Getting back together and recording a new record, what
was it like being back in the studio?
Being in the
studio has always been a great experience. I mean who wouldn't like their ass
kissed while ordering food delivered at any time .... all while surrounded by a
place that looks like the inside of the Battalstar Galactica...and an engineer
who is turning knobs making lights flash the likes of which I can only begin to
fathom their purpose.
Is 'Broken Things" about patching up the
relationships within the band and picking up the pieces?
Eric wrote the
song , so you should really ask him.... I read into it as reaching a point in
your life when you thought things should be on automatic and finding out that
despite all of your planning, things haven't turned out so seamlessly..
What took so long to make new music?
All of the band
writes songs...... usually a member will have a large piece of the song
completed before bringing it up to the band. I personally find that as time has
gone on I have become very picky about what I think is good
and what I dismiss as 'not good enough'.
In 2016, we get our first new Naked Raygun record in
decades, what can fans expect?
More of the same,
thought provoking, catchy tunes.
For many, the band were introduced to a whole new
audience thanks to Foo Fighters' 'Song Highways," what did it mean to you
to have Dave Grohl call you heroes and influences to him?
It was very
humbling. I mean here's a guy who has been extremely successful in two bands -
telling us that we had an effect on him.
It's nice to know that the passing of the torch has been completed and we did
our little part to mold musical tastes away from the 'Darkside.'
Hailing from Chicago, you opened for the Foos this past
summer at Wrigley, what was that moment like?
It was arena rock
at its finest. I wish that more of our friends and fans had been able to get
tickets.
Chicago has changed drastically since you first started,
does the city still have an influence on you?
Yes it sure does.
Chicago is in our blood. It means a to to me that our largest fan-base is here.
I love this town and all it has to offer.
Punk owes so much to you guys, being pioneers of a
certain sound, do you ever look back on your career and just say, 'Wow?'
I don't
look back that often but when I do I wished that we had toured more and written
a couple of more albums. I think we could have done more.
What brought on the reunion 10 years ago and what was it
like getting back on stage together with each other?
Eric got the band back together for a Riot Fest show and he
also arranged for us to play a Stiff Little Fingers song with the great Jake
Burns - who had relocated from Ireland to Chicago - Unreal !!!!!
**Photo by Katie Hovland**
