Skate and Create

Skate and Destroy

Fired Up Interview

This interview was supposed to be used in the first issue of a zine called BUZZ KILL that I was working on with my friend Kevin Dent but it never ended up coming to fruition due to one interview that never got back to us. It was from sometime in May and I really did not want to just let this content rot and I really have no where else to post it. It might be reposted on STUCKINTHECITY by Greg if Fired Up come back anytime soon but for the time being, it’ll be up here. Photos included are by Lisa Hrichson and are from YOUNGBLOOD FEST.

Who is in Fired Up, and what do they do?
Fired Up is Me(Dean) on vocals, Mike on Guitar, JR on bass, and Fred on drums

When is your new record coming out? How has Fired Up changed
since the 7″ and what influenced you guys this time around?

The new record DOOMED TO REPEAT  is done just waiting on artwork so… maybe early July. Musically we made a effort to cut the fat off all our songs, keep them fast and to the point. Also JR got a new bass called woody! I felt the last record was rushed and the songs styles are all over the place. I think
this next record is us finding our sound.

How did you guys get hooked up with Youngblood Records for the
7inch and now the LP? What’s working with Sean like?

I think he got our demo and then we did some shows in PA and he came out and asked us if we were down to do a record. We’re doing a 7 song e.p., we scraped the idea of an l.p. Working with Sean is cool he gets our record out to lots of places and fully support all the bands and people he works with. Also
patient with us cuz we suck at making decisions.

Strife came up for a weekend that you guys got to play on recently.
How was that experience and did get any good stories out of it?

The experience was one of the best weekends we have done. Everyone in all the bands were awesome. Reign Supreme, To The Lions, and the Strife dudes were really down to earth, no egos. The crowds were real good. We had Jeff from Up Front fame fill in on bass so he had tons of stories of all the hardcore and metal bands he has seen. Watching Mike sing Force Of Change was one of the highlights. Also some street lady tounging a rat.

I noticed the shirt you were wearing at the Youngblood showcase said”9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB” and that you handed out some DVDs of related content after your set. What are you trying to get out to the kids?

I’m try to get people to take a second or third look at the events of 911 with and open mind. I had turned my head or flipped the channel every time I saw a clip of any of that stuff. Not because I didn’t care but because it hurt too much. I had a close friend begging me for months till I finally took a look at what he was saying. I just want to say I don’t know what happened but I know the “official story” is a complete lie.  Building 7 was what changed it all for me look at the facts around WTC 7 and go from there.

What role do personal politics and beliefs along those lines play in the
band in regards to the message you want to spread and in the songs you write?

Everyone in this band has strong opinions on what they believe. We don’t consider ourselves a political band sxe band vegetarian band, simply cuz we all don’t agree on all those topics. As for a message the last record was about looking at yourself and working on you. Before you going around and screaming at everyone else a.k.a. the “you stabbed me in the back” something hardcore loves to do. The new record is trying go get everyone else to do the same.

Keeping on a political note, does it really matter who gets voted into office in November, do you think any of the Presidential candidates will produce a change?

Change?! It does not matter at all, it will be the same agenda with a new face. Every 4 or 8 years we swing on a noose from right to left. People have to wake up that there is not a two party system its one giant bought and paid for criminal party. I wish people spent as much time researching the history of who these people really are and who backs them as they do defending these scumbags. Obama is not change, his  handler is Zbigniew Berzinski do some research on him.

What do you see as being the positives and the negatives of hardcore in the internet age? How is what kids get to deal with today different than what you experienced in the scene growing up?

The bad thing I see is being completely reliant on the internet for show promoting. No matter how many posts getting the word out through fliers at other shows is still necessary. One difference not saying its good or bad but, today you can download any record you want for free (believe me my ipod is full). When I was getting into hardcore I couldn’t wait for the next mixtape my friend was going to make me.

What would be your band’s dream line-up for a show for you guys to play on, with bands past and present?

THE FIRED UP FEST

Current Bands Day 1
The First Step
Get The Most
True Colors
Hostage Calm
Mindset

Past Bands Day2

Cro-mags
Leeway
Warzone
Insted
Inside Out
Chain Of Strength
Carry On

Thanks a lot for your time, we appreciate it and look forward to hearing more from you guys. Any shout outs?

Thank You Tyler and Buzz Kill, All are people in the great nation of Canada, All the CT bands No Image, Ripshit. Offsides, Signs of Hope, Unforgiven. Sean and the Youngblood Empire. wearechange.org. Check out the films called Terror Storm, Freedom To Fascism, Endgame, or Loose Change. Peace!

Fresh Fruit

from punkhistorycanada.com