Interview with Bouncing Souls

Dave: Basically, what I want to talk to you about, just kinda how things are going, what you guys have been up to since you put out your last album and everything like that, and some other stuff like that, like what it takes to make it in this crazy industry.

Pete: That’s a good question. I have no idea. I don’t know. We’re just having a good time, you know. Making music, writing songs, going on tour, playing, making people happy. I don’t know about making it, though. Like, I don’t know what that means, really, you know. I feel like in some ways I’ve made it like for myself, ‘cause I’m happy doing what I’m doing, you know.

Dave: Absolutely. Is that what you consider, you know, I mean, that’s what I certainly consider to be making for myself.

Pete: To me, like that’s making it to me.

Dave: Absolutely. When do you think that you really made it as a success for yourself? When did that happen? Did you kind of click over and realize that or anything?

Pete: Well, I think just like, the fact that we’ve always done what we wanted to do. That’s been like a success in itself. And now things are going pretty well for us. We’ve been like really busy and stuff. So I feel successful in that, you know.

Dave: How long have you been doing just the band? When did you quit your day job?

Pete: Probably about three years ago.

Dave: Really? Only three years ago. But you’ve been with the band since what, 1987?

Pete: ‘89.

Dave: ‘89. Okay.

Pete: Just like three years ago, we’ve just been like on being on tour so much that it pays the rent. Like you go on tour for a while and you come home with some money, pay the rent and hang out.

Dave: Well, you guys are making money on tour. That’s a good thing.

Pete: Yeah.

Dave: A lot of bands don’t.

Pete: Yeah.

Dave: As far as being an independent band, I know you guys were on BYO for a while and put out a few records there, and then you’ve been putting out records on Epitaph ever since, so you’ve pretty much stayed more or less as an independent band mostly having to do a lot of your promotion yourself and things like that.

Pete: Yeah.

Dave: Do you think that that’s kinda made it different for you and for the guys in the band than if you had had like a major label behind you or something like that?

Pete: I think it’s like, it’s a better way, you know, it’s like more like a slow process instead of like the major label, you get real big real fast and then get the crash and burn.

Dave: So you’ve built more of a fan base?

Pete: Yeah. I think we built a lot of our fan base just by going on tour and being accessible.

Dave: Talking to your fans when you’re selling your shit?

Pete: Yeah, just like hanging out and playing shows and having fun.

Dave: Do a lot of people recognize you when you’re out sitting in the shows watching the opening band of whatever?

Pete: Some places, yeah. It’s kinda weird, you know.

Dave: Do you feel it’s strange to kinda be recognized like that, by people you don’t know? I mean, do you like that or do you not like that?

Pete: We call it being “rockignized.” Like, ah, man, I just got rockignized.

BS: Rockignized, dude!

Pete: Like you’re walking down the street, they go like, hey, what’s up Bouncing Souls? You’re like, ah, dude, I just got rockignized, man. Right on.

Dave: Since I actually bought a jacket at your concert a couple years ago...

Pete: Right on.

Dave: ...and since then, for the first year, I think pretty much nobody ever recognized my jacket, and then probably within the last nine months or so, every time I wear the jacket, someone will be like, hey, Bouncing Souls! Bouncing Souls! I know them! Ah, Bouncing Souls! New Jersey. Yeah. Yeah.

Pete: That’s cool, man. I guess the more people know about you, the more they’re gonna say that shit.

Dave: Absolutely. As far as touring, do you enjoy touring? Do you always want to get out on stage and stuff like that, or is it something where...

Pete: Yeah. Like some days are kinda hard, you know, like what’s going on in your own life. Sometimes it’s hard to focus. But it’s almost always fun to play. Hey, this is Rob.

Dave: That’s Rob’s ear.

Pete: You can’t hear through the microphone. You gotta talk to the microphone.

Rob: Oh. I don’t want to.

Pete: He’s all fucked up. He doesn’t know what’s going on.

Dave: Sorry Rob. What the hell was I talking about? It’s been a long, long, long day, and I’m sure for you it has been even worse.
We’re both sitting here yawning.

Pete: Long days, every day of the Warped Tour.

Dave: I believe it. Have you had a great time out on the Warped Tour?

Pete: So far, yeah. Having fun, a lot of good bands, you know. A lot of stuff to watch, stuff to do.

Dave: Do you notice a difference from this year to the last year?

Pete: Kind of more variety that’s here, like the hiphop stuff...

Dave: Quite a bit of hiphop stuff. Are you into that?

Pete: I’m not a real big fan myself, but I appreciate it for what it is.

Dave: Yeah. Has more exposure to it kinda made you a bigger fan, like on the tour and things like that?

Pete: Not really, but I like watching sometimes. I like some hiphop bands.

Dave: I was just checking out the Black Eyed Peas, and they were doing break dancing and stuff like that.

Pete: They’re pretty cool. They’re all crazy on stage.

Dave: Absolutely. They get freaky. Gettin’ freaky. As far as your family life and things like that, things that are going on in your life, is that difficult, or made more difficult by being out on tour and being out on the Warped Tour or...

Pete: Right now, yes, but usually no.

Dave: Why? What’s going on right now?

Pete: Uh, you know, personal business.

Dave: Alright. I understand. Are most of the guys in the band married and have kids, or is it...

Pete: No, no one’s married or has kids, but me and Brian have girlfriends who we live with and stuff.

Dave: Do they come out on tour with you guys?

Pete: Not really. My girlfriend’s really busy at home. She works and stuff and she has her own life, so she doesn’t have time to
come out and fuck around with me, you know.

Dave: As far as your tattoos, are most of them stuff affiliated with the band, like songs? Do you have anything like that?

Pete: I have one Bouncing Souls tattoo, it’s like the broken heart, I’ve got it on my shoulder.

Dave: And the Born to Lose, right?

Pete: Yeah. The Born to Lose. I going to get my Born to Lose changed to Born to Love.

Dave: Really?

Pete: Yeah.

Dave: How come?

Pete: I don’t know, it’s just like a point in my life.

Dave: You’re not a loser anymore?

Pete: It feels kinda negative sometimes, you know.

Dave: Absolutely.

Pete: So I just want to change it.

Dave: Do you do all the art for your tattoos?

Pete: I’m not an artist at all.

Dave: Who did the butterfly?

Pete: That’s Brian, our bass player, he does all the artwork. He’s a great artist. He’s amazing.

Dave: Is that his tattoo as well?

Pete: Yeah.

Dave: I see you’re drinking Bud Lite. Is that a typical drink for you, Bud Lite?

Pete: No, it just seems to be the official beer of the Warped Tour.

Dave: Really?

Pete: Not my first choice, but it’s free.

Dave: What kind of beer are you into?

Pete: I like Brooklyn Lager.

Dave: Brooklyn?

Pete: Yeah.

Dave: Like the place in New York?

Pete: Yeah. Brooklyn Lager. I like Bass. I like all kinds of beer.

Dave: Like the old Black and Tan?

Pete: Black and Tan’s good. I’m kind of a beer snob, but not right now, though. I’m kind of slummin’ it.

Dave: Is everyone else in the band kinda snobby about that kind of stuff?

Pete: Nah. We all just, whatever’s there we take it, you know.

Dave: So you’re not really much of a snob.

Pete: When I’m home I’m more...if I’m home and I have like a choice, then I...

Dave: You’ll definitely go for the better shit?

Pete: ....I’ll take whatever the fuck’s in front of me, you know, I just drink it.

Dave: What do you think about being in Mile High Stadium here?

Pete: It’s pretty cool. It’s nice. Denver Broncos, man. Home of the Broncos.

Dave: That’s right. World champions here.

Pete: Yup. Champs.

Dave: Let me get you to do a station id while it’s quite here.