Category: | Chat - Internet | Publish date: | 11/4/1997 |
Source: | SonicNet Chat (United States) | ||
Synopsis: | A transcript of an online chat with Greg Graffin at the Knitting Factoryin New York City when he played his first American Lesion show. |
GREGGRAFFIN: Hi. I am sitting at the Knitting Factory bar waiting to go play the first ever American Lesion show. Hopefully the first of many shows around the country.
Adam1: Do you ever find punk constraining? Is that why you made this record?
GREGGRAFFIN: I would say that punk is no more constraining than any kind of genre of music. Punk is probably the least constraining by virtue of playing heartfelt and honest. You can legitimately be labeled a punk.
Asstrobuy: Will you guys be doing any DC shows?
GREGGRAFFIN: Bad Religion will be coming through DC with The Warp Tour next year. Before that tour we will be playing smaller clubs in the early spring.
Barjo: How come you finally decided to have Bad Religion play in Ithaca, and how did it feel?
GREGGRAFFIN: I felt good that all the people who are current citizens of my home town got to see us all onstage.
rebecca: GREG, do you expect to be making music and touring for the rest of your life?
GREGGRAFFIN: I hope so, I have no plans of stopping.
BADRELIGION13: Do you like small shows or arenas better?
GREGGRAFFIN: The intimate feeling of a small show is special. There is no way to analogize the two feelings. When I want a quiet, more personal show, I prefer a club.
BADRELIGION13: Greg, what's your favorite song?
GREGGRAFFIN: It changes from week to week.
NakedRaygun: What is your favorite song Brett wrote?
GREGGRAFFIN: "I Want Something More."
Tigerkla: You even listen to The Doors or John Prine?
GREGGRAFFIN: I hate the Doors. Hippies all of them. Don't know much about John but he doesn't offend me the way that the Doors do.
guest423: When is the new Bad Religion album coming out?
GREGGRAFFIN: March of '98.
dobryan: What do you think of the modern HARDCORE movement?
GREGGRAFFIN: Well, I would say that it has found a permanent place in American culture. I am proud to have been a part of it . I think that it's confused as to who its leaders should be.
MTeson: What's the new BR album called?
GREGGRAFFIN: It has no title yet.
ASSID69: Do you plan to make any music videos, or do you make them but MTV is too mainstream to play them?
GREGGRAFFIN: We make them and the reason that they aren't shown is that alot of them just haven't been as mainstream as the major type of videos that they show on MTV.
Sir_Punxalot: What is the meaning in the song "GENERATOR?"
GREGGRAFFIN: It's a metaphor for GOD, the creator.
Tigerkla: Am I the only one that wants to kill these ska bands like Sugar Ray and OMC, Greg?
GREGGRAFFIN: Well, the death penalty is a little harsh , but I certainly have no affection for them.
spenca: What does "aludensparglemein" mean?
GREGGRAFFIN: It was just random letters that I typed in.
guest423: How can we get the lyric sheet for the EP Bad Religion?
GREGGRAFFIN: Email our manager michele@badreligion.com.
rawshark: Are you planning to collaborate with Noam Chomsky at all?
GREGGRAFFIN: There was a plan, hopefully someday it will happen. We both have very busy schedules.
Aussie_BR_Fan: Is Michele there with you now?
GREGGRAFFIN: Yes, she is right next to me.
BADRELIGION13: Greg, do you read the BRML?
GREGGRAFFIN: No, Michele does.
ASSID69: Are there any plans for an official webpage, or is it pretty much the brpage.tierranet.com?
GREGGRAFFIN: No, there is a www.badreligion.com coming online before Christmas. It's purely for Bad Religion merchandise and special unreleased products. Like our official merchandise guide.
guest424: What advice would you give to a group of kids who are alone in their appreciation of loud aggressive music (punk)?
GREGGRAFFIN: Make sure you get vaccinated if you go into tropical areas.
NakedRaygun: I heard you are putting out an album releasing all your hard to find tracks and b-sides, is this true?
GREGGRAFFIN: No, that's not true.
Sir_Punxalot: What is your favorite Bad Religion album?
GREGGRAFFIN: The one we are making right now.
MTeson: What can you tell us about the new album besides the date?
GREGGRAFFIN: It is similar in its approach to past records before Stranger Than Fiction, because we did it collectively at our own studio and it was more spontaneous than the last two records and this created a sound that was fresher and more exciting.
MTeson: What do you think is more important? The music or the lyrics?
GREGGRAFFIN: Both, lyrically and musically.
smeg: Know any good dirty jokes?
GREGGRAFFIN: I used to before my mind got full of details.
CScottB4U: How can people in the US get a hold of "into the unknown"?
GREGGRAFFIN: They can't. I don't even own a copy. I do have the two inch master tape, maybe some day I will remix it.
PlasticBuddha: I read somewhere that you used to read Nietzsche, how much did his work affect you?
GREGGRAFFIN: You are obviously confusing me with Brett. I studied more mundane things like the philosophy of science, earth history and biology.
BADRELIGION13: How was it being a punk legend so young? Was it tough handling the fame?
GREGGRAFFIN: That's very kind. I am 32. I guess it feels good.
Barjo: How do you guys with grad degrees, like you and Milo, fit into the punk scene? Would you rather if more punk kids pursued something a little more intellectual in their lives?
GREGGRAFFIN: Yes, definitely I think it's the only way to really rebel against anything, to have the wisdom and experience to understand the context under which your sub culture exists. So if you want to rebel against society you have to understand society and all its intricacies.
guest424: Define Heaven and Hell.
GREGGRAFFIN: Heaven is just a feeling. That is biologically determined, and it pertains to the orgasm. Hell is simply your fear and worry about the future and both are nothing more than human emotions.
Tigerkla: Have you ever read Frank Herbert?
GREGGRAFFIN: No.
Twiggy: Do you actually like net chatting?
GREGGRAFFIN: Not particularly , unless it's late at night and I can't sleep. I would much rather have intellectual discussions in person.
xWPGHCx: Do you ever plan to return to the style of song like "Voice Of God Is Government?"
GREGGRAFFIN: There are a couple of songs like that on the new album. One of them is called "Sowing The Seeds Of Utopia."
NakedRaygun: When you netchat late at night, where do you go?
GREGGRAFFIN: I actually don't go on to any channel, I just scan and see who is talking. Sometimes I check the Bad Religion channel.
MTeson: Where did the multiple harmonies come from?
GREGGRAFFIN: My head. Usually when I sing a melody I simultaneously hear the harmony.
BillyGnos: What nickname do you use on IRC?
GREGGRAFFIN: It's a secret.
rebecca: GREG, do you have any particular POLITICAL leaning? Maybe Libertarianism?
GREGGRAFFIN: No.
Goombah: When did you learn how to play the piano?
GREGGRAFFIN: I grew up with one and never took a lesson.
agronomistnt: Who's your backup band on AL tour, or is it JUST you?
GREGGRAFFIN: It's just me even though the record is a full production with drums, bass, guitar, harmony. These shows are just myself.
NakedRaygun: Did you get that Ph. D yet?
GREGGRAFFIN: No. It's evolved to a long term project.
guest424: Do you think that the rapid growth of the entertainment industry is an evolutionary step backwards?
GREGGRAFFIN: No, it's actually {that} evolution does not regress, evolution only progresses and therefore if we progress towards a more leisurely lifestyle based on superficial entertainment, it is still evolution. It means that we are one step closer to our own extinction. We evolve until we become extinct.
AsPuNkAsMe: Plan on doing any Bad Religion songs tonight?
GREGGRAFFIN: Yes.
BillyGnos: What religion were you born into?
GREGGRAFFIN: Bad Religion. I was never baptized although my dad, never really went to church. My mom's side was the rural Christian tradition.
Ignu: When you think of all these kids asking your views, did it ever make you think about just writing your own personal doctrine of the way life should be lived, knowing how many people it would influence?
GREGGRAFFIN: I have no interest in power plays. As an intellectual manifesto I may write such a treatus. It would be more of a ponderous piece of work, not a prescription for how people should live.
dannyhc: Is it true the next Bad Religion album will be on Epitaph?
GREGGRAFFIN: No.
minus22: Are you currently involved in any political movements?
GREGGRAFFIN: Yeah, Bad Religion.
xWPGHCx: Out of all "PUNK ROCK" bands that I have listened to for the past 5 years Bad Religion has always remained my favorite because the intellectual meaning of the lyrics that the band produces.
GREGGRAFFIN: Thank you.
rebecca: How does your mom feel about your lyrics?
GREGGRAFFIN: She likes the singing more than the lyrics. She's not offended. She just likes melody better.
rawshark: Do you feel that Clinton is a tool of the megacorporations?
GREGGRAFFIN: What President isn't?
kira-e: What is your relationship to or view on other punk bands that began in the early 80s, such as Social Distortion and the Descendents?
GREGGRAFFIN: Unfortunately, neither of those bands paid much attention to Bad Religion even though we came from the same city. We just kept to ourselves. I am happy that they are still around.
gcestica: How long have you been agnostic?
GREGGRAFFIN: Am I agnostic? I certainly knew that there wasn't any God when I was 5/6 years old, that no matter how hard I would pray for an electric train set one never materialized. God let me down at a young age.
Mike: Didn't you once say that you didn't like tours that took the emphasis off bands like the Warp Tour and Lollapalooza?
GREGGRAFFIN: Well, I never included Warped in there. I didn't like Lollapalooza for its pretension. And pretending after three years it became a commercialized tour. The Warp even with some of the commercial element is still appealing to more independent bands that have something to say.
MTeson: What do you do in your spare time?
GREGGRAFFIN: I don't have any spare time.
kingGITDOWN: Does BADRELIGION like DEVO?
GREGGRAFFIN: I like Devo before they abandoned guitars. The first two Devo records were tremendously influential.
flats: Were you an 'A' student or more mediocre in high school?
GREGGRAFFIN: C minus student, barely passing.
guest424: Are you any different from the rest of us?
GREGGRAFFIN: Not perverse. There's a melodic link.
dobryan: How did you end up choosing MICROBIOLOGY?
GREGGRAFFIN: Your confusing me with the singer from the Offspring. My interests are in Organic Biology. Since I didn't have a religion, I chose science.
BillyGnos: What was your most important motivation in recording American Lesion?
GREGGRAFFIN: To experiment . It was a way to perform some of my more emotional songs as opposed to Bad Religion which is still emotional but on a more worldly level.
rebecca: Why should an atheist bother with caring about the masses and helping the poor and stuff??
GREGGRAFFIN: God never cared for the poor. We might as well care for them here on Earth.
MTeson: What songs are you absolutely SICK AND TIRED of playing?
GREGGRAFFIN: "Generator."
SickGirl: Who in your life was your biggest inspiration?
GREGGRAFFIN: Biggest inspiration. There's a number of people. My university advisor in Paleontology. Todd Rundgren musically.
BillyGnos: Are there any songs on Into The Unknown that you consider very personal?
GREGGRAFFIN: No.
Adam1: Are some of the songs on American Lesion about specific events?
GREGGRAFFIN: Well, the disillusion of my marriage and the birth of my children have played a heavy role.
MTeson: Why do you guys hate INTO THE UNKOWN so much?
GREGGRAFFIN: I don't hate it. I think Brett hates it. I have nothing against the album. It would take a lot of work to re-release it.
xWPGHCx: What do you think of the role of organizations like Anti Racist Action that spread reverse hate?
GREGGRAFFIN: The concept of hating people who hate is philosophically and logically ludicrous. But certainly education is the greatest force to combat hatred.
rawshark: What does Polypterus mean?
GREGGRAFFIN: It's a genus of a fish that can breathe air or water.
rawshark: Don't you get angry at people who get caught up in the image of punk, more than the message?
GREGGRAFFIN: I don't get angry at them I just think fashion is far less important than the substance of the movement.
BADRELIGION13: Do you think Mother Theresa was a great person to begin with or she just did for 'God' and his glory?
GREGGRAFFIN: I think whatever motivated her is not as relevant as the fact that she did it. Her motivation is personal but her work is for everybody and spoke for itself.
aukerman: Were the other members of BR nervous when you told them you were doing a solo album, i.e. you could be leaving BR? Did you reassure them you're staying?
GREGGRAFFIN: I asked them first and we all support each others' creativity.
MTeson: Do you have any suggestions for the name for my band?
GREGGRAFFIN: BANZAI NIGHTMARE.
rawshark: Do you still hate the Sex Pistols?
GREGGRAFFIN: I never hated them, I just thought the last tour was a joke.
Xaos: Ever read any Robert Anton Wilson?
GREGGRAFFIN: Nope.
rebecca: Yeah, GREG, does life have any MEANING?
GREGGRAFFIN: Definitely . Tremendous meaning since man kind is the only animal that can discern meaning, it is evidence that human life is valuable.
MikFel: Are you still working on your Ph.D.?
GREGGRAFFIN: It has taken a backseat to persona; and musical endeavors. I've gotta go!