with
Insolence
by Kim George

back to part I

KG: I know I probably shouldn’t ask this but what was your craziest tour moment?

PP:  (laughs) This one is pretty sick.  Back in August 2001 (on the Corporate Avenger tour), this stripper like came onto our bus.  At that time our guitar tech was named Krinok. He’s like so short, girl.   He’s like 5’2” - maybe 5’3” tops - anyway he’s cool as hell. He’s like GG Allin, minus his crazy tats, right? So this stripper brings this leather bracelet with 4” spikes and well we tell Krinok he has to give this stripper a lapdance. So he goes in the bathroom, gets naked and puts this ring around his small package and he proceeds to give her a lapdance to Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough.”  It was the funniest thing ever; he’s like naked and the ring is falling off his package constantly. After that, some crazy action happened with a banana and..... 

KG:  OK, alright....that’s just a little bit too much information, bro. 

PP: (we both laugh) But seriously, you totally had to be there because it was the funniest thing ever. I totally miss that guy - he’s in Oregon right now. 

KG: No doubt you guys have toured all over the globe. What is your favorite State to play? 

PP: Favorite state for me personally to play is New York. I just like totally love the vibe in New York.  I feel like it’s home and I’m just really comfortable there.  One day I would love to live in New York.  And I’d like to have a crib in Florida. 

KG: Yeah, but the humidity sucks in Florida, I know, I live it every day. 

PP: No way! I love the weather in Florida! So tropical.  I’m half Puerto Rican so the humidity doesn’t bother me at all!! I love it in Florida, especially places like Miami and Orlando. I wouldn’t mind living in Florida either. 

(I proceed to rub it in that Tampa Bay kicked Oakland’s ass and it’s clear Paul is still a little sore about Gruden leaving Oakland) 

KG: Outside the States, what is your favorite country to play? 

PP: Japan and Europe.  We have a lot of fans in Japan.  Amazing vibe and Prague in the Czech Republic is the s*** too.  But I really like touring overseas in general.   I like all the really cool architecture in those countries, really. 

KG: I knew you were going to mention Japan.  You guys could possibly have a gold record waiting for you there when you go back.  Explain why you think the record sales in Japan are so much greater than in The States? 

PP: Simple.  Bottom line...it came down to having a great overseas label. Warner International promoted us a lot overseas and most importantly, they promoted us right. It was all about a good record and the right label. 

KG: You recently solidified your band line-up with a new drummer. What happened with Mando and when was he officially out of the band? 

PP: Mando was officially out of the band in January 2002, a week after our last gig.  As a band, we just decided (musically and personally) to part with him due to irreconcilable differences. 

KG:  I heard your new drummer can really pound the skins.  Where did you find this guy? 

PP: Our new drummer, he’s rad.  His name is Kevin.  Our boy Casey from the band Restitution told us about him. Kevin played in some local bands in San Jose. He’s a full time student at San Jose State. Drum scholarship and all. He’s THAT good.   We’re really hyped to have him. 

KG: What can the fans expect from your new drummer? 

PP: Great transitions. More flavor. All around a great drummer. Gotta see him play live. Totally amazing. He’s the s***.

KG: Along with your new line up, you guys parted with your major label, Maverick. What happened? 

PP: Our manager expressed to our label rep at Maverick that we were just unhappy with the way the label had us on hold.  And you know, he was cool about it and said he understood our position.  He’s still a fan of our music, he just didn’t know how to market us. We parted on good terms. It was best for all involved, really. We’re really excited about what the future holds for Insolence. 

KG: Any developmental deal yet or are you still label shopping? 

PP: Looks like we are going to go with Warner International for overseas. Nothing yet in the States but after we return from touring Japan, we’ll start label shopping and sending out our kits. I am really interested in POD’s label that they started. They signed the band Blindside, do you know them? They are a great band. They are on the road with Papa Roach right now.  Anyway, I don’t want to target one label only. We’ll send kits to RCA, MCA, Dreamworks, basically everyone big and small. We will sign with a label that has the same vision as us and one that is willing to spend money in the right places...one that will help this band blow up. 

(we talk about POD’s new label and other potential labels) 

KG: I heard your new material. I admit I really dig it.  The music is tighter and the reggae influence is greater than in Revolution.   At the same time, the band hasn’t lost its tough edge.  Are you at all concerned your existing fans might not be down with the new material? 

PP: Well you know, we’ll probably lose some fans that are just into our hardcore stuff. But at the same time, we will definitely gain fans because our music is broader now. The fact is, we have grown as a band and as people. What some people don’t realize is we really haven’t written a complete record for 2 ½ - 3 years. I mean, on Revolution, only three of those tracks were new. I’m not the same person I was a few years ago, you know? None of us are.  With our new material, Insolence kept all of our strong elements and added some more melody and switched it up. No sense in making a record that sounds exactly like the one before it, you know? It’s just natural progression, really. 

KG: You’re heading into the studio this month with one of my favorite guitarists, Logan Mader (Medication, ex-Machine Head, ex-Soulfly). Logan mentioned to me that he will be producing a couple of your heavier tracks for your upcoming EP. How did working with Logan again come about? I know the last time you worked with him was when he laid down the guitar tracks for “Game Over” and “1-2, 1-2” off your last CD, Revolution. 

PP: Well, as you know, me and Logan, we go way back. Logan had some time off since his band didn’t tour Europe and he obviously knew we were going to put this EP together. He expressed an interest in working on our EP and it was just an obvious choice for him to produce us. As you said, Logan will produce two of the tracks on the EP, the heavier songs. You know, the heavy, signature type songs, that Insolence fans know. Logan, I don’t know....he’s just the next big thing to blow up.  I mean, really.  He just needs that one big record. He’s a great musician and amazing producer. I’m telling you, one of these days he’s going to blow up....blow up to be like Ross Robinson. He will be the next big producer. I know it. 

KG: I hear that. I said to Logan not long ago that I don’t care what band he is in or what project he is working on, just as long as he keeps doing what he does. He’s destined to blow up; it’s just a matter of time. 

PP: Yeah no doubt. I am so proud of that guy, I have seen him go through it all, the good and the bad. He’s come a long way. He’s a great friend. 

KG: What’s up with the EP? Do you have the track listing solidified? 

PP: Well I don’t know the actual track listing yet but we do know what songs will be on the EP. The EP will have a total of 5 tracks. There are three radio friendly songs.  Mudrock produced those.  Then, as we already talked about, Logan is producing our two heavier tracks. 

KG: What are the song titles for the upcoming EP? 

PP: “Revolt” and “Hater” are the heavier tunes that Logan will produce. The other tracks are “No Longer Theirs”, “So Long” and “Girl.” “Girl” will probably be our first choice for a video once we get signed. 

KG: You mentioned the EP was self funded. What is your label name? 

PP: Pho King #1 Records. 

KG: Pho what? What the hell does that mean? 

PP: (we both laugh) Um, you never heard of Pho? They are Vietnamese noodles, girl. We always be eating da Pho. Best noodle soup ever. No kidding, that’s how we got the name. We are even going to have a little symbol of a bowl with steam and chop sticks for our label symbol (laughs). 

KG: That is insane. You are kidding right? 

PP: Noooooooooope! (laughs) 

(we actually talk about, of all things, noodles for a while and he is really not kidding about the label name and symbol...the band must really dig those noodles) 

KG: Insolence is heading out to tour Japan again in March. What are you plans when you return to the States? 

PP: Well we want to put out this EP, do some live shows, and get signed obviously. We have some Bay Area shows lined up before we leave for Japan and a U.S. tour starting in April,   I’m not quite sure what the details are on the U.S.tour but we’re playing in Hollywood March 31 with our friends Shuvel @ The Whiskey A Go Go. 

KG: Any final comments? 

PP: Yeah, go hit up our new dope ass website at www.insolence1.com. Trance and Frank did a killer job! Also check us out on www.talentmatch.com.  You can hear our music on both of those websites so check it! And thanks! It was good talking to you again. 

Mark Herman: Vocals
Mech 1: Spits, Percussion and Melodica (that reggae thing)
Mikey: Getarz
Paul Perry: Low End
Kevin “The Guch” : Drums and The Boom…
Da Hermit: Turntables and Samples 
 
 

www.insolence1.com
www.talentmatch.com
www.loganmader.com