An interview with Craig Fairbaugh, guitar player and founding member of California’s The Forgotten done in December of 2000 a week after they finished The Unity Tour in Europe with Agnostic Front, Ignite and Shutdown
SHZ:First off, I wanted to ask about the Unity Tour...How did it goand did you accomplish what you hoped to? Craig: The unity tour went really well for us, we got to play a lot of countries
and cities we hadn't played before. We didn't know what to expect cos there
were mostly hardcore bands on the bill, but the tour was still a huge
success. The crowds were really good to us in every country we played. We
definitely got to accomplish all that we hoped to, we played our hearts out
in front of a packed house every night!
SHZ: In Europe this time around were people more familar with you and your music and how were you received? Craig: Well, the last time we were in Europe we played mostly in the east, (
Germany, Poland, Czech, Austria, Belgium, and Switzerland). But this time we
went just about everywhere ( England, Holland, Belgium, France, Spain,
Portugal, Italy, Austria, and Germany). I was surprised that people knew of
us in the places we hadn't played, that was cool. The places that we had hit
already were great, lots more people singing the words and stuff like that.
We were recieved really well just about everywhere we went, especially the
larger cities. A punk in England even had a tattoo of the bird from our first
record cover! The only show that sucked was in some bumfuck town in France.
We had to play at 7:30 on a tuesday night so no one was there.
SHZ: What was the funniest thing that happened to you guys on this tour? Craig: This one's rough, a lot of funny shit happened. Getting our bus driver
fired was really funny, he freaked out. He pulled a knife and everything. It
was funny though cos he was such a pussy and everyone was just laughing at
him. He didn't know he was fired and we wouldn't let him back on his bus.
Also we got the cops called on us in Germany at a gas station. It was after
the show and we were all really wasted and being obnoxoius, Gordy threw me
over a table and the Gas station guy flipped. The cops came and did nothing.
One night there was trouble with Nazis and our tour manager ( 6' 9'' 350lbs.)
leveled ten people in like two minutes. He got backstage and was laughing.
All he could say was " they're so slow!" Something that really wasn't funny;
our merchandise guy ( god bless his crazy heart) couldn't keep his
uncircumsized member in his pants. It looked like a burnt carrot with a piece
of chewing gum stuck to the end!. I think he whipped it out every night after
he drank a bottle of wodka. Everyone was scared. Oh yeah, everyone that
passed out was given a Hitler moustache and swastika tattoo's with a sharpie
marker. Fairly standard tour mishief.
SHZ: What country did you like the most? Craig:Personally, I liked Holland, and not just cos of the weed. The clubs are
all funded by the government and are fucking massive and crazy looking. I
think the rest of the band would say Germany, they have the biggest punk
scene there.
SHZ: Did you guys get to “discover” any more or less unknown European bands while you were there? Craig:Actually yes. A band called DISCIPLINE was on tour with us and they were
fucking great. One of the best bands I've heard in a while. They're a skin
band from Holland and they sound like Rose Tattoo and Social D if they
started an Oi! band. Just good tough rock n roll. They are on ISCREAM!
records and their full length is called " Love thy neighbor." They also have
an EP called "Hooligan's Heaven." Check them out.
SHZ: Now that you’ve travelled the World a couple of times, you should be qualified to answer this...What is the World’s best album, tattoo artist, beer and book? Craig:It's hard to pick one favorite but here goes; The worlds best album is
still Stiff Little Fingers- Inflammable Material. You can't beat it, great
songs with high energy. The worlds best beer is definitely in Germany. I
can't name one cos every town brews their own beer, and it's strong. The
worlds best tattoo artist is Scott Sylvia, the guy is just a master a
tattooing. Everything he touches is brilliant. Best movie? I'm going for a
new one, and people may think I'm nuts....but for pure entertainment I like
Fight Club. That guy is the epitome of anarchy and rebellion in the twentieth
and twenty first century. He blew up credit card buildings to start a
revolution...brilliant. The worlds best book is Willian Cooper's "Behold A
Pale Horse." I'm not going to say anything about it, I just hope I don't get
shot for spreading the word about this amazing and scary book. This book will
change your life forever. Don't buy it with a credit card.
SHZ: Now that you guys are back home in the States, will you be taking a break from shows for a while or do you have anything planned? Craig:We had a weekend booked in LA for when we got back but it fell through.
We'll be playing shows again in January and touring the states in February
and March. We plan on touring non stop or as much as possible for the next
two years. We also will be back to Europe in April.
SHZ: If there is anyone out there who are not familar with The Forgotten, how would you describe yourselvees? Craig: I would describe us as a high energy traditional punk band. Our sound is
always evolving so it's hard to put one label on to it. Our first record is
more rock and roll 77 style punk, while our latest effort is more GBH style
punk.
SHZ: So do you guys listen to your own music? Craig: Of course, I probably listen to our records more than anyone else. It helps
me figure out what I liked and disliked so that we can put out a better
record the next time. I never listen to them for enjoyment or put them on at
a party or something.
SHZ: What bands are you into right now? Craig: Right now I really like THE DEVOTCHKAS (NYC) and ADOLF AND THE PISS
ARTISTS (Atlanta). I'm also listening to Social D's "Prison Bound" alot. THE
ADOLESCENTS, CLASH's London Calling, GBH, and Johnny Cash are always on my
record player too. Oh yeah, and THE REZILLOS from Scotland. Great punk band
from the late seventies.
SHZ: Do you guys have anything in the works right now recording wise? Craig: We recorded a 8 song EP for KNOCKOUT records that will be out in March.
They put out OXYMORON's records so it should be easy to find in the states.
Also CORETEX records from Berlin is putting out a CD of all of our rare vinyl
and comp tracks. That should be out in March as well.
SHZ: What is the best way for people to buy your stuff? Craig: I think chain record stores carry some TKO bands now, so if they don't
have it, they can order it. It's not the best way but definitely the easiest.
The best way to get our record is to find a local indie record store. If your
town doesn't have that I would go online to Mordam Records or any online
store.
SHZ: You guys have had a lot of success; good records, great tours and loyal fans...What goals remain for you guys and what is in store for The Forgotten? Craig: We just want to keep touring and putting out records, maybe be able to
pay our rent for once. That's it.
SHZ: Personally, what is your favorite Forgotten song and why? Craig: My favorite song right now is a new song that is going to be on the
KNOCKOUT EP. It's called Conflict and it's about America playing policeman
for the world. We sell countries guns and then try to stop them from
fighting, it's horseshit. We've got bigger problems that need to be dealt
with. Instead, politicians are fighting these media wars on CNN so their poll
ratings will stay up and they'll be re-elected. American politics are a joke
and this election is testament to that.
SHZ: What one thing or person brought you into the punk rock scene? Craig: My friend Shea, our original drummer, is completely responsible for
bringing me to the punk scene. I was always looking for something that I
could relate to and punk rock was it. He took me to Gilman Street where I got
to witness the birth of bands like AFI and the SWINGIN UTTERS. These bands
screamed about the lunacy of society and it just clicked. The most pivotal
records for me were Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material and THE CLASH
- The Clash. Once I found those records I was a lifer, there was no turning
back.
SHZ: Lastly, what do you think that it is gonna take for punk music and punk rockers to survive in the coming years? Craig: We've got to stop the violence at shows, it's what killed the punk scene
in the early eighties. Violence is a part of punk rock and it always will be,
but we need to keep the fights outside of the clubs and bars. Without venues
there are no places for bands to play. There was a stabbing at a show in SF
recently and it marred the already bad reputation that punk bands get. People
just need to go across the street and beat the snot of each other, there is
always a well lit parking lot to fight in instead of the club. Also, we need
big bands like RANCID to attract new people into the scene. Otherwise a lot
of the old punks get jaded and give up. Punk dies without new blood.