26 Miles Per Hour
Questions Answered By Eric (Guitar / Vocals).
Interviewed by Pedro
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Related Links:
Official Website
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PRP: Well, I always start like this: how was 26MPH formed?
Eric: I found Tono at a party i was at. He was this punk rock guy who interned at fat-wreck chords. Chris was always just kind of around, and when i needed a new bass player he jumped at the chance. Chris always liked 26, and Tono was stoked as soon as he heard the new shit i was writing!
PRP: Always with the same line-up?
Eric: We've been together for close to a year. 26 mph has been around since 1994. I'm the only original member left. All the other guys were into this alternative, poppy, mainstream shit.
PRP: I see....well, I guess it was all for good, since that today's line-up seems pretty good, at least in the mp3 I heard.
Eric: We had a chance one time to be signed to a label up in Seattle called Laundry Room Records.
PRP: And what happened with that chance?
Eric: They wanted us to play more mainstream like Bush or Weezer. We could've done that, but i wasn't down.
PRP: Yeah, sure......you have to do what you like, not what they like..
Eric: I was starting to get into hardcore music. you know? Shit that made you bounce instead of falling asleep? I decided to play heavier shit when we were drawing like 200 people to our shows and all everyone would do was rock back and forth. Now people go fucking crazy, i have so much more fun on stage now!
PRP: Are you guys well-known in your area (Bay Area, Cali)?
Eric: Well, last night we had a great show with Alien Ant Farm. all the kids we're going off.
PRP: Well, about the name. How you guys got this name?
Eric: Well, let me think.... the name.... let me just say up front the name has a hidden meaning! I usually tell people that one day a cop pulled me over for going 26 mph in a 25 mph zone, and I was fucking pissed so I decided to name the band that. People sometimes buy it.... Let's just say there's a fucked up nasty meaning to it that we found in a medical journal.
PRP: Ok....How's the process of creating songs? Lyrics first, music second?
Eric: We all start by having a jam session. I have to be moving, and jumping to write the song. You can't write a song at home and bring it to the guys. You have to write it together, as a team. If you can't jump around as you write the song, how do you expect the fans to do the same? Sometimes i'll write a song with the crowd in mind. We're really into crowd participation.
PRP: So you have to create a melody first, and let the lyrics in second place?
Eric: No, not really. I used to do it that way, but the song came out sounding real melodic and poppy. We always try to write the music first, then the melody and lyrics, which isn't always a bad thing. That's how Buried Sins, Desending and The Only Solitude We Know were written, but you can tottaly hear the difference between The Tribe and Buried Sins. You have to remember, we're a 3 piece band. 3 pieces are hard to come by with this style of music. Most 3 piece bands are alternative, because it's easy to play and sing a nirvana song, but try to sing and play a korn or limp bizkit style song. You probably won't be able to.
PRP: That's pretty true. I even think 4 piece bands are hard to come by sometimes....Who's the lyricist of the band?
Eric: I write most of the lyrics, but Tono helps too. He wrote H.C.C. and Junkie At 16.
PRP: What do you usually write about?
Eric: All types of shit.
PRP: Like?
Eric: I mostly write about breaking free from oppression, and standing up for yourself if someone's pushing you around. Like the cops or the system. This isn't always done peacefully. That's why there's war and riots. It's funny because war is for a good cause if the U.S government is for it, like today, but as soon as a band like 26mph or R.A.T.M. starts writing songs about it, we're the anti-american bad guys. Fuck that!
PRP: I see... Well, here's a question I always wanted to do for you: 26 MPH's site has been online since early may. Since them, your band has won loads of positive feedback, 26mph has been band of the month in several sites, and probably raised the CD selling. Do you think Internet promotion is almost as good as, like, "real life" promotion?
Eric: If not better! We're a independent self released band, not signed by anyone. If not for the internet, no one out of Cali would know who we were. We just hit the big 1000 hits. Is that good for two months?
PRP: It definitely is.... 26mph is also in mp3.com. You see mp3files as a good way to spread the word of your band?
Eric: Mp3.com has helped us the most.
PRP: So you think the CD selling increased with mp3.com's help?
Eric: I checked my mp3.com account, and found out that since late april we've had 6298 mp3 page hits! And 1150 or something on our home page!
PRP: Holy shit! I'm impressed.6298?
Eric: That many people viewed our mp3.com page since late april.
PRP: How would you describe your band's sound to someone who has never heard you guys?
Eric: We're not for the closed minded listener. We all love punk, metal, hip-hop, some melodic shit.... we just mix it all up to get that 26 sound. Making music this way helps to keep our songs from getting boring. If we were just a straight metal or punk band, I would get so bored.
PRP: I gotta say you guys are very original.....
Eric: Thanks bro. East Coast Romper, an east coast magazine said they could listen to the cd from track 1 to 14 without getting bored. All different shit with the same style! A lot of crossover, pimprock bands forget the power of pure hardcore punk rock. Thats one thing we're known for, is mixing punk and hip-hop.
PRP: That's cool....I only heard TORN AGAIN though, so I can't say....gotta get the other mp3...
Eric: Man, download Rise Up or The Tribe. That song is one of our tightest. Any other big questions? I have to get going. My girlfriend wants me to come to the room with her!
PRP: Well, let's just finish here them. Any last comments?
Eric: Much love and respect to the T.O.F. crew out of the North Bay Area! TRIBE OF FORCE for life!
PRP: That's cool! Thanks...
Eric: Are you going to post any mp3s on the site?
PRP: Well, if you want me too.
Eric: Fuck yeah! Put The Tribe or Can't Stand The Sight Of You.
PRP: Sure.
Eric: If you want to know more about The Tribe, go to our news page and read about it. I'm out..
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