There are other bands willing to make the trip to the UK, despite the current events. What do you class as a �major� war?
�It�s pretty big � but the thing is, once again, our main issue is being in a situation where we cant be at our home for the holidays. It�s a very important time in our heritage, and our families make it a big deal. We never tour during the holidays.�
But the Pledge of Allegiance tour must take you to parts of the States where your 3,000 miles away from home, the same as the distance from the US to Europe.
�That�s where you�re wrong. I can drive home. I can�t drive across the ocean� he laughs.
So how do you fell for the fans?
�It�s not easy for us to cancel shows,� says the drummer sternly. �We don�t like doing it. I mean it happens a couple of times. It�s not something we like to do. Obviously we wanna be out there. I love Europe personally. Every time we go out there we have a great time.�
Your UK tour is tentatively rescheduled for February, what if the war is still raging then?
�So what happens then, is we judge by the time. We are making no promises to anything. It�s a matter of what�s happening at the time. If it is the way it is now I don�t think there will be a problem. How do we know if everything will be running pretty much normally in the world? Even though everyone is on heightened sense of security and everything, things are pretty much going as normal as far as flights and everything like that. Had we know, we probably wouldn�t have cancelled, but once again if we come to a situation where we fell our lives are in danger, or that we won�t be able to come home for a year, or five months, or whatever, that�s not gonna happen � but we have to play it by ear. When you�re dealing with situations like these, you can�t deal with them like you normally would. You have to think much more about what�s gonna happen.�
America is currently in the grip of bio-terrorism, with new anthrax cases being announced on a daily basis. What�s the current mood of US citizens?
�I think people are concerned, but I don�t think people are deeply concerned. I personally don�t want to have anthrax. Obviously that is something no one wants, but I�m not changing anything in my life. I�m still living the same way I was before any of these scares.�
What was going through your mind after the events of September 11?
�It was devastating to see and I couldn�t believe it. Even though I was watching it with my own eyes, I couldn�t believe what had happened. I mean its such a dastardly thing to do. These innocent people, they�re civilians, they work, have families, just like you do wherever you come from in the world. You wanna do something like this, at least attack an American military site where they can defend themselves � but people going to work in the mornings, janitors, businessmen, wives, mothers, daughters, sons? It�s a despicable act. I have absolutely no respect for the cause or anyone that would institute something like that.