Hi guys! Today we have a quick chat with Hunter from Torture/Draped In Black/Catch All Entertainment and more! Get to know him and get a glimpse into what life on the road is like with Torture!
ECZ: What’s your name and what do you do?
HUNTER: Yo Dee what’s good! My name is Hunter Winstead and I play bass for Torture among other things
ECZ: How did you become the bass player in Torture?
HUNTER: So my relationship with Torture actually started when I reached out to their Bandcamp about potentially working with them on graphic design and printing jobs. I heard Enduring Freedom a couple months after it came out and I was hooked. K.K.(Torture singer and drummer) hit me back about designing stuff and we realized that we kinda had an identical vision for things. I designed and printed their first few shirt designs, sold merch at their first 3 shows, and have always been a helping hand for anything they needed. I always said if they needed a fill in that I would be honored, then when the first iteration of the live lineup departed I was the first person K.K. hit up. Been a dream come true going from discovering a new band you love, to working with them, to then being IN the thing. Much love to K.K. for real
ECZ: We know you’re vegan and straight edge, what’s touring life like for you in 2025? What are your go to food/beverage spots while being on the road?
HUNTER: So this year marks 10 years of being vegan and I gotta say, it gets easier every day with how many incredible and accessible options there are in more places. Thankfully in the Torture van we’re always looking for the best food and coffee wherever we go, plus K.K. is also vegan, so I’m not alone when it comes to looking for places with options. Best case scenario when we’re stopping somewhere to eat/get coffee, we’re hitting the go-to spot that all the locals recommend. Worst case scenario, we’re hitting BK or Taco Bell for food and whatever regional chain is around for coffee
ECZ: What does Torture listen to while making towns?
HUNTER: The van playlist is always very eclectic! Jordan is behind the wheel 95% of the time and usually handles the aux as well, but we’re always shouting out requests. Lately it’s been a mix of jazz guitar stuff like Al Di Meola and Pat Martino, as well as Candiria, Gojira, Kingpin Skinny Pimp, etc. Every couple days the van will turn into an A7X karaoke/air drum party though, probably due for one of those any day now
ECZ: What are your top five essential touring items?
HUNTER: When I’m on the road I try to keep my personal items to a minimum to save space and avoid misplacing things. Here’s the first 5 that come to mind.
1. Water bottle. Obvious one but I can’t stress enough the importance of staying hydrated out here
2. Phone. Back in the day I would have put map, Rolodex, cds, etc on this list, but in this day and age we have the convenience of having all that stuff rolled into one tiny device. Most everything you could ask for is at your fingertips if you know where to look for it
3. Vitamins. Yet another one that I can’t overstate the importance of. Getting your daily intake of vitamins and nutrients is crucial in your regular day to day, but I’d say it’s doubly important when you’re in a different city every day. Especially as a vegan, shit like B12, Iron, C and D vitamins, and then things like fiber and protein are so crucial for ensuring you’re not feeling dead at all times
4. Sleeping bag and pillow. We get a hotel more often than not, but even then I’d still recommend bringing a nice, super compact, sleeping bag just in case. You never know when you may need it. Pillow is another crucial one to ensure you can get some rest in the van or on a floor wherever you end up at
5. Lastly I’m putting my wireless waterpik on here. Oral health is mad important and my waterpik has become one of my favorite things as of late. The perfect thing for after a meal or coffee. Load it up with a little bit of bottled water and rinse all that bullshit out of your mouth while you’re looking like a freak in a truck stop parking lot. Game changer
ECZ: We have to ask, If you could be any LOTR character who would it be and why?
HUNTER: I hate to be that guy but I’m not really super knowledgeable on Tolkien stuff, so my answer may be lame, but Gandalf seems super dope and well connected
ECZ: Besides Torture, what else do you have going on and where can we find you?
HUNTER: Besides Torture, I’ve got another band I also play bass in called Draped In Black. Then in my regular day to day I’m either working on graphic design jobs or handling business at the record store I co-own called Catch-All Entertainment. You can find me there more often than not, but if your looking for me online, @baddboyhunt812 is where you can do that
Thank you much to Hunter, make sure you catch Torture on the Daze tour this spring! An absolute must see show if you love aggressive music!
Buy records, merch and more at Catch All Entertainment (shipping available!)
TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT LINKTREE.COM/DAZESTYLE
4/1 – PHILADELPHIA, PA @ FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH*
4/2 – PITTSBURGH, PA @ PRESERVING*
4/3 – CLEVELAND, OH @ NO CLASS*
4/4 – DETROIT, MI @ SANCTUARY*
4/5 – CHICAGO, IL @ BEAT KITCHEN*
4/6 – DES MOINES, IA @ LEFTY’S*
4/8 – DENVER, CO @ D3 ARTS
4/9 – SALT LAKE CITY, UT @ SOBER HALL
4/10 – LAS VEGAS, NV @ AMERICAN LEGION POST 8
4/11 – LOS ANGELES, CA @ 1720
4/12 – TUCSON, AZ @ BLACK IRIS
4/14 – SAN ANTONIO, TX @ PAPER TIGER
4/15 – DENTON, TX @ RUBBER GLOVES
4/16 – MEMPHIS, TN @ HI TONE
4/17 – KNOXVILLE, TN @ KARNS COMMUNITY CENTER
4/18 – WINSTON SALEM, NC @ HOOTS BEER CO
4/19 – RICHMOND, VA @ THE WAREHOUSE
4/20 – MONTCLAIR, NJ @ THE MEATLOCKER
* NO FINAL RESTING PLACE
* Disclaimer: All text copyright El Corazón Zine 2025. Do not duplicate without expressed permission and fair use *