Could you tell us the history of All Systems Fail, line up, releases etc?
Travis - I had some friends telling me that I needed to talk to the guy named Dave who liked the exact same music as I and that we should start a band. After about a year, I finally met Dave and we hit off pretty well. We pulled in Rich from semi-retirement (he's been trying to retire from the drums for years and years now. Hell, I think that is why he moved to Salt Lake from Pittsburgh in the first place).
Jorge - One day Travis called me to see if I wanted to try singing a few songs for a new band, I really wanted to be in a band for a long time since I moved to the US so I accepted right away. Dave, Travis and Rich already had about 3 songs. I wrote lyrics for some of them and I think they did like it because they kept me in the band. Just a few months ago Keisuke joined the band playing a second guitar, he does a really good job and he can jump high. So the band was started about couple years ago. We play our first show on march 2003 and we did a mini tour in Mexico in July same year, only 3 shows.
This is what we do in the band: Rich filthy Bastard (drums) - Dave Tio Lucas (guitar/vocals) - Travis Senor Pupi Pants (Bass/vocals) - Keisuke Cop Biter Sasaki (second guitar) - Jorge Copetes (vocals).
Jorge - So far we have released a 7" record under www.loderbrockrecords.com and a split CD with WHAT IF under CRYPTAS RECORDS also next month we will be pressing a second 7" split with SARCASMO (crust from Mexico).
Travis - We also put out a demo that we brought to Mexico with us that we gave out.
What's the inspiration for your lyrics?
Jorge - We really started the band at the same time when Bush was attacking Iraq, we are opposed to the war and also to George Bush's government. Most of the songs are anti-war but we have songs that are anti-Bush, anti-conflict in Palestine, and we talk about Human Rights.
Travis - We have a song about emigration from Mexico and Christian punks. Basically we are a typical political band, though I do think we don't really sloganeer too much.
What's the diy punk/protest scene like where your from?
Jorge - The scene in salt lake city is very small, it changes all the time you will always se new people but also they stay around for a few months. I think there are a few people who are really into it but at the same time they work by themselves, no collectives, no protests (except a few animal rights protests) and a couple of zines. Last night we got together with some friends to talk about starting a new zine. It seems like it is going to work well. I also learned there are a few people involved with food not bombs. About bands, there are like 3 or 4 bands that care about doing shows and supporting other bands from out of town/country. It is almost impossible to set up a show, we don't have spaces and I don't think a lot of people really care. We really need to start looking for places to do any kind of activities and be more involved with the punk scene.
Travis - Yeah, our scene is pretty small and the number of people even interested in doing anything constructive is pretty pathetic. Luckily we've been starting to make contact with some of the more active people. We have hopes to make contacts between a lot of these small groups of people that exist and bring them together.
Next plans for All Systems Fail?
Jorge - I have a zine called EXHORTACION ZINE and a record label JORNALERO REC/DISTRO my plan is to start telling more people about it. I have had the label and zine since 1997 but not a lot of people know they exist. Next month we are planning on releasing a split 7" and we also are setting up a tour in Europe next year in may.
Travis - Band wise, the German (and area) tour and maybe a small western US tour. We'll be recording the first month of 2005 but otherwise we'll just be around here in Salt Lake trying to pull this small city along.
