INTERVIEW
The Effigies are just starting their tour and already there have been problems: like the gig in Quebec being "not there" when the band arrived. I interviewed John, vocalist and spokesman for the band in the Effigies' van on June 4th.
DL: A lot of people describe the Effigies as a punk-metal band. Is that something that pleases you?
JOHN: I'd say I'm a lot happier with the metal side than the punk. I mean, that's not because I like heavy metal. I don't. I think it's stupid music. It has nothing to say. It's pretty stupid music, pretty hollow, superficial. The only thing I'll say about punk music though, is we're definitely not a punk band, we're not a hardcore band. We can play our instruments. We try to get better on our instruments all the time. We try to produce our records. We try to go into a studio. Even though we have a limited amount of money we try to make...to do with the best equipment we can possibly get. We try to write intelligent lyrics. I'm in charge of all the lyrics. We try to come up with melodies. If anything, we're a lot like...maybe...y'know we've even outgrown musically, like, the early punk bands of the 70s, but that's what we're into. If we're punks in anything, it's in spirit. And that's about it...
DL: Is Chicago still a conservative place?
JOHN: Yeah, it's fairly conservative. We don't have many cobs where we play. We don't play very often because there aren't very many clubs and the few clubs we do play in, we play enough so that we draw a crowd every time we play...instead of burning out at clubs and just fizzing out..y'know...the consequences of playing too often in our hometown.
DL: When you start a band, it must be for fun. But then, when you come out of the local scene and do records, it becomes something different 'cos you have to make a certain amount of money to continue: how can you balance art and the need for money?
JOHN: I think if you have a lot of integrity and you have a strong will, I think you can sort of maintain your artistic...keep your artistic...
DL: Aspirations?
JOHN: Yeah. I think you sill hold on to 'em without compromising yourself. But I think we've already sacrificed a lot...
DL: Personally?
JOHN: Yeah. Because we don't have...we all have regular day jobs. We don't make enough money off of the band or the record sales to support ourselves. As it is right now on this tour, Paul and I both quit our jobs cos--apparently--we had a lot of bookings and a lot of 'em are getting pulled out at the last minute, which really makes us feel pretty stupid...but it's typical of being a punk, or at least carrying that punk stigma. Because it's a burden, and something we want to shake. Because everywhere you go, you get labeled and people automatically think punk rock is...1-2-3 skateboard trash music. And that's not what we play. I don't even like that stuff. I don't listen to it, it has nothing to do with what I...it's repetitious, it doesn't really say anything. It's just...it's formulaic. It's formula music and it's just as bad as everything you hear except it's loud and fast. That's it. I mean I can admire these kids: they're really angry and they want to do something but...punk rock doesn't carry the message any more. It's just...it's too cliche.
DL: What are the messages in your songs that you want people to pay particular attention to?
JOHN: Well, I think that...
DL: I'm not asking what the messages are, just what your songs are about...
JOHN: Well, usually they're about personal experiences of mine. I try to construct...[street interruptions] I do have a sort of personal philosophy...If any kind of philosophy can be put across through lyrics, I think it ought to be done in an interesting way and not bore people by being preachy, politically or otherwise. You ought to be able to relate to people the way people relate in any other way, instead of talking down at them, which what, I think, a lot of punk bands tend to do--especially some of the ones who tend to be more blatantly political...
DL: Not just slogans...
JOHN: Yeah. Not just slogans. Right. Exactly. Things like that...y'know, I believe that art is a message and in that respect it is political. And it does have something to say. But the minute you start talking down at people and assuming that your message is more important...Well, first of all, the intelligent people aren't going to listen to you because you're basically gonna bore them anyway. You can't tell people to think for themselves and then expect them to follow you. I mean, it's just two different things. You're talking outta both sides of your mouth! And, the way I look at it: if you go up on stage you present yourself and people either accept you or reject you. And it's up to you to present yourself honestly. And if they like you, then they go with you...If not...
DL: Well, when I interviewed Toxic Reasons, they said that gigs basically were for punks to have fun and that any message you want to get across, you do it through the record...
JOHN: Well, usually you can't hear the vocalist over most of the music! That's just the way a lot of these gigs are. I would consider myself an artist before I would consider myself a politician. I don't say that one necessarily precludes the other. But I think the style is a lot different. And I think being a politician is a bit...It's a bit common. I mean, to tell people what to do. Everybody's got their ideas about what to do...But then, an artist sort of puts it in a perspective and might...
DL: He draws a picture...
JOHN: Yeah. Exactly. Right. And I think if you draw a good picture.
DL: People will read it.
JOHN: Exactly. It's more interesting..You have to have things people relate to. I don't think most people relate to just ideas thrown at them. They want to have something to latch on to. It's more interesting too...