Tim Toomey, co-founder and contributor to AssultBlog, recently interviewed Martin covering everything from Martin’s education and his works-in-progress to how to deal with slacking band mates and zombies!

Here’s a small preview:

Tim: I read a quote from you where you mentioned that education was the new thing that drives the creative fire in your mind — something along those lines. Can you tell me a little bit about your school and yourself? What made you decide to start it?

Martin Atkins: Well, I started playing drums when I was nine, started drinking Newcastle Brown Ale and backing strippers at 11 or 12! I joined PiL [Public Image Ltd.] in 1979, performed on the seminal Metal Box album and the next four or so with them over the next 5 years. Then Killing Joke, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Pigface, and Damage Manual. I started the label Invisible Records 20 years ago, built a recording studio, produced a bunch of stuff from Gravity Kills to Skinny Puppy; then, started teaching, went to China, made a documentary, and realized that the book they were using at Columbia for the Business of Touring class was written in 1962! So, I wrote Tour:Smart, then started to revamp a bunch of the courses there. Applied Marketing was a ton of work, but I’m really pleased with the results. I’m working on Band:Smart, the sequel to Tour:Smart, and another 16 days in China amongst many, many other things — and I have four young boys!

I decided to start the school because I saw a need for real world stuff in the classroom. I pitched the people at Columbia several times on allowing me to just bring all of my businesses up there: Label, book publishing, studio, music publishing, film production and all of that — but they didn’t seem to think it was a good idea. So, like I usually do, I just did it! Education — or, more correctly, the relationship and the conundrum of trying to show people an unexpected spark — really gets me going. I’ve loved teaching since the moment I started and I love trying to make my lectures entertaining — otherwise what’s the point?

Go to the AssultBlog for the full interview.

Thanks to Assult for sharing this interview with us and possibly inspiring a new project.

Do you think Martin should graciously apply his brilliance to a zombie survival guide? Comment!

Our friends from SuicideGirls.com (specifically Jay Hathaway) have done it again. They recently posted a lovely interview with Martin where he discussed his new school, Pigface’s new record “6″, and the history (and future) of invisible records.

Give the article a read and then check out the video from r3’s first day of school!

r3 Scholarship for session #1 Tour:Smart is giving away a work/study scholarship for the first session of Martin’s Atkins’ new school revolution number three! Know a smart, deserving, self starter? email info@revolutionnumberthree.com.  Tell us who and why they should get the scholarship. Session #1 starts Monday! Session one starts June 29 at 6pm in Chicago at r3: 3319 S. Lituanica Ave. Chicago IL Session two starts July 27 in Chicago r3 students will be working with these companies:  DrumCore, MVD Entertainment, PreSonus Audio, Invisible Records, Mattress Factory Music, Misery Loves Co., Toy Block Music, Bloodshot Records, Trick Drums, and Reggie’s Rock Club. r3 is also doing weekend immersion sessions:  The first is August 21 - 23.  More info here. Details:

• running the invisible records label - with a 20th anniv release to imagine and develop
• messing around in the studio and creating some drum loops for Drum Core
• working with Trick Drums on something (we don’t know what yet) but they just designed the most amazing new pedal for Pearl Drums
• setting up a gallery show in Baltimore
• interfacing with Presonus Audio, MVD distribution and more
• working on a new release from Snapline one of our Chinese bands of whom people have said “sell your Radiohead - Buy Snapline”
• Promotions for the Tour:Smart book and lecture tour
• working on the sequel Band;Smart - and hey - i need to get your input on this please!
• Running the music licensing/publishing company, developing new CRM models for this. Screen-printing Mail order WEB
• video editing, the creation of webisodes
• lectures will be as needed on Marketing, Touring, Artist Development, Entrepreneurial activities, additional skills, x-Box hacking, sound, new media, word of mouth marketing, zero dollar marketing and generally ‘being better at everything’

And you can follow Martin on Twitter!!!