Interview with The Lab Rats

T - Taylor
W - Will
C - Connor
J - Jordan

1) Why did you decide to name your band The Lab Rats?

T: Because we couldn't think of any thing else
W: The name THE FROZEN GRANDMAS was already taken.
C: All the other names we had thought of sucked or were taken; this one is still taken, but whatever. Eric from nerve agents thought of it and we couldn't think of anything better.
J: uug. i don't know. we thought it was cool.

2)How Did You Guys Get Together To Form Your Band?

T: Nobody liked me but I played an instrument
W: We found a bunch of guns in Taylor's basement and we figured, "well, we've got guns and a sense of self-righteousness, so why not start a militia?". That's when we started hanging out with Osama, back when he lived on 18th and California. He was the original guitarist.
C: Taylor, Jordan, and I went to school together. Past members left and I became good friends with Will in October of 2000 and he joined the band.
J: connor, taylor, and i went to the same elementary school. i knew how to play guitar and had been playing a while and taylor was picking up the bass. we were in the school rock band. i had always been good friends with them and connor basically brought his influences (he was the only one into punk music at the time. our first performance was at our school in 6th grade with Brandon (our friend at school). we were called PANIC (before the boston band!).

3) How do you feel about kids who see bands like Blink182 and Green Day playing on MTV so they cut their hair and now call themselves punk even though they have no idea what punk really is?

T: Green Day is one of the best f****** bands ever, a******(Can't Curse On My Site Sorry KIM)
W: I feel that they need to listen to some CRUCIFIX and then decide if they're still "punk"
C: I don't know. It seems that everyone goes through that stage and then usually gets out of it or explore more with bands and stuff like that.
J: uuuh. i don't know. i don't really care, i mean if that's what they feel like doing, then whatever. i don't think punk rock is like a club you have to get into. i don't know, i guess it's kind of stupid but whatever.

4) How Do You Feel About MTV In General?

T: Whatever
W: It was fun for me to watch and my friend's houses when they played NIRVANA/PEARL JAM/SOUNDGARDEN/MAZZY STAR videos all day, but I can't believe people sit through all that softcore porn and terrible "reality" tv shows and the occasional video of some band who sounds like the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS if they had no shame or some band with a vocalist who is trying so hard to be EDDIE VEDDER, but makes me want to cut out my eyeballs with a bic pen, just to catch a two and a half minute WEEZER video. I dig VH1, though
C: Yeah too much reality TV.
J: i like the music videos. i don't like many of the bands on it but 'cribs' is cool and diary of Brittany Spears.

5)Who Are Your Musical Influences?

T: Everybody
W: Every band or musician I hear, good or bad is an influence.
C: Bands that I like.

6)Whats Your Favorite CD Right Now?

T: Traffic, last exit
W: AGAINST ME-Crime, As Forgiven By... CD
C: I don't know, maybe the oath 7" or the ORCHID
10" or LP
J: Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

7)What Was The First Show You Went To?

T: I don't remember
W: BECK at Slim's in December 1994. It was insanely good
C: First SHOW, would be AFI in September of '98.
J: afi i think.

8)What Was Your Most Memorable Moment At A Show?

T: Too broad of a question, I don't know
W: The first time I saw FLESHIES. It gave me chills (good chills).
C: Not too sure. Seeing a really good band that I had never heard before makes me excited.
J: sept. 8 when we played with quest. that was awesome. i think that was our best show.o it wasn't really one moment. just the whole set was really cool.

9)Whats The General Feeling In A Room When You Get On A Stage To Perform?

T: That doesn't make any sense
W: Like Bob Dole eating a pomegrante.
C: I don't know.
J: yes.

10) Who Are Some Bands Your Band Has Played With?

T: outbreak, common enemy
W: The Doobie Brothers, Starland Vocal Band, The Allmand Brothers, the Isley Brothers, the Everly Brothers, Dashboard Confessional, Fine Young Cannibals, The Golden Skates
C: Scissorhands, all bets off, NERD, nerve agents, thought riot, sidekicks, miso-militia. Yeah you know what I mean.
J: the stitches, derelectrics, miso militia, the frisk, fleshies, nerve agents, all bets off, nuts and bolts, the starvations, tsunami bomb, me te le, sidekicks, loose change, distillers, revolution summer, quest, kill the messenger, nerd, dare to fly, throwdown, good clean fun, time flies, pirx the pilot, etc.

11)Are There Any Bands In Your Area That You Think ThePeople Who Read This Should Check Out?

T: I don't know
W: FLESHIES, QUEST FOR QUINTANA ROO, PIRX THE PILOT, HARBINGER, DYSTROPHY, THE DUCKBUTTERS, THE DIARIES, HATEMAIL KILLERZ, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?, DORY TOURETTE AND THE SKIRTHEADS, COPE, THE COST, NERD, THE BANANAS, LOS RABBIS, THE FRISK, SCHOLASTIC DETH, SHARP KNIFE, MISO MILITIA, LOVE SONGS, THE SHIVERING, SUBTONIX, THE BLASTROCKS!!!, ARTIMUS PYLE, YAPHETT KOTTO, TALK IS POISON, NICKY DARGER, SECRETIONS, MIDNIGHT LAZER BEAM, THE NERVE AGENTS, AFI, THE SIDEKICKS, ANIMOSITY, DEAD AND GONE, SACRILICIOUS
C: All the bands that Will mentioned. All bets off, breaker breaker, scissorhands, outbreak, dead in the end. Will covered it I think.
J: miso militia and sharp knife.

12)Any Closing Thoughts or something you want toinform the people about?
T: What is this for?
C: No.
J: uum, thank you for support and coming to shows. yeah, thanks.

(interview courtesy of Kim and Megan of East Coast Anthem)