Issue 108
December 2013
Metal bands, super-fast cars, and a healthy respect for suits: let’s face it, if it ain’t bad ass then it ain’t Josh Barnett.
CARS
You’ve spoken about your love for vintage cars in the past, but what was the first car you ever owned?
“It was a hand-me-down ‘78 Ford Courier and they were made by Mazda. It was a good dependable truck for as long as I had it, and by the time I got it it had really been put through its paces. I had to replace a bunch of things including the windshield because winter in Seattle is an incredibly rainy season.”
What car do you own now and what convinced you to buy it?
“I own six cars. It’s difficult to say which one is my favorite but the race car I have down in California is a street-legal 2009 Ford GT500 Shelby Mustang. I’ve had a bunch of amazing companies come on board and sponsor me to make it a 683hp monster. I like to drive it on the racetrack and do what I can with it.”
If you could have any car in the world, what would it be?
“The sensible part of me says I should get a Bugatti Veyron and then sell it, so I can get plenty of other cars. It’s very difficult to pick, especially when you’re a car aficionado like me. But if I had the choice of a daily driver I’d choose the Grand Cherokee SRT8. You get all the luxury and space of an SUV but the ‘get up and go’ of a muscle car.”
STYLE
From your usual attire in and around training and fighting, we’re guessing you own a lot of band T-shirts?
“Yeah I do. If I’m not wearing some kind of band T-shirt people are usually surprised.”
Is that what you predominantly wear all the time?
“Not at all. I think you should have something for every occasion, you should be able to look the part whatever comes your way. For example, I don’t believe in wearing button-down shirts without ties. I think it looks sloppy, especially if it’s untucked. The bottom of a shirt is made that way not because it looks fashionable hanging out of your pants but because it’s supposed to be tucked in.”
FLICKS
What movies are you into?
“I do like horror movies quite a bit, but if I’m honest, I like a bit of everything. Like music, there’s so much variety and I like the bad ones and the good ones.”
We’ve noticed you’ve got a great sense of sarcastic humor.
“I used to watch a lot of British comedy growing up, and that’s where I developed my sense of humor. Things like Monty Python’s ‘Self-Defence Against Fresh Fruit’ sketch. I also love Terry Gilliam movies. I just watched Time Bandits the other day and that’s a film I watched a million times when I was growing up.”
TV
So does your love of British comedy in movies extend to TV?
“It sure does. I’ve always been a big fan of Blackadder and Red Dwarf. Those shows really stand the test of time and are hilarious to this day.”
Do you watch new stuff too?
“I actually don’t have cable or television, and I haven’t had it for a few years now. When I watch shows I just watch Netflix, the internet and DVDs. When I did have a TV I enjoyed Game of Thrones quite a bit and the Adult Swim block of TV on Cartoon Network was always a lot of fun too. I’ve just started watching Adventure Time and that is one drug-induced, wacked-out show.”
MUSIC
Most fans already know you’re a huge metal fan, but how did you get into that genre of music?
“Ever since I was a small kid it’s always been rock ‘n’ roll and blues music in my house. When I was growing up metal was starting to become very mainstream and my babysitter’s son was a big metal fan. He was around five years older than me, and I remember he was wearing an Iron Maiden shirt and I instantly wanted to know what it was because I thought it was really cool.”
If you could walk out to any song for the rest of your career, would it be a song by Iron Maiden?
“Well, I walk out to Bolt Thrower right now and I’ve been walking out to Bolt Thrower for a number of years. Walking out to them for the rest of my career would be fine by me as I could use just about anything from their back catalogue; but right now I walk out to The IVth Crusade.”
SHUFFLE
HIT SHUFFLE AND TELL US THE FIRST FIVE SONGS. NO CHEATING
Pantera, This Love
“This song was made at the height of Pantera’s power. Even in the softer parts of the melody there’s a tinge of anger and violence underneath it.”
Clutch, Pulaski Skyway
“Clutch has a great soulful feel to their music but it’s always tinged with a lot of sarcasm regarding modern society. They draw a lot of things from historical and biblical references in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way, but it’s quite smart.”
Depeche Mode, Useless
“I remember when this song came out and I remember digging it quite a bit. It’s got a certain smoothness to it that goes down really well but still leaves you feeling a bit dirty.”
The Black Dahlia Murder, Climatic Degradation
“This is a brutally fast, violent song talking about a guy who sneaks into houses and murders and destroys people’s lives. It’s more of a story in a horror movie kind of way, but I also think it’s a reflection on humanity being worthless, to a degree.”
Queens of the Stone Age, Run, Pig, Run
“If I only had their catalogue to listen to for the rest of my life I think I’d be OK (laughs). This is a great song from a great album called Era Vulgaris.”
