Johnny Franck of Bilmuri joins SPIN Magazine’s Lipps Service with Scott Lipps for a deep dive into the rise of one of heavy music’s most genre-defying projects.

Johnny discusses growing up in Ohio’s metalcore scene, early influences like AC/DC and Led Zeppelin, the rise of Attack Attack!, creating Bilmuri as a personal creative outlet, blending country music with heavy music, touring with Sleep Token and Bad Omens, signing with Columbia Records, and the massive success of tracks like “Better Hell” and “Always Let You Down.”

Johnny also opens up about authenticity, internet culture, producing other bands, bizarre video concepts, dream collaborators including Tyler Hubbard and BABYMETAL, and shares his Top 5 metal bands and underrated rock artists.

Interview by Scott Lipps.

00:00:24 on Nashville

02:16 on growing up in Ohio and the metalcore scene

03:36 on early life

05:12 on AC/DC, Led Zeppelin

08:10 on Ohio’s thriving metal scene

10:03 strangest show ever played

11:32 on the genre bending that’s Bilmuri

12:20 on Attack Attack!

16:19 on needing a personal outlet during Attack Attack!

18:26 on producing other bands

19:08 on the birth of Bilmuri

21:03 where the name Bilmuri comes from

24:08 on “country-core”

24:57 on his love for country music

26:56 on Gabi Rose

28:43 on Sleep Token

30:17 on signing to a major label

34:00 on authenticity

35:00 on the “Better Hell” video

38:51 on Bilmuri’s massive body of work

40:30 on the songwriting process

41:55 on pressure after AMERICAN MOTOR SPORTS

43:44 the story behind “More Than Hate”

47:32 on the guitar solo contest

50:15 on “Always Let You Down”

51:00 on Bad Omens & A Day To Remember

53:00 on chaotic song titles

54:00 on weird video concepts

56:38 Jeremy McKinnon’s reaction to the video

58:55 on reading YouTube comments

59:40 on touring

1:02:11 dream collaborators

1:02:55 Top 5 metal bands

1:07:43 Top 5 underrated rock bands

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