Andrew W.K. Interview

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Tom: Andrew, Welcome to Syracuse. Let's get down to business. Basically, I just found out about your stuff a few months ago. A buddy of mine turned me onto it. I had heard about it, and heard about it, and read about it… All the hype, ya know, and tonight was my first time seeing you…
Andrew: Cool.
T: …and I have to say it was Fucking AMAZING! That is the only thing I can say about it.
A: Thank you so much.
T: It was some unbelievable energy, dude. I know you got here late on your plane today. Where the hell do you get all you energy?
A: Actually we drove here from New York City...
T: Oh. OK…someone told us you were late due to a plane or something.
A: No that was the rest of the band came out on the plane.
T: Oh, OK…Most guys bitch about traveling and being tired on tour, how do you find all that energy, man?
A: Well first of all we love traveling. One of my favorite things is a nice long ride. To be on that bus is so exciting. You're on a tour bus and that is, ya know, so much fun.

I don't see how anybody could forget …or think, like, "Oh, yeah, we're just on a bus…" It is just so much fun to be with friends in a band and traveling around. We just love doing what we do and all that goes with it and beyond just the concert. Everything about it I love. From getting here, to all the equipment getting set up, being in a new place all the time, meeting new people, finding out what the place is gonna look like where you're gonna play. And of course, all these things build up traveling there. All building up to the moment of actually playing. All that excitement, it doesn't make it easy, but it makes it so clear as to what we're gonna do and what we're supposed to do. And what that is, is go bananas. And when you've got these songs behind you, you know what I mean…your vehicle…you, you can't help but put the pedal to the metal, ya know what I mean? And, uh, it's uh, places like this, that we've never been before, we've never been to this town and uh, there's people here that know the words and are going crazy, and ya know, it just starts with that, and so it starts with that, and there's also just, ya know, the things of effort. Like for all I know, this could be the last concert we ever get to play, so how am I gonna go out…? So, it's just like, you're thinking…you're always faced with these choices. Everybody has choices in life about what you're gonna do. Once you decide what you're going to do, then you have the choice to decide how you're going to do it. And clearly we've chosen to do this and we choose to do it well. And that is the thing; we've been given the chance to now, so we said this is what we wanna do, ya know, and here we are, the world has given us this opportunity, are we gonna do anything less than 100% once we've been given it? It's such an honor. We're so lucky. It's so unbelievably amazing that we even get to do what we are doing. Who knows how long it gonna last? For all those reasons it's just really cool that we have a choice to say, give it all or are we gonna be wimps and hold back? Are we gonna do the best we can or are we gonna be kinda like "Ok, ya know, whatever…blah, blah, blah." Live with all you've got because that is all you have. All you have is that choice of "Am I gonna go there or am I not?" I have bad days when I think "Man, I didn't do good," or "I know I can do better than this" but it just keeps us going.
Tom: Now, I've noticed the fans… I see a lot of shows and a lot of fans out there, but your fans are rabid! Those guys are so jacked on you and your music that I can't believe it. It's incredible. I mean, this kid was talking about it earlier tonight. What do you think it is that makes them go so crazy?
A: I don't know…it's been building. It's like really building, uh, building a scene. Word is spreading. Whether it's the word of how the concerts are, or just the whole thing in general. People know. They might not have seen the concert before but they know what this is and they know that they're…it's like a friend. I don't know. Maybe it's because all those unknowns about what to do and how to look cool or what's gonna happen, or what's this gonna be like…all those unknowns are, kinda, out of the picture. They know, in a sense, without even experiencing it, how it is going to be. There's this trust, uh, that things are gonna be OK. So that facilitates this uninhibited passion. And that results in craziness. Ya know what I mean? I didn't even understand it. I'm not saying I should, but I'm like, "What is it about this that you like so much? Tell me." And they can't even explain it. Ya know what I mean? And they don't need to, because I feel the exact same way. I can't explain it. It's just the best. It just feels so… It just is what it is. And that's the thing: I wish I could explain it, but I clearly don't, because they already know because we're all in it together. I think they know I'm not above them and looking down and they're not looking up at me. We're all in it together side by side as friends saying "We're gonna have the time of our lives" over and over again.
T: OK, that brings me to this point: You see a lot of bands that do a signing after a show, and it's like an assembly line. You get your quick little autograph and you're gone. You literally just sat here for three hours just signing stuff for the fans. I think that was really cool!
A: Thanks. It speaks for itself, and again, I don't now what to say. It's the same thing of, uhm, a big part of it is the same: "How are we gonna do this?" We have that choice of how we are going to do things? Are we gonna do it all the way or are we gonna hold back? And ya know, I remember how I felt when someone wasn't nice to me, or wouldn't take time, and it's just doing what you wish someone else would do for you. It's that golden rule. Just doing unto others… and am I going to leave this day knowing that I did the best I could? What else is the point? You are given this day. What are you gonna do with it? Use it. What are you going to leave in your wake? When we leave, I just wanna make people feel as happy as possible. I have been handed so many things, ya know, and obviously work has been made, but so many people work so hard and never get anything. They deserve so much. And there is so much injustice and so many things that are unfair. The least I can do is to take these gifts I have been given and share them, ya know, I wanna make people feel as happy as possible. Not a mindless, senseless happy, but just a general feeling of "Everything is gonna be OK."
T: Yeah, I like that, because you get some really heavy stuff going on up there and instead of going for the "Boo-Hoo My life sucks…" you've got a happy thing and it gets people going. It's pretty phat and I like that.
A: Yeah, I have been into all kinds of music and incredibly aggressive music, and I still love it to death and I'm surrounded by it. Part of me is like "I can't do what they are doin any better than they already are." Bands like Obituary and Napalm Death, bands that I love, that I have been obsessed with, it became clear to me that this kind of excitement was just as powerful and could go just as far as what I could do. Ya know what I mean? I think that for whatever reason, I do this pretty good. Ya know, the truth, and that is really what this is all about: the truth. Getting to the truth and seeing that there is no reason to be afraid any more. Seeing that there is no reason to complain, that thing are probably really good, and even if they're not, what are you gonna do? Are you gonna sit around and complain or make them better? All of these things, and they're all inherently happy and inherently positive. And so the nature of this thing is that it is that way. We don't need to strive to, say, be happy and blah, blah, blah... People just know. Because how can you deny how it sounds…these notes in this order sound so good and all these things. It just makes it very clear. I keep on rambling trying to explain what we feel, and ya know, speak on behalf of the people that were at this concert, because I fee that we are one and the same. What we're feeling here, and I think that what we are realizing is what a miracle it is to be alive.
T: Cool. I have couple of more questions. One of them: I heard that there was a little bit of a controversy about the album cover?
A: Yeah. I think there still is…
T: So what is the big controversy thing here?
A: Paramount Pictures, who released the Jackass Movie, they were gonna have a picture of the album in the soundtrack ant they were gonna put a picture of the album cover at the end real small, but they wouldn't, and I just found this out today, the wouldn't do it because they just didn't want anymore controversy. They didn't want to get involved in any more of that trouble. This whole thing to me was really surprising. A bloody nose, I thought, was pretty common. Everybody's had a bloody nose. This album doesn't talk about drugs or alcohol, it's pretty straight forward in what it's talking about. I mean, there IS violent, intense stuff, but it is just a picture of a bloody nose. There is NO message or idea that I am trying to get across other than that. So I'm surprised, but at the same time I understand and it doesn't bother me because they cannot stop this. Ya know what I mean? That picture has been seen by people way past the point that they wanted to see it, I'm sure. That's the thing: They can try covering these things up, whether it's this bloody nose picture or whether it's porn, or whether it's information, whether it's a field that they build a department store on top of; it remains. The truth is: the things; they remain. They stay there, and the better they are the longer they will stay around. That is why with patience, perseverance and hard work, time will see these things through. And eventually that department store that was built on top of a field will be torn down and what was always there will be remained. So, there's us, and there's the Earth, and there's what's really going on. And we build this stuff and we put this stuff all over, but at the end of the day, the real things will be there, ya know what I mean, even if they try to hide them. We give them too much credit if we actually say what they can restrict access to because there has never been more access to information than there is today.
T: This question is about the song "She is Beautiful"
A: OK…
T: It sounds a great deal like "Psychotherapy" by the Ramones.
A: Who is that by?
T: The Ramones.
A: See, I don't know a lot about the Ramones. I know a little bit. They were a little before my time in some ways. I have friends that got really into them. For worse…I was gonna say for better or for worse, but I will say for worse: I missed a lot of stuff. I am still catching up. And if it did sound like the Ramones, I am honored that you would say that.
T: I meant that as a good thing. If you're gonna get compared to somebody, at least it was somebody cool.
A: Well, I've got a lot of respect for that band and many other bands. People come to me and say it sound like 'This" or "That" or it makes you feel like "This" or "That" and lots of it I'll know, but tons of it I won't. I am not too familiar with it, but I have been taking it as a complement that this music makes people feel the same way that they feel about their favorite music on the planet, either that band or another band. I am just pleased that people have feelings toward it at all.
T: Are you getting the same type of crowd response…I know you did the OZZFest Tour and stuff over in Europe and all that?
A: Actually we didn't do the OZZFest in Europe. We did Reading and Leeds and a bunch of one-off shows, we played in Finland and Denmark and Sweden, and all around.
T: Were you getting the same crazy response as you were getting here in the States?
A: It was very, VERY intense. The thing about Europe is that definitely takes time. We spent most our time here in the US. And we've been around the world; we've been on tour for ten months now. We've been to Europe, and Japan. And Japan, in terms of being over seas is the most, uh, the most insane response. Europe was, uh, has been very, very good too.
T: Your guitar player: Eric was telling me about Japan. He said that the band played there once and left and then came back to Japan and they had all your gear marked and knew where it belonged and where all your settings were supposed to be instantly and did it without question.
A: Oh yeah! They were just so on point over there. I mean it's ridiculous that pride they take. I learned a lot from the work ethic they have there. It is a matter of pride and honor in how hard you work. I can relate to that, but it was also very inspiring, ya know, that they make it a personal goal to exceed expectations and everybody is doing that and it's very intense. This person is working harder to try and please you and you are working harder to try and please them. It's really just a fantastic country. I mean, they are just so passionate about liking things. There is nothing they want more in the world than to like something. In other countries, and even in myself, my first thing is, like, "Prove it to me." There's like this "we'll see…" But they just want to like it sooo bad. And getting to travel around the world, what an amazing opportunity…
T: Yeah, I have to admit; I came into here with that attitude tonight.
A: Yeah?
T: Yeah, I had heard the hype, and I don't own the disc, but I had downloaded a couple of mp3's and checked it out…
A: I'm the same way…
T: …and I'm telling you now, that on Friday when I get paid, I am going out and buying the disc. (Side note: I did just that. I bought it on payday.)
A: …and I'll tell you, that's not a bad attitude to have. That's why when someone will ask me, ya know, "Does it bother you if someone doesn't like you, or hates you, or thinks it's a joke?" I say, "No, it's up to me. If they don't like it, I've got to prove it to them." And I will take up that responsibility.
T: I'll tell ya, Andrew, You proved it to me tonight. I'll tell you that right now.
A: Thank you…
T: Now another thing I want to ask you about is the whole "Party" mantra…but in a way I think we've already covered that.
A: Yeah. It's the unconditional acceptance that the best thing, I mean, no one, at least I don't want it to be like "OK, you wanna be a part of this; here's what you gotta do, and here's what you gotta look like, and here's what you have to believe in and you have to hate, and here's what you have to dance like…" I want it to be: all you have to do is what you want. Know what I mean? That is just a feeling that you can do no wrong. That's a challenge but it's just gonna make things better.
T: And speaking of dancing, I've shot a lot of bands on film and you are the hardest damned person in the world to get a picture of. (Laughter)
A: I guess that's a good thing…
T: The only guy I have ever seen with anything comparable to the energy that you have onstage is Iggy Pop. That guy goes forever. He's hardcore. You are right up there with him on that.
A: Thank you very, very, very much!
T: I know you guys are off to Albany tomorrow and then you are on tour with Flogging Molly.
A: That's right. We've been on tour for ten months. We just came off the Canadian thing, ya know, two or three days ago, right into this and these two shows in New York state and then we go and begin about a month and a half with Flogging Molly. So it's gonna be intense.
T: Then you will be wrapped up with the touring for now?
A: Then we got to record the next album!
T: Good deal.
A: Yeah, I can't wait.
T: Well Andrew, I appreciate you taking the time to sit down with me and talk to me about all this stuff.
A: It was my pleasure.
T: It was great to meet you.
A: Thank you very much.

And with that we were off to Denny's for breakfast.

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