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Can you tell me something about the history of Zebrahead very briefly?
"We all pretty much came together by just fooling around with our bands. Ben's and my band used to
play together all the time. We decided to fuck around at the side. We used to share the studio with Craig
and Ed's old band. We all left our old bands and played together for a while. We got a record deal, we
started recording and touring and that's what we are doing for the past five years, you know. Write a
record, record a record and go on tour. We have had a great time and we have seen some great places.
Recently we toured in the states with 311. And then we went to Japan. We did a little thing there and we
came back. And now we are doing Europe.
"
Is this your second time Europe?
"Actually our third time. We came here last time with Sugar Ray. Before that we played Dynamo. Which
is a long time ago.
"
Which bands have influenced you?
"Me personally I had different periods in my life with different influences. I grew up with listening
to the Beatles, CCR because of my parents. When I started playing guitar I listened to Van Halen and
Metallica. When I heard 'Master of Puppets' I had to start playing guitar. I had a hard time finding
singers, no one could ever sing, so I said: 'fuck it, I'm gonna try to sing'. Then I listened to punk/pop
stuff like Descendants and Green Day. That was a big part of my life. I went from like the Beatles to heavy
metal to punk. And now I listen to everything. I listen from David Grey to fucking Incubus. I love the
Incubus record right now. I love trance music, Paul van Dijk. He is one of my favorite DJ's. I love that
music too. Right now I listen to everything, not just one style.
"
And that's also what we hear on the record.
"Yes, we can't write with just one style. Even in the same song it's different. That's because of the
band. Everyone has got different backgrounds. Craig listens to classic rock. Ben really has a real weird
musical taste. Now he has got like Hip-Hop. Ed's a punk rock guy. When you put all of us together, well we
all write one song. And by the end of the time it's done all the shit is in there.
"
Playmate of the Year is your latest release. Officially it's your second record, after 'Waste of Mind',
not counting the 'yellow' album. A striking difference between both albums is the lyrics. 'Waste of Mind'
sounds very happy with lyrics like 'lost all my money but the sun is shining' (Bootylicious vinyl), while
Playmate of the Year sounds a lot more serious at times, e.g. in 'What's goin' on', with lyrics like 'she
wakes up in the morning, bruised and raped on the street'. What happened with Zebrahead between those
albums?
"No no, it's the same band. I think we have got a little older and a little more mature. When you
listen to songs like 'I'm money' and 'in my room'. It's still us. We are still fucking around but we have
gotten a little older. Being on the road it makes you a little bitter. We still have the goofiness. It's a
little more balanced. There is a serious side too....somewhere. Sometimes it comes out.
"
But what is your vision on life?
"I think that everybody needs a sense of humor.
"
Who got the idea of being sponsored by Playboy?
"I was lucky, you know. We were writing a song. Ben and I were surfing one day and Ben wanted to write
a song that goes like: 'Wow, Yeah'. And I said: 'well, alright, that's cool. So we went to the studio and
we wrote the song. We were writing the lyrics. I started writing the song about good-looking girls in
general. And Craig said: 'let's do it about Playboy, Playmate of the year'. I said: 'okay, that sounds
great'. The label called Playboy, because that's their fucking slogan, playmate of the year. Maybe they
would charge us for everything. They said: 'no, that will be fine', they gave us Jodi the playmate of the
cover for the video. We made the video in the mansion. Basically they would help us.
"
But did they already hear the song?
"Actually, the lady who is in charge of this, Huge Hefner's daughter does the operations. No, it was
one of the girls who worked with her, she liked Zebrahead. That helped a lot. We gotta thank her for that.
Yes, they heard the song. It has been marvelous ever since.
"
Do you have a contract with Playboy?
"No, we just did this song, we did this record. We had a little cross promotion. We had a party there
about two months ago. It was beautiful! That was the last thing we did there. But good god, fantastic! It's
a marvelous place to go, man. I highly recommend it.
"
For Playmate of the Year you decided to work with producer Howard Benson again. I guess you were very happy
with the result of 'Waste of Mind'?
"Yeah, we thought he did a really good job. We felt comfortable with Howard. He knows us really well.
We thought that he really would be the best guy for us. Well I think we maybe on our next record do it
otherwise. Just try something different. At the time it was comfortable for me. On our next record somebody
else.
"
Because this one (I show him the 'yellow' CD) is also Howard Benson.
"Yes, HB. He was embarrassed to put his name on that one. Because he didn't spend a lot of time
producing it, you know what I mean. It was kinda rough. So he put HB down. It's pretty funny.
"
Yes, HB. He was embarrassed to put his name on that one. Because he didn't spend a lot of time producing
it, you know what I mean. It was kinda rough. So he put HB down. It's pretty funny.
"Right.
"
How's life in Orange County?
"Orange County is nice man. It's really crowded. Real smoggy in the summer and it's cool though it's a
cool place to live. The weather is great. I can't complain. I grew up in a pretty nice and decent area.
That's why a lot of these bands talking about more negative things. We don't have all that negative shit to
say about our lives. It's a cool area with a lot of good-looking girls. Right now the percentage of fake
boobies are 9 out of 10 girls. It's disgusting. They all play pornstars, the fake tits and the fake blond
hair. But the music scene has been... I grew up seeing Social Distortion, No Doubt and Offspring, and all
those bands. They where doing little clubs when I was in High school. I go see them. Social Distortion is
still big there. The other two weren't at all. We grew up to see good shows. I think now Orange County has
so many bands, because there has always been a good scene. It's not just one sound. Not just punk or rock.
There are a lot of (Hed)p.e. type of bands. The scene really has come a long way. It's a pretty good place
to live.
"
So for you Orange County is the perfect inspiration for writing such an album?
"I think it helps, yeah. If I was born and raised in Boston I wouldn't write that album. Seriously, I
know how it is out there. It makes a big difference, even the fuckin' weather. It rains a lot here, but
it's nothing when we went to Seattle one time. It was like 90 days straight rain. I was like 'how the fuck
do you live here'. It gets depressing, you write a lot more depressing lyrics.
"
It took you twice as long as usual to record the video for Playmate of the Year, as there are two
versions: there's also an adult version. Was it something you guys wanted to do, or did Playboy ask you to
record a second version?
"Well it really didn't take that long though, they just take the same set that we were doing and maybe
change something and the girls take off their tops.
"
But was it your idea to record an adult version?
"Actually we kinda tossed the idea around but they wanted to do it.
"
Playboy?
"Yes it was their idea. 'Nooooo, we can't do that', we said. That would be wrong and scornful to
women. I wouldn't like to see Playmates boobies next to me (saying that with a big smile). Hahahaha...But
they wanted it. It was the greatest day of my life.
"
We saw the video too.
"Yeah did you see it? It's a lot better though, don't you think?
"
Yes, but here in the Netherlands it isn't an adult version.
"I know that it's different. Americans are very uptight. When we were in Italy last night, we had so
much fun. We were doing a MTV interview and they said: 'say whatever you want'. We were saying 'fuck' every
other word. To me it was so much fun on MTV we were saying fuck. This is great you know. You turn on the TV
and there are boobies everywhere and it's no big deal. We are really uptight. Just like the drinking age.
When you are sixteen and order wine, who cares. But back home they will bust your ass, it's stupid.
"
Who's the bands biggest Playboy?
"Whow, hmmm... that will be our roadie Curly.
"
Why?
"He is a man whore! He does the work for all the guys in the band.
"
Do you have a girlfriend or wife?
"I have a girlfriend.
"
Does she look like a playmate?
"Yes, she does. That's a safe answer isn't it? She is better looking than the playmates. By far.
"
I can imagine you've answered all the questions I've asked so far a thousand times last weeks. So I
guess it's time for some questions you don't have to answer that often. Choose one of the following and
tell my why you chose it:
Touring or recording?
"Hmmm... That's a weird one, man, because when you have been touring for a long time you just wanna go
home. When you are recording for a long time you wanna get the fuck out of the studio. I have to say: Both.
That's a though one.
"
Axl Rose or Ricky Martin?
"Oh man, that's though. Axl was a bad ass and Ricky Martin, that guy could dance. That's a tie. In
Axl's high day or Ricky Martins, I'd say Axl.
"
Girls or beer?
"BEER! You know man, beer is always there for me, always makes you happy. They never yell at you, they
never talk back to you. Beer goes good with anything. Beer has been my longest friend too. Women they come
and go, except for this last one!
"
Jenna Jameson or Pamela Anderson?
"Hmmm... Pamela did a pretty good job sucking cock. Jenna is better though. Jenna is a little more
active a little more creative. Jenna Jameson.
"
What is the best Zebrahead song ever, according to you?
"'A place and friends'. It's on Playmate, it's in between the songs. The hidden song.
"
You guys once recorded a very funny version of the Spice Girls' 'Wannabe'. Will it ever be officially
released?
"No, we actually wanna put that on the album, but they wanted too much money. We play it live at
request hour. You have seen Zebrahead before right?
"
Yes, at the Dynamo festival.
"Oh, but that's years ago. But we do what's called the request hour in our set. The audience yells out
whatever song they wanna hear. No matter what it is we play it. They always yell for the Spice Girls.
"
It's on Napster. I don't know if you like or hate Napster.
"We are fine with that, that's great. People know that song from Napster, so that's cool.
"
What plans for the future do you have?
"We are gonna go home after Europe and record a song for a WWF-compilation. Limp Bizkit's on it and
Cypress Hill is on it and Disturbed. There is a guy called The Edge. He's into wrestling.
"
I know Hulk Hogan...
"Yes, those kinda guys. We are recording a song for him. Lit is doing a compilation CD at home for a
bunch of bands and we gotta do a cover of a hair love eighties band. We don't know yet what we are gonna
do. After that we might go touring with the Guano Apes. But that is not for sure. That is it.
"
What last thing would you like to say to our readers?
"I would like to say: Word up! And thanks to the fans, because without you we wouldn't have any fans.
"
I didn't say fans, I said READERS.
"Let me rephrase that: thanks to the readers, because without you we wouldn't have any readers."
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