Exclusive Interview: Howard Stern Show’s Richard Christy talks Majestic Loincloth

Who are you and where are you from??

My name is Richard Christy, I’m born and bread in Southeast Kansas USA! I’m a drummer, comedian, heavy metal fan, craft beer drinker, and goofball. 

For those who have never heard of the show, what is Majestic Loincloth about?

Majestic Loincloth is For Lovers of Heavy Metal Viking Rock Opera Homoerotic Medieval Animated Musical Cinema! It’s basically a Viking story about a good guy named Gunnar Steedhorn who is trying to keep the bad guy and his minions named Orloff The Gravedigger from taking over Studland, the place where they all live. The story is all sung by the various characters throughout each of the 10 episodes. 

How did the concept of the show come about?

I actually wrote the story about 11 years ago when I lived in Florida and I started filming it as a live action movie with all of my heavy metal drinking buddies in Orlando and Tampa Florida. We even went to a Renaissance festival and filmed some scenes because they had an elephant and a camel there that you could pay three dollars to ride on! We had me and another character get rides so we could film it for the movie, super low budget haha! 

How were you approached by Rug Burn?

I’ve been friends with Chris Prynoski from Titmouse Animation Studio for several years now and he saw the live action version of Majestic Loincloth several years ago and thought it would make a funny cartoon. He came to New York City about four years ago and we filmed some green screen footage of the character from Episode 1 Oliver Steedhorn in Brooklyn just as a test to mess around with and it turned out really funny and from there we built the rest of the animated episodes. Dicko Mather was the director of all of the Majestic Loincloth episodes and he’s just an amazing animator and a super talented guy, I’m so lucky to be working with him on this, we had a lot of fun working together on these episodes! I’m so honored to be a part of the Rugburn Channel on Youtube, there are so many AMAZING cartoons on the channel and I’m so psyched to be a part of it! 

What was the casting process like for the voices?

I was cheap and available so we just hired me for it haha! I pretty much did all of the voices which I think adds to the funny cheesiness of it. Jason Suecof from my band Charred Walls of the Damned also sings on two episodes and he has an incredible voice so I’m glad we got him for a couple of episodes, but the rest is pretty much just me doing all the different characters and singing everything, although I’m not that great of a singer and I cranked up Autotune on some stuff which I think sounds really funny. 

What are some of your inspirations in creating an animated series and growing up what were some of your favorite shows, animated or otherwise?

I LOVE animation, I’ve always been a huge fan of it, since the Tom and Jerry, Bugs Bunny, Thundar, and Charlie Brown days when I was a kid, then later on I became a huge fan of The Simpsons, The Tick, Ren and Stimpy, Beavis and Butthead, Family Guy, Metalocalypse, Squidbillies, Futurama, and my favorite TV show of all time King of the Hill, which I WORSHIP!

You got to meet Mike Judge (creator of Beavis and Butthead). Use this opportunity to make everyone jealous by telling us how awesome he is.

Well obviously he is an absolute genius but he’s also a super nice, down to earth guy who totally reminds me of all of my friends and family back home in Kansas. That’s why I relate to King of the Hill so much because it really reminds me of growing up in Kansas where all of the people are so likeable and friendly, and that’s what Mike Judge is like, just a really super nice guy and someone that is genuine. 

What are your thoughts on fello Stern personality Yucko the Clown’s animated series Brickleberry?? Did Yucko getting a show kind of help you move on your own projects??

I LOVE Brickleberry and I’m so happy for Yucko! He’s (Roger) another guy like Mikbe Judge, just someone who’s super nice and genuine, has a lot of Southern Hospitality (although you’d never know if from his Yucko character) and someone that you’re super happy for when great things happen to him. I think Brickleberry is hilarious and really well written and I’m so happy for Yucko that they’ve been renewed for a second season. I think anytime that an edgy comedy cartoon like that becomes successful then it’s good for everyone else who makes those type of cartoons. 

Do you have plans for other animated series and what else are you working on? e.g. Richard Christy’s X-mas stories??

Yes I actually did a cartoon called Richard Christy’s Christmas Memories and another called Richard Christy’s Halloween Memories! I worked with a brilliant animator named Carlos Ramos and we kind of modeled it after my life when I was a kid and they turned out really funny, I’m so proud of them and hopefully we’ll do more of those because I LOVE the holidays and I think making cartoons is the greatest way to celebrate the holidays! You can see both cartoons on Youtube. 

Talk about working with Jason Suecof on Majestic and what he has brought to the show? (Editor’s Note: Jason produced one of my favorite records by one of my favorite bands: “Last Kind Words” by Devildriver)

I’ve known Jason since 1999 and we have the exact same sense of humor – Goofy and Silly, the stupider the better! Jason is also an incredible guitar player, song writer, producer, and singer, an all around super talented guy, so I always knew I wanted to work with him on the music for Majestic Loincloth. We wrote the music and some of the lyrics for these songs back in 2002 and then finished it all up last year so it’s been a long process but well worth it! 

 

Majestic Loincloth is on Rug Burn Channel with new episodes every other Thursday. Check out episode two below, and tune in tomorrow for the review!