Today (2/5/02) we bug Tony Day, lead singer of No Regrets, the infamous radiator-punching ska-core band from Collingswood, NJ.
Fluffy: For purposes of me not wanting to write and intro, who are you?
Tony: I'm Tony Day, the lead vocalist of No Regrets.
Fluffy: Alright Tony, No Regrets. You've got an album out, would you like to tell us about it?
Tony: If you want to call it an album thats fine, I call it worthless. We recorded it in the summer of 2001 at Go Allan studios. At the time our band was going through some crazy times and the lineup was different. Back then we didn't have Zach, Andy #2 played saxaphone instead of bass and Matt played bass. We basically went into the studio trying to get as much done as quickly as possible. A few days after our first recording session, I decided to leave the band for personal reasons. The rest of the guys went back and finished up without me. On the third and final day of recording Zach was brought back in to replace me. On the original take of Jock Party, it was me doing the vocals but it came out horrible. So they just had Zach do it. Thus the recording was done and they had a release show for it on our one year anniversary...Yom Kippur.
Fluffy: Sounds crazy. Where's the band heading now that things are straightened out?
Tony: Hmmm. I hope we are heading in the direction of good things to come. Now we have a steady committed lineup, our song writing skills have gotten much much better, and people seem to like us now. When we first started people hated us with a passion, now people still hate us...but just as people and they like our music. I want to just keep on playing shows and save up alot of money to make a quality cd. Eventually i'd like to do a small tour. We've been talking about doing it next summer, a two week tour of the East Coast. Maybe invite those Cherry Tarts along with us for entertainment.
Fluffy: The Cherry Tarts, eh? No Regrets plays with bands doings lots of different music, who are some of your favorite bands to play with?
Tony: Theirs way too many to name. The band we've played the most shows with has been The Break Of Day (former Cling). We played our first show with them and they are like brothers to us. We love Burn Kate, we love The Cherry Tarts, almost every band we've played with we are cool with. It very easy to get along with people, especially in the ska scene.
Fluffy: How'd you crack into the local scene?
Tony: Well, I got my first taste of the local scene from the late collingswood band Sexy Chocolate. I went to alot of their shows and I just wanted to be apart of it. I couldn't play guitar and I didn't have the desire to so I needed to do something else. My brother on the other hand was learning guitar and was trying to start a band. I actually was NR's first trumpet player, although I couldn't play to save my life. When they needed a singer I told them I would do it. So I guess thats how it all began.
Fluffy: Sexy Chocolate, there's a blast from the past.
Tony: Hahaha, I have no comment on them.
Tony: I could get in trouble.
Fluffy: Ah, how about the Swingkidz? Do you remember them at all?
Tony: I heard their cd, never saw them live though.
Fluffy: No Regrets bills itself as "ska-core", so I imagine the Mighty Mighty Bosstones was a big influence on the band...
Tony: Yes, you nailed that right on the coffin. My biggest influence are The Bosstones. I just love them and how they make music. My dream is to someday open for them. We label ourselves as ska-core but that doesn't mean we stick to it. We like to test the water a little. We have two new songs that are completely different then anything we've ever done before. One is a straight ska dancing song, we hope people love it. The other is very pop-punkish. If you are familiar with the band Pushover, it sounds like something they would do. We'll never stop playing ska though, it will always be a part of us. We're not afraid to call ourselves a ska band, its what we are and what we want to be.
Fluffy: Who are some of your other influences?
Tony: Way too many. Ska wise I love the Pietasters, Reel Big Fish, Catch 22, The OC Scholars. I'm more into pop-punk than regular punk. I like Goldfinger, Mest, Blink 182, NFG. Billy Idol is a huge influence, he's one of my idols (no pun intended). I also listen to rock bands like Oasis and Soulcracker.
Fluffy: Billy Idol, eh? Who's your superman?
Tony: Hahaha...don't let him know we borrowed some of his lyrics.
Fluffy: Mums the word. Now we are going to get to the hard hitting questions...
Tony: Bring them on
Fluffy: How's it feel to play in a band and be related to a Detroit Red Wings fan (Tony's brother & NR guitarist Kevin Day)?
Tony: It doesn't bother me as much as before. In 1997, our house was a war. I am all about the Flyers and somebody else who is inthe band and lives with me is all for Detroit. They got lucky, it'll never happen again. This summer half their team will retire into old age homes.
Fluffy: Boo ya! On a related note, who's the greatest Flyer of all time?
Tony: Oh wow. I'd have to say Hextall....any goalie who can score and beat the crap out of people is ok in my book.
Fluffy: Who's the worst Flyer, Alexandre Daigle or Alexandre Daigle?
Ton: Uhm, choice number two. I also would like to admit that I have his autograph.
Fluffy: That's horrible. You're a movie buff, what's some of your favorites?
Tony: Man now this is the hard question and I knew it was coming too. I love horror movies, you can't beat a horror film from the 80's. My favorites would include all the Friday The 13th's, all the Nightmare on Elm Street's, the first Halloween, Return of the Living Dead, Hellraiser. Non horror movies I like are Ghostbusters, Revenge of The Nerds, Jaws, Godzilla 1985, Major League. I like alot of Charlie Sheen's stuff, he's one of my favorite actors. Oh yeah and Transformers the Movie, completely awesome. Besides music, movies are my life.
Fluffy: No Chopping Mall?
Tony: Only are certain occasions. Its a mood movie.
Fluffy: Alright, I'm very unorginal, so to wind down this interview, I'm gonna do some preference questions.
Tony: Allright
Fluffy: Letterman or Leno?
Tony: Leno
Fluffy: Bruce or Bon Jovi?
Tony: Don't cross the Boss
Fluffy: Salamanders or squirrels?
Tony: Squirrels, we've been obsessed with them longer
Fluffy: and some final hard hitting questions... what is up with your counter getting broken?
Tony: Don't talk to me, I'm just a foot soldier. Ask our webmaster Kevin about it.
Fluffy: Okay, how about radiator punching?
Tony: Thats more of the other guys in NR's thing. I just laugh at them do and say dumb things.
Fluffy: Any final comments?
Tony: Yeah, check out the NR site at www.angelfire.com/punk2/noregrets. If you haven't seen us before live come to a show, or if you haven't seen us in a long time come to a show because we have changed so much. I guess that is all. Support Your Local Ska Bands!
Fluffy: Thanks for the interview Tony. Everyone you heard him (or read him), go check out Tony the rest of No Regrets real soon, and make sure to check out his new sitcom "Worthless" starring Mariah Carey due out this fall.
Tony: Thanks
