Till Death is d-beat band from Texas, USA.. I was heard for them for the first time by listening their split release with Warvictims and I liked them immediately.. this interview is here thanks to Chad who recommend they to me for an 'view.. thanks also goes to the guys from Till Death on this nice answers.. guys you rocks!
I ask them for an euro tour, totally not expecting positive answer but it turned out that they actually are preparing euro tour in August 2011, so it's good oppurtunity for all of you boys & girls from europe to find out something more about them before they come here!..so enjoy in the reading!..
c.f.: for the beginning tell us how did things get started with Till Death, line up, etc..
Gus: Till Death began with Zak (Fuck Work, Maelstrom) being transplanted in Corpus Christi to go to school so he could get away from our friends.!!!
Zak: And then Gus's girlfriend got accepted to a dental school in Corpus so along came Gus and he found me.... Gus said I could fit more D-Beat in my school schedual...haha
Gus: And we found a local Guy in Zak's school in Corpus which is Mike. Or "Del Miko to play 2nd guitar.
Mike: Howdy Yal.
Gus: and a New Jersey transplant Corey our original Drummer.
Zak: Right Now Our Line up has changed.... We now have Kenny on drums which has been rad so far....plus Kenny and Gus played together in Century of War so they pick up on each other well.
I play Guitar, Gus on Bass and vocals and MIke on 2nd Guitar. And that is Currenty ......TILL DEATH.
c.f.: what about your releases, how it come to cooperation among you, Warvictims and Burnt Bridges Records?
Gus: Our 1st release we put out ourselves..... It was about 300 or so 7" vinyl.... which I still have plenty.hehe.... and it got a horrible review... but everyone seemed to like?? Go figure.... It picked up the attention of Chad at Burnt Bridges.... who happened to be an old friend of ours.....and even now our biggest supporter!!!
who is currently helping us set up a trip to Europe!!!
Zak: so Chad wanted to help with the next release( and more) so that sent us packing to the studio...again.
Gus: I was able to get in contact with the Warvictims thru' email.... all of us were way into the their sound so of course we had to ask if they wanted to do a record...
and they did..... so chad jumped on it and we hit the studio and Warvictims made the kick ass artwork.
c.f.: what are your lyrics about? Don't you think that so much of todays d beat bands sing about almost the same themes.. isn't this become a little boring? Your opinion about that?
mike: yea alot of the d-beat bands do have alot of the same message but I see nothing wrong with that.... War is wrong... Religion is Fucking Evil. These are things you shouldn't forget. Granted there are also D-Beat bands speaking of other things too. Its not all war and guns and bombs.....
Gus: I speak alot about religion....I think its the root of the problem. But we try to cover other topics also.... womens r ights...pro choice... death penalty.... and overall I just want people to understand they don't have to sit there on there ass and take it!!
They have a choice... A choice not to be apart of this system... A choice not to be taken advantage of. A choice to Stand and Fight back.... a chance to be a human fucking being.
c.f.: how is situation with underground scene in US? On some gig posters from the states I saw sign „all ages gig“ or something like that..does this means that on some other gigs entry for people under 18 or 21 isn't allowed?
Zak: For the most part shows are usally all ages.... well at least punk shows.
most bar shows will not let in people under the age of 21 because of local drinking laws.... some bars will do all ages because they see no risk....
c.f.: your view on Haiti tragedy and all those media and celebrates humanitarian actions.. will that money actually get there or it will be spent for something else?
Zak: you have to understand all these "so called" humanitarians who are helping with the hiati tragedy aren't there for free.... each organization will take their cut first. Pay their spokesperson.. pay for their adverts..... before the people who really need the money even know the money was in existance.... you really have to do your research when dealing with these folks.... there are many cases where the money you sent will never reach the people at all!!! So please be careful sending any aid to be sure your effort isn't lost.
Gus: But please don't let that stop you from helping!!!! we found this infoshop and look at what their doing!!!!!
Mutual Aid Disaster Relief in Haiti
A network of street medics, action medics, and other skilled individuals with politics of mutual aid has developed to help send organized teams of volunteers to Haiti to help earthquake survivors. This network is building off experiences gained working at the Common Ground Clinic in New Orleans and as street medics and campaign medics from the West Coast to Appalachia to the Northeast Anarchist Network, with varying levels of medical and herbal knowledge & clinical experience.
We are:
Providing direct medical aid, medical and social advocacy
Documenting the developing situation on the ground and providing an alternative media source; and
Establishing a grassroots structure that allows the effective distribution of aid.
Donations will immediately go towards:
Provision of emergency medical supplies and gear;
Travel costs for medics and team to reach devastated areas of Haiti; and
Supporting grassroots relief efforts on the ground.
c.f.: do you have many contacts with people from outside of the states? Would you have any that there isn't this Internet thing?.I mean it is easier to make more contacts with people from abroad nowadays, than before 10 years for example..
Gus: we have some contacts for overseas... I would say we got most of them from friends who had already been there either playing or going to shows.... but many more like yourself.. we have met online.... Its kinda hard to pick up the phone and just call your buddy in Sweden you would usally write him a letter and send a cassette tape..haha. Now with the internet I can just send you an email....much like the one I'm writing..... although this damn computer sucks and I almost wish I was just hand writing this to you.. it may have been faster....
c.f.: your opinion about free downloading music from the net?
Zak: we don't believe in copyrights... so go ahead and download our stuff...
we aren't Metalica... we wont try to sue you. haha..
Kenny: Now if someone can just show us how to upload our stuff...haha....
c.f.: how often do you play live? Do you like your live shows, any favorite gig,tour…?
Mike: We try to play once a month around here just so people don't forget about us.
We usally travel for 80% of our shows.. so sometimes we go a couple months without playing live.... which is fine that gives us time to write.... we're actually doing that right now.
Before you sent us this email we had just gotten back from the West Coast... and Yes it was a blast!!! Gus and Kenny know alot of folks out there so the shows are always badass and something fucking crazy!! We played on the side of a mountain overlooking an ocean as the locals all walked through the woods to see this show!!!! Nuts!!! And like 75 kids came out to the middle of nowhere!
We Felt like we were in a DIO video.
Zak: that same tour we hit Norman Oklahoma for the 1st time. And that place went nuts too!!
the house was huge and packed! People were passing the couch in the air with people on it!!!
Gus: that was fun. it was like 100 degrees in that house.
c.f.: in your opinion is it important that members are good friends before forming a band?
Gus: Sometimes I wish these guys were not my good friends only so I could hit them harder!!
Kenny: that hasn't stopped me.
Gus: I noticed.....All joking aside I love having my friends around me.... And we didn't know Mike or Corey before this band started and these are guys I would take a bullet for now. I would say music brings you together. but I've also seen bands go so so wrong.... I know a hand full of people who still wont talk to one on other over stupid petty band shit...
Zak: yea you gotta pull up your "Big Boy Pants" sometimes and just deal bad times.
all bands go thru ups and downs... its part of being in bands.... I think of my guys like brothers... and just like brothers....who happen to be trapped in a shitty car.... on tour... with NO air conditioning,....... in TEXAS . WILL FIGHT AND GET ANNOYED WITH EACH OTHER.
Mike: but we get over that shit and maybe it does make us better... I'm not sure.
Did I mention these guys always make me load the trailer because i cant drive.
c.f.: what does members of a band doing besides the band, what do you do for living, or you maybe can live from the band,hehehhe..?
Gus: Well we definitely don't live off TILL DEATH....
Mike: It usally costs us money..haha
Gus: True.....Me and Kenny are mechanics.... Mike is a Video Game dealer
and Zak just got "Package Handler" of the month
Zak: I worked for Fed Ex....... Lame.
Kenny: We all have side bands that keep us busy in our spear time.
Zak has like four or something? Me and Gus have another one.... Gus also has
another one.
Mike is full time student in corpus. we are waiting for him in Austin.
c.f.: do you have any future plans,some new recordings, or maybe some euro tour?? Gus: we do have 2 new recordings coming up!!!! and A EURO tour!!! How did you know??????
(c.f.: hehehe, I don't know, I have some strong feeling about this one..black magic,buhahaha, hehe..)
we are current writing for 2 new 7"s to take to EUROPE.... And we hope you all will like them!!
we will keep you posted on the dates.... but we do know AUG. 2011 is the month.
i believe that the Czech republic is the closest we'll be coming to you this time around. At this point Chad is handling most of the planning.
c.f.: thanks for the interview.. if i didn't ask something and you would like to add.. something for the end?
thank you for taking the time to chat with us... it was fun.... And thanks to all the punks who make this scene happen. I can honestly say i don't know what I'd do with out it.
TILL DEATH 2010
KENNY: DRUM
ZAK: GUITAR
GUS: BASS/VOC
MIKE:GUITAR
contact: http://www.myspace.com/tilldeathofficial
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