THT: Life's Fate appears to be on track finally, who's been in the band and who's in it now?
Anth: Well young Rick, I wouldn't go assuming that Life's Fate does anything, we're an unpredictable group of individuals, after all Dan did just say he's thinking of growing his hair.
When we started it was just me and Dan, I've never really had a band with out him haha
Then this guy was supposed to join, but he was too busy buying big t-shirts or something, then another guy was meant to join, but he was too hig to play the riffs, then another guy did join, we sounded sick, then he left to pursue surfing and building ophanages (no shit!)
Now it's Me, Dan, Neil (frozen over), and Pepper.
and shits kind of happening haha
THT: Good, no more being slack! You recorded the demo tape yourself back in 08, why's there only been a handful of shows and no new recordings?
Anth: there's a few contributuing factors, the main being my rediculously short attention span - I can say that LF will do a new record but whether I end up teaching everyone the songs or whether I decide to write songs for my rock n roll band instead is a differnet matter. We only play shows that look like they are wortyhy of us, and we haven't recorded pretty much becausee of people being busy with other bands, working fulltime or studying. I aint no fucking lifer guy, I got other shit to do, it's 2011 and I'm a disco stud, hardcore's a hobby.
Plus RA rules the roost, they are COCK OF THE RUN, ya mean? so any spare time goes to them first, and spare time aint that spare, dig it.
THT: Speaking of RA, another band that looked like until recently you'd never do anything again and also plays on pretty selective shows. Some people might say that gives off a somewhat elitist attitude, would you call yourself an elitist? What's it like hearing all the shit people murmur under their breath about RA?
I dont hear anything people murmur, i'm not the kind of pussy to walk around trying to hear what fuckwits say under their breath. If someone thinks something of RA that they want to make known to us then im sure they will, apart from that i'll go on living my life knowing that I play in the best hardcore punk band in Melbourne and I dont care. If you mean people in other countries (who seem to be the most concerned about RA? for fuck knows what reason) I couldn't give a fuck, they can say I bash aboriginals, they can say we are overrated, they're the ones wasting there time thinking about it, i'll be at home doing something that interests me.
The reason RA doesn't play (or rehearse) alot is because of Joels work sgedule, none of us ever match up. We have new songs, and they are fucking good, we just have to get out there and do them. The reason we only play select shows is because we dont search for shows to play with shit bands, we will play what people ask ua to play if we think it's worthy of an appearance. When you are the elite there aint nothing wrong with showing it.
THT: Alright so back to Life's Fate, the demo's a personal favourite of mine...Social Scene's a perfect depiction to me of alot of people that are into hardcore. Why stick around if you don't like it though? There's been plenty of people drop out because of not liking what they see...
Anth: I am a drop out, i wouldn't have another way to describe myself, i dont buy records, i don't search for bands, i dont put on shows. I might not have started going to gay indie clubs and looking like the actual fucking king of leon but I wouldn't say i contribute a lot to hardcore. I am in RA and LF and that's it. The only other thing keeping me interested is Kicked In, Frozen Over, Step Down and the almighty RILED UP. I'm only in it for myself and only ever have been, the best records were written long ago and that aint gonna change, same deal with rock n roll. There's no point stopping though. I hate at least 60 % of fags at shows, but I hate at least 90% of wankers in the real world, so really thats a pretty decent ratio
THT: You mention just a few bands there keeping you interested. So how do you look at the state of australian hardcore? There's alot of people who seem to miss out on just how good we've got it...even with past bands, would you say you find yourself familiar with much of australias punk and hardcore history?
Anth: i'd say i dont have a fucking clue about Australian hardcore history, but I've never claimed to be a buff. I'm pretty picky as it is, and I listen to whatever grabs me, I haven't felt any urge to thrust my nose into history books and exhume obscure australian bands from 1987 cause im pretty sure there wouldn't have been anything going on that WHITE NOISE didn't end up being 1000 times better than, do you know what i mean?
as for currnet hardcore...In Australia?
RA, LF, Riled Up, Kicked In, Eye Gouge, Frozen Over, Step Down will get better, I'm interested to hear the Iron Mind LP. Like I said, I dont search, the bigger bands all suck, your band will probably be alright. Honestly the first band that has grabbed my attention that i'm not in is Kicked In. Unless Dan or meatdog recomend me shit I dont really bother.
we have the same taste. THe good boston and toronto bands that you already know about, and whatever band al has been drawing rediculous shit for lately
Kicked In, good band...all those bongs in the bushland must of done them good. How's it feel to have a bit of boston-esque competition?
Anth: I couldn't be happier, I dont think there is any competition, they are 1000 times better already and have the motivation that I dont. Something about drugs that recreates early boston straight edge so well, i don't care, they are better than any straight edge band I have ever seen.
Also, i've heard talk about new RA and Life's Fate tracks going onto a Toronto HC compilation..any truth to this?
Anth: There should be truth to it, again just depends on whether anyone can get into contact with Joel haha, or if we decide to slum around and write porn scripts instead. There has been RA and LF follow up releases written for over a year. Belive that.
THT: New Life's Fate stuff, what's it like musically and what's it about lyrically? the demo reeks of angst and hatred soaking in a melting pot of the cream of the crop of early 80s Boston and NY bands
Anth: Musically more of the same, with maybe a lil more later NY but like outburst and a touch of tough YOT stuff. Just we're mine and Dan's allegiances lay. Thanks, but i would leave it at "the demo reek's..", I hate that fucking thing, the songs are good, the spastic vocals are overdone, the production sounds WAAAAY too digital and poofed out. there should be NO production and just canned hatred. Expect a much more raw sound and angrier. Lyrically its about shit people and shit places, and a bit about breaking shit with ya friends. What hardcore should be.
THT: You say it sounds digital and poofed out, how'd you record it? new stuff on a 4 track, raw dog style like the old days! You're also doing a split with my band (shameless self promotion, whatever, maybe someone cares) are these songs going to end up being on the record if you ever get to that stage?
Anth: We recorded it digital, it wasn't going to be anything, just a couple songs i had and dan added ideas, we wrote one together. The n we liked it so we used it as the demo. Then RA happened so LF took a backseat really. Yeah the new shit will be 4-track, we have one in our possession so why not. Sounds 10 times better and you dont gotta deal with recordwankers, we can do it ourselves, like punks. I'd say we will just write a couple new ones to fill the space of the ones we are wasting on your shit band Rick. No point putting them on two releases is there? The Beatles didn't do it, why should we?
THT: Hahaha, fuckin' terffic! How's being a beatle compared to a roughneck straight edge skinhead...more of a relaxing lifestyle?
Anth: Yeah really, I was an angry little cunt, now i live with my girlfriend and 2 of my best mates, I'm just not very angry anymore at all. I just surrounded myself with things that make me happy instead of a depressing town full of yokel cocksuckers that i wanted to actually murder. Stab, bleed, rott, piss on bones. That was pretty much my mind set for the last 2 years I lived in Moe, now its, get up, tea, breakfeast, whack on a record, do the daily shit, write songs, see my friends (way across the river). I'm back to being a ADD ridden comedian and musical genius. I'm sure most people in my life prefer it. Still love all the same records, same style. Just happy now haha. Thanks Dr. Rick, bet you didn't expect me to answer that seriously
THT: I expected you to have the brains to give a bit of seriousness back in it. No-straight edge is a topic most people wont touch but i'll do it...some people think im an ignorant straight edge dude, but there's more to life than just that. I mean, there's things like the hardcore two step way of life...whatever that means? All i know is i pissed myself when you said it at the Fitzroy Bowls show.
Anth: That was in no way a dig at straight edge, I hated people who didn't respect it when I was edge and I still hate people who don't respect straight edge now. I never gave people shit for drinking, what I could never stand was people who were edge, then pretended it was stupid and talked down on it. The thing is when you say you dont drink people get insecure and automatically think that that is some kind of insult to them, like alcohol is actually direct relative of theirs and you just called it a dog-cum-shemale.
That thing at the bowls club was a dig at bands who say they are hardcore bands and try to be fucking deep and mystical, if i wanted to see that i would have smoked a fucking joint and put on a the wall, not pulled on some boots and wanted to dance about the shit week i've had. I dont go to hardcore shows to get my mind blown and fucking get all humble about my place in the world.
I've never wanted to hear emotional plea's, i just wanna jump on peopls backs and hear songs about fighting.
THT: Couldn't agree with you more mate, what more should there be to it than letting out whatever shit's on your mind. It's not for the pretty boys who want to fake their feelings and get false fame. Anyway, i think this does it for us...any thank you's, get fucked's?
Give us 5 people you'd love to see cop a headbutt most of all...
oh and our good mate leigh drugfree said to mention the way peoples demeanors change when you spit in their face.
Anth: No one to thank, no one to fuck at the moment. I'd like to fight the entire Royal Family & Leigh Drug Free, that's it for me.
See you in some antique store some time mate. Goodluck with being me only 2 years in the past, I look forward to watching it progress.
I'm going to go listen to the first Skynyrd album, it's more than just the song from Happy Gilmore.
