| IN CONTROL INTERVIEW |
| Okay this interview was done with Zack Oxnard from In Control. It was done on 5-9-01, via the email. If anyone has any questions or comments email me at Christiansonc@vcss.ca.us. I have been wanting to do an interview with In Control with them for a long time, because I think they are such a great band. So here it is enjoy. me=blake z=zack me- Tell me who's in the band? z- Ryan vocals, Zack guitar, Tony drums, Robert bass me- What have you guys released? z- Hometown Pride '99 demo - Nard Curse e.p. 7" - Song on "Short Fast and Loud #1", on Slap-a-Ham Records - 2 songs on the "Intense Energy" 7" on Camel Clutch me- How did you get into punk/hardcore music? z- In 8th grade my friend loaned me Bad Religion "Suffer" and I was hooked. Back then I was all into death metal. I actually found this mixed tape I made back then and it's really funny now cuz it would be like Slayer song, then a Cannibal Corpse song, ect you get the idea. From there I got into other melodic stuff, like the Misfits. It just sorta progressed from there. I got into hardcore later because it was more raw and the scene was smaller and much more tight. me- Best show you've ever been to? z- Best show I've ever been to was Kill Your Idols in Andy Diehard's garage in Tehachipi. That show had an impact on me like no other. me- What are some of the bands that have influenced you guys to make music? z- I like all styles of hardcore and punk and I think it comes through in our music. Direct influences musically? I don't know. But I guess I can tell you what I've benn listening to lately and you can get a feel for my taste: Swinging Utters, Cro Mags, Bulldoze, Count Me Out, Unbroken, Cranberries, Reaon to Believe, Leeway. Well that's what was on rotation today at least. I' mpretty electic with what I like. me- Do you feel like maybe you have something to live up to or prove, coming from Oxnard, which has had a lot of great bands in the past?[not proving yourself to anyone but, linving up to a certain standard as a band] z- We use a lot of Nard core paraphenalia and all that. Throw the Nardcore sign around, put it down for the Nard, etc as for living up to something? I don't know. The thing I loved most about Nardcore was that in it's prime, the big 4 [Agression, Stalag 13, Ill Repute, Dr. Know] all sounded really different. We got a shitty reveiw in Heartattack because some guy thought we should have sounded thrashier like Flower Leppards! Hey that's cool if you're going to namedrop bands but atleast name drop good ones. I have the Flower Leppards 7", and it ain't thrashy. We will never put out an LP as good as Don't Be Mistaken, What Happens Next, In Control, or Plug in Jesus, but I'd like to think that we do a decent job of keeping in peoples heads 15 years after it all went down. me- What do you feel about the hardcore scene right now? z- Best thing about Hardcore right now is that there are so many good bands coming up . I can name a grip if you'd like. me- If I am correct all of you guys are vegetarian or vegan, why do you choose to live this way? We're all vegetarian except for Robert. I don't care how people live their life, I don't think you're going to change anything by shoving your ideas down someones throat so I live my life asa an example. I'm 6'2 210lbs. I love eating. Look at me, I'm not suffering. If I can be vegetarian anyone can. It's so fucking easy its pathetic. As Americans we are so self centered to any problems that don't directly affect us. It's pretty simple, I don't think that my convenience is an equal trade off for something else's demise. What you do with your life is your business though. me- I heard a person say one time that "Straight edge to me is more important than being vegan, because by being straight edge I "help" myself", what do you think about that quote? And what do you think about straight edge in general? z- I think veganism is more important than straight edge will ever be because with veganism you affect others while the edge is for yourself. It comes back to the selfish/selfless issue. What's more important... whats good for you, or good in general? But to compare those two things are stupid, they have nothing to do wit each other except that a lot of people in hardcore suscribe to one, the other, or both. They are both positive things if you treat them the right way and shouldn't be compared me- The song "Too Little Too Late" has a lot of meaning to me, was there a certain event that made you write thsi song? Or did you just get kind of tired of everything that you had seen, and just decided to write it down? z- That song is just how i feel about humanity in general.It's funny because we look at ourselves in such a bright lite and think that we are so above everything else. Evne as Americans we put ourselves over other countries and culltures. It's bullshit. We are the only species that destroys our earth and it's sad. The "Live For Today" ethis is bullshit if your looking out for the well being of future generations, even though I don't think there is much time left. But look at our leaders right now.... you got Dick Cheny saying that gasoline conservation isn't a viable solution so we should look into nuclear power, and Bush wants to drill in the Artic. The song is pretty self explanatory I think, it's just unfortunate that everyday when I read the paper I find more info backing my claims. me- It seems like you guys sing about a variety of issues, is that how you try to make it, or do you just write what you think? z- I have a lot of things on my chest and I gotta get em out. The bands I repect the most are the bands that adress a wide variety of issues. Music is important but having something to say really sets a band apart for me. me- Do you see any importance in talking between songs? z- I think every band brings something different to the table. Some bands I love when they talk between songs if they have a good message to get out there. If you were just some kid and went to see a band like Trial , you'd have no idea that they are throwing a lot of good messages out there. I think hardcore shoould be more than a soundtrack to hte pit or talking between songs is a good way to convey your message if not everyone is going to walk away from the show with one of your records, At the same time, you gotta fuckin rock, or no ones gonna want to listen to you. me- Are there any bands right now that you guys look up to or really strive to be like? z- Striving to be like someone may be taking it a little too far cuz we do our own thing but there are plpenty of bands we look up to. Kill Your Idols of course, cuz they are all around the best band out there. Musically, their message, and as people. Truly one of a kind. Lifes Halt I respect a lot because they are amazing live, put out good records, and have a good message. Plus they aren't scared to take shit or iss out on some sick singalongs by having songs en Espanol. I look up to DieHard Youth because they help everyone out and are the nicest band. I could go on all night. me- When people see you, is there are certain thing that you want people to think? z- This is important. I want kids to know that if you have enough desire, anyone can do this. Having heart and the desire is most important. When we started I could barely play guitar, Chris was even worse on bass, and timing hasn't always been one of Ryan's strong points. The thing that fueled our band was desire to be the best we could and play hardcore music with heart. There is substance behind the lyrics. Seriously, a lot of bands talk about all you need is three chords, but we did it for real in the song "Not Afraid". Hardocre music is for everyone. Learn a fem chords, try to be creative, do your own thing, and you're alright with me. me- You guys recently got signed to Indecision Records, how did that happen, how did it come about? z- Daniel Saint from Over My Dead Body had been kicking the idea around for a while and feeling it out because he and Rob their bass player dug us a lot. We had no idea that someone like Dave Mandel would be interested in putting our band out. Who would've thought. But Daniel urged me to just ask, so after a very akward phonecall, I went down to Dave's pad and talked it out with him and he was into it. The reat is histrory. We are very fortunate not only for that but Jeff from Six Weeks for putting out our first CD. Him and Dave Mandel definately put In Control into overdrive. me- What can we be expecting from you guys in the future? z- The "Breaking the Curse" CD is a re-recording of our demo/7"..... it's out on June 25th and it fucking rocks. Finally hear all those songs with e recording that booms, so get your old school ghetto blasters ouot of your closet and turn it up. We got into record our full length irionically on June 25th at DoubleTime in San Diego and that will be out in Aug/Sep 14 brand new songs which will blow everything else we've done out of the water. me- Any thing else you want to add? z- Thanks for caring enough to interview us. It still matters a lot when peolpe go out of their way to put over our band. Thanks |