In February 2000 originally with the Dan, currently our guitar player, on vocals. After a couple of shows the first guitar player quit and Dan began looking for a guitar player. Hardcore musicians are rare in New London so he was decided they will take either a singer or a guitar player, whatever they could find first. Dan and I have been in a band together before, and he asked me if I wanted to try out on vox. He gave me a tape I learned the songs... and 6 months later I'm still here and having the best band experience I have ever had! A couple months back we added Allan to fill out the sound with a dual guitar attack. Our current lineup is Dan Fight - Guitar, John "Whiteboy" - vox, Dean - Bass, Allan "Pigpen" - Guitar, and Eric "Ozzy Fist" - Drums.
2.) What are your biggest influences?
Well, for Dan and I it's pretty much all things hardcore with a definite influence from bands like Judge, Wide Awake, Gorilla Biscuits, and the youth crew revival bands like Ten Yard Fight, Floorpunch, and In My Eyes. Dean is also a big old time HC fan as well as a skatepunk. You will often find the Misfits, Bad Religion, and Minor Threat in his CD player as well as all the HC stuff. Eric is a plain music lover everything from Ozzy to the Ramones to the Chili Peppers can be found on his turntable. Allan is our resident boot-boy and is often singing us his favorite Oi songs. He's also a dedicated fan of Warzone and Agnostic Front. I think we all have a little soft spot for some metal too. It's not too uncommon to find the guys playing Slayer, S.O.D., and Metalica songs at practice for fun.
3.) You guys are one of the hardest working bands I've ever seen, playing shows all the time. Does all that work pay off?
We are starting to see it pay off around CT; kids starting to sing along and have some fun during our sets. But we always want to play more; we can never get enough shows. We definitely want to get out of state more and spread the word. CT has been very supportive of us so far, but there are still plenty of kids in CT and all over the region who haven't seen us yet and our goal is to keep playing and keep pushing forward.
4.) What's your favorite venue to play in CT?
The Hanover House has been like home base for us that's where we feel we have our home audience it is almost always the same faces there for every show not just Forthright shows, but every HC show and you've got to respect that. The El N Gee is another favorite place when playing with national acts. That is when we actually get to play for new kids a lot because the bigger bands we have played with there, like Bane and Ignite for example, bring out kids from all over the region so it is actually like playing out of state and we get a chance to get some exposure to kids who have never seen us before from other areas while still having all our friends in CT dancing and singing along and making it more fun. It's like playing out of state but bringing all our friends with us.
5.) Favorite venue out of state?
We haven't played out of state that much yet, but so far I would have to say the Met Cafe in Providence was a lot of fun. The Met is another place where you get a tri-state type crowd so it's good to play there. We made some friends in Providence as well, such as What Feeds the Fire.
6.)Is anyone in the band straightedge?
Dan and Dean are SXE thank god those guys are nutty as it is; they don't need drugs. I just happen to be drug free as of lately. I'm gonna be a father soon and I got other things to focus on. Partying isn't on the agenda just my baby who is on the way and spending my time doing something constructive. Allan is a party guy he likes his beer and fast women. He can always be found at the parties after shows anywhere he can find one. Eric has a beer now and then but not often he is mostly into eating healthy and taking his vitamins.
7.) As I said, you guys play a lot of shows. Any embarassing moments?
We have had a few mistakes in songs that were kind of embarrassing and a few equipment failures. And in Providence one time, I got a clammer caught in my throat which made me gag and nearly puke on the stage; that was kind embarrassing for me. Actually that has happened a couple times but that one was the worst. Oh, and Dan once tried to jump real high during a build up in a song and flipped his guitar upside down resulting in a clumsy looking jump and a very silly sounding blare from the amp.
8.) Finally, any final words or anything you'd like to plug?
Look out for our debut CDep on Strikeforce Records in September with some all-new songs that promise to bring the mosh! Also be sure to check us out on the Too Damn Hype "East Coast Assault 3," Back Ta Basics "Call To Unity," and Shout It! Records "CT Brotherhood" compilations all due out this spring or summer. And thanks to everyone who has supported us so far (you know who you are). We couldn't leave the practice space without you!
Contact for booking (or anything):
FORTHRIGHT c/o John Young
PO Box 215
Groton, CT 06340-0215
Email: SamsonECHC@aol.com or john@strikeforcerecords.com
Phone: (860) 859-2575
Web: www.strikeforcerecords.com
