Tania conducted this exclusive interview with Mr. Scott Shiflett!

Shifty is Nifty recently had a Q&A with the one and only Scott Shiflett himself! We hope you enjoy this!

Ten Questions With Scott

(1) Being the middle child, did you suffer from Jan (or rather Peter) Brady Syndrome?

God, I hope not.....Michael, Michael, Michael!! Although I did (and do) look up to my brother Mike (and Chris), I never really felt eclipsed by him. In our younger days, I followed in his rock and roll footsteps and learned the basics of how to play and whatnot from him, but the commonalities of siblinghood aside, we're different enough as people to not suffer from vying for the same space, which I think is what plagued Jan Brady so much.

Thankfully, Scott managed to avoid suffering from Jan Brady Syndrome.

(2a) What does Viva Death mean to you? (both the phrase and the music)

Well first off, I simply thought the name sounded cool, kinda one of those Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath things with Viva (life, positive) and Death (negative) going on. Next, it was an opportunity to be intensely creative without the added hassle of following it up with tours and explanations about what our goals are. (winning people over and all that crap) Anyone paying attention probably knows that it's primarily my baby musically and that I roped these incredibly talented people into being on it, so if you don't like it, blame me (not them)!!!

(2b) Do you ever think Viva Death will tour?

When something or other freezes over!!!!! But seriously folks, I wouldn't want to tour with a bunch of fill-ins, and theres no way in hell I'm gonna be able to get that bunch of guys with their wildly divergent schedules to align over something as non lucrative as a Viva Death tour. Remember, I couldn't even get Vagrant Records to release the second record, so although it's a proud moment artistically, it's just a blip on the radar screen. (no money in it.)

(3) What is your favorite a) Face to Face song, b) Viva Death song, and c) Jackson song?

"Out of Focus" (Reactionary),"White Car" (One Percent Panic), and I think it's the last song on Western Ballads (I can't remember the name...kinda mellow?—Tania: it's "That Curse"). But these things (favorite songs) change day-to-day (ask me again in another five minutes).

(4a) What music by "new" artists have you been into lately?

Well I don't know how "NEW" they are, but I've been enjoying the latest from the Dutch band "Kashmir" lately.

(4b) What music by "older" artists have you been into lately?

Yes, I am guilty of enjoying the latest "Killing joke" CD... good atmosphere for such a heavy record.

(5) How does it feel to have fans that follow you/your bands from city-to-city, state-to-state, and even country-to-country? Does it flatter you? Does it feel stalkerish? What about fans who create sites like this?

Periodically, I'll run into someone who has gone to great lengths to come to a show, maybe even from another country, and when they do, I feel that my playing had better justify the cost of their plane ticket (and hotel). And yes, it's flattering, but it's usually about a band and not specifically about me, so the pressure isn't entirely all-consuming. And about the websites, if I were better with a computer, I'd probably start one myself. Fansites are usually better than the real ones anyway!!!

(6) What are the advantages and disadvantages of playing with and touring with your brother?

The advantage is that I get to play with my brother, the disadvantage is that I don't get paid (hahaha). Really, in what other "profession" would adult siblings get to hang out and have so much fun together? It's not so easy when you start getting a little older to find that random time anymore. So I'll take any opprotunity to spend a little "bonding time" with my bros. Oh, and did I mention that they're both ripping guitarists?!!!

(7) How did you feel the Face to Face farewell tour went? I saw you in Toronto and it was an amazing show, full of energy and emotions--what was it like from your perspective?

Bittersweet... I loved playing those shows, but was in a kind of dream about the reality of breaking up. Periodically, a welling of emotion would kick in (usually in "Disco-Naked") that would make everything a bit more intense. But at the same time, I kinda felt like a horse that was finally crossing some sort of finish line. You could almost say a bit relieved. I miss it, but I don't regret it.

(8) I know you love video games, what new ones have you been addicted to lately?

The most recent game I've beat was "SSX on tour" but I've been stalling on my gaming till the new "Zelda" comes out! (Did someone say forty-year-old loser?)

(9) You chose to record the Viva Death albums using baritone guitars—what appeals them to you?

Pure happenstance. Trever and I had purchased matching baritone guitars while on tour, and were both really taken by their sonic tendencies. Using only baritone guitars came about almost as a joke but before long we were really taken with the idea of a self-imposed limitation (makes for more exciting judgment calls in the studio) just to see what we could get away with (sonically/creatively) while no one was listening.

10) You've obviously been to a lot of concerts through the years—as a fan of music, do you have a favorite live act/favorite show?

I love music!!! But I'm a cynical, jaded old fuck about a lot of it… BJORK however, is the only artist in a long time that I've actualy gotten goose bumps over at a concert (I love her stuff, she's probably my favorite contemporary artist). So I'll have to say BJORK on the Homogenic tour at the Pallaidium in LA.