Interview November 5, 1999
Interview with Ali & Chris from
FAST TIMES
Please take this opportunity to introduce yourself.
ALI: I'd love to... I'm Alison aka ALI (age 25). I'm the loudmouth (at least whenever there's a mike in my hand.)
Chris: I'm Christopher aka frump (age 21), I play guitar.
[other members : Steve (age 24) drums; Graham (age 21) bass]
When did Fast Times get together, and how long have you been making music?
ALI: about 1 and a half years. wow, so much has happened within that time. which reminds me, we sure are due for that new record!
Had any of you been in bands previous to Fast Times?
ALI: Yes, but none of the bands were too significant. But, playing with those other bands that never went anywhere has a lot to do with the success we see now. Personally, my first musical project was an embarrassment, but we all have to start somewhere, and that meek, weak, sucky song I sang has a lot to do with the vocal balls I have now. If you ever come across a patch recording... that is not me!
Chris: I've been in a bunch of bands. none that have played more than 10 shows though. Graham is currently in The Fall Out and Steve is currently in Worthless and Rock Star.
Was there a conscious effort to have a lead singer who was a woman?
Chris: : I don't think so. When I decided I wanted to do a band I was more
concerned with finding somebody who had the same musical goals and wasn't a flake. I'm glad it ended up being Ali.
ALI: I just had a conscious effort to do a band! When I was 17, I made up my mind. For years, I tried on and off to pull something together, but I saw a lot of failure and disappointment. For a while it looked like this was just a dream that I would never realize, but I persisted. in fact, I became obsessed with making it work. I had just graduated college, and I put my career on hold, and I finally fulfilled this promise to myself when I teamed up with Chris. His story is very much like mine, so when we got together, things started to happen. we trudged through a lot of obstacles, but we prevailed because we had each other. The other members then fell into place (with some effort). Now, my conscious effort lies in redefining the possibilities of what a hardcore singer can do.
Who have been your biggest influences, both past and present?
ALI: Bands like Minor threat, Seven Seconds, Agnostic Front, The Misfits,
Gorilla Biscuits laid the foundation of this music. If your into punk/hardcore, liking these bands is almost universal. It seems cliche to list them as influences, but admitting their significance is inescapable. Some of my other favorites were Vision, Token Entry, Sheer Terror, Bad Brains. And then there are the modern ass-kickers vision (again), Dillinger Escape Plan, Rorshach, Kid Dynamite. No one person has influenced my Music most. Great "singers" that I've drawn inspiration from would be Henry Rollins, HR in his heyday, Joan Jett, Paul Bearer, and dare I say Cappo? but my adopted mom has most influenced the person I am. She supported every interest I ever had, and that is the reason that I am confident in reaching the goals I set for myself today. Its sad that she still pisses me off so much sometimes.
Chris: My biggest influence, believe it or not is The Cure (free record to
anyone who can pick out the fast times riffs that I stole from cure songs). But my reasons for wanting to do this band was mainly 7 Seconds, Minor Threat, stuff like that. We originally set out to play 82 style punk/ hardcore songs. but I think we've since branched out a bit from that.
So, for those who haven’t had the opportunity to hear your song, where exactly where you when you first heard of hardcore?
ALI: Before I even knew what the hell it was, I was fascinated by the punk girls that I saw walking around town. In fifth grade, I dressed as a punk for Halloween, and did so for 6 consecutive Halloweens after. Of course, its not about dressing the part, but I just thought that was a funny story to include. Its in my blood, I knew it was right for me before I even knew what it was. Then when I heard "no reason why" one day when I was randomly exploring radio stations, I was amazed. I never heard anything like it, and it was so much better than those songs"diamond girl" and "silent morning" that I was forced to hear every 10 minutes (as long as there was a radio within earshot.) It still was a little while before I learned that there was a whole scene dedicated to this stuff that I had access to. This older girl in my high school who was into being a S.H.A.R.P at the time brought me to a pipeline matinee. She would later steal my boyfriend at the time, and replace me as ticket holder to the first swatch impact tour, but again, I digress. That small, dark, sweltering room was filled with so much intensity. The energy was unforgettable, and I have felt the same happiness countless times again over the years show after show.
Chris: I remember my friends and I were skateboarding. A friend of mine put 7 Seconds on the boom box. I thought it was the greatest thing I had ever heard. I was instantaneously done with heavy metal. (although, I must admit that I've been listening to my old Anthrax and Manowar cassettes a hell of a lot lately).
What does hardcore mean to you?
ALI: It is my way of life. It has opened up so many doors when it comes to
friends and experiences. Growing up involved in hardcore has really shaped my life and the person I am today. The environment at shows is very stimulating, and as bands and zines continue to express their social concerns, it will continue to foster strong minds.
Chris: Its what I've been planning my weekends around for the past 7 years. I'd say that means something.
Have you seen a growing presence of women and girls at your shows? How about at shows in general in your area?
ALI: There are a lot of girls at shows nowadays. Our scene is as equal
opportunity as it gets. Punk and hardcore kids are unique in that they think
progressively. The boy:girl ratio is a little disproportioned, but my theory is that the "masculine" nature of the music simply attracts a masculine audience.
Although,he last show we played in Wilkes Barre (we love Wilkes Barre!) was almost 50/50, which was very striking. More importantly, a lot of women are very actively involved in the workings of the scene. I do a lot of interviews, comp songs etc for female editors promoters etc. And it is kind of neat how we girls just gravitate towards each other.
Could you explain the song “Riot Act”? Did you have a negative experience with the riot grrrl scene in your area? What exactly, if anything, prompted that song?
ALI: The song Riot act deals with the anti-boy approach I have seen in the riot grrl movement. One example that sticks out in my mind is when our guitar player, Chris went to a riot grrl benefit show in Boston, and they wouldn't let him in. Now, who does that benefit? I dont waste my time lamenting about how I feel unequal because I'm a girl. Do you know why? because I DON'T feel unequal. Empowerment is a wonderful thing, but that is a human issue, not a woman issue. And because I don't feel different, I am not treated differently. My personal experience in the scene is this. I decided that hardcore music was for me, I went to just about every show possible throughout my teen years, I became addicted to dancing and singing along to my favorite bands, I felt the need to start a band, I started a band, and here I am. Now, a lot of young girls will come up to me and tell me that seeing fast times play was inspiring. That's nice and all, but I did what I did because I laughed at anything that would hold me back, and once a person learns to do that, nothing can oppress them. Positive doing will do more for any movement than
complaining ever will. I am turned off by the type of "feminist who will only spell women with a "y" (womyn).I have to roll my eyes at that, because
ideas/suggestions don't have increased validity because the writer spelled woman
w-o-m-y-n. its like "Ooooh, I reject the word woman because it has the word
"man" in it... I'm so deep." I believe in promoting change through example, not through preaching, or intimidation, or by becoming exactly what you want to abolish (a close mind).
Describe a typical Fast Times show.
ALI: Energy is our secret weapon. Each show is unique, so there really isn't one general way to describe our show, but I'll tell you this, when I am playing a show, I am the happiest girl in the world.
Have you had any success with finding anyone to replace Matt, your old drummer?
Chris: YES!!! Finally we have a new drummer. His name is Steve. He's always been a good friend of the band and has helped us out on countless occasions. Its definitely a match made in heaven.
Do you have any new releases in the works? Will you be doing another record with Smorgasbord?
Chris: Yes, we are going in the studio in early January to record our new full length. it will be our in early February. We're all very excited about this, we've grown so much as a band in the past year and its definitely gonna show on the record.
ALI: I can't express enough how anxious I am to complete the new album. The full length will also be on smorgasbord. I cant wait to get back into the studio, my voice has developed new capabilities, and it sounds a lot rougher than on the 7" which is a year old by now. Next, I will grow chest hair, and have wet dreams. Isn't puberty wonderful?
Do you have any touring plans?
Chris: : We're currently booking a tour for late Feb/ march. Mostly East Coast and some Midwest. We're also planning a west coast tour for April and we may go back to Europe late spring.
ALI: I live for tour! It is perfect environment for personal inspiration. It gives me a chance to step away from all of the bullshit that stresses me out daily, and on tour, the creative and clear thoughts flood my brain. I realize a lot of important things on the road, its like I come home enlightened every time. On the plane to England, Jeff told us, "once you step on this plane, you'll never be the same again". He was sooooo right, my whole attitude, and outlook on life is changed in an indescribable way simply because we were given the opportunity to see the world.
Hopefully, by next year, we will be spending about 4-6 months on the road (not all at once, of course). We got pretty lucky to go to Europe so soon. I can't wait to get back there as well as touring the US.
Would you like to add anything?
ALI: Just thanks a lot, Angela. I see read your posts on the rev board all the time, and its nice to have met you (even though it is only in cyberspace). I look forward to meeting you in person with stamps on our hands.
Chris: Thanks for helping us out so much. I'm sorry that it took so long for us to get this to you (that was all my fault).
What is your current contact info?
breathe00@aol.com - Chris
fastali@aol.com - Ali
PO Box 1670, cranford, NJ 07016
Thanks so much for your time!
ALI: Thank YOU!
