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This interview was done by Shane from the Refuse & Resist! Youth Newtork. They are listed inside the new Boy Sets Fire album "After the Eulogy" and are tabling their live shows. They are a national organization against the politics of cruelty!
For information go to their website or email rnryouth@hotmail.com
To start-
Give a brief summary of how long you’ve existed
What your about ?
Matt: We’ve been around for about four and a half years, we’ve gone on eight tours all in the united states except one in Europe we have one full length out, two E.P’s , two seven inches a couple comps and were working on our second full length .
Are there any songs you would like to take this opportunity to elaborate on?
Nathan: Lets start with voice-over then - Voice-over is about , we see on television and the news , we see how other countries have oppression and its very violent and obvious, people murdered in the streets because they want freedom , because of that we don’t notice oppression in America . Its a lot more subtle - a lot of times its done through the media’s involvement . While were watching the media inform us on the latest rapes or murders we fail to notice what’s happening in our country, what bills are being passed , what’s really happening in our country . We are shown all these horrible instances from the ghettos , how if you walk outside your house your gone get shot , so in a way that also plays on peoples fears to where its a controlling factor because within a democracy or so called democracy - oppression has to work in a more subtle way - if your so afraid to step outside your house they’re hoping you’ll give up certain freedoms so that you can be safe and bottom line that’s what its about . giving up freedoms for safety
Darrell: To elaborate , another aspect or side effect is that all the fear tactics were exposed to teach us to inherently distrust strangers . I’m not saying you should take candy from strangers but at the same time - there’s a lot of fear and distrust bred throughout your fellow human being your led to believe that you need a government - you need a police force - you need a military to protect you from - insert evil here- and a lot of times as statistics of violent crime go down we add to the police force . Its basic things like that that you don’t really think about but if you do analyze it , its apparent there’s a definite inequality going on - to add to that it runs into relationships and the way you interact with others - when you drive through a neighborhood that’s economically impoverished you immediately lock your door - its things like that , that you may not immediately think of that are very indicative of the subject , or the program of fear that’s fed to you
Nathan: The power remains the same is about how we say a lot of stuff about oppression , we say a lot of stuff about things that need to be done but at the same time we allow the powers that be to stay that way because we allow them to give us little things to fight about. Its basically about choosing your battles wisely - like not bitching and moaning about the small things like what’s going on in the hard-core scene because honestly on the big scale - I don’t wanna say hard-core doesn’t matter because it does or I wouldn’t be playing hard-core music but on the larger scale it really doesn’t - its not a big deal about what bands selling out and who’s doing what to who?
Darrell: A person starving on the street doesn’t care that bad religion is signed to a major label
Nathan: EXACTLY!!
Nathan: Cringe is about sitting on the couch and seeing - during the desert storm fiasco you saw a lot of times - bombs blowing up and to a lot of people including me it didn’t hit me right away - I thought OK - bombs . If you really think about it - what are these bombs connecting with ? Human beings . Even now - we keep intervening with Iraq and we cant take him out - that’s a war crime in foreign policy - so were basically killing a bunch of people and getting nothing accomplished .SADDAM doesn’t care he’s a psychopath - he’s doing it everyday and he doesn’t need our help.
Darrell: To return to the media issue you never see Saddam outside of a camouflage outfit - not to defend him in any form or fashion but he’s the equivalent of Clinton being the army chief. These are methods of turning public opinion against him. When’s the last time you saw Clinton in an army outfit
What is your reason for expressing yourself through music?
And not just writing?
Nathan: We all put writing and lyrical tidbits into the lyrics to songs . Everyone contributes - for the most part .
Matt: We were all musicians before we got into the band . Its not like we had these ideas first and then came our musicianship . For me, I’ve been playing since I was nine years old . I didn’t get into politics till I was 18. That was even after the band started. Music in my eyes compared to writing seems more popular to society in general. Music’s everywhere.
Nathan: Plus , Its combining two things we love , we really love music , and we all really like our own opinions ( laughter) .
Matt: Its a great way to reach people . Music is natural for us . Darryl and Josh and Nathan all like to write maybe one day they’ll all be writers but for now were all doing music .
Nathan: If anything writing would be an addition to our music not a replacement because for some of us , I mean I know Ill always be involved in music.
What are your feelings on the credo - "you cant change the world " "its all been done"
"Its bigger than all of us" and all that shit?
Darryl: That Barenaked Ladies song ? I love that song.
Nathan: Our basic response to most people is dependent on when it happens . If were getting those responses while were trying to play? - We feel that look - we’ve been doing this for four years , you know this is what we do, SHUTUP! Were not gonna stop for anyone or any threat. If you don’t like us or what we say start your own band and don’t talk! Say people come up to us after we play or any time other than when we play , and they respectably tell us "look I don’t feel that way ? I don’t agree Why do you say that?" That’s fine. Though we get more assholes trying to be funny than we get curious people . I used to get angry now I just don’t care what they say.
Now for your fans! Who would you refer them to check out?- writers musicians organizations etc.
Josh: everyone should be reading Noam Chomsky.
Nathan: I like a lot of Michael Moore’s writing . He takes a lot of political commentary and puts humor in it , like "Downsize this" and "Roger and me". Al Frankin used to be on Saturday night live - He wrote a book called "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat idiot" at first I thought it was gonna be some silly book but its really well written and its not just about Rush Limbaugh ( laughter) . As far as bands I would recommend Good Riddance , Refused , besides that I would say bands in Delaware like Joshua fit for battle and Kill quota .
Chad: I think its safe to say each of us would recommend Marx’s writing, Howard Zinn .
Darrell: I would recommend 108’s "Blueprint for Socio-Spiritual Revolution" . Its really good. Even if you don’t aspire to any spirituality the main focus of it is needing to change from the inside out before we can change the world and realizing that the infections of society infect each of us internally and the best thing to do is to fight a war against the evils inside us rather than immediately pointing at the world.
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What advice do you have to the kids who agree with what you say , But don’t know how to carry it into their daily lives?
Darrell: Take a look at the things you use in your own life , the things you consume . A really good step is Veganism , looking at the companies you support, Everything from where you buy gasoline to where you buy your groceries. These are all the things you can do in your life easily . Maybe getting involved in community activities like soup kitchens. In hardcore you get a lot of kids who are into it and coming from privileged background , there are some sects that believe privileged people have no place in revolt. I disagree . You can use that privilege . Kropatkin was a prince and he certainly did quit a bit for the anarchist movement.
Nathan: Ghandi was a lawyer
Chad: Marx was a lawyer.
Darrel: Getting back to the point I would say examine all your preconceived notions about other cultures , races , sexual orientations . Examine the fruits you hold and how valid they are and then figure out where you got them.
Nathan: There’s nothing I can add to that . One of the most important starts to revolutionary activity is respect , and treating others with kindness. It all starts and stems from there and self. Find a way we can come together and not point at each other cause it’ll take all of us coming together to change the world.
Chad: Groups that need help aren’t quiet , they’re always asking . Do what you can and help them they’re there to solicit your help give it to them.
Explain the name "BOY SETS FIRE":
Matt: The name reflects our love for pyrotechnics ! ( laughter) .The name came from a book called " The boy who set the fire " The name reflects everyone’s ability . Everyone has a spark to creativity and I would say revolution or change . Everyone can make a step in a positive direction. You must be open minded and seek the truth in this society . Our goal is to change the world and boy sets fire is that spark that lies in everyone.
Word association:
Howard Zinn
Darrell: Awesome author , he wrote the peoples history of the united states. We have a song called "The Tyranny of what everybody knows" and that deals with a similar subject matter as his writing . To question prefabricated truths that are fed to you through school , its important to question a lot of what you learn in school and interrogate it on your own.
Revolution
Nathan: Even though we have used it in this interview That word has been prostituted to the point of where its one of the most boring terms ever! Sometimes they’re are issued where you have to use it but its used from cars to makeup. I think revolution starts from each and everyone of us dealing with ourselves first and then acting on the pillars of our own infection like the government and whatnot.
Human Rights
Josh: I’ll be honest - I think they are inalienable right to food and the ability to get a secure job you don’t have to fear losing , housing and medical care , freedom of creativity and thought.
Noam Chomsky
Chad: NICE GUY! ( laughter) My thoughts on Noam Chomsky as far as what I’ve read , politically genius , thorough enough and understandable . Reading him and reading others you can tell what the point is and that’s extremely important in dealing with another persons life.
Independent Press and recordings
Matt: I think its a great way for people to express themselves on a small or large basis . Its great to share your views with others. Its a starting point as soon as anything starts it has to be independent but its further down the line that they are more apt to lose that for whatever reason positive or negative.
Animal Liberation Front (A.L.F)
Darrell: Its a group that at one point was one of the top five terrorist groups in America .They concern themselves with liberating Animals through direct action which includes the destruction of laboratories and testing facilities, releasing animals from mink farms and what not. I completely agree with them . Something that always been very important to me is the belief in the sanctity of live and that means all life , not just the forms privileged enough to be born into a life without torture.
ARE you Vegetarian?
Darrell: YES, we all are . I believe that just because I was born a human and a creature was born a dog or cat doesn’t mean I am a being that has the right to kill another .I feel the destruction they ( A.L.F) cause is deserving . One of the things about them I admire is that they’ve made it a point to never harm human life.
American Foreign Policy
Nathan: Most of American Foreign Policy is based on Monetary Situation its all based on keeping ourselves a world power and bringing home profit.
The American Dream
Chad: The American Dream is 100% dead if it ever existed at all .The dream that anyone can do anything is a bunch of shit . I will never be a football star . I will never be an astronaut . I will never go on to have great great intellectual height like Einstein , I just don’t have that level of aptitude. For someone to tell me that the opportunity exists ? That’s not true! Secondly, its now becoming less and less probable that you can succeed as a small businessman. The opportunity isn’t there and people don’t wanna lend money to a business that’s destined to go under , people don’t want to contribute to something that Starbucks can come in and take over.
All in Unison: WALMART!
CHAD: Denny’s , Gap ,the list goes on, Mcdonalds . Basically The American Dream is a Big Fat Fuckin’ lie. Your not going to succeed your not going to go up in a company. There are companies out there that do that but they’re few and far between.
Matt: Its the dinosaur companies and by them I mean the ones run by sixty year old men . Men from a different background educationally and a different cultural climate. Most businesses now are big conglomerate man. The Glass ceiling is still in place.
Chad: You can only go so high.
Darrell: Its important to support independent business because its so hard for them to survive. If you want a drink are you gonna walk into Walmart or Bill and Joey’s shop? These are questions you should be thinking about. In areas like ours , we were chockfull of independent businesses and in the course of a year or so big companies move in, independent businesses get kicked out , money isn’t staying in our local economy and were getting fucked! So I think its important to support independent businesses and currently we all work at independent businesses.
"LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT":
Matt: I think its ridiculous! I don’t even know what to say its so ridiculous.
CHAD: Josh always says people who say love it or leave it would rather curse the darkness than turn the light on. Its my home too why cant I make it better!
Matt: Its an arrogant and apathetic statement to make.
JELLO BIAFRA:
Darrell: Jello Biafra is someone I looked up to for a long time. I first got into the Dead Kennedy’s when I was about 12 or 13 years old. When I bought "Give Me convenience or Give Me Death" I was floored. I had never heard anything like it before. After that, I bought a couple of the spoken word releases and I thought oh my god this guys incredible. He really shaped a lot of what I believed in . Musically , The Dead Kennedy’s pushed a lot of the envelopes that existed in the punk rock scene and politically he expressed a lot of sentiments that were not popular. He’s someone I look up to and that why we do Holiday in Cambodia on our C.D.
Closing comments…..
If anyone wants to contact us for anything they can write to us at P. O box 303, Newark Delaware 19711.
If you wanna Email us or check us out on the web you can go to www.boysetsfire.com We are more than happy to talk to you about anything. If your e-mailing me please be patient I get a lot. Ill try my best.
Thank you.
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