INTERVIEW: Scary Kids Scaring Kids

How did Scary Kids Scaring Kids form?

We formed in High School. All of us went to school together and we started as a way to hang out on the weekends. At the time, I was in the school glee club. I was just about to clench the state championship with my team when I was offered a spot in a really prestigious crew doing my true first love in life, street tagging. I didn't work out with the crew as well as I had hoped and when they let me go, the glee season was already over.

Around that same time, Chad asked me if I wanted to join a band he was starting and he was always someone I really looked up to. He's always been something of an older brother figure to me. He always threw the best parties and everyone at school would come. We started doing the band as a way to hang out and have fun together at Chads parties. It wasn't until after we recorded the "After Dark EP" that we decided to take the band seriously. We ended up signing with Immortal Records and started touring non-stop. But really, the beginning was all about creating a way to hang out and entertain our friends, at Chads parties.

Describe your sound in three words?

That's difficult to narrow it down to three words. I'd say

• Green
• Loud
• Paraskevidekatriaphobia

What’s been your favourite gig and what’s your favourite venue in the world?

I think all of us have different favorites for different reasons. One of the most memorable was our last show of our farewell tour at SOMA in San Diego. We have a lot of great friends in San Diego and from what I remember, we had a lot of fun. SOMA is a great venue but I'd say my favorite is the NorVa in Virginia Beach, Virginia. We always had great shows there and they take good care of the bands. They've also got an amazing hot tub and sauna. It's a great place to strip down, pour yourself some champagne and relax with your boys. There's nothing better than crackin some towels and sipping some bubbly with your closest guy friends.

What new bands are you in to at the moment?

There's a lot of great new bands coming out these days but sadly I don't know too many of them. I rarely listen to the radio or music at all anymore but when occasion arises where I listen to something, I gravitate toward the classics like Edith Piaf or R. Kelly.

As this is your final tour ever, what are your plans once the band disband?

We're all doing different things. I've decided to pursue my ambition of becoming a writer. I have yet to decide on a pen name for my professional publications but I'll be writing a novel for release in 2011. I've always been a big fan of the game "Magic the Gathering" and I've decided to write a detective novel loosely based on some of the battles I've experienced while playing the game. Keep your eyes out for that!

Tell us about the video for The Only Medicine. It must have been a lot of fun to put together.

We had a great time filming it. We got to kill a bunch of zombies in the desert. what's cooler than that? The band actually didn't even tell me we were filming a video at first. I was just up early that morning in my regular work out clothes and after finishing my push-ups these zombies started attacking me. All of the sudden people were coming to my rescue and I was able to finish my work out before I found out we were even shooting anything.

Are you looking forward to touring New Zealand? And have you been here before?

We're really honored to be able to play New Zealand. We've never been there before and always hear so many great things from bands that have. It's unfortunate that it's only as we're breaking up that we get to come to New Zealand but better late than never, right?

Interview by David Thomas with DJ Wilson, Bass player of Scary Kids Scaring Kids.