Alan Robert (Life of Agony) From Comics to Concerts

In this interview, Joshua Toomey welcomes Alan Robert, bassist
for Life of Agony and accomplished artist, to discuss his
creative projects. Alan shares insights about his latest
endeavor, an official Beetlejuice coloring book in collaboration
with Warner Brothers, which coincides with the release of the new
Beetlejuice movie. He talks about the process of drawing scenes
from the movie and how much fun it was to immerse himself in Tim
Burton's world. 


Alan also reflects on his artistic journey, from illustrating
other projects like the Universal Monsters coloring book to his
early experiences learning from legendary comic book artist
Walter Simonson during his time at the School of Visual Arts. He
recalls how comic conventions were much smaller in the early days
and how breaking into the comic industry back then was tough. He
shares how he eventually balanced music and art, creating iconic
band merchandise and album covers for groups like Black Sabbath
and Pantera. 


The conversation also touches on Alan's roots, his longtime
friendship with Biohazard’s Evan Seinfeld, and how watching them
succeed inspired his own musical career. Throughout the
interview, Alan discusses the evolution of creating art, how
digital tools have revolutionized the process, and the importance
of meeting deadlines when working on big projects like
Beetlejuice.


 Alan discusses the creative process behind his comic work,
drawing inspiration from music, like Pantera’s Cemetery Gates,
which influenced his short story. He also highlights his
collaboration with Z2 Comics and other projects like the Type O
Negative graphic novel. Alan reflects on balancing his artistic
endeavors with touring, recalling his earlier days of drawing
comics backstage during tours in the early 2010s. He contrasts
that with his recent approach, where he focuses on intricate
artwork, like The Beauty of Horror, while at home and reserves
touring for music. 


Alan also reminisces about his time at the School of Visual Arts
and shares a fun experience watching Keanu Reeves live on The
Late Show. He appreciates the balance of his current life,
splitting time between touring and comics. He mentions recent
recording sessions at a legendary NYC studio, hinting at exciting
music releases soon. Finally, he touches on the importance of
creator-owned comic projects and his freedom to expand his
characters across multiple platforms.


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