CORPUS IS A FOUR-MAN HARD ROCK BAND FROM SOUTH DAKOTA. UNSIGNED AT THE MOMENT, THEY ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO TAKE THEIR SHOW TO A NATIONAL LEVEL.

MUEN: HI GUYS! AND THANKS FOR TALKING WITH MUEN! LET'S START WITH A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE BAND. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW CORPUS GOT STARTED?

CORPUS: CorpuS was actually formed by Chris(bass) and Mike(guitar) about 4 and a half years ago. Tucker(vox) has been with the band for 3 and half years and TJ(drums) has been with CorpuS for right at a year. Mike played guitar and got Chris started playing bass. It was fun to just sit in the dorm room and jam unplugged, the love of playing is addicting and we decided to try and form a band. We would sit for hours and hours playing our favorite songs. All the bands that play at the local bars are "cover" bands, we decided that we would play "covers" so we could play live, but that we would write our own songs as well and always pursue the originality aspect as much as possible.

MUEN: YOUR DEBUT ALBUM "SHOW ME SOMTHIN" WAS RELEASED IN 2005 AND DID REALLY WELL GETTING AIR-PLAY ON LOCAL RADIO STATIONS AND SATELLITE RADIO. HOW IS THE CD DOING CURRENTLY?

CORPUS: The cd is still doing very well. The radio stations have been great. The support and feedback we get from DJ's and fans is overwhelming. We're currently working on our 2nd album and are looking forward to getting it out. All of our fans that have had the opportunity to sample the new songs are very excited about our new release. It is amazing to have been able to write an album that has allowed us to tour for two years and provide enough financial support to be able to make a 2nd album. It wouldn't be possible without our fans. They learn the songs and sing along with us, sometimes in towns we have never played. It's a great feeling!

MUEN: I WAS READING THAT YOU COME FROM AN AREA OF THE U.S. WHERE COVER- HEAVY BANDS ARE THE NORM AND THAT SOUTH DAKOTA HAS LITTLE TO NO SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ORIGINAL MUSIC. WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO TRY AND CHANGE THAT?

CORPUS: Well I wouldn't exactly say there isn't ANY support. We have great fans. We come from an area where people love to go to club/bars and hear your typical cover bands. You just don't really see bands do well trying to play their own music. There was a club in Rapid City that was dedicated to all original music and to live shows! They brought in any local act that played original music and acts from around the country....the place went "under" and closed because nobody would go. It was a shame. We decided a few years back to play the covers so that people could see us play, but also bring our own music into the shows. It has worked out very well, we have been able to make people want to hear our songs, maybe even more than they want to hear covers. Our goal has always been to make a good name for original bands and prove that live music is better than any karaoke bar or dance club.

MUEN: AT YOUR SHOWS YOU PLAY YOUR ORIGINAL SONGS BUT YOU ALSO PLAY COVERS. WHAT COVER SONGS DO YOU PLAY?

CORPUS: We are a new rock type of band. We've been compared to such bands as Seether, Chevelle, Three Days Grace, Godsmack...etc. We tend to play songs by those bands along with some Marilyn Manson, Metallica, and White Zombie. It's lot of hard rock put into a four hour night of music. What it comes down to is, if we have to play 4 hour sets with cover songs just to be able to play at these clubs, then we are going to play the type of music that we would listen to. We play our favorite songs by our favorite bands. We play music that fits well with our own originals. It's Hard Rock and Metal, and if you play well and put on a good show, people always have a good time.

MUEN: I HEAR FREEBIRD IS A FAVORITE AMONG CROWDS. WHAT DO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA LIKE TO HEAR IN THE WAY OF COVER SONGS?

CORPUS: Freebird...freebird...freebird!!! We never ever get tired of hearing that. We also get the occasional Slayer shoutout too. Because of the choices we've made with our set lists we are alot different from most of the cover bands in the midwest. I understand when you get a metal-head that wants to hear Slayer and Pantera and thinks we may play that, but I'm still unsure of what makes people think there is any chance that we would play Freebird. Again there are bands that play the same thing as every other band....and there is Us, we like being different.

MUEN: YOUR SONGS ARE PLAYED ON JUKE BOXES AND DJ'S PLAY THEM. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER WAYS YOU PROMOTE THE BAND? DO YOU FEEL THAT MYSPACE HAS BEEN A USEFUL PROMOTIONAL TOOL?

CORPUS: We promote at our shows, word of mouth, radio, etc. The internet in general is great, but Myspace has been a life (time) saver. We have been able to get our music out to more of the masses like we need to. Myspace has helped us with bar/club gigs, magazine articles(Muen of course), talk to producers, managers, etc. Myspace and several other sites like it have helped allow us to promote the band farther than our tours have allowed, but there is nothing wrong with good old fashioned leg-work. Talking on the phone, taking a DJ out to dinner, getting personal and networking is what it's all about. There is alot of work to promoting and trying to stand out in the crowd...and it can't all be done behind a computer.

MUEN: TELL US ABOUT THE TOURS YOU'VE BEEN ON AND WITH WHICH BANDS.

CORPUS: Actually we have only played our own shows throughout the midwest. We have had the opportunity though to play with quite a few bands like Saliva, Crossfade, Powerman 5000, Drowning Pool, and Jackyl. We would love to get to the point they are at. All of us still work full time jobs. Being able to play our music full-time and have the opportunity to tour with a big band would be great!

MUEN: YOU ARE TAKING A BREAK FROM TOURING RIGHT NOW TO WORK ON YOUR SECOND FULL LENGTH ALBUM. WHEN DO YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE RELEASED?

CORPUS: We're hoping it will be released around December. It is alot of work writing and producing all of the songs ourselves. We want to make the best album we can and with any luck the tremendous support will continue and we will be able to start touring strictly with our original show. We may have the chance to go to Florida or California and work with a professional producer but it's all still in talks right now, regardless we will release the album we're doing ourselves by the end of the year.

MUEN: I SEE YOU ARE SPONSORED BY MILLER LITE. IS THAT YOUR FAVORITE BEER?

CORPUS: Ya we definitely do like Miller Lite. They've been a big help in promotion and advertising. It's been great to have a company like that put their trust in us. Plus, you have to drink something... Beer...beer...beer...um!!!!

MUEN: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT YET CHECKED OUT YOUR MUSIC?

CORPUS: Let us know what you think. We always love the feedback from others. It helps us to know what we need to do or if we're doing things right. We put alot of emotion into writing these songs, they mean alot to us. Being able to have someone listen to your song and have them relate to that song on a personal level is what it's all about. Fans can feel what you feel, and have those same emotions while they listen to your song. We hope you can get something from us and we appreciate the support.

MUEN: WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE?

CORPUS: We hope you enjoy what we are doing(music, touring, videos, pics, etc) It isn't possible to be able to do what we've done without our fans. It is an honor to see familiar faces at shows, to have people sing along with your songs because they liked them enough to learn the lyrics, and to give hard earned money to support a band. The "big dream" isn't having millions of dollars and being on a who's who list....it's playing music and interacting with fans who cared enough about what you are trying to do to spend their money and time to support Us. Thanks for all the support...we'll see you out there!!!!

MUEN: WE AT MUEN WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INTERVIEW AND WE WISH THE BEST FOR YOU. HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT ON THE ROAD AGAIN SOON!!

Interview by Shauna O'Donnell