After more than 35 years fronting the grindcore pioneers Napalm Death, vocalist Mark “Barney” Greenway maintains a strict philosophy regarding live performance: if you aren’t giving the audience everything you have, you shouldn’t be on stage.
In a new interview with Poland’s “Strefa Music Art,” Greenway was asked if he ever feels “bored” with his role in the band after so many decades. He admitted that while those feelings can arise occasionally, they cannot become the norm if a musician wants to respect their fans.
“I think everybody goes through that at points, but it’s how long that feeling lasts. Because if you’re bored, if you, if you know within yourself you’re bored for a period that lasts for, say, a few months, then you really should consider whether it’s right to do it anymore. Because I personally believe when kids come in paying money to see shows, whatever the art form music is, it should be 100%, nothing less,” he said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
Greenway emphasized that the financial sacrifice fans make to attend concerts dictates the level of effort the band must return.
“Because people, it’s not easy for people in any times — I know it’s particularly difficult right now, but any time it’s difficult, [because] there’s only so much people have to spend. So if they come and they give you their money, basically, you should give ’em a hundred percent — no less. It’s important. So if you not getting that feeling anymore, you have to question whether you should be doing it anymore.”
This mindset extends beyond the stage and into the recording studio. Greenway argued that creative stagnation is a sign to stop, rather than churning out mediocre material.
“And I think also from a recording point, making albums, if you say to yourself, ‘I’ve run out of ideas. I’m not stimulated enough to do this anymore. I’m not inspired enough to do this anymore,’ you have to question whether you really should try even doing it, because nobody needs 50% of an art form — I personally don’t think.”
When asked directly if he has personally struggled with boredom during his tenure in Napalm Death, Greenway was candid:
“I did go through feelings of that, but it was very, very small periods of time. And it was other things that were affecting me, so I could go, ‘Yeah, okay, well, I’m not having such a great couple of months. That’s why I feel dispirited.’ But after that, I was okay. If it comes to a point in a few years or whenever that I go, ‘I’m not feeling great on stage anymore. I don’t feel as if I have anything new to often creatively, musically,’ then no more for me. Finish.”
Earlier this month, it was announced that Napalm Death has joined forces with The Melvins for a full collaborative album titled Savage Imperial Death March.
Set for release on April 10 via Ipecac Recordings, the project features Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, and guitarist John Cooke working alongside The Melvins‘ Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover. The record is described not as a split release, but as a true collaboration between the members of both legendary bands.
Recorded at The Melvins‘ studio in Los Angeles, the sessions saw Buzz Osborne (vocals/guitar) and Dale Crover (drums) writing and recording alongside Napalm Death’s Barney Greenway (vocals), Shane Embury (bass), and John Cooke (guitar).
“I have loved The Melvins forever and their outlook on music,” Embury said. “A chance to make an album of eclectic musical madness with them was truly an honor and a whole lot of fun, which surely is the whole point! Let’s do another one soon.”
Osborne said: “Napalm Death are one of my favorite bands ever. It was an absolute pleasure and a dream come true to do this collaboration with them. We wrote songs together. I would write a riff and we would learn it and record it right there. They wrote stuff and we would learn it immediately as well. It was truly a 50/50 partnership.”
‘Savage Imperial Death March’ Track Listing:
- “Tossing Coins Into The Fountain Of F**k”
- “Some Kind Of Antichrist”
- “Awful Handwriting”
- “Nine Days Of Rain”
- “Rip The God”
- “Stealing Horses”
- “Comparison Is The Thief Of Joy”
- “Death Hour”
Napalm Death is currently touring Europe and will head to North America later in the spring.
Napalm Death currently on tour:
- 02/24 London, UK – Electric Ballroom
- 02/25 Glasgow, UK – Clyde Room
- 02/26 Dublin, IRE – The Academy
- 02/27 Liverpool, UK – O2 Academy Liverpool
- 03/01 Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy Birmingham
Napalm Death 2026 North American Tour Dates:
- May 07 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome To Rockville
- May 08 – Tampa, FL – Orpheum
- May 09 – Miami, FL – Churchill’s
- May 11 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
- May 12 – Asheville, NC – Eulogy
- May 13 – Nashville, TN – Eastside Bowl
- May 14 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple
- May 15 – Saginaw, MI – The Vault
- May 16 – [To Be Announced]
- May 17 – Huntington, WV – The Loud
- May 19 – Richmond, VA – The Broadberry
- May 20 – Baltimore, MD – Maryland Deathfest
- May 21 – New York, NY – Racket
- May 22 – New York, NY – Rocks Off Cruise
- May 23 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom
- May 24 – Portland, ME – Geno’s Rock Club
- May 26 – Moncton, NB – Tide & Boar Ballroom
- May 27 – Halifax, NS – Marquee Ballroom
- May 28 – Fredericton, NB – The Cap
- May 29 – Quebec City, QC – Salle Montaigne (w/ Pig Destroyer)
- May 30 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner (w/ Acid Bath, Pig Destroyer)
- June 01 – Montreal, QC – Fairmount
- June 02 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
- June 03 – Waterloo, ON – Maxwell’s
- June 04 – London, ON – London Music Hall
- June 05 – Detroit, MI – Crofoot Pike Room
- June 06 – [To Be Announced]
- June 09 – Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre
- June 10 – Regina, SK – The Exchange
- June 11 – Saskatoon, SK – Black Cat Tavern
- June 12 – Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room
- June 13 – Calgary, AB – Palace Theatre
- June 14 – Vancouver, BC – The Pearl
