Not By Choice

Editor’s Note: I’d like to thank Nanci for setting the interview up and thank Mike and AJ for doing it. It was awesome. Also like to add that Mike almost forgot to cheer for Dallas at the concert, Chico had to remind him right at the very end. Nice guys, good CD, pick it up if you can.

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Bobby: OK, starting with the basics, can you please your name and what you do in Not By Choice?

Mike: What I do? I’m Mike and I sing and play guitar.

AJ: I’m AJ, and I play bass guitar.

Bobby: How did you all meet?

Mike: How did we all met? AJ, Chico and myself all met in high school and I guess started the band after high school. Then we met Liam like what, 2 years ago or so. He was in another band called “Mugshot”. When our drummer quit, we just asked him to join our band. Because he liked out band, and he said “yep” so that’s history.

Bobby: Not By Choice, where did you come up with that name from?

Mike: *laughs* Long story, it just sounded cool.

Bobby: Alright, what is your favorite song on your newest album?

AJ: I’m dunno, I kinda like “Intoxicated”, I kinda like “The Way It Used To Be”, it’s like the oldest song we have. I’d think them all. We play them all live, we play them every night and I haven’t gotten sick of them yet, so it’s all cool.

Bobby: That’s really good, how does it feel to have a CD released with you guys on it?

Mike: It’s awesome. It’s cool. I never thought we’d… well it’s great to have a record contract and everything, it’s awesome. It’s cool to have our CD out everywhere in Canada. You know, you fly to Vancouver and walk into a record store and there’s our CD right there. You know, it’s awesome, it’s crazy.

Bobby: How do you normally write all your songs?

AJ: Well Mike sits there in his basement…

Mike: A Stork!

AJ: Ya, stork sits there, pucking Mike’s ass. No..

Mike: *laughs*

AJ: Mike sits there in his basement because he has nothing to do because he lives in a really small town that has a population of 300 cows.

Mike: Ya, ya, it’s like about 200 people, 300 cows. The cows rule the town, it’s fucked up.

AJ: Ya, you gotta share the cows.

*everyone laughs*

AJ: He just sites around writing lyrics, fucking around with riffs, things like that. When he comes up with something he might think is a song, he brings it to us and we lay it out, play it, fuck around with it for a couple months. Arrange it, add new parts, take parts away. Then record a demo and see where we go from there.

Bobby: Alright, You guys are from Eastern Canada…

Mike: Yep.

Bobby: And lately a lot of Canadian bands are getting really famous. Like Gob, Simple Plan, Treble Charger, all those guys. Why do you think that’s been happening lately? Like why are Canadian bands getting so big?…

Mike: O, sorry, your questions not done? Holy shit! That’s a long question! Why? It’s because there’s a lot of good Canadian bands. It’s just that people haven’t been looking or something. I don’t know.

AJ: Ya, there always has been really good Canadian bands. It just the fact that in the 90s I think Canada was really US oriented kinda thing. And now after 2000, seems the US is becoming more Canada oriented. And us, Canada’s listening to the US and are getting crowds because the Canadian artists are getting big in the US.

Bobby: Ok…

Mike: Part two of that question. *laughs*

Bobby: Yep, what do you guys as a band hope to be doing for other Canadian artists?

Mike: What do we hope to be doing for other Canadian artists?

AJ: Well, there are bands that we tour with which are indie bands or are bands that are not very well known. And we get along with a lot them and really like their tunes so sometimes we wear the t-shirt on CD, give them props out when we are doing interviews. You know help them out. Get them to open shows for us kinda thing, just to play with people that they normally wouldn’t get to play for.

Mike: I think the biggest thing is just to inspire kids. Cause if we can get to this level, anybody can really. If you want to stick it, stick, stick, stick it in. *laughs* If you want to stick it out! Sorry, I miss my girlfriend, sticking it in is all I’m thinking about!

*everyone laughs*

Mike: Ummm, ya, as long as you want to do the work, it’s like anybody can do this. I think that’s the biggest thing for other Canadian bands, is that anybody can do this.

Bobby: Ok, for your music video, you did something like “Becoming” why did you do that?

Mike: Sounded like a great idea. A guy at the record company came up with the idea and it sounded funny so we went for it, it was cool. And it turned out really good too. A lot of people react to it and say “Ah, it’s so funny” or “Great idea”, so it’s good.

AJ: It’s kinda funny cause when we were making it, I for one thing, didnt think it was gonna come together at all. We were working for a really long time on that video and we had so much footage, and we’re really bad actors. I had this big dissaster video in mind, and then when I saw the final edit I was like “It’s alright”.

Bobby: Now imagine if you weren’t in a band, what would you be doing for a job?

Mike: I don’t have a clue! Honestly, I’ve been doing this for so long I don’t know what I’d be doing.

Bobby: So, you’d be homeless?

Mike: *laughs* Homeless, ha! No, I’d probably have a job, I just don’t know what I’d be doing. Like honestly, I can’t think about it.

AJ: I used to be a computer programmer, so if I didn’t join the band, I’d probably still be doing that. And be really bored. I probably would’ve killed myself by now if I was still a computer programmer.

Bobby: *laughs* Ok, you guys are on tour right now with Treble Charger and Kazzer, what has been your most memorable moment from it so far?

Mike: On this tour?

Bobby: Ya.

Mike: Nothing major has happened really. I think… You know what, I think it’s just that they are great guys.

AJ: Ya.

Mike: That’s all I can say. Nothing really crazy has happened. They are just cool guys, just great to be with.

AJ: Ya, there’s been a lot of fun nights after shows in the bar with everybody. Just getting tanked. Causing shit. Liam’s birthday actually, when we showed up in BC…

Mike: haha, there we go! There we go!

AJ: Liam’s birthday last for three days.

Mike: That guy was so drunk.

AJ: It ended up with Liam sitting in a bar in Vancouver and all of a sudden just falling of the couch that he was sitting on and smashing his head onto the floor. To which a security guard came and asked him to leave. But he was already unconscious, so Chico had to carry him out of the bar and take him back to the hotel.

Bobby: What do you normally do before a show to prepare yourselves?

AJ: Umm, just kinda…Mike warms up his vocals… We don’t really have any stupid little traditions like a special handshake or anything.

Mike: Special handshake? *laughs*

AJ: Sometimes a beer…

Mike: Sometimes we stretch

AJ: A couple shots, stretch, run around, bounce of walls, wrestle with each other.

Mike: Ya, exactly.

AJ: We just kinda get psyched up.

Bobby: What is the one thing you like most about touring?

Mike: Playing to kids who rock out.

AJ: Ya.

Mike: I think that’s the best part of the whole tour, just playing shows to people who want to hear your music and sing along, it’s so awesome. Like we are opening up for Treble Charger, and it seems like when we come into these towns, kids just rock out to us so hard, it’s awesome. It’s crazy.

Chris: When did you guys start it?

Mike: Sorry?

Chris: The tour, when did you guys start it?

AJ: April 9th, we left, we arrived.

Mike: The Treble Charger started on…

AJ: A Wednesday?

Mike: we’ve been out touring since the 30th though, March 30th.

Bobby: Well, what’s the one thing you hate the most about touring?

Mike: *laughs*

AJ: There’s a lot of things. I don’t think there’s anything… There’s nothing we really hate about touring. There’s a lot of long drives, a lot off… after a while you start to get a little homesick.

Mike: And not being able to eat healthy. Even though we are doing an alright job of it here. But usually when you are on tour your eating fast food all the time, and it just gets really disgusting.

AJ: Ya, it’s gross.

Mike: French Fries, ehhhh *shaking head*

AJ: And then your stranded in the middle of Saskatchewan in the middle of your 16 hour drive, and you gotta take a poo-poo.

*everyone laughs*

Mike: Yaaaa, having to take a shit when your doing a long drive, that sucks, I hate that. And the nobody wants to stop.

AJ: Ya.

Mike: “I gotta stop guys” “Well nobody else wants to”. So you gotta pinch the load… you gotta pinch for 8 hours.

*everyone laughs*

AJ: Think un-shitty thoughts.

Bobby: On the road, what do you do between shows other then drive? Like while your driving?

AJ: What do we do?

Bobby: Ya.

Mike: Jerk off. *laughs* what do we do in the van? Listen to music, make fun of each other, stare at shit cause your so bored.

AJ: Occasionally fuck with the guy who fell asleep on the front bench.

*laughs*

Bobby: Any good practical jokes?

AJ: One time we got a picture of our guitar tech sleeping…

Mike: With his mouth open.

AJ: With his mouth open and we put a picture of a big cock from a porno magazine right next to his mouth and took a picture.

*throughout the whole time Mike is laughing*

AJ: That was pretty good.

Mike: Ya, its was funny. He was like “I’ll sue you, I’ll sue you!”

Bobby: If you could pick any person dead or alive to tour with, who would you pick to tour with and why?

AJ: Green Day.

Bobby: Why?

AJ: I don’t know. They’ve been a big inspiration for our band I think. They’re Mike’s favorite band, Chico’s favorite band and one of my favorite bands.

Bobby: Ya, they are awesome.

AJ: Ya, it would just be a howl, it’d be like touring with your idols you know.

Bobby: How does being in a band change your life?

Mike: We have less money and we’re poor.

AJ: Ya, we a lot less money but not a lot to do. I don’t really have to wake up in the mourning.

Mike: A lot of free time.

AJ: And you know, your doing what you love doing.

Mike: You feel good.

AJ: You go to sleep every night kinda smiling.

Bobby: Why did you decide to become a musician? Why did you start playing in a band?

Mike: I had to. I’ve been writing songs since I was like 11 or something like that. So it was just something I always wanted to do. I always wanted to perform.

AJ: I thought I did it by accident I picked up playing bass guitar, my brother played an I used to sneak into his room and play his guitar when he wasn’t home. I just started playing it, I never really expected to be in a band. Intill one day…

Mike: We stole you!!!

AJ: Ya, I joined Not By Choice. And it took just a couple of days and I was like “Damn, I really want to do this for the rest of my life”.

Mike: And then, he left the band and went back to school for what? 2 years, 3 years, something like that.

AJ: Then I came back.

Mike: But he came back.

Bobby: Alright, do you have any tips for young musicians starting out?

Mike: Yes, pratice,pratice,pratice and never give up and don’t listen to what anyone says.

AJ: Ya, everyone’s gonna tell you you suck, and you probably do, but you might get better. We sucked for a very long time. Ya, just stick with it. If you’ve got your heart and soul fucking pumped into it, you’re gonna be alright.

*here, I flipped open the recorder to see where the tape was at*

AJ: Tape done yet?

Bobby: No, not yet.

Mike: *laughs*

Bobby: Alright, what does it mean to be “punk” to you guys?

Mike: What does it mean to be punk? Well, I don’t think we are really punk. We’re influence by some punk music but…

AJ: We’re pop.

Mike: We’re not really punk so I can’t… I think punk is more of an attitude, even though it’s like a cliché saying, but it’s true. You know cause Punk isn’t what Punk used to be so I think the only way anyone can be punk now-a-days is the attitude you know what I mean?

AJ: You can’t be in a band if you’re gonna be punk.

*everyone looks at AJ confused*

Bobby: What?

AJ: *lifts up his hands* I don’t know.

*laughter*

Mike: Ok, scratch that from the record. I don’t even know what that meant.

AJ: I mean if your in a band, everyone is gonna say that your not punk.

Mike: Ya, too many rules in punk rock.

AJ: And isn’t punk rock supposed to be about no rules?

Mike: Exactly! But whatever, we’re not punk, so what do we know right? We play pop-rock with a little bit of punk and a little bit of soul. *turns towards AJ* Your the soul. *laughs*

AJ: Am I? Wicked.

Bobby: OK, awesome. Now a days you can download songs all over the internet, Kazaa, Morpheus, things like that, how do you feel about that?

Mike: Me go? It’s good and bad. It helped us get known in little towns that.. Like when we were first starting out, it helped us get known in towns where we never played before, there’s no way they could’ve got our music. So it’s good but also bad for bigger bands who are trying to make money, so, I don’t know. I’m on the fence.

AJ: Ya, like I think it’s an awesome sampling tool but if you like what your listening to, you should go buy the album. Record labels sign band so that they can make money off the records that they make. And if nobody is buying records why should record companies make records?

Mike: And then your favorite bands get dropped from their record company because hundred of thousands of kids are downloading stuff. And then they wonder why “O, where’s that band that I love?”

AJ: Well, you downloaded their album, they’re working at Burger King.

Mike: Ya, exactly.

Bobby: Are there any bands out there that you really like but don’t feel get enough publicity?

Mike: Ummm I don’t know, that’s a tough question. There’s tons of bands that I think deserve to be in a better position because of the hard work they do. But I don’t know. You caught me, that’s a tough one.

AJ: Ya, everyone gets their turn, you know what I mean. Every decent band that I have stumbled upon have, you know, become more popular since I first met them or heard them. And their careers seems to be progressing nicely. So right now, no, I don’t know any.

Mike: There are tons of bands that I’ve listened to that I think should be bigger. But that’s just my opinion. The music you like you obviously think should be big, but whatever.

Bobby: So what are your reactions to the war on Iraq?

Mike: I have no opinion. Because I think celebrities and musicians should keep their mouth shut. Leave the war to the politicians, you know what I mean?

Bobby: Ya.

Mike: Cause I hate when some actor who has no brains, spiels off about his opinion about the war. I don’t know, I’ll keep my beliefs and my opinions to myself. Sorry, *laughs*.

Bobby: That’s alright, that’s alright. What do you see in the future for Not By Choice?

Mike: More hard work, more touring, another album, maybe in the winter or something like that. One more video I think of this album, one more single off this album.

Bobby: Any ideas which one?

Mike: Not yet, when we get home I think we’re gonna discuss it. So ya, just keep working.

Bobby: So you mentioned a new album, are you working on it right now?

Mike: O, no, no, no. We’ve got some songs but nothing major. I think we’ll worry about that over the summer. After a long summer of touring kids.

Bobby: What do you think is the most important thing in your life right now? Like the number one most important thing?

AJ: I guess it would be the band.

Mike: Breathing.

AJ: Ya, breathing, breathing’s very important. Nah, like the band has been, kinda like I think, the number one priority for all of us for a long time now.

Mike: It’s good that it is the number one priority now.

AJ: It’s not really gonna change I don’t think. If it stops being the number one priority for somebody in the band, then it’s probably gonna be that person’s time to exit the band.

Mike: Exit!

Bobby: Alright, now a days you see the term “sell-outs” thrown all over the internet, message boards, chat rooms, things like that. What do you think about that? Do you think that a band can sell out or what?

Mike: Sell-out?

AJ: Ya, I think a band can…

Mike: But it’s very rare.

AJ: Ya.

Mike: Cause if you want to make money and you want to sign a big record company, a record contract sorry. Like if you want to be successful, that’s not selling-out. You know what I mean? Selling-out is when you do something you don’t want to do for money. That’s the real… sorry, help me out I’m dumb right now. Ya, no, that’s the real meaning of sell-out. I think kids get that confused with bands being successful. And it’s pathetic because it’s just ignorance.

AJ: Like if a band all of a sudden gets a hit single and it’s on radio stations all over the place. Does that mean they are a sell-out or does that mean they’ve got a popular song? Like is Michael Jackson a sell-out? I don’t know.

Mike: That’s just one of the rules in punk rock 1.0.1 though.

Bobby: Ok, Chico, his real name is Glen right?

Mike: Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. I think he’s wanted by the Mexican Mafia, so I can’t tell you that.

*AJ says something but I can’t figure it out*

*everyone laughs*

Bobby: Alright…

AJ: *laughs* What was the question about Chico?

Bobby: Well it’s just like why does he go by Chico instead of Glen?

Mike: Why is his name Chico? Umm It’s just a nickname. He got it from high school. I think they did too much drugs in high school so this girl was on a lot of drugs and I think she just said something really stupid and it was funny and…

AJ: There were a couple people around.

Mike: It just stuck.

Bobby: Ok, awesome. Stanley Cup playoffs right now. Oilers playing Dallas tonight. Who do you think is gonna win?

Mike: Who’s gonna win the series or cup?

Bobby: Both.

Mike: Well the series between Edmonton and Dallas, Dallas is definitely gonna kick Edmonton’s ass. And when I’m on stage I’m probably gonna get bottled tonight cause I’m going to show my support for Dallas. As for the cup, who knows, it’s anybodies. I’d like Dallas to win but you never know right? I can’t believe Detroit got beat out 4 nothing by the Mighty Ducks.

Bobby: Ya, now whoever wins Oilers/Dallas plays Anaheim now.

Mike: Do they know? That sounds about right. Dallas will show those Mighty Ducks where to go.

Bobby: You might want to be careful at the concert though, there are some people with their face painted already with Oilers colors.

Mike: *laughs* Ya I know, I’m getting scared, I’m getting scared.

Bobby: *laughs* Alright, just one last question, do you have any shout outs?

Mike: Shout-outs, *laughs* ya, I’d like to say Yo Yo, What’s up to my mom, my dog Sherry! No…

*Mike and AJ Laugh*

Mike: I don’t know, I’ve never got to do shout outs before. Maybe if we were hip-hop we’d be used to it. But ya, no, I don’t know. Thank you. And thanks to the city of Edmonton, even though the Oilers are going to LOSE! *laughs* You guys are ready to kick my ass already aren’t you?

Bobby: O ya.

*everyone laughs*

Bobby: Alright, thanks for doing the interview.

AJ: Thank you.