Probably the biggest label in hardcore history, we got in touch with the man behind all this himself, Tony Brummel of Victory Records. Most of you guys already know who he is, I guess. Well this interview will let you guys and girls get to know him better after all that gossip you have heard about him and Victory records. Hope some things will clear up.

Tell us something we don't know about you.
I wake up at 5:30am in the morning.

Looking back what do you think of 1997?
It was a good year. I think that a lot of people are becoming more accepting of all the styles of music that the underground has to offer and it really seems as if people are trying to work together more.

What type of response did u get regarding the Victory Fan club?
We got a good response. We did not know what to expect since this is a new thing and no one else in the hardcore/punk underground is doing anything like this. The people that have joined will be getting a lot of cool stuff. We wanted to do something that was fun and special for our strong supporters.

What do you have to say to all the HC kids that said you "sellout"?
I do not understand what you mean. How could Victory sell-out? I own the label and have since 1989. It's not like we are some huge corporation or anything like that.

How affected are you by it?
By what? We are the same label that we always have been. I really do not understand your question so I do not know the right way to answer it.

Which book has made an impact on your life & why?
There are so many. I guess it would depend on what mood I was in. The last book I read that I found very interesting was 'The Road Ahead' by Bill Gates. (He's the guy who started Microsoft)

What do you think of Victory as major label?
I despise major labels. Victory is a small underground label so obviously we are at war with the major record companies. We despise their methods and their tactics. They care more about money than the music and they abandon bands simply based on if they sell records or not.

What are your greatest fears?
That's a tough question. I guess that my greatest fear is that I would not have the ambition to keep doing what I do, however I do not see that happening.

What do you think is wrong in society today?
I could write a book on this. The biggest thing is the inability for people from different countries, of different languages, races, religions to not get along. This is something that I do not understand. I think that there is a lot that we can all learn from each other.

Did you regret dropping One Life Crew from your label.
No. I did not get along with the band anymore and I did not see eye to eye with them on certain things that they believed in.

Finally......any last words/message to HC kids worldwide?
Thanks! Continue to support fanzines, shows, bands and the labels that are trying to get the message and music out. Turn your backs on the bands that try to exploit the hardcore image (Rage Against the Machine, Deftones.....), support the independent labels because without you they cannot exist and put out the music that we all love.