ADRENALIN: Why did you decide to re-issue all of the Atheist albums?

KELLY: In 2004 I noticed that many people were still dropping the Atheist name quite a bit as an influence for this new wave of technical metal, and people were paying way to much for used discs online so I started putting feelers out and then started Starrfactory Records, and proceeded to license the record to Relapse, and it was just magic, the timing was perfect and the Relapse guys did just a great job, could not be happier about how it turned out

ADRENALIN: Your artwork is amazing! When did you start painting, and are you still involved with that?

KELLY: Oh yes I paint a lot, in fact I hope to have a show in NY and LA some day. That's my goal. But you can view my paintings at www.kellyshaefer.com or at www.artmajuer.com/kellyshaefer Thanks for checking it out. I have found it to be a lot like songwriting, it's open to interpretation, and leaves a lot of room for relating it to anyone. I really love it!

 "The Crow And The Tree Companion"

by K. Shaefer/2007

ADRENALIN: What was it like playing at Wacken Open Air? (Atheist is featured performing there in the December, 2006 "Monsters of Death" DVD)

KELLY: Oh man it was single best moment in the history of Atheist, the DVD really does not really portray how killer it sounded that day, the recording is a soundboard and those tend to sound very dry, but other than that it was just a magic day, the crowd was huge and there were so many young new atheist fans, we were overjoyed by that!

ADRENALIN: In this society where everything has to be categorized, do you consider Atheist to be death metal?

KELLY:  Well that's one of the elements, and a big one, but to say atheist is just a death metal band is to short change the band and the music don't you think? We have always been known for being technical and jazzy but we have NEVER strayed to far from the brutal roots that influenced us.

ADRENALIN: How come we never see you with a guitar on stage?

KELLY: Well I still play everyday but on stage is a different intensity and i have carpal tunnel in my hands from years of playing this crazy music and not properly warming up, so let that be a lesson to all to make sure you warm up before playing guitar on stage it's what brought it on. So its very painful for me to play on stage

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