MN : I know this question had been asked a thousand times, but I want the readers to know about your band�s history, how it evolved. Why did you form Scarred For Life?
SFL : In a nutshell, Scarred For Life is the brainchild of a punk rocker out of Buena Park, Ca. Demian Cane. A true Filipino at heart, he was getting fed up with all of the poppy sounding, bullshit bands that all sounded like shit, and tried to convey messages, albeit half-assed, that were unable to express the angst of both the misunderstood new school adolescent, as well as the more seasoned / hardened old schooler. Unfortunately, that disease was spreading in the early 90�s over here in the states, and more specifically in the So. Cal. Scene. He pined for the harder edged music that he had grown fond of in the early 80�s, and sought out the assistance of ex-Pig Children founder and guitar player Clyde Abad. Demian�s intention was to take this new band and create a sound and feel that would have an impact similar to that of Lapu-Lapu taking out Ferdinand Magellan. After a few hit and misses w/ various musicians, the Scarred For Life line-up which is now considered the �original�, was completed in March of 1997. That line-up consisted of: Clyde Abad � guitar, Ray Gunn � vocals, Mike Robarge � bass, and Steve Stearns � drums. After playing one show, the band ran into some legal problems, and was forced to take a 4-month hiatus. The band resumed playing in Sept. of �97. In early �99 the band released it�s debut album �Born Work Die�. On July 18, 1999 Steve Stern played his last show, and was immediately replaced on the drums by the harder hitting �kid� Chrischarge.
MN : Would you classify your band as Political HC / Punk?
SFL : Well, if the definition of �political� is singing against the abuses of the establishment, and more specifically, your government, then yes and no. As for the HC/Punk, those categories encompass such a general type of music that range from straight-edge to crust. But for categorizations sake, we feel that we fall into the category of �all of the above�. We play w/ all alternative forms of ass kicking punk mother fucking rock, hardcore, crust, grind, noise�If it sounds good to us, it gets played and vice versa.
MN : Is it in the vein of Discharge? Varukers?
SFL : Whoa.. Those are awfully big shoes to fill. As for the comparisons to Discharge and the Varukers, we are more than flattered at the thought. Shit, who in their punk rock lifetime wouldn�t want to be one of the original in your face, straight to the point, scrape me off the floor when the set is finished, bands? Those are definitely two bands whom we have been into since time began, and the likeness abound. Only the listener can decide if we meet or, dare we, compare to that level of intensity.
MN : Why the name SFL? Is it being a punk, which will scar you for life, alter the way you think about society? A jarring experience that one would remember the rest of his/her life?
SFL : The name was a result of a lot of thinking. From the time that one is in the womb, the brain stores all of the information regarding its environmental condition. For example, if a mother uses heroin during pregnancy, the baby becomes addicted, though no choice of its own. The baby is essentially scarred for life. If I�m a punker walking down the street, minding my own business, and a car load of hippies jump out and try to beat the shit out of me, my brain stores the environmental condition that has been thrust upon me, and instinctively in a future situation, self-preservation kicks in. Again, because of the storing of our environmental condition, at any given time, our lives are predicated by the scarring that has occurred since before birth. Technically, we are all Scarred For Life.
MN : So would you think being a punk can really make a difference?
SFL : Being involved in a lifestyle that promotes positive thinking, and questions what is forcefully shoved down our throats by the establishment can make a difference. Until you start closing your mind by being so against everything, that you lose aim and purpose for questioning in the first place. We all must put ourselves in �check� so to speak. Make a difference? Yes, but one must remain focused and objective in one ways and means. �Open your eyes, Question your mind.�
MN : I know Clyde that you�re a Fil-Am & you were involved in the US Scene since the 80�s & mentioned that you haven�t had a chance to hook up w/ other Pinoys there that are really into punk. Can you tell me a bit of your involvement before Scarred For Life.
Clyde : Well first off, I was born and raised in California. My parents are from the Philippines. Living in So. Cal. There weren�t a whole hell lot of Filipino�s. Then, by being involved in what was perceived as a socially unacceptable lifestyle at that time, I just screwed my percentages up even more. Filipinos in the community were few and far between. Pinoy�s in the Punk Scene� ha ha ha forget it, even fewer and farther. In our high school, being generous, I would guesstimate that there were 20 Filipinos and 2 of us were punks. The fact that I found out that the Philippines has a scene still overwhelms me. I�m glad that it is thriving over there. My involvement before SFL? I�ve played in various bands : Pig Children, Assassins, Patriots Dead, original H.F.L. I also used to play in Bonecrusher, as a favor to a friend. My involvement includes: playing, promoting and supporting.
MN : So from your experience, was it hard having Pinoy roots since I know during that time it�s a white majority scene or had you any bad racial problems in gigs/shows etc.? Was it really an issue? Plus the old school & new school argument, is it a valid reason to divide the scene?
Clyde : It wasn�t a matter of having Pinoy roots, it was and still is a matter of people who are brought up learning to hate. Many people are afraid. Of what? I don�t know. But many close-minded people are just plain ignorant. I�ve been looked at like �Oh, here comes another one of those stupid fucking Asians.� Well, I know where I�m from, and I�m proud of it. To those trailer park mother fuckers who want to look down on me, all I can say is �My mother didn�t sleep with 8 guys in 7 nights, and I know who my daddy is. It�s not my fault that you don�t. My parents have been in the U.S. since before your fucking parents were born. Eat shit, redneck!� The people who are threatened of me, should be. As far I�m concerned there is only one race, and that�s the human race. I didn�t ask mother nature to make me a human, but I�m going to make the best of it while I�m here. As for the old/new school argument, it�s all punk rock� things change. We must grow with the scene, not because of it. We must not allow ourselves to be divided and conquered, not unlike the indigenous people of North America.
MN : Back to the band, what materials have you released?
SFL : We have a version of �Born Work Die� on a compilation titled �Viva La Vinyl Volume #3� released by Dead Beat Records, and we have a full length album titled �Born Work Die� on Know Records label. That is available in c.d. and vinyl formats. Plus a 7� EP also from the latter w/c was released before we went on tour in Europe last quarter of 2000.
MN : What are mostly the topics on your songs?
Ray Gunn : I�ve written about societies ills. I�ve have touched on a variety of issues including: the obvious but still relevant anti-State / anti-war propaganda, wasting in jail, and the hip �new� phenomenon here in ameriKKKa, Suicide By Cop.
SFL : Without sounding like a drug store, we have the music to cure what ails you. And we also offer candy for your ears, mind and soul. Something to think about, before you make your next purchase.
MN : Where can people get your stuffs?
SFL : You can mail order from the label by accessing the KNOW RECORDS website at www.knowrecords.com. Or snail mail them at Know Records, P.O. Box 90579 Long Beach, California, 90809 U.S.A. Distributors and punks, please take note: the Know Records label has a good catalog of a variety of music. Check it out. The owner is NOT a Capitalist Pig, and you will receive your ordered merchandise.
MN : Do you have MP3�s we can download?
SFL : Again, access the Know Records website www.knowrecords.com, click on Scarred For Life and go from there.
MN : Do you guys tour a lot? Europe, Canada, Mexico? Any chance of playing down here, in the Philippines, Southeast Asia?
SFL : Not yet. We�ve gone to No. Cal., and plan on going everywhere we can, if we can fit it into our hectic schedules. We all have day jobs still, because pan handling just doesn�t pay the rent, our put food in your stomach. Some of us go to school, and it doesn�t look good your transcripts to withdraw or be dropped from class because we went on tour. And some of us also have family obligations that must come before the self gratifying musician�s life style.
If everything is well planned, we would not rule out any venue that will allow us to play. Whether it be in Manila, Long Beach, London or Mutilated News� 10th anniversary and backyard BBQ, if we can be there, we will be. (They had a tour w/ Varukers early last year in the west coast & went on tour Western Europe last Sept. 2k � ed.)
MN : So how�s the scene like in your area? Lots of shows, zines, etc. I guess? Have you gotten into trouble w/ the police during your gigs, Nazi Boneheads, fights?
SFL : It�s hit and miss. Just when you think it�s picking up again, you go to a show and no one�s there, or they stay to see their friends band and then leave. It seems like many posers out there don�t go to see the bands, but just go to say they went. But when a big band like the Subhumans from the UK come over, all the posers and people wanting to fight come out to show ho stupid we could be. We end up fighting and the police come and shut it down, and we end up destroying the our scene all over again. On the other hand, you could go to an all ages show on the other side of town, see some good bands, have a good time, and come away feeling like the scene is alive and well. It�s hit and miss. We�re confident that it�ll get better, we�re hoping our music will help bring it back in full force. There are a lot of zines out there. Some good, some not so good, but the fact they exist is good.
MN : So, what�s your comment about the US being an International Cop, its foreign policy, intervening in 3rd World Countries (like the Philippines) internal affairs?
SFL : We feel that the U.S., in it�s struggle to remain a �world superpower�, meddles in places where it shouldn�t. The U.S. has trouble taking care of its own people, let alone trying to decide what is proper for another country to do. Recently, the U.S. paid reparations to Japanese/American citizens who were interred in the U.S. because of their potential to be spies. Soon after, the U.S. devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But did we inter German or Italian citizens during the same period. Fuck No! And der Fuhrer Adolph Hitler the King of Genocide was ravaging Europe. We exposed our troops to biological warfare in the Persian Gulf, but initially denied that any American was ever exposed. �Have you ever wondered why the air is poisoned, and why our earth is slowly collapsing? No, no, no, I don�t think you have�� We spend millions of dollars �protecting� other countries, and our literacy rate is on the decline. We have people who graduate high school who cannot even read, and yet it�s ok to use million dollar missiles to shoot down an Iraqi jet that is flying within the boundaries of Iraq but, because of the no-fly zone that the US policies, it�s perfectly all right in the name of Democracy. �Ano-ther Victim, Victim of A sense less war�� So the graduate ends up shooting dope, and burglarizing houses because he can�t read the application to get a job at McDonald�s. �Madmen continue their race for power, As the Police State strengthens every hour��
MN : Any last words? What can we expect from Scarred For Life in the near future?
SFL : Check out our album �Born Work Die�, we know you won�t be disappointed. We�re currently writing new material for a future release and playing wherever we can. We�d like to thank Noel Francia @ Mutilated News for his interest in our band, and for allowing the masses to know that there are Filipino�s in Punk, H.C. and Thrash bands outside of the Philippines. �UP THE PINOY PUNX!!!!�
interview by: Noel Francia
