After opening the jewel case of '90s heavy metal group Piston's album Number One, you are staring at the inside of a dark, empty (and filty) toilet. As tasteless as this may seem (along with group photos of the band in a corroded public bathroom), no Lysol is required for this album. Rather, this band continues "do the opposite of what's expected" and as the Excelsior found out from bass guitarist, Val Ium, the band really has a pleasant freshness waiting for you to sniff out...or do they?

Meredith Tomback - What part of Brooklyn are you from?

Val Ium - I am not from Brooklyn; I've lived in Brooklyn fro five years. Our guitar player, Burton is from Brooklyn and Henry [Font, the lead singer] is from Staten Island, where I know live. We had two original band members from Brooklyn...

MT - I read that these ex-members decided not to go further...

V - Yeah, one is working at Sam Ash and the other at a diner in Brooklyn Heights. We do have two new guys, but the only one from Brooklyn now is Burton.

MT - On your debut album, are you disappointed that the spelling of your band was changed from "Pist*On" to "Piston"?

V - Let's just say it was beyond out control. It's corporate business. They [Atlantic] don't care about art. They care about selling records. They know we don't like it and there's nothing we can do about it...so, we're screwed. As far as we're concerned, it's "Pist*On."

MT - In general, how have you felt the band has progressed on Atlantic? Has it been the best your band could have done?

No. I think we could do a million times better. We've been working on these songs and the record with [producer] Josh Silver since 1994. We've gotten better at it, but there is pressure with being on a major label because if you don't sell enough records, you get thrown off. But, on the other hand, they are doing everything they can for us. It's like a roll of the dice.

MT - Do you feel that you should be actively involved with the publicity of your band or leave it all up to Atlantic?

V - We'd like to be actively involved in everything we can do ourselves. We're on the phone everyday. It's the way we are and it has nothing to do with being control freaks. Also, we've learned a lot of lessons from watching Type O Negative, 'cause they had faults from their label, Roadrunner. We know the way things can happen and to keep an eye on everything.

MT - Henry had said that he enjoyed Marilyn Manson's act when your band opened for them in Europe. Why?

V - They put on an amazing live show. It's the real deal. They got us working a lot harder. It was friendly competiton, but you've got to try to kick each other's asses. That's showbiz...

MT - Are they really as mean as they seem?

V - Yeah, they are mean. It's all true. It depends on what kind of day they're having. Personally, they were very nice to me. They are very into themselves, so most of their weirdo activities went on when we weren't around.

MT - Can you tell me where you feel your target audience is and what do you feel about Piston's place in music today?

V - Some people see us as '80s heavy metal throwbacks. I think it's hysterical because I never listened to any of that stuff, and then there are 14 to 15 year old kids who really like us, and they were too young to listen to any of that music either. We're not about a fashion or trend. You don't see people trying to dress like us, nor would I want them to.
          I don't care what category we fall under, it doesn't make a difference to me. It's all about putting out quality music.

Piston recently played at Coney Island High. They are on tour and are working on a new album It won't be called Number 2...or will it?