Tiger Army is one of the coolest punkbands around right now. And here´s some questions been answered by their singer Nick. This interview was done in the late september 2001.

History? 
-The band played its first show in March, 1996.  We've had various lineup
changes, many of the members were friends from other bands who joined on
a temporary basis to help me out.  We've done two albums now for Hellcat
Records, toured the States and Japan once and are about to tour the U.S. again...


Please tell me a little about every member in the group. age ,
family, interestst and something bad about every one?
- I'm Nick 13, I sing, play guitar & write the songs.  I'm 27.  Geoff
Kresge is the stand-up bassplayer, he's about a year-and-a-half older,
not sure what age.  Fred Telles is the drummer, I believe he's 26.  As for
the rest, our lives are shrouded in mystery...


You have standing bass in your group, how did the idea came up?
-This came from a desire to combine punk and rockabilly, and of
course from seeing European psycho bands.

If you describe your music with three words, which three words would
 it be?
- Dark, aggressive, melodic.


Tiger Army sounds like a rockabilly band, is it any connection with
 rockabilly if you don´t think about the bass thing?
-I think the first album was a little more rockabilly-roots based.
With the second, there's still a connection, but it goes more into its own
dimension.


Hellcat is it a good label, how did you came in contact with them?
-I'd met Tim Armstrong in the early days of Rancid.  We recorded a
demo and a friend gave it to him.  That was it, really, he heard the demo and
gave me a call, which I was very happy about naturally.


What do you like the other bands there?
-I think there are a lot of great bands on the label: Rancid, Nerve
Agents, Dropkick Murphys, Nekromantix, Distillers and more...

Is there any good bands in USA right now?
-There are a few-- the bands I just mentioned plus AFI, the
Explosion,Bodies, Pressure Point, American Nightmare... most of these bands are
punk or hardcore.  Most of the psychobilly I like is from Europe.


The terrorist thing in USA ,how did you react on that?
-It's a terrible thing, I couldn't believe it.


How does people in common react on the thing?
-I think the reaction was generally the same, shock turning to
outrage.


How do you see on the thing that people are getting more and more
nationalistic in USA right now?
-I don't much care to comment on political matters, but I think there
can be good and bad sides to the phenomenon of nationalism.  Good if it
brings people together, bad if they stop thinking for themselves.  I do believe in
revenge.


How has this thing get a reaction for the group?
I'm not sure I understand the question, but I will try to answer --
we have not played since the attack, so I'm not sure what the effect has
been.  We do a monthlong tour of the States with Dropkick Murphys and Sick Of
It All at the beginning of October, so I guess I'll learn more then.


What does punk mean to you?
-Punk for me is a state of mind.  It's been a long time since I
considered myself a punk rocker, but I grew up with it and it helped shape the
person I became as well as my musical tastes to a large degree, so it will always
be important to me personally.


First,last and the most expensive record you ever bought?
Can't quite remember the first record, I think it was either "Shout
at the Devil" by Mötley Crüe or "Seven and the Ragged Tiger" by Duran
Duran.  The last cd I bought was "The Best of Torment" (English psychobilly).
The most expensive record I ever bought was Misfits "3 Hits From Hell" e.p.
from 1981 on white vinyl.  It was still a good deal.


Idols when you wree small?
-I thought the guys in Twisted Sister and Duran Duran were cool
around fourth grade or so...


How is a good concert with Tiger Army?
-A good show is a lot of energy onstage, and a lot of
singing/shouting along from the audience, fists in the air, and a huge wrecking pit...


Which is your strength as a liveband?
-I think the show we put on, the energy we give off.  We're a
three-piece but we don't just stand there...


How does your middlefan look like?
-A lot of people from different subcultures come to our shows...  The
psychobilly scene is almost nonexistent in the U.S. outside of certain
centers like Southern California, the New York City area and the San
Francisco Bay Area.  In LA, you will see psychos, punks, greasers,
skins,goths, hardcore kids and more having a good time.


Do you have good contact with your fans? In which way?
-Most of the people who dig our music I find to be very cool people.
They introduce themselves to me at a show or elsewhere...


Which is your advices to new and upcoming and young bands to get a
record contract, or should they get one?
-They should focus on the music first.  A record contract is not the
last thing they should worry about, but there are many things that come
before that.  They should make sure that they're practicing, playing tight,
playing gigs wherever and whenever, and putting a lot of thought into the songs.
If you do these things and develop a good sound and live show, the rest
will come naturally.


You have an own webiste, who does it and is it important to have one?
-The website is maintained by my friend Joe Martin, and designed by
both of us (although I don't do any of the technical side).  I think it's
very important -- it's a great way to let people know what's going on with
the band in terms of shows and new music, as well as a great way for people
who are interested to find out more about Tiger Army and what we're about
whether that's reading interviews, looking at pictures or listening to MP3's.


What do you think about the new way to communicate with email and
internet and all that?
-I think it's great, although I'm always behind on my e-mail!


Do you have any favouritesite yourself?
-I like Psychobilly Homepage and Psychobilly Online, both are linked
from our site.  I used to go on eBay quite a lot, but not so much anymore.


What drives you to play music?
-It's the only thing that I feel passionate about in this life.  If I
didn't play music, I wouldn't know what to do.


When you do songs,in which way are you doing the song, is it the
lyrics first or is it the song or the refrain which comes first?
-It can be different all the time.  Sometimes the musical parts come
then the lyrics, or sometimes a melody, other times the lyrics are first and
fit into a song.


What do you know about Sweden?
-Not too much, I've never been there.  A friend lived there for a
year as an exchange student and said it's a great country.  I'd like to play
there with Tiger Army.


Have yourd any swedish band worth to mention?
-Nocturnal Teds was a cool psychoband from Sweden but I don't think
they are still existing...


Any favoruitezine son net or on paper to recommend?
-Deathrow Database from England is a cool psycho zine (printed).


Future plans for yourself?
Futureplans for the band?
-I'll answer these questions as one because they're basically the
same for me.  I just hope to keep playing, writing songs and recording, and
touring and traveling with Tiger Army for as long as I can.


Wisdowmword?
-Stay sick, stay psycho!!!


Something to add?
-Thanks to all the people who've check out our music or supported us
in any way.  We hope to play in Europe in 2002.  We're proud of our new
record "Tiger Army II: Power of Moonlite" so check it out.  If anyone would
like more information on the band check out: http://www.tigerarmy.com
TIGER ARMY NEVER DIE!!!