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Q & A with Jay
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Posted by: admin | 06/28/2007 at 18:30
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Q: This is Bad Religion's fourth Warped Tour appearance. Do you try and catch other groups on the bill?
A: I cruise around and check out the other stages. I've found some great bands doing that ... especially the Locals Only stage.
Q: Do you think the Warped Tour's longevity has more to do with the staying power of punk rock or the fact that organizer Kevin Lyman gives music fans value for their money?
A: It's a bit of both, I suppose. The punk "alternative" music spectrum is so broad that there are bound to be one or two bands who are climbing ... and Kevin really does strive to keep the show affordable and interesting every year.
Q: Last month, Bad Religion did the KROQ Weenie Roast and the station is currently spinning "Honest Goodbye." How important has KROQ's support been to the band over the years? Did you ever listen to Rodney on the Roq's radio show back in the day?
A: Are you kidding? Rodney was the first person to ever play Bad Religion. We gave a cassette to Greg Hetson when the Circle Jerks did Rodney on the Roq around 1980. He played the tape and kept it, played it more, then we gave him our EP and he played that. It was a defining moment in our history. KROQ has been very supportive of us and Epitaph.
Q: 2004's "The Empire Strikes First" was one of Bad Religion's most successful albums to date. What do you think made that effort connect with so many fans and attract new ones?
A: I think it was the timing, the angst about our involvement in the Middle East and our administration's inept attitude about issues that younger voters felt ignored about. A handful of artists really just put it out there, that it wasn't going to be OK to have a government that so easily bends the laws to fit its own agenda.
Q: Turning to "New Maps of Hell": did you have any specific plan in mind when the band entered the studio?
A: The goal was to finish. We had a lot of work and a little time. We always go into the studio with a good work ethic - wanting to stay creative and yet focused on the goal. I think we did better than we thought we would!
Q: How hard is it, after 20-plus years in Bad Religion, to keep everything fresh and exciting while retaining the signature sound?
A: Writing-wise, it's difficult to not get too repetitive, but we are Bad Religion after all. We sound the way we sound because we like they way we sound. I believe Brett and Greg know how to turn phrases, musically and lyrically, that keep us on our toes.
Q: Is everyone healthy and on good terms these days?
A: We may be getting along better than we ever have. We put out records when we want; we tour when we want. Not too much pressure to perform. We all have been through so much - together and apart - that it's just nice to see each other, talk about what's happening in our lives and talk about the band.
Q: Do you still enjoy being the bassist for Bad Religion now as much as the early days?
A: This is the most fun I could ever have!
Bonus Bad Religion Q&A
Here are more excerpts from my interview with Bad Religion bassist Jay Bentley.
Q: Were elements like the piano ("Fields of Mars"), gang-style chants ("Requiem for Dissent") and quick hardcore tunes ("Murder," "52 Seconds"), the band's way of taking it up a notch on the new CD?
A: We had piano on 1982's "How Could Hell Be Any Worse?" We've always felt comfortable (using) 12-string guitar, piano and background vocal harmonies.
Q: The "New Maps of Hell" cover art pictures various L.A. landmarks. Any significance to that?
A: Nothing really. I tie it in with our first album, I suppose - a sort of inside nod to our history.
Q: Did drummer Brooks Wackerman give the band an added vitality after he joined in '01? What is it like handling the rhythm section with him?
A: Man, did he ever. He is an amazing, phenomenal drummer. He really gave a new breadth into what our abilities were. It catches me off guard sometimes. I find myself staring at him while I should be playing.
Q: This is Bad Religion's fourth Warped Tour appearance. Do you try and catch other groups on the bill?
A: I cruise around and check out the other stages. I've found some great bands doing that ... especially the Locals Only stage.
Q: Do you think the Warped Tour's longevity has more to do with the staying power of punk rock or the fact that organizer Kevin Lyman gives music fans value for their money?
A: It's a bit of both, I suppose. The punk "alternative" music spectrum is so broad that there are bound to be one or two bands who are climbing ... and Kevin really does strive to keep the show affordable and interesting every year.
Q: Last month, Bad Religion did the KROQ Weenie Roast and the station is currently spinning "Honest Goodbye." How important has KROQ's support been to the band over the years? Did you ever listen to Rodney on the Roq's radio show back in the day?
A: Are you kidding? Rodney was the first person to ever play Bad Religion. We gave a cassette to Greg Hetson when the Circle Jerks did Rodney on the Roq around 1980. He played the tape and kept it, played it more, then we gave him our EP and he played that. It was a defining moment in our history. KROQ has been very supportive of us and Epitaph.
Q: 2004's "The Empire Strikes First" was one of Bad Religion's most successful albums to date. What do you think made that effort connect with so many fans and attract new ones?
A: I think it was the timing, the angst about our involvement in the Middle East and our administration's inept attitude about issues that younger voters felt ignored about. A handful of artists really just put it out there, that it wasn't going to be OK to have a government that so easily bends the laws to fit its own agenda.
Q: Turning to "New Maps of Hell": did you have any specific plan in mind when the band entered the studio?
A: The goal was to finish. We had a lot of work and a little time. We always go into the studio with a good work ethic - wanting to stay creative and yet focused on the goal. I think we did better than we thought we would!
Q: How hard is it, after 20-plus years in Bad Religion, to keep everything fresh and exciting while retaining the signature sound?
A: Writing-wise, it's difficult to not get too repetitive, but we are Bad Religion after all. We sound the way we sound because we like they way we sound. I believe Brett and Greg know how to turn phrases, musically and lyrically, that keep us on our toes.
Q: Is everyone healthy and on good terms these days?
A: We may be getting along better than we ever have. We put out records when we want; we tour when we want. Not too much pressure to perform. We all have been through so much - together and apart - that it's just nice to see each other, talk about what's happening in our lives and talk about the band.
Q: Do you still enjoy being the bassist for Bad Religion now as much as the early days?
A: This is the most fun I could ever have!
Bonus Bad Religion Q&A
Here are more excerpts from my interview with Bad Religion bassist Jay Bentley.
Q: Were elements like the piano ("Fields of Mars"), gang-style chants ("Requiem for Dissent") and quick hardcore tunes ("Murder," "52 Seconds"), the band's way of taking it up a notch on the new CD?
A: We had piano on 1982's "How Could Hell Be Any Worse?" We've always felt comfortable (using) 12-string guitar, piano and background vocal harmonies.
Q: The "New Maps of Hell" cover art pictures various L.A. landmarks. Any significance to that?
A: Nothing really. I tie it in with our first album, I suppose - a sort of inside nod to our history.
Q: Did drummer Brooks Wackerman give the band an added vitality after he joined in '01? What is it like handling the rhythm section with him?
A: Man, did he ever. He is an amazing, phenomenal drummer. He really gave a new breadth into what our abilities were. It catches me off guard sometimes. I find myself staring at him while I should be playing.
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06/30/2007 at 18:57
That's all correct (except mine was $10...weird). They were selling the new album at the Epitaph booth and giving away a free Epitaph T-shirt. Not a bad deal (especially since they were selling the album 2 weeks early).
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06/30/2007 at 07:10
Since someone posted the Thursday show, heres Friday: They played all the normal songs, nothing out of the ordinary. But they were selling the new c.d. for $9.00 and I got a free shirt for buying the c.d. Have not listen to it yet, but I well
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06/29/2007 at 17:01
There were a ton of people there with professional grade video cameras. My guess is that it will be on a Warped Tour DVD. There were also quite a few people with digital cameras that were taking video. Hopefully someone will post the video on youtube.
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06/29/2007 at 15:47
Not only Requiem, but the entire show...
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06/29/2007 at 13:37
oh fuck Requiem really? did anyone record it?
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06/29/2007 at 09:40
Bad Religion did indeed play at the Glass House tonight. Along with their usual array of songs they played Heroes & Martyrs and Honest Goodbye. They also played (for the first time live) Requiem for Dissent. During the gallows set Brett was standing on the edge of the pit with a big smile on his face while the lead singer tore through the pit, singing, for roughly half the band's set. It was a 55 minute set, but for $13 it was worth every penny.
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06/29/2007 at 03:18
yeah i'll be checking gallows and the chariot too...
gang-style chants ("Requiem for Dissent")?? wtf? |
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06/29/2007 at 03:14
ppl from pompano!
bad religion are playing at the glasshouse tonight , special guests for the warped tour opening party! with big d and some other band! too bad i cant go :( |
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06/29/2007 at 00:00
what about gallows?
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06/28/2007 at 22:54
Nothington is great.
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06/28/2007 at 21:21
im traveling to miami to the warped tour, i think it's awesome, bad religion and pennywise...and i also like coheed and cambria, circa survive and nothington, most of you hate em for sure
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06/28/2007 at 20:59
warped tour is so lame now, im only going to see br play at the one in detroit.
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06/28/2007 at 19:48
This is from the official Myspace page:
"The Vans Warped Tour has announced a special pre-party on Thursday, June 28 at the Glass House in Pomona, CA. Artists performing include: The Gallows, Big D and The Kids Table, Kennedy and a special unannounced guest." I have heard a pretty reliable rumor that Bad Religion will be the "special unannounced guest" from someone who works at the Glass House. I'm not sure if this is true or not, but for 13 bucks I'm willing to take the risk. Tickets were still on sale as of yesterday. It's been 7 years since the last time they played there. I just wanted to give a heads-up to all of you so if any of you are in the area tonight, you might want to check it out. I'll let you all know later this evening if the rumor was true. Boltzzman |
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06/28/2007 at 19:11
bla bla interview, nothing new, same old questions. the absolutepunk.net interview was a million times more interesting. i guess this is the boring routine job bands have to endure.
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