by Prawker El Punko For "Thought
Is A Crime" Web-Zine
All photos by Michelle @ Sprout
Photography
WHAT'S YOUR NAME, HOW OLD ARE YOU, AND WHAT DO YOU DO FOR THE
BAND?
Daryn Franco: 29, guitar
Jeff Franco: 21, bass
Hank Franco: 27, drums
Ricky Franco: 30, vocals (not present)
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE MUSIC THE FRANCOPHOBES PLAY?
DARYN: I just don't know... am I being marked for this?
JEFF: Fast, tricky, punk rock... it kinda catches you off guard.
HANK: It's a meaty, beefy, new school punk rock event.
HOW AND WHEN DID THE BAND FORM?
JEFF: Spring 1997- Daryn and I met through a news paper ad I put out.
When the dating thing didn't work out, we started a band instead.
WHERE DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME FRANCOPHOBES? ARE YOU REALLY?
JEFF: I thought it up and it's just a joke. At the time it was symbolic
of how alota Canadians viewed Quebecers following that silly separatist
referendum thingy a while back.
DARYN: Politics has no place in our music.
HANK: Do you know any hot French chicks?
NO SORRY… WHAT LABEL ARE YOU GUYS ON?
ALL> Spawner Records.
HOW DID YOU HOOK UP WITH THEM?
JEFF: Through a show we played with Wisecrack. Kyle, Wisecrack's bass
player, owns Spawner Records.
HOW MANY ALBUMS HAVE YOU RELEASED AND WHAT ARE THEIR NAMES?
JEFF: We put out Fifty Reasons To Fear The Francos, a 7 song tape.
HANK: We did a split for a tour we did with Fuzz 58... we only have 4
songs on it.
DARYN: We have two songs on Flaming Cow Disease, an 18 band Spawner
Comp
CD.
TOTAL NUMBER OF BAND TATTOOS.
DARYN: I have a devil girl on one shoulder and an angel girl on the
other... it's a really big chest piece, but it only counts as one
tattoo
I guess.
HANK: What's a tattoo?
JEFF: I must be a hippy cause I got a seal on my arm and this other
thing on my other arm that people say are two dolphins... peace man.
Ricky has like 458 tattoos.
WHO SHOWERS THE LEAST ON TOUR?
DARYN: Henry.
HANK: Me.
JEFF: Henry. ...I think you should have asked who masterbated the most.
I'LL BE SURE TO ADD THAT QUESTION… HOW HAS PUNK MUSIC/LIFESTYLE
INFLUENCED THE BAND OR CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
DARYN: It turned me into a slacker and dammit, I'm thankful for that.
HANK: It made me love my mother and enabled me to communicate with
animals better.
JEFF: I'm still waiting for the fame and that big cash payout.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE STRAIGHT EDGE/VEGAN KIDS?
DARYN: Way to go! ...it's not up to me judge other's lifestyles.
HANK: I love meat and beer ...and meat.
JEFF: Needs more salt... pass the hippy stew.
BASED ON YOUR TOURING, WHAT ARE SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADIAN
SHOWS AND AMERICAN SHOWS?
DARYN: Canadian kids have seen so much that they're bored and don't
have
fun anymore.
HANK: Canadian kids throw more stuff at you.
JEFF: Uh, The Francophobes have never played in the States... but based
on our touring I'd have to say I hate all Americans and look forward to
blowing up America.
EXPECT SOME DEATH THREATS FOR THAT LAST COMMENT. WHAT'S THE
FUNNIEST
THING THAT HAS EVER BEEN DONE TO A BAND MEMBER WHILE THEY SLEPT?
DARYN: No incidences so far.
HANK: I beat the shit outta Daryn while he slept... it was real funny.
JEFF: I opened the van door at 160 km/h and dragged Daryn's face along
the road. It was pretty hilarious.
WHAT ARE SOME COOL BANDS YOU HAVE MET?
DARYN: Tre Allegra Regazzi Morti (Three Happy Dead Kids). They're from
Italy.
HANK: The Livids, Choke, Diesel Boy.
JEFF: I liked the guys from Layaway Plan and Downway. We played a
couple
shows with them in the prairies.
BANDS YOU GUYS LISTEN TO?
DARYN: Everything from Radio Pop Rock to Crust Punk to Fred Penner
...but I hate Aerosmith.
HANK: The Buzzcocks, Crucifix, Strung Out, The Police.
JEFF: I like a lot of hardcore bands like Integrity and Nasum, but
lately I only listen to Choke.
AEROSMITH RULE (sarcastic voice) WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE NHL TEAMS?
DARYN: The bandwagon is constantly changing, but the Red Wings will
always rule as long as Yzerman is playing.
HANK: Habs, Islanders.
JEFF: I'm a die hard Canucks fan... I used to love the Chicago in the
Steve Larmer days... before Roenick came along. Steve Larmer was the
NHL's iron man for quite some time, over 600 games without missing
one.
WHAT ZINES DO YOU READ?
DARYN: Terminal City, Exclaim, Hustler, Maximum Rock and Roll,
Juxtapose, and Maxim.
HANK: Terminal City, The Discorder.
JEFF: I'm starting my own.
LET ME KNOW WHEN IT'S ON IT'S FEET. I'LL CHECK IT OUT! SO WHAT KIND
OF MUSIC EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE?
DARYN: I use Marshall cabs, Randall/Mesa Boogie electronics and ESP
guitars.
HANK: I play only Ayotte drums.
JEFF: Whatever's not in the pawn shop... SWR bass head, Fender/Ibanez
basses.
SO WHAT ARE THE FUTURE PLANS FOR FRANCOPHOBES?
DARYN: I'm gonna use the band as a tax write off.
HANK: Rock till we drop! Come on! YEOW!
JEFF: We're currently writing tons of songs and turning down every show
(as rudely as possible) that gets offered to us.
ANY NEW RELEASES TO LOOK FORWARD TO?
DARYN: Ya, all of them.
JEFF: We're gonna have 6 songs on Homeless In BC 2... a five band split
CD with The Livids, Fuzz 58, Tim and Hightest. And a few various comps.
WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE IT RELEASED?
JEFF: I'd say within a month, but I've been saying that for at least 6
months now.
HANK: Soon.
CAN YOU HOOK US UP WITH FREE SHIT?
JEFF: We give away alot of stuff, but you have to send a big S.A.S.E.
to: (with at least 4$ of stamps)
Francophobes Free Stuff
1358 E 61 ave.
Vancouver BC
Canada V5X 2C7
RAD.. WHEN IS YOUR NEXT TOUR GOING TO BE AND WHERE?
ALL> No clue
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF "THOUGHT IS A CRIME" WEBZINE?
HANK: Never heard of ya.
DARYN: Not enough naked chicks.
ANY LAST THOUGHTS OR QUOTES?
DARYN: When you take that bus... dammit, you get there.
HANK: A steak a day is the only thing preventing me from killing you
all.
JEFF: Check out our website:
https://www.angelfire.com/ak/francophobes
FRANCOPHOBES
1358 E61 Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5X 2C7
CANADA
Email Francophobes
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Francophobes