sandiegopunk.com
The Classified
Interview
with the Classified, conducted 12.1.01 by Joel.
| Joel - So Bear Paw told me Brad has some
problems with bars with no windows? Brad - Ok, I have my own rule where I don't go to bars without windows, because I had a really bad experience the first I ever went into a bar without a window. This past week, I said 'I'm going to test this theory out and see if it works,' so I went |
 |
back to a bar that didn't
have a window, and... We uh... Yeah, the place was pretty uh... We weren't very
welcome in the place. I don't know if we should say we tore it up, but there was
a lot of broken glass, and a lot of spilt popcorn; and I'm not even a destructive
person... But don't go to bars with no windows, that's the moral of the story.
Noel - That's a good story (laughing).
Brad - I don't know, that's what Bear Paw told him to ask me. Ex that question, Bear Paw's an idiot.
Joel - OK, we can talk about your new album then, because I know you guys just finished recording... How many songs are on it?
Noel - It looks like it's going to be ten songs, with maybe a little eleventh diddy thrown on at the end. We're finally getting it out, we've been trying to do this for a year.
Brad(?) - Word
Joel - Where'd you record at?
Noel - We started recording at Paramount Studios, up in Hollywood, then we moved to American Studios up there in North Hollywood, and we finished up doing some last minute vocals here at Doubletime with Jeff Forest, I love that guy. Jeff has a lot of good ideas for back-ups and stuff like that, he's a really good guy to record with, real fun.
Joel - Are you putting the album out yourself, or do you have a label supporting you.
Noel - We're coming out on a label called Galatic Pop, it's the guy that used to be in Cousin Oliver, they used to be a punk/ska band if you've ever heard of them. He (the guy from Cousin Oliver) is starting his own label, he put out the Camerica CD, I don't know if you've heard that. The Camerica CD was his first release, and he's putting out our CD as his second release.
Fonz - Yeah.
Brad - It's basically three partners, it's the guy Ro from Cousin Oliver, he's like the mastermind behind the whole thing, it's Will from Fenix TX, he's another partner, and it's Brandan who manages the studios up in Hollywood. Don't think we're going to these studios because we have a lot of money or anything, we just kinda got the inside track on them. Yeah, the CD will be out in January.
Joel - So are you going to tour in the near future to support it?
Brad - We're going to go on tour with Larger Than Life actually in February. We've had some talks with them, and we're going to help set up some shows, and our label is going set up some shows. It looks like it's going to be late February or early March that we're going out, hopefully for two weeks, and then whatever we can get from there. We'll start jumping onto shows and maybe doing weekends, and week long tours here and there, you know, just get out and throw our music in their face so they can eat it.
Fonz - Yeah, like a pig.
Everyone - (Laughing) That was Fonz.
Joel - About a year ago was kinda your reunion; so what have you guys noticed in terms of changes in the music community from when you were first playing as the Classified, even though I know all of you weren't in the Classified then, as opposed to know as the Classified?
Brad - I think that all of us know what the scene was then, because we were all in bands back then, and we know what it is now, and I think it's getting back to that point that it was. We were all in bands five years ago, and it's getting to the point where it was a couple years ago where all the bands are kinda hooking up and being cool to each other, instead of full rivalry where it was like 'I hate this band cause they're doing well and selling a lot of CDs.' Now it's because nobody's bitter and nobody's jealous and everybody's working together.
Noel - It seems a lot tighter, like there's more of a community. A lot of bands are going to other bands' shows, it seems like more of a fun thing.
Joel - So what do you guys think about some of the places you're playing at now?
Noel - My favorite place to play is still the Casbah, I like the sound there and the atmosphere, and it's just a really fun place to play for the twenty-one and up crowd. We played the Epicentre a lot, and it's getting better. I'm starting to be able to hear myself sing, which is always good-
Brad - That place has come a long way from having that little, six inch stage to where it is now, it's unbelievable. With the big sound system, and the curtains, and everything; it's run like a club needs to be run, and it just keeps getting better. I was talking to James (venue director for the Epicentre) the other day, and he's talking about a side-stage, and a new entrance and sign, it's going to be awesome as soon as they're done with everything. I haven't been to the Scene or El Rio, Noel was sick last night, so we didn't get to play El Rio, but everyone says the Scene's really cool, but we've yet to play it.
Noel - The next two questions will be answered by Eric and the Fonz-
Brad - And Noel and I will not open our mouths.
Joel - I think this one is for Eric anyways, tell me about Skateboarding, I heard you used to be quite a skater?
Eric - Yeah, in high school, but now I'm old and fat and I can't do it anymore, and it makes me sad. I like to watch people I used to know skate, but then I cry and hug myself, I hug Jordan (Jordan from PBR happened to walk up at this point in the interview), he's my major inspiration, I don't know, I don't want to talk anymore.
(Eric was feeling pretty sick, and his throat sounded really sore, so I didn't question him anymore).
Joel - So when you guys are just hanging out in San Diego, what do members of the Classified do for fun?
Fonz - Practice?
Noel - Yeah, we try to practice at least three times a week. We like to go out to bars and stuff, more them (the rest of the band), I'm not as able because I'm kinda poor and I have a girlfriend thing. But yeah, we like to hang out at bars, getting drunk, just having a good time, hanging out with each other.
Brad - It seems like a while ago, we used to have a night and we'd have excuses to go out. It would be like, Monday night is one dollar beer night over at this place, and Tuesday night is dollar beers here, and Wednesday night is wings night, so we gotta go to wings, and Thursday is three dollar movies, so we gotta go there; and it just seemed we out every night of the week doing something. That's about it, so yeah, we sound like such alcoholics in this interview, but there's a whole lot of consumption.
Noel - We also like to go watch our friends' bands play, like Kamala and Spell Toronto, so we go watch them whenever they're playing. There's other bands we're really into that we like to go watch to.
Joel - So when you're watching Spell Toronto or Kamala, do you find yourself getting influenced, like, do you find their music rubbing off on your own?
Noel - No, not at all actually (laughing), I'm just joking.
Brad - It's weird, because the three bands all have the same influences; like, it sounds so weird, but Faith No More is one of Noel's favorite bands, and same with all the guys from Kamala and Spell Toronto, they all love Faith No More, but every band sounds completely different. Everybody grew up on the same bands, and everybody likes the same thing, but everyone's band is so different, like between the three bands, there are three completely different styles of music.
Fonz- I also think that we influence each other, I don't think we just share the same influences. Going out and watching our friends' bands play really gives us new ideas, and all that stuff, and it goes all around in circles. I think the whole scene, since five years ago, has definitely progressed musically. I think the standard for bands has just gone sky-high, even though San Diego is not that looked at by big promoters and stuff, we still have an amazing array of talent, and I think it's because we've all been influenced by each other's music.
Brad - The bar has been raised for bands in this area. You take anyone of these bands, and their CDs that are out now, and you put them into a time warp to five years ago and it would have been huge. Go listen to Unwritten Law's first CD, and it's totally crazy, and it made them really big, but now it that would be such like an average band.
Joel - Last question while we're kinda on the scene five years ago, you guys played with Blink 182 when they were smaller, right?
Noel - Yeah.
Joel - So thoughts on them now, or on Blink 182 in general.
Eric - We played with them last time they played here, we were lucky enough to play with them at the Coors Ampitheatre at the side-stage, it was a good time. I don't know, they've always been supportive (of us), I mean, as much as they can be. I think when you get really big, you're pretty much just taken on a roller coaster ride and it's hard to remember where you're from and what's going on. I think they've done all they could do, and they've been great to us since then, they've always mentioned us in interviews, and have been very supportive, Mark's new clothing label (Atticus) has been hooking us up with clothing. I never knew the people (in Blink 182) they (the rest of the Classified) all knew them.
Noel - I went to high school with the old drummer, so I've been going to see them since they played old school SOMA, with like 10 people at the side stage. So seeing them grow and develop into what they are now, I'm all for it, and I'm a big fan of the band.
Brad - It's good for them, where they're at, and every band that's playing right now would love to be at that point.
Noel - I see them on TV and I see their accomplishments, and it makes me want to push harder and try more stuff, it makes me motivated.
Joel - I won't force you guys to freeze (we were doing the interview outside at midnight and it was really cold) any longer, unless you have some closing comments.
Brad - Thanks for interviewing us, the CD comes out at the end of January, and keep an eye on SanDiegoPunk (the contests page) for giveaways of CDs and merch and stuff.
Eric - I've been trying to build myself up to puke, but I just haven't had it in me. I really wanted to throw-up on your (tape) recorder, I was thinking about sticking my finger down my throat because I really wanted to puke, but it's just not coming (laughing).
Joel - So you're website is counterfit.org?
Noel - Actually, we're the Classified. (Laughing)
Everyone - put that in.
Joel - So it's classified, or theclassified.org?
Brad - It's theclassified.org.
Joel - Alright, thanks!
Noel - That's a good story (laughing).
Brad - I don't know, that's what Bear Paw told him to ask me. Ex that question, Bear Paw's an idiot.
Joel - OK, we can talk about your new album then, because I know you guys just finished recording... How many songs are on it?
Noel - It looks like it's going to be ten songs, with maybe a little eleventh diddy thrown on at the end. We're finally getting it out, we've been trying to do this for a year.
Brad(?) - Word
Joel - Where'd you record at?
Noel - We started recording at Paramount Studios, up in Hollywood, then we moved to American Studios up there in North Hollywood, and we finished up doing some last minute vocals here at Doubletime with Jeff Forest, I love that guy. Jeff has a lot of good ideas for back-ups and stuff like that, he's a really good guy to record with, real fun.
Joel - Are you putting the album out yourself, or do you have a label supporting you.
Noel - We're coming out on a label called Galatic Pop, it's the guy that used to be in Cousin Oliver, they used to be a punk/ska band if you've ever heard of them. He (the guy from Cousin Oliver) is starting his own label, he put out the Camerica CD, I don't know if you've heard that. The Camerica CD was his first release, and he's putting out our CD as his second release.
Fonz - Yeah.
Brad - It's basically three partners, it's the guy Ro from Cousin Oliver, he's like the mastermind behind the whole thing, it's Will from Fenix TX, he's another partner, and it's Brandan who manages the studios up in Hollywood. Don't think we're going to these studios because we have a lot of money or anything, we just kinda got the inside track on them. Yeah, the CD will be out in January.
Joel - So are you going to tour in the near future to support it?
Brad - We're going to go on tour with Larger Than Life actually in February. We've had some talks with them, and we're going to help set up some shows, and our label is going set up some shows. It looks like it's going to be late February or early March that we're going out, hopefully for two weeks, and then whatever we can get from there. We'll start jumping onto shows and maybe doing weekends, and week long tours here and there, you know, just get out and throw our music in their face so they can eat it.
Fonz - Yeah, like a pig.
Everyone - (Laughing) That was Fonz.
Joel - About a year ago was kinda your reunion; so what have you guys noticed in terms of changes in the music community from when you were first playing as the Classified, even though I know all of you weren't in the Classified then, as opposed to know as the Classified?
Brad - I think that all of us know what the scene was then, because we were all in bands back then, and we know what it is now, and I think it's getting back to that point that it was. We were all in bands five years ago, and it's getting to the point where it was a couple years ago where all the bands are kinda hooking up and being cool to each other, instead of full rivalry where it was like 'I hate this band cause they're doing well and selling a lot of CDs.' Now it's because nobody's bitter and nobody's jealous and everybody's working together.
Noel - It seems a lot tighter, like there's more of a community. A lot of bands are going to other bands' shows, it seems like more of a fun thing.
Joel - So what do you guys think about some of the places you're playing at now?
Noel - My favorite place to play is still the Casbah, I like the sound there and the atmosphere, and it's just a really fun place to play for the twenty-one and up crowd. We played the Epicentre a lot, and it's getting better. I'm starting to be able to hear myself sing, which is always good-
Brad - That place has come a long way from having that little, six inch stage to where it is now, it's unbelievable. With the big sound system, and the curtains, and everything; it's run like a club needs to be run, and it just keeps getting better. I was talking to James (venue director for the Epicentre) the other day, and he's talking about a side-stage, and a new entrance and sign, it's going to be awesome as soon as they're done with everything. I haven't been to the Scene or El Rio, Noel was sick last night, so we didn't get to play El Rio, but everyone says the Scene's really cool, but we've yet to play it.
Noel - The next two questions will be answered by Eric and the Fonz-
Brad - And Noel and I will not open our mouths.
Joel - I think this one is for Eric anyways, tell me about Skateboarding, I heard you used to be quite a skater?
Eric - Yeah, in high school, but now I'm old and fat and I can't do it anymore, and it makes me sad. I like to watch people I used to know skate, but then I cry and hug myself, I hug Jordan (Jordan from PBR happened to walk up at this point in the interview), he's my major inspiration, I don't know, I don't want to talk anymore.
(Eric was feeling pretty sick, and his throat sounded really sore, so I didn't question him anymore).
Joel - So when you guys are just hanging out in San Diego, what do members of the Classified do for fun?
Fonz - Practice?
Noel - Yeah, we try to practice at least three times a week. We like to go out to bars and stuff, more them (the rest of the band), I'm not as able because I'm kinda poor and I have a girlfriend thing. But yeah, we like to hang out at bars, getting drunk, just having a good time, hanging out with each other.
Brad - It seems like a while ago, we used to have a night and we'd have excuses to go out. It would be like, Monday night is one dollar beer night over at this place, and Tuesday night is dollar beers here, and Wednesday night is wings night, so we gotta go to wings, and Thursday is three dollar movies, so we gotta go there; and it just seemed we out every night of the week doing something. That's about it, so yeah, we sound like such alcoholics in this interview, but there's a whole lot of consumption.
Noel - We also like to go watch our friends' bands play, like Kamala and Spell Toronto, so we go watch them whenever they're playing. There's other bands we're really into that we like to go watch to.
Joel - So when you're watching Spell Toronto or Kamala, do you find yourself getting influenced, like, do you find their music rubbing off on your own?
Noel - No, not at all actually (laughing), I'm just joking.
Brad - It's weird, because the three bands all have the same influences; like, it sounds so weird, but Faith No More is one of Noel's favorite bands, and same with all the guys from Kamala and Spell Toronto, they all love Faith No More, but every band sounds completely different. Everybody grew up on the same bands, and everybody likes the same thing, but everyone's band is so different, like between the three bands, there are three completely different styles of music.
Fonz- I also think that we influence each other, I don't think we just share the same influences. Going out and watching our friends' bands play really gives us new ideas, and all that stuff, and it goes all around in circles. I think the whole scene, since five years ago, has definitely progressed musically. I think the standard for bands has just gone sky-high, even though San Diego is not that looked at by big promoters and stuff, we still have an amazing array of talent, and I think it's because we've all been influenced by each other's music.
Brad - The bar has been raised for bands in this area. You take anyone of these bands, and their CDs that are out now, and you put them into a time warp to five years ago and it would have been huge. Go listen to Unwritten Law's first CD, and it's totally crazy, and it made them really big, but now it that would be such like an average band.
Joel - Last question while we're kinda on the scene five years ago, you guys played with Blink 182 when they were smaller, right?
Noel - Yeah.
Joel - So thoughts on them now, or on Blink 182 in general.
Eric - We played with them last time they played here, we were lucky enough to play with them at the Coors Ampitheatre at the side-stage, it was a good time. I don't know, they've always been supportive (of us), I mean, as much as they can be. I think when you get really big, you're pretty much just taken on a roller coaster ride and it's hard to remember where you're from and what's going on. I think they've done all they could do, and they've been great to us since then, they've always mentioned us in interviews, and have been very supportive, Mark's new clothing label (Atticus) has been hooking us up with clothing. I never knew the people (in Blink 182) they (the rest of the Classified) all knew them.
Noel - I went to high school with the old drummer, so I've been going to see them since they played old school SOMA, with like 10 people at the side stage. So seeing them grow and develop into what they are now, I'm all for it, and I'm a big fan of the band.
Brad - It's good for them, where they're at, and every band that's playing right now would love to be at that point.
Noel - I see them on TV and I see their accomplishments, and it makes me want to push harder and try more stuff, it makes me motivated.
Joel - I won't force you guys to freeze (we were doing the interview outside at midnight and it was really cold) any longer, unless you have some closing comments.
Brad - Thanks for interviewing us, the CD comes out at the end of January, and keep an eye on SanDiegoPunk (the contests page) for giveaways of CDs and merch and stuff.
Eric - I've been trying to build myself up to puke, but I just haven't had it in me. I really wanted to throw-up on your (tape) recorder, I was thinking about sticking my finger down my throat because I really wanted to puke, but it's just not coming (laughing).
Joel - So you're website is counterfit.org?
Noel - Actually, we're the Classified. (Laughing)
Everyone - put that in.
Joel - So it's classified, or theclassified.org?
Brad - It's theclassified.org.
Joel - Alright, thanks!
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