An Interview With Lagwagon Conducted by Josh Nacho

(Ok, I don't know how much of an intro I need, but this is an interview I did with Chris, the "new guy". I'd like to thank him for taking the time, and enjoy!)

Josh Nacho: Who are some of your influences?

Chris: When I first started playing guitar and drums, my favorite bands were Cheap Trick, Devo and the Clash. Later, around the time I started my first band (Rich Kids on LSD RKL) I got really into a lot of LA, and British punk and metal (Circle Jerks, Black Flag, Wasted Youth, Vandals, Pistols, Battalion of Saints, Aggression, RAMONES, GBH, Angry Somoans, Discharge, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, The Damned, Mentors, TSOL, Agent Orange, Adolescents, Decendents, New York Dolls, and metallica. I still listen to a lot of that old stuff, I think Lagwagon was influenced a lot by Bad Religion in the early days. I know Joey was a big time metal head in high school and Flip still is.

J.N.: How do you feel that your style has changed- or the music scene on a whole- from when "Duh" came out in 1992, til now, with the recent release of "Let's Talk About Leftovers"?

Chris: Well, Lagwagon's style has obviously changed a lot. There are less fast, metallic songs now and the lyrical content tends to have a more serious tone than before. I think that's sort of the natural progression of a lot of songwriters from our scene. Songs about parties and getting drunk and stuff are easier to write when that's all you do.

J.N.: Are you at all upset that a band like Blink 182 would wind up all over the radio and t.v., while a band like yours, or even NOFX or someone else who has been doing this better for longer, did not?

Chris: NOFX could have done it a long time ago, but Mike never wanted MTV or stations like KROQ to play NOFX and obviously they've done fine without it. (although their new album is getting a lot of airtime on KROQ) We've sort of followed in thier footsteps with that policy. I'm happy for Blink 182, those guys were made for MTV. Just look at em! I personally wouldn't mind getting tons of money but I'm just the new guy.

J.N.: How is your relationship with Fat Wreck Chords?

Chris: Everyone there is really cool, I can call up anytime and I consider most of the people there good friends.

J.N.: Who has been your favorite band to play with and why?

Chris: I like playing with the Descendents because they are so good.

J.N.: Who is a band out there today that you feel deserves recognition and may not be getting it?

Chris: Wesley Willis

J.N.: What are your thoughts on the state of Warped Tour- from when it first started compared to now? Do you think it has changed for the better or worse?

Chris: Well, when you start hearing Warped Tour comercials that soud like NASCAR commercials, it might be time to take a step back and think, "sheesh".

J.N.: As a musician, what is your take on everything that is going on surrounding Napster?

Chris: I'm sure record companies are losing a lot of money as well as artists. It is kind of lame to bootleg music. We can't do this shit AND work a day job. It doesn't work. I don't think Metallica is ever going to have to go out and work at burger king or anything, but they had the resources to do something about it. Where as we for example don't have the time or the money to take on someone like NAPSTER. Everyone is so happy that you can finally get something for nothing, but it does effect the artists and I'm just a greedy capitolist so what do I know.

J.N.: What do you do in your spare time, outside of music?

Chris: sleep.

No, I do internet design. For recreation I like surfing and snowboarding, and I'm addicted to STARCRAFT.

J.N.: What CD is currently in your CD player?

Chris: HOSS, because I had to relearn some of the songs since we haven't played in 8 months and we have a gig coming up on AUG 23rd in Denver.

J.N.: What's your favorite part of playing live? When are you going to tour again?

Chris: I like when the set is over and we get to party. We're playing with the vandals on Nov. 10th in LA. and there's a Brasilian tour in the works. Check out http://lagwagon.com/dates.html to see scheduals.

J.N.: Do you feel that there will always be a place in music where kids can buy a good CD for ten bucks or less, and go to shows and not have to pay over ten bucks to get in?

Chris: always? I guess as long as there are still garage bands and rec halls, there will.

J.N.: Final thoughts, comments, plugs... ?

Chris: Maximum sucks

In case you didn't know, visit: lagwagon and/or Fat Wreck Chords