the sUiCIDE maCHINEs

yeah, rock on... cause the machines are back to spank your asses. over a whole decade these guys are playing their funky shit now, a great mixture that combines punk, hc, ska and quite a lot of other different elements, which makes them the SUICIDE MACHINES! with their new album they start where they stopped,... the right time to get some more information of this great band!

   
    1.) Please tell us some important facts of the suicide history...

    The Suicide Machines were formed in March of 1991 by Jason Navarro(vocals) and 
    Dan Lukacinsky(guitar, vocals). The original line-up included Jason Brake(bass) and 
    Stefan Rairigh(drums). The band played local shows around the Detroit area with this 
    line-up for about a year and a half. Drummer Bill Jennings did a short stint with the band 
    in late '92. In 1993 the band recorded the first demo, with Derek Grant (Alkaline Trio) 
    on drums. The band also recorded the "Vans' Song" 7 inch in '93 for Youth Rendition 
    Records and the 13 song "Green World" demo in 1994 for Old Skool Records with 
    this line-up. The summer of '94 saw the band doing it's first national tour dates with new 
    bassist Dave Smith. We played 2 shows in the San Francisco area. One of them at Gilman 
    St., a show in Las Vegas at the Huntridge Theatre, and a show at the Fireside Bowl in 
    Chicago. Late '94 also saw the inclusion of bassist Royce Nunley. In 1995 the band 
    released the "Skank For Brains" split CD with the Rudiments on Dill Records/Beach 
    Recordings. The 10 songs featured on the CD included original versions of "The Real You" 
    and "New Girl". We did our first full U.S. tour with Buck-O-Nine in the summer of '95
    and signed with Hollywood Records later that same year. The band went on to do 2 
    records under the line-up of Jason, Dan, Derek, and Royce with producer Julian Raymond 
    for Hollywood Records. Destruction By Definition in 1996 and Battle Hymns in 1998. 
    Drummer Erin Pitman did a stint with us in '98 and then the band aquired drummer Ryan 
    Vandeberghe later that year. Under that line-up we recorded Suicide Machines in 2000 
    and Steal This Record in 2001 also with Julian Raymond for Hollywood. The band has done
    extensive U.S.touring since 1995 and has done several tours of Japan, Canada, the UK, 
    and Europe as well. In 2002 the band saw the addition of bassist Rich Tschirhart. 
    We continue to tour as much as possible around the world and try to make the best 
    records and put on the best live performances we possibly can. We are on the warped 
    tour right now and we just released our new album "A match and some gasoline" on 
    SideOneDummy records (www.sideonedummy.com).

    2.) You guys are known as a unity band, trying to get people together in everything. 
    what's your take on the hatred and whatnot that we still see in the world?

    Oh.... what can i say about that ? I am not proud of what happened during the last 12 months. 
    I feel bad about this war and about all the politcal interest around on it. Like you said, we are 
    a unity band - we always try to get people together and make move their asses.... i think its 
    necesary to fight the good fight. Lets move forward...

    3.) Let's talk about your new album... I have to say that I'm really excited' cause I haven't 
    heard many bands with the ability to move between different styles so that every song appears
    in a different corner... dou you think that`s god given talent?!;)

We are really proud of this album.      If i had to leave 1 album as an "Epitaph"      for the band - it would be this album.     I think we mixed a bunch of good      influence and our producer did a      great job. "A match and some gasoline"      is also our inde come back on     SideOneDummy records and we     wanted people to remember this     album. Angry, positive, unity and fast.

    4.) How would you classify your sound and your band?

    Punk! Punk cuz we have been influenced by bands such as Bad Brains, Operation Ivy, 
    Crass, Descendents, The Specials...

    5.) There was a pretty noticeable difference between the Self-titled album as compared to 
    your other albums, was there any specific reason for that?

    As a person you dig different music and different cutlure at different time of your life. It is 
    what happened with this album - somtimes it is good to change your sounds and try something
    different. That is what we did with teh S/T album. Dont you think it would be boring to do 
    over and over again the same record ?? You need to try something different, you need to 
    taste different style to know which one you like !

    6.) Who writes most of your lyrics?

    Myself (Jason) and Dan.

     7.) Who is responsible for the songwriting? 

    Myself (Jason) and Dan.

    8.) What happened to your old drummer? I heard he is in Alkaline Trio now?

Yes, Derek played with us for a while and he is such a great drummer than a bunch of different bands approached him.... he was long time friend with Dan Andrianno from Alkaline trio and he decide to go with them and try something different. He did it and he is having fun. Good for him - we are still really good friend and he is still kicking ass with Alkaline trio.

    9.) If you have the chance to work with a famous popstar such as Britney Spears, 
    Justin Timberlake blablabla... who would you choose?

    No one.

    10.) What band that you have played with has been your favorite? 

    The Descendents.

    11.) We got a section in our magazine called "Crimes in the past..." where we ask musicians 
    of their criminal history. So could you tell us a funny crime you commited when you were 
    younger?

    Back in Detroit, I went to Jail for a night for skating in a private swiming pool.

    12.) Any tour plans right now?

    We are on the warped tour right now. After we are going for 2 weeks in Japan (end of 
    september) and we are going on full U.S tour in October for 2 months. We are discussing 
    Euro plans right now. We will try to go to Germany begining of 2004.

    13.) Well that's about it do you have anything else to add?

    Thanks ! 

    text: frankie.