OK, here it is the
interview with Matt "Times" Wechter who played in some of the best
bands in hardcore punk: TEAR IT UP, DEAD NATION, THE RITES, CUT THE SHIT, FAST
TIMES, GUILT TRIP and a few more bands. This interview was done by me in 2006. and
it was originally released in my zine - International Old School Conspiracy # 6
in December 2006. At the time, The Rites were still playing, but I mostly asked
Matt about Tear It Up. Even though it is not such a bad interview, I still kick
myself now for not asking Matt more about Dead Nation days or playing with Cut
The Shit. I guess I didn´t want to bother him too much with zillion questions
so I stick to the basic stuff. I love the story about almost dying while
driving to mix Nothing To Nothing record and there are some more neat stuff in
the interview, so check it out. And thanks again to Matt, not just for the
interview but for all the inspiration I´ve got listening to his bands, reading
interviews, watching great videos and shit.
INTERVIEW WITH MATT "TIMES" WECHTER
1. OK, please introduce yourself and say few words about The Rites,
how, when, why... Who´s in the band and what have you released so far?
M) The Rites How: with class and
dignity, When 2002 I think, Why, why the fuck not right? Who, me, dave sausage,
greg mullet dunn, and berman.
2. Can you tell me please, in what bands did you play (also in
what years you played in particular bands) and what is your favorite band of
all bands you´ve played?
M) Wow, ok. I’m just going to
start at things people might know as not to embarrass myself further.
1998-1999 Fast Times
1999 Up Front (one tour only)
1998-2000 Dead Nation
2000-2003 Tear It Up
2002-2004 Cut the Shit
2002- Current The Rites
2006 Straight Jacket Minds
3.In your previous bands you were playing drums, but now in The
Rites you sing. Which do you like better, drumming or singing and why? Do you
play any other instruments?
M) You know what it really is, I
have been paying drums sine I was in 4th grade and have done really
everything I wanted to as a drummer. Since I started Tear it Up I was writing
most of the songs on guitar anyway so I finally retired from drum altogether. I
play bass still and I still sing but I won’t tour out in another band as a
drummer. I went out on top and I’d like to keep it that way. I still do studio
stuff from time to time for other bands though.
I couldn’t say which I like more
because I respect both forms for different reasons that you can’t really
compare. Let’s just say that for each thing I did I had lots of goals and fulfilled
most of em.
4. How do you see The Rites? Do you think that you managed to
create your own sound (like I think you´ve succeeded that with Tear It Up) or you
don´t care about that & want to play just good music?
M) With my eyes. I don’t think we
really created our own sound, I think we just took what I had already been
doing and adapted it differently. There’s a lot less of you’re hardcore
influence in the Rites, it draws a lot more from punk stuff, and rock and roll
that I listen to. I always set to do something different and I’m very uptight
about what I play. If I think it sucks it doesn’t get past practice, and that’s
it. It’s cost me friends, and a lot of band members over the years but I’d
rather lose friends then put out shitty records.
5. You`re teacher, right? Are you planning to retire from hardcore
(haha) or you think that 10 years after you´re gonna still kicking ass in some
hc/punk combo? How you make a balance between those two (work and hc/punk)?
M) Well I’m very dedicated to my
job, and it keeps me off the road for most of the year. I really try to get out
and do shows especially on weekends and the summer. That’s the good thing about
teaching is the summer time off to go tour. I can’t really say there is a
balance between work and h/c because if something is going to get sacrificed it
would be h/c. I still go to shows when I can and play when I can. I practice
and write songs all the time but I’m responsible for the education of like 30
different 8-10 year old kids, so what it comes down to is I put most of my
energy into my job.
6. What do you teach and why do you like teaching? What kind pf
teacher are you? A tough & mean one (haha) or understanding & friendly?
M) I teach 3rd and 4th
grade elementary school. I love teaching, mainly because I love getting kids to
think on their own, getting them prepared for life, and helping them achieve. I
like to say that I have the best sense of humor of any teacher in my school but
what it comes down to is that I’m all business. If you walk into my room and
want to learn I will do anything for you, but if you walk into my room and try
to fuck around I will crush you. So I’m called both, mean and friendly.
I think teaching is great for h/c
punk kids because to be a good teacher you have to be able to make something
out of nothing, and you have to know you’re being set up for failure. And
hardcore kids, are pro’s at both.
7. Let`s move to Tear It Up themes, hehe... Even though I like all
Tear It Up records, I think that somehow Nothing To Nothing LP kinda stands
out. Can you tell me more about that LP, did you write most of the songs on it
or other members also wrote some songs? And is that LP conceptual?
M) Yeah it was meant to really
stand out. I spent a lot of months refining how I wanted it to sound and a lot
of sleepless nights getting it to fit together perfectly. When we went into do
the final mix I almost got into a car accident where my car skidded backwards
into another lane, and all I could say was shit I’m too busy to die I need to
mix today. Most of the songs I did write paul wrote a few and Andy wrote a few
but I gave them a direction. Like I need a song that sounds like this or how
about we play it like this. Its not really a concept record, it was just a
really dark time for me and some of the other guys personally and all the
energy was really focused. Jon Collins really got a sense of what I was doing
about the writing and sound of the record and went out and made the artwork
happen. He did it one his own and id a great job. I think the imagery just fit
in so nicely together.
8. Tear It Up was definitively hard touring band, it seems that
you were totally into that. So, I`m wondering can you compare Black Flag and
Tear It Up concerning touring stuff and were all TIU members 100 % into touring
and playing to destroy?
M) Well, I wouldn’t make that
comparison personally, but I’ll be glad to take the compliment. Most of the
people in the band were used to playing in bands no one cared about, and our
deal was we play where we can when we can as often as we can, because we love
to do it. If you can make that link to black flag, cool. I mean we were totally
inspired by them and who they did what they did, as if you couldn’t tell.
9. Some of your lyrics in TIU were really dark & sometimes
depressive but I read in one TIU interview that you`re really happy now.
Anyway, I wonder do people for whom you wrote those songs know that you wrote
the songs about? Isn`t the revenge through a song the best way to say
"Fuck You" to people who piss you off!?!
M) We were happy then too. What
people never understand is that we weren’t a bunch of shitty bummed out dudes.
If you hung out with us it was fun, but at the end of the day we had problems.
Instead of complaining about it we wrote about it, yelled about it, and made
records about it. As for knowing songs are about them, I’m sure some do, Im’
sure some never will, because it’s too hard for people to look at themselves in
the light I presented.
10. I also wonder since you wrote the most of TIU lyrics, but the
way Dave sang them seems that he really meant, like he could really identify
with your lyrics... Is that true?
M) Because he felt like I did.
Dave and I were very close and went through some similar shit at times. If
there was anything he didn’t relate to or didn’t like I changed it. Dave wrote
some lyrics too but Dave was the best at presenting what you said and how you
really meant it.
11. I read in few TIU interviews how you had to deal with stupid
rumors and shits like that all the time. Isn´t it interesting how even when
you`re doing something right, there will be amount of people who`ll talk shits
& false rumors behind your back? What is your opinion about this?
M) There was a point that we were
the biggest band in American doing the kind of music we did, and when you’re so
out there and visible people want to take you down. That’s just how it is.
12. Are you in contact with other TIU members? What are they doing
now?
M) Yeah actually most of them. I
saw Dave, Andy, and Swank one of our roadies yesterday at a show Splitting
Headache (dave andy) and Staring Problem (swank andy) were playing. Paul moved
to California but I talk to him every month or so. I see Doug every few weeks
In jersey City when I go out after practice he’s usually at the bar. John and
Ryan I don’t really see but we’re still all cool.
13. Do you remember some shows with any of your bands that stands
out? Any cool & funny stories from the gigs?
M) Dude there’s so many but I’ll
tell you about the last ever TIU show. We played a Halloween show as black
flag, wier huh? So we opened the show as 1981 flag and did a damaged and
nervous breakdown kinda set there was about 500 people there. Then 5 bands
later we closed the show at 1985 Black Flag and did a Loose Nut kinda set.
We cleared the room out leaving like 30 people, and the cops shut our amps off
as we were beginning My War. 2 days later we broke up.
14. I also read that Dead Nation did a reunion show once, can we
hope for some Tear It Up reunion tour in Europe (and I mean Eastern Europe
too:))? That would be great!
M) You never know.
15. What people/bands (past and present) from hc/punk inspire you
to do stuff you do and to go on with your life? I must say that for me Tear It
Up is one of the most inspiring bands ever!
M) All the old SST workers and
Black Flag because they did what they wanted and no one did it for them. They
had to work hard all the time. I’d say Iggy Pop as well because he’s like a
million and still kicking ass.
16. What was your first hc/punk show, when was that and how do you
liked the gig?
M) It was 1993 I think. I saw
Vision and some other bands in NJ. I loved it. I was so inspired by the way
kids were helping each other when they got knocked down not beating on
everyone. I also like seeing a lot of different races of people. I’m jewish,
and in the metal scene there were too many nazi racist fuck ups for me to ever
feel comfortable. So I felt at home.
17. This is a cliche question but I ask that everyone. Can you
tell me what are your favorite 20 bands/records from 80´s (or even 70´s)?
M) 20 ok. Misfits, 7 seconds,
black flag, Ramones, Germs, Poison Idea, Big Boys, Stooges, Alice Cooper, Thin
Lizzy, The Jam, The Boys, Joy Division, Circle jerks, Adolescents, TSOL, New
York Dolls, Dead Boys, Crucifix, Blitz.
18. How`s your local hc/punk scene, any cool bands? I think that NY/NJ
scene was great in the 80´s but then in the middle of 90´s it was kind of
weird. From late 90´s to now I think that NY/NJ scene is again one of
the best. Am I correct?
M) Not really. I mean there’s a
few bands around here that are cool, but there’s not a lot going on. Our venues
are getting shut down left and right, and its becoming impossible to find
places to play. Also kids don’t come out to show like they used to. I blame
technology for that, too many shut ins.
19. Do you know anything about the scene in Croatia and other
Balkan countries like Serbia, Macedonia, Slovenia...
M) Historically yes, h/c wise not
at all.
20. What about Myspace? Good and bad sides of it? Don`t you think
that all those Myspace, blogs and internet stuff are killing printed zines? Do
you like zines and what do you think of importance of zines for the DIY hc/punk
scene?
M) I love good zines and I think
they’re totally important. Myspace is a cancer and is killing everything so why
should we be immune.
21. Are you in relationship with someone? Is it important for you
that your love partner is also into hc/punk or not? Don` t you think that lots
of people use the word Love for granted and even don`t know what love is?
M) I have been with my girlfriend
for 3 years now. I’ll definitely say it’s easier when your mate is into h/c
because they tend to understand why you eat shit and love it. I had a
girlfriend for a long time that just didn’t get it you know and it was totally
hard to deal. I think the singer of my new band said it best when he said: “I
told her that I loved her cause its easier then the truth”. I think that
answers the last part of the question.
22. What do you think how much more time we have as a human race?
Is apocalypse knocking on our door? I`ve heard that 2012. is "the
year", haha! What do you think about that?
M) I mean take a look around.
We’re fucked no doubt about it. I just hope I’m long dead before it happens,
because I’d be too worried about my students.
23. Quick questions:
a)
Why are
Descendents the best band on earth ever!?!
M) I
wasn’t aware they were.
b)
What do
you think about circle pit? Are you doing it?
M) Only
when its appropriate. You can’t circle pit to a huge cro mags like breakdown
but when I can use It I do.
c)
For whom
is written song: Don´t Call Me Tonight?
M) Who do
you think?
d)
How was
for you that 1999 show with Up Front/Fast Times, in Kutina, Croatia?
M) Dude
that shit was awesome. I just wish we hadn’t arrived so late. Everyone was so
nice. It was weird that they made me sign autographs, so I made people sign
them for me too. Later that night we got stopped at the border and they took me
to a tiny room and made me empty my pockets. All I had were the autographs,
they laughed at me and sent me back outside.
e)
Black Flag
is...
M) a way
of life
24. Future plans of The Rites? Maybe a European tour :)?
M) We’re thinking about it
hopefully we can make it happen.
25. Thanx for your time, any last comments?
M) Yeah man thanks a lot this was a great
interview I really enjoyed it.
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