SEASON TO RISK
This interview was conducted
over e-mail on 05.06.1999
Has Thick treated you well?
It has been pretty good. They have been very supportive of whatever we want to
do, musically and artistically, Of course, there isn't as much money to be
used in promotion so I do believe the record hasn't been noticed by as many
people as we had hoped especially critically. I always find it pretty
interesting to read the reviews both good and bad. But, there hasn't been very
many for this album. I think it is awesome that thick went out of their way to
license the first 2 albums from Columbia.
I am pleased that you are all still making music. Has the road been tough?
Have you ever considered hanging it up?
The road can be very tough and very discouraging. This Oct. We will have been
together 10 years and sometimes you do think what am I doing this for? Will it
ever get better? will more people get into us? I think we have kind of chosen
to march to our own beat and keep trying to reinvent ourselves and enjoy
making music that is a little more challenging to a listener. So it really is
our own choice to stay on the level we are at and not compromise. Again that
can be discouraging and we have lost a lot of members due to this. It is hard
to tour the country and play to small crowds for very little money. Most
people think wow, I am in a band and I am traveling I am a rockstar now. Well,
that is just bullshit what you really are is a dumbass who just happens to
love music/ your own music you love to play meet new people see new things.
That really is the reward.
I know that you have had tons of line up changes over the years,
Can you run through the line up changes over the years?
1989
steve/vox-duane/guit-paul malinowski/bass-loren chambers/drms.
1990
jerry baten/drms
91
tim dow/drms
92
peter murray/drms
93-95
chad sabin/drms
96
Jason gherkin rec. In a Perfect World frank garry martin of the Pain Teens
played some show with us then David Smyth joined on drums he remains at the
end of 97 Paul left to join Shiner with Tim Dow. Josh Newton joined on bass
left summer of 98 replaced by Chris Sharp who just left and Josh will be
recording and performing with us in 99 and on, hopefully.
I know that you explained the significance of the 23 tracks and the 23
seconds between the filler tracks on Robots, but could you let the others
know?
Coincidence theory. Read Robert Anton Wilson's Cosmic Trigger. William
Burroughs etc.
How many van accidents during tours have you all been in?
Many...fell asleep at the wheel in Colorado actually not too bad of an
accident but scared the shit out of us. Rear wheel broke off in Minnesota--
near death but again not too bad. Flipped her over in Iowa in a snow
storm..Drove all the way back from Seattle with no brakes, manually down
shifting to slow down. This took years off my life i swear.
Did Duane have any reasoning behind not using the SG on this last tour?
I think has been having electrical probs with it not to mention I think he
just wants to show off his custom work on the YUGO.
What were you like in high school? Were you an outcast? Or in the crowd?
We were the outcasted in crowd.... Straight-edge skater types...Pretty be
straight laced but open...got along with every one pretty much...Just wanted
to have fun really...Fighting and acting disaffected just seemed to take away
from the fun...
What sort of effect did the whole Columbia Records situation have on the
band's moral?
It was quite surreal. I mean we spent a lot of time in NY which I loved. We
didn't have to work shit jobs for about 4 years met a lot of cool people met a
lot of fake ass industry people. It gives a different perspective on the whole
"it's a business" attitude...Moral wise I think it drove Paul crazy and right
out of the band. Duane and I just take it with a grain of salt....an
experience that probably wasn't really ever supposed to happen.
How would you define success?
Contentment. Enjoying were you are at when you are there. I am not saying, hey
I am a bum and that is all i will ever be so I don't work hard to get some
where else. I just think you should have goals and enjoy each step in your
advancement one step forward two back..It is a long life you know.
If you could be the star in any movie, who would you be?
I am and this movie is 30 years long so far...
Do you have jobs outside of the band? What do you do?
I bartend and DJ at a local club David works there too barbacking and working
the door. David is also in two other bands right now (Iron Rite Mangle and
Reggie and the Full Effect). Duane does sound at the club/ works in recording
studios and also does landscaping.
Do you have a theme for the new record? Or a name or any info you can
release on it?
There is a concept we are working on. It is going to be the weirdest one yet.
A lot of electronics--think Aphex Twin meets Archers of Loaf. The tentative
title is As Time Goes Bye-Bye based on that song from Casablanca.. Should be
interesting.
Hope that will do you... Goodluck with the band and hopefully we will be back
your way before the end of the year
See you.
Steven To Risk
Written By: Geoff T.
