The Getback
The band answers my questions
1. How did the band form?
Juan: in march of 1998 Jose asked me to help with his punk project,
so he and Danny showed up at my house to practice a few songs. About 8
months later I brought in Gus, who was bored playing his guitar at home,
and he ended up in the band. We had our fun playing tons of shows, until
last year, about June of 2002, when we sat down and decided to take
things a little more seriously, release a record and tour. That’s when
The Getback was officially born.
2. What were your major influences?
Jose: as a band we take all kinds of influences, from ’60s rock
and
roll to punk to pop, and all in between. And bands like The Ramones, the
Stones and Guns n’ Roses.
Danny: each person in the band comes from a different musical
background. Everything from The Stones, Fugazi, Ramones, to one of my
personal favorites, The Beach Boys. Since we all listen to a lot of
different music, I think many times we influence each other.
Gus: Guns n’ Roses and the Rolling Stones.
Juan: we all come from different musical backgrounds… punk,
hardcore, rock n’ roll. I would name Guns n’ Roses, the Ramones, the
Stones, and maybe newer bands like Green Day and Alkaline Trio. Still, I
don’t think we sound like any of these bands.
3. If you could have a three band bill, who would they be?
Jose: I might’ve just said that in the last question, but let
me add
a little to it: Ramones 1978, the Stones1968, Guns n’ Roses 1989.
Danny: Right now, I’d have to say Fugazi, Refused, and The
Beatles
Gus: AC/DC, Guns n’ Roses, the Stones.
Juan: a reunited Guns n’ Roses (original line-up), Refused, and
the
Ramones (cause I never got to see them live).
4. What music do you class yourselves as?
Jose: I always tell people we play rock and roll; sometimes i
say
punk, too.
Danny: I’d say we’re a rock band who likes playing punk.
Gus: rock n roll /punk rock.
Juan: we have a hard time trying to describe our music. Some of
our
songs are more on the punk side, and some are on the rock n’ roll side.
However, I wouldn’t say we play “punk rock n’ roll”. I don’t really like
that term; I could be wrong but to me “punk rock n’ roll” sounds like we
are a bunch of drunks who play sloppy punk, and that’s definitely not
the case. Let’s just call it rock n’ roll, since it is more of a broader
term. I guess in the end it doesn’t matter what it is as long as we like
playing it, and people like hearing it.
5. Where do you think you will be in 10 years?
Jose: in a jacuzzi
Danny: hopefully still playing shows. That would be great!
Gus: somewhere still playing music .
Juan: hopefully still playing.
6. what has been your best gig you have played so far?
Jose: our CD release show; that night was a blast. We sounded
great
and had a lot of fun on stage.
Danny: our CD release show was great. We were all really excited
and
it showed on stage. Another show that comes to mind is when we played
with Fun People (Hardcore/Punk from Argentina) a few years back. That
night was a blast.
Gus: our CD release party
Juan: Yeah, our CD release show was really good. A
lot of friends,
good sound, good energy. We’ve gotten to play with cool bands, like
Tsunami Bomb, Fun People, Cadillac Blindside, Breaking Pangea and a few
more I can’t remember right now.
7. what made you want to go out and play music?
Jose: I don’t really know. I bought my first guitar so I could
start
a band; I figured I’d learn how to play along the way.
Danny: being on stage and rocking out is a great feeling. I can’t
think of anything i’d rather do.
Gus: I went to see a Guns n’ Roses concert when I was 13 and I
said,
I have to do this.
Juan: I always wanted to play drums, since I was a little kid.
I just
loved banging on those things and being able to make a beat for people
to follow. And making and playing music is an outlet for the four of us,
an escape from everything else and a way of releasing all the bullshit
inside.
8. What’s your fav type of beer?
Jose: Red Stripe.
Danny: right now, it would have to be Heineken.
Gus: Corona, I guess.
Juan: I barely drink any alcohol.
9. Who would you most like to record a song with?
Jose: Jon Spencer seems like he’s a real fun guy in the studio.
I
pick him, Jon Spencer!
Danny: Ian Mackeye and Guy Piciotto.
Gus: Stevie Ray Vaughan would’ve been awesome.
Juan: Slash! I want a song featuring Slash on guitar!
10. do you have any stuff out?
We have a 7-song EP called Right About Now, which is available online
Thanks for your time. Any last words?
You can download a few of our songs at
www.mp3.com/thegetback and at
www.thegetback.com and thanks to
you, Chris, for the interview!
