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Smash Magazine
11/09/03
By: homie

Interview two: Chicago on the RISE.

Perhaps the biggest album to come from the catacombs of FAT Wreck Chords this year has been the Rise Against release “Revolutions Per Minute.” Re-instilling the political conscience of punk and rock fans around the world, this band doesn’t want you to do anything until you make yourself aware. Rise Against finds themselves amid the oh-so common debate these days stemming from their recent signing to major label Dreamworks records. Front man Tim and bassist Joe took the time literally minutes before their set to give Smash some insight into the move from FAT to fit and their change in policy to back everything said by “Dubbya” and released by Mariah Carrey...yeah, and I’ve got great ocean front property for sale in Tulsa.

SM: It’s night number two of the tour. Now explain to me this...Each one of the bands on the tour has very strong political beliefs. You guys are all very savvy, you know what’s going on. What, if you could summarize, is the main message behind this tour?

RA(T): Without speaking for any of the other bands, I’d say one of the main messages is just be more aware of what’s going on in your world. These bands know what’s up ya know? But it’s not like-I don’t think that any of the bands are like, trying to say they know what’s best. They’re just saying “hey, we wanna know what’s going on out there so we keep our eyes open, seeing what goes on in the world.” That’s what a lot of the lyrics reflect for these bands.

SM: Telling their stories, not necessarily preaching what to do.

RA(T): Exactly

RA(J): It’s ok to question what’s going on. Just because the media tells you one thing, that doesn’t mean that it’s...

SM: It’s not the absolute.

RA(J): Yeah, totally. The media only wants you to believe what they want you to believe.

SM: The band is very active. You take on rolls and actively participate in various organizations, etc. Can you tell us, just off the top of your heads, what are some of the ones that are a bigger part of your world right now?

RA(T): PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) None of us eat meat so when we met some of the people from PETA on warped tour we realized that a lot of our ideals are in line with each other. There’s also the “Turn It Down” white power campaign, music against white power. That’s an organization that we’re just now starting to associate ourselves with. And I think they’re going to put us on a compilation or something soon.

SM: The band recently signed with Dreamworks and came out making a formal announcement on your website stating that you were a Fat (records) band and will always be a Fat band. What have been the differences and how’s the transition been?

RA(J): Nothing has changed, at least not yet. It’s been so recent and we’ve still got so much touring to do on this record so things probably won’t start rolling with that until next year.

RA(T): They are doing our next record. That’s pretty much it for now. We’re still in the van (laughing). There are a lot of misconceptions to being on a major label. Many misconceptions that even I had just two months ago.

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