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Followers of our little SoCal rock scene should be familiar with the name, "Unwritten Law." People in Australia think they are the second coming of rock (as in, "I hear they're HUGE in Australia!"). But what has become of the other half of Poway California's claim to punk rock fame? (Blink 182 being the other half -- and I'm sure the UL boys are happy I mentioned that name within the first 3 sentences.) But where their oft -compared Poway classmates have secured success in the form of pop punk that best targets barely pubescent girls (and I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that), Unwritten Law has chosen a more direct rock ideal (or more precisely now coined, "Throttle Rock"). Currently housed 4 blocks off Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, CA, they are honing their new material on 4-track to prepare going into the studio to have an album out early next year. I'd like to know what label exec decided that it would be a good idea to get them OUT of San Diego and INTO Hollywood. The environment is anything but, well. let's just say it's, "Excessively Hollywood." But it breeds some good rock as I was privileged to hear some ruff versions of new songs. A couple rockers, a couple melodic hooks, and one killer old school riff-mongering tune that was the inspiration for the term, "Throttle Rock." Unwritten Law Interview: Wade: Drummer Scott: Vocalist / Guitar Rob: Guitar Pat: Bass Kid: Guitar Wade: "Put the Lotion in the Fucking Basket Bitch!"
AMZ: What's your general opinion about "interviews" and the press in general? UL: Most important thing in the UL world right now -- new album.
AMZ: Title? UL: No idea yet.
AMZ: How many tracks? UL: We don't know.
AMZ: Release? Wade: A few months I think Scott: It will be out in June. Rob: By the summer.
AMZ: What sets this album apart from previous UL work? Wade: It's evolved. It's evolved as us as way better musicians. Scott: Yea, this record's the fucking shit. Wade: After each record we do that. You notice Unwritten Law from the first album to this album; you can just see definite steps of evolution. It's really that fucking simple.
AMZ: Do you consider the new record any kind of shift in musical ideal or direction? Wade: Spirit, Body, Mind & Music.
AMZ: How has living in Hollywood affected (if at all) the UL sound or metal state? (laughs) Wade: Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll. Scott: You know that first hand don't you?
AMZ: Well, ah. we're talking about you here. Wade: I like writing music on the fault line. You can feel that bitch. And I like that.
AMZ: What label do you think the industry will stamp on UL to define their sound? Scott: Fucking best band in the world. Wade: Pocket protector metal. We're bringing back a lot of old elements of rock-n-roll like Led Zeppelin and shit and incorporating them into newer ideas, I think. This one's gonna make a classic hate record. With a big heart around it.
AMZ: Coming from San Diego (all right Poway for you anal fact mongers) and now existing in LA, combined with the experience of touring around the world -- what are your opinions of the music scene (San Diego) that you came out of? PK: I think San Diego needs a new fucking club for all the kid bands that are playing and if I get a million dollars or something close to that I'm gonna open a new one. There's huge scene, billions of kids down there and they all rip and they're starting bands and they need a place. And that's my opinion and we contributed that. And fuckin' what's its all about really. In one step. Scott: I think all the bigger San Diego bands need to fucking get together and open up a place to fucking hold shows. Because there's no place left back there. Unless you want to go the fucking bar or something like that. Wade: Who wants to play at bar? Scott: Who wants to play the fucking bar? Wade: Fucking bar. Who wants to fuck at a bar?
AMZ: What's been the most surreal personal moment (of each) about being in Unwritten Law? Wade: I get there's lots of cosmic experiences and awakenings. I think would have to do (personally with me) private relationships. That's really the toughest part of the band out of all this.
AMZ: Best Fucking Show Ever was... Pat: Tool in Seattle. Scott: I liked System of a Down last night dude that was the fucking shit. Pat got kicked out. Pat: I don't remember. Wade: Blink182 at the Twinkie Ballroom.
AMZ: Who would UL elect to be president? PK: Wade. Wade: The people. If the people lead, the leaders will follow. Scott: Fucking me.
AMZ: You'd do a good job? Scott: I'd do a really good job. Wade: I want to be his bitch. Scott: I want Wade as my secretary.
AMZ: We live in an age of extremity and diversity -- what's extreme in the UL world? Wade: Aggression. Pain. No. Just the constant never knowing what's gonna come next.
AMZ: What does Unwritten Law fear? Wade: Losing people close to you.
AMZ: Who is most likely to end up in jail tonight? (immediately) Wade: Me. Scott: Wade. Wade: Naw, I take that back. Pat. I had to carry him out of the bar last night. Almost had to take on four jocks.
AMZ: How have your perceptions of the music industry changed as UL moved through the various stages? Scott: Nothing's changed. Everyone's still sucking Satan's Pecker. Wade: The music industry hasn't changed at all. I think there are good people in it -- but fuck the music industry. It's the music man. VH1 storytellers, man.
AMZ: What bands growing up put you on the path to being the musicians you are now? PK: That's too far back to answer dude. Scott: I can't remember yesterday let alone when all this shit started. Wade: I think we were born with it to be honest and then something just came into all of us at certain moments in our life that put us here.
AMZ: What's a good reality check or words of wisdom for other bands/musicians? Wade: Remember what you're writing about and remember what you're for. I guess, I don't know. That's every bands decision to make and learn on their own. I guess just sucking cock. No, I'll just say be real because a lot of bands aren't.
AMZ: What's the last piece of music that got your attention? (band/song) (unanimously) "Refused" Wade: We're all way into Refused.
AMZ: Where do they come from? Scott: Sweden. Pat: That's pocket protector rock right there. Scott: And its really influential so all you kids go get it. Pat: Too bad they're broken up now. Shape of punk to come.
AMZ: With the realization that your band is now in a position to be "marketed" -- has that made you adjust anything in your music or you attitudes? Scott: Yea we do more drugs now. Wade: Yea we're more evil. So we can't get fucked by those fucks. We're doing what the fuck we want and we're sticking to what's right because there are five of us. Pat: Yea, go check out our fridge. We got a couple of chicken heads in there. Scott: And we got a couple goats downstairs in the basement.
AMZ: Who is a Sinner? Scott: All of us. Wade: We all have parts. There's like a heart and a head and arm and dick and a leg. We're like Voltron. Scott: Yeah we're like Voltron.
AMZ: Who is a Saint? Scott: Pat's a Saint. Wade. Pat's a Saint. Scott: Because he's gay. Wade: He's a big girl. No Pat is an Angel Saint. Pat: I'm an Angel with horns. Wade: He's the blue right foot of Voltron.
AMZ: What's the coolest? Pat: That'd be me again. Scott: My wife and my kids. Wade: The unknown world coming into this world. Scott: and Blockbuster.
AMZ: What's the lamest? Scott: The lamest thing in the world in the human race. Wade: A lot of the human race.
AMZ: Messages to the masses? Wade: Every woman and every man is a star. |