Addicted To Noise: interview with Greg and Boby
Addicted to Noise: How do you create your songs?
Greg Graffin: It used to be lyrics first, then I would bring it to the band and they would put some music to it. In later years, because it has been getting harder and harder to write, because we had amassed such a volume of lyrics and ideas before. Now it is a slow evolution for a song...they develop over weeks at a time, whereas before it might have taken me a day. Now, it is very careful development.
ATN: Is there a specific time that you write?
Greg Graffin: It's always happening. When I drove here, I thought of a song title. I'm always thinking and developing ideas.
ATN: What about the title of your album, The Gray Race? What's it mean?
Graffin: The gray race is a metaphor for the human race, and so we are all part of it. Its about humans. Humans as opposed to animals. And it is not a good or bad thing, it is just pointing out the dilemma of mankind, Trying to give some insight on why we suffer the way we do.
ATN: What were you listening to at the time of the creation of The Gray Race?
Graffin: For me it was Bad Religion. It is always Bad Religion-oriented listening. People ask me all the time about what other bands that I'm into. I'm just not good at answering those. I am very whimsical in my tastes. I listen to different sounds. It could be classical, it could be jazz, or it could be 70s rock.
ATN: We're always interested in what an artist is listening to while they work on an album.
Graffin: We've always had a folkie delivery. I think it's because I listen to a lot of American folk songs and a lot of traditional music.
ATN: Do your kids listen to Bad Religion.
Graffin: They don't have a choice, it's always playing. If they're driving around in the car, it's on the tape player with my wife, and they hear me doing new music in the studio.
ATN: How do you feel about the band after all these years?
Graffin: I'm happier than ever. We just recorded the greatest album of our career, and I have never felt more freedom and unity in the band, and our determination to be creative is at an all time high. I don't care if I am losing my hair, that stuff just doesn't bother me. I feel vibrant and excited and that is nine-tenths of what you need to make your point in music.
ATN: What's the relationship with you guys and Brett Gurewitz.
Bobby Schayer: We don't see him much.
Graffin: He's too busy with Epitaph, I guess.
Schayer: He doesn't worry about his friends.
ATN: You're doing your thing and he's doing his.
Graffin: Exactly. He calls me once in a blue moon. And he will answer my call if I page him. But what is there to talk about? Well this All Ages compilation that came out. There was a lot of interaction between Brett and me to get that thing put out. But in terms of personal life, we don't see much of each other.