Auf halber Strecke zwischen Ramones und The Dwarves kurz links abgebogen und schon stehen die Briefs aus Seattle vor uns. Schon Ihr letztes Album „Hit After Hit“ (Dirtnap Records) war genau der Stoff, den man braucht: 13 straight nach vorne gehende Punkrock-Smasher, einfach gestrickt, dafür aber umso prägnanter, dem Titel des Albums wurden sie damit locker gerecht. Auf dem neuen Album „Off The Charts“ gibt man sich nun etwas englischer (was unser Schaden nicht sein soll…). Dass die Jungs auch live keinen Stein auf dem anderen lassen und ein Faible für hässliche Plastik-Sonnenbrillen haben, wußten wir bereits, weitere Fakten erfuhren wir in folgendem Interview:
S: Please introduce the member’s of your band and tell us, what special skills they have.DT: My name is Daniel J Travanti and I can eat really fast.
LR: Lance Romance, I can touch my elbows behind my back, and I play bass guitar with both hands
CH: Chris, Drums, Master interviewee
SN: Steve E. Nix. I can watch three mediocre movies in a row. I can do dishes. I play guitar and sing.
CH: My kung Fu is very good.
DT: I don’t know….I hate this question cuz I always get this one wrong. I pass.
LR: Fruit salad with vinegar
SN: Is it OK to delete Lance’s answer? Maybe he’s just describing his personal odor. We’re a punk band. We’re into alot of old punk and new wave stuff.
DT: Yeah, of course we enjoyed it. We’ve done so much touring in the states in the past it was nice to get away from all that and see the world. I think Germany was really surprising for us, we weren’t quite sure what to expect but once we got there we loved it, very punk!
LR: We had a great time playing in Germany, everybody made us feel right at home, fed us well and made us play and play and play…we will be back in May thru June… Im not sure yet about playing Munich…we will try.
DT: I could list the typical punker classics, like the Pistols, Ramones, Buzzcocks, and Clash, but instead I’ll mention some of my favorite slightly lesser known U.S releases:
1. La Peste (Matador Records) Great Boston band from around 77-78. Really great. The Stitches recorded one of their songs, „Better Off Dead“….
2. The Beach Blvd Compilation (Posh Boy Records) This record features 3 essential California bands: The Simpletones, the Crowd, and Rik L Rik, and every songs a winner.
3. Black Randy and the Metro Squad: „Pass the Dust I Think I’m Bowie“ Perfectly obnoxious and brilliantly annoying.
4. The Zeros (Bomp Compilation of old singles and demos) I love this record.
5. The Adolescents (Frontier Records) I suppose everybody knows this one already but I just had to mention it anyways.
6. Angry Samoans, Back From Samoa!
LR: The Clash -The Clash, The Rezilos – Can’t Stand The, Ramones – Ramones, X Ray Specs – Germ Free Adolescents (Adolescents first record)
CH: The Cure – Boys Don’t Cry, The Vibrators – Pure Mania, Elvis Costello – My Aim Is True), Minor Threat – Out Of Step, Jawbreaker – Unfun
SN: DI – Ancient Artifacts, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers – L.A.M.F., The Saints – Eternally Yours, Social Distortion – Mommy’s Little Monster, Buzzcocks – Another Music In A Different Kitchen
LR: Tour till we cant take it anymore.
CH: We leave that kind of stuff to our DUMB ASS PRESIDENT.
DT: I don’t want to dominate the world. Too much responsibility and besides I hate the world. I’d rather just be dominated, if ya know what I mean….much more fun that way.
SN: I’m planning to get blown into tiny peices by somebody’s bomb. I’m not sure whose. But if things don’t go as planned then I guess that’s pretty cool and I can deal with it…..
DT: I’m the wrong person to ask but don’t get electrocuted is probably one of them.
SN: Yeah, not getting electrocuted is for sure one. Not getting beat up. Not falling on broken glass. Not ingesting any PCP or Amyl Nitrate. Not playing anywhere extremely cold.
LR: Here’s mine: more than 5 people, look good, smell ok, try to stay in tune have fun
CH: well…they’re just like me and you, only more tan.
DT: We go there quite a bit. Probably my favorite state to play. That and Texas, believe it or not. California has so much punk rock history…. so many of my heroes are from there and still part of the scene and you get to meet ‚em and stuff and shake hands with ‚em and your thinking „Jesus Christ, this is the guy from the Adolescents or T.S.O.L. or whatever, and he came to my show?!!!“. I guess I get kinda star struck…
SN: California is the best. The bar is set pretty high there with all of the great bands over the years… especially in southern California the punks are really proud of their scene. It’s always great for us to go play there.
SN: Eric Clapton, Ted Nugent and all the members of Yes. I could serve them poisoned hot dogs or something at rehearsal!!
LR: Joe Strummer, that would be plenty.
DT: I have a lot of bad dreams and I’ve had this „dream band“ dream and I don’t want to talk about it. Lets just say it involves David Hasselhoff…..
CH: I try not to dream about my band. I get to spend enough time with these guys while I’m awake.
DT: Don’t be scared to dance. I can’t dance for shit, but if I drink enough I’m like a punk rock Fred Astaire and I’ll pogo like a retard all night long!
LR: yes dancing is good and also always brush your teeth please.
SN: If you want to have anal sex, it doesn’t hurt to just ask for it. As long as you’re prepared or rejection every 1 out of 5 times, you have absolutely nothing to lose. I don’t really go for that action, but I know that alot of people do, and it’s just like going after anything else worthwhile in life. Just ask…
CH: Start a band, steal some songs off of your favorite records, dress in stupid clothes and before you know it, you’ll have friends that you never thought you would!!