This interview was done through e-mail a bit over a year ago with Travis and Liza. At the time, the "Anthems For Outlaws" CD was just about to be released on Man's Ruin. Now it's a year later, and their latest CD "Barefoot & Pregnant" should be released anyday now on Steel Cage records out of Philly. Steel Cage also recently released a split 7" with Hammerlock and Rancid Vat. Plus, Hammerlock will appearing on a split 10" with North Carolina's Dead Kings to be released on Proud To Be Idiot Records out of Italy and will feature Whiskey Rebel on guest vocals. This interview might be a bit old, but it should still be a decent introduction. The interview is left unedited - trust me they're a lot better at rocking than grammer and punctuation....so be sure to pick up some of their shit.

2324: When did Hammerlock first get together? I know it's been at least a few years, though I only found out about you guys in 1999.

HL: Weve been togeather since 1995. Allmost as long as Travis and i been togeather.

2324: Were you guys in any other bands prior to Hammerlock?

HL: Yeah but none worth mentioning.

2324: How did you guys get hooked up with Man's Ruin?

L: well Russ 4 months after we were a band we recorded a demo tape so we could get some showes , aanother band who was on Mans Ruin herd our demo liked the recording and wanted mans ruin to here it so thay could get the same dude to recorde theres too, But when Mans Ruin put it on they liked it and that demo ended up bein Knock her out/Battlefild 7inch ...We played a Mans Ruin Show case and after the show Frank told us he wanted to do a full length Cd that was our AMERICAIN ASSHOLE Cd. I gotta tell ya Frank Kozik is one of the most Honest people to work with.

2324: What's the scene like out in San Francisco? I know there's a couple other cool bands from out there, but when I think of SF I usually think of crust-punk type shit.

T: When we first started it seemed to me there was alot more of that kind of shit around. While I don't get out much accept when we play I don't see as much of that as I used to but you see em on the street sellin crap they pulled out of the garbage.SF must have the biggest homeless population of any big US city. You really have to visit here to truly understand. you can't walk 5 feet here without someone telling you there sob story and asking you to help them out. most of em aren't agresive but it gets old real fast. But what I do see when we leave our cave for some nightlife is a bunch of guys in gas station jackets and greased hair singing about how they think there grandma's four door Dodge Dart is a Hot Rod muscle car. Lately there has been alot of glam stuff comeing out or so I am told. That seems to be the flavor of this month but that probably won't last long. Nothing here does. The only thing that doesn't go away here is the fact that nobdy gives a crap about music here it's all gimmicks and who knows who and social bullcrap. People here don't go out to see a show they go out to be seen at the show. Fucking boring. But to be honest I'm about as disconected from the SF scene as someone liveing in Greenland we rareley play here and when we do there are only a few bands with eniugh gumption to play with us.

2324: Have you guys done any touring? I know the Confederacy Of Scum 1999 Supershow in Philly was billed as your first East Coast appearance.

L: We have toured twice . First time was up and down the west coast. the other was a southwest tour from here to TEXAS we played that SxSW fest at emos. it was pretty cool. The CONFEDERACY OF SCUM SUPER SHOW in PHILLY was our first time on the east coast except for our drummer Jamey hes from Virgina. Man we had a great time we stayed up till 6 am drinkin with Thee Whiskey Rebal for days i think Marla and Elvis took us on a tour to see the liberty Bell that was real pretty and we also toured the Independance Hall which was real cool. 2324: Speaking of the Supershow, were you pleased with how it turned out? Did you guys go to Philly just to play the one show?

T: The Super Show was the best show we ever played !!!!!!! It was a goddam honer to play with all those bands, yeah we went to Philly for that one show and it was well worth the trip. Not only for the show but for the cheesestakes at stake johanns in south philly.

L: I dont think there could be another show that could top any Super Show that the COS puts on, infact Travis and Jammey and me all sat around for months after the 1999 SS sayin we dident have to see another show till next years SS , and now were gona see it agun and have be askes to play it agun what a honer not only do we get to see these great bands but we get to share a stage with them too!!!!!!

2324: American Asshole has quite a few kickass covers, tell the readers some of the covers you do on that disc?

T: We did Merle Haggerds Big city, Tom Paul Glasers Put another log on the fire, George Jones He stoped lovin her today, Tayna Tucker Pride of franklin county, ans Steve Earls Devals right hand. With most of these songs the origional artiest dident write the song With the exception of Steve Earl. That's usually the case with country songs so we were to lazy to look all that shit up for the first album. But on the new one we took the time to include all the song writeing credits. It's funny we will play "Who Shot Sam" and after the show someone will come up and say. "Hey I liked that George Jones song you did." Then someone else will come up and say "Hey I like that Roger Miller song you did." And both people will be talking about the same song and to a degree both people will have the artist right.But in most cases the guy who wrote the song if it's an old country song is probaly some broke old drunk that no one has ever heard of that never got a break. That's why we got off our lazy asses to look that shit up for the new ones.

2324: That gives the readers some idea what kinda stuff you're into, what are some other groups/artists, you guys dig?

L: I like alot of 70s rock and ,outlaw Country, old 80s hard core, shit i love CCR!!!!!intown bands i like would be Fracus and the ranters , all the COS bands, ATP, I love GG and my favorits song he sings is "I got my cock on the loose" Ive played that a million times on my record player that song is fuckin BAD ASS!!!!!Cock Sparr,Ill tell you what i dont like ,I dont like menstration rock those cliphaired meanfaced femminatzi bands you know what im talkin about , Chicks with a bad cace of penius envi that will only be happy when men bleed out of there peckers once a month !!!! Ok WE like DAC ,hank Jr,SteveEarl, CCR, Moterhead, Lenard Skinard, ZZTOP,AC/DC,Leon Russel, CDB,Humble PIe.

2324: Any thoughts on the current punk rock/R&R scenes?

T: Well in the past few years I have seen some encourageing stuff. People are starting to realize that rock and roll and self rightousness do not mix.The P.C. bullshit in music is starting to feel the backlash. Alot of bands are pushing the limits of free speech. To me Rockand Roll has always been a big loud celibration of our freedom anyways so it's great that the do good P.C fuckers aren't succeeding in sewing everyone's lips shut.

L: YEAH HES RIGHT

2324: I understand you have another full length coming out on Man's Ruin, what can we all expect?

T: Yeah it should be out Augest 7th. The new one is heavier than our 1st one and a with more blues. But it's basically the same idea- hard fast rock and roll with a heavy outlaw country influence. It's called "ANTHEMS FOR OUTLAWS" avalible at a store near you or on the web at www.hammerlock.net

L: you can also find it at mansruin.com

2324: Any plans to tour on the new release? If so, are there any bands you'd like to tour with?

T: We are playing the 2000COS Super Show Augest 29th in Spartanberg South Carolina at Ground Zero. We are looking into a tour but nothing is definate right now.

2324: I first asked Alan King this question in regards to Hellstomper...but I might make it mandatory for all the interviews I do - any particular beverages of choice that you'd recommend while listening to Hammerlock?

HL: Cold Coors in a can, ashot of Jim Beam or you could substitute beam with Old Crow or Wild Turkey but definatley Coors is the only beer to drink while listening to Hammerlock.

2324: Hell, any other thoughts on shit I didn't get to or any other future plans for the band?

HL: We jost plan on doin what we been doin makein music and trying to stay Warm and dry with our bellys full. One things for shure we don't plan on quiting anytime soon. I think Hammerlock will be around as long as we are and maybe longer. Maybe we will pass the band down to our children and they will continue the fine tradition of hammerlock after we have passed on to that great big liquer store in the sky.

Thanks a lot to Travis and Liza for taking the time to do the interview, and apologies for it being so damn late!!

Hammerlock Discography

Knock Her Out 7" - Man's Ruin
American Asshole CD - Man's Ruin
Anthems For Outlaws CD - Man's Ruin
split 7" with Rancid Vat - Steel Cage