of Conformity (guitarist Pepper Keenan) -- just to name a few. This combination of seasoned talent has given Down a back-breakingly heavy and simultaneously sorrowful sound that sets it apart from the rest with roots in southern rock, as well as sludge, grunge and groove metal.

So it's only fair that Windstein -- the musician who earns just enough money to "keep the lights on and a roof over my head" -- gets to eat like a king before heading out on tour.

"I just ate two pounds of crawfish, a pound of shrimp, a couple of crabs, and had like six beers," says Windstein in a kind, leisurely Southern drawl somewhat unfitting of his bouncer-like stature and mountain-man beard. "When I'm on the road I try to eat correctly, keep my drinking to something under control at least, and you know, warm up on guitar. But I'm not on tour yet!"

In the past, Down's genre-less sound has put them on tour with acts ranging from Brit-rock band Baddies to prog-metal vets Voivod. The trend continues today, as Down is currently headlining a tour that bills legendary grunge metal band The Melvins as the opening act. The tour stops in Salt Lake City at In The Venue on Friday, Aug. 21 marking the band's first return since opening for Metallica last November.

"The Melvins are some of my idols -- very big influence on Crowbar, one of my other bands, and also on Down a bit," says Windstein. "I'm looking forward to hanging out with the guys, a lot of camaraderie, and a little bit of beer-drinkin' of course. Just havin' a nice time with the fellas and doing what touring's supposed to be -- enjoying yourself with your friends."

Go to this location for the complete story.

Down's tour itinerary is as follows:

August

19 - House of Blues - Las Vegas, NV
21 - In The Venue - Salt Lake City, Utah
22 - Gothic Theatre - Denver, CO
24 - Dirty Dog Bar - Austin, TX

September

1 - Center Stage - Atlanta, GA
2 - House of Blues - Lake Buena Vista, FL
4 - House of Blues - Myrtle Beach, SC
5 - The Fillmore - Charlotte, NC
6 - The Valarium - Knoxville, TN
8 - Sonar Baltimore - Baltimore, MD
9 - Northern Lights - Clifton Park, NY
11 - Nokia Theatre Times Square - New York, NY
12 - The Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA
13 - House of Blues - Boston, MA
15 - The Webster Theater - Hartford, CT
16 - Main Street Armory - Rochester, NY
18 - Koolhaus - Toronto, ONT
19 - Emerald Theatre - Detroit, MI
21 - The Vogue Theatre - Indianapolis, IN
22 - House of Blues - Cleveland, OH
24 - Sokol Auditorium - Omaha, NE
25 - Pop's Nightclub - Sauget, IL
26 - The Pearl Room - Mokena, IL
28 - Expo Five - Louisville, KY