Good Riddance (or GR) is a punk rock band from Santa Cruz, California. The band was heavily influenced by the early American hardcore scene and is known for playing fast punk with catchy melodies.

Interview by Carlo Gironi ( carlo@staff.TRUEPUNK.com ) with Russ Rankin | Photo: Bj Papas. Hello, are you doing fine?
Yes, we are all well. Relaxed and ready to play these new songs live!

First thing I’d like to ask you , Good Riddance have been around for a long time, and “Bound By Ties Of Blood And Affection” is your new album on Fat: how do you feel about the new record ( do you like it most than the other albums):are you excited for this new CD?

We’re very excited. I think this album is really good and a big step forward for us. It was alot of hard work but I’m way stoked on the outcome. Everything came together and our producers/engineers (Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore) really went above and beyond the call of duty-we owe those guys alot!

  “Bound By Ties Of Blood And Affection” has been a long time in the making : do you think there is a difference compared to your older albums, in the making process at least?

No, we pretty much prepared in the same way we did for our last album “Symptoms of a Leveling Spirit,” but I think this album has alot more of a bite to it in the mix, while retaining the melodic and lyrical elements which made “Symptoms…” so succesful.

The new album seems to deal most abut social and politcal issues, rather than animal rights or personal feelings: is it really so or it is just my impression?
Well I definately think it’s got some social/political overtones and a fairly caustic lyrical approach but there are a few songs dealing with the breakup of a serious relationship which is pretty personal as well. I think the album is a good mix of the kinds of songs fans have come to relish from Good Riddance.

Good Riddance is one of the few hardcore punk bands that have had a kind of developement or “progress”: none of your records sound the same, every album you made was different from the previous, and this is so also this time. Do you have a secret, or a will to keep on changing and developing your sound and lyrics?

I think that it just goes to show how we’ve been able to consistently re-define our “sound” and, every time we record an album, we feel like it’s the best one yet and there’s no way we can top it. Then the challenge becomes how can we take the last record’s strongest points and not only re-create them but improve upon them; push the envelope that much further. I always feel like the “good” is the enemy of the “best.” I am never satisfied.

What about the production? You produced the album with Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore: you seem to like these producers a lot, as you recorded with them a lot of albums. How was the recording process with the new album and why do you like these two producers a lot?
Those guys are absolutely incredible and, especially on this album, they really had to work hard! I would say that, since we began going to The Blasting Room in 1999, this is the most work Bill has had to do with us as, for a variety of reasons, we entered the studio with many songs still pretty raw and unformed. We owe those guys alot.

Talking again of the two producers you work with, they also work with a lot of pop punk acts, while a lot of Fat bands work with Ryan Greene: why did you quit working with Green and what do you think of the job of Livermore and Stevenson with such acts as Slick Shoes, and the likes?
We stopped working with Ryan Greene only out of curiosity. Like, what would it sound like somewhere else? Ryan is an amazing engineer and he taught us alot during the three albums we did with him. I’m not real familiar with Slick Shoes but I liked the sound of Pollen, Wretch Like Me and the new Rise Against.

Is there a speficic reason for the title of the new album,what does “Bound By Ties Of Blood And Affection” refer to?
It’s from a book I have and I guess it has to do with being in a band. I simultaneously love and hate my bandmates at times but we’re forever bound together by the blood, sweat and trial of playing music which strikes such resonant musical cords in us.

On your previous albums, especially on “Ballads…”, you talked a lot about animal rights, I was also gladly surprised about all of the info in that cd’s booklet about Peta and those books you suggested. Now I have the feeling you deal most with social and personal issues. I bet you always go vegetarian, but why do you change topics? Will you ever do another song like “Waste”?
It is entirely possible that we would do another song which focuses on animal rights specifically but I think it’s a mistake to assume we’ve “changed topics” just because we’re not singing about it all the time.

Your influences are very wide, and the new album shows it: can you mention some of the bands/music that you listen to, and that influences you in any way?
Lots of California punk rock from the early and mid 1980’s. Bands like the Dead Kennedys, B’last!, Black Flag, Bad Religion, Decry, D.I. and the Adolescents.

What is the meaning of the cover of the new record?
It’s a parody of the animal characters representing the two richest American political parties (democrats and republicans).

Do all the people in the band listen to the same kind of music? What are your personal musical tastes?
No. We listen to all kinds of different stuff…I wouldn’t even know where to begin; you’d have to ask them. I like older punk and some obscure bands like the Pogues and the Psychadelic Furs. I think the other guys like the Foo Fighters and stuff like that. I don’t know exactly but we all listen to lots of different music.

Would you describe in general what you sing about in this album, even with some examples if you want?
This album is like a snapshot of what has amounted to a pretty miserable year and a half for me personally. It’s also very sad that we have a walking, talking moron for a President as well. Lyrically the album bounces between these two facets of my perception. It’s been a difficult time and writing these songs was very cathartic for me.

I know some in Good Riddance also plays in other bands, as Chuck plays in Creep Division and they have a split coming out with I Want Out. Is it hard to keep Good Riddance on with these other “side-projects”?
Yeah sort of but as long as we are considerate of the common goal of keeping Good Riddance solvent I think these other musical outlets are fun and healthy.

  Lorelei Records is your own record label: what kind of music are you going to release and is this label going to become like what Fat Mike’s Fat Wreck Chords became to Epitaph Records? I saw Good Riddance released “Covers Up” on Lorelei and not on Fat…
We’d love for Lorelei to be as successful as FAT but we’re satisfied for now to take it slow and release quality rock and roll. Look for the Creep Division/I Want Out split CD and the debut CD by Spark Of Life, a great hardcore band from southern California, in July 2003. You can be uptaded by checking these sites: www.loreleirecords.com, www.sparkoflifemusic.com .

Have you got some plans of touring ? If so, have you got some anticipations ?
Due to everybody’s busy lives we can only tour a little bit so hopefully we will do a tour over the USA and we’ll get to Europe in August for some festival dates. Check the FAT website or our official site at www.good-riddance.com .

There are rumors of you doing a CD for the Fat’s “Live In A Dive” series, is it true? 
We’re still unsure. Haven’t decided yet. I think we’d like to do a live album someday.

You have toured with so many bands: what do you think is the best band you ever toured with?

Lifetime were awesome, Bane and Strike Anywhere last summer was so much fun; it’s more the friendships we’ve made and the shared experiences on tour than the actual music but we’ve had the privilege of sharing the stage with some amazing bands. Sick of It All, Kill Your Idols, Death By Stereo. Lots of killer bands.

  What’s in your cd-player right now? 

Right now I’ve got a collection of the legendary Dr. Know in my car.

Any final comment ?

Peace out and we’ll see you all soon…much love!