The Transplants – Interview

“A few years ago, when Tim, Travis and myself were finishing up the first Transplants album, we weren’t sure what was going to happen. You wouldn’t believe how many people told us that they “don’t get it” or that they’re “not sure what people will think”. To tell you the truth, we didn’t really care. But here we are, a few years later, with a new Transplants album-Haunted Cities. I’ve always had a hard time describing our records, being as though all 3 of us have different backgrounds all 3 of us live different lives, but what I can tell you is that Haunted Cities is unlike anything else. With guest appearances by the Boo-Yaa Tribe, Rakaa from Dilated Peoples, B-Real and Sen Dog from Cypress Hill, people ain’t gonna know what hit ’em. And to tell you the truth, we still don’t care.” – Rob Aston states in the new album linear notes. We wanted more so we talked to Rob via mobile before The Transplants hit the stage in Bonner Springs, Kansas.

I was at the Warped Tour a couple years ago in Bonner Springs and it was about 110 degrees. It was like death out there—how is it today?

It’s pretty warm. It’s like a sauna.

I only lasted half the day at the venue.

Yeah, you stand outside and ten minutes later it’s like someone blasted you with a hose.

It has to drain you when you perform.

Yeah, it’s pretty rough.

The rest of the guys in the band have their main gigs so how do they fit The Transplants into it—that has to be important because it’s your main gig.

Everyone’s schedules are crazy but we all have a mutual love for the Transplants. It does get kind of crazy sometimes. When we were recording this record, it took like three years, but we might get together for a day here and there or even just an hour. It’s pretty spontaneous. We are all hungry and want to work. We always want to do shows and keep pushing it. There aren’t a lot of bands have the passion for it.

A lot of bands will go in and work on a record for a year, but is your schedule to some advantage because you don’t see each other all the time and it stays fresh and fun?

Definitely. If you only have three days a month when you do get back into the studio you want to lay it down. Everyone is prepared and comes through and does their part. All the ideas are listened to and at the end of the day nobodies feelings get hurt. We have a good relationship like that. We do have arguments and disagreements but we are lucky we can get through those things.

It has to be cool because when you do come together you probably have all these ideas you are excited to let them hear.

Yeah, like Tim is always working on stuff and so is Travis. I can’t play an instrument to save my life, but I can write lyrics like a motherf*cker.

Since you can’t play an instrument how do you write?

I usually wait until I get music. If I get a track and don’t feel it in the first ten or fifteen seconds I’ll never feel it. I like to freestyle stuff—I work better that way.

That’s cool—you don’t hear bands doing many songs that way. But that’s what is great about punk rock—it’s supposed to be spontaneous.

It’s 2005 and you have all these kids trying to be punk rock and act like they know what is or isn’t punk rock. The guys in my band are punk rock but that’s not me—that’s cool though. But anyway there are all the kids who want to say what is and what isn’t punk and half of them don’t know shit—it’s about life you know? These kids walk up with bondage pants and a t-shirt of some band they got into last month and try to tell us what’s punk rock and what isn’t.

It bothers me too, to go to the Warped Tour and you have so many kids who talk more than they listen and want to proclaim this or that. It’s not even about that. If you are talking about what is or isn’t punk then you aren’t punk in my opinion because real punks wouldn’t waste their time.

Yeah. Punk is what you make of it. Punk is a lifestyle. It’s how you live your life and conduct yourself. You don’t live by everyone’s rules—you live by your own rules. It’s not about a haircut and clothes. That doesn’t make you punk.

It’s the same as hip-hop.

Exactly! People don’t make the connection between punk and hip-hop.

I hear that—I’ve been making the connection for years.

Both come from the street. Sure they’ve changed—especially punk. Each is about what you make of it. It’s up to each individual and what they make of their lives.

I’ve said it before—the most punk rock bands of the ‘90s were Public Enemy and NWA.

For sure.

They were raw and didn’t care about anything.

They said what they wanted and didn’t care what anyone had to say about them. That is punk rock.

Chuck D. was the man.

I remember going to see Public Enemy way back at Angels stadium on the U2 Zoo TV tour.

Crazy.

It was amazing. Chuck D. is amazing.

With the S1W’s and all that?

For sure! They had some big stuffed Klan’s man hanging from the stage in a noose.

And I’m sure you hear from those fans who don’t think you guys are punk rock either.

Man, that’s so funny. Why because we had a song in a shampoo commercial? (Laughs) I just tell them “bitch, I’ve got bills to pay!” (We both laugh) They sit their behind their computer and keyboard and talk shit—they won’t say it to me.

Is it cool to get out and talk to fans on the Warped Tour?

It’s the best. I love walking around and talking to them at our merch booth. I love to say ‘what’s up’ to them and shake hands. If it wasn’t for them there wouldn’t be any tour.

I’d think having fans given you love would be great.

It is. I trip out too because I don’t know how many times I wrote to bands and they didn’t write back. I’d go to Hellcat and get all the mail that came to us and I’d write fans back. I answer their questions and thank them—but when I’m tour obviously I can’t do that. But I love to sign things and meet them. I know what its like to be into a band and then you get to meet them and they are dicks. That sucks.

You never forget it.

For sure. I’ve been there and they are assholes. We aren’t like that. No one in our band is acting like that. We’d never brush anyone off. I think people tend to think they are better than fans or people buying their records. They need to realize they wouldn’t have nothing without the fans. There are bands on this tour who think their shit don’t stink. That shit don’t fly over here.

It has to be insane for you—the entire thing with the Transplants.

I never thought I’d be on the mic. I was happy doing my thing as a roadie. I did what I had to do to make ends meet. I was happy to be alive. Now that I can put records out and be in the studio with artists I’ve looked up to—man, I’ve got no complaints.

You were just trying to make ends meet—

–literally.

It proves one year you have a dream and then something great can happen.

Dreams happen. I had a solo deal with Warner Bros. and when that didn’t go through I was crushed. I thought it was the end of the world. But everything happened for a reason. It was good I got dropped because I didn’t want to be where people didn’t understand me.

And you had to think that you wouldn’t get a second chance—it never happens. It’s like winning the lottery and then you get it snatched away.

When shit happens you have to run with it and make what you can with it—good or bad. I could have easily been bummed and pissed but I kept grinding at it.

+ Charlie Craine