In the admiration and emulation of Skid Row steps forth Ex-Number Five. Four guys from New Jersey who render emo-core rock with passion. I've only heard good things about this band- so check them out. This interview was conducted via email. Enjoy.

F5: name, hair color, foot size, and the most important person to you is...?

Tim: Timothy R. Cuccolo. Brown. 10 1/2. My bookie.
Alf: alf, blond, size 11, me. (without me, i wouldn't be here)
Luke: Luke E. Bodenstein, dirty blond, 9 ½, my pops
John: John L. Kohler. Brown. Size 11. My Iguana Perry.... he controls everything I do with his mind altering brainwaves.........

F5: Ex Number Five is what? and sounds like?

Tim: ex number five is a post-hardcore rock band. A post-hardcore rock band..
Alf: sounds like sour cream and chives
Luke: ex number five is 4 or 5 guys. It sounds like 4 or 5 guys with instruments.
John: Ex Number Five sounds like the music my band plays when we have Lentil Soup on a sunny, Saturday afternoon in the summertime. The music is good and the feeling is right.

F5:Break dancing or slow dancing and with who?

Tim: Slow dancing with Edy's Banana Cream Pie Ice Cream
Alf:slow dancing with your mother.
Luke: Break dancing with that "Electro" dude from Breakin'.
John: ohhhhh yeaaaahh, slow dancing horizontal style with my girl Slithering Snake.......

F5: Define New Jersey?

Tim: New Jersey is the place were everybody is leaving but everybody is still here.
Alf: toll booths, high taxes, good music, smog, ...
Luke: well-located, diverse, home
John: Nj is....... "The most wretched hive of scum and villany........................"

F5: Best and Worst thing about NJ?

Tim: Best thing-the Jersey shore. Worst thing-I'll give you two- Politics and the initial view people get coming out of New York or the Newark Airport on the Turnpike.
Alf: best - skid row; worst - skid row
Luke: best - Atlantic City; worst - Asbury Park
John: Best... big hair girls in tighty-tight jeans. Worst... Emo jerks in overdyed bluejeans and sad faces.....

F5: Your favorite body part is...? why?

Tim: I don't know but I had a discussion, a few days ago, about the body part I least need and I said, "My toes". But one of my friends said "You don't have no balance without your toes". We argued. So that night I walked around the house with my toes sticking up and I have to tell you I could walk fine without my toes. So if anybody ever tells you you could have any wish if you cut off a body part, lose a toe. Then wish for an unlimited amount of wishes. Then wish for some Edy's Banana Cream Pie Ice Cream. And then if you feel uncomfortable about your loss just wish for your toe back.
Alf: is this a valid question??? if so, why ask? we all know the REAL answer!
Luke: female or male body part?
John: That area just below the belly button of my favorite girl.. ohhh, so soft and furry.......

F5: What is the mission behind Ex Number Five?

Tim: I don't know what the other guy's missions are but mine is to be heard and have people relate to the music. And it would be nice to gather enough of a following so we can support ourselves out on the road.
Alf: to carry the torch once held by skid row.
Luke: to be heard in Istanbul………..or maybe, Sierra Leone.
John: to get a van, to get chicks in the van... to put on Gene Simmons makeup and do things like Gene Simmons would in the back of our new van with the chicks.

F5: How did you get the name Ex Number Five?

Tim: The most common question asked of ex number five. I will say it has nothing to do with Beavis and Butthead.
Alf: skid row named us.
Luke: top secret
John: Fucking jerk Alf, Why do you keep mentioning Skid Row, I hate that shit... Suck my dick SKID ROW... what did they ever do for us? Enough already.....We came up with the name by throwing pots and pans up in the air.... when they came down, it sounded like "SEX NUMBER FIVE" ... show me, "sand the floor..... YES, thank you."

F5: What's the worst thing about being in a band?

Tim: Being married to four other guys.
Alf: trying to sound like skid row.
Luke: having your priorities determined for you.
John: the worst thing is being in a band is on the road in the rented van with the freakin chicken bones and grease on the floor and Andy has the porno mags all over the place and Tim's got the bananas all out and Luke spilled the soda and then ya gotta release the crackin and there is nowhere to go.. and no toilet paper.... and some little jerk-off kid pissed all over the toilet seat and it just sucks.. you know?

F5: What was your childhood nickname? why were you called that? What's your nickname now, and why are you called that?

Tim: "Cucc" pronounced like "kook" or one whose ideas or actions are eccentric, fantastic or insane: SCREWBALL (I just looked that up) My last name is "Cuccolo" so it was shortened to "Cucc" I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters and we were all called "Cucc". Even my parents were "Mr.&Mrs. Cucc". Although John has delivered to me many a nickname, like "The Rockula" and "TimmyRock and Roll Count Chockula" my official title now is "the Crab'nebula" or "Sunshine". Because I'm seen as the "party pooper", "crank", "Sheriff of Kent St.", and the guy who does a rain dance during parades. Little does everybody know I'm only doing them a favor. Pretty deep, huh?
Alf: alfie. when i was a child i was cute. now they just call me alf because i'm just not that cute anymore.
Luke: skywalker….always with the goddamned skywalker. Though, these days I hear "dick" a lot.
John: .... They used to call me "Blackula" .......sometimes I forget about that. Now I may be called "Lew Diamond" by the merch guy.... I usually call him "Frank" ... he's alright. I know a girl we call "Tony Stinky" .......she Llems.....

F5: Who wins in a fight...The Blair Witch or Freddy Krueger?

Tim: I havn't seen the BWP yet. I'm too scared. So I will say the Blair Witch. why? Is Freddy really scarey anymore? Umm. Maybe I shouldn't have said that. Mommy?
Alf: exactly.
Luke: it'd be a draw.
John: .... hmmm, The Blair Witch project was Gay, Gay, Gay..... how fucking annoying was that girl in the movie...... Fred wins hands down.... The Blair witch wasn't even scary.... Kruegers got the knives on his hands....... very scary... that would hurt......

F5: The best thing I've ever seen with my own eyes is...? why?

Tim: Jurassic Park. I like dinosaurs.
Alf: i've never seen anything with my own eyes. one time i borrowed john's and got to see his girlfriend naked.
Luke: mayor marion barry getting re-elected after being busted smoking crack. Mayor of our nation's capital, for god's sake!
John: Alf is an asshole..... I once saw Alf's asshloe when I assumed the shape the vibrator he puts up his butt every single day.... I was an anal probe for a day and I saw the crabs on Alf's butt...

F5: The one thing I've read that was so damn good that i wish I wrote it is...?

Tim: Recently..."The Demon Spirit" by R.A. Salvatore why? I've recently had the urge to read fantasy novels again. Growing up I was big into Tolken and Terry Brooks. It seems to be my favorite escape right now.
Luke: Willard and His Bowling Trophies by Richard Brautigan.
John: Lately I've been reading this book "Kiss and Sell" ......by this guy who used to be the financial advisor for Kiss on the road.. what stories... rock n' roll man.... I wish I wrote that stuff cause then I would have been there, side by side with Gene.... all the money, all the women.... ohhh, what stories......

F5: Where do you see ex number five in five years, or where do you want to see ex number five in five years?

Tim: I'd like to see us all living seperately. Maybe we can divide band practice time between everybody's house and my trailer. It would be nice if somebody would get a pool, already.
Alf: on mini mopeds, riding around in the great thanksgiving day parade, while wearing fez caps.
Luke: no idea where we'll be. no idea where I'd like us to be.
John: I see Ex Number Five touring the US year round with chicks in the van all the time.....We'll be having lot'z of fun......it will be a caravan with Code Seven, The Movielife, Shades Apart, Six Going on Seven, Penfold, The Fish Stampede and NORA.... everyone will have fun. We'll call it "The Warped Tour"....... we'll be spreading the word of Rock n' Roll... praise Jesus.... Release the Horror...........

F5: What is the best and worst thing about the New Jersey scene?

Tim: Best thing is it's pretty diverse and that diversity is generaly accepted although maybe not fully supported. Also I think we are pretty hospitable to our guests. Worst thing is I get the feeling that because of the certain clubs and bands people from other states get the wrong impression of Jersey. It's not everybody but it's a "nobody gets in, nobody gets out" message we send. People should get away from their little hubs and travel a bit to see shows. And it's not like you'd have to travel too far. The second worst thing is people walking into a packed show with a backpack with nothing of need in it. Leave it in the car if the place is crammed with people.
Alf: best - lots of good bands; worst - too much immaturity and attitude.
Luke: best - tons of good music; worst - tons of elitism within the scene
John: Best..... I agree with the other guys.. Worst: Too many emo kids with overdyed blue jeans and sad faces... yeah.. it's really fucking sad when ya got tons of bands coming through, tons of kids putting on great shows and lots of cool places to go...... but no, it's more important to mope around with the bottled water and sad faces and backpacks and accessories and .... blah, blah, blah....... BE YOUNG, HAVE FUN, DRINK more CAFFINE... life is good, smile, New Jersey is not that bad.... move to east bumfuck Iowa and then maybe ya got a right to be sad and emo and mopy.........

F5: The opposite of ex number five is...?

Tim: current number negative five.
Alf: MICHAEL GRUBB.
Luke: luck
John: F-Luke... we have had some good luck... the opposite of Ex Number Five is Space Invaders.

F5: What releases does ex number five have out and how can readers obtain a copy? Do you have sample tracks on your website for users to hear?

Luke: we have a self released 4-song demo, a 5-song CD ep on Husky Records, some assorted compilation songs and a forthcoming split CD on Ferret Records.. We have mp3's available for download on our website: www.exnumberfive.com. visit the website to learn how to get our music for yourself.
John: We have a greatest hits collection coming out just in time for the holidays...... we accept Visa, Mastercard and Rent checks.. send us your money nowwwwwww.

F5: Final quotes, anything you'd like to tell the public?

Tim: Yes...
Alf: timmy "sunshine" cuccolo is available for all your bachelorette party needs. call ROCKET ENTERTAINMENT AT 518-BAG-5040
Luke: we hope you like us because we have an overwhelming shortage of self-esteem. If you do, let us know by sending us an email (exnumberfive@exnumberfive.com) or by coming to see us and giving Tim a big wet kiss. He's not gender specific……he just needs to be loved.
John: I have a very loud amp.. it is a Marshall JCM 800 (100 watts) it plays very loud... I like to turn it up and rock out. I like playing with the band.. It is good to play with the band. I like it. Please give me every reason to take it out and play it loud....I like rock n' roll....it makes me feel like Jimmy Walker.

Tim: Thanks for the interest and your time. Come visit us sometime. We have three cushy couches.