Interviews

Suicide Machines

Interview with Timmy on Apr 18, 2001 by Archive Bot

This interview was done via Instant Messenger on April 18, 2001 with Royce of the Suicide Machines. You can check out their latest news by going to http://www.suicidemachines.com/.

PB: You guys have come a long way since a long way since your first release, "Destruction By Definition". How do you think you have changed as both a band and as people?
SM: I think we've gown up quite a bit. And I think as a band we've learned how to scrape by playing music for a living.

PB: So do you guys have jobs besides being in "the machines"?
SM: No..... not real jobs. I have a recording studio that I own and run whenever I'm home, but nobody else does any kind of job.
SM: So do you own punkbands.com or just work there?

PB: I just work there. A good guy by the name of Carsten owns it. I do interviews and whatnot.
SM: How many people work there?

PB: I'd say about ten. We have reviewers, web people, and people that do news and other thing to keep the site up and running.
SM: Cool!

PB: From listening to all of your albums I know that you guys obviously like to experiement with different tunes, and I know you have a new album coming out. Do you have a name for it.... and what can we all exoect?
SM: It's called "Steal This Record" and it should be out in August. This one is more straight up punk rock and rock 'n roll!

PB: Awesome! Personally I love that kind of Suicide Machines the best.
SM: The you should probably like this one the best. It's definately got a lot of rock on it.

PB: Sweet!
PB: Have you ever seen Eminem walking the streets of Detroit?
SM: No....... never.

PB: heheheheheh
SM: He's too popular just to walk around..... I think.

PB: Though I'd ask.
PB: Can you tell the story about who is behind the vocals at the end of the song, "Sometimes I Don't Mind"?
SM: It's a recording of my dog barking. If you point a trumpet at him he gets pumped up and starts barking..... so I recorded him barking and put it on our record.

PB: Dude that's sweeeeet! I'm going to try that with my fox terrier.
SM: Awesome.

PB: She barks that's about it!
PB: The Suicide Machines have played with a variety of bands from pop to hip-hop, and everything else in between. Is there a band that suprised you at how good they were?
SM: The Vandals! I was a fan in '96 and we got the opportunity to tour with them and they really blew me away.

PB: Yea, I thought they were "average" until I saw them live....... now I have a new respect for them.
PB: One time my mom saw a black Suicide Machines shirt I had and never let me wear it again. Can you please explain to my mom where the name came from.
SM: It's just a silly name that originally came from Jack Kevorkian and the "suicide machines". The name, by the time we figured out that it was way too stupid to keep, had already stuck so we were forced to keep the Suicide Machines.

PB: What's behind the songs..... "Jah" and "Punck" on Battle Hymns?
SM: It was an inside joke between us because all the songs on that cd were so short we though that would be funny!

PB: I enjoyed seeing you guys on The Warped Tour. Are there any behind the scenes strories that you find humurous?
SM: The beer bong olympics were pretty funny!

PB: What did MXPX do...... watch? And who won...... Fat Mike?
SM: There merch guy joined in the fun. Fat mike just watched and placed bets on who was going to win!

PB: Do you "look before you leap"
SM: SUPER FUNNY! SM: No................. I leap first!

PB: Royce is the man.
SM: Thanks! I guess.

PB: If you could choose a song to represent your personality which one would you choose and why?
SM: "Bad" performed by Michael Jackson.

PB: Michael's the bomb!
PB: Is he white or black?
SM: Who knows anymore?

PB: Please finish this sentence. If our next album goes platinum I will so so happy I'll...............................
SM: Pay off all my bills, isn't that exciting?

PB: Totally! I know there are probably a lot of em!
PB: Won't you have money left over?
SM: There's enough of them!

PB: The punk rock scene is ever changing. How do you think the scene has changed since the Suicide Machines came on board in 1996?
SM: I would hope so! Well, we've been playing in the Detroit punk scene since '91, so it's dramatically changed since then, but since '96 it's hit the main stream and grew in size emensely since '91.

PB: Are you guys super popular in Detroit?
SM: We do better here than anywhere else!

PB: Is there a place you've gone on tour that you really would like to go back to?
SM: I'd like to go back to Prague!

PB: Yea...... I loved it there! I was in a boychoir for four years. Every band I've talked to loved it there.
SM: Where are you from?

PB: I'm from New Jersey....... Big D and The Kids Table were just there and they thought it was amazing.
PB: Can we expect to see the Suicide Machines on tour any time soon? If so......... do you know who your tour mates will be?
SM: We will probably go out in August when out record comes out. As of right now, we have no idea who we will go out with.

PB: Okay....... hit Jersey!
SM: We will try.

PB: Do you have any tattoos and what is their significance?
SM: I have several tattoos and they all mean something to me (well most of them). It would be impossible to explain them all over the computer but if I ever meet you, I will show you and go through them all for you!

PB: Hahahhahahaa thanks! I have a checkered pattern around my ankle.
PB: It means............................ SKA!
SM: Sweet!

PB: I just woke up and was like hell........ that would look cool on my ankle, so that's what I did.
SM: Awesome!

PB: Ok....... and here's the question of the night! Diana Ross or Madonna and why?
SM: Madonna! She's the queen of pop. Nothing against Diana because she's pretty hip herself!

PB: That's it boss! Check out www.punkbands.com when you get the chance, and thanks very much for taking the time to do the interview.
SM: Take care buddy!