Me First & The Gimme Gimmes need no introduction. They are not a band, they are a super band,they do play cover songs of other non-punk artists…the band features Fat Mike from NOFX on bass, Spike Slawson from the Swingin’ Utters on vocals, Joey Cape from Lagwagon on guitar, Dave Raun from Lagwagon on drums and on the other guitar Chris Schiflett from No Use For A Name…oh, I forgot, he plays in Foo Fighters now…I taked with Chris Shiflet ( or “Jake Jackson”, call him how you want) about some Me First & the Gimme Gimmes stuff. Their latest album “Blow In The Wind” is out, it has 13 songs and it is their best record so far. Read on to learn more about this band…

Carlo:So, “Blow In The Wind” is your third full-length record… how do you feel about this ? Think this is the best one ( I do ) ?

Chris:I’m very happy with this record. I think we all are.

Carlo:By the way, which songs did you cover ? From the sixties ? Why?

Chris:Sixties hits lend themselves really well to punk rock.

Carlo:You covered songs from the sixtes, from the seventees and from movies…have you already an idea on what you will cover next ?I know this is a weird question…

Chris:I can’t give away our secrets. It would screw up the surprise.

Carlo:Who of the members come up with the idea of what songs or artists covering ? And what about the arrangments ? Who “decides” them ?

Chris:Fatty and Joey come up with the songs and we all sit down and figure ‘em out and arrange ‘em.

Carlo: About the covers of your CD’s ( not the songs, the covers), there are all photos of you in some weird poses… am especially thinking of “Are A Drag”…who comes up with the idea of the picture ( or the artwork) in general?

Chris:You should see the unreleased X-rated photos that we did. They’re very sensual.

Carlo:In 1999 you released “Elton”, “Garf” and “In Your Barcalounger”; in 1997 you released “Paul”, “Diamond”, and “Barry”; in this year you are releasing “Shannon” … do your fans have to expect some other 7 inches from you this year ?

Chris:I think so. Fatty would know best.

Carlo:Kung Fu, Hopeless, Byo, Honest Dons, Fat, Epitaph, Alternative Tentacles,Lookout!…the next labels on which you are gunna put out a new seven inch ?

Chris:Same answer as above… Fatty would know best.

Carlo:When will you release the famous set box of all the seven inches you ever released ? I ask you this because there is around this voice and who better than you can tell us ?

Chris:Probably not for a few more years. We have to let the legend grow.

Carlo:Chris, you are still in the band and play for Foo Fighters too now,have you still time to practice? Are you a Foo too?

Chris:I still have time for the Gimmes cuz we don’t ever practice unless we’re doing shows or recording (which is very rare). Yes, I am a Foo too.

Carlo: Are you planning to go on tour ? apart the Warped …

Chris:The band is definitely doing the Warped Tour but I’ll probably be recording with the Foo’s.

Carlo: What did you tour apart from the USA ?I heard about Japan … will you ever come to Europe ?

Chris:We’ve never been to Japan but we did go to Hawaii for a week. That was great. We also did a four day tour of Europe (Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, London) in 1998.

Carlo: In your new record there is the cover of Bob Dylan’s “Blow In The Wind” … how did you come put with Bob Dylan ?

Chris:He’s really quite famous so we’d all heard of him.

Carlo: Apart from playing in Me First & The Gimme Gimmes you all do different stuff, like playing in other bands … do you consider Me First And The Gimme Gimmes as a kind of side-project or do you take it seriously ?

Chris:We’re hoping that the Gimmes will grow from being our side project to being our full time rock and roll adventure.

Carlo:Who was the first guy who came out with the idea pf playing covers and of the Me First ?

Chris:That would be Mr. Joey Cape.

Carlo:Which is your favourite pastime? Drinking, bowling, golf…what else?

Chris:That pretty much covers it.

Carlo:Will you be featured on the Fat Club seven inches ?May you tell me some other bands on the Fat Club?

Chris:I don’t know. I’m in the dark on this one.

Carlo:Have you got some supertitious sign before playing live ?

Chris:We all pray together.

Carlo:Last question: which is the favourite quote of each member of Me First And The Gimme Gimmes ?

Chris:”Smoke up Johnny!”

Carlo:Alright, I thank you for your time for this interview , see you next time and rock on!!!

Chris:Thank you!