Click Here To read The Interview From Punkers 2002.com

 
Click here to read the interview from Technopunk.com

 
Click Here to hear Jon's interview on PunkRadioCast.com

NEW INTERVIEW WITH JON KRAY!
 
1) WHEN YOU STARTED THE BAND, WHAT WAS YOUR GOAL? DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING WITH YOUR MUSIC AND LYRICS?

My goal was to rock out, get a chance to write and play my own music and have fun playing shows. I wanted to be the best I could and not dumb anything down. I wanted to show how punk rock could be done intelligently and originally as possible, no limits as long as it had heart and was real.
2) HOW DID IT FEEL TO PLAY IN THE BAND BACK THEN?

It was very exciting. We had a great time playing shows and rehearsing, every part of being in the band felt great. There was a feeling that anything was possible.
3) HOW DOES IT DIFFER NOW?

We it's been a long road with alot of hard luck, but I feel great about the band, I think we all do. We are all proud of what we do, and how we sound. The shows have been fun and I think we have a good vibe going right now. 
4) HOW DID IT FEEL WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED RECORDING?

Recording is always a thrill for me. I remember recording the first LP. I had a sense that we were doing something important, getting itdown, setting it in stone. Making an album feels great. It feels like a great accomplishment and something to be proud of.
5) WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST SHOWS LIKE?

Energetic, electric. Back then the scene felt tougher and playing a show was like shouting your beliefs for everyone to see, everyone to listen too. To had to gain respect. It was great to feel like you were fighting your way in, into something.Showing people you weren't some shit band with nothing to say, nothing to bring to the table. I still feel that way, like when we play new places, play in front of new faces.
6) YOU RELEASED A COLECTION CD (THE WORST OF THE KRAYS) ON A FRENCH LABEL, HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT? 

We got contacted by Fredz, who worked for the label and he asked if he could release a collection of the bands music. I thought it was awesome. I asked him if he could also help booking a tour for us in Europe and he did. So far he's booked all our tours over there. He's become a great friend of ours and he may be releasing a new collection of tunes in the future, stuff from  A Time For Action, different versions as well as some new tunes never released. 
7) HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?

Like I said, Fredz is a great friend of mine and the bands and I think it's great.
8) FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY AND WHY?

L.A. is great, so is Seattle, Atlanta, NEW YORK CITY!! Most of Texas is great as well. Geneva Switzerland is fantastic.
9) WHAT MAKES A BAND A GOOD QUALITY BAND?

I think good original ideas, honest lyrics. I hate bands with the vibe of just pulling together ideas from other bands, ideas they feel will make them popular. The vibe of getting over on the audience just to be a poser.
10) WHAT STYLES OF MUSIC DO YOU LIKE BESIDES PUNK AND HARDCORE? 

I like old metal, but mainly just any songs that are good, any music that gets me and I feel is good. I can listen to Bach then Motorhead right after. Whatever I feel is good.
11) WHAT GOT YOU INTO MUSIC?

My grandfather and my uncle were both great musicians so I've been exposed to it since I was born. I feel like it's my birthright, my destiny to be a musician. I'm also an artist so I play what I wanna play. Maybe I'll never make a buck or be famous but I wasn't put here for that. I was put here to rock as good as I can (& I feel I can play really well). So far I'm proud of what I've accomplished and in my ability. I've also gained the respect of my peers. Anything after that is just gravy.
12) PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

To tour as mush as we can and continue to make music. We wanna record a live album, maybe even sometime this year.
13) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE STATE OF POP CULTURE TODAY?

Like always, I think it has it's up's and it's down's. Good art(music, movies, books) sometimes has to be discovered. You have to search for it because it comes out on small labels and publishing companies. Search and you shall find. Look for clues and ask around and you can always fine good stuff out there. Mainstream is generally always crap, always will be.
14) WHAT BANDS ARE YOU MOST EMBARACED YOU LIKE?

I'm not really embaraced by any band I listen too, but I know there are some bands that I won't play in front of people because I know they'll think it sucks. Opinions are opinions. I like Traffic, used to listen to them alot a few years back. They were just inducted to the Rock and Roll hall of fame. Everyone I know right now thinks it's crap. Oh well. I love music from the renaissance, especially from England. It's like classical music but older, not as many instruments, more simple.a lot of harpsichords, violins and vocals.
 


 
Interview with Jon--From SinkHole Fanzine Sept. 2000 (I edited it a bit so it has more up to date answers like current line up) 

2. What was your first punk show or record?
       The first show I went to was the Denied in N.Y. I'm not sure what was my first album. When I was younger a friend of mine left some records in my house that really got me into punk. Singalongabusiness was one of 'em. Also Slaughter and the dogs, a few Adicts records, the Clash. I started off hearing alot of great music, and thats what turned me on to punk and into playing the music I do now.
4. What is the current line-up, and how long has it been like this? (Updated Answer)
       Spencer on bass, Scot on drums, Warren on guitar , and me ( Jon ) lead vocals / lead guitar, & now Albee on 2nd guitar (local shows only) 
5. Do you still talk to Albee?
        Definitly. I've known Albee for over 10 years and we started the band together. We are still good friends. There was a time when we might have not liked each other, but that happens when 2 people in a band want to do different things all the time. There was alot of shitty times between us  but after time we realised that the friendship is more important and we shouldn't let the band come between that, so we left any bad vibes that happened in the past stay in the past and now we hand out alot and are good friends.
6. The Krays and you have been together for 5 years(i think)-what keeps you going, and what is the future for y'all? 
          What keeps us going is a strong faith in who we are and in what we are about. We put alot into our music and in what we sing about. I love writing music so I'm not stopping. We know we're good, and no fashion police punk or any other bullshitters are ever gonna stop us. What we plan for the future is to tour the world and continue to write new songs and put out good records.
7. Since your not touring right now, have you seen any good shows lately? what active bands are you into now?
                I like the Stand. They are a young band from N.Y. They do things their own way and don't pay attention to the growing faction of jealous idiots that are infesting OUR city. There are too many people too concerned about themselves and talk so much shit about everyone. These people aren't even into music, only how far their band can get, it's really pathetic, especially when they suck anyway and have nothing to offer people except a bad attitude.
8. What happened to the last week of the Blanks 77 tour(&the florida dates)? 
         The booking agent was obviously a moron and booked a horrible tour, so bad so that the blanks decided it wouldn't be worth it to play the last week with so many long outrageous drives and so many days off. So we all split. I hate having to cancel shows but we had to head home or we would have starved  to death. 
9. How many gallons of beer were consumed on that tour?
         We started out drinking  alot, but we ran out of money towards the end, so there was very little drinking over all. We are touring Europe in November and plan on drinking like crazy over there though.
10. As far as i know "Battle For The Truth" is your first full length LP. Tell me about the blood, sweat and tears behind it, and what it took to make, and what it means to you?
         Well , "BATTLE..." is our 2nd LP. "INSIDE WARFARE" is our first. "BATTLE" was bascically my baby. I was the studio engineer, and I mixed the entire LP by myself. It was alot of work and alot of hours in the studio. It was my first time engineering and mixing all by myself so I am proud of the work I put into it. There was also a lot of changes in the band then and right after so I wrote almost  the entire record by myself too. I should be proud of that, because the songs are good, but I like it if everyone in the band contibutes to writing the music, so it was kind of a lonely feeling and I am much happier now with a line up where we all contribute. I can't wait to record our next LP because the songs we've already written are great and it's good to feel you are part of a team that's doing good things.

11. Do you have any other projects(records, comps, tours) in the works?
          We have a few E.P.'s in the works and are starting to put alot of new song together, to play live and to put on our 3rd  record. We don't plan on recording a new LP till next year but are already writing it now.
12. Tell me about the Sex Pistols comp-i know i grew up singing all their songs with my friends. how cool was it to record them for real? 
          Actually no, we hated recording that song and we will never play it now. I love the song but we had alot of bad luck happen trying to record it, and it ended up taking 3 times longer than it should have. Sometimes shit happens.
13. Whats the deal with you and Maximum Rock and Roll? I read your rant about the punk press...personally i cant afford to read a $3. zine, so i have no idea what was said. how hard does the press make it for bands?
        Press has nothing to do with our success, we make our own by hard work and determination. All they are worth is to wipe asses with. These zines write sometimes with the attitude that their opinion is worth so much, when really it's worth nothing at all. They aren't the ones that work hard, they are just parasites. It's the bands who make the whole scene happen, and the audience. The zine is just something to read while taking a shit! And I don't buy m.r.r. either , and honestly I never have and never will. I'd rather buy a 7 inch than read that paper when it's mostly just full of ads anyway. 
14. What is the message behind the Krays? 
        The message IS, do what you want. Especially musically. If you think what you are doing is right and good, do it. Don't listen to critics. Most times punk bands sound so much the same. Who wants their band to sound like everything else. Is it because their afraid no one will like it? Thats why bands that do have their own sound have balls , because they create their own territory, and if people want to follow, that's the point and that's good, but if they don't get it, Fuck all them close minded dicks.

15. Is anyone in the band in any other bands? (Updated Answer)
     I played with the N.Y. Rel-X as their drummer, but I 'm gonna be touring alot more with the Disasters so Scot plays drums with them now and I play 2nd guitar when I'm around.  Scot actually came from a band called Polyabuse from Jersey, and me and him jam with them too, along with former Krays members B.J. and Carlito Higante. They both played guitar in the Krays. B.J. was originally their singer and rythm guitarist but he just sings now. The band is doing great. We have a live cd that we are releasing sometime soon. 
16. Is this the most annoying interview ever?
        Actually I think the questions are very good. Very well thought out. I 've done interviews they ask the most retarted questions. Who cares what my favorite beer is! 
17. Whats the best way for people to buy your stuff? 
          At our shows or they can order from us. The info is on our web site.
18. Whats your own personal defination of punk?
        I can't answer that. It's too big of an argument to make. I can say this, in it's simplest form, I think this is all about doing what you want, and doing it your own way, and fuck everyone who doesn't get it! 

Thanks Mark for the interview!