INTERVIEW WITH AUTHORITY ZERO Authority Zero is a band that has a lot of things going on lately: “A Passage In Time” is their new album on Lava/Atlantic, and the band is supporting it on the Punk-O-Rama tour with the likes of Guttermouth and Gob among others. In a moment of pause, we at Truepunk.com got the chance to talk to Jim, drum player for the band, who showed us what Authority Zero is about and what are their plans: to play music for the rest of their life.

Interview by Carlo Gironi |carlo@staff.truepunk.com| with Jim

Hi Jim! how are you doing ? Good, thanks.

For the people who do not know Authority Zero very well, can you sum up a short story of how you met, started playing and became what you are today ?w
thats is a long story and since I dont tell it very well I will leave it to Bill and Jason to answer. Where do you come from and how is the music scene from the place you’re from ?  
We are from Mesa Az and the scene is Fantastic. We have a great friendship with allot of the bands in the scene that we have developed over the years. Bands like Redfield, No Gimmick and Bullet Train to Moscow,are just 3 of to many bands to list.
 

Why did you call your band with this name ? Does “Authority Zero” refer to something in particular?
The origin of the name came from a bank teller machine and well I’m sure Bill will cover this question with detail for you.

Is “A Passage In Time” your first album ? If  not, how many albums did you release before and on what record labels?
This is not our first.  We have released 2 besides this one.  First we put out “Live Your Life” an indie release we recorded in one day (20 hours to be exact) that record gave us the feeling of accomplishment.  It was our first and after we got done recording it all we wanted to do was promote it, and then start on another one.  Our second record was not released till 2 years after that.  That record was called “Patches in time”,  it was supposed to be “A Passage in Time” but the demand for the new record was high we decided to release 6 of the tracks and call it an “EP” then naming it “Patches” a piece of the full thing to come.  That record lead us to #1 sales at a local record chain and a record contract where we could release the full length album that is out now.
 

How did you get to sign to Lava/Atlantic Records ? How does it feel to be  on a major label ?
Signing came from tons of shopping. And for all the scary things I’ve heard about majors I have to say they are treating us better than I have ever imagined.  Everything that they can do to help us further our devotion for this band, they do.  Its almost like having your family stand behind you and do nothing but focus on how to make your life and situation better.

Do you think there is any difference from  being on a major label or on an indie?
Not really but I wouldnt know cause I’ve never been on an indie.

Your new album “A Passage In Time” came out not too long ago - how do you feel about this one ? Do you think it is your  best CD ever?
I definately think its our best CD yet, but defineatly not yet.  We have many more tricks up our sleave.
 
Some songs on the new CD were written long time ago, like “Superbitch”, “Mesatown”, “La Surf” and “Good Old Days” - why  did you decide to put them on the new album ?
We simply think they are great tracks we all enjoy playing them and feel that we should not throw them out.
 
How did you come to write the new songs ? Is there anyone in the band who write lyrics+music or do you do everything together ? 
I would have to say its more of a group effort.  Jason and Bill will normally come up with a structure and then we will all play around with it till we have a foundation to work with then its just,  “add the finishing touches”.
 
What do the lyrics of Authority Zero sound like ? As far as I heard, you talk about personal expiriences and some kind of “social” issue as well - how do you see it , what do you sing about ?
Ask jason………?
 
How was to produce the new album ? Were you worried to do a good job?
Yes and no.  We were conserened with the sound yes but we where confident none the less.
 
Are you worried about the major label thing and the sell-out thing ? Some people say that bands on major labels are in it for the money and stuff ; what about Authority Zero ? 
Promotion is the key here.  Geting your band out to as many people as you can is what every muscian is drived to do.  The only time I concider people a sellout is when they start to change there music and vision just to better there carrier.  When in  the end it is worse for them.
 
Your sound is described as a cross of The Offspring, Pennywise, Sublime and so on - do you agree? What are your main influences and what do you think of these three bands I just mentioned ?
The bands you mentioned are awsome and I take all that was said as a compliment.  We have looked up to those bands for years. To say that we sound like them I would have to say no only because all of those bands have established a sound that i personally don’t believe anyone will ever duplicate.
 
On “A Passage In Time” you easily mix melodic hardcore elements with pop-punk, ska-core and even some surf rock music , as on “La Surf” ? How did  you manage to do this ? Is it because everyone in the band has its own favorite bands?
Whatever sounds wrong we try our hardest to pull off. If people think that we cant laydown a track that slams hardcore punk into reggae we do it.  I think we enjoy taking the so called “impossible” and making it possible.
 
How would you describe your music and your shows to a person that never heard of Authority Zero ?
“We are a ver ecclectic band with tons of energy you just have to see it for your self.”
 
Talking of tours, have you already started touring to support the new CD? If so, where and with whom ?
Our first tour was with Slightly Stoopid and was I have to say fun as hell.  Then we went on to play with Madcap and H20 and other blast of a trip. And now we are on the Punk O Rama tour (dream come true) sharing the stage with 1208 and Guttermouth. Have you got some plans to tour also in  Europe and maybe Japan ?
Not yet but we all dream and talk about how cool it would be all the time.
 
Talking of plans, what are your future plans?
To play music for the rest of our lives.
 
Question I do to every band : have you got some CD’s or bands playing in your stereo right now? What are you listening to these days?
Right at this point in time while typing I’m listening to Mazzy Star. Final Comments ?
span Thanks to everyone that is helping us out on our journey. Thanks to all the fans you have been the best.