Sum 41 – Interview [2000]

Sum 41 are fun. They have a view of the world that is pretty refreshing. Finally, someone that can go on without taking life too seriously. As you read this interview, youll begin to understand Sum 41s entertainment value. Enjoy, and remember, life is too short. If it sounds hard to believe, then believe it. Wait, dont believe it. Hmmm. Whatever. Figure it out for yourself.

Here we go, one on one with the man behind the skins, Steve.

Hows the tour been?

A lot of fun, a lot of backstage betties. (we laugh)

Getting a lot of action, huh?

Not really, but you can print that so we seem really cool. (laughs) Its a big fat lie.

The video (“Makes No Difference”) hasnt promoted you to pimps?

Well, maybe its just me. Im the drummer, so they cant see me behind the kit.

Dont you have someone to go out in the crowd for you?

To find the babes?

Yeah.

(we begin to laugh) Like Van Halen? They used to have this grid thing worked out. Like they could say, The girl in 3G with the huge knockers.

You guys need to get organized and get something set up.

We cant figure out that math, so that isnt going to work.

Just toss a key out in the crowd.

Yeah. Ill toss my key to the hotel out in the crowd.

Well, youll figure something out. I mean, you havent been on tour that long yet, right?

Well, about two weeks, but its going good.

Are you going to be spending a lot of time on the road?

Well, weve got a few weeks left with Face To Face and then we are going out with the Bosstones, and then we are going to LA to record some more.

Tracks for a new album?

Yeah. Thatll be out in March.

When did you finish Half Hour Of Power?

We finished it in March.

Have you been working songs on the road?

Whenever we have time off, we hit the studio.

Do you write together?

Deryck, the singer, writes the songs and we take credit for them. (laughs) Hes smaller than us so we box him around. He cries that they are his but I pull off my belt and he shuts right up. (the band begins to laugh in the background)

Speaking of Deryck crying, I heard that he got beat up. Is that a rumor?

No, no, no, that is just a rumor. Well, my lawyer told me to say, No comment!. We went to this mansion the other night in Pomona, its like this seven-million-dollar mansion, and me and Deryck had a couple and I didnt know when to say when. So there was this big hard guy walking around the place, telling people what to do and not to spill beer and stuff, so we started making fun of him and he pulled a knife on us. We had this showdown and he was breathing really hard and was pumped up on steroids. He probably was into sports. He wanted to kick our ass. (laughs) Then the girl who owned the house kicked his ass. It was pretty crazy.

Were you going to run if he started swinging the knife?

No, we dont run from our problems. I was ready to go Jackie Chan on his ass. (Steve starts to make karate sound effects)

A lot of people here and fans have been wondering if the things you guys do in “Makes No Difference” were staged.

Like?

Well, the pizza heist for one.

That really happened. In Canada there are no guns, so the chances of that guy coming after us with a real gun is pretty slim. If you get arrested there, the cops apologize if they have to arrest you. Theyre like, Sorry we have to do this to you guys.

Where in Canada are you from?

Toronto. Its practically New York.

I was born outside of Buffalo.

We were like neighbors.

How has it been finally being able to get out of there and to explore America?

Great. Toronto is just starting to get cold right now, so when they said wed be touring all winter in California, I wasnt upset. My mom was a little upset. She started crying a bit, but shes found some new friends.

But you have to miss those strip joints.

Yeah. There are some great strip clubs in Canada.

They bare it all in Canada.

I know. And they do those lap dances too.

Everyone in New York goes there when they turn nineteen so they can drink.

I know. I just turned nineteen, and right when I turned nineteen we went on tour in a country where you have to be twenty-one to drink. So no strip clubs for me.

Is your label, Big Rig, Dickys label from the Bosstones?

Yeah. Its a part of Island. In Canada we are signed to a different thing.

How did you get signed?

The video really. We sent that out with a bunch of music to labels and they thought it was funny and they came to see us play. Just because of that video, everyone saw how hilarious we were and they all wanted to sign us. That was until they met us. And only Island had the balls to sign us.

You guys are all over the place with your music. What did you grow up listening to?

Well, Dave listened to that crazy (starts making all kinds of bizarre noises) Indian music. Its funny because even though the videos were made in 2000, they look like they were filmed in 1984. Dave loves that shit. The more orange they wear, the better. (the whole band erupts) We got into hip-hop growing up. Dave actually listened to a lot of heavy metal when he moved from Guyana to North America. We all listened to Nirvana and punk like five or six years ago.

The opening track on the record is like total 80s metal.

Our favorite band has got to be [Iron] Maiden. (serious?)

I was waiting for you guys to break out with some “Breaking The Law” or something.

Yeah, right?

What will the next album be like?

Itll be more rock. I mean, there will still be punk, but itll be harder. It wont be like (begins to growl). It just rocks a little harder.

Maybe you can go for the Van Halen thing for the next record and get more honeys then.

We could try. The problem is like in that video there are a lot of effects that make us look good, but in real life we look like a sack of potatoes.

I think you guys just need some moves.

Well, we had this plan that we were going to walk around backstage in bathrobes with thongs on, like David Lee Roth did back in the day, but that just got us beat up by bouncers.

I heard you had a pretty revealing stage costume.

Yeah. I like to play in my Tommy Lee outfit. I wear this leopard thong, hooters shirt, and big rock wig.

Do you think that is turning the girls off?

That might be the problem.

Since you seem to be struggling with the ladies, what word could we get out to them so you can know they are interested?

The best way is to dress like they used to in the rock days. They have to wear like florescent clothes. If they want to camouflage themselves, tell them to do it in zebra and leopard skin suits. Ones that are real tight.

Should they bring signs?

The person they want to sleep with should be written on a sign. That would make it much easier. Tell them they should buy the album. If they want to sleep with us, they have to buy the album. Simple enough.

+ charlie craine