Interview from One Solution 3 (late 1984?).
I interviewed John through the mail, due to inconvenience caused by over-consumption of alcohol, or just laziness on his part. The concert was pretty good, FOC and WRATH were better than I had ever seen them. The EFFIGIES sure have changed; I don't know if it's more commercial or what, but, "Good morning, shoppers."
OS: HOW DID YOU THINK IT WENT WHEN YOU PLAYED TORONTO AT THE TURNING POINT?
JOHN: PA Could have been better, crowd could have been bigger, beer could have been cheaper.
OS: WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE TORONTO SCENE, AND WHY?
JOHN: Toronto's scene is like a lot of others, small, young, seemingly closer to the Heavy Metal fringe than anything else.
OS: WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FROM WHAT YOU OBSERVED?
JOHN: Gig promotion, pay, venue, organization.
OS: WHAT ARE MOST OF YOUR SONGS ABOUT?
JOHN: A lyric sheet is included in all our records.
OS: HAS THERE BEEN ANY CHANGE IN YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS "PUNK ROCK" AS A WHOLE AS YOU'VE GOTTEN OLDER?
JOHN: We're trying to break away from the "punk" or "hardcore" scene because more often than not it has tended to be the kiss of death for us as far as gigs and serious media attention goes. The present "punk" rock scene differs vastly from the scene that first got us interested in forming a band. "Punk" rock is now insular, naive, cliched, unmusical and dull! Hardcore kids are posturing bedwetters.
OS: WHAT'S THE SCENE LIKE WHERE YOU LIVE?
JOHN: There are 2 scenes in Chicago, The over 21 (drinking age) and the younger scene. The older crowd is us, Naked Raygun, Bonemen of Barumba, Big Black, etc. We gig a lot and have a steady following. The younger bands stick together more and try to organize halls, etc. They're the "hardcore" scene and like to point an accusatory finger at the older bands for selling out, playing or not playing certain gigs, etc. Turnover rate is very high in this crowd as the interest span usually lasts only through high school.
OS: WHAT WAS IT LIKE THE LAST TIME YOU PLAYED IN TORONTO?
JOHN: We were very drunk and the cops raided the hall.
OS: ANY CLOSING COMMENTS?
JOHN: The only way to support the scene is to buy records and pay to see shows.