Release: ‘How has your style changed over the past 16 years?’
Reel Big Fish: ‘When we first started we really didn’t know what we were doing.’ ‘ Aaron Barrett
Release: ‘You were a cover band?’
RBF: ‘Yeah, we did a lot of covers of Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix. We were always into all sorts of music, so we just tried to make, like, a song for every style. Then we kind of found ska and it gave us a direction.’ ‘ Barrett
RBF: ‘Did you say, ‘Give us an erection’?’ ‘ John Christianson
RBF: ‘Nope.’ ‘ Barrett
RBF: ‘A direction AND an erection.’ ‘ Christianson
RBF: ‘Yeah there’s like a big ska scene in Orange County, bands like No Doubt. We got into that.’ ‘ Barrett
Release: ‘How do you think the line-up changes have affected your sound?’
RBF: ‘Well, it’s made us better. We had some terrible musicians in the band. No offense. All the changes have eventually been for the better.’ ‘ Barrett
Release: ‘No bad changes?’
RBF: ‘There have been bad changes. They’ve all be learning experiences.’ ‘ Barrett
Release: ‘Do you have a favorite band that you’ve toured with?’
RBF: ‘Zebrahead, they’re good friends, Goldfinger, we’re touring with Less Than Jake this summer and hopefully that will be a never-ending worldwide tour.’ ‘ Barrett
Release: ‘Can you tell me about this comic book I read about?’
RBF: ‘I don’t know, I’ve been hearing about that for years and years now, and have only seen a rough script and some pencil sketches. Let me just say for the record that I think comic books of bands are always a bad idea. They’re never funny, they are never cool, they are never awesome, they are always lame and embarrassing no matter how hard you try, no matter what angle you try and go at it from, always bad. I’ve been against it from day one but I have not stopped or slowed down the process. I’ve just said ‘Let’s see what they come up with.’ [Laughter] ‘ Barrett
Release: ‘You said you were touring with Less Than Jake. What else do you have coming up?’
RBF: ‘We have a new album coming out July 10. It’s called Monkeys for Nothing, Chimps for Free. It’s a long title. Something about monkeys, I don’t know.’ ‘ Barrett
Release: ‘Did you guys get a chance to look around campus?’
RBF: ‘Yeah, we made it down [to the radio station].’ ‘ Barrett
Release: ‘What bands are you currently listening to?’
RBF: ‘Hot Hot Heat is always a favorite.’ ‘ Christianson
RBF: ‘I like Lily Allen ‘ she’s pretty awesome.’ ‘ Barrett
RBF: ‘I like that Mika guy. I don’t know if that’s cool or not.’ ‘ Barrett
(Another band mate starts mimicking Mika)
Release: ‘I like him too. Any songs you’re sick of playing?’
RBF: ‘Um, not really, ’cause we mostly play songs that people really like and then they go crazy.’ ‘ Barrett
Release: ‘Yeah, but some bands get tired of playing some songs.’
RBF: ‘Nobody gets tired of the hits. Lots of musicians get tired of the hits and they refuse to play their hits, and I think that’s ridiculous. You expect people to come and watch you play and pay for it, pay for you, then you should entertain them.’ ‘ Barrett
Release: ‘Are the side projects The Littlest Man Band and The Forces of Evil still going on?’
RBF: ‘Nobody’s doing side projects right now. Not that I’m aware of. We really don’t have any time for anything else.’ ‘ Barrett
RBF: ‘Oh yeah, Dan [Regan]’s got a DJ thing going on called Black Casper.’ ‘ Barrett
Release: ‘Is ‘She’s Got a Girlfriend Now’ based on a personal experience?’
RBF: ‘Uh, sorta. No girl actually broke up with me for another girl, but I had a girlfriend that become a lesbian later, which was the inspiration.’ ‘ Barrett
RBF: ‘If you’re going to go with the truth or the legend, print the legend.’ ‘ Christianson
RBF: ‘Aaron can turn women gay like no man.’ ‘ Christianson
RBF: ‘It’s my super power.’ ‘ Barrett