Interview: Warlock Bloodfire
01. Please state your case. Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Les Hernandez; founder of the Satanic Punk band, The Quintessentials, in which I sing and play lead guitar. I’m also a member of the Church of Satan, in which I hold the title of Warlock, which is the second degree.
02. How did you first come into contact with Satanism and The Church of Satan?
I’ve always been an outsider and interested in darker subjects. Back in the very early 1980s a friend and I stumbled upon a copy of Anton LaVey’s The Satanic Bible. I bought a copy and immediately read it, identifying with it more strongly than with anything I’ve read before or since. I must’ve been barely thirteen years old at the time, but I knew at that moment that I was a Satanist.
That was a period of time when the big Satanic Panic was happening. Clips of Doktor LaVey and other representatives of the Church of Satan were on every talk-show, Evangelical program and Halloween special, so I was aware that the Church of Satan was alive and thriving, but it wasn’t until around 1989 or so that I stumbled upon a copy of The Black Flame, and in it, the address for the Church of Satan. Ten years later (1997) I would finally be holding my Crimson Card as a member.
03. How did your friends and family take to this discovery?
My friends always knew from the very beginning. They’ve never really had a problem with it. I’ve never had the need to discuss actual Satanism with most of my family. When it comes down to the brass tacks, it’s none of their business and they know it, though I love them dearly.
04. What is your favorite Sin and why?
“Sin” is a concept I can’t say I believe in. I don’t accept the concept of sin an a reality–it’s a matter of Christian dogma, not Satanic. Indulging in things like “sin” and “blasphemy” is only really fun when I feel like getting under the skin of a particularly irritating person who believes in those Christian concepts. Then it’s a hoot!
Of the so-called “Seven Deadly Sins”, I enjoy Greed, Gluttony, Lust, Sloth and Pride the most (not necessarilly in that order). Hmm…that’s almost all of them, I suppose!
05. What Devil, Demon, God or Goddess do you most closely identify with and why?
I’ve always held the image of Hekate in high regard, as she is the Greek goddess of Witchcraft/Magic (and not in the goody-two-shoes Wiccan sense!). In a sense, she seems to me like another face of Lilith or Kali. I always have a representation of Melek Ta’us (the prideful one) and Kanaloa (Hawaiian deity equivalent of Satan and Cthulhu) on my altar, as well as Anubis (representing the underworld/the hidden/occult) and Baphomet (which I view as being identical to Abraxas in what each represents).
06. Explain a result you’ve seen of Lesser Magic.
This can be seen almost anywhere there is human contact, if you know what to look for. Humans feed off one another, and many do so by using Lesser Magic without recognizing it as such. Though this is not to be confused with Psychic Vampirism, which is the hallmark of leeches and welfare cases.
Watch a pretty girl who knows she’s pretty when she wants something. Her smile, tone of voice, eyes, et cetera, will all work to ensure she is given what she wants. All the best strippers know this as fact. They know how to best manipulate and or accentuate their traits to make men their willing slaves. The same goes for certain authoritarian-resonating men who know which kinds of women need a “daddy figure” in their lives and become that, thus ensuring their own sexual and emotional gratification.
07. Explain a result you’ve seen of Greater Magic.
The problem with displaying magical results is that others will always shrug them off as coincidence–no matter how unlikely that particular coincidences chances of occurring might be.
Suffice it to say that I’m satisfied knowing that magic works. The last thing I’d want is the Law having proof that it does, and in the knowledge of magic’s reality begin legislating its use. People in Africa are killed regularly for practicing Witchcraft. Not all too long ago the same was happening in America. Let’s not forget that.
08. How has the ‘Law of Attraction’ worked in your life?
In that like attracts like, I’ve found that no mater where I go I somehow wind up around others with the same interests as myself or very similar outlooks, which shouldn’t be such a regular occurrence for someone who is such an outsider.
In the way of opposites attracting, or one being attracted to one’s Demonic, as Doktor LaVey put it in The Satanic Witch, I’ve found that most of the women I’ve dated were very near, if not dead-on, polar opposites of myself. The more we’re alike, the shorter the relationship would last and vice-versa. In relation to LaVey’s Synthesizer Clock, of course.
09. Do you have any Satanic projects either online or offline? If so, please list them.
My band, The Quintessentials, are working on a multimedia DVD called “Sarah Alice is DEAD!” to be released later this year, followed by our fourth full-length album next year and talk of a tour is getting a lot more serious not that we’re on the mainland and out of Hawaii.
I’m working on updates to my book, The Bloodfire Compendium, with the objective of eventually releasing a second, expanded and updated, edition in the next few years or so.
10. Name 5 books you’ve read that have made a significent dent in your life and how.
You mean aside from the five written by Anton LaVey?
The Devil’s Avenger, by Burton H. Wolf
The Church of Satan, by Blanche Barton
The Satanic Scriptures, by Peter H. Gilmore
The Fire Within, by Nemo
Essays in Satanism, by James D. Sass
Bearing the Devil’s Mark, by Matt Paradise
The Lucifer Principle, by Howard Bloom
Seven, I know, but the reasons should be obvious enough.
Other books were Demian, by Hermann Hesse (being a proud productive outsider–Alien Elite), and Candide, by Voltaire (humanity’s reprehensible foolishness in always
thinking everything happens for the best in this best of all worlds).
11. Name 3 of your favorite movies and tell me what makes them soo good.
Rosemary’s Baby, for its depiction of the versatility within Satanism. This movie and book (by Ira Levin) are and obsession of mine.
The Stepford Wives (also based on a Levin book of the same name) for its dealing with Artificial Human Companions and the underlying topic of what makes a woman a woman–to herself, other women and to men.
The Ninth Gate, based on the book The Club Dumas, by Arturo Perez-Riverte, for its very Lovecraftian flavor (Delemonomicon/Necronomicon connection) and dealing with underlying topics such as a born Satanist v. pseudo-Satanists.
12. If you were president for a day what would you first make happen?
I’d ban using religion as an excuse for one’s illegal actions. “The Devil made me do it” would not be admissible in court and to attempt to claim such would incur stiff fines and secular community service.
13. What punishment would you give for would be child molestors, murderers and rapists?
I’d do to them what Vlad Tepes did to the Boyars with his invitation to a grand feast: once they are collected and comfortable, I’d lock them in and set them ablaze.
14. If there was another ‘Satanic Panic’ how would you react? What action would you take?
Forewarned is forearmed! I wouldn’t be shocked, but I’d ensure my own safety. I’m almost expecting another Satanic Panic. It seems like the public is dying for it. They need to be unified against a common enemy in order to feel right. Perhaps they need to be steered toward another enemy instead?
15. Have you met Anton LaVey or Peter Gilmore in person and if so what was your overall impression?
I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Doktor LaVey, though an acquaintance once played him a demo my old band did, to which he seemed enthused about–even if it wasn’t exactly hid kind of music. I take pride in that.
When I got my first issue of The Black Flame, I wrote Peter Gilmore and have corresponded with him off and on over the years ever since. I greatly respect the man and am proud to call him our High Priest, though we have yet to meet in the flesh.
16. Have you read Michael A. Aquino’s ‘The Church of Satan’ and if so, what are your opinions on it?
Aquino isn’t worth my time.
17. Have you ever visited the black house or drove past it. What is your thoughts on the matter of being taken away. Do you see this as a vital Satanic landmark or something that could be termed as disposable?
(no answer)
18. What was the most important thing, anyone, dead or alive, has told you?
Two things someone once told me a long time ago: “Man up, boy!” and “Ask not what the Church of Satan can do for you, but what you can do once you get off your ass!”.
Sadly, the person who offered me these very wise words way back when didn’t follow his own advice.
19. What are your hobbies? Why do they interest you?
I love making music. The recording process is where I feel I can be most creative. It’s akin to sonic sculpting. I like to make things–especially music. Writing is similar in that you create images in others’ heads and covey ideas.
I love to read and work with graphics as well. I drew a lot when I was younger.
20. What is the biggest threat facing Satanism/Satanists today?
The only thing a Satanist really has to fear is himself becoming to lax or complacent. Constant vigilance keeps the fire in our blood; keeps the Black Flame of Satan
burning.
21. If you could have anything in the world with exclusion to money what would it be?
The ability to read five books a day and retain everything–every last bit of knowledge, for practical use.
22. Who do you hate (or despise) the most out of all the humans on this planet?
The answer you’d get would depend and differ by which time of day you asked me.
23. If you could tell your children (if you had any) one thing, what would it be?
If I had any kids I’d want them to know just how extremely deadly recreational drug use can be.
24. Artificial Environments. A term invented by LaVey. How much of a role does this play a role in your personal life? Do you have any suggestions on how to create these environments for other Satanists?
My own Total Environment is a mish-mash of everything I loved so much as a child: vampires, witches, tikis, werewolves, 1950s greaser stuff, art reproduced from Rosemary’s Baby, etc. It’s a matter of personal taste and ability to make it manifest.
25. Where do you think our present myspace/youtube generation is headed?
Down the Information SuperToilet.
27. Do you have any tips or tricks for the would be Satanic Magician? Anything you’ve personally noticed that helps the advancement of magic in one’s life?
Membership does have its privilages!
28. This question is not a question. You can say anything you want here. Please feel free to do so!
Folks can keep track of what I’m doing at both www.thequintessentials.com and www.bloodfire9.com
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