Phobia are a heavy crust band from the U.S. and have been going since 1990, this interview was done Jan, 2004 and Shane had my questions answered within a day. 1.How do you find the difference between touring in the states and europe? well... i would have to say touring the states can always be difficult because of lack of places to play, i mean like diy venues, and collective run places. The states you pretty much have to fend for your selves, and the organization isn't as serious a lot of times. I think you just have to have really good contacts here in the states to have a successful tour. In europe they really no nothing but organization,100 % shit together,food,beer,sleeping arrangements, just everything is how a Diy tour should be. They never have a lack of places to play, really good squats and youth centers. I would have to say that the system and the way it is ran, they have many more options then us americans do. 2. Any tour stories? wow... i could tell them all day long!!! what do you want to hear...the bad?the good? when bruce and i got into a fight in japan,and i broke the dudes nose, and bruce cracked his head open with his bass? when this dog in a squat bit me in the ass and hand? when we got drunk in Slovenia and parked the van in front of this apartment building and people couldn't get in or out, so the police had to wake bruce and i up, then take us all to the police station.when Bruce and i got into a fight with each other at a death fest and we fought back stage and wrecked everything, chairs,tables? when bruce and I got into a fight in czech republic in the back seat of the tour van, everybody was scared!! All the time i was to drunk on the planes flying to tour, and they couldn't wake me up when we were landing, they thought i was dead or something. when i mouthed of to the customs agents in canada, then they found my hello kitty vibrator that i bought in japan for my girl friend. ok...lets see... when we were in mulhiem,germany. this girl kept talking shit to me because i was from the states, she kept calling me a hippie( because of my crucifix tattoo.peace sign..mushroom cloud) then would say " you are american'..oh..you are our hero's" sarcastically..you know? so I started to tell her to fuck off and this big situation happened and it got ugly. when i got punched in the face by this big metal dude at our show, then I hit him in the face, he fell down and all the little local crusty kids beat him up. then later we drank whisky together. Their is all kinds of stories. i will have to stop here, because like i said i can go on for ever. 3. Are any of the present members in any other bands at the moment? well... our drummer was playing in a band called Flatbush, bruce has his side band mange. and i will be starting a band with jeff harp from final conflict soon..total punk as fuck!!! 4. What are you listening too at the moment? Well.. i listen to a lot of different music. but i would have to say a lot of blue grass, willie nelson, some wolf pack, some rotten sound/the pogues. Just what ever mood i am into. 5. What are your thoughts on current state of d.i.y punk/hardcore? I think the scene is pretty much like it always is. you have a lot of good people who work hard and are honest and have a lot of integrity. i also think their is a lot of great bands out today, bands doing some new stuff and creating new sounds that are awesome!! I think this is all very important, this is what makes the scene strive and succeed. 6. Do you work outside of music? yes.. i am an iron worker. 7. Any final comments? thank you for your support of the band. i hope we see all you readers soon to grind your fucking heads in!! bye (A)- shane PHOBIA