Avantgarde vocalist and all-around awesome guy, Mike Patton, is perhaps best known for his work with bands like Fantomas, Peeping Tom, and Mr. Bungle. However, the musician has also tried his hand at acting, scoring a starring role in the indie-flick, Firecracker, after Dennis Hopper backed out. Mike's latest project is doing voice over work for the upcoming horror-tinged FPS, The Darkness . In the game, Patton plays the voice of The Darkness , a demonic force that possesses mafia hitman Jackie Estacado on his twenty-first birthday, subsequently driving him to murder his way up the mafia ranks. We caught up with Mike for a brief chat about his role in the game, his take on videogame music, and just when we can expect that Mr. Bungle tour.

Patton: Background? Just getting hooked at a young age on my Sega Genesis. I used to play more than I do now but still find time to upgrade the systems and play some of the latest games. All time faves would be Smash TV, NHL Hockey, Grand Theft Autos, NBA Lives, Sonic.

IGN: Do you own any of the current-gen systems?

Mike Patton: I got a PS3 and a PSP. The Wii looks fun.

IGN: How did you get the job working on The Darkness?

Mike Patton: They [Starbreeze Interactive] called and offered me some money.

<b>Now+<i>that</i>+is+one+classy+dude.</b> IGN: Your voice in The Darkness is quite haunting and eerie, just as it should be. You really sound like a demon. Was there any digital modification employed to make your voice so otherworldly?

Mike Patton: To be honest I don't know. I have not heard it or seen it since I did it. I'm looking forward to playing it. It seems to be getting good buzz. I hope it means more work. Darkness 2?

IGN: What goes into the process of doing voice over work? Do you find that you prefer it to more traditional forms of acting?

Mike Patton: It takes quite a bit of imagination and good direction. Oh and plenty of coffee and Red Bull. It is very different from traditional acting, but I found it to be a cool challenge. You can do it wearing nothing but silk bike shorts and cowboy boots too.

IGN: Considering your pedigree, how come you opted to do voice over work for this game rather than helping with the soundtrack?

Mike Patton: This is what I was offered. Why, you don't like how it came out?

IGN: We're not saying that. But still. Did you find working on The Darkness to be a rewarding experience?

Mike Patton: Definitely. A great learning experience. The people at Starbreeze are good people and very creative.

<b>Those+demons+on+your+shoulders?+Yeah,+Mike+Patton+does+<i>their</i>+voice.</b> IGN: How do you feel about music in games these days? Would you want to ever work on a videogame soundtrack?

Mike Patton: I'd love to. I think so much [of it] is so dry and uninteresting, I think music could be more of a part of the game. Like the Mark Mothersbaugh music in the Crash Bandicoot games. It really adds life to the game.

IGN: We hear that you are featured in some other upcoming games, can you specify which ones?

Mike Patton: I don't know if I'm allowed to mention that I have bit parts in Left 4 Dead and Portal.

IGN: Can you give us any details about the roles you play in these games?

Mike Patton: Zombies and a drone of some sort. Not real sure