Email interview with Skot Shaw, lead singer for Leper
March 30 2007

www.myspace.com/leperdied

Leper works and lives within the Jesus People USA community in Chicago. Amongst other things, the community runs a homeless shelter (Cornerstone Community Outreach) and is responsible for the annual Cornerstone Festivals in Florida and Illinois. Our community exists financially through several community owned businesses (Lakefront Roofing Supply, Bellyacres t shirt printing, Friar's Printing, Grrr Records, etc) and exists as an outreach to the poor, homeless, hopeless and otherwise abandoned. We are a part of the roster of Grrr Records (started directly because of the needs of the Resurrection Band) and are happy to be at home on the artist roster with the likes of The Crossing, Glen Clark and the Family Band, The Glenn Kaiser band, Aracely and now departed bands such as Headnoise, The Remnants, Crashdog and the legendary Cauzin' Effect.
As a band, we are called to minister to those individuals whom the rest of society has shunned. We are all diseased, depraved and ultimately lepers - in Christ we have hope past the mundane things of this life. We're here to befriend you, uplift you, encourage and edify you and be the best friends you perhaps never had. To the kid on the outside who doesn't fit into any of the clicks or isn't cool enough - well - you've got brothers in us! We're not here to preach at you, tell you what's right or wrong or give you dogmatic or religious confusion - we're here to tell you that you've got friends and family who won't turn their backs on you - sound like a cheesy afternoon special? Well, that's a lot more heart warming then a slasher now isn't it? (bio)

Dennis: Why the name Leper?
Skot: Well, when I was a kid, I was always the one who didn’t play much with the other kids, very quiet, withdrawn, not that I didn’t want to but, because I was quiet, awkward I got picked on, a lot, kind of forced into solitude. Until I got saved god changed all that. But then several years later I started feeling the same thing all over again, those whom I thought were friends seemed like they didn’t want me around, & though so much to wanted to be in a band, it just didn’t work out. No matter what I thought said or did, like I had “leprosy” my life was stagnant. So I moved to Chicago. 3 years later I found myself doing music again & but I still couldn’t work out a band, in the traditional sense, & it occurred to me, there’s a lot of people in this world that feel like that, & they just need to know that god dose not see them that way

2) I don't think any music is completely original. I mean everyone has influences that come into play but after listening to you guys for more than 5 years now, I have never heard anyone that matches your sound. What have been the biggest influences on you musically?
Whatever I here, I suppose. But, this is a sound that I’ve herd in my head since I was a little, little kid.

3) Your song lyrics are often like gothic tales. Many of them based on horror and fiction. What is so amazing is your ability to turn those stories into songs of spiritual relevance. What authors have inspired your writing style?
Well I don’t know if amazing is quite the right word for me but I don’t really read much at all outside the bible so I really don’t know, I do like cinema so I guess I can claim, M. Night Shamalon, Joss Weadon.
4) So many people have many false judgments against you when they see you in costume. What is the story behind the on stage costume?
It’s not a costume, it’s how I dress, ok maybe not so much the hood. The hood is there ‘cause, it’s theatric, lepers always hide under cloaks & such so its logical, it also gives me this weird kind of security so that I wont panic or freak out on stage, since I am quite shy (if I don’t see you, you cant get me)

5) So often the gothic community is stereo-typed and pre-judged, godhatesgoths.com. In a culture that feels alienated from "norms", at the same time Goths also sometimes begin to alienate "norms". How can the Christian gothic community help bridge the gap so more understanding and healing can begin?
You know this isn’t about the Christian gothic community helping to bridge the gap; it’s about Christians in general. We as Christians need to realize that god dose not care about your sub-culture, god dose not care about your normality. The only thing God cares about is our morality, how we treat others do we love God or do we love ourselves who do we think we are to say we are Christians but we will not tolerate those who don’t fit into our own idea of Christianity. If you claim to love God whom you cannot see but you hate your brother whom you can see YOU ARE A LIAR.
Sorry kind of hit a nerve.

6) In several of your tracks you openly talk about past addictions in your own life. What is your advice to those, both Christian and non, about facing their addictions?
I don’t think I’m qualified to answer that question, everyone has different circumstances so everyone has different solutions, for me I must always remind myself, I love my addictions that’s why they are addictions, I must always remind myself they are self destructive by nature, I must always remind myself they are wrong before the lord & let god fix me rather than try to fix myself & finally find someone in my church that I trust, confess it regularly, accountability is a powerful thing, & I have found people don’t think less of you for having flaws they think MORE of you.

7) First word that comes to mind:
Johnny Cash: great movie
Jesus: only hope
Gargoyles: more
Government: no opinion
Fast food: coffee

8) I remember watching you perform several years ago at Cornerstone and you addressed the behavior and attitude of a lot of the bands at the event that claimed Christ but showed no action of Him. How important is it for Leper to talk about Jesus during a set?
Well it’s very important. In fact I think it’s the only reason god allows leper to exist. Cornerstone is a church thing so its necessary if we were in a bar we might not say anything until we were asked for an opinion, & let them have it.

9) What is your biggest fear?
Losing my wife.

10) Skot, I cant wait to see you guys perform again this summer. Things I have heard you say even as far as 5 years ago still ring in my head. You are an amazing man of God and I want to thank you for your boldness and sincerity. Any last words for people reading this that may not be a follower of Jesus?
When he calls you I hope you listen , but if you don’t we still like ya anyway.