The Probe Fanzine

Interview by Rich

When I was young, my mom warned me not to play with firearms. I heeded mom's advice (a rarity). But recently I took a shot at Zipgun, Seattle's newest punk sensations. This was their first ever tour, to S.F. and back, and I was caught in the crossfire. Riding the blast from one full 7" and two split 7" discs, the boys and I chatted before their gig at the Braze New World on luxurious Fulton St. Armed and ready were Mark (bass), Rob (vocals), and Dan (drums). Bruce the head road crew guy sat in for Neil (guitar) who was out reloading. St. Luke's pronounced us DOA 3/30/92.

Rob: (into mic) My name is Andy Wood.
Dan: Hey, you know what kind of wood doesn't float?
Bruce: Natalie.

Probe: Is that a big joke up north?

Mark: No, not at all, really. I thought the guy was really nice.

Probe: Let's give a brief history of the band...

Dan: We've been put together for about 10 months. Neil was in the Derelicts; I played with a couple of bands from Portland: Obituaries and Final Warning.
Mark: I was in a band called the Zany Guys from Phoenix and I was in a band called Soylent Green when I was only eleven.
Robb: Sonic what?
Mark: No, Soylent Green.
Robb: I was in Redd Kross.

Probe: Seriously?

Robb: No. I didn't do anything; I was in the Go Carts.

Probe: Where'd you come up with the name Zipgun?

Robb: We stole it! We're plagiarists. It's a name a friend of ours came up with...
Dan: And we liked it so we took it.
Robb: Yeah, he just blabbed it out one day with "Pipebomb", and we decided to go with Zipgun. And our record company gave him $50 for the name; acutally bought it off him eventually cause he gave us so much shit for stealing it.
Dan: But he said we could take it at first.
Robb: And the guy doesn't even play an insturment. He's like, "Someday when I'm in a band, I'm going to name it Zipgun."

Probe: You ever think of having Zipgun props? Anyone ever own one?

Robb: I've got one between my legs!
Mark: We don't really put our energy into that. We're more working in music. We're not trying to be the new GWAR - no big stage production values into the show.
Dan: The name doesn't really mean anything to us. It just sounds kinda cool. We're not into zipguns or anything.
Mark: I've never made a pipebomb at home or anything.
Robb: We use knives...

Probe: How would you describe your music?

Robb: I'd say "Satanic Gumbo"
Dan and Mark: "Cajun Metal!"
Dan: I'd say hard-driving, rocking punk'n roll.
Mark: Kinda like post-punk, rock'n roll; some of it has a pop edge.
Band (collectively): Rock-punk!
Dan: Yeah, we got some hooks. Even if you're writing a straight punk song it's a good idea to throw in a hook or two. After someone hears you play they walk away maybe they remember what you're doing. A lot of bands, they'll play and they're tight, but you can't remember any of their songs afterwards, and we wanna have people remember us.

Probe: Aside from obvious influences, what are some of the bands you're into?

Robb: Dan's really into Tom Jones.
Dan: Tom Jones, Nancy Sinatra. My favorite drummer is Hal Blaine. He's a session drummer. (He) did work with Phil Spector...in the context of punk, I have a poppy punk sound, cause he's a pop drummer...Hal Blaine's God.
Robb: Buzzcocks
Mark: I'm really into country music more than anything else to be honest. That's what I listen to at home and at work more than anything else. Country and Blues and stuff like that.
Robb: My record collection consists of all the Mentors. That's all I've got.
Dan: Every bootleg, tapes, live shows...
Bruce: And lots of Damned videos!
Mark: And Rob still has my Misfits video.
Dan: And Neil, all he likes is punk.

Probe: So it's a dream for you to play with the Mentors?

Mark: No, it's a dream for us to have sex with the Mentors. I wanna


That's all I have. If you have the rest of this interview please e-mail me!