1. Who plays what? Some history & discography, please. Who writes your lyrics and do you all stand behind them?

Joel: I'm Joel, the peoples drummer. Other members of the band need not be mentioned. I have heard rumors that we receive our lyrics via a deranged undisclosed party from a sanitarium.

Rodney: Bass.  Of course I have yet to write any but I agree with them all.

Frank: Frank and I do vocals.  There is also Chanel-guitar and Hopper-guitar, both of whom are off traveling around the world and are unable to partake in this interview. Chanel is probably somewhere in Eastern Europe and no one has any idea what kind of trouble Hopper might be in.

I've written all the lyrics so far and I don't live in an asylum.  We all read them before we use them in the band and there haven't been any that have been refused yet so I's say we all stand behind them.  I wasn't in the band when they all got together.  It was originally Rodney, Chanel and Saira and then they asked Joel.  Somehow I ended up singing.  Saira moved to Germany for a while and had two bands there: The Monica Lewinski Experience and Epidemia.  She now lives in Minneapolis.  We asked Hopper to fill in while she was gone, but as it appeared she wasn't coming back he became a full time member. Also, he supplies almost all the equipment besides the drums so we have to keep him around! So far we've released:

"No More Room In Hell" 9 song demo tape. Which later was also released as a split cassette with Mahogany from Brazil.

"Visions of Hell" 7" (Tribal War) This is a benefit for the Coalition to End Primate Experimentation and the Direct Action Defense Fund.

"The Uses Of HAARP" (Atrocious Release)

2. I noticed that ”Visions of Hell” was a benefit… Tell me a little about Direct Action Defense Fund and the Coalition to End Primate Experimentation – why did you choose to support these organisations?

R: C.E.P.E. was going around the U.S. protesting the different labs and needed help.

F: We didn't actually choose the groups it was to benefit.  Neil from Tribal War was helping with the Primate Freedom Tour and asked us to contribute a 7".  Of course the issue of animal rights is something we all believe in and practice, so we happily agreed Unfortunately the record didn't come out until after the tour, but money is always needed for groups like these that are outside the mainstream animal rights movement.  The Direct Action Defense Fund is exactly what it says it is. It helps those needing legal assistance for the results of direct action in the struggle for animal freedom.  I'm not sure what C.E.P.E. is up to now, but they were one of the main organizers of the 1999 Primate Freedom Tour.

J: By making a benefit record we are able to make a definite positive contribution to the fight against animal experimentation.  All tests conducted on animal for scientific and other research is fraud and unforgivable. It's one of the issues I support any way I can.  If people want to conduct violent tests, they should start on themselves.

3. In ”Weapons of Mass Distraction” you picture internet in a very negative light. Does any of you use internet and do you think there is potential to use it in our struggle, too (like the zapatistas have done)? If it was to be used for something constructional, how do you think avoiding its problems (addiction and the cause of passivity, for instance) could be done?

R: It could be used in our struggle by getting across info and news or you can use it like a TV and melt your mind.

J: I use the internet to contract and talk to people form other countries on an almost daily basis.  It's saving me time to write letters and helps me talk to those I might not ever met otherwise.  I agree technology is something we are becoming too dependant on and people need to learn how to turn off the computer and step outside again.  But I also know there is information and advantages to using the internet and technology. You just have to find a balance that works for you.

F:  Yes, I do use the internet. Mainly for e-mail but I also need to find things like Hawkwind discographys!  So it has it's uses but what ends of happening is people using it as an escape.  It becomes another screen to stare at.  There is so much information that it turns into more of aimlessly flipping through a magazine than absorbing knowledge from a book. There is nothing wrong with using it as a source of entertainment either.  I watch a select few things on television, mostly just X-Files, and enjoy a movie more often than  not.  But it's about addiction.  People who come home and automatically turn on the TV are the same people who are now turning on the computer to be absorbed into  a world of fake  identities and fake realities.  The way to avoid being sucked in is to actually think about your life!  Why is there a need to distract yourself and what can you do to change it?  The problem is that most people don't want to change anything about themselves or the world.  I also truly think that everything we write, access or buy over the internet is monitored by some group of people. Much the same way that every book you check out from a library and everything bought on your credit card is.

4. Tell me something about the scene in Portland – is there unity or is it diversed? Does alcohol play an important role? Good bands? Political activity? What would you like to change?

J: Portland actually has a very good scene nowadays, there are a large amount of punks from around the US moving here.  It's always been a diverse crowd and that can be a good thing for working together and interaction. Alcohol is good for socializing but doesn't help productivity or the scene in any positive way.  Here's some good bands from the Pacific Northwest: Remains of the Day, Harum-Scarum, Tragedy, Religious War... Too many to name.

R: Axiom, We Should Die, Deathcharge, British Steel, Yankee Wuss, Final Massakre, Wild Dogs, War Machine...

F: The Curse, Haggard, The Riffs, Aftermath...

J: Political activity is strong right now but not always organized, actually rarely by punks. Everything I want to change about our scene I am working on right now so I won't gripe.

R: There are some good places to play but a lot of places shut down.  We've got lots of bookstores, The Liberation Collective, Parks etc.

F:I was really surprised that there were so many places to play when I returned from a 6 week trip!  When I left there was one house that had shows very irregularly.  Now it seems like there are plenty of basement shows and a really cool art/warehouse space.  Hopefully these places will be respected.  I've only lived here for a little over 5 years, so I'm not sure how it compares to the past, but it seems to go in waves. There are always bands, not always places to play, and it's on/off for "scene unity".  People will always talk shit, it's the same all over.  I ignore it and take no part. Most bands have political lyrics in one aspect or another. There is a lot of political activity both within and outside the punk scene. Portland was once dubbed "Little Beruit" by then president George Bush on an ill fated trip here. I heard he couldn't even leave his hotel! Portland is the home of Nike and there is a group called Jobs With Justice that does a lot against them. Forest issues are a big deal up here as well, since Oregon/Washington are both being stripped of wooded areas and there is a continuous battle between activists and logging companies.  There seems to be a demonstration almost everyweek, almost as many as there are fucking marathons in this city! I don't drink and tend to be extremely uncomfortable in drinking situations. It usually results in trouble. I have no problem with people drinking, as long as they are responsible with it. Something that rarely happens. As for what I would change... A million things! Most of them are the same things that I would change about mainstream society: Sexism, homophobia, religion, big business, animal exploitation, racism... All these things exist in every sub culture just like they do in the outside culture. Something specific to punk would be support. I'd like to see more support of shows and bands and zines etc...

5. Your sound and the look of your covers is not very original – punk is said to be individualistic, but why do you think that so many bands sound so much the same? Why even use the same font over and over? Fashion? Do you think you have anything new to offer and does that matter?

Well, everyone is leaving this one up to me. Ok, I'm the one that has done the majority of cover/layout stuff so I guess I'm the one that needs to explain. No, the look of our covers isn't very original. I think it conveys the message to whatever it is quite clearly though.  I love the look of the CRASS font and continue to use it partially as a nod to the Japanese bands that did the same thing but also because it makes a good looking layout. I think.

Sure some of it is fashion.  Not because it is fashionable but because there is a specific look and sound that we are going for, not because it's cool or funny or will make somebody buy the record, but because it's what we like. I think bands sound the same because of what their influences were and sometimes what is hip at the time.

We try to sound like Gloom, Confuse, Kuro, Screaming Noise, Disclose... because we think they sound fucking cool! The lyrics we have differ from a lot of those bands though because that is what is individualistic. I write those lyrics because it's what I want to say, not what Conflict or Discharge said. I personally don't think that anyones music needs to be something new or different, I’d rather listen to another d-beat clone than what is considered groundbreaking punk nowadays. What we have to offer is the same that any political punk band has to offer, a message. That might sound cheesey, but no matter what we're singing about there is a point to it. Some of what we say has been said before and some hasn't, but there are still problems that need to be addressed. You've heard that kind of statement before I'm sure.

6. To continue the last question – is it important that DIY bands sound ”home-made” – that they have a raw sound etc. and then why is that? Why not try your best, to prove that you don’t need the big companies’ money (because we don’t!)?

R: It's important for DIY band to stay DIY!

F: Well, our sound is that way on purpose. We actually go out of our way to sound that shitty! That and only half the band know how to play! Sort of. I feel sort of bad for Toni, who records all our stuff, since she can produce stuff really well but we won't let her! Again, there is a specific sound we want: raw, distorted, chaotic thrash! It's important for a band to sound anyway they want and NOT to have to live up to big label standards. Fuck them! There are plenty of independent studios that can give a band a professional sound. I think Articles of Faith, Code of Honor, and 82 era Discharge sounded totally well recorded/produced.  Listen to Final Conflict "Ashes to Ashes"!  I think those albums could compete with any lame major label shit they pass off as punk. How professional do you want?! Who actually wants to fucking hear those new Metallica records!?

J: I don't think sound quality is too important to a punk band unless you are trying to sound a certain way. I would have to say a good live sound and recordings are enjoyable for listening, but I don't htink there is anything to prove to big music labels, fuck them, who cares?  Most bands I've seen have more talent than any pop/commercial band ever would (even if most of them actually wrote their own songs and produced them, not buying songs from a songwriter or paying a good sound guy to produce your recordings!!!)

7. What do you think of cannabis – should it be legalized? Should other drugs also be legalized  (if no, then why are there some drugs than should be and some that shouldn’t be legalized?)?

J: Legalize it. Move on to more important issues. I don't use drugs or condone them.

R: I think highly of it, but some don't.  Yes, it should be legalized. It's not for everyone but you shouldn't be afraid to smoke it!

F: Conspiracy!! Of course! All drugs should be legalized and you know the reason they aren't is because every government in the world is making a killing off them. Not to mention all the good that comes from having everyone addicted and too wrapped up in it to do anything else. Then there are all the pharmaceutical companies, the lumber companies, the companies that make shirts with aliens saying, "take me to your dealer"...  I don't use drugs but firmly believe that they all should be legal. I think that people should be able to come up with there own conclusions about what is right for them and if there is a problem there is no way any law can fix it.

8. Your lyrics are quite short and to-the-point – do you think a few lines really are enough to tell something useful in a political sense? And it’s quite impossible to make anything out of what the singer sings – as you’ve got quite a lot to say, why not say it so that people can hear it (and do not need to take the time to read it – or is that the point?)?

R: When your song is only 45 seconds you're not going to have a lot of lyrics so you have to make it to the point.

F: "not need to take the time to read it"?!  People need to spend way more time reading than listening to punk records. I hadn't thought of it before, but sure, that is the point. No, as Rodney said, the lyrics are short because the songs are short. To get the ideas across better we always include further explanations of the songs on the lyric sheets. We also talk about the songs at shows and have lyric sheet available. Some people just don't care and there isn't really anything you can do if they aren't interested. Luckily there are a lot of people that are interested and will actually talk about the songs or at least think about it.  I actually do think that concise lyrics do hit the point rather well and will often inspire thought as to what they might mean. "The savage mutilation of the human race is set on course. It's up to us to change the course-protest and survive..." Problem, solution and course of action!

9. What do you think of pornography – against or not? Do you think it is possible to divide porno into erotica (non-exploitative) and pornography (exploitative), and where would the line between the two go?

F: I have absolutely no interest in porn (exploitive and disgusting) or erotica (just plain silly). I'm more against the idea of pornography than the actual existence of it.  Banning or destroying it won't solve anything, though it might be kind of funny. This is something that needs to be looked at as a "why is there a need for this" kind of situation. We have friends that work/worked in the sex industry and all of them would rather be doing something else if it wasn't for the money. Sure, there is a difference between the two, but all too often erotica is used as an excuse to ogle naked bodies. I have no idea where to draw a line. You would probably have to take it on a case by case basis. Also need to realize that a lot of the laws against stripping, prostitution and pornography are direct attacks in the war on women and their ability to make a living in a culture that continues to down play them. True, men are involved in these as well, but on a much smaller scale.

R: Not into it but not against it. Yes it can be divided but I don't know where.

J: I think there is a very distinctive line between porn and erotica, erotica having more artistic and sensual aspect, porn is just blatant fucking. I don't think it's a problem, people can make their own choices on what they like and don't. I won't stand on any moral high ground.

10. What do you think of thefth?

R: Wrong one on one but at work or big corporations it's ok.

F: Steal as much as fucking possible from everyone that deserves it! I wish I still had the courage to steal as much as I used to. I don't steal from my current job since it's a nice independent vegetarian restaurant that doesn't need any trouble. But at past jobs it was open season. I was fired from the Goodwill (a huge chain thrift store that is definitely not non-profit) for embezzlement. HA! I even stole my entire stock of Y2K emergency food from the college cafeteria I worked at. I'm still eating it!

J: That definitely depends on the circumstances.  Stealing from corporate businesses and dumpstering is fine, but stealing from individuals and locally owned businesses is fucked up. I would only steal from an individual who I knew was a rich apathetic asshole.

11. Why do you think it is that smoking is such a small issue in punk lyrics – I mean, the smoking industry involves oppression, exploitation and pollution on all levels! Do you smoke?

R: I'm the only one that smokes and yes it is hypocritical cause it goes against all the issues. But what can I say?  It's stupid.

J: I don't smoke and I can't stand being around smoke. I think smoking is pretty hypocritical if you ban major corporations, but rolling your own seems ok. I don't actually have a problem with people smoking, just what it stands for and the fact it stinks and is killing me along with them.  Fuck smoking.

F: There is a law in Oregon that is trying to get passed that would prohibit smoking in any public area.  While I won't vote for it I will laugh my fucking ass off if it passes!  I hate being around smokers and the fact that they have absolutely no respect for the people around them or the lives of the people effected by the money involved in the growing of it, or the animals that have died because of it. But I guess that means I don't respect their right to smoke. Duh! No one addresses it because too many punks smoke. We don't have a song because it would be silly since one of us smokes. Cheers to Doom for their effort. It's really something people need to think about.

12. On the cover I found two headline-clips covering Y2K – the famous millenium bug. Do you think it was all a con by companies ’securing’ computers and other machines from a fairy tale-bug to make a lot of money out of it? I mean, nothing at all happened. Oh, and by the way, how did you spend New Year’s Eve, heh?

R: I was following up on it for a long time and everything pointed to some major fuck ups.  I was shocked nothing happened. I spent the night watching CNN and listening to Art Bell.

J: I think it could have been a problem but it certainly did generate a lot of revenue in the states, with people buying supplies and whatnot. I know a lot of people that were expecting Armageddon. Me and Rodney worked that night at our pizza place and watched a New Years eve wrestling show. I sat on my roof to watch all the sirens and police cars go by.

F:  I worked until about 8 o'clock and listened to reports from the first places to turn over. By the time I got off work I was pretty sure nothing was going to happen. I was prepared though. I really thought a lot of shit was going to go down. Seattle cancelled their New Years eve party, ha ha. Still, I listened to Art Bell (a talk radio host who deals with conspiracy/speculative history/fringe weird type stuff) and watched the New York and Portland things on TV, just in case.  Walked outside to listen to the automatic weapon fire around my neighborhood, but it wasn't from the New World Order. I think I watched Blade Runner after that and read a little before going to sleep. Then I got ready for the polar shift of May 5th. That didn't happen either. I think that most of the corporate cashing in was last minute, otherwise they would have started earlier. The headlines were actually referring more to the scare tactics used by the media/government to frighten people into wanting more laws, more cops and more razor wire.  As I said, I actually thought it would come crashing down, but also realized it was another Red Scare.

13. What do you think of ”green capitalism” – companies who try to make a buck on ecological products. Is it a small step towards something better or is it as bad as the rest? Isn’t it a bit similar to fashion-vegetarianism in a way?

J: It's bound to happen, there will always be people trying to make money off of whatever they can. I'm glad at least that companies are making a few products that aren't destroying our ecosystem rather than ignoring that they could make a few earth friendly products. It's a step in the right direction but also afew steps back.

F: It's better than nothing and hopefully people will stick with after the trend goes away. Whether it's fashion vegetarianism or fashionable eco-friendly products it's a good thing for a while. Unless there is some major meat reveling and evironment destroying backlash that comes afterwards. I try as hard as possible to not support major companies anyway, so even if they do make something eco-safe I won't fucking buy it. There are plenty of small companies that make good healthy products. The only problem is that they tend to be quite expensive. Fuck corporations like McDonalds that offer veggie burgers!

14. I’ve never heard the topic of ”Bastards” covered before – is it normal that crusties bring their dogs to shows over there? Or is it more an attempt at ”making up” some new, original topic? Is there any idea in singing the same things over and over?

R: Yes some people bring dogs to shows and a lot of them don't know that it hurts their ears so we have a song about it.

J: It's been a problem in Portland for a long time. If people want dogs to accompany them places I don't care. I like dogs and animals, but bringing a poor dog who already has amplified hearing to a loud punk show is going ot hurt their ears and scare them. Don't bring dogs to shows.

F: It's as much of a problem as anywhere else. People need to lose the "cool" fashion of hauling a dog with you everywhere you go no matter what type of situation it is. I've heard people say things like,"If it wanted to leave it would."  Not exactly since it might be to freaked out by all the noise and shuffling people to leave and also since it's your "loyal companion"  it might not see that as an option. It isn't an attempt to cover any uncharted lyrical ground, just a song about something we think is fucked up. I've seen fliers that have specifically said "no dogs inside show" on them. That's definately fucking cool.

15. Where do you stand when it comes to violence – are you pacifists or do you think violence is okay (and if yes, under what circumstances is it then okay?)?

J: I don't like violence and I'm not a violent person (to anyone else anyway) but I know the world is full of violent things and people. I think sooner or later you will have to fight in some way, shape or form. Just don't lose your head and hurt somebody.

R: Of course it is ok to fight back if need be.

F:  The only time violence is an accepted solution is as defense. I haven't been involved in a fight for a long time, but it has always been in defense of myself or someone else.  Of course that could mean the defense of a lot of things, but definately not ego or pride and sometimes I suppose attack is the best form of defense. Hmmm... It will be a great day when no one needs to ask this question.  The best handeling of violence in a peaceful society is described in "The Dispossessed" by Ursula K. Leguin.  Everyone should read this book.

16. Have you had any trouble with police brutality? Any experiences you could share with us? How do you fight this problem and is it a big problem in the USA?

J:  It's not as bad as examples of police brutatlity in China or South America, but the police can be very violent and aggressive here. And who are they going to believe, some kids or police when they get beaten and arrested? It's been a problem and continues to be. My friends and I got handcuffed and thrown over a police car in Eugene four years ago for "matching the description" of some thieves in the area. I think the only thing we were doing was being out past curfew (if you are under 16 in Oregon you can't be out after midnight without a parent or guardian.

F: Actaully that has been changed to 10:30 and there is a youth group doing a lot to fight this.

R: In Portland ther is a new police cheif from Los Angleles. We have always had our share. On May Day there was a parade/protest adn the new guy got out of hand using all these tactics that were out of place for what was going on. It was handled pretty well in the news and a lot of people were pretty angry.

F: This new Police Cheif was the head of one of the anti riot units used to subdue the riots in LA after the cops who beat Rodney King got let off. And LA is known for having a very brutal descriminatory police force. I 've never been beaten by the cops, just harrassed a lot. The fact that there is police brutality is a problem! It's everywhere and I think we all agree that the police are fucked. There has been a lot of public outcry recently because of the show of force during the WTO and May Day protests. But the cops always look after their own and I doubt if any real punishments or justice will be seen because of it.  The only solution is the complete abolition of police. That would take a drastic change in society in general though. We're doomed.

17. What do you think of multinationals and do you think boycotts help? How do you respond to people who says that it’s better that children are working than on the street (when it comes to, for instance, Nike (who uses child labor))?

R: Protests and Boycotts help bring out the info so people can be shown another side that is not widely known.

J: I despise multinationals and think that boycotts are effective in damaging the stock of a comapny. People will lose faith in a comapny if it has accusations made against it (look at Bill Gates and Microsoft).  If anyone makes a notion like it's better to work in a sweatshop than on the streets, I'll tell them I'll send their kids right on over to work for Nike in the third world.

F: Boycotts definitely help.  Whether it is for specific reasons, like Procter and Gamble or Gillete testing on animals, or just because a company is too fucking big and doesn't deserve your money. It definitely raises awareness to the many atrocities these companies commit in the name of profit and hopefully people will refuse to support them. I don't think anything will change over night, but the more people think and begin to take into account what they are supporting the better things will be. People were very excited at the $3,000,000 (I think that's right) worth of damage done during the WTO rallies, but that is nothing to those companies. It is quite funny though and definitely sends a message.

 People who work in multinational sweatshops do so because these companies come and create an economy that people have to live with.  They bring in shit they don't need as well as the things they do need.  In order to get these you have to work in the only place there is. It's sick fucking shit and the only people who would say that are the ones who never see and never have to deal with a situation like that.

 18. Anything else to say? Do you get many interviews and what did you think of this one (constructive criticism, please – not just ”this one was good”!!)?

 F: Of course, thanks a lot for the interview. Excellent, thought inducing questions that covered a lot of ground. It seemed a bit confrontational at first, but that is definitley a good thing. We've gotten a few others and they've been good so far. Nothing like "Do you skate?" or "What's your favorite beer?", luckily. Everyone is encouraged to write to us and inquire about lyrics, music etc...

News

Released Flagburners

Articles / interviews

Reviews

History

About Me

Decay of a Civilization

Links

Ordering info

Contact