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Propagandhi are one of the first punk bands that I got into. I clearly remember listening to "Stick the Fucking Flag Up Your Goddamn Ass, You Skinhead Creep" in a friends car when I was 15 and loving it. We all said that they sounded like NOFX, but I actually liked them a little better. They have since released three other full lengths, all wonderful, as well as a rarities album, and I still love them as much today as I did ten years ago. This interview was conducted with Rod (Todd Kowalski) via Email, though I am hoping that I will be able to see them live soon.
1. State an interesting fact about yourself.
An interesting fact? I got kicked out of a mall during a 15,000 kid riot over T.V. "Star" Candace Cameron. I was going too wild! Fuck was I going nuts. so was my friend "Jimmy Juicepig". We were blamed for throwing stink bombs. There was kids dropping like flies. haha...
2. Do you think your songs have become angrier (both musically and lyrically) because of a natural progression or is it a reaction to the world going to shit?
I think it's just a natural progression of trying to make the tunes more intense. To me the world is in a similar shitty state as it was ten years ago. Ten years ago were the genocides in Rwanda (killing 800,000 people) and Bosnia as well as the sanctions on Iraq, etc... etc.. etc.. the world was already going to pot environmentally. We're now in a similar declining state. It seems more people realize this now. Though we're still doing nothing about it.
3. Do you think the four year span between albums build up anticipation among fans or cause them to somewhat lose interest in your band?
Oh it doesn't matter. We work the songs til they're ready if we don't have songs ready there's nothing we can do. We're here to make songs and the people listening to them come second. Anybody who's truly interested or feels strongly about us will check us out after 4 years. I've waited many, many years for my favorite bands. Our lack of touring is more of a problem in getting our music to the people than taking a long time to make a record.
4. What do you love most about music (either as a listener or performer)?
I love the sound of Dave Carlo from Razor speed picking on his E-string! That is the height of musical achievement to me. Here is nothing like it! But seriously, I love the fact that anybody can play music and communicate different emotions through sound. That is great. I love the way everyone does it differently.
5. If you had to pick one: Is the human race overal good natured or bad in nature? Why (in your opinion)?
I'd say we People are good and bad. Most people have a good side that can go very nasty if cut off from necessity or if they are given power over others. I'm sure that as we hack each others limbs away and bomb each other into oblivion we flash smiles to our accomplices and kiss our Partners a tender goonight. eh. Or perhaps we can chew the flesh off the limbs of a poor creature then kiss Granny sweetly after the meal.
6. Did Warzone ever say anything about their name being mentioned in "White, Proud and Stupid?"
Hhaha.. No. When that song was made Propagandhi was a local band with no real listeners on in the World outside Winnipeg. I'm sure Warzone never heard of the song and certainly wouldn't have cared. By time the song hit the outside world Propagandhi had already stated in the liner notes that they were added because Chris couldn't think of another Nazi band name to add to the list of bands mentioined in the song. aha... The song has a serious mesage but I don't think the lyrics took a hell of a lot of time. Though, I still think they're great lyrics for the time and place. ( I didn't write them and I wasn't in the band at the time so's I'm not patting myself on the back here)
7. How do you think your life would be different had you never discovered punk rock music and its free thinking subculture?
I probably would've just kept reading comics and drawing at my kitchen table as my mom ironed clothes. i'd be a 32 year old Trekkie or Star Wars fanatic, probably. Unless, of course, my Mom could've successfully steered me into being a Graphic Designer or something. haha...Oh I'd hope not.
8. Whats a little known fact about Fat Wreck Chords?
Perhaps that everyone there is really nice and the folks in the mailroom are class fuckin A!
9. Is there one musical accomplishment that stands out for you more than others?
Not really. It's all a path to get to where i'm going.Everything is just a journey. It's a good state of mind to try to always do better but also a bad state of mind to be constantly disappointed in oneself as we tend to be. 10. Name one album, besides your own, that you think all kids should have in their collection? I would say that every kid in the entire World regardless of country of origin, race, class, or sexual ability should most definitely have Dios' "Holy Diver" LP. followed closely by C.O.C.s' "Technocracy and Sacrifices' "Soldiers Of Misfortune", and if the kid is a punk SNFU's "In The Meantime and In Between Time.
11. Feel free to end with whatever you want to say (if anything).
I'd like to point whoever reads this toward a movie called "The Agronomist" It's a great movie about Haitian radio personality, Freedom fighter and , Haitian Nation Hero Jean L. Dominique and Radio Free Haiti and What's been going on in that country. check out theagronomist.com for info!
thanks a lot for the interview! Take care!!!
Interview by: RF