Can you give us a little past
history on the band, like how you guys all met?
Pierre: We met in high school in Montreal, we all grew
up at the same high school and that’s when we started playing together.
Chuck: But, I knew Phil the guitar player from childhood,
we used to liive on the same street, so that’s a long time... But, yeah
basically in school we started to play around 12 or 13 years old.
So, you guys have been playing
for how many years now?
Pierre: About four years together.
Chuck: Phil is new in the band, he’s been in the band
for two years. Pierre used to play guitar and sing at the same time now
he only sings and Phil took over the guitar part and I think it’s better.
He added a whole new a whole new dimension to the band because he’s more
into aggressive music, metal. So has more of an aggressive touch to our
catchy songs.
Your latest record No Worries
is on 2112 Records, can you tell us how you hooked up with them and is
this your first full length?
Chuck: It’s our first full length...
Pierre: We hooked up with them because one of our friends
in Montreal... He knew the guys from Greenland, cause Greenland is 2112
Records, Greenland Productions. They listened to our first demo that we
made and they liked it alot, so we played a couple shows for them and that’s
how we hooked up with them.
Chuck: Yeah well the thing is Greenland in Montreal is
like the biggest production company, they do like all the punk shows from
Pennywise to Guttermouth to virtually any punk band or alternative bands.
They’re into the scene in Canada too, they’re like booking the SnoJam and
LamperAge Festivals. When they first heard us they decided to manage us
and that’s how we ended up on their label, two years after and this is
our first full length.
How long did it take to bring
that out?
Chuck: The album?
Yeah.
Pierre: About a year and a half.
Chuck: Yeah, we released our demo and worked on the songs
for about a year and then we record last fall in Morin heights, Quebec.
The most amazing studio in Quebec like Celine Dion, Glass Tiger and all
those amazing bands recorded there and then we went and mixed it at Westbeach
Recorders in LA. So, it took a long time to work everything out...
Pierre: For the writing and all, I’d say about a year
and a half for the first full length.
Chuck: All the fucking around, like the cover and all
these things... That’s why it took so long. Finally, I think we’re all
happy with the results, being on tour finally...
This is your first tour?
Chuck: Yeah, it’s our first real tour of Canada.
Pierre: Our first tour of the west coast.
Chuck: We played some shows like SnoJam in Toronto and
London but that was as far as we went. Now we’re totally happy to do this
tour with Ten Foot Pole, it’s a really amazing band that we like alot and
it’s just great.
So, where did you guys play
last night or whenever?
Chuck: It’s our first show...
Pierre: It’s our first show on the tour.
Oh, it’s the first show on the
tour?
Pierre: Yeah.
You went all accross Canada...
Chuck: Yeah.
Oh really? Are you guys going
back:
Pierre: We’re going to follow the tour down to Montreal.
Chuck: We’re doing 23 shows around Canada in a row.
Oh really? Good exposure!
Chuck: Oh totally, totally happy about it. It’s great.
Pierre: Yeah, because Ten Foot Pole draws alot. So, they
do draw alot... It’s good coverage.
Chuck: And, it’s cool because we had to spend three days
in Vancouver and saw the city... Great, great town.
What did you guys see that you
liked?
Chuck: We went to Canada Place, was pretty cool... All
the tourist kind of things like Gas Town, Stanley Park.It was just amazing.
Before we went to Banff... It’s a really nice province BC, it’s amazing.
And, the weather was amazing.
I was surprised you guys didn’t
put out a record with Fearless Records, the best melodic hardcore label
in North America, what made you decide to go with 2112 instead of Fearless
or any other label?
Pierre: Because, 2112 we knew them for a while, they’ve
been working with us for a while and they were starting this label so they
wanted us to like help them out to start it and we needed their help. 2112
Records is affialted with Greenland Productions, they are pretty big, they
got good connections with them so we stuck with them.
Chuck: Also we thought they had a great roster of bands.
Man O’ Steel, X-Large, Shades of Culture a hip-hip band from Montreal.
Pierre: Ten Days Late.
Chuck: Ten Days Late from Vancouver and the bass player
of the Bad Brain’s new band is on the label too.
What’s his band, called?
Chuck: It’s called Stealth. It’s pretty intense,
rap-metal kind of thing. It was kind of a logic move for us. But in the
doesn’t mean in the future we might wanna... We’ll see what happens. Right
now, we’re happy with 2112. If something happens we might consider it.
It’s not like a final decision.
Pierre, When it comes to writing
the lyrics for a song do you look at what’s going on in this world or do
you base them on personal experience?
Pierre: A little bit of both. Chuck helps me out when
it comes to political stuff because he alot into the political stuff but
I kind of twist it in my way. It doesn’t really come from my experiences
because I don’t have alot in every parts of the world but I guess I...
Chuck: Just value what we have and just put our own thing
in it.
Pierre: Yeah, I put my opinion in there and I put it
in my own way and I do what I want to say.
Chuck: Basically what we’re doing is we look at the news
and what is going on around the world and what really pisses us off and
then we enfaliize it and put it together and we just write the final version
of it, but basically it’s a collective.
Pierre: Depends which ones, a couple of them are collectives...
Chuck: Whatever, we’re working together and you’re doing
alot of work.
Pierre: Yeah.
What are your thoughts on us
humans tearing apart the earth in the name of greed, do you think we’ll
ever be able to stop this?
Pierre: It’s a part of our society now, destroying the
earth is how we live, I don’t think it’s reversable.
Chuck: As long as there is economic interest in it...
Basically, what is happening right now is Big Corporations just want
to make shitloads of money and it’s easier to just don’t give a shit about
the enviroment because it costs less money. It’s all based on profit. As
long as the system works on this kind of attitude on those values it won’t
change it’s going to be totally fucked up.
Pierre: It’s possible to change, but it’s so much of
a change that we have to do, everybody has to work together.
Chuck: I think we as citrizens, we can do something...
Pierre: Everyone has to do their own part.
Chuck: It might be small...but at the same time we can
help, we can do something about it.
Are you guys involved in any
poltiical organizations or volunteer anywhere or does the band take up
up most of your time?
Chuck: The band takes alot of time. I went to some protests,
but nothing formal. I don’t belong to a party or anything although I might
support a party during the election or whatever but as a band... We did
a benefit for Amnesty International, am I missing something. How
do you call it?
Amnesty International, yeah that’s
it...
Chuck: We did a benefit for that about two years ago,
that was cool. We’re planning to do more shows like that. But as
far as being involved in a group it didn’t happen yet. I think with the
power that we have to influence people with the lyrics we have to use it
in the right way...
Pierre: That’s our way of being involved in the world
is by sending out our message as far as away as we can and to as many people
as we can by our music, that’s our way of being involved.
The mainstream media keeps telling
us Quebec wants to separate from Canada who’s at fault for wanting them
to do this, is it the politicans of Canada or who is it? I apologize if
it seems like I’m not educated on this, but I’m not. But, I’d rather get
the whole answer from someone from Quebec than half an answer from the
media itself.
Chuck: I think that this is a really complex question
and we can’t really summarize it in a few minutes. You gotta look at before
Quebec was a colony and for a lot of years we lived under a colonial system
and alot of the time the population didn’t really like it and they were
treated really bad and that’s the source of the separatist movement, that’s
how it started. But now I think that the anglephone Quebec are totally
more respectful. We don’t really want to take a stand on this issue because
it’s really controversial. I personally think that nationalism is dangerous.
Any kind of nationalism either Canadian Nationalism or Quebec Nationalism,
German Nationalism or whatever, I think it’s dangerous. Flags and all those
symbols, I think we should try to stay away from this that’s how I see
it. It’s hard to explain why people are so attracted to this attitude so
easy just to pretend your the best...
Pierre: Then that is a sellout, that’s a sellout.
Chuck: For example... Green Day and Offspring. If you
listen to Green Day’s first album and the last album, it’s the same
god damn thing, they didn’t change a thing. It’s not their fault, I guess
you know.
Pierre: It’s not a sellout...
Chuck: They didn’t change a thing in their music.
Pierre: They just got more coverage, that’s all.
Chuck: I don’t think it’s wrong as long as you have something
to say and want kids to know about it and learn about it, I think it’s
a good idea to do it.
Pierre: But, it’s obvious some bands can use it in a
way just for the popularity and the money, and that’s kindof wrong but
you don’t have to do it in that way.
3 I think that you can do a video and remain a true punk band. Cause
Strung Out has a video, Ten Foot Pole has a video, No Use..., Face To Face,
Blink... Virtually every band has a video. I think that people who are
totally against and say some comments about it and guys that do that are
stupid I think that they are missing the point and they don’t want to evolve
and they don’t want to change. I think the world is out of patience and
there is a new situation and bands have to follow it.
What do you think of corporations
making money off playing your video? Say there is a big beer AD directed
to...
Chuck: We wouldn’t be involved with any...
Like sometimes in the commercials
and stuff. Say there’s a video before like a big beer AD before your video
and an AD after your video there’s one with an anorexic girl promoting
some company that’s using third world workers in Asia or something. What
do you think of that?
Chuck: I think that Much Music and Musique Plus have
some strict policies on advertising. It’s true that some TV channels
do that and they’re going to broadcast any kind of ADs and not even think
about it. Much Music aren’t airing smoking ADs because it’s forbidden,
they have strict policies on it. It’s true that there’s a problem with
it, advertising it’s a big business and it’s big bucks. I don’t think Much
Music can be functioning without advertising, that’s their only source
of money and they’re helping out bands like Gob who have got total amazing
exposure on Much Music and that’s how they get fans all over Canada. It’s
helping young underground bands. Nothing is perfect, it’s true you’re right,
you’re totally right. That’s something that people don’t really think about,
it’s true that there’s a problem with it. I mean, if we centralize people
on it, on the issues I think it’s even, they got some ADs but at the same
time they’re broadcasting alternative sources of information like our lyrics
and it can help influence people.
Pierre: It even’s it out.
What are your thoughts on punk
labels buying ADs in mainstream magazines instead of punk rock fanzines
because the mainstream ones get out to more people?
Chuck: I think they should do both, I think they should
totally encourage underground papers. What’s the point of killing the underground
scene just to make more bucks? The ADs in the small zines are really cheap
and not expensive, I think they should do both. If they want to reach a
larger public, that’s understandable, you know what I mean. If Epitaph
wants to reach a larger public, that’s their thing, that’s their business.
But, I don’t think that alot of companies do that. When I look at zines
I see ADs for Fat or Epitaph.
Pierre: Alot of people don’t look at the mainstream magazines,
so they’re just better off doing both.
They’re just going a different
avenue... Different people.
Pierre: They are just better off doing both.
Chuck: Yeah exactly, I think both is the best direction
to do it. You can’t expect a record label not to advertise in big publications
because that’s the way they are gong to sell records, right. I think
if they do both, and emphasize alot of the underground papers like yours
and the other zines I know, I think that’s a really good idea and the right
way to do it.
What do you hope to do with Reset
in the future?
Chuck: We hope to bring the message accross to the most
people as we can and tour.
Pierre: Yeah, be able to tour, be able to live off it,
and just...
Chuck: Yeah, because that’s a dream for every musicican,
I think.
Pierre: Not have to starve to just to play the music.
Chuck: Just do the most in life.
Pierre: Being able to do only that and not having to
have a second little crappy job.
Chuck: And, just touch some people with the lyrics and
touch them with the music and when we get tons of letters and that’s the
most amazing thing in the world. We get letters from Australia, Brazil,
Europe, US, Canada... and that’s the most amazing thing in the world just
to recieve those comments. That’s what we want to do. It’s not about making
money, it’s about reaching as many people as we can and that’s what we’re
going to do, I hope. With this tour, it’s going to help alot.
When it comes to mass media
like the television do you think television companies use brainwash techniques
(Subliminal Messages -ed) to get us to buy their products? I remember a
few years back they used this in a television commercial and they were
caught using this kind of tactics. Do you think this happens or ever did
happen?
Pierre:
There’s always a little bit of media twisting in an advertisement,
they always kindof have a little bit of brainwashing but I don’t think
it really occurs that there’s big total brainwashing.. I don’t think it
really happens anymore.
Chuck: I think that if people are going to university
to learn about marketing, it’s because there is good reason to it and they
know...
Pierre: There are some tactics for sure.
Chuck: You can’t deny the fact that people go to school
to learn this stuff, because there is some stuff you do need to know and
some really easy way to grab customer attention and make them buy the products.
That’s a problem you know. Simple way to not fall into this, is just not
watch TV and try to avoid advertising. Also you have to be strong enough
to make your own choices and not be influenced by TV, if your TV is your
master or your god or something then that’s a problem. that’s what we talk
about in the song Why? on the CD. We talk about how TV influence comes
from behaviours and attitudes and how it makes people violent a bit sometimes
and pulls them into violence and sexism and all this stuff. But, you have
to be strong and resist those kind of temptations from the mass media,
you know what I mean. You have to stay true to your own belief and values.
I know this question is totally
played out, But what do you think of punk bands signing to major labels
instead of staying independent?
Pierre: It’s kind of the same question, it’s all about
sellouts... If you sign to a big label, you get more coverage and you get
more stuff. But, if the label doesn’t tell you you have to be more mainstream
more poppy or stuff. It’s like Offspring they signed to Atlantic?
Chuck: They signed to Sony..
Pierre: Oh, anyways. There music is still as rough as
it used to be and still as fast and as punk as it used to be. [I could
argue that. -Brian ed]
Chuck: Fuck that! Look at Bad Religion, Look at Unwritten
Law... They are all on Major Label but they kick ass, you know.
Pierre: As long as you’re not selling out and changing
your music because of that.
Chuck: Also just like alot of people are saying... Just
the guy from the Dead Kennedys, Jello Biafra just said “Punk is about doing
whatever the fuck you want so who you are to judge what Offspring is doing,
who are you to judge what GreenDay is doing...” Anything that is right
for them. Apparently, Epitaph was trying to control Offspring that’s what
I heard you know. I’m not saying it’s true, but apparently... This whole
thing falls the big you know what I mean. If a band puts out good music,
people should just enjoy it for what it is and not try to put down the
band. I’m just being honest right here. I know it would be so much easier
to say “Oh yeah, Fuck those bands on major labels...” I don’t think it’s
true. I think some bands playing on major labels is a really good move
for them. That way they get money to tour, they get distribution all over
the place. Look at Rage Agiainst the Machine, they can pass their message
everywhere in the world because they’re on a major label.
Pierre: And, they still have good ideals and still good
values and they’re promoting... And they really touch alot of people because
of that and they’re still on a major label and it doesn’t really make a
difference.
Chuck: I think that real punks should stop worrying about
that and instead start to check out those bands and see what they have
to say and then judge them, not just because they are signing to a major
label. Listen to their music, listen to lyrics and then you can judge.
That’s how we see it. I know it’s not a official way of answer the question
but that’s what we think about it.
Okay. Do you think that’s hypocritical
singing against those kind-of corporations in your lyrics and stuff like
that and then joining them and making them millions of dollars and stuff
like that?
Pierre: Of course, that’s a fucking hypocrite.
That’s what punk is about though,
it’s about being against ruining the earth and just signing with them is
going to make them millions of dollars and, they are just going to go make
missles and atomic bombs and ruin the earth more, right?
Pierre: Well, you’re talking about labels here...
Well, the major corporations
they own the labels. and then they’ll own all the stores and shut down
all the independent stores and all the independent record labels and zines
and they’ll just own the world right, and you’re just supporting them and
makiing them more money and more powerful, right?
Chuck: You got a point there.
Pierre: If you put it that way...
Chuck: Yeah if you put it that way, you’re looking at
a larger problem. You’re not looking at music, you’re looking at something
so much larger, you’re talking about the old capitalist system. We tried
something different in the U.S.S.R. and it didn’t work out. I’m not saying
that barbarian capitalism is the best way to do it because it’s totally
wrong and conservatism is totally wrong. We’re stuck in Canada right now,
you know on the west and in Ontario. Kline in Alberta and Harris in Ontario.
They are trying to achieve a total market society with no respect for poor
people and absolutely no social protection, that is totally wrong. But,
if you attack the entire system it’s a much larger issue we’re talking
about, it’s society’s choices. Of course, it has something to do with punk
bands signing to major labels but I’m not sure if it’s totally related
you know what I mean. I’m not sure if because Bad Religion is signing to
Atlantic that...
Pierre: More bombs are being made...
I don’t know, you’re still making
them millions of dollars and you’re still going to shut down the independent
stores. [The more power
corporations have, the less the independents have, which means the independents
will lose no matter what in the long run, and by making major labels millions
by signing to a major label is a bad idea if you want to make change (Because
they are going to use that money for their cause which is capitalism and
not to make this earth a better place for everyone) and in my mind punk
is about, making change and signing to a major label is definetly not doing
that. Sorry for the long rant. -Brian ed]
Pierre: If they still go to the independent stores, it
won’t shut down.
Chuck: It won’t shut down. There’s places for an alternative
economy system which is based on independent companies, record stores and
magazines. It’s upto the people to go and buy from there and support it.
If you don’t do it man, and if you just buy records from HMV...
Pierre: It’s normal that they will shut them down, because
everybody goes there, so...
Chuck: I know a guy in Montreal that owns Underworld
Records and is totally surviing and making lots of money and is totally
independent. It’s possible to remain true, independent and underground
as long as people in the scene support these kinds of shops and paper and
everything.
Pierre: The only way that it would get shut down if people
stopped going there...
Chuck: And also the bands have a role in there. That’s
why we support independent zines and always make sure our records are available
in independent stores first, that’s our first priority. Then if HMV wants
to pick it up... We released the album in independent stores two weeks
before the entire big stores. Two weeks of sales, that’s way good.
Pierre: It’s our way of helping out.
What punk zines have you guys
been reading lately that you think are really good and what interests you
to read these zines the most?
Chuck: I like Flipside alot, it’s a big zine and it’s
not as bad as it used to be.
Pierre: It’s about the only one I check out.
Chuck: MaximumRockNRoll is getting more into a joke,
day after day. If it’s not a Crass record or if it doesn’t sound shitty
they don’t like it. What the fucks up with that, you know. I think Flipside’s
probably the best around. That’s what we read usually. But, this one is
amazing. Agree To Disagree - we didn’t know...
Chuck: Yeah exactly, I think it’s cool that zines still
exist and are still around to help underground bands like us to help get
more exposure so it’s really cool. And, yeah get the CD.
And, girls write Chuck!
Chuck: That would be nice. Yeah you can write me, send
down some pictures. I could write you back...
