guy picciotto talks to lucas veltman of stagedive magazine. [unauthorized translation by altavista]

Before the fantastic concert which fugazi played in the evening, I had a brief opportunity to interview guy picciotto, guitarist and singer for Fugazi.

q: i always begin directly: do you use the Internet, and what you think of it?

guy: I am not very "computer intelligent." I use the network particularly for work for the band, like answering the emails and getting information. Internet has some very good aspects: we are more accessible to information - the world becomes smaller. but then it seems to me, that it lets people become passive. 15 - 20 years back, wo's yet this noise around computers, were not the people gave forced the connections on the road to get itself - direct human contact. One went information into loading and concerts procuring itself also in order. Today one can do everything from at home completely easily to ABC hedges, and does not need any longer with any persons to strike itself. I find that can make people genuinly passive. But there are numerous aspects, both positive and negative, out there.

q: We talk about history. The career/development of Ian is common knowledge. What did you do before Fugazi? You're brought up in connection with the Minutemen and also Firehose.

guy: I was a singer with the Rites OF spring, and we played a few times with the Minutemen, and Fugazi played a few times with Firehose. We are good friends of Mike Watt's, Firehose, and large fans of the Minutemen - they had an enormous influence on our band.

q: You had an early (at that time) Indie hit: "Waiting Room" '89. Many people only know this Song of yours. On the following albums your music develops in quite a different direction. Was that the intention in order for a OneHitBand to be perhaps avoided?

guy: Yes, " Waiting Room " was probably a hit... We did not have it somehow specially promoted, with video or in any way. For us it remains a Song under many, and we did not disassociate ourselves somehow from it. It goes writing easily therefore, more Songs. From time to time we do not play "Waiting Room" live often. We have not somehow an affinity against our frueheeren things, it is simply that your music changes with time: you learn to play your instrument better the longer you play together as a band.

q: Various bands from your time, are in the established industry. Many did not need to change their music in order to survive...

Guy: as a band and people we also did not change largely. We however always tried to challenge ourselves with experiments and creativity. When we began the band in 87, I had not ever played guitar. i started to play guitar on "Repeater." Now we have a second Drummer on tour - we always try things out. The concept OF CHANGE is always really vital in our band. That protects us from repeating or parodying ourselves. there are bands that once had large, good ideas. If they are to be compiled however not capably further ideas, they are judged by this idea and cut (shaped) you come into a dead end.

q: Also does Fugazi profit from the recently increased interest in Punk and hc? Do you know bands of this " new generation?"

Guy: No, not really. Basically I think that these bands today are formed as a reaction to the current situation. I do not know what is so exactly new about these bands. With band from Washington DC white I exactly which goes off. In relation to this scene I feel very connected. I do not feel obligated to an international Punk or hc-Scene. I do not know very many of these bands, and the new logical-proves to few. I slope in addition to judge, that bands are not stop simply bands from today. This boom about which you talk is not for us at all. we had more people come to our concerts here in 91! Now the halls are usually smaller, we sell fewer discs etc.... For us however it is much more important that we still gladly tour and our music is cordially taken up. success is not measured in record sales. For me success is something else: furthering and advancing the music. We would like the people to hear the music which we play. That is everything that we want.

q: The scene in Washington DC interests me also... There are rumors that the bad Brains have reunited. Can you acknowledge that?

Guy: Yes, I can. They play under the name Soul Brains, but it is the original bad Brains LineUp. I saw them live before we came to Europe, it was rather strange...

q: Ian Mackaye is considered to be the inventor of Straight Edge. do you also live straight edge?

Guy: I do not recognize " straight edge " as a label or a movement. That's what a Minor Threat song was called, and the ideas behind it are still relevant and interesting. Which out "edge" geworden is straight at the people - with it I cannot identify myself any longer. I would not have thought at that time that people via " straight itself edge " define. For me it concerns in the Song also not to provide itself evenly with any labels but that everyone has the responsibility over it, which it intends to do and leave. It is about being your own person. In this sense I have very probably the feeling to live thereafter. It does not interest me with this or that one to identify. I think that's what cops DO, that's NOT our thing!

q: here's a standard question. What are your five favourite discs?

Guy: The first bad Brains LP. The bikini Kill Singles Compilation. Everything by the Dummies. Everything by the 13th Floor elevators. Fela Kuti: Zombie.

q: I have always had the impression that Fugazi are good to Vinyl buyers. Beautiful Covers and Inner sleeves etc....

Guy: We love Vinyl. We try to make the CD look beautiful too. But Vinyl is still an important medium and enough people get the discs on Vinyl, thank God. I think the Cover art is simply more beautiful on large surfaces, contrary to cd Booklets. We use the workstation bewust. Vinyl is however no fetish for me. I am not nostalgic. For us it's simply important that our discs are also available on vinyl.

q: Is the public at your concerts in Europe different than in the USA?

Guy: Not really. The public is different everywhere: The people in Florida and California are about as different as in Katalanien compared with the people here (Zurich).

q: **time-out** what is the strangest concert you've ever had?

Guy: it's in the film. We played in a prison in Washington DC. The audience was anything but simple, it was heavier for us. I am glad we did it, but I do not know whether we would do it again.

q: Prison concerts are probably a case for Johnny cash...

Guy: however not in DC!

q: Where is your favorite place to play?

Guy: I can hardly answer that. Actually each audience has something going for itself, and I enjoy playing live. I love it in Italy and in Brazil. in addition, in DC I feel very well. It is difficult to say where i like it most.

q: Stagedive.net is involved in the fact that your film " instrument " is publicly shown in Berne. Can you tell us what to expect?

Guy: The director Jem Cohen has been friends with ian since high school. as long as there has been fugazi, he has filmed us. he helped us with the Cover Artwork of the last few discs. he helped us with the Song "Glueman" on the first disc etc.... Approximately four years ago we decided to gather the material and put the band's history on film. The film is basically a Collage of 10 years. Small stories become a large zusammengesponnen. The film results in a good outline of what Fugazi has done in the last ten years. Additionally there's a heap of music in it, which was never available - a selection of it appeared on the sound TRACK album " instrument ". I must warn you however: The film is very long, two hours! The best type it to regard is, if one looks at oneself it in smaller paragraph.

q: There tape will still play: Leech from Switzerland, which totally instrument valley a set has.

Guy: Perfectly. I am pleased very much, if the film is shown in clubs.

q: The last album is a sound TRACK of the film with different versions of older material. when is the next album coming out?

Guy: The new disc is already in the works. We will play today four new Songs. we'll tour the usa in december and afterwards take a 6 month break, because our drummer's wife is having another child. In time we will probably finish the new album.

q: Thanks for the discussion and good luck today!