Fizz: So when did you guys put Rancid together after Operation Ivy?
Tim: It wasn't until late '91 or
'92 that we put Rancid together: me, Matt and Brett.
Fizz: That's cool. When did you hook up with
Lars? Tim: About a year later.
Fizz: Where did you guys find him?
Tim: His old band, Slip, played with us at Gilman Street, and we met
him there. Then they broke up, and he joined our band. Lars used to be
in the U.K. Subs, too.
Fizz: Yeah, I know. That's pretty cool, because a lot of the kids these
days don't know too many of the older bands like the Subs. But you guys
play punk the way I remember it from when I was a kid. Even on your new
record, there's some skanky, Op. Ivy sounds.
Tim: A little bit, yeah.
Fizz: I just noticed a lot more melodic, ska-type stuff on the new
record.
Tim: Uh ... Rancid, members of the Uptones and the ex-Op. Ivy drummer
are in a band called Shakin' 69-it's a side project. We're going to
play strictly ska. Because I love ska, man! It runs deep with me, you
know. But with Rancid, we just want to keep it traditional, punk rock
hardcore, California East Bay style.
Fizz: Like a bass-dominated sound from the early '80s?
Tim:Yeah, because Matt's such a great bassist. He can play anything!
Fizz: You guys are from San Francisco, right?
Tim: We're from Berkeley, East Bay.
Fizz: What's the East Bay punk scene like?
Tim: It's all right. It used to be a lot more about unity back in the
late '80s, but now there's a lot of competition. A lot of people moved
out from other areas of America into the bay area, so lately there's
been a really big competition vibe. I kind of hate that shit!
Fizz: Yeah, that seems anti-punk to me.
Tim: Because punk is supposed to be against society, you know. But now
it's like every punk is out for themselves. Fuck that! I hate that
bullshit, man!
Fizz: It's like, what the fuck happened to unity?
Tim: I know! I agree!!
Fizz: So are you guys making any money touring? I mean, you guys don't
have to work, right? You just play?
Tim: Yeah, but we don't make very much money. You got to do it out of
love.
Fizz: Here's a funny question for all those punk groupies out there.
Are any of you guys married?
Tim: No, none of us are married.
Fizz: How old are all of you?
Tim: We're all in our 20s. Hey, I just thought of a song. Yeah, I got
a song. You want to hear it? (Lint grabs my little tape recorder and
starts rambling off indecipherable lyrics to some new punk anthem.)
Fizz: So what do you think of the Summer Nationals?
Tim: It's awesome!
Fizz: There's no ego trips with any of the bands or any problems with
so many headline names playing one huge gig?
Tim: No, not here. See that's the thing,Epitaph bands really support
each other. When Pennywise invited me and Lars onstage to sing that
Minor Threat song Straight Edge, it was awesome. Did you see that? It
was rad!
Fizz: Yeah, I saw that. It was pretty fuckin' cool. I was going to ask
you who some of your influences are, but they're probably the same as
everyone's-old, early '80s punk bands.
Tim: Yeah, same as a lot of the Epitaph bands. You know, a lot of these
bands sort of come from the '80s. The Offspring played in the '80s a
lot and NOFX,I saw them play Gilman St. so many times then. And Fletcher
from Pennywise, he's been around forever. I fuckin' love Pennywise.
Fizz: I like Pennywise a lot, too, but a lot of the kids I see listening
to them don't even know who Minor Threat or the Circle Jerks are! They
listen to all the new bands, but they don't keep up on their punk roots.
Tim: I see what you're saying. You're older, and you've been around
longer, but to those other kids their Circle Jerks and Dead
Kennedys are Pennywise, Rancid and NOFX. If you're 13 or 15 now, you're
just getting into it. Ten years from now people will be saying the same
shit-Yeah, they don't listen to Rancid or Pennywise, they only listen
to ______! So it's all the same, man.
Fizz: Well that's what's cool about you guys, you keep the spirit of
original punk rock alive, and put it on stage for everyone to see. I
swear, your shows take me back 1983! Anyways, where are you guys going
to be touring next?
Tim: We're going to tour America and then swing back down to L.A. for a
couple shows at the Whisky.
Fizz: Cool, I'll definitely be there. Well, hey, thanks a lot for the
interview, it's been really cool talking with you. You guys fuckin' go
off, and I can't wait to see you play again.
Tim: Thanks. Take it easy. (Lint grabs me as I'm leaving and asks to
read the front of my t-shirt.)
Tim: NOBODY KNOWS I'M A LESBIAN (laughter) That's a pretty punk rock
t-shirt, bro!
Fizz: Yeah ... it's my own little secret, I dig chicks! Well, see you
at the Whisky next month.
Tim: Yeah, for sure, see you in the pit!!!
