Interviews

Kevin (Warped Tour)

Interview with Kevin on Nov 30, 1999 by Archive Bot

This interview was done via email with Kevin Lyman of The Warped Tour. You can check out all the latest Warped Tour information and dates at www.warpedtour.com. 

PB: Who is in charge of the band selection for The Warped Tour?
KL: Bands.......... myself and Darryl Eaton, my partner, finally decide on the bands but I think this is the tour where the kids actually get a lot of say! I scan the message boards, read zines (evem the ones that bash me and the tour), and just talk to kids on the street and definately go to a lot of shows. I think we have a good representation of what kids want to see each year. Some always say the line-up sucks and I say they should stay home!

PB: What do you think kids are really into this year?
KL: I think kids are really into bands like Saves The Day, and New Found Glory right now. I hope the bands can grow into their success and not be so influenced by people around them to let it go to their head. Less Than Jake- not only because I manage them but they are drawing bigger crowds than ever and now that they are on FAT they seem to be known on the street more. I think kids are turning away from rap-rock and I think punk is getting really strong again. The Ataris sold over 7,000 records the first week..... kind of amazing for a band on Kung Fu.

PB: Where did the idea for The Warped Tour come from?
KL: Warped Tour came from the old skate shows. I did like vision skate escape and holiday havoc where we had the Chili Peppers and Social Distortion play during the contest. The afternoon I decided to put this together was after Board Aid and we were sitting in the snow and I said this stuff is coming together. Sports/music lifestyle.... lets do it first before we end up working for someone else doing it. 

PB: What cds are gracing your cd player right now?
KL: I have to say Shaggy has been in a lot lately. That album was written and produced so well. Also, the International Noise Conspiracy is great. They are going to be a big band. Otherwise, I am listening to H2O........ they are also managed by me and I have have been listening to their record alot. The car is filled with demos from bands that have sent in for the tour. I try to listen to as many as I can, but had over 1200 submissions this year.

PB: There has to have been some crazy Warped Tour experiences! Can you name a few?
KL: Warped Tour is crazy by the moment. I think when Fletcher met Kid Rock and all the mayhem that ensued. It's the crazy but fun things like all the bands swimming in Lake Erie and the police coming up and saying we were all nuts and diving off. I looked around at The Warped Tour "ghetto" and said, wow what brought us all together and thinking how much fun we all have doing what we love but also getting some business done.

PB: Who are you favortie Warped Tour bands of all time?
KL: I love to see The Bosstones.............. Dicky is such a showman. I also like Rancid, The Vandals, and Anti-Flag. It is all about the live show to me. Good reggae artists and blues festival; I check out. Right now Flogging Molly puts on great shows and the crowd goes nuts for them. You have skinheads dancing with 60 year old grandmas throwing Guiness on each other! 

PB: What is your favorite tour venue and why?
KL: I love the Asbury Park show. Total street vibe on the Jersey shore. Kids come from everywhere and for eight hours the town is alive, and then just as quickly it turns back into a ghost town........ San Francisco is beautiful by the bay and Montreal because you have 15,000 kids yelling at you in French on how fucked up Americans are. They are all having a great time and they always right up the grass and I get on the p.a. and yell at them to stop. They do and I think they do because I tell them all to fuck off and curse. It's the only words they understand.

PB: How much time does it take to plan for the following Warped Tour?
KL: I am already planning for 2002, talking to bands that didn't get on this year about next year.


PB: Britney Spears or Christina Aguillera?
KL: I think if I was twenty years younger, I'd figure out a way to load Britney's trucks!

PB: Did you ever think you'd be the head of The Warped Tour?
KL: No! I worked on big tours like Lollapalooza, but run one and start one not really. I am stoked kids still back the tour. I was out last night and like four kids came up to me and thanked me for keeping the tour going. That makes all the hard work worth it.

PB: Which year was your favorite Warped Tour?
KL: I think they have all have the good sides, but the first year when we had no idea what we were doing and we survived even when people thought it wouldn't gives me a lot of satisfaction. Last year was great since I won enough money gambling backstage to take my company to Hawaii. That's a highlight.

PB: I know you are a part of Side One Dummy Records. What role do you play?
KL: I am a partner in side one with Joe Sib and Bill Armstrong. The label is growing and we are signing bands we like. Two new bands are coming out............. Madcap and Kill Your Idols on the label this summer. We look for bands that will work as hard as us. We will also have a new Flogging Molly album out in late summer. I think they are about to become real well known. So get out and see them in a club before it's too late!

PB: What are your thoughts on what is known as MTV?
KL: MTV............ Kind of indifferent. I think some good things are going on with M2, and now that we get much music down here I think doors will open to more bands as an outlet in that format.