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 -Matt Ryan
American punk veterans Anti-Flag are coming back to Australia in early 2010 for what seems like their umpteenth visit. Anti-Flag drummer Pat Thetic is on the phone to promote the upcoming tour. This is the second time I’ve spoken with Pat. Since Pat was my first big interview opportunity, and was very pleasant to talk with, I was looking forward to talking with him again. I stared off by asking what he’s been up to since we last spoke, which was back in April 2008. `I’ve been on tour`, Pat says. `We’ve just played all over Europe and the states, so I’m at home and taking it easy until we get back on the road`.
Anti-Flag are spruiking their latest album `The People or the Gun`, Pat tells me for this album, the band went back to their roots. `For our last album, we recorded it in a big, fancy studio, so for this record we wanted to do what we used to do`, says Pat. `We rented out a house in Pittsburg and recorded the record there. We don’t like recording in studios because they charge you by the hour, and we’re really bad musicians, so we decided it was easier this way. In the past we used to rent houses, or we would record in abandoned warehouses, so it felt good to go back to what we used to do when we made albums.`
`The People or the Gun` is the bands first release on indie label Side One Dummy. Anti- Flag singed with the band after they were dropped by their major label RCA after making only one album. `Side One have been great`, says Pat. `We didn’t really enjoy our time on a big label. It was nice to do it, but by nature we belong on an indie label. All the people down at Side One are really interesting people, and there the kind of people we want to be working with.`
Pat also says unlike major labels, the indie labels really look out for their bands. `When we were with RCA, it was as if they didn’t care if we existed or not`, he says. `Not only were these guys (Side One) helpful and supportive, but they are risk takers, which is something we really respect. This is the sort of business where if you don’t take risks, things just become boring, so Side One has been great so far.`
Since we last spoke, a new government has come into force in America. The boys from Anti-Flag have been quite critical of the Bush Administration, so I was keen to know what Pat has thought of the new government. `So far it’s been a lot of talk, with very little action`, he says. `We thought things would change, and there hasn’t been much change at all. It’s a slow process, we weren’t excepting everything to turn out fine overnight, but it seems like all there doing is putting their feet up and just waiting for things for happen. I hope things get better, but its certainly frustrating, we all thought the tide was going to change, instead we’ve seen very little progress.`
So in this day and age, and in the current situation America is in, what issues annoy Pat that he feel like writing a song about. `Where do I begin`, he says. `The global recession is one thing. All these good people are getting screwed by the bank and are losing their homes; it really sucks in the suburban parts of America. The other big issue in America of course is health care. People can afford to retire, they have to keep working so they can afford health care, and let me tell you, health isn’t cheap in America.`
Anti-Flag have always been known for their strong political values, as well as supporting movements they believe in. The band were scheduled at a G20 protest rally on September 9th, but things fell apart. `That was all because of bad planning by the organizers`, says Pat. `But they couldn’t really control what happened. The cops blocked off all the streets, and it would have been impossible for people to have come down and see the show. It amazes me in this day and age how little freedom of speech we really have in America. Even a basic protest rally down the street is now in danger of being run by the police; we don’t even have the basic right of expressing your opinion. At times it seems like we’re living in a police state, if you have a thought and want to shout it out to the world, it’s going to fall on deaf ears because the cops aren’t going to let you express it.`
As Pat mentioned above, Anti-Flag recently a successful tour of Europe with Alexisonfire, which he says was fun as usually. `We’ve always had fun overseas, doesn’t matter if it’s Europe, Australia or anywhere else in the world`, he says. `It’s always great going on tour with your friends, it makes the tour a lot more fun. We always have a lot of late nights just talking and having fun, we never have dull tours.`
During the European tour, a prank involving Anti Flag was pulled. A few people put up flyers saying the boys were hosting a party, Pat picks up the story. `Some people were going around saying we were having a party in this old punk house`, Pat explains. `All these people heard about it and came to the house, only to discover there was no party. It was really weird, I got all these calls from people saying sorry that they didn’t make it, and I’m trying to explain it never happened. The other funny thing is it said it had an open bar, and we’re a straight edge band, so clearly these people didn’t do their homework`.
Anti-Flag, along with Alexisonfire and Comeback Kid coming to Australia for a series of side shows to slide in with Soundwave. `It’s been too long since we’ve been to Australia`, says Pat. `I love coming to Australia during your summer. Winter sucks in America, I hate snow. I’m not a beach person, but Australia has some great beaches, so I can’t wait to hit the beaches.`
On top of that, Pat also has a keen interest in Australian politics. `Whenever we catch up with our friends in Australia we always like to find out what has been happening with local Australian politics`, he says. `I was very pleased to hear your Prime Minister apologize to the Aboriginals. Its nice to see the current government acknowledge the mistakes of past governments. Even thought some really bad things happened in the past, its refreshing to hear the people in charge today come out and admit to those mistakes and take charge, the American government should really take a leaf out of the Australian governments book and admit to past wrongdoings`.
While Pat will be enjoying our beaches and discussing the antics of Kevin and Co, and the main reason for this visit of course is Soundwave. `We always love a festival, I’m not too sure who’s playing thought`. I mention Faith no More and Jane’s Addiction. `That’s great`, says Pat. `We saw Jane’s Addiction when we were in a rehearsal room recently, and Faith no More should be awesome.`
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Since my time on the phone with Pat is about to end, I decided to ask Pat about his fish, something he mentioned in our first interview. `All my inside fish are dead`, he sadly informs me. `My outside fish are fine, but my indoor fish always die on me. I wanted to go to the pet store to buy some more, and a friend of mine said ‘don’t bother; you know your going to let them die’. I’m never home to feed them, so what can you do`.
`The People or the Gun` is out now. Anti-Flag play Soundwave on 26 February 2010 at Melbourne Showgrounds.
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