Lagwagon
Interviews | Nov 30th, 1998
It’s been about six hundred years since your last album. That’s quite a… (get ready for it)… lag. Did you guys forget you were in a band or something?
Joey: Yes, we did.
You guys have certainly evolved as songwriters. But evolution is not always a good thing. For instance, they say humans will need only one finger down the road. That would totally kill my sex life. My question is, is alienating fans by doing something different ever a concern?
Joey: No, not really. We just make music. If people stay with us great. If not, that’s life. Bands are just as likely to alienate people by releasing a record that sounds the same as the last. It’s a waste of time to worry about these things.
Follow-up: Is it difficult to walk the balance between satisfying yourselves musically, and satisfying the fans? Is it difficult for you to walk in general?
Joey: There is no line if you do what comes naturally. You have to evolve to be true to yourself. If you choose to stagnate you have made a conscious choice and that choice is compromise. If you are too concerned with satisfying others you can not creatively satisfy yourself. It is difficult for me to walk in general.
Bad Astronaut – I get a Spiritualized vibe off of the last album. To me, Bad Astronaut is like Pink Floyd gone punk. Your thoughts?
Joey: Bad Astronaut is Vin Diesel as Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music.
Did Bad Astronaut consider changing its name after the Columbia shuttle disaster?
Joey: What? Come on man.
Me First & The Gimme Gimmes suck. Part of me says that because I’m not into novelty acts, but mainly I’m upset they’ve never covered Rush. Who do I have to blow to get them to crank out some Red Barchetta?
First of all, Lag Wagon or Bad Astronaut would bethe ones to cover Rush. Second of all it would be an older song (Probably “Circumstances”). You’ll have to blow Fat Mike.
Without thinking too much on it, give me your top five favorite bands, movies, books, and Transformers.
Joey: Off the top of my head…
Bands:
Radiohead
Elliot Smith
Rush
Flamming Lips
Ramones
Movies:
One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest
The Sting
Cinema Paradiso
The Jerk
Shakes The Clown
Books:
To Kill A Mocking Bird
Tin Drum
Choke
The Stranger
Tell me about the last time you gave/received a brutal beatdown.
Joey: I don’t fight.
Got any pet conspiracy theories?
Joey: I think my dogs are conspiring to rid the world of shoes.
Ask me anything you’d like!
Joey: Why did you interview me? Do you even like any of my bands?
Lagwagon’s new one “Blaze” is out now on Fat. Visit Fat Wreck Chords and pick it up!
