Sum 41

I had the great opportunity to talk to Steve-o and Dave Brownsoud before they played their show in Edmonton in support of their fourth album CHUCK. The interview was conducted slightly different then my other interviews as it was a conjoint one. I did it with a friend of mine called Jared Majeski (who takes photos for the site). He writes for his college newspaper so we both asked questions and worked off each other. Be warned, there is some foul language in the interview. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I liked doing it!

All pictures were taken from their site.

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Jared: The first thing I want to ask is how was it playing with Luda on SNL?

Dave: Really cool. Luda really taught us a lot about taking care of business. Well taught me anyway. If you don’t like what’s going on… fuck it.

Steve: Hip-hop guys don’t stand for fuck-all. Two pictures and he’s like “I’m done.” We’ve never been like “I’m done” and walked off.

Dave: We should.

Steve: We should, I want to start doing it because I hate photo shoots.

Dave: And start abusing photographers. If anybody needs to be abused, its photographers.

Steve: If there’s anything hip-hop as taught us, it is to beat the shit out of photographers.

Dave: Just anybody in general.

Jared: How did you guys get hooked up with that?

Dave: Through Ludacris, he just asked us to work with him.

Jared: O, so he approached you then? That’s cool.

Dave: Ya, totally.

Bobby: You guys also appeared on the Fuse show “Comp’d” last Thursday. How was that?

Dave: That was cool. We got to go in, there were a bunch of fans in the audience. Checking it out and hanging out.

Steve: [After being interrupted by two fans] See, that’s the type of shit Luda wouldn’t stand for. Some fucking kid coming up despite seeing the… *Point at our recorders and seeing black felt on the tip of his fingers* What the hell do I have on my hand?

Jared: Marker.

Steve: Do I have it on my face?? No? Okay, where were we? We were talking about Luda…

Dave: I was just answering the question.

Steve: Go, go. Keep going.

Dave: I forget what the question was.

Bobby: We were talking about “Comp’d.”

Dave: Yeah, we just basically went into the TV studio and played six songs live and just hung out with kids afterwards. It was pretty cool.

Steve: Very easy.

Dave: Yeah, super easy.

Bobby: From your new album “CHUCK” you’ve already released two singles, “We’re All To Blame” and “Pieces”; any chance we’ll see a third one?

Dave: Yep, but we don’t know when. “Pieces” is still in the building process right now. What were you gonna say?

Steve: Same thing. Right now we’re seeing eye to eye.

Bobby: In the “Pieces” video, your scene is getting married.

Dave: Yeah, that’s not my wife.

Bobby: But you just got married a few months ago. How is that?

Dave: Well, it’s hard being married to two different women…

Jared: Or three…

Dave: *laughs* Yeah, I can’t remember. No, no, it was weird definitely. The girls a lot skinner then what I’m used to.

Steve: She was bony!

Dave: She was pretty but…

Steve: Very pretty!

Dave: I don’t like being able to touch myself when I have my arm around a woman.

Steve: He loves huge cans!

Dave: I love huge woman in general.

Jared: Did anybody try to persuade you not to get married? Or was everyone really supportive?

Steve: Real married or fake married?

Jared: Well whatever married he is.

Steve: Well there’s married in the video and married in real life.

Jared: Real life let’s say.

Steve: I don’t think anybody tried to dissuade him.

Dave: No, no. You guys actually showed up on my wedding day, which was huge.

Steve: Yep, and left right away. *laughs*

Dave: *laughing* Yeah, but that doesn’t matter. But yeah, it was cool man. There’s nothing wrong with getting married.

Steve: *after just finishing wiping the marker off of his fingers and face* And nope, I’m not married.

Bobby: For “Chuck”, why did you get Andy Wallace to mix one half of it and Tom Lord-Alge to mix the other half?

Dave: Some of the stuff needed a little more slick to go along with the production of the song. A little more slickness, and that’s where Tom Lord-Alge is better. But with Andy Wallace you get a really raw mix, and he gives free popcorn.

Steve: 4000 dollar popcorn right there.

Jared: I noticed in the liner notes when you thanked George Strombo you kind of butchered his name.

Steve: Stromobonopolopolus?

Jared: I think you spelt it with a couple Zs and stuff. Did George like call you and say “whats up?” or something?

Dave: Noooo. We’ve known George for so long, he understands.

Jared: Have you seen his new show yet?

Steve: No.

Dave: You haven’t seen it yet?

Steve: Nope, I watch a lot of CSI.

Jared: Which one?

Steve: Vegas. I won’t watch any of the other ones.

Dave: Yeah, Miami sucks dude. That red haired dude, thinks he’s so cool…

Jared: Oh, from NYPD?

Dave: Yeah, that guys needs to f…

Steve: I’m all about the CSI. That’s all I watch.

Dave: Yeah, that’s all you do watch.

Bobby: You guys did a song for the Rock Against Bush Vol. 1 compilation, “Moron”. Why did you decide to do that comp?

Dave: Well the song kind of speaks for itself.

Steve: Fat Mike called and we were like “Why not? It seems like a fine idea.” We had this song “Moron” kicking around and that would fit nicely.

Dave: Ya, we don’t like that guy either.

Bobby: Lately you guys have received a lot of criticism regarding your live show. Last summer at the Calgary Stampede you got fined a couple thousand dollars for swearing and then on the Good Charlotte tour parents were complaining about the video you guys were playing. What’s your opinion on all of this?

Dave: It’s the same fucking people who think Spongebob is gay.

Steve: Those pussies should go fuck their faces with their fucking fucking asses.

Dave: Yeah, and then stick a chainsaw in their fucking cunt.

Steve: Yeah, and then rape their fucking children with a chainsaw.

Dave: And then fucking fall out of a airplane.

Steve: *laughs* How’s that for offensive?

Dave: Don’t bleep any of that out. Don’t put any stars or anything when you type it. Don’t take the fun out of it.

Bobby: I won’t.

Jared: Raping children with chainsaws, I like that.

Steve: Well their children. Their children. Just people who criticise us.

Dave: I just think they don’t want the jig to be up, that’s it. They do that shit all the time.

Steve: I know, I can’t believe they think Spongebob is gay. Come on man, he’s a hermaphrodite. He’s a sponge! Now that’s weird. I mean of course he’s gay; he’s just not out of the closet yet. But at the same time, Spongebob is not a queer.

Dave: And at the same time, what’s the big deal?

Steve: If he is, I think he could probably do better then Patrick.

Dave: Ya, totally! He could totally get with the lobster.

Steve: Mr. Crabs?

Dave: No, no, no, no. He’s a crab. Larry the Lobster – the weightlifting lobster. He’s one hundred percent lobster right there.

Bobby: You guys are guest characters on the new game called “Playboy: The Mansion.” What does that involve being a guest character?

Dave: Our A&R in Canada, before he left Aquarius Records, the last thing he did was get us into this Playboy video game and basically you control someone who takes over the mansion and try to throw the best party.

Steve: I think my character has a lampshade on his head.

Dave: *laughs* Yeah, yeah, your character does have a lampshade on his head.

Steve: I can’t shake that image. Maybe it’s because last night I got drunk on Listerine.

Jared: Were you in Red Deer last night?

Steve: Red Beer. I went to the only strip club in Red Beer.

Dave: He got chased away by locals.

Steve: Were you there?

Dave: No, no, you told me all about it.

Steve: Did I? That guy wanted to kick my fucking face in. I was just at the bar and some local dude was like “I want to kick your fucking face in.”

Dave: All the strippers were fucking hagrid anyway.

Steve: No! No! Noooo! Beef Curtains was hot! *everyone laughs* what? What?

Jared: Was that her name?

Steve: Yeah, I think that was her name. It was like “and now dancing BEEF CURTAINS!”

Dave: I think her name was actually Beatrice F. Curtains.

Steve: Yeah, yeah, Beatrice F. Curtains was her name. Bea F. Curtains.

Jared: Only in Red Deer, only in Red Deer.

Steve: Yeah, one guy there wanted to kill me!

Jared: Why?

Steve: I don’t know! I was like “that’s an odd way to buy me a drink but go ahead! I’ve never heard of that ‘I wanna beat your face in drink’.” Everybody else bought me a real drink though which I thought was cool.

Dave: I didn’t see it though, I was at the barbeque.

Steve: O yeah! How was the barbeque?

Dave: It was awesome.

Steve: I missed the barbeque.

Jared: But it was worth it.

Steve: O yeah, to see Beatrice F. Curtains.

Jared: Classiest band ever.

Steve: O yeah, we’re all class here. Whether chainsaws and children or beef and curtains, Sum41, we do it right.

Bobby: Going back to 2002 to your “Does This Look Infected?” release. The artwork is pretty gruesome. Why is it so violent and bloody?

Dave: Somebody smacked him in the head.

Steve: Well, we were at another strip club on the Beatrice F. Curtains tour, and I had actually banged her that night. I woke up the next morning and my face was infected with God knows what.

Dave: Of fuck man, worse than the clap.

Steve: Yeah, worse then clap. The herpes. Spanish Chlamydia.

Dave: A big STD punch.

Jared: Spanish Chlamydia?

Steve: Yeah, isn’t that what it is?

Dave: Yeah it’s the red….

Steve: The red devil!

Dave: *laughs* Yeah, it’s worse then the regular Chlamydia too.

Steve: The Spaniards know Chlamydia.

Jared: I’ve got a more of a serious question now. I know you’ve always been influenced by metal and stuff, but why now, on “CHUCK”, is it more on the fore front? This album, more then any, is more metal then any of the other albums that you’ve done.

Dave: I think this record covered everything that we wanted to do. We even have B-sides from this record too. But I don’t know; I have no idea. It definitely is our heaviest but it is also our softest.

Bobby: Do you think we’ll ever see those B-sides?

Dave: No.

Steve: If you ask nicely.

Dave: Usually B-sides end up on soundtracks and stuff like that. You can buy imports, stuff like that.

Bobby: So you’ll never do a B-Sides record you don’t think?

Dave: We’ll have to get a few more albums under our belts first. Britney Spears just released a God damn greatest hits CD.

Bobby: If she had a greatest hit.

Dave: I know, I know.

Jared: Use the term loosely I guess.

Steve: *After signing a contract someone had told him to sign* Signing contracts in the middle of an interview without reading it… I just signed my life away. Some strange man is just like “sign this!”

Dave: I heard the cover of it just a picture of Britney’s camel toe from that one video.

Steve: That’s the cover of Britney’s album?

Dave: Yeah.

Steve: Britney. Camel toe… Yeah, I’d buy that.

Jared: Britney and Beef Curtains.

Dave: The new single is actually called “Camel Toe”.

Steve: Yeah, the new single: “Beef flaps”. *starts singing* I got my beef flapppppppsss. Yeah, I could totally see it. *everyone laughs as he starts flapping his hands together*

Bobby: Thanks for painting that image.

Dave: That’s horrible, horrible!

Steve: What? It’s just Beef Flaps. Some people go for that.

Dave: It’s like an harness almost.

Steve: I love beef flaps.

Dave: You could tie them around your waist…

Steve: Alright! Alright! Moving on. Fucking beef flaps…

Bobby: After these Canadian dates you guys are going over to Japan. Are you excited?

Dave: Totally, yes.

Bobby: Is this your first time to Japan, or have you been there before?

Dave: We’ve been there six times.

Steve: This will be our seventh time.

Dave: Yeah man, Japan has been really good to us.

Bobby: Is there a difference between Canadian and American concert goers compared to Japan?

Dave: It’s different everywhere.

Steve: Americans have the most guns. Then it goes Canada. Then Japan has none. Zero guns.

Dave: Japanese kids are great to play to man.

Steve: I love Japanese fans. Fucking awesome.

Dave: And Canadians kids have proven that they are amazing.

Steve: There’s the kiss-ass. Pucker up! And no ones better then the kids in… EDMONTON!! WOOOOOOHHHH!

Dave: Seriously though, it’s great to be able to come off a year’s rest and still be able to come and tour in Canada. It’s awesome. For me anyway, I’m not sure about this guy. He’s probably thinking about Beef Curtains.

Steve: I don’t even know what we’re talking about.

Jared: We’re talking about Luda.

Steve: Love Luda. I love Luda like I love Beef Curtains. Love him.

Dave: But for you it would have to be Soy Beef Curtains.

Steve: Ya, Soy Beef Curtains.

Bobby: Today the Black Maria is releasing their CD. Are you going to be doing anything special to celebrate with them?

Dave: We’re going to have them open up the show and then…

Steve: Get the fuck off the stage.

Dave: Yeah, we’re actually going to cut their set.

Steve: Yeah, we’re gonna cut their set by ten minutes just because we can! Jay, make a note of that. Black Maria’s set – ten minutes short.

Dave: Don’t tell them though, we’re just gonna put them all asleep on stage.

Steve: We’re gonna buy them each a pair of knee pads. “Welcome to the music industry. Suck.” That’s what we got the first day.

Dave: Yeah, I know. Really good ones; custom moulded.

Steve: I know, I know. X-games type.

Jared: How did you guys get hooked up with No Warning?

Dave: Just knowing them from Toronto. Our manager was helping them out.

Steve: Same manager.

Dave: Yeah, they are a really good band and are going to put on really big shows. Once they are done with us they can probably get to that.

Jared: And then you’ll give them the kneepads.

Steve: They came with them.

Dave: Yeah, they’re a hard-core band, they already have tough knees.

Bobby: Okay, if you guys could pick one person or band, dead or alive, to tour with, who would you pick to tour with and why?

Dave: I don’t know. I hate this question. I’ve been asked this question so many times.

Steve: Anybody who’s dead, but they’d have to be dead too. Just like exhume the body and throw it on the stage and that would be the show. Like Weekend At Bernies.

Jared: You could do it with Johnny Carson.

Steve and Dave: oooooooooo!!!

Jared: Too soon?

Dave: Too soon man, too soon.

Steve: Too far! I mean we’ve talked about chainsaws, we’ve talked about Beef Curtains, but we can’t talk about Johnny like that.

Dave: Not Johnny.

Steve: Ummmm… I would tour with Johnny. He could introduce me every night, and it would be awesome. But no Ed.

Dave: What? Ed’s awesome!

Steve: Fine, fine, but the speculation would be that Ed would have to be my sidekick.

Dave: Oh, okay, I got’cha.

Bobby: Being in a band you guys lose a lot of privacy. Like looking around there’s a bunch of girls following and screaming after you. Does that ever get annoying?

Steve: Yeah. I fucking hate it sometimes. But to me man, to me, they’re just fucking walking dollar bills man. I’m kidding! Kidding!

Dave: You know what, it’s not that bad as long as they are nice and polite.

Steve: If they are polite it’s fine, but if they are obnoxious… Like the other day, some girl was being a cunt for no reason. So you know, I gave her a snow job. Just right in the fucking snow. And then I stole her wallet and ran off.

Dave: See, the last time that happened to me I walked the girl to the elevator. We went to the roof and I threw her off.

Steve: Or that one time when we re-enacted that scene from Scarface and we rented a helicopter, it was kind of a big production. Rented a helicopter and hung her.

Dave: O yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s right. We liked picked her up from the back and was like “This is what’s going to happen to you.” It was weird man. Like a grape falling all the way to the ground.

Steve: Alriiiiight! Moving on from killing our fans, which we would never do. We love each and every one of you. You’re all special in your own little way.

Dave: But I’m sure you would taste good with a nice bottle of Chianti.

Bobby: That kind of goes with my next question. If you guys were stranded on a desert island with no food and nothing to eat, which one of the band members would you eat to survive?

Steve: Would we have to kill them? Or are they already dead?

Dave: I would volunteer pieces of me, I’ve got a lot to go around; more then you guys.

Steve: Dark meat. Light meat. So would you be unhealthier? But we’re all pink inside. I don’t know.

Dave: I don’t know, I think it’s in the way you cook it.

Steve: There’s nothing to eat on the island? What fucking island is this? A desert island?

Bobby: Yeah.

Steve: Like a desert.

Bobby: Yeah, with one palm tree right in the middle.

Dave: And sand’s not an option?

Bobby: Nope.

Dave: But sand is so good though.

Steve: I don’t know. I’d eat anybody; if I had to.

Dave: Yeah, who cares? I’d eat you guys.

Steve: I’m a vegetarian, but I’d fucking eat the shit out of you. If it was between me and you, I’m looking at a walking dinner.

Bobby: Nowadays you can find MP3s all over the internet. What do you think about that? What’s your opinion on it?

Dave: Who cares?

Steve: What’s the question?

Jared: MP3s all over the place.

Steve: I steal music all of the time.

Dave: MP3s – whatever way you want to do it, just get the music.

Bobby: I guess that’s about it. Thanks a lot. Do you have any shout outs before we end?

Steve: YO EDMONTON! EDMONTON, WHAT’S UP??

Dave: Yo Edmonton posse, what’s up?

Bobby: Awesome, thanks a lot.