Strung Out

Before Blink 182 and Sum 41, before Avril and Good Charlotte there was - and still is -Strung Out, one of So-Cal punk’s original skate-punk incubators. Since forming in Ventura in 1992, the quintet have become torch-bearers (along with NOFX and Lagwagon) for Californian indie label Fat Wreckchords and have managed stay ahead of the pack by incorporating hardcore and metal elements into their high-velocity sound.

Interview by Steve Tauschke | steve@staff.truepunk.com | with Jordan Burns of Strung Out.

"I think our music is constantly changing," says drummer Jordan Burns on the phone from his LA home. "To me, if you line up all our albums one after another you’re going to end up hearing lots of distinct differences within the music. That’s something that we constantly want to do and we’ve never wanted to stay in the same pattern and create similar music. I think our albums have definitely changed for the better over the years."

Strung Out’s sixth and most recent studio album Exile In Oblivion, is melodic punk at its most progressive, satisfying older fans while pricking the ears of new listeners. And as with a number of bands on the Fat roster, Strung Out were largely weaned on old-school 80s heavy metal, an influence that continues to shine through in their material. Little wonder … Oblivion was produced by Matt Hyde, collaborator with veteran metal magicians Slayer.

"Everyone has said that we tended to set off the metal detector ever since our first album and we’ve never been ashamed to admit that," laughs Burns. "A lot of us are really into metal music and there’s definitely a lot of different musical tastes within the band and you add to that the fact that we don’t have just one person in the band writing all the music. I think it’s positive to keep your mind open to all sorts of different music."

Distinguishing themselves from sunny California’s faceless crowd of hook ‘n pop driven pop-punk outfits, Strung Out’s evolution has meant they are now sharing stages with a diverse range of groups, many from the hardcore fraternity.

"I think that has created really positive tours and it brings out different types of people," says Burns. "We’ve been having some hardcore bands on our shows, like Love Is Red and Evergreen Terrace and Haste The Day were out with us and they bring out a different crowd. I like playing with different bands.

"Europe is the one place where we feel that people embrace any kind of music and I’d say it’s like that over in Australia as well. We have straightedge bands on tour with us sometimes and it’s working and everyone’s getting along."

Burns believes his band is also credited with instigating the cross-pollination in the mid-90s of nouveau-punk and Motocross thanks to the establishment of his company MotoXXX, which he shares with NoFx drummer Eric Melvin.

"I remember when Strung Out’s first album Another Day In Paradise came out ten years ago, it was my goal to really promote the band through Motocross and it worked out really well. We created a lot of new fans from the whole Motocross scene and now all the bands have cottoned onto the scene and punk rock is popular with everyone. Our first video, MotoXXX Number 1 came out right after Crusty Demons so we were one of the first."

Burns himself continues to ride recreationally but admits to a degree of caution since a serious motorcycle accident in 1999 almost ended his drumming career.

"I’ve been injured riding a couple of times and it’s had a pretty big effect on the band. I once broke my foot going off a big double jump once right before we were set to go on a month’s tour of the States. Me and this other guy hit each other in the air and when I came down I landed bad and cracked my foot in four places.

We had a drummer filling in for us but I got really mad and jealous and started practising kick drum with my left foot. So I told the guy he’s not going on tour, that I’m going to do it. I went and did it all left footed with a cast on my right leg, coming out every night to my drums on crutches. It was a super big challenge but after that happened I have in the back of my head how I need to be careful. I love riding but stunt stuff needs to come secondary for sure."

Older fans of the band will remember former bassist and songwriter Jim Cherry who left Strung Out acrimoniously in 1999 to pursue his own group Zero Down. Cherry died last year from heart disease and despite his differences is remembered fondly by the band.

"(Singer) Jason (Cruz) wrote Swan Dive on the new album and the lyrics to that are basically a tribute to him. It was pretty emotional. Even though me and Jim didn’t get along at all once someone passes away you forget about all the bad times and try to reflect on all the good times and without Jim Cherry, I wouldn’t be in Strung Out, he’s the one who asked me to be in the band. It’s too bad that he had to pass away, he was a great songwriter."