Roy Interview

Below are some of the most important questions to the existence of man from Brian Cook of Roy. Roy is the side project of several members of hardcore bands including Botch. They have a hot new EP out on good ole' Initial Records.

What prompted the move away from your hardcore day jobs to the creation of Roy?

Well, music, like any other art form, is just a vehicle for self expression. When you're playing in a hardcore band you tend to focus on just one side of your personality: the pissed of side. at some point it gets to feeling a little one dimensional. After eight years in botch it got to a point where i felt, like, "okay, i'm not really this angry all the time". I think alot of hardcore bands feel that way. That's why so many bands wind up in the "post-hardcore" or "emo" sound. It's totally understandable, but I think we just kinda fell back on stuff that we always listened to, stuff like Pavement, REM, and Neutral Milk Hotel, instead of some of a lot of the more hardcore-oriented pop bands like Texas is the Reason or whatever band everyone is ripping off at the time. Our frame of reference is just a little different, I guess. But me and Ben both still put in time with our louder, more obnoxious bands (These Arms are Snakes and Harkonen), so we still definitely deal with the angst-ridden side of our personalities.

Honestly, did you take the sound for "The Bolivian Army." from the Pixies (since the bridge seems the essence of the Pixies)?

Yeah, that song does sound a little Pixies-ish. I'm not sure why. I've always loved the Pixies. Doolittle was one of the first records I ever bought, so I guess some of their melodies might come out unconsciously in
our songs. Of course, we're not above just plain ripping off other band's material. We are a goddamn pop band after all, and it's pretty hard to not rip someone off when you write a catchy song.

And Pablo (Escobar?) is dead, right?

I don't know. Good call on naming the right Pablo. Whether or not he's dead isn't the point. The black market is still a pretty fucked up thing, and to be involved in a scene that is supposed to be enlightened and socially
aware and hear about people doing coke is pretty disheartening. Seriously, if you're vegan, why the fuck would you do coke? It's fucked up to milk a cow but not fucked up to support someone like Pablo Escobar that killed countless innocent people? What kind of reasoning is that? I don't mean to sound like Ray Cappo or Karl Buchener, because I definitely have my vices. An old boss of mine was a cokehead back in the 70s, and then went on to work in law enforcement. He told me stories about shooting drug dealers in self defense, but I don't think he ever made the connection that he helped support the market that makes drug dealers. From that perspective, he basically murdered these people. I dunno. I just wish people would think before they snort. Sorry, I'll stop my preaching now.

Where does the innovative lyrical content come from?

Our lyrics are basically just us talking shit. We're all hardcore kids, and that's what most hardcore lyrics are, right? All the people we normally wouldn't call out become easy targets when we get behind the microphone.
To quote David Bazaan: "I could write it in a song, but never say it to your face." Lyrics are pretty important to me. Good lyrics can save pretty bad bands, and bad lyrics can ruin good ones. The vocal lines are usually
the first thing I write in a song, so the lyrics are definitely a focal point early on. The first line alone can dictate the mood of an entire song. Aside from that, I really don't know.

What is the most that you spent on a single meal?

I have no idea. It couldn't have been more than $40, and that would probably include the booze.

Are there any additional instruments that might find their way into future Roy releases?

Until we have money to buy new gear it's probably just gonna be guitar, bass, drums, harmonica, and whatever fancy keyboard happens to be laying around whatever studio we're in.

Is it a good idea for states' to have referenda?

Usually. Except here in Washington we have that dipshit Tim Eimann who keeps creating these initiatives to lower taxes through things like flat fees on car tabs. Thanks, asshole. Encourage people to drive AND force the state to cut their public transit budget. Like our traffic problem isn't bad enough. Hopefully that's what you're talking about. But in general I think anything that decentralizes the government is a good thing.

Why Initial?

Because we love Andy and Ryan. And we figured no one would like us because we don't sound like At the Drive In or Thursday. Or Botch. So if someone likes us we are typically very excited to work with them.

In a match of mental arm-wrestling, could Bill Gates beat Stephen Hawking?

Hawking all the way. I really don't know what else to say.

How much time would you guys like to spend with Roy and where would you like to take the band?

I just want to be able to make records. If we become huge, then that's awesome; if we never sell a single record I'll be happy just to have a copy for myself. Just as long as someone doesn't try to mold us into the
next Third Eye Blind or Foo Fighters or something.

Bonus: What does George Washington have in common with the square root of 3?

I have no idea. How many hippies does it take to screw in a light bulb?

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