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| Anti Flag |
| There probably are not a lot of punk rock fans out there that have not heard of Anti-Flag. They are a political punk rock band with powerful lyrics expressing the way they feel.
Recently, Anti-Flag released A Benefit For Victims of Violent Crime, an EP created after one of the band member's sister was murdered. The EP was released to raise awareness in violent crimes. |
| Writer: Diesel |
Nov 24 07 |
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Diesel was given the opportunity to exchange emails with Pat Thetic, the drummer of Anti-Flag. In this e-interview, Pat speaks about the EP the band just released, how it came along and the release of a full length album in 2008.
This is without a doubt a horrible reason to release a benefit CD yet a great idea. Who initially decided to create the CD?
The idea to create this benefit CD was #2’s. He had just been to the funeral and he was feeling really helpless. When he got home he called me and we talked, and he said he would like to try to find something positive in this tragedy. We started talking about things and came up with the idea of releasing these songs and a couple live songs and making it a benefit EP. In the end, I think it was a good idea. Working on creating this EP, and making it about something bigger than ourselves, has helped us all deal with #2’s loss. This kind of loss is really fucked up and paralyzes you; this gave us something to do.
How much of the proceeds will actually go to The Center for Victims Of Violent Crime?
We are splitting the proceeds between the Center for Victims of Violent Crime and education bonds. We decided on that organization because they really helped out #2’s Mom in navigating the legal system in a very difficult time, and the education bonds will be for #2’s sister’s children. The two children are going to need a lot of things in the future and this will hopefully help them out when they get older.
I really do not want to ask questions pertaining to the event that led to this EP being put out but I would like to know how the family is coping.
As you can imagine it is very difficult, the whole family has been turned upside down, but as with anything I think they just keep moving on, they don’t really have a choice. I think #2 has been able to find some relief by putting ideas into the songs for the new record we are recording now. The songs we have been writing for the new record have become more personal than before.
Has the band changed any since the event happened?
The band hasn’t really changed because of this; we have been friends and band mates for 9 plus years now. When horrible things happen you realize how important friends and music are. For us, music is something to get lost in and friends are there to support you when shit gets bad. We have been through many bad things (none as bad as this) and in bad times you go back to things you know and can count on and for us that has been music and friends. This is the way we have been since the beginning and I don’t see it changing any time soon.
Back to the EP. The songs you have recorded are instant classics in my ears especially "No Paradise". How long did it take you guys to write the songs?
These songs have been kicking around for a long time. When we write we tend to write in batches so I am not sure how long it took to write but “No Paradise” is one of my favorites. It’s a good jam!
Why the ode to Marc Defiant?
Marc Defiant is a friend of ours who works with us, He was(or is: they may be getting back together) in a band called The Code who were on A-F Records. Marc is just an amazing guy, he personifies everything I love about the punk rock community. He is smart, doesn’t wait for others, he creates stuff on his own, and is willing to take a stand when he believes in something no matter how unpopular. He got tear gassed at the second Bush inauguration in DC and he couldn’t breathe. He is just a great guy and someone who should have a song about him!
You included some interludes on the disc. "Oh Katrina" may have been a
small interlude but could easily be transformed into a song. Any thoughts on expanding those 4 verses into a song about that tragic event?
These were pieces we were going to put in between songs on the last record but in the end we decided they didn’t fit. Since this EP is a little more “collage” oriented we thought they would fit better. I have always thought they were interesting little pieces that should be heard. We don’t have any plans to make them into more traditional songs but you never know.
Whose idea was it to add the live content to the EP?
We played 2 shows in Pittsburgh at Mr. Smalls at the end of our last US tour. Mr. Smalls has a place for live shows but they also have a recording studio. We recorded the shows to have a copy of the show and the tour for ourselves and also we wanted to put a live song or 2 on the EP. After listening to the recordings we thought “this sounds really good!” so as a result we added some more live songs onto the benefit EP.
I see this release is under your label A-F Records. How many of the EPs were distributed?<
This EP is a limited piece we didn’t make that many; we wanted it to be special. Hopefully you can get one before they are all gone.
Will you still work with RCA?
Yea, we will be putting the next full length record out on RCA. We are working on it right now, it sounds great! It is important for us to continue releasing records on A-F Records between RCA releases. Being able to release records on A-F Records was one of the prerequisites we had when signing with RCA.
Any new bands we can expect to see releasing material under your label?
We released a record in the summer from a Pittsburgh band called Incommunicado. They have been touring around the Northeast, if you see a flyer in your town check them out, they’re great. We also have their new record on our website, http://www.a-frecords.com, or you can check some songs out at http://www.myspace.com/incommunicadomusic.
Will you guys plan on touring in support of this release? If so will you make it a benefit tour?
We aren’t really going to tour on this release. The touring will come in the Spring with the new full length record. We need some time off before we start touring again.
Did you ever think that your band would get as big as you are today?
No, I have been playing music with my friends for about 13 years now. Our goal was only to play music that was important to us, and to have fun. That hasn’t changed but now people tell me we are a big band. It doesn’t feel any different; it is sort of funny really.
I am sure it was a hard road to get to where you are today. Can you tell me a difficult time the band had and how it was dealt with?
There were a lot of hard times but I am sure not different than other bands: trucks catching on fire, vans getting stolen, having only 3 people show up for shows, and having crowds hate you enough that the police had to come and get us out. The thing for me that was the hardest time was to deal with trying to be a human and a band member. For a while we were touring so much we weren’t human anymore. We were away from home for very long stretches at a time. I think we learned that being on tour is cool but not being a touring zombie is very important.
Your last album 2006's For Blood And Empire was amazing. When can we expect to hear the next full length release?
The next full length should be out in Feb/March of 2008. We have recorded it already and are going to mix it next week. So far I am really excited about it, we have some new instruments on it, and it sounds huge.
Who are you all rooting for to be President in 2008?
Kucinich is my man, he is and has been from the beginning: right on the
war, right on gay marriage, and right on healthcare and the environment, I think he is vegan also. Wouldn’t that be great to have a president who is vegan!!! If you are not killing animals to eat, then there is a high probability that you are not going to be killing people either.
The band has been praised in getting the young fans to vote yet it does not seem like everyone went through with it. Any ideas on how to get more young people to vote instead of just ignoring their freedom of choice?
Getting young people to vote is not our responsibility; people need to see how politics are affecting themselves personally. When people are exposed to how fucked up things are then they are driven to action. Most people who see how things are going say “I don’t want to live in a world like that” and they take action. Our responsibility is to put ideas out there and to create dialogue: dialogue creates new ideas, and new ideas create solutions.
Lastly some folk out there say that the band has sold out by putting this EP out. What do you say to a fan who accuses you of selling out?
People have been saying I sold out for 16 years now. The people who said I sold out in 1993 have Hummers now, work for banks and defense contractors...I see that as selling out! Our goal has always been to create music that we care about and to throw out new ideas and create dialog. We did that when we started the band and we are still doing it today. I don’t care what others say, never did. I’ve found if they stick around long enough they will eventually get it.
You can check out Anti-Flag by visiting their MySpace page.
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