Please tell first what do you think about the situation in the
world? Don't
you have a feeling of the catastrophe coming?
Jeff- I think that the world situation has always been and will always be
fucked up. Each country has their own cultures, values, and beliefs so it's
impossible for everyone in the world to accept and understand each other. It
seems that everyone now a days
wants to force their personal beliefs on everyone else and they wear their
personal beliefs on their sleeves. I am not a paranoid person, so no, I do not
fear a catastrophe coming.
Russian television while showing the reports from the USA says about
the
American society's support of all Bush's deeds. Is it really so?
Jeff- The majority of Americans and the rest of free Europe all support
president Bush's decision to attack the Taliban that were hiding in the hills
of
Afghanistan. You must remember that the United Nations consist of more than
just the USA and the
entire United Nations support this effort to hunt the Taliban and rid their
control over Afghanistan.
How unique is the American punk/hc scene view on all the last events
(Sept.
11, post terrorism, Afghanistan& etc.)?
Jeff- The hc/punk scene usually speak out against violence and work more to
achieve unity in the scene and the world. This is still the same as it has been
for the last 20 years and it will not change. If you have something to say and
you are fed up with society and the majority view on things, then you usually
are into hc/punk. This
is also true for people who want to see a better world and a better way of life
for all.
What are your own political views? What do you
think about the democracy,
communism, anarchism?
Jeff- To be 100% honest, I don't have any political views but I do believe
that
Democracy can work if the leaders would stop abusing their powers and stop
ignoring the true needs of the individuals.
What is your attitude to the antiglobalist's movement?
Jeff- I am not familiar with the philosophies of this movement, sorry.
Let's change the theme and
speak about your label. How did you decide to
release so unusual for the SMORGASBORD RECORDS Dead 50's? Are there in your
future plans the tendency to wide the stile boundaries of the bands, that are
on your label?
Jeff- I release what I like to listen to and what I think the fans of the label
will also like. The Dead 50's are an incredible band and a great bunch of guys.
When I heard their 1st CD I was immediately taken in by their unique blend of
punk, rock 'n roll, and rockabilly. I drove 5 hours to see them play in front
of their hometown
audience and was blown away by the bands energy and overall live performance.
The Dead 50's are not what you would typically see in the Smorgasbord Records
roster, but I love the band so much and I have a lot of faith that the fans
of the label will love them to.
Is the work in the SMORGASBORD RECORDS your main
income or you have another
job?
Jeff- Smorgasbord Records has been my main income for the last 2 years. Before
that I was working another full time job and running the label on nights and
weekends. Things have slowed down a little since September 11th 2001 and hopefully
I will be able to continue the label as my full time job for 2002 and beyond.
What do you think is the most successful release
of your label? And what is
your "proud"/favorite release?
Jeff- The most successful release is Hatebreed "Under The Knife".
We have sold
many of these cd/7's and the band has gone on to release a record on Victory
Records and have now signed to Universal Records. I cannot pick just one release
that I am the most
proud of because I am proud of all of them. We are not the kind of label that
releases a band because they are cool and we think that we can sell thousands
of copies. We release
bands that we wholeheartedly love and who are good people to work with and
invite into the Smorgasbord family.
What is your comrade's from UP FRONT attitude to
your participating in
Windfall? Do they have their own projects?
Jeff- I have 100% support from all of the members of Up Front and Jon actually is the web master of the Windfall web page. Jon and Tim both had bands in the past, but I am the only one who is in an active and working band right now. Tim lives in Boston and had played in V.Card and then Slower Than Seasons. Jon lived in Richmond VA and played in Dayspring and Cycle.
The next question you may consider to be very strange...
In one of the
interviews Ian Mackaye said that it was pity for him that he had composed the
song "SxE" and that nor his
song neither him have attitude to the modern SxE
movement. What do you think he wanted to say?
Jeff- The song that Ian wrote was a song for himself and his own personal way
of
life and beliefs. I don't think that he intended for a movement to form out
of
it and I certainly know that he does not like the set of rules that people have
layed out. It's
like there is a SxE handbook and you need to conform to the set of rules from
the handbook. Well you know what, there is no handbook and SxE should be a personal
thing. Anything
that points fingers at others and makes you conform to fit in is not a good
thing. The SxE movement has turned into more of a cult than a positive movement
with open minded ideals and
beliefs.
Up Front have been to Europe for three times
already (if I am not mistaken).
When will you come to Russia????????????????????????????? Many people here know
you & love you
faithfully! And what do you know about
Russian punk/hc scene? Are there even a small hope that a russian band can be
released on SMORGASBORD RECORDS?
Jeff- Yes, you are correct, Up Front toured Europe three times in the past.
I
know that in 1992 and 1994 going to Russia would have been very difficult and
in 1999 our booking agency did not send us there. I cannot say that we will
or will not come to Russia. I know that we would love to come but I honestly
do not know if it will be possible in the future. The greatest thing about the
underground hc/punk scene is that the fans are worldwide and the support is
worldwide but it's very hard for bands to come and play in all of
the countries. We have people in the Philippines and in Indonesia who email
me and tell me the same as you all of the time. It's strange because if a band
remains small and underground, they cannot afford to travel and play in all
of these places, and if a band signs to a major label and are able to come,
the fans call them sellouts. I cannot express how happy I am to hear from you
that there are many Up Front fans in Russia. Thanks to all of them for all of
the support and the patience. Right now Smorgasbord Records is still a pretty
small label and we do not have the money and/or the proper distribution to release
any bands that are from
outside of the USA. I get bands from all over the world and they always ask
me the same question and I
always give the same answer. To release a band from outside of the USA would
not
be fair to the band and both the label and the band would lose money. It is
best for a band to
release an album on a label from their own country and build up a following
there. Then once the band is big in their own country, sometimes labels from
other countries may want
to release their album and get them a tour, etc. I wish that Smorgasbord was
a
big enough label to be able to release bands from all over the world, but it
is just not possible.
And the last... Jeff, only if you want you can
tell something for the REAL
ART readers. (We are loved and very famous here!)
Jeff- Thanks so much for the opportunity to talk a little about about myself,
Windfall, Up Front, and Smorgasbord Records. It's magazines like Real Art that
truly keep the scene and the spirit of hardcore alive throughout the world.
And the very last but useful:
can you make a list of 10 the best (from your point of view):
music recordings
1- Big Country (all recordings)
2- Catherine Wheel (all recordings)
3- Dag Nasty (all recordings)
4- Minor Threat (all recordings)
5- The Hellacopters (all recordings)
6- Gluecifer (all recordings)
7- Bad Brains (all recordings)
8- Iron Maiden (all recordings)
9- Deff Leppard "High and Dry"
10- Cro-Mags "Age Of Quarrel" Demo
books
1 through 10 - Everything by Charles Bukowsky
films
1- A Clockwork Orange
2- Monty Python and the Holy Grail
3- Monty Python's The Life Of Brian
4- Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life
5- What's Eating Gilbert Grape
6- Magnolia
7- Heavenly Creatures
8- Saving Private Ryan
9- Almost Famous
10- Vanilla Sky
the most wonderful events in your life.
These are in the order that they happened
1- Released "Spirit" LP with Up Front in 1988
2- Up Front toured the USA the summer of 1989 with Unit Pride and Insted
3- Up Front 2nd US tour summer 1991
4- Up Front went to Europe for the 1st time in 1991/92
5- 2nd Up Front European tour in 1994
6- Up Front went to Japan 1998
7- Up Front toured Europe for a third time in 1999
8- Met fiance on Saturday May 5th, 2000
9- Windfall European tour 2000
10- Has not happened yet, but will be my wedding day in May of 2003
Contact: visit our web sites and also
to write to us.
http://www.smorgasbordrecords.com
http://www.windfall-go.com
http://www.up-front.org
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