River City Rebels on 08-24-2000 by Shane Stiles

1. Do you think starting out in a semi-deserted area had any effect on the way RCR changed or grew?
1) Well, it's kinda hard for me to answer this question. The trombone player and I are from Boston and we've only been in the band for a few months but I know that they had a really tough time promoting the band because of their location. In terms of the members (line up changes, etc.) I think Dan, Eric, and Chris (the original members) we're extremely lucky to have found a singer like Ward and a rhythm guitarist like Gabe amongst a punk scene with so few people.

2. What are your beliefs on politics?
2) Personally, I'm really not too interested in politics. I'll be voting for Gore in November. I think Clinton did a good job. I guess that might be somewhat ironic coming from a member of RCR, but I'm just in the band to rock out, have a good time, and to make sure people at the shows have an even better time.

3. How deeply rooted is your music in your beliefs?
3) Dan wrote most of the lyrics. I know he's intersted in ARA and we do distribute a lot of ARA stuff at shows. I mean, I believe, in my own way, everything we sing about. It's funny, I'm a Catholic, my father was a priest in Rome for 4 years, yet I sing a song that states "Religion is just one big lie". Selling religion, to me, is just as bad as being a Nazi. It's sickening. So to me, that's what the song is against. And it's how everyone else in the band feels as well. No one is "anti- christian" or "anti- religion".

4. Why, in your opinion, was Tony interested in RCR?
4) Before I joined the band, I saw them live and I was blown the fuck away by their stage presence and the increadable energy they displayed. That's why Tony loved them the first time he saw them.

5. Going from being a small town band to a major label band is a big change, do you think it had any effect on the band?
5) Not at all, we know exeactly where our roots are. I haven't seen any type of attitude change at all. I didn't even see a difference in anyone when we played the Less Than Jake shows to thousands of people out in Kansas and St. Louis.

6. Why seven people? Why such a big band?
6) Basically, the more, the merrier. Every member of RCR has a absolutely insane energy level when we perform. Why take any of that energy away?

7. What gives RCR so much energy when they play live?
7) We know that kids won't be entertained if we stand there like a bunch of zombies. Like I said before, our major goal when performing is to be assured that the audience is having the best experience they could possibly have while watching a live band. I see so many bands with really nothing to offer during live sets and it pisses me off.

8. What message do you want the fans to get out of your music?
8) It's all about unity, sticking together, fighting the powers that take advantage of us, and having a good fucking time.

9. For only being a band for 3 years and already being on a major label, would you consider that luck or skill? Explain please.
9) If there's one thing I could ever say about the guys in my band is that they worked there asses off to get where they are. I think the skill has been there from the beggining. With an original line up of Dan O'day, Chris, and Eric, there's really no way you can go wrong. It was skill, hard work, and trying something different that got my bandmates where they are to day. And by no means do we take that for granted, we work even harder now to meet expectations we've set for ourselves.

10. How do you as a band feel about everyones sense of having to work with you?
10) Well, when we were in Chicago, we hung out with Tony for a bit and we got along really well with him and the guys that were shooting the video. They were great and made us feel right at home. I honestly think that Tony is very excited about us. Also, while recording the record, Jim Siegal was absolutely excellent. He actually lives right down the block from me so I'm always stopping by to shoot the shit. So overall, I think we're a very easy group of people to work with and we're always willing to give a little in order to get a little.

11. What do you think about your new release, "Racism, Religion, and War?"
11) I think people take many of the lyrics the wrong way. We realize the words aren't Shakespere material and they're not what many people would call "intelligent thoughts" but that's kind of the point. This record was written by the same type of people that support us, kids. We try to send out a simple messege that anyone could understand. In terms of the music, 99% percent of the credit goes to Jim Siegal. Not that it's absolutely perfect, but that guy is fuckin' amazing!

12. "They are not punks to be cool or fit in. They are punks because they do not fit in with their surroundings- they are the antithesis of what surrounds them. On stage they have the confidence and charisma of a band that has been together much longer than their ages reflect..." That is a quote from the Victory Records biography of RCR. How do you think that describes you?
12) Well, the guys in the band are certainly not in it to fit in. I mean, they're from Vermont, it's all a bunch of smelly hippies. I'm pretty flattered by the quote. I mean, I think it's great that we're getting a reputation for being energetic and seeming much more experienced because that is exactly what we're trying to do with our live set.

13. How do you feel about the lineup? Do you see any changes coming as far as members in RCR in the near future?
13) Not at all. This band is fuckin' tight musically and personally. We barely ever fight, everyone is willing to listen and we've all become good friends over the last few months.

14. What is the future of RCR?
14) During the next 10 months, we will play at least once every weekend and hopefully do a series of one- week tours every couple months. Next summer, we want to go all out and tour for a long time. Possibly another record in about a year.

15. Who would you like to play with live? You can choose, dead, alive, broken up, together...any band goes...
15) Social D, Dropkicks, those are my two musical influences as far as punk rock goes.