Interview with an insane Bad Religion record collector

Posted on 3:33 AM by Rune | 3 comments






Alright, thousands delays later and the interview got posted. 
After a few interviews that was hardcore related one way or another, I've come to terms with a new approach which my last interview gave a taste of. I am aiming to have more focus on collecting records (preferably hardcore), not gonna exclude a potential good interview if the guy or girl collects something similar to hardcore. Isn't that hardcore-mentality right there? - everybody's all right. 
This interview is with a mildly addicted record collector from Richmond, Virginia. 25 year old Robert Cheeseman is probably a man you don't wanna battle with on Ebay over the first pressing of the Bad Religion self titled 7"! .....Just sayin'.... I talked to Robert about collecting wax, being obsessed with completing collections and the hunt we all thrive under; shooting white whales.

Robert, introduce yourself - who are you and why do you collect records?
Hey Rune! My name is Robert and I'm from Richmond, Virginia. I grew up in Northern Virginia (Washington DC suburbs) and finally made the move down to Richmond late last year after spending the last two years of my life out on the west coast in Los Angeles. 
The reason I collect records is a pretty multifaceted answer so I'll try to keep it as simple as possible! I've been collecting stuff since I was a kid and most of the members of my family have some sort of collecting hobby. When I was younger I was all about Star Wars related stuff; books, action figures etc. Then sometime in early High School I bought my first record (Bad Religion - Atomic Garden 7") and I was so stoked on it that I just became this fiend for Bad Religion records... Originally I had no intention of ever collecting other bands or to move strictly to purchasing vinyl, but here I am some 10-11 years later and I've got a pretty healthy collection going that's always expanding!


What do you do for a living?
I am a freelance recording engineer. I own my own studio and record bands... Nothing too crazy yet as I just started to get things up and running within the last year but that's what I do.

Tell about your passion for Bad Religion and your collection
Bad Religion were without a doubt the band that got me into punk rock. When I was in 3rd grade (around '94) a friend's older brother was getting way into punk rock, probably with the whole explosion i 94 with Dookie being released and everything. I remember being at his house hanging out and then his brother played Bad Religion - Suffer CD - I was instantly hooked. I was 9 at the time so I wasn't necessarily allowed to be listening to some record with a kid on fire on the cover, so I just borrowed the CD from him for like a year probably and listened to it non-stop. It was the first CD I ever got and to this day it's still my favorite record. 
As for my actual collection, I guess it was in middle school (late 90s) I started buying Bad Religion singles/bootlegs CDs off of Ebay because they weren't something you could find online and certainly not in any local record store in Virginia, so I had a pretty extensive (probably around 35-45 CDs) collection before I even started collecting vinyls. Then I found that Atomic Garden 7" at a local record store in Woodbridge called Hi-Fidelity and from that moment I got into collecting records. That was probably around 2000 or 2001 so it's been at least 10 years of collecting. I've never really tried too hard to collect things, a lot of it was pretty easy to come by early on - just me buying stuff off of Ebay before it got really popular. Now it's more of a few "white whales" as they're called that's eluding my grip... and test presses! I've got a few but would love to own more.

What are the thrills in record collecting for you?
I'm a pretty big fan of just going to stores and sifting through piles and rows of records in hopes of finding one or two gems in a massive unorganized mess. Plus it's just aesthetically pleasing to be able to hold a big record with big artwork, and to have this great sounding item that isn't just some crap looking CD.


Do you believe you'll ever finish your collection? In other words, isn't that 1st press if their first 7" getting a bit annoying?
Realistically I'd like to hope that one day I could complete my Bad Religion collection. My most complete collection is my Latterman collection, of which I'm only missing a test press of their split with Nakatomi Plaza, so I'm pretty proud of that. I'm 99.9% sure I have one of the most complete Bad Religion discographies ever assembled though, so that's an accomplishment that I'm also pretty proud of. I don't know if I'll ever find a copy of that Bad Religion EP in its first pressing. I still have yet to actually see a physical copy and I'm sure so many of them got lost or forgotten about over the years by kids who were punks in L.A. in the early 80s but moved on in their later years. I've even heard that people like Brett Gurewitz doesn't even own a copy of it anymore. If I'll get the opportunity to ever get a hold one a copy I will absolutely go for it. 


Which Bad Religion records are you currently looking for?
For now, other than test pressings, I know that I am missing the following:

  • Bad Religion - S/t 7" Black vinyl (First press /500) Epitaph Rec.
  • Bad Religion - Generator Demos 7" Light blue labels
  • Bad Religion - 80-85 Black vinyl Epitaph**
  • Bad Religion - The Grey Race LP Black vinyl Dragnet Rec.**
  • Bad Religion - Recipe For Hate LP Black vinyl (Brazilian press on Paradox)
The two with ** next to them are unconfirmed as to whether they exist or not. I've never actually seen a copy of either in person or online, but have heard numerous accounts that they exist. Both 80-85 in CD form (as in, a 12" LP that has the boots cover) and then The Grey Race on black vinyl... supposedly this was seen on Ebay in 2000 or 2001 in Germany and sold for a ton because both the US and Euro pressings are all on light-ish grey vinyl, but this was apparently distinctly black... maybe it was a test press, I don't know. I've seen the Brazilian pressing of Recipe For Hate a few times, I've just missed it every time. 


Bad Religion 7"'s 1/2
Tell about some of the most expensive records you've bought and how much you dropped.
The most expensive record I've bought was my 2nd press of Bad Religion's self titled 7" EP out of 1500. I paid $218 for it around 2003 which was normal for then and almost every copy since then goes for somewhere between $300-400, so I got a good deal on it. Other than that, the most money I've spent has probably been on test pressings and also a few other rare Bad Religion singles. Most notably my 21st Century Digital Boy 12" single with just the plain promo sleeve and my first copy of the Tested 2LP. Those were both somewhere around $100 a piece I believe.


How many collections do you have going at the moment?
I've got quite a few collections going currently, but most of them are in the final laps of being complete so I'm not buying records for them too often. I'm basically down to the really rare/hard to find pieces of each collection. Off the top of my head I've got collections for: Avail, Bouncing Souls, Latterman, Energy, Permanent, Propagandhi, Worn Thin, Faded Grey, Smoke Or Fire, Police & Thieves, Strike Anywhere and The Frontline. Obviously a lot of Virginia/D.C. influences as those were the bands I grew up loving in my local area.


Bad Religion 7"'s 2/2
If you were to start a new band collection, which band would it most likely be?
I've always wanted to get more into some hardcore record collections, but they are so expensive just to even start! I'd love to have a Battery collection as well as bands like The First Step or Turning Point, and it would be awesome to have a Count Me Out collection as well. I'd also like to get some solid collections going for other Fat Wreck bands and all the early Epitaph bands I grew up on.


What are your thoughts about all the online tools for collectors, such as message boards (Vinylcollective, Deadformat, How's Your Edge, etc.) and the fact that more and more labels do pre-orders. I'm guessing all these are big helpers in a collector's search for rare records, or get the records before they become rare. How many of the hard oneshave you gotten using these tools? Any good stories?
Message boards and sites like Deadformat and How's Your Edge are great tools for people who collect records without a doubt. I've been able to score some great records off of boards, both vinyl related boards and other punk/hardcore boards, from all over the world, so yeah, they're definitely a great help! I actually bought my first copy of Bad Religion - Tested 2LP from some dude on a European hardcore board for like $20. It was such a steal and I was so stoked. 


People have different standards as to the condition of a record before they buy it for their collection. I myself, won't buy a record, no matter how much I'm missing it, if it's scratched to the extent that it would affect play when spinning it. 
Yeah, I definitely prefer to get my records in as great a condition as possible. I don't think I own any scratched records thankfully, so I guess I have steered clear of buying any in that condition.


Have you ever gone record hunting in Europe?
I haven't really had the opportunity to. My mum lives in the UK, so I've been to a few stores there, mainly All Ages Records in London and found a few cool things. I haven't been anywhere else with ample time to look for records. I lived in Germany until I was 5 and traveled all over Europe as a kid, but that was well before my record buying days. The only other place I've visited as an adult was Paris for like 3 days, but I couldn't seem to find any record stores... bummer!


It will be hard to come by a fine first pressing of Bad Religion's S/t EP /500 without paying around $400-500 for it - are you prepared to spend that kind of money on one 7"?
Absolutely. No questions asked about it, if it's in good condition it's a done deal!


Bad Religion 12"s
The Pick 1's! - I'm assuming we're talking strictly Bad Religion, but just in case I'll cover both.
Pick 1 record from the 80s era - Bad Religion - Suffer / Dag Nasty - Can I Say
Pick 1 record from the 90s era -  Bad Religion - The Gray Race / Avail - Over The James
Pick 1 record from the 2000s era - Bad Religion - The Process Of Belief / Bouncing Souls - How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Pick 1 current band - Police & Thieves
Pick 1 reunion show you'd kill to attend (happening or not happening) - Dag Nasty


Any last comments?
Thanks for the cool interview, keep up the solid work and keep on hunting for those white whales... Perhaps I'll get that Bad Religion 7" some day, haha!


Robert's studio can be found here: myspace.com/nocontrolstudios

Some of Robert's BR shirts.




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Kelly Alvarez - Interview with a record collector.

Posted on 7:19 AM by Rune | 0 comments


 "I don't think people that only buy CDs go around telling people "I buy CDs!!" - it's just not very interesting."


This interview is not about a band, a release or a label. This interview is with a female who loves records more than anything, and for me, that was more than enough to get started.

Kelly Alvarez lives in San Diego, Cal. and works in a record shop. Besides being around records on a daily basis, she is also the singer/guitarist in the band Jungle Fever - to ask for more is just greedy! This interview is about collecting records in its purest form.


Kelly's record collection

Kelly let's get right to it. There's a big step from just being into music and to start collecting records. What influenced your progression from regular interest to collecting?
I was forced into collecting because I worked at a record store... I was young, and had nothing to spend my money on BUT records! I don’t really know if I’d be as serious a collector as I am now if I didn’t work at a record store (mainly because I can get them for so cheap). It's also a fun hobby... I don't think people that only buy CDs go around telling people "I buy CDs!!" - it's just not very interesting. But when people find out I not only buy records, but I collect them, they really do find it fascinating for some reason.



Which records are among your favorites and why?

This is a hard question to answer, because when it comes to records, it’s not just about a favorite band or specific album... records are special because, unlike CDs, you have a lot of area to work with. Since the covers are bigger, bands can go all out with their artwork. There could be interesting things stuffed inside the covers: lyric inserts, rare posters, zines, stickers or whatever the original owner stuffed inside and forgot to take out before he/she sold it.
Some of my favorite records are my favorites because of the cover art/photography (i.e. Roxy Music’s “Country Life” or Sparks “Kimono My House”, etc.) and some are my favorites because of something unusual and exciting, like my Crystals LP that was signed by Phil Spector in the 1960’s or my European version of Blondie's "Greatest Hits" but it's spelled all in one word across the top "BLONDIESHITS" - so it looks like "Blondie Shits" haha!!





But "collector" talk aside, some of my favorite albums at the top of my head are probably: X “Under the Big Black Sun”, The Replacements “Tim”, Nick Lowe “Labour of Lust”, Real Kids "self titled", Phyllis Dillon "One Life to Live", Nikki and the Corvettes "self titled", Shocking Blue "At Home", all the "Girls in the Garage" and "Rodney on the ROQ" compilations...








Some of my favorite 45s are probably Howard Werth's "Obsolete" on Dangerhouse Records, such a great song. Mark Perry's "Whole World's Down On Me", Noosha Fox's "S-s-s-single Bed", The Bermudas' "Chu Sen Ling", I could go on and on.... :-)








Why are you collecting records? you can answer with aesthetic perspectives, hi-fi perspectives etc. etc. Do you care for rare pressings and/or several different colors of the same record, or just 1 random copy of each record?
I used to care about rare pressings, colored vinyl, having the record and cover be in “mint condition” and now I don’t really care about that kind of stuff. Records, especially rare records, are few and far between. I’d rather own a rare record that’s scratched to shit, rather than not own it at all. In fact, I think the scratchy sounds add some authenticity and make the song(s) sound more romantic. But don't get me wrong, I can totally see why people get crazy over different colors of vinyl, test pressings and so on. It's really no different than collecting, let's say, guitars. I mean, you really only need ONE guitar when you play and maybe one back-up guitar if a string breaks, right? So why are there people who own TEN guitars? Same goes for records! People buy 5 copies of the same record that they will NEVER listen to only because it's on different color vinyl.


Ms. Kelly Alvarez


What records are on your all time top want-list and why? (state specific pressing if relevant)
There’s a rare oldies record I’ve been looking for forever. It’s a Puerto Rican singer from the 60’s named “Julio Angel” and the album is called “Julio Angel & Tammy: 2 a Go Go” on the Hit Parade label (HPLP004). I don’t really buy records on eBay anymore, so having said that, other bands I’m looking for that I haven’t been able to find on vinyl in stores are The Flatmates, another band called Twa Toots and I really want Beat Happening’s 45 of “I Let Him Get to Me”. I'm ALWAYS looking for 60’s girl groups and obscure girl punk. I'd love to get The Deadbeats "Kill the Hippies" and Black Randy "I Slept in an Arcade" 7-inches because those 2 records would complete my Dangerhouse collection - it's my favorite punk label. I'd also love to have Knugen Faller's 1st EP and almost everything on the Ny Vag label (especially The Vicious s/t 12") - it's really hard to find records like that, at least in San Diego. 
You mentioned that you work in a record shop, please elaborate on how that has had an influence on your collection.
I get really good deals on new and used records, and that’s why I continue to work there on the weekends, while I have a “normal” job during the week. Working there has made me appreciate vinyl a lot more. 10 years ago people would pull up in front of the store with a truck load of records, now they just trickle in from time to time. Nowadays, it's people selling their grandparent's records. I've come to the conclusion that grandparents have really shitty taste in music! The internet has destroyed used record stores. People want "top dollar" for their used records (and I don't blame them) - but these are the same people that talk shit because we don't have a rare punk 45 section in our store. Ask yourself this: Do YOU want to sell YOUR rare punk 45s to a record store? Well, neither does anyone else!
You're in a band called Jungle Fever, tell about that.
I sing and play guitar... it’s a female-fronted 3-piece pop punk band with my friends Cara (bass/vocals) and Mikey (an amazing drummer). I’m really influenced by other girl punk/pop bands from the 80’s and 90’s, like the 5.6.7.8’s, Shonen Knife, Go Sailor, the Go-Go’s, Nikki and the Corvettes, etc. and I just try to emulate that sound. Our debut 45 comes out around October on Windian Records and we’re beyond excited about someone putting out a record of ours.



Debut 7" out soon on Windian Records (facebook page)

**Side note: your blog is mostly about hardcore bands, so I have to mention that I'm aware that there's already a band called Jungle Fever from Australia!! Oh well!! 


A selection from Kelly's record collection


How would you feel about paying... let's say paying $500 for a record, or $1000?
The most I've spent on a record is $60 for my YES LA picture disc compilation LP and $40 on my original Bags "Survive" 45 - both on Dangerhouse Records. It's just not in my budget to spend $500 or $1,000 on a record. $1,000 is 5 months worth of my car payment. Right now I have to keep my priorities in check (unfortunately). If you're spending $500 - $1,000 on one single record, I want to know what you do for a living!!!



Pick 1 band/record from the 80s era

Can I choose 70's and 80's? God... this is hard!! I guess I'd have to say The Ramones because they are the band that has influenced me the most. Also X's "Wild Gift" and "Under the Big Black Sun" LPs.
Pick 1 band/record from the 90s era
I mostly listened to oldies when I was a teenager, but I really love the first 2 Weezer albums. I haven't really followed their career since those 2 albums.
Pick 1 band/record from the 2000s era
Hmmm this is when it gets harder for me, since I don't really listen to THAT many modern day bands. I really love The Spits and Nobunny. I keep trying to write a song that sounds like The Spits, but no matter how fast or tough or loud a song I'm able to write, because I'm a girl, it just sounds like a cute little baby is singing along :-(   I also really love The Muslims (now known as The Soft Pack). They're from San Diego/LA.
Pick 1 current band
Since I'm fascinated with really catchy, bubblegum "one hit wonder" type songs from the 70's, I guess I'd have to say Nobunny. His songs are really fun and his live shows are INSANITY.
What reunion show, if it were to happen, would you kill to attend (and not a random person, someone you cared about has to die)
I don't want anyone to die!! I'd love to get in a DeLorean and go back in time to see The Ramones, the original line up, in New York, in the 70's.
Your all time biggest want again?
JULIO ANGEL AND TAMMY: 2 A GO GO LP!!!!! It's too rare and I will never find it (insert crying noises here)


That's it. Be sure to pick the Jungle Fever 7"! Thanks to Kelly for spending time on this.


Next interview will probably be awhile due to communication problems.


Yours truely,


Rune.

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Interview with Andrew Neufeld of Comeback Kid

Posted on 4:44 PM by Rune | 0 comments

After some time away from the blog due to exams and such, I'm back with a new interview. This time Comeback Kid vocalist Andrew Neufeld chose to dedicate his time to answer a handful of questions I'd cooked up - mind that the interview questions were made before Victory launched pre-orders for Symptoms + Cures.

I asked Andrew some questions about the new record, his views on hardcore and what brought him to where he is music-wise. Here's his 2 cents...






So Andrew, how are things going with your new record - recording, artwork and such?
Everything is going good. We are now just coming to the end of some down-time (touring-wise). The new album is done. It's called Symptoms + Cures and it's coming out on August 31. We finally finished the artwork and getting packaging together. It's been a lot of work recording and post-recording but we have it ready and we're excited to get back on the road and play around the world.
How's the process been so far - had any problems or set-backs?
We had to push mixing back about a month or so because we couldn't get finished in time. We had a tour with Set Your Goals in the USA and couldn't get everything done in time, so we decided to come back and mix the album after the tour. I think it was a smart move because it allowed us more time to be prepared.
Can you unveil any details about the new record?
Symptoms + Cures is our 4th full-length. We recorded it in Toronto, Canada with Eric Ratz ad Kenny Luong. Our friends in Cancer Bats recommended them to us. We just kind of wanted a switch in studios, since our last two albums were with The Blasting Room in Colorado. It was cool for CBK to work with some fresh ears. 
If the vulnerability of comparison allows us: How do you see the new record compared to your previous releases? 
Musically, I feel like it's a bit of a throwback to our earlier material, but it's much more heavy and urgent vocals. More singalongs, and more of a punk twist to it. We wanted to have the album sound tight but raw, and have it screaming through the speakers as opposed to the clean sound you hear nowadays. 
Please elaborate on what you want to do with the record musically?
This is our take on the hardcore/punk we want to play. We wanted to do some new things and expand with our genre. We wanted to write an album that would mostly translate live. There are some fun beer-spilling-over-the-red-cups-singalong songs, and then there are some more in your face hardcore songs. 







Symptoms + Cures is being released through Victory Records just like your two previous records. A lot of bands have had their beef with Victory Records, but maybe that list of bands does not include you?
Every band/label that have been together for a few years have issues. It's a relationship like any other (business/personal), we have ups and downs. What I will say is that Victory has been so supportive of us as of late and really getting behind this record. They are really good to deal with and I'm in contact with them most days. We hope that they are as excited about our new album as we are. 
You guys have been touring a lot. I remember me and a friend went to Hamburg, Germany to see you with Defeater. We ended up lost there because apparently the venue used to be on another location. So we did not attend anything (as our plan B, Have Heart - playing in Hamburg the same day, ended an hour before we got there)... Are you guys gonna make up for this any time soon?
Yes, we will be in Germany for Area 4/Highfield Festival. It's crazy that we're playing alongside Blink 182/Queens Of The Stone Age/Etc. so it will be an experience. We are coming back for a full European tour with Parkway Drive, Bleeding Through, Your Demise, etc. (red. see tour-dates here)

 

How did you get into hardcore? What was the scene like when you were new, and which bands made an impression on you?
I got into hardcore through the local scene in Winnipeg. I grew up listening more to skate punk in the 90's. Propagandhi was probably my first punk band, and then I would listen to NOFX, Lagwagon, etc.  In the small city Winnipeg where we grew up, when I went to shows it was punk, oi, hardcore and metal bands all playing together. So there would be HC kids, punks, skins all circlepitting for all the different bands. Genres at shows weren't so separated then. So when I was about 14 after liking the Fat Wreck style stuff, I was introduced to Earth Crisis, Strife, Harvest (who were a new band in my area), Warzone, Lifetime, and Gorilla Biscuits. I was introduced to HC as a whole big diverse music scene, and that's why our influences are all over the place. We have a traditional HC base, but adding new elements to that.
How do you see the hardcore scene today? Is there anything that bugs you or fascinates you?
I love that HC is opening up in different parts of world, like SE Asia, South America, (we're actually touring South America with Sick Of It All in a few months - so excited!), and just a lot of places we've started to go to with strong local scenes, and now bands are able to tour these places. It blows my mind and we want to take advantage of these opportunities. 





Pick 1 band from the 80s era - Sick Of It All/U2 haha
Pick 1 band from the 90s era - Propagandhi/Madball/Nirvana
Pick 1 band from the 2000s era - Twilight Singers/Mew
Pick 1 current band - Alberta Cross is kicking my ass right now.
Pick 1 record you'd kill to own - I don't have a home so I'd have nowhere but my storage unit to put my vinyl haha. 
Pick 1 reunion show you'd kill to attend if it were to happen - Chain Of Strength!
Any last comments?
Thanks for the interview!

Pre-orders for Symptoms + Cures are up at the Victory Webstore now - go grab it!

That's it. Next interview will be posted in mid-August. 
Yours truely, 
//Rune


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Interview with Timm McIntosh

Posted on 5:34 PM by Rune | 0 comments

Me and Timm have tried to do this interview for quite some time, and due to some unfortunate problems with the Panic Records website, shipping orders and such the interview first came through about a week ago. This interview, however, is worth the wait if I may say so.

I talked to Timm about Panic, hardcore in general, records and especially the new Another Breath record.
Enjoy!



First, I want to congratulate you on the things you’ve accomplished with Panic Records and with finally having the new Another Breath record out the way it was supposed to be.
Thanks. Seems the record was cursed and wasn't meant to come out. Seems as though Jan from Assault Records (Vinyl Pressing in Europe) also suffered some set backs on the record and it was delayed for him as well. Like I said, a cursed record, but man prevails and the record is out. One of the best records in recent hardcore history in my opinion.

A quick one… Who is Timm MacIntosh: how did he get into hardcore and which bands has he played in?
I'm just a kid that loves hardcore. I got into hardcore/punk around 1988/89. I would attend punk shows at a place called Second Level in Sacramento California, where I grew up. I was just a metal head that stumbled onto bands like DRI, 7 Seconds, Agnostic Front and then got more and more into that sound as I moved along. I had a friend that lived down the street from me and I am pretty sure it was the same for him, though he was a year older than me and stumbled onto more punk/hardcore and gave me a lot of stuff that I was really psyched to hear. I grew up in Sacramento, going to shows in Sacto and heading to the bay area (Berkeley) to see shows at Gilman as often as I could get over there. I was definitely excited about it all and in 1994 I moved to Seattle and started a band called Trial with Greg Bennick and Derek Harn. I also played guitar in Champion and sang for Wait In Vain. Right now. I just run a record label and get excited about new bands. Outside of the usual hardcore thing. I enjoy hanging with friends, movies and playing baseball. That's really it, I'm a simple man living a simple life (sometimes).

Could you please give a brief summary of how Panic Records was born?
I started Panic Records in 2005. Though I had always wanted to do a label and was going to attempt one in 1992 to release a friends band on 7". I got information from people that were already doing labels and found that it was a lot of work and the potential to lose a lot of money. At that time, I wasn't really financially stable enough to throw away a couple thousand dollars, I'm still not...but...fuck it. In 2005 I started up Panic to re-release the earlier Trial recordings since they had been out of print for so long and people always asked where they could get them. A remedy to their search was to release it myself. I didn't plan on releasing a ton of records, just whatever I enjoyed. If a band was filled with good people playing music that I loved...then I would help them out. Here it is 5 years later and I'm still putting out records that I think are great and have made a lot of great friends throughout the process, in that regard, it's pretty rewarding.

Why did you want to start a label?
I love music, have always loved music since a young kid. Any way I can be a part of music, I want to be a part of it. Listening, playing, putting out, producing, anything music related, I want to do it. There's absolutely no way that I could survive a day without listening to music. Starting a label just seemed like a natural thing.

The roster of your label contains other than just hardcore bands at the moment. With bands like Make Do And Mend and Man Overboard, and on the more melodic side of hardcore: Hostage Calm and Set Your Goals, was it your intentions to have such a diverse roster from the start when you first released the Trial record?
Most definitely. The label started with Hardcore bands because that's where I'm from. It's easier to deal with people that are on the same level as you. They understand there's no money in this. We're not going to get rich, we can't expect it. I would love Panic to get to a point to release any sort of record that I wanted. I listen to everything, all genres of music. Just because the label started as a hardcore label, doesn't mean that was the intention. Panic is whatever I want to put out. I don't expect that a kid into Another Breath or Trial is going to be into Man Overboard or Set Your Goals. It doesn't matter, it's what I'm into. If I can help out friends bands with their records and I like their band, then that's the way it is. The problem is, well for example...I'd love to release a record for a band that sounds like The Smiths or Stone Roses. I don't know if that will ever be possible because bands like that (indie rock bands) have this idea that they're going to be rockstars and expect a label to shell out thousands of dollars. There's no possible way for Panic to do something like that, so...Punk/Hardcore bands are where I'm at. Probably better that way. The guys in these bands are more modest and understanding. Kids like to steal music from artists and small labels and the money just isn't there to support their egos.




How do you see the hardcore scene today? I reckon you have been around for quite some time, so you must have witnessed some changes during the years. Could you tell about that?
Everyone has their own perspective of what the hardcore scene is. I think that has to do with your age. A kid that's around today would say "hardcore is the best that it's ever been" a kid from 1988 will say "hardcore is over, these kids have no clue". I'm probably stuck between the two because I don't think it's the best it's ever been, and I don't think it's horrible either. I see a lot of trends which can be highly annoying and I see a lot of kids and bands that are really inspiring. The biggest difference is the involvment of kids. Seemed as though up until the early 2000's, there was a lot more involvement from people; zines, tables, booking shows, helping bands, causes. The new generation (not just hardcore kids) is very sedate and I think that has a lot to do with the distraction of our modern culture. They're bombarded and their attention spans are limited. There's just so much all the time. Hardcore has suffered dramatically from this and our culture dwindles in the number of kids that are free thinking active individuals.

Of course now that you’ve told about the past, could you perhaps tell about the future for hardcore? Which way are hardcore heading if you were to make a prediction?
Man, I have no idea where it's heading. I hope that it becomes more involved. I just couldn't say though. I'd like to see more positive things coming out of the hardcore scene. One of the best things that I've seen lately is the Enough Is Enough Digital Compilations. That's the kind of involvement I would like to see more of. It'd be great for hardcore bands and kids getting involved in things like this. It's very inspiring and makes hardcore more than just music. If things like this don't continue...then it's really just background music for us to mosh to. I don't even mosh anymore, so I guess that would leave me out.

You’ve toured Europe with Trial and Wait In Vain. How do you see the European hardcore scene?
I toured Europe in 1999 with Trial and it was incredible. There was so much appreciation that was given to the bands. It was the same in the states at that time too. I toured Europe again in 2003 with a friends band and the appreciation was there, but not as much as I had noticed in 1999, could have been the band though. Last year Wait In Vain toured Europe with Outrage. There was a good amount of appreciation, but it definitely isn't the same as it used to be over there. I think it's that same mentality that "oh, another band, no care ever....will be seeing another one tomorrow" that is happening over here in the US. We've just become so spoiled that we don't really care much for a band that is pouring their hearts out, sacraficing their time and money to just reach 1 person and be happy. I'm not saying that we need to love every band that comes through, I know I don't get out to as many shows as I used to. But when I'm at a show, I pay attention to every band that's playing, they drove all the way to play my city, I'm gonna give them a listen for a couple songs at the very least.



Now to Another Breath and the new record. Why did you want to put this out? I remember reading that the album has been ready for quite some time, but they had trouble finding a label to put it out, is that correct?
Why wouldn't I want to put it out? I mean come on, it's Another Breath. I was already into Another Breath from Not Now, Not Ever and Mill City. I thought the band had broken up because I hadn't heard anything about them in so long. I was on a message board and someone posted that Another Breath had a new song up on their myspace page. I checked it out of course and was blown away. They also posted a blog that said they were looking for a label to release their record. This blows my mind because I couldn't believe a band like Another Breath would have a problem finding a label to put out The God Complex. I wrote them an email and just told them that I would LOVE to put out their record if they still needed someone to do it. We talked back and forth on the phone and it just made sense for the record to come out on Panic. They're all great people and I'm pretty stoked that this record is a part of Panic history. I still can't believe that another bigger hardcore label didn't grab this up.

Personally I see The God Complex as a big step forward compared to their earlier work – especially with the lyrics! How do you see The God Complex compared to their previous releases?
I think that Ted really dug into himself for the God Complex. I can't speak for him of course, but I would guess that with the subject matter you have to come strong or don't come at all. Reading the Another Breath blog about the development of the record and the lyrics, it's evident that Ted did a lot of soul searching and questioning of himself and god in general to arrive at the conclusions put forth on the God Complex. I think he did an incredible job. As someone in a band that is always striving to outdo what has previously been created, you are still proud of everything that you've done in the past. It's a part of who you are, so to compare the two, it's just two different times that you can't really compare. I don't think I would do any of the previous work of Another Breath justice to compare them and say one is better than the other. They're all great in their own rites.

The God Complex to me is kind of a concept-album centered on a topic that has been used a lot and is easily used with less powerful and intense effect. Still, I think Another Breath came out successful and they used this tense relationship with religion really creatively - without comparing - something I’ve only seen Defeater do as good within the last years (I don’t mean the subject religion, but concept-album in general). What are your thoughts on this as a “concept-album”?
I agree that when you get into subject matter that deals with religion, it's easy to lose the intensity by going a certain direction. I think that Another Breath was affectual because they didn't point fingers at anyone, instead delved inside to ask the questions of themselves and where they were coming from. For me, I didn't grow up in a religious family at all. Only went to church with a friend a couple of times, overall, didn't have religion in my life. I of course would question the existence of a god because I wasn't forced to believe there was one. I had the questions and the God Complex resonates with me because of that. I can identify with the record because of this. That makes it a pretty powerful record in my opinion. For a concept album to be relevent, there has to be a journey through it, Another Breath definitely take you on a journey with this record.

Another Breath had to cancel their European tour – can we expect a new one any time soon?
They'll be over there this summer actually. I think the dates are being firmed up right now. (dates are up at the Panic site and AB myspace page, red.)

Another Breath live 2008


What does Panic Records hold for us in the future? Can you give a hint of forthcoming releases, ideas, tours etc.?
The rest of the year is filled with releases. I'm pretty exicited for all of them. There's a new band that I'll be announcing soon that everyone should be blown away by. It's been a long time coming with them and they're finally going into the studio to record their full length. I know you'll love them, they're right up your alley. Make Do And Mend are going in to record their first LP in June. The Effort just finished up thier LP and that will be out in July. The Make Do And Mend / Touche Amore Split 7" and maybe a couple other things in there. So far, it's been a really busy year for Panic and the rest of the year looks to be just as busy. Hopefully everyone is into the records and supports them.

And finally, something I like asking:
Pick 1 band from the 80s era - I assume we're talking punk/hardcore bands so I won't say Bananarama. I'd go with, fuck I don't know. So many great bands from the 80's. Bad Brains, maybe?

Pick 1 band from the 90s era - BURN, hands down the greatest hardcore band of all time. I fucking love BURN. 

Pick 1 band from the 2000s era - I really enjoyed Verse. I think Verse would be the band from 2000 - 2010.

Pick 1 current band - Defeater really gets me excited. That new EP is the jam. Of course any band on Panic would be in there, but then I'd feel like a real dick singling any one of them out. I love them all equally. hahaha.

Pick one reunion show you’d kill to attend - BURN, I would kill someone to see this. But it couldn't be someone random, it would have to be someone I didn't like.

Pick you record you’d kill to own - I don't know. I had a lot of records and sold them to start and keep this record label going. The irony right? So I've pretty much owned any record that I would kill to own. There's records that I would never sell because they mean a lot to me. BURN 7" on Pink and Turning Point LP on Clear. Those two records will always be in my collection, even when I become homeless from doing a record label, I'll carry those two records around with me along with my sleeping bag.

Any last comments?
Sorry it took me a million years to do this interview, hope it came out well. I'm not big on interviews, don't know that I am as well spoken as I'd like to be. To anyone reading, if you've supported Panic Records in the past or going to in the future, thank you. It's appreciated more than I can tell you.







Another Breath - The God Complex can be ordered from Panic Records (US pressing) and from Assault Records (Ger) (EU pressing).


Pressing info for The God Complex (US pressing):
Black vinyl Rejected Test Press /15
Black vinyl Accepted Test Press /15
Grey vinyl "The God Reject" /100
Brown vinyl w/ black labels West Coast Tour edition /100
Brown vinyl /100
Black vinyl w/ silkscreened pre-order cover /108
Grey vinyl /200






Yours truely,


Rune.

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