| Interview by Burt Wolf with Todd Smith singer for DOG FASHION DISCO. Interview done November 17th, 2005. |
CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE BAND & HOW YOU GOT TOGETHER? ANY
PREVIOUS BANDS YOU GUYS WERE IN OR SIDE PROJECTS CURRENTLY IN?
Out of high school I started a band called HUG THE RETARD which would later become DOG FASHION
DISCO. I am also in THE ALTER BOYS with the old singer from MUSHROOMHEAD. DOG FASHION
DISCO got signed to SPITFIRE RECORDS in 2000 & have jumped from label to label without gettin the push
we feel we deserved. I'm sure most bands say that, but that is how I feel. We've toured endlessly building
throughout the years a solid, but relatively small underground following.
WHY WAS THE NAME DOG FASHION DISCO CHOSEN AS THE BANDS NAME?
The name has been the biggest thorn in our sides. To tell you the truth I don't know how we came upon the
name, but having "disco" in our name we are sometimes perceived as a disco band.
WHO OR WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR LIFE & YOUR
MUSIC?
I've been influenced from everything from ELTON JOHN to BECK to SLAYER to FAITH NO MORE.
DOG FASHION DISCO BLENDS TOGETHER LOTS OF MUSICAL STYLES & INFLUENCES TO
CREATE THEIR SOUND. HOW WOULD YOU BEST DESCRIBE THE SOUNDS OF DOG FASHION
DISCO?
We do R&B to Ska to Heavy Metal or Rock to Polka to Country to anything you can think of.
I ONLY HAVE YOUR SECOND ALBUM "COMMITTED TO A BRIGHT FUTURE" WHICH HAS BEEN
OUT FOR AWHILE NOW. HOW WELL DID THIS ALBUM DO? WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE LIKE
TO IT?
Critics for the most part were positive & it sold about 20,000 copies world wide.
PREVIOUS BANDS YOU GUYS WERE IN OR SIDE PROJECTS CURRENTLY IN?
Out of high school I started a band called HUG THE RETARD which would later become DOG FASHION
DISCO. I am also in THE ALTER BOYS with the old singer from MUSHROOMHEAD. DOG FASHION
DISCO got signed to SPITFIRE RECORDS in 2000 & have jumped from label to label without gettin the push
we feel we deserved. I'm sure most bands say that, but that is how I feel. We've toured endlessly building
throughout the years a solid, but relatively small underground following.
WHY WAS THE NAME DOG FASHION DISCO CHOSEN AS THE BANDS NAME?
The name has been the biggest thorn in our sides. To tell you the truth I don't know how we came upon the
name, but having "disco" in our name we are sometimes perceived as a disco band.
WHO OR WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR LIFE & YOUR
MUSIC?
I've been influenced from everything from ELTON JOHN to BECK to SLAYER to FAITH NO MORE.
DOG FASHION DISCO BLENDS TOGETHER LOTS OF MUSICAL STYLES & INFLUENCES TO
CREATE THEIR SOUND. HOW WOULD YOU BEST DESCRIBE THE SOUNDS OF DOG FASHION
DISCO?
We do R&B to Ska to Heavy Metal or Rock to Polka to Country to anything you can think of.
I ONLY HAVE YOUR SECOND ALBUM "COMMITTED TO A BRIGHT FUTURE" WHICH HAS BEEN
OUT FOR AWHILE NOW. HOW WELL DID THIS ALBUM DO? WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE LIKE
TO IT?
Critics for the most part were positive & it sold about 20,000 copies world wide.
THIS ALBUM WAS PUT OUT BY
SPITFIRE RECORDS. HOW DID
YOU GET HOOKED UP WITH
THEM. HOW HAS IT BEEN
WORKING WITH THEM?
We were frustrated with them to be
honest because we don't think they ever
understood what we were trying to do.
Things were going good with them &
then the president at the label left & we
got lost in the shuffle & basically
written off.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE MEANING
BEHIND THE COVER ART A BIT &
WHO DID IT?
SPITFIRE RECORDS. HOW DID
YOU GET HOOKED UP WITH
THEM. HOW HAS IT BEEN
WORKING WITH THEM?
We were frustrated with them to be
honest because we don't think they ever
understood what we were trying to do.
Things were going good with them &
then the president at the label left & we
got lost in the shuffle & basically
written off.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE MEANING
BEHIND THE COVER ART A BIT &
WHO DID IT?
The cover art was supposed to be a drug overdose bathroom scene with vomit & pills & when the distributor
saw the original cover art they made us take all the vomit & drug references away & we were left with a
bathroom. We didn't have time to come up with a plan B, so we had to go with this generic version of our
original idea.
YOUR STYLE DOESN'T FIT ANY ONE STYLE OF MUSIC, DOES YOUR LYRICAL CONTENT
FOLLOW THE SAME PATH? WHAT IS SOME OF THE SUBJECT MATTER IN YOUR SONGS?
Our songs lyrical subject range from death to drug hallucinations to songs about serial killers to anything warped
& twisted that lies in the undercurrent of society.
YOUR WEBSITE MENTIONS THAT YOUR RECORDING MATERIAL FOR YOUR NEW ALBUM. HOW
IS THIS PROCESS COMING ALONG?
We are in the final stages of our new record "ADULTERY". This album is of epic proportions for us. None of us
were trying to make a single or something that is easily digestible. This album is as dark & eerie as it gets. It's to
story of a guy who is a family man that spins out of control into a world of prostitutes, drugs, sadism, murder &
mayhem. The album has a theme running through it & explains this mans fall into the worst acts a human being
is capable of.
THE NEW DISC WILL BE PUT OUT BY ROTTEN RECORDS EARLY NEXT YEAR. HOW DID YOU
GET HOOKED UP WITH THEM?
We were always approached by the label saying they had interest in us. When the time was right we found each
other & they gave us total freedom to do what ever we wanted. We are the main focus for them & they share
our vision of making a massive screenplay storyline set to music.
saw the original cover art they made us take all the vomit & drug references away & we were left with a
bathroom. We didn't have time to come up with a plan B, so we had to go with this generic version of our
original idea.
YOUR STYLE DOESN'T FIT ANY ONE STYLE OF MUSIC, DOES YOUR LYRICAL CONTENT
FOLLOW THE SAME PATH? WHAT IS SOME OF THE SUBJECT MATTER IN YOUR SONGS?
Our songs lyrical subject range from death to drug hallucinations to songs about serial killers to anything warped
& twisted that lies in the undercurrent of society.
YOUR WEBSITE MENTIONS THAT YOUR RECORDING MATERIAL FOR YOUR NEW ALBUM. HOW
IS THIS PROCESS COMING ALONG?
We are in the final stages of our new record "ADULTERY". This album is of epic proportions for us. None of us
were trying to make a single or something that is easily digestible. This album is as dark & eerie as it gets. It's to
story of a guy who is a family man that spins out of control into a world of prostitutes, drugs, sadism, murder &
mayhem. The album has a theme running through it & explains this mans fall into the worst acts a human being
is capable of.
THE NEW DISC WILL BE PUT OUT BY ROTTEN RECORDS EARLY NEXT YEAR. HOW DID YOU
GET HOOKED UP WITH THEM?
We were always approached by the label saying they had interest in us. When the time was right we found each
other & they gave us total freedom to do what ever we wanted. We are the main focus for them & they share
our vision of making a massive screenplay storyline set to music.
HOW DO YOU FEEL THIS ALBUM WILL
DIFFER FROM PAST RELEASES?
The other records we've done will pale in
comparison. From the very first note of this
record you can tell you are in for a very
unsettling & disturbing ride. It takes you
through one mans hell he creates for himself &
all who suffer because of him.
YOU HAVE A NEW DVD RELEASE OUT
NOW. CAN YOU TELL US WHAT IT'S
CALLED & WHAT SOME OF THE
CONTENT IS ON THE DVD?
The DVD we have is called DFDVD & it's
basically us out on the road being stupid &
keeping ourselves drunk & entertained between
gigs.
DIFFER FROM PAST RELEASES?
The other records we've done will pale in
comparison. From the very first note of this
record you can tell you are in for a very
unsettling & disturbing ride. It takes you
through one mans hell he creates for himself &
all who suffer because of him.
YOU HAVE A NEW DVD RELEASE OUT
NOW. CAN YOU TELL US WHAT IT'S
CALLED & WHAT SOME OF THE
CONTENT IS ON THE DVD?
The DVD we have is called DFDVD & it's
basically us out on the road being stupid &
keeping ourselves drunk & entertained between
gigs.
I READ YOU PLAYED WITH INSANE CLOWN POSSE & SOMEONE IN THE BAND PULLED THEIR
PANTS DOWN & THREW SHIT AT THE AUDIENCE, WHICH ESCALATED TO A RIOT & THE
POLICE WERE BROUGHT IN. CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE EVENTS OF THIS NIGHT?
That story is true. It was with the band called TWIZTID, which is basically INSANE CLOWN POSSE with a
different name. They were being beyond disrespectful, spitting & throwing bottles & anything they could get
their hands on. I had finally had enough & I pulled my pants down, took a shit on a piece of cardboard & threw
it in the crowd. They rioted & tried to kill us because I guess they didn't like being covered with my shit.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS THE BEST & WORST PART ABOUT BEING IN A BAND?
Traveling sometimes sucks, but groupies & getting drunk every night helps pass the time.
WHO DO YOU FEEL ARE SOME OF THE BETTER BANDS, LABELS & ZINES FROM YOUR STATE
OF MARYLAND?
Uh working with Steve Wright at WRIGHTWAY STUDIOS is the best part about being a band in Maryland &
our fans here are cool too.
ARE YOU INTO ANY OTHER STYLES OF MUSIC BESIDES WHAT YOU PLAY? WHO ARE SOME
OF THE BANDS YOU HAVE CURRENTLY BEEN LISTENING TO?
I like the new SYSTEM OF A DOWN & that's about it for heavy stuff. As I get older I like Pop more & more. I
like RADIOHEAD & more mellow stuff that makes you feel something & it moves you in some way. I think for
the most part Metal is awful & we are not a part of any of that.
WHAT DO THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND DO WHEN NOT DOING ANY WORK FOR THE BAND?
JOBS, HOBBIES, ETC?
I deliver pizza because the band makes so much money.
PANTS DOWN & THREW SHIT AT THE AUDIENCE, WHICH ESCALATED TO A RIOT & THE
POLICE WERE BROUGHT IN. CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE EVENTS OF THIS NIGHT?
That story is true. It was with the band called TWIZTID, which is basically INSANE CLOWN POSSE with a
different name. They were being beyond disrespectful, spitting & throwing bottles & anything they could get
their hands on. I had finally had enough & I pulled my pants down, took a shit on a piece of cardboard & threw
it in the crowd. They rioted & tried to kill us because I guess they didn't like being covered with my shit.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS THE BEST & WORST PART ABOUT BEING IN A BAND?
Traveling sometimes sucks, but groupies & getting drunk every night helps pass the time.
WHO DO YOU FEEL ARE SOME OF THE BETTER BANDS, LABELS & ZINES FROM YOUR STATE
OF MARYLAND?
Uh working with Steve Wright at WRIGHTWAY STUDIOS is the best part about being a band in Maryland &
our fans here are cool too.
ARE YOU INTO ANY OTHER STYLES OF MUSIC BESIDES WHAT YOU PLAY? WHO ARE SOME
OF THE BANDS YOU HAVE CURRENTLY BEEN LISTENING TO?
I like the new SYSTEM OF A DOWN & that's about it for heavy stuff. As I get older I like Pop more & more. I
like RADIOHEAD & more mellow stuff that makes you feel something & it moves you in some way. I think for
the most part Metal is awful & we are not a part of any of that.
WHAT DO THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND DO WHEN NOT DOING ANY WORK FOR THE BAND?
JOBS, HOBBIES, ETC?
I deliver pizza because the band makes so much money.
WHAT IS ONE THING PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO
FIND OUT ABOUT YOU?
I like cats & girls with meat on their bones.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST ALBUM YOU EVER BOUGHT? WHAT
WAS THE FIRST CONCERT YOU EVER WENT TO?
IRON MAIDEN'S "KILLERS". MOTLEY CRUE'S "THEATRE OF
PAIN" tour.
WHAT ARE YOU VIEWS ON THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS:
SEX, DRUGS, RACISM, RELIGION, POLITICS, VIOLENCE IN
SCHOOLS & THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?
I think everything you mentioned is dangerous & destructive. Our new
record reflects how influences & life choices can lead to a very bad
place.
FIND OUT ABOUT YOU?
I like cats & girls with meat on their bones.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST ALBUM YOU EVER BOUGHT? WHAT
WAS THE FIRST CONCERT YOU EVER WENT TO?
IRON MAIDEN'S "KILLERS". MOTLEY CRUE'S "THEATRE OF
PAIN" tour.
WHAT ARE YOU VIEWS ON THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS:
SEX, DRUGS, RACISM, RELIGION, POLITICS, VIOLENCE IN
SCHOOLS & THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?
I think everything you mentioned is dangerous & destructive. Our new
record reflects how influences & life choices can lead to a very bad
place.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE DOING IF YOU WEREN'T IN DOG FASHION DISCO?
Some 9 to 5 thing I would hate.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE NEXT FROM DOG FASHION DISCO?
Lots of touring in support of the new record.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE ANSWERING THIS INTERVIEW? WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW
THAT IT'S DONE?
I was doing vocals to the title track of the new record. I'm going to bed.
THANX A LOT FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. FEEL FREE TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D
LIKE TO CLOSE OUT!
Thanks for the interview & I want to let people know to buy & not download our new record "ADULTERY"
March 21st 2006. Thanks again.
Some 9 to 5 thing I would hate.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE NEXT FROM DOG FASHION DISCO?
Lots of touring in support of the new record.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE ANSWERING THIS INTERVIEW? WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW
THAT IT'S DONE?
I was doing vocals to the title track of the new record. I'm going to bed.
THANX A LOT FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. FEEL FREE TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D
LIKE TO CLOSE OUT!
Thanks for the interview & I want to let people know to buy & not download our new record "ADULTERY"
March 21st 2006. Thanks again.
