- Tell me about your latest LP.

Well, the recording took about a week, and this time we spent even more time in mixing, but it's in tradition with our style and, I think, it has the best songwriting so far.

 

- How do people react on your new material at concerts? Sometimes they'd rather hear older stuff.

Every year we go through that. The record that is current doesn't seem to be as popular as the other ones. And then we come back the next year and that record becomes popular. So it seems it takes a while to get used to a record and then they finally love it. When the record is real new a lot of the people don't have it, but if we judge by sales - it's selling better than any of the records before, so I think the audience like it.

 

- How many copies of the new album you have sold already?

Five hundred and fifty thousand.

 

- It was said once that the music that came from a certain period represent the society of that period. Do you find yourselves in that phrase?

Well, if you're trying to analyse the American culture by the music, you have to take in consideration all different kinds of music, not only Bad Religion as a band. Our culture is comprised of many different cultures, so you'd have to listen to the native american's ethnical music, Rap music, Punk Rock, Industrial,... but it's hard go get some kind of idea because all those musics are expressive of culture and its different aspects.

 

- Yes, but I think it's always an aspect of not peaceful society.

Well, other people said other things, you know. People have said that Rock'n'Roll is an extension of the human libido, an extension of our sexual drive, you know, which could be true, also. I'm not really interested in psychology of music, and I don't know what our music is from that point of view, but it's definitely a high energy music.

 

- What inspires you to write songs?

Just everyday's experience, really. Some people need a strong, intense, powerful vision to write, but I just have a lot of ideas always floating around in my head. I just write on daily experience, the things I relate to are common.

 

- Who influences you?

I'd say the Germs, Black Flag, Ramones,...

 

- What do you think about the other California bands like Big Drill Car, Victims Family,...

I like Victims Family. Usually, the only place I get to hear them is when they play with us. My two favorites I think are Green Day and Clawhammer.

 

- How do you see the world's music scene? Which bands do you like, and who you think isn't worth a shit?

I don't want to say anything bad about anyone...

 

- Why?

Because it's...

 

- You see, Screwdriver are musically good band, but otherwise they're a pure shit.

Yes, but that's not a musical issue; that's a political issue. It has nothing to do with music.

 

- How do you see the United States? What do you think of your country?

We don't dislike it, only we don't like it. Our songs are talking about the better aspects of the United States, and I think it is useful material to write about because it's showing people they need the other sides of what they're usually seeing. But at the same talking, we live in America and even though we hate a lot of aspects about America I don't know how would you fit into any other country. You know, there's a difference between the government and the culture; and the culture of America is in my blood. But I don't let that confuse me and make me think that the American policy is good, and I think the problem is that most people can't separate the two. A part of the reason for that is because in the whole world no country has been such an effective media machine as America. But even though they have a... For instance, every city in America, from very small like this one to the biggest ones, all have the cable television. It's 52 channels, but the most popular channels might only be 4 or 5 channels and the rest is not so popular. But usually there's at least one "public access channel" where any citizen could say anything. Yet, the chances of someone watching that channel are very slim because they have no advertizing, they can't be programming,... So, even though there's a lot of people who share their point of view, they never get heard.

 

- What's your point of view on the war in ex-Yugoslavia? What do you think about the positions that the United States and the United Nations took in front of the problem?

Well, it's a very sensitive issue, but it's no secret that the United States are now educating people that the U.S. has the double standard issues, such as the problem in ex-Yugoslavia. I mean, you might ask why doesn't the U.N. intervene in such a situation while they did intervene in Iraq. That's because, even though they don't teach us in school and they never say it, there's an ulterior motive in Iraq; obviously, that would be oil. They use human lives as an excuse to hide their real interests. What do you think about the whole situation? What's the solution to the crisis?

 

- I'm not smart enough to say what the United Nations should or should have done, but thousands of people are dying there because of hunger, hundreds of women are raped, and there's no help to them if the peace is not imposed immediately, even with force.

So do you think that the U.N. should intervene against the Serbia?

 

- It would've been a solution a few months ago, but now the Serbs aren't the only culprit; all three sides are guilty.

What do you think about the embargo against Serbia?

 

- I guess it's OK.

I think it did help Serbia, because... We have an arms embargo, so there's no arms in Bosnia And Herzegovina that the Serbs have surrounded. It stopped the arms of getting to Bosnia And Herzegovina and didn't stop the Serbs of having arms, and that's the result of our intervening and our action; having imposed embargo we're helping the Serbs and not hurting them. I mean, it's very complex. Nothing would help the Muslims more than if we abolish embargo and they'd have the weapon to make them equal and there'd be no fighting. Giving weapons now wouldn't necessarily make them equal.