Interview With Jason Popson

Other No Friends Interviews

1)How old are you? I am 27 years of age.

2)How long have you been in to heavy music? I've been into heavy music ever since I can remember. When I was in third grade I got "Diary of a Madman" by Ozzy and the rest is history.

3)What do you like about heavy music and or music in general? The release. Expression. It's like therapy.

4)What bands did you listen to as a kid and what ones do you listne to now? As a kid I listened to Bad Brains, Black Flag, Minor Threat, Slayer, Black Sabbath, and Eric B. and Rakim.Now I listen to Gism, Meshuggah, Mike Patton, Clutch, and Negative Approach.

5)What bands are you currentlyinvolved in and what bands have been involved with in the past? I am currently involved in (216), Integ 2000, Mushroomhead, and 10,000 Cadillacs. I have lso recorded with State of Conviction, In Cold Blood, and Unified Culture.

6)Which of your past bands did you most like to tour with? State of Conviction, the energy and chemisttry of writing and performing with Craig Martin.

7)Who did the art work for the In Cold Blood's Hell on Earth Cd? It was designed by Aaron Melnick.

8)Which one of your bands do you liek working with the most? They are all very different so I enjoy them all equaly. If I didn't then they wouldn't be worth doing.

9)What are you trying to do with your bands? All the bands are different so it's constantly changing.

10)Who do you find most inspirational musically? Musically it's Mike Patton, a very brilliant and versatile person.

11)Do you partake in any other forms of the arts? Yes, all forms of art especially writing.

12)Do you like to read and if so who do you liek to read? Yes I read Burroughs, Hunter S. Thompson, Rimbaud,Bukowski, and Iceberg Slim.

13)What are some of your favorite books? "The Naked Soul of Iceberg Slim", "A Season In Hell", "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", "Naked Lnch", and "The Catcher in the Rye".

14)What are some of your favorite movies? "Taxi Driver", "Freeway","Star Wars", "Enter the Dragon", "The Mack", and "The Usual Suspects".

15)If you could make a music video for any one of your bands past or presant which one would it be, what would it look liek and which song would it be? That's a tough question I'm not sure of the band or the song but I know I'd like it to look like the Gism home video "Subj. Egos Chopped".

16)What do you think of the hardcore scene? It seems like it's splintering. Like it's branching out into sub-groups. I think the best thing for the scene would be for it to recognize its members as individuals and realize that it takes a lot of different people to create a strong scene. Right now there seems to be too much conformity and complacency. It needs to take risks and be unpredictale and dangerous like it was once upon a time.

17)Are you strait edge? No I am not but I am trying to become more health conscious.

18)What got you in to music? I started identifying with it when I was about 8 or 9 because it seemed dangerous and daring.

19)What do you do in your spare time? Do you skate? It's mostly music all the time. Writing ,recordig, practicing, promoting, and performing live. I quit skatin when Istarted playing shows. I was getting hurt too much and it had a negative effect on my stage pressence. Broken bones, casts,etc.

20)What do you think of the clinton sex scandal? I think it's a cop out. In the midst of crisis this coutry finds it necessary to have a scapegoat.

21)You did back up vocals on the Integrity 2000 cd what was that like? That record was a lot of fun to do. Dwid and I have been tight friends for years and I've been in bands with all the other guys so it was like being with my real family. It was cool working with Derrick also, he's a really nice guy.

22)Are any of your bands planning on releasing any new material? Yes (216) and Mushroomhead are recording in August and 10,000 Cadillacs has a recordcoming out in July. We are also going to re-release the State of Conviction and Unified Culture.

23)Any words of wisdom to kids just starting out in bands? Bands can be a lot of work and a real pain in the ass. It's not worth all the bullshit unless you're committed and passionate about it. Try to support one another as much as posible in this business bands need each other.

24) Any final comments? Keep an open mind and a pure heart. Make your own decisions and do not fold under the pressre of others.