Gas Huffer. From the moment I heard them, they've rocked my world. With their hyper-rockabilly-punk-garage sound they continue to putout records that never disappoint. Seeing 'em live though, is where it's really at. Watching singer Matt Wright hop and dance all over the place is always a treat, while the rest of the band - guitarist Tom Price, bassist Don Blackstone and drummer Joe Newton - hold it all together with a tight blend of mutant R'n'R mayhem. Gas Huffer, for those who are unfamiliar with their past, began back in the spring of '89. Tom had previously been in the U-Men (with a single, a 12" EP and an LP on Black Label), and both Tom and Don played in The Kings of Rock (whose great, but now rare, 7"ers are worth finding). So far, the Huffers have released a whole bunch of 7" singles, as well as two killer LPs and appearances on various compilation things. After moving to Seattle, it only seemed appropriate that they be interviewed by CT and so this interview was done at Tom's place in late August '93. Present were: Tom, Matt and Joe (Don was on vacation) and yours truly conducted the proceedings:
CT:
Is it true that Tom invented Punk Rock?
Tom:
Actually, Kurt Bloch invented it. I just made it to the patent office before him.
Joe:
Tom's invented a lot of stuff that no one's give him credit for.
Tom:
I get royalties. Whenever anyone uses the word "punk," or plays "punk," I get a few bucks.
CT:
Like, for instance, because of this interview, you'll get some payment.
Tom:
Exactly.
CT:
Gas Huffer. What's behind get the name? Do chicks dig guys who huff gas?
Tom:
No, no, I don't think they do at all, actually. When I used to huff gas when I was a kid I was not makin' it with the chicks at all.
CT:
Does it get you high?
Matt:
It's kind of like, um, what's that stuff you get in video/sex stores?
Joe:
"Rush?"
Matt:
Yeah, like that.
CT:
That's like amyl nitrate or something?
Tom:
I'd like to state right here, for the record, that Gas Huffer does not use any drugs except pot. Well, maybe occasionally mushrooms. And Matt doesn't smoke pot.
CT:
Really?
Matt:
I used to, just not much anymore.
Tom:
I never huffed gas to the point of being braindead or anything.
Joe:
How do you know? That's the thing, how do people know, like "Oh, this marijuana's affecting my short term memory," but how do you remember. "I think I used to be able to remember better than I can now, but I'm not sure!"
Tom:
You know, Steve Turner and I were talking at dinner about wouldn't it be cool if when you died all traces of your existence were erased. All photos, everything ever written about you...
CT:
But then you'd have no idea who, or why, anything was.
Joe:
"Punk Rock was invented by Betsy Ross!"
Tom:
Tom Price weighed 500 pounds. He was Samoan, and French!"
CT:
If this were true, Gas Huffer would have no influences.
Matt:
We have no influences.
Tom:
Everything we do is totally and uniquely original.
Matt:
When we come home from shows, we lie in isolation tanks.
Joe:
Play totally blindfolded.
CT:
Also, you would have totally unique instruments and chords!
Tom:
Most of our songs are in the key of "R"
Matt:
"R-Negative!"
Tom:
The "R" and "W" strings we like a lot.
CT:
Well, what are the things that influenced you to sound the way Gas Huffer does?
Tom:
I think one thing we should mention, something that we haven't really mentioned before, is the influence of The Cramps on us.
Joe:
I think for a long time, we consciously avoided mentioning them because of the obvious comparisons. In the early days, we'd get called "punk-a-billy."
Tom:
And "cow-punk."
Matt:
They're such an amazing band.
Tom:
A lot of what bands are doing now, The Cramps did first.
Matt:
All those old covers they did. That's how I got into a lot of older obscure Rockabilly and stuff.
Tom:
Another thing I'm almost hesitant to mention is the influence of The Dead Kennedys.
Joe:
The Damned, The Dickies and The Dead Kennedys! The "3 D's!"
CT:
So, how's the latest eMpTy LP/CD doing?
Tom:
Uh, pretty good, I guess, We like it.
CT:
Are you happy with it?
Matt:
Well, you can always do better.
Tom:
I think this next one is going to be really hot, though.
CT:
Will it be on eMpTy?
Tom:
Yeah, it's going to be a five-song EP thing.
CT:
If a major label offered you the chance to sign like a million dollar contract, but it stipulated that Matt had to lose the sideburns, what would you do?
Matt:
I'd welcome it! Any excuse to shave these off.
Tom:
But then he'd lose his identity.
CT:
Are the sideburns a burden that weighs heavy on you?
Matt:
Definitely.
CT:
Do you write most of the lyrics?
Matt:
Mostly, yeah. Sometimes I write around a title that someone already has, other times I just come up with stuff.
CT:
Well, you guys seem like well-read people. I mean, your lyrics go beyond standard, far in a lot of cases. I'm looking over at Tom's bookcase and seeing some heavy stuff - Crews, Colin Wilson...
Tom:
Matt's into poetry.
Matt:
Yeah, I'm into a lot of that beat poet stuff.
CT:
But your lyrics, I mean, there's certain recurring topics in there.
Joe:
Like bugs, I mean, how many songs about bugs do we have? No more bug songs!
CT:
You could do a whole record. Call it "Songs About Vermin."
Matt:
I like that!
Tom:
What about "Songs The Vermin Taught Us?"
CT:
Speaking of record titles - what's with the title of the last one?
Tom:
"Integrity, Technology & Service?"
Matt:
It's a real slogan.
Joe:
It's on the sign on this company in Olympia.
CT:
Cool!
Tom:
The slogan fits us. That's what we provide to you, the listener.
CT:
A while ago a bootleg EP came out of you guys. Who did that?
Tom:
Well, it's only sort of a bootleg. That guy's a fan of us, and he did ask if he could put it out and I did say it was ok to do it. But, he didn't bother to consult us on the tracks he used.
Matt:
We can in no way, endorse or comment of the sound quality of this record. Plus, he called a song the wrong song on it.
CT:
That's "Stuck," right?
Matt:
Uh-huh. That's actually a Rezillos song, "Bad Guy Reaction."
Joe:
Which is available in much better form on a 7" that came with Gearhead magazine.
Tom:
And on a CD-EP of "Hotcakes." See, "Stuck" is an actual song that we used to do live, and then it got changed and became "In The Grass."
Matt:
That's on the "I,T&S" record.
CT:
I was wondering about your other band, The Laguanas?
Tom:
Well, that's just us with a different name, playing instrumentals.
Matt:
I play guitar.
Tom:
It should be noted that Matt is a fine guitar player, as well.
CT:
How come you don't play live with Huffer? I 'spose you find it hard to play and sing?
Matt:
Yeah, pretty much.
Tom:
Matt's sorta better on lead than rhythm anyways.
Matt:
I play rhythm when I'm at home by myself.
CT:
But that's you playing lead on "Body Buzz," on the flipside of the "Mole" single, right?
Matt:
Yeah.
CT:
Well, that's really killer stuff.
Matt:
Thanks.
CT: Ok, one last question:
how did it feel to be reviewed in Penthouse?
Matt:
Sexy!
CT:
Are there any other publications you wish to be reviewed in?
Matt:
The NY Times Book Review
Joe:
The Wall Street Journal
Tom:
Science International
Matt:
I'd like to get reviewed in Ms. It'd be cool to be able to say we were reviewed in both Penthouse and Ms. Magazine!