MUCHMUSIC INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
JUNE 12, 1999

Interview With Rachel Perry

Rachel: THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. SERIAL JOE WILL BE PERFORMING THEIR TITLE TRACK, OUT WITH THEIR BRAND-NEW C.D. COMING OUT THIS TUESDAY. HERE'S SERIAL JOE WITH "FACE DOWN." (Performing "Face Down" Live) (Cheering & Applause)

Rachel: THANKS, GUYS. THANKS. THAT WAS GREAT. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK WITH THESE GUYS, TALKING TO THEM IN JUST A SECOND, OKAY. STICK AROUND. THANKS, GUYS. (Cheering) (Commercial) (Screaming)

Rachel: WE'RE BACK WITH SERIAL JOE. AH, OKAY... REALLY LOUD. DO YOU GET THAT EVERYWHERE YOU GO?

NOT REALLY.

Rachel: WHEN YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE WITH YOUR MOM?

NO.

Rachel: JUST CHECKING. THE SONG YOU JUST PERFORMED WAS "FACE DOWN," TITLE TRACK FROM "FACE DOWN," OBVIOUSLY. IT COMES OUT THIS TUESDAY.

YEAH.

Rachel: ARE YOU GUYS EXCITED?

WE'RE VERY EXCITED.

HOPEFULLY IT DOES WELL.

Rachel: OH, I'M SURE IT WILL. ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BUY ONE, RIGHT? (Cheering) THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE WAS A YEAR AGO ALMOST TO THE DAY. IT WAS THE 18th OF JUNE.

I THINK WE PLAYED "OBSESSION" THAT TIME.

YEAH, RIGHT WHEN WE RELEASED THAT VIDEO.

Rachel: RIGHT BEFORE THE VIDEO CAME OUT. THAT WAS COOL. YOU GUYS SEEM -- I MEAN THIS IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE WAY, -- EVEN SEEM MORE MATURE. I JUST WATCHED THAT TAPE AND IT'S JUST LIKE, WOW, THE AMOUNT OF GROWING YOU MUST HAVE DONE IN THE PAST YEAR.

EXACTLY. LIKE, WE'VE EVOLVED A LOT FROM OUR OLDER STUFF. I THINK MY VOICE CHANGED A LOT SINCE THEN -- YOU CAN PROBABLY HEAR THE DIFFERENCE IN THE VIDEOS, BUT, YEAH.

Rachel: THAT'S GOOD. DO YOU HATE IT -- YOU'RE 15 AND YOU'RE --

14.

Rachel: THE OTHER TWO GUYS ARE 14 AND 15.

YEAH.

Rachel: I AM ALWAYS TRYING TO AVOID QUESTIONS THAT CONCERN YOUR AGE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE MUST CONCENTRATE ON THAT A LOT. DOES IT REALLY BUG YOU?

I DON'T KNOW.

KIND OF BECAUSE THE YOUNGER BANDS ARE KIND OF POPPY AND EVERYTHING. SINCE WE'RE YOUNGER, THEY PUT US IN THAT CATEGORY. THAT'S OKAY, BUT WE PLAY A DIFFERENT SOUND THAN ALL THOSE OTHER GUYS.

WE'RE PRETTY HEAVY, AS YOU HEARD. SO, LIKE, WE'RE NOT -- WE'RE NOT POP, AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE, LIKE, LUMP US INTO THAT CATEGORY. SO, I THINK, JUST BECAUSE OF THE AGE, THEY CAN'T PUT YOU IN A CATEGORY THAT ALL THE OTHER BANDS GET BECAUSE YOU'RE YOUNG; YOU CAN'T BE ALTERNATIVE OR SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. IT'S WEIRD.

Rachel: YEAH, EXACTLY. LIKE WHY NOT, RIGHT?

YEAH.

Rachel: WHAT WOULD YOU RATHER PEOPLE SAY ABOUT YOU? WHAT WOULD YOU RATHER?

I WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT US AND SEE US FOR THE MUSIC AND WHAT WE'RE PLAYING, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT IF YOU'RE YOUNG, YOU CAN'T PLAY GOOD MUSIC, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE SKILLED AT WHAT YOU DO, SO WE TRY TO PROVE PEOPLE WRONG EACH TIME WE PLAY, WHEREVER WE GO.

Rachel: IS THAT WHY -- I'LL GIVE A LITTLE FORESHADOWING TO THE ALBUM HERE. IS THAT WHY YOU PUT A FULLY INSTRUMENTAL TRACK ON HERE?

WE DID AN INSTRUMENTAL TRACK ON THE FIRST E.P. "KICKED" AND WE LIKED IT. A LOT OF BANDS DON'T DO IT, AND SOME PEOPLE SAY, "YOU'RE PUTTING AN INSTRUMENTAL ON; THAT'S WEIRD." WE LIKE INSTRUMENTALS, AND I ALWAYS LIKED IT WHEN SILVERCHAIR DID IT ON "FROGSTOMP." IT WAS AWESOME. (Cheering)

Rachel: YOU'RE A SILVERCHAIR FAN?

YEAH.

Rachel: WE HAVE AN AUDIENCE QUESTION.

I WAS WONDERING WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PLAY YOUR MUSIC?

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF INSPIRATIONS. LIKE, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER BANDS IN NEWMARKET, TOO. WE'RE NOT THE ONLY BAND IN NEWMARKET. WE'VE SEEN THEM PLAYING AND EVERYTHING.

Rachel: WHO? DO YOU WANT TO NAME NAMES?

MY FIRST DRUM TEACHER, GRANT, HE WAS IN A BAND CALLED THE SALADS. (Phonetic)

THEN, LIKE, JUST LISTENING TO THE RADIO... WE LIKE BANDS LIKE TEA PARTY. I WANT TO GET THEIR NEW ALBUM, SO ALL THOSE BANDS, ANY CANADIAN BAND, AMERICAN BANDS, OVERSEAS, ANYTHING -- JUST EVERY TIME WE HEAR SOMETHING, IT KIND OF INSPIRES US TO SOMETHING. ESPECIALLY I LIKE A LOT OF OLDER STUFF, LIKE BLUES AND DANCING TO JAZZ, SO...

Rachel: COOL. YOU SAID SILVERCHAIR. (Cheering) DOES IT BUG YOU WHEN PEOPLE -- WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO SAY "YOU GUYS SOUND LIKE SILVERCHAIR?"

FOR ME THAT'S A COMPLIMENT BECAUSE I LIKE THEM A LOT. I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THEM SINCE BEFORE I WAS IN A BAND. ALSO, THEY WERE YOUNG WHEN THEY RELEASED "FROGSTOMP," SO IT'S INSPIRING TO SEE ANOTHER YOUNG BAND CAN BE SUCCESSFUL, AND LOOK AT THEM NOW. THEY'RE STILL SUCCESSFUL... GETTING UP AROUND 20s, SO THAT'S GREAT, AND IT ENCOURAGES US.

Rachel: HOPEFULLY YOU CAN KEEP ON DOING THAT, TOO. YOU GUYS GO TO A NORMAL HIGH SCHOOL.

YEAH.

Rachel: YOU'RE IN GRADE NINE, WHICH JUST BLOWS MY MIND. YOU'RE RELEASING A SECOND ALBUM. YOU'RE IN GRADE NINE. YOU'RE JUST FINISHING UP EXAMS FOR THIS YEAR.

YEAH.

Rachel: ARE YOU STRESSED ABOUT YOUR EXAMS?

YEAH, I DON'T KNOW. IT'S NOT FOR ANOTHER WEEK, SO I'M TRYING NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH.

Rachel: SO YOU'RE IN GRADE NINE. I REMEMBER BEING IN GRADE NINE. DO THE JOCKS PUSH YOU AROUND AND STUFF?

SEE, AT MY SCHOOL, IT'S NOT REALLY LIKE THAT. IT'S KIND OF -- THERE'S, LIKE, A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT GROUPS IN MY SCHOOL. NOBODY BUGS ME ABOUT ANYTHING. EVERYBODY IS PRETTY COOL, AND ANYONE WHO DOES IS JUST LIKE -- IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME, SO I DON'T CARE.

RACHEL: DO PEOPLE TRY TO TAKE CLASSES, SPECIFIC CLASSES, TO GET IN A CLASS WITH YOU?

IF THEY DO, THEY HAVEN'T TOLD US. I DON'T KNOW.

Rachel: "I'M GOING TO TAKE CALCULUS; I WANT TO BE IN THE SAME CLASS..." YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE CALCULUS?

YEAH, I PROBABLY WILL.

Rachel: REALLY?

YEAH.

Rachel: OKAY. HOLD ON. THERE'S ANOTHER AUDIENCE QUESTION THAT I WANT TO GET TO. IS IT NICOLE? OKAY, NICOLE, WHAT IS IT?

I WAS WONDERING -- (Laughing) -- WHAT YOU GUYS LOOK FOR IN A GIRL AND IF YOU --

Rachel: WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GIRL?

I DON'T KNOW. LIKE, PERSONALITY IS A MAJOR THING... JUST PERSONALITY, SENSE OF HUMOUR, ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. THE GIRL HAS TO BE ENTERTAINING... CAN'T BE LIKE A ZOMBIE.

Rachel: WOULD YOU EVER DATE A FAN?

I DON'T KNOW. IT'S KIND OF -- I GUESS IT COULD HAPPEN, BUT I JUST -- YEAH, I HAVEN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT. I DON'T KNOW. IT SEEMS KIND OF WEIRD.

IT'S VERY AWKWARD WHEN EVERYONE IS AROUND YOU.

Rachel: YEAH. DO YOU FIND THAT FUNNY? YOU GO TO A HIGH SCHOOL AND SOMEONE ASKS YOU A QUESTION LIKE, "WOULD YOU DATE A FAN?" DO YOU FIND THAT THOSE PEOPLE SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR SCHOOL, AND BEING SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE YOUR OWN AGE WHEN YOU'RE KIND OF FAMOUS, THEY HAVE PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS ABOUT YOU?

I DON'T KNOW. AT OUR SCHOOL, I DON'T KNOW -- PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO -- LIKE, I'VE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE I'M IN A BAND. THAT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION THING, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T -- AT MY SCHOOL, I'M PRETTY LOW-KEY ABOUT IT. I DON'T GO AROUND YELLING, "I'M IN A BAND," KIND OF THING.

YOU DON'T YELL AND TELL EVERYBODY. WE KEEP A LOW PROFILE OR SOMETHING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY WOULDN'T KNOW UNLESS LIKE -- 'CAUSE I OBVIOUSLY DON'T GO UP AND TELL PEOPLE, SO UNLESS THEY'VE HEARD ABOUT IT, THEY DON'T KNOW WHO I AM. I DON'T KNOW.

WE DON'T ADVERTISE OURSELVES OR ANYTHING. WE DON'T LIKE DOING THAT, NOT INTO THAT KIND OF THING.

Rachel: BUT THEY MUST KNOW.

YEAH, ACTUALLY, I MET SOMEBODY THE OTHER DAY THAT DIDN'T KNOW. THAT WAS COOL, BECAUSE IT'S NEAT TO TALK TO SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT THE BAND, SO YOU CAN TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS, AND THE BAND DOESN'T COME UP IN CONVERSATION.

I MADE SOME FRIENDS IN THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW I WAS IN A BAND 'TIL TWO MONTHS AGO. IT'S DIFFERENT NOW. THEY'RE LIKE, "OH."

Rachel: ARE THEY JEALOUS? COME ON! YOU GUYS MUST BE CHICK MAGNETS. (Cheering) COME ON... CHICK MAGNETS. LOOK AT THIS... AH! HELP! OKAY. CHICK MAGNETS, RIGHT...

PEOPLE AREN'T JEALOUS OF US REALLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT -- WE'RE NOT COCKY OR ANYTHING. WE NEVER, LIKE, DO ANYTHING TO MAKE PEOPLE BE JEALOUS OF US. AT OUR SCHOOL, IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE'RE NOT IN A BAND AT ALL BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T ALL CRAZY ABOUT US AT SCHOOL AND STUFF. IT'S JUST LIKE NORMAL, I GUESS, WHICH IS COOL.

Rachel: DO YOU FIND THAT SOMETIMES IT IS ACTUALLY MORE DETRIMENTAL TO MEETING -- LIKE, YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE GIRLFRIENDS. YOU'RE NOT MARRIED OR ANYTHING.

(Chuckling) (Cheering) DO YOU FIND SOMETIMES IT MUST BE MORE DETRIMENTAL TO MEETING PEOPLE?

YEAH, I GUESS SO.

Rachel: KIND OF LIKE, "DO THEY LIKE ME BECAUSE I'M IN A BAND?"

I DON'T KNOW.

KIND OF IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND A BIT.

I THINK SOMEBODY LIKE THAT, WHO I MEET, LIKE, I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO BOTHER HANGING OUT WITH THEM BECAUSE IF THAT'S ALL THEY CARE ABOUT THEN WHATEVER... THEY CAN GO MAKE SOME OTHER FRIENDS.

Rachel: YOU'RE IN THE EDGEFEST TOUR. WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT FROM SOMEBODY. SOMEBODY HAS A QUESTION ABOUT EDGEFEST? WHERE IS IT? OH, YOU'RE RIGHT THERE. SORRY.

HOW DO YOU HANDLE --

SUCH A BUSY SCHEDULE AT YOUR AGE?

HOW DO WE HANDLE SUCH A BUSY SCHEDULE?

Rachel: YEAH, LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO BE -- THIS IS GOING TO BE HEAVY-DUTY FOR YOU GUYS.

WE'RE NOT MISSING SCHOOL BECAUSE EDGEFEST IS SUMMER.

Rachel: RIGHT.

IF WE WEREN'T DOING THE EDGEFEST THING, I THINK WE'D BE HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS AND SITTING AROUND. IT'S NOT THAT BAD. WHEN WE'RE IN SCHOOL, A LOT OF OUR SHOWS ARE DONE ON WEEKENDS OR STUFF LIKE THAT, SO WE'RE ABLE TO SCHEDULE EVERYTHING AROUND IT. I DOESN'T TAKE LIKE -- 24 HOURS A DAY WE'RE NOT DOING BAND PRACTICE.

IT'S LIKE ANYONE ELSE IF THEY'RE ON A BASEBALL TEAM OR SOMETHING. YOU HAVE TO GO TO A TOURNAMENT ON THE WEEKEND OR SOMETHING.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A SPORTS TEAM, ONLY MUSIC.

Rachel: IS THIS LIKE A SUMMER CAMP FOR YOU, SUMMER CAMP FOR BANDS. IS THIS YOUR MOM'S WAY OF GOING, "WE COULD SEND THEM TO SUMMER CAMP OR SEND THEM ON A MAJOR CANADIAN ROCK TOUR!" THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I GUESS SO.

Rachel: WHO ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO HANGING OUT WITH ON EDGEFEST?

I WANT TO -- I'M REALLY INTO FINGER ELEVEN.

FINGER ELEVEN.

WE LIKE THEM AND SILVERCHAIR. I WANT TO MEET THEM A LOT. ALL THE BANDS ON THE TOUR I THINK ARE ALL GREAT. WE'VE MET A FEW OF THEM, SO I WANT -- EVERYONE I WANT TO MEET...

Rachel: WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING, BECAUSE YOU SAID TO ME YOU JUST WENT OUT TO VANCOUVER FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND YOU LIKED IT OUT THERE, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE OTTAWA; BARRIE, TWO DAYS; WINNIPEG; SASKATOON. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE WHOLE COUNTRY ALMOST.

YEAH.

Rachel: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO TAKE TIME HOPEFULLY FOR YOURSELVES?

REST.

I'M TRYING TO BRING MY MOUNTAIN BIKE ON TOUR SO I CAN DO MOUNTAIN BIKING AND STUFF, BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF TRAILS IN B.C. IF I HAVE ANY FREE TIME, I'LL PROBABLY DO SOME OF THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO WALK AROUND SASKATOON OR SOMETHING. I WANT TO WALK AROUND EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

Rachel: COOL. SO NOW I WANT TO GET TO THE ALBUM. WE'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THIS. WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO SAY ABOUT "FACE DOWN"?

THE C.D.?

Rachel: WHAT DO YOU WANT --

THE ACTUAL CONTENT OF IT?

Rachel: YES. WHEN PEOPLE LISTEN TO THIS YOU WANT THEM TO SAY...

"THAT ROCKED," JUST LIKE TO HEAR IT AND SAY -- I HOPE IT HAS LIKE -- FOR US, WE LIKE THE SONGS, AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO IT MORE THAN ONCE SO -- IT'S ONE OF THOSE ALBUMS WHERE YOU CAN GO BACK EVERY ONCE AND AWHILE AND JUST POP IT IN AND ENJOY IT EVERY TIME. I HOPE PEOPLE, WHEN THEY LISTEN TO IT, SAY THIS IS GOOD.

Rachel: A LOT OF VINTAGE SERIAL JOE ON HERE?

IT'S PRETTY MUCH LIKE MAINLY NEW STUFF. THERE'S A COUPLE OF SONGS WE WROTE RIGHT AFTER OUR C.D. WAS RELEASED.

COUPLE MONTHS AFTER.

IT'S -- THE SONGS ARE FROM ALL DIFFERENT TIMES IN OUR LIVES AND PARTS THAT WE'VE BEEN IN THE BAND, SO...

Rachel: GOOD. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR VIDEO SHOOT? IT'S KIND OF COOL. IT WAS SHOT JUST DOWN THE STREET HERE, NICE-LOOKING VIDEO.

YEAH. IT'S COOL. EVERYTHING WAS SHOT IN TORONTO. IT'S ALL IN THIS AREA. IT WAS OVER TWO DAYS AND IT WAS --

A LOT OF FUN. WARREN DID IT AGAIN. HE DID THE LAST TWO VIDEOS, TOO.

WE HAD A BETTER TIME ON THIS ONE, BECAUSE WE HAD MORE THINGS TO DO AND BETTER FOOD THIS TIME, SO...

Rachel: BETTER FOOD... THAT'S IMPORTANT!

REALLY GOOD FOOD.

FOOD IS IMPORTANT.

Rachel: ONE LAST QUESTION... WHEN I WAS 15, WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ON MY MIND WAS GETTING MY DRIVER'S LICENSE.

ME, TOO.

Rachel: IS IT?

I THINK ABOUT IT -- ALL MY FRIENDS, THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I TALK ABOUT. TWO MONTHS AFTER MY BIRTHDAY, I'M GOING FOR THE TEST.

Rachel: EXCELLENT. SO LET ME -- WHEN YOU'RE APPROACHING A YELLOW LIGHT, YOU A) SPEED UP; B) HONK YOUR HORN OR C) STOP IF YOU CAN?

SPEED UP, MAN! (Laughter)

Rachel: FAILING HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE.

IF YOU CAN STOP, YOU STOP, BUT NOBODY CAN STOP ON TIME.

Rachel: OKAY. I'M STAYING OFF THE ROAD WHEN YOU GET YOUR LICENSE. WE'RE GOING TO SEE YOU JUNE 15th AT TED'S WRECKING YARD FOR YOUR ALBUM RELEASE, FOR "FACE DOWN," JULY 1st AND 2nd IN TORONTO, THE 3rd IN OTTAWA, 7th IN WINNIPEG, THE 9th IN CALGARY, THE 10th IN SASKATOON, 11th IN EDMONTON AND THE 14th IN VANCOUVER FOR EDGEFEST. THANKS FOR COMING IN, GUYS.

NO PROBLEM. (Cheering & Applause)

Rachel: WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK -- LOOK AT THE SERIAL JOE T-SHIRT! THANKS, GUYS. (Playing "Mistake" Video)

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