THROWDOWN: from bunny suits to hanging with Max Cavalera

My first exposure to Throwdown was probably Tommy and Rosie making noise in the kitchen of the house i was living in. I'm sure you've heard the story... a couple friends start making noise in this house called "Softcore", and a few years and a few hundred members later, they are playing in front of THOUSANDS of people.
I, myself, was in Throwdown for a while. I don't remember how, but I'm pretty sure i only played five or six shows. One was at PCH club, and I wore all camo. I left the band because I had plane tickets booked to see Sunny Day Real Estate in Seattle. I was convinced they'd never play again. Whoops.
I caught up with Dave Peters in the middle of their recent tour with Bleeding Through through Europe. Here's how it goes..




Ok. First off, lets go back to where it started. You left 18 Visions in a shitstorm, if you will. How did you getting into Throwdown come about?
Well, I knew the band at the time just from shows and hanging around the same places. I think I was one of maybe two acceptable people to hang out with from my then "clique" if you will. They hated all my friends and vice versa haha. So yeah, Brandan left the band to do 18v and Bleeding Through and it just kinda worked out? His last show was in a rabbit suit. I kinda wish that would have been my first show.

Throwdown started out as a "joke band" per se, and the comedy continued for a while, with dressing up for halloween, or pajamas.. at what point did it become "serious"?
Ya know, there reached a point where there were a significant number of kids coming to the shows and who appreciated the band moreover for the content of the lyrics and the songs themselves instead of just the fun antics. We felt compelled to take more seriously the music that a lot of kids took seriously and identified with. I mean, we had always taken the music itself seriously, but we had just never taken ourselves very seriously. We still really don't ten years later to be honest. So essentially nothing has changed except for wacky cover songs and fun costumes.

Yeah I remember Throwdown covering Sepultura.. and then there's the whole BABY GOT BACK THING..
Hahahaha yeah some jokes go too far I always say. If I have any advice for other bands it's "Steer clear of 90's rap covers, no matter how awesome they are."

Lets talk about making videos..
Oh man. Let's.

What was the first video you guys did?
Well, the video for "Forever" was the first legitimate one that we had ever done, but before that we did a live video for "Raise Your Fist" and before THAT we did this AMAZING video.... some student project thing. I don't think anyone even has it anymore, which is a damn shame and a fucking blessing at the same time. It was this poor attempt at a story line that involved some poor excuse for a drug addict keeling over in the middle of one of our shows.

The "straightedge anthem" FOREVER... that video had a lot of our friends in a fight club scenario..
Yeah Forever was a really fun video. (Chris) Sims did a GREAT video for us after that for "Burn", but I think him and I both have a greater appreciation for the "Forever" video given everything that went into it and despite it being shot on HD vs film. ...and despite there not being any thing set on fire.

Forever IS an awesome video. The line up of Dom, Mentley, Jared... and then some great fight footage, including Martin (of Donnybrook!), Jeff Willingham, and Corey Sabbatini.
Yeah I don't know that you could get all those people in the same room these days. Not cus they wouldn't get along necessarily, but because I don't know where the hell most of them even live now. I think I remember Dre or Martin just throwing someone. It was a sweet rager.

Next, came the BURN video..
Yes. That video was a lot of fun too because we put our very good friend, Kirk, in it. We couldn't afford Nicholas Cage so his body double was the next best thing (and better if you ask me).

Thats actually a great fucking video. Sims did an awesome job, and its my favorite Throwdown song.
It's not Slip?

Oh man I was wondering when we'd get around to that.. (Ryan) Downey joked that I should be getting royalties from that song..
You probably should, but then again we should probably be getting royalties from Trustkill also, and that occurs once in a blue moon.

Ha... ok let's talk about the video for HOLY ROLLER.. is that your only other video?
Yeah we have 3 videos, one for each album. I love the Holy Roller. Sims didn't do that one unfortunately, but the guys that did did a great job. And there's some great fuckin snakes in there. You can always turn up the 'snake' in the monitors.

Its decidedly more metal. Between Mark's hair, the riffs, and the snakes. Revolver Magazine called you the "future of metal".. I guess this video is evidence. Was it a gradual thing where you said, "we want a different kind of kid moshing at our shows"? ..or was it a conscious move?
Well, I'd be lying if i said the state of hardcore music and the scene associated with it in select areas isn't just a little disheartening for me, but that didn't inspire the musical shift whatsoever...It was more a gradual evolution that occurred across several albums. I mean, the bands that got me initially excited about heavy music, the bands that built a bridge to hardcore for me, were metal bands from the 90s... Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, Sepultura, Machine Head....the "Gods of Metal" if you will. Those bands still continue to inspire me more than anything else when it comes to writing metal and hardcore music. They're timeless.
How do you respond to kids who feel alienated by your musical shift?
I find it to be the ultimate in irony to be honest.. In light of hardcore from the 80's-90's being comprised of bands like Madball, Unbroken, Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Undertow, Earth Crisis... What binds those bands has nothing to do with the way their guitar sounds or whether there is double bass or not. The music is a vehicle for the message. Those "true" kids are more concerned with whether or not they can keep their New Era hat on in the midst of a 'sick breakdown' than whether or not what I'm saying and writing carries something real and from the heart that they might identify with if they took a few minutes to listen. I don't have time for that kind of thing or those kind of people, and it doesn't matter if they are hardcore, metal, rollerbladers, trapeze artists or sushi chefs.
What's the next step for Throwdown?
Well, we'll be touring on Venom & Tears for the remainder of the year and rounding out what we like to think of as a "world tour". Other than that, we should be writing a recording a record early next year if all goes well. We're not very good at sticking to a schedule. We kind of just fly by the seat of our pants, so who knows really.
You really have seen the world, thanks to this band. How does that make you feel?
GREAT! I'm doing what I love and getting paid (most times) to see the entire world. The tour atmosphere can get a little tense sometimes, but when I step back and remind myself of that...it's really hard to justify complaining about anything.

What is your favorite place to play past and present, and what's one place you'd really like to play in the future?
To answer the latter, there are a ton of places I'd like to see, that, if things go right, we'll be seeing this year: Iceland, Russia, South Africa, China to name a few. I've got to say that the most beautiful place in the world for me is New Zealand. My wife and I will be retiring there at what I hope to be an early age.
You have toured with some very notable bands.. what has been your favorite band to tour with, and who would your dream tour be with?
We've been really fortunate to share the stage with some amazing bands and people. I feel like I can die happy, having toured with Max Cavalera and sang a ton of old Sepultura songs with Soulfly and the Cavalera Conspiracy. The guys in Machine Head were AMAZING people and obviously an incredible band. I could go on for an hour about all the great people we've met over the years. As far as a band i'd love to tour with, which I likely never will: Tool. We did play Donington Fest with them in 2006, which was also the first time I got to see them. I met the guitar player, Adam, and he was a super humble and regular dude. That's always refreshing when a band who has accomplished so much can remain grounded and take the time to talk to a fanboy like me.
What is the craziest fanboy thing that anyone has ever pulled on you?
Hmmm i dunno....well, there are a lot of very large Throwdown tattoos out there. I don't look at that like a crazy thing...well i do, but in a good way. It's pretty mindblowing to see that. As far as weirdo shit goes....Well, we played in Atlanta once and there was this dude flipping me of the entire set. A guy in a pink floyd shirt who I pegged for being a fan of the band playing after us. He was mouthing "fuck you faggot" among other expletives and making gestures like he was smoking a 'marijuana cigarette' if you're familiar with those. So I jumped down and kinda fucked with him a little bit...just sorta sung in his face, put my hand on the top of his head etc. Then out of nowhere he punches me right in the face. ...kinda hard too. I got stunned for a second but kept singing (what I hope were the right lyrics). Then I turned around and hit him with the hand holding the microphone and cracked the top part of his nose to the tune of a big 'thud' through the PA. When he got up, he wiped the blood off and then proceeded to sing EVERY WORD to Forever. I was straight up baffled. Just goes to show that there are plenty of ways to show your appreciation for a band.

Jesus.. I guess thats like when punks used to spit on each other.
Yeah....as much as I wished I was Henry Rollins.....I really don't wish I was Henry Rollins.
Does it ever get confusing with the MMA clothing company called throwdown?
Hahahaha sort of, yes. I had people texting me saying they saw Hulk Hogan wearing our Tshirt. I just said "Yeah, I know. He's a big fan." Most of the time it is harmless, but they've come out with some pretty similar designs that we've seen floating around our shows now and then. They're not exactly following the rules that we discussed a year or so back. We'll see where that goes I suppose.

So you actually sat down with them and tried to figure shit out? Was the meeting in an octagon?
HAHAHA There were some exchanges between our management and one of their former partners, which have apparently been swept under the rug for the time being. The guy we talked to before was super cool about it and acknowledged that we've been around much longer. I say live and let live...but some free gloves and pads would be nice. Maybe an cage built into our trailer?
Are there any newish hardcore band that have caught your attention?
I actually heard some of Keith's (Barney) new band with Dave from Force of Change, and it had some serious riffage in it. Liked that. I don't think they have a name yet. As far as straight away hardcore, I like the Mistake and only the Mistake. I like my brother's band Kodiak!

Ok last question... can you, me and Ken Floyd please do a bloodlet cover band?
Done and DONE! I just talked to Ken online yesterday. Say the word!!!! You're singing.

Only if i can do the awesome finger over the eye thing. I'll start working on my goatee now.
hahahaha work on your "meeeetschk" while you're at it

Moo Cow: the legacy

The other day I was downloading a bunch of stuff, and I tried to find the New Day Rising/ Hourglass split. I couldn't find it anywhere, so i googled it. I was taken to the Moo Cow Records myspace page, and it made me realize that in the mid 90's, this guy put out some pretty amazing records. He put out the Disembodied "confession" 7", as well as records by Cave In, Despair, and of course, New Day Rising. I contacted him about doing an interview and trying to track down that NDR/ Hourglass split.. and he returned with:

"I don't have any of those old records left. Check the website"

Let down, to say the least... but i did some poking around and found the Moo Cow website. It has great stories about all of the records in the "releases" section. Check it out for a glimpse at a very interesting time in hardcore

www.moocowrecords.com

Every Time I Die.. Andy Williams "keeps it real"

My first exposure to the powerhouse that is known as Every Time I Die was in 1999. The band i was in was on tour, and wound up in Buffalo. A cd called "Burial Plot Bidding War" ended up in our hands, and it didn't really catch my ear. We played with them a few more times, and i didn't really watch them or care.
Then one day I saw a video for a song called "ebolarama" and my life changed. I was instantly MORE than a fan. I came to love their music, and them as people. You'd think that with everything they've been through in the past few years, they would have turned into the biggest rockstar fucks on the planet. Not the case, as Andy Williams demonstrated to me in this interview.



Wikipedia says that you started in the winter of 1998. How accurate is that?
We played our first show then. I don't know when a band starts though.. like when you first practice or come up with the name or whatever.

Speaking of, how did you come up with that name, and if you had to name it now, what would you call it?
Well, we were sitting around and we had a show booked with Buried Alive at a record store in Hamilton, Ont. On the flyer it said "the andy williams band" at first. We couldn't swing with that, so we had to get a name and we were listening to a band and they had a song called "every time i dial", and Ratboy was like, "doesn't it sound like hes saying every time i die? lets call the band that." We all agreed. If I could name it now, it would be like Street Trash or something after an old classic movie.

There is a band from Oc called Street Trash. The Mistake used to play with them.
Yeah i know. It sucks. But i couldn't think of anything, and thats one of my favorite movies. So I said that

Its funny that you mention Buried Alive, because the first time I ever remember seeing you was when Buried Alive played Hellfest 99. You were like designated pit magnet. Clearing the place out. I was frightened.
Hahaha what a shitty time. I was basically a bully having way to much fun, or the biggest kid at school that didn't know his own strength. I'll go with that one

How connected to "Buffalo hardcore" do you feel at this point? I've always felt that Buffalo had a lot of local pride. Some great bands came out of your town.
Dude, there are great bands there right now. Rhinoceros is a great band from there. It's kind of a metallic band with Paul Bearer vocals (edit: Paul Bearer sang for Sheer Terror. Just Sayin'). It's pretty sweet. I also have a side project band i sing for called Chopper. There are a ton of up and coming bands from there though.

You guys have achieved so much in the past ten years. You're in video games. You've been on tv multiple times. Did you EVER think it was possible?
Nah, I literally thought the biggest thing we would do was a weekend with converge. Maybe a tour.

Do you still consider ETID a hardcore band?
I do for sure. I know a lot of people don't agree with that, but nothing has changed over the years. We still have our ear to the ground and it's still family oriented to us.

At what point do you think a band crosses that line? I mean there have always been "crossover" bands. Look at CROMAGS and stuff. But what makes that distinction?
I think its when they give up on the good times, like its not fun and they are doing it for competition. Because that was the thing with us over the years. We just want to riff. Thats it.

Last year you guys put out a 3 record set. Thats pretty core, keeping it on vinyl. Do you have any more plans to do vinyl?
Yeah every thing we do is on vinyl. Everything we ever will do will be on vinyl. The Big Dirty came out not to long ago actually on vinyl. I think its one of those things you gotta get at a live show or find it online. I think i read one thing about it on like the prp or something... www.vinylcollective.com Thats the company.

It seems like your band has had its share of hard times, like bass player issues, a roadie who had some health issues, etc.
haha yeah, we've had some plagues.

I Guess the phrase "what doesnt kill you make you stronger" applies to you then..
I would say so. Well actually I would say "if it doesn't kill you, try until it does" applies.

Can you tell me about the benefit shows you play every year for keith and jordan's sister?
We do the Christmas show every year. Its not technically for her, its just for research for MS I think. It's basically us being santa for the year. And a way for us to redeem all the shitty things we do all year long.

You also played take action tour, and you're doing a thing for this years Warped Tour where someone buys a chance to bowl with you, and the money goes to charity. It's awesome that you get to give back, and people get to enjoy being around you at the same time. Like, you're not just a bunch of dicks up there doing the rock show thing.
I think its awesome man. We were given a pedestal to stand on... why not use that for good? Not too many bands ever do that. It's sad. i'm actually gonna challenge someone for 100 dollars out of my own pocket. if they can beat me with me throwing between my legs ill give them the 100 dollars. if I beat them, ill take theirs and give it all to charity.

And I think that is one of the things that separates you, and keeps you "hardcore"
There is no point being a shithead, man. We see that way too much with bands like Chiodos and bands like that. Their hair and fashion dictates their every move, not their heart and talent.

Well said. Speaking of hair and fashion, you yourself have kind of set a new benchmark in fashion. I've seen MANY kids with long hair and a beard. And yeah, they could have seen their parent's skynard records, but I'll wager they saw you first.
I hope man, I didn't grow it for the reason of looking gnarly though. It's kinda my own personal stance against whats going on with fashion and shit. When you look like I do with the a super long beard and hair, people have to get to know you as you, not as a good looking guy or something like that. It forces them to engage conversation to find the real story instead of judging a book by its cover. I know it sounds lame, but its the reason.

I would have guessed it was just a byproduct of being on the road all the time, but I like your explanation better.
nah, man. I actually love shaving

Is there anything you havent achieved yet with this band?
Umm I would say no. We have literally exceeded every expectation we ever had for this band. I'm literally living the american dream, man. I play guitar for a living. I can't ask for much more.

Ok one last question... if I started a band called EVERY TIME I DIET, should it be all skinny kids or all fat kids?
hmmm.. fat for sure. Then you can see the progress as you go. But like everyone has to be like obese, like Louie Anderson. Or John Candy.

zines

One of my favorite parts of the early years that I was into hardcore was collecting zines. Zine, for those of you too young to remember, is short for FANZINE. Basically it's a do-it-yourself magazine dedicated to whatever you choose. In my case, it was the ones dedicated to hardcore that I enjoyed. I loved going to Vinyl Solution, digging through the box of new zines there... going to shows and picking up new ones... having friends from across the country and even world send me theirs and their friends' zines. I still have every zine. They are in two boxes next to my closet. Some of them still find their way into the bathroom on occasion.. I decided to post some of my favorites.

One of the earliest introductions to the fact that hardcore was both political AND personal was through Kent Mclard. He did Ebbulition records, and a fanzine called NO ANSWERS. That eventually turned into HeartattaCk. It was a pretty huge zine at the time. Lots of columns and reviews, mostly by what would have been called "PC" people, which wasn't a very nice term at the time. There was always a lot to read, lots of good ads, and i could read about some bands that's i'd never heard before.
The mistake got a pretty awesome, and a pretty not awesome review for the same record in two different issues.
Steve Aoki, DJ KID MILLIONAIRE, was a writer for the zine and used it was a forum to bash Monster Crew, One King Down, and anything that was too "thuggish". Steve Aoki used to write "yellow rage" on his chest and majored in women's studies. Go figure.
The Swarm wrote a song about issue #21 called "S.S.I.T.N.H.C." It was the women's issue, and some girl seriously put a picture of herself with her legs spread, showing her "hairy fucking chooch". Disturbing.

There were four other "big" zines for me. Tidbit, Indecision, Anti (matter), and Second Nature.
Tidbit was done by Dave Sine, out of Huntington Beach. He had the best fucking pictures and layouts. He made a shirt once that said "fuck the kids". I didn't think it was funny then. I think its gold now.
Indecision was done by Dave Mandel, and he went on to make it a record label that released many important records, especially in southern california hardcore. When i finally met him in person, I felt like I already knew him from his zine. Expect an interview with him on this site soon.
Anti was originally called Anti-Matter and was done by Norm Arenas, from New York City. Norm was in Texas is the Reason and i think Shelter. It was really thick, with really good interviews. He was famous for asking Mike Judge, "So do you really remember the last time you cried?"
Second Nature was out of the midwest, and was probably the most computerized zine of the time. It started as skateboarding and hardcore and eventually dropped the skating and got color covers. They did a record label as well, putting out records from Isis and Coalesce.

I'm sure I'll be posting more zine stuff. But for now I gotta finish downloading the One Eyed God Prophecy record and flat iron my hair.

Unbroken: from the Final Expession to Crushed on You

There aren't many bands in hardcore that achieve "legendary" status, but Unbroken has earned that right. Hailing from San Diego, Ca, Unbroken took it's mere four year existence from small straightedge band to being known in the underground worldwide. From the first show in 1992 (with Strife and Undertow at Spanky's), to the last show weekend in 1995, to the reunion to benefit the family of fallen guitarist Eric Allen, Unbroken helped shape the face of modern hardcore, as noted by Alternative Press in the July 2008 issue (23 Bands Who Shaped Punk).
I chatted with Unbroken guitarist Steven Andrew Miller about what happened after Unbroken..well.. broke.


When and why did Unbroken break up?
We broke up in November of 95. We figured the band had run it's course and we did all the things we set out to do. We thought it was a good idea to go out on our terms instead of being one of those bands who over stays their welcome and is asked to leave.

I remember the last show you guys played at Showcase Theatre. You also played a last show at Che Cafe in San Diego, right?
Yeah, the very next night I believe it was

What happened after that?
I was doing Kill Holiday during the last year of Unbroken and that lasted until 2000. I did another band called the Landslide but it was way brief. Then I did what most kids in hardcore end up doing. Grow their hair long and start playing in rock bands that have nothing to do with hardcore.


What influenced Kill Holiday musically and lyrically? At the time it was SUCH a departure from Unbroken.
At first I had no idea what it was going to sound like. We just wanted to start a band that I would sing and play guitar in. I think the obvious influences would be Quicksand and Jawbreaker. Lyrically I just wrote about whatever was on my mind. I had songs about break ups, people talking shit, and even songs about hardcore and straight edge. Then later on I grew tired of that and started introducing other influences into my song writing. And with that came lyrics a little too personal and forward but it was shit I had to get off my chest. But yeah, it was a big departure from Unbroken. But that's what it was supposed to be. I had no desire to be in the same type of band twice.

Do you think that people looking for an extension of Unbroken were let down?
Definitely. That's totally what happened. It felt like if you played in a hardcore band, people always wanted anything you did after to be hardcore as well. But that's also the time when sub genre's started up and people were opening up to bands like Sunny Day, Texas Is The Reason, The Promise Ring etc... And also a band like Far which was heavy and then melodic all at the same time. So I think people were becoming more accepting of it. That same question has always made me wonder if people were let down when the first Quicksand 7" came out because it sounded nothing like Gorilla Biscuits or Youth Of Today. I know all of us in San Diego loved it. But that's because as you said, we were smarter than most people. haha

Did you ever notice a backlash from "core" kids because of how you looked and the style of music you played post-Unbroken?
Not that I remember. And if there was, it never got back to me. I think after the years of Unbroken people weren't as afraid to admit they liked music that wasn't hardcore. So even when I changed up the sound of Kill Holiday going more british, people were into it. I'm sure some weren't as well though but I didn't hear too much resentment. I never really cared what people had to say anyway

How do you feel about the "legacy" that followed Unbroken.. I mean people almost WORSHIP the band?
I guess I can say now I'm getting somewhat used to it, if you will. I'm not sure I understand it but at the same time it's not something I'm able to ignore. I just don't know exactly what it was we did to create this. I just wish we had it when we were still playing. We always felt like we were runners up to a lot of other bands in the scene at the time. Like people liked us, but they seemed to like our contemporaries a lot more.

From what i saw when you were around, the people who really like you at the time were the "cool" and "smart" kids. Like, you had to have more substance inside to "get it".
I think that comes from being a San Diego band. A lot of things were different there as opposed to other cities. And now it's clear on how the various bands from San Diego have influenced bands all over. But at the time, we were all looked at a little differently from there. So maybe you did have "to get it" and maybe it took others longer to figure it out.

You were also in a little band called Gehenna. Can you tell me how that came about?
I did Gehenna during Unbroken and around the same time I started Kill Holiday. It was nothing more of a project between me and my friend Justin Holbo. Unbroken used to practice at his house so he and I would always jam with him on guitar and me on drums. We demo'd a few songs on a 4 track just to fuck around. Clikitat Ikatowi was playing a house show and we jumped on it calling ourselves The King of Beasts. Our friend Rich was on bass but we turned his amp down because he didn't know the songs and we had Mike Cheese make up words on the spot. It was actually pretty rad. So we made a real band out of it calling ourselves Gehenna and went into a studio and cut a real demo. It was fun for a while and we played some rad shows but Cheese was being Cheese and I had to quit. Nothing personal towards him because he is an old and dear friend. But I can't and won't defend his actions and I couldn't really be associated with them as well. We played a show at the Che and he slapped Dave Astor from the Locust for reasons I still don't even know why. After that I bailed. So did Justin and Rich. Justin came back and they went though various people and now I can't even tell you what's going on with that band.

What did you think when you heard about the AP article? There are some pretty heavyweight bands on that list...
When I was first told about it coming out, someone mentioned it was going to be about 23 bands you wish you'd seen live, not those who shaped punk. Now that made sense to me. We weren't around for very long and lot of kids who are younger never saw us so I definitely saw the reason behind that. But when the issue came out and it was about bands who shaped punk I was a little shocked. Flattered but shocked. That's some big company we're with there. Bands that I loved growing up. I just didn't see how we fit in with it. I guess what was also a little strange with it is how people always talk about and relate more to Life Love Regret which seems to be a staple in everyone's collection. But they had it focused on our last 7". But if we go down being remembered in an article with Fugazi, the Cro Mags, YOT and Integrity, I can live with that. Oh yeah, and the Bad Brains!

I have always felt that Unbroken helped to shape more of the aesthetic of modern hardcore.. not necessarily the music, but fashion.. record layout... lyrics, etc. And by fashion i mean.. at the time we were wearing huge clothes and didn't have as much "style" per se. Unbroken came along and blew everyone out of the water.
That was never on our agenda. We never sat around planning on how much cooler can we look than anyone else. I mean, at that time, we thought it was rad when Statue and Nation of Ulysses came out playing in suits but it was a gimmick. I've always felt that bands should wear on stage what they wear when they woke up that morning. And that was us. We were into the Smiths before we even listened to Minor Threat. I can speak for Eric, Rob and myself that all our lives we spent various ways of doing our hair in the vain of Morrissey. But it wasn't until "Your Arsenal" that we were like fuck it, we're going all the way now. Clothes, hair etc.... I won't lie though.. We were sick to death of jean shorts, hardcore shirts over hooded sweatshirts and baseball hats.

Exactly which is what me and my friends were wearing!! And I think that South Orange County really adopted the look, and seemed to be more into Unbroken than anyone (edit: except the kids in Orange) else in OC. Did you notice that, and did you see another place where it happened?
I definitely saw it early with some of the OC kids that were die hards wherever we played. I believe some of that riff raff were your friends in Enewetak. But each year as we toured, we saw it growing. We also had Undertow on our side with John Pettibone being right there with us as well as Seth Linstrum who was an ex guitarist of Undertow who also had lived in San Diego. Kids at first laughed and talked shit but then come 94 and 95 we started seeing a lot of changes in appearance. And of course it was coined the Unbroken look.

Well you certainly gave OC barbers more business, and bands started making merch in sizes other than XL
Definitely. We wanted to make merch that we would wear so we started making smaller sizes.

When we first spoke on the phone about the AP article, you mentioned that you felt that Eric Allen was being martyred, and being compared to Ian Curtis. There are totally some similarities, and I understand what you meant about romanticizing suicide.
I didn't feel that as much about that article as I did about a recent interview I had done where the kid said something about us reaching legendary status because of his suicide. I just didn't like how the article made it seem like it was his brainchild in that sense and everything had more lyrical depth because of the choices he made post Unbroken. We were a collective and everyone's voice was heard. Eric and I split song writing down the middle but all five of us had a hand in lyrics using Dave's voice as the medium. I just think people have the wrong idea about what it's like when someone takes their own life. Suicide is a selfish fucking act. It kills those closest to you. My Dad knew Eric really well and he asked me just yesterday if I even think about him. Of course I said yes and he asked if I knew why it happened. All I could answer with was that he was too young and stupid to realize that depression is a temporary time consumer. You will be happy again and you will be miserable again. Life is a fucking roller coaster. But it is in no way worth it to pain everyone else over it.

Do you ever get sick of people asking about Eric's death?
YES! He died in June of 1998. I did a US tour and a European tour in Kill Holiday in the beginning of 1999 to support our new record which largely had a lot to do with him. It was more in Europe where kids had no shame in asking was too many detailed questions. I don't know if it's the difference in language or what but I was really getting offended on how much kids wanted to know. There was one show over there and I can't remember where exactly, that a group of kids rush the stage just minutes before we're about to play and demand I tell them everything about his death. I just stood there dumbfounded. All I could say to them was "couldn't you have picked a better time to ask me about that." I'm getting ready to play a show and all of a sudden I've got to give a press conference about one of the greatest fucking tragedies in my life.

Your new band CRUSHED ON YOU is gaining momentum. That "ex-Unbroken" thing is still on all of the fliers i see. How do you feel about that?
That ex band stuff used to really bother me. I played drums for the Locust on a European tour as a favor and every flyer said "ex Unbroken" and I was like, I'm not even in this band. I can understand it from a marketing point of view though if you're trying to get attention and have people take an interest. I mean, we also have to put ex Atreyu and ex Throwdown. But the main problem when listing ex bands is that people might be looking for you to sound like those ex bands. It's obviously not the case with us.

You were absent from the hardcore scene for many years. How does it feel to be playing in a band, though not a straight up hardcore band, on a stage with other hardcore bands again?
To be honest, I feel right at home. Everything just seems to make sense. Especially being on stage at that last Showcase show getting ready to sing. Not one ounce of nervousness came over me. Even though I needed to leave, it almost makes me feel like I may have wasted some time not staying around. But then again, who knows what would've happened?

If you could interview one other person in hardcore, past or present, who would it be and why?
Man, I don't even know. No one comes to mind. I've either met or have become friends with most that interest me. Or I've been able to read and learn about them. I have to admit that I really don't care too much about people to pick their brains. Unless we're close to begin with or getting close.

One last question.. courtesy of Chase. What was your favorite thing to put in your pomp? Was it really a combination of Murray's and Dixie Peach?
That's exactly what it was! But this layrite stuff out does anything I've used in the past.


Check out Steven's new band at www.myspace.com/crushedonyou And please, don't call him Steve Miller.

Where It Begins

Hello, and thanks for stopping by my new website. I have several reasons for starting this, so I'll start at the beginning.



I have been involved in hardcore since 1991. Going to shows, being in bands, doing zines.. all kinds of things. In the past few years, my involvement has declined. The reason for this being that there just isn't a whole lot going on that excites me. But recently, i found out why little excites me.. I WON'T LET IT. I've been so closed minded. Granted, not a whole lot of bands out right now are worth my time, maybe i should be willing to give them a shot.

I did my first fanzine in 1994. It was called STINK EYE and I think I made 50 copies. It had lots of cool photographs (which I still have), some very not cool writing, and and interview with the band ENDPOINT (which I'll probably reprint on this site). I even got some hate mail from this zine, from a kid named Todd Evans. My first hate mail, definitly not my last. That zine only had one issue, and I went on to do a zine called NINE DOT. I think I did three issues, a photo issue, and a part of Troy Peace's zine compilation A BUNCH OF ZINES. I have always loved fanzines. They were the only way you could find out what was going on in hardcore around the country and world before the internet. I still have a two boxes of fanzines in my house. Granted, the spiders get more use out of them now, but i still have them. I will probably reprint interesting interviews and articles for preservation's sake.

This website will be a modern version of my fanzine, but cheaper for both parties. The reader doesnt have to buy it, and I don't have to try and sneak copies off at kinko's and learn how to recycle stamps (remind me to tell that story later). This website will have interviews, stories about crucial records and crucial shows and crucial times, photos, and more. I want as many people to contribute as possible.

This website wouldn't be possible without one man, Josh Highland. He runs a little website called http://www.notpopular.com/ and has been an active for in southern California hardcore for many years. Please check out his site (especially the messageboard) and make sure to click on the ad banners. I've always thought that there was no reason that website couldnt be as popular as http://www.lambgoat.com/ or http://www.bridge9.com/, but i guess the name says it all.

Please email me with any questions, comments, or ideas. jvh13@hotmail.com

Thank you for stopping by, and make sure to put this site in your favorites and check it at least weekly.

Love,
javier