Interview with Ben Perri of From Autumn to Ashes

Tabernacle-- Atlanta, Georgia

February 14, 2004

Leah Weinberg: How did you guys jump on this show?
Ben Perri: We’re on our own headlining tour right now. I guess MxPx were looking for a band to fill Simple Plan’s spot because they got offered something in Europe or something like that. And they offered it to us, and we were going to be down here anyways, so we said why not do it? It’s a good opportunity for us to play in front of new kids and we did it. It’s actually really good, surprisingly.
L.W.: Yeah, because of the awkward line-up.
B.P.: Yeah, we don’t fit at all. Just like on Vagrant we don’t fit with them either, but it’s been really fun. The kids have been awesome and they’ve been really responsive.
L.W.: I’m sure that happens a lot, you guys getting put on bills where you don’t quite fit.
B.P.: Yeah. I think it’s cool that we can actually do it and pull it off well.
L.W.: Ever been in front of any really hostile or unreceptive crowds?
B.P.: Once, that was with Mushroomhead and they were just yelling at us and throwing stuff at us and saying get off the stage, which is surprising, because we thought those kids would like us too because we were heavy also. But they just wanted to see that band and that’s it.

L.W.: When did you guys get the tour bus?
B.P.: The first time we had one was on the Taking Back Sunday tour a year ago and we’ve had it almost ever since. We’ve gotten in the van a couple more times just for local tours when we didn’t have enough money to pay for it. But we sold our van and now we’re in the bus exclusively.
L.W.: Very nice.
B.P.: Yeah, it’s good.
L.W.: I would imagine it would be hard going back to the van after touring on a bus.
B.P.: Oh, it was hell. The first time getting behind that driver’s wheel I wanted to shoot myself.

L.W.: Why did you guys decide to have a melodic vocalist to supplement the hardcore vocals?
B.P.: It kind of developed that way. When we first started the band, it wasn’t a conscious thing. It was just the stuff we were writing needed someone to do the melodic parts and Fran had a decent enough voice to do it and it worked out good. And he’s getting better, and he’s a lot better now. It was never a plan of ours.

L.W.: And with you and Fran writing lyrics separately, bringing them together, how does it end up working so well?
B.P.: No idea. No clue. The planets are aligned in some certain way when we write. I don’t know. We both have the same frame of mind. We’ve been through a lot of the same situations. We both have two completely different writing styles and for some reason what he writes about is a totally different point of view and a different idea than what I’m writing about, but it fits into the song together. It’s never a combined effort. It just happens.

L.W.: In one issue of Alternative Press, you guys have a column about “How to Wreck a Potential Major Label Deal.” What’s the story of that whole fiasco?
B.P.: Basically what it came down to was that we knew Island wouldn’t be behind us as much as Vagrant would be. We knew they were scooping up bands, Thrice, Thursday and all that stuff. We knew we didn’t have the potential they did as of yet and I think that we would have been forgotten about and the publicity wouldn’t have been as good. We just needed someone to be there for us and not direct us in a certain way. We needed someone who was going to let us do what we wanted to do but still put the attention in that they would to Dashboard Confessional or Alkaline Trio.

L.W.: In the end, were you totally turned off by all major labels because of what happened with Island?
B.P.: That was the major one we were talking with. There were a few other here and there, they didn’t have the interest that we needed. We didn’t feel comfortable. We needed a label that was going to be behind us no matter what and they can’t do that for bands like this. It’s unfortunate because this is what we do for a living. I think they see now that it has potential to be something bigger and they’re kind of kicking themselves for not believing in it. Instead of just looking at the band itself and the music, they were looking at dollar signs. And it hurts them and it’s going to hurt them in the future. Kids aren’t going to stand for it much longer.

L.W.: What do you think sets you guys apart from other bands out there?
B.P.: Just the work ethic of the band. I think a lot of people are adopting the same thing, just work constantly. If you want this to be what you want to do, just drop everything and go. Just work at it. Go on the road and spend your savings account. Instead of making a CD-R demo, make a real CD demo, make it nice, work hard, send it everywhere, bother people, annoy people and it will work.

L.W.: “The Fiction We Live” made it into the top 75 on the Billboard chart. Do you think that’s an indication of how hardcore is becoming more popular in the mainstream?
B.P.: I think it shows that a little bit, but I also think it shows the devotion of our fans that they have state of mind the first week to go out and buy our record. It just shows the excitement that built up over the two years between “Too Bad You’re Beautiful” and this record. It’s a testament to how awesome of fans we have and I think it’s really cool of them because, you know, we did the hard part. We did the record. We made the record we wanted to do. It took a long time. And for the fans to have the patience that they did and actually believe in what we were doing is the best feeling.

L.W.: What is it about Long Island that produces so many amazing bands?
B.P.: Boredom. There’s nothing to do on Long Island. There’s strip malls, highways and suburban homes. It’s amazing how many bands are coming out of there now. It’s always been like that. There’s always been bands on Long Island and some of them got overlooked and some of them didn’t and some of them didn’t get out when they should have. Like Silent Majority was one of the best bands ever and could have had everything and they just didn’t leave Long Island, which is a bane of a lot of bands from all over. You have to get out there if this is what you want to do and show kids what you’re doing. Because if you show them that you’re dedicated and that you love what you’re doing, they’ll love you for it. That’s the cool thing about these kind of fans.

L.W.: So, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I’ve got some related questions for you.
B.P.: Uh oh.
L.W.: Any special plans for the show tonight?
B.P.: The only special plans that we have is I am going to do a song with Billy Talent tonight. I’m gonna come out and do “Try Honesty,” and I don’t know, maybe try and get a date with Ben the singer. Who knows.
L.W.: Do you have a Valentine?
B.P.: Um, yeah, I kinda do.
L.W.: What’s the best Valentine’s Day gift you’ve ever given?
B.P.: You know what, I don’t think I’ve ever given anyone a Valentine’s Day gift because I’ve never had one.
L.W.: Then what’s the best Valentine’s Day gift you’ve ever received?
B.P.: I got a beautiful card yesterday. Yeah, a card and a teddy bear.

L.W.: 3 words that describe FATA
B.P.: Hold on. [Runs and gets Brian.] Three words to describe From Autumn to Ashes. Dysfunctional.
Brian Deneeve: Shit, cock, balls.
B.P.: There you go. That’s it.

Related Links:
From Autumn to Ashes Photos
Official Website