Punk Globe: Hi Thanks for chatting with us. Can you tell us how The Quits started?
The Quits: How we STARTED ? We didn't start, We QUIT !... lol
We quit listening to people tell us what we could do with music , What we could do songs about , what it meant to have talent. We just stopped caring what others had to say about music in general. We’re gonna do it our way. FAST AND LOUD . And we're gonna do songs about anything we want to. We're going back to the roots of it all . Sex Drugs and Rock n Roll.. oh, and Alcohol, Lets not forget Alcohol !
Remember all those great songs about partying and just having a Blast with your friends? That’s what Fuels us. That is our motivation
Punk Globe: What is your music making process?
The Quits: The Quits is an ever evolving creature , therefore our process is ever evolving. As of late, the guys just jam out and within 15 seconds they have another great rhythm going that is just begging for lyrics.
We rarely come up with a topic or title and go with that. That style of writing doesn't work for us as much as other techniques, it limits the direction of the song.
Of course as the Vocalist and “Writer of Words” I often come up with Choruses or verses in my head that stick until I sing it to the guys, Then they put music to it.. I have pretty severe Obsessive Compulsive Tendencies, ( well look at that, what a great title for a song,, I just contradicted myself.. )
Anyways, Due to my OCD, it is like a jukebox in my head, everything triggers a song response in my head. And like Dr. Sues , That comes with silly words and lines.
Punk Globe: How many albums have you released?
The Quits: We recorded a 5 song demo back in 2018 at BURNING SOUND STUDIOS in Keiser Oregon. (only about 30 minutes from my house) Owned and Operated by my Friend, Ivan DePrume, Former Drummer and Founding member of WHITE ZOMBIE. Yes, He is the drummer on La Sexorcisto and everything before that.
Fantastic Studio and a Fantastic guy . We had so much fun with Ivan, It was a joy that created an everlasting bond.
Band members came and went , and we played lots of shows getting our music out for the world to hear . Once we were confident and had a good amount of songs to choose from , Out of the hundreds of songs we had written, we chose, I think, 11 0r 12 to properly record.
Covid had set its ugly face upon the globe and that left us in a bit of a bind, clubs were shutting down and everyone was afraid to go out, so we took advantage of that time and Returned to the Studio . This time at CITY VIEW STUDIOS in Salem Oregon where we recorded our HIT SELF TITLED album THE QUITS !
It was interesting to say the least, Probably a bit more weed and Vodka than needed to record an album , but the final product sounds great. Fans seem to love it and so do we.
Punk Globe: Who are your favorite musicians? Groups? records?
The Quits: I can only speak for myself, Mr. Johnny Ketchup.
Believe it or not, I’m like a million years old, So my influences go almost all the way back to the stone age.
I’m old school for sure. To be honest, if it weren't for Alice Cooper & Judas Priest, I wouldn't be where I am today. Those are the bands that really got me hooked. And I’m talking old stuff, Alice Cooper “Pretties For You & Easy Action” Albums,
Judas Priest “ Sin After Sin & Sad Wings of Destiny “ Albums..
Otherwise I’m all over the place with weird stuff. Gogol Bordello, Red Elvises, Fantastic Plastic Machine, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, And lets not forget the legendary Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. That stuff is timeless.
As far as favorite albums go, Albums were meant to be listened to in their entirety, so that’s how I listen to them. It might be VENOM …. It might Be DEVO.. But I’m listening to the whole thing ..
Punk Globe: If you could play a show with any band who would it be?
The Quits: I’d like to tour with the GREATEST group of all time. And everyone knows that is
THE ISLAND BOYS ! NOT !!
TRUTH ? Set me up with The Dickies and Municipal Waste and I think ill be happy, I could call it a day. Perhaps DANZIG ..
I like to be realistic and not set my sights outside of our genre ( If in fact we have one) .
But I don’t see us getting away with our lyrics playing with a POP band or even Iron Maiden.. For that matter, Most modern bands. The world has lost its mind about being afraid to offend anyone, This is ART ! It is meant to offend.
Punk Globe: What are your best musical memories? In your house? In your neighborhood or town?
The Quits: Oh Dear Lord.I have so many that I don’t even know where to start.
My very first concert was Alice Cooper when I was in the 5th grade 1976 I believe.
But Then again, I did meet RONNY JAMES DIO IN 1982.
HMMMM. Once at a Danzig show , he whipped his mic. Cord into the audience and it wrapped around my throat. He yanked it back so the crowd wouldn't tear it out of his hands but it just squeezed tighter around my throat like a Python. I thought to myself
“Oh fuck , Im gonna die right here in this crowd, accidentally Murdered by Glen Danzig..”
The cable loosened and I got it off and all I could do was laugh out loud as Glen looked right at me with a “Sorry Dude” look in his eye.
There was also the time when The Club Satyricon ( Of which we have a song about ) In Portland Oregon was having its Final show before the Wrecking ball came to demolish it. I'm pretty sure it was Verbal Abuse / Poison Idea & Wehrmacht.
Jerry A of Poison Idea didn't bring his wallet with him and the new door person. That shouldn't even have been working at that place if they don’t even know who Jerry is, Well, They wouldn't let Jerry into the bar section of the club. He was obviously in his 40’s, Grey hair and all. So I Gave Jerry my I.D. so he could get stamped to go into the bar..
I’d say I have had lots of fun.
Oh. Sheesh, I just remembered this, I was just a kid. Early 20,s working security at a big Rock fest, My job was to monitor which vehicles came and went at Sammy Hagar’s Trailer. I was given a bunch of T shirts by a Bootlegger in exchange for letting him in with shirts for sale. After the show I asked Sammy if he would autograph some of them and his Personal security got all pissy and told me to Fuck Off. Sammy said “ NO ! You fuck off, This dude is a fan of mine! Whether he is working or not. “
Sammy signed all of them and I gave them to friends.
Punk Globe: How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
The Quits: There are NO mistakes during a live performance. There are only opportunities to have an Original show for that night, For that audience. If someone Fucks up. The others should continue with the rhythm of the song while I bullshit and distract the crowd with banter, Audience engagement , Until it comes back around and we can all come back together where we should be.. We actually practice that to make sure we know how.
Punk Globe: If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
The Quits: Pay to play ! It is a false sense of who is in the pecking order and who has paid their dues. I'm done hearing “ we have played The Wiskey”.
Who cares?
You paid a Thousand dollars to play the Whiskey. And to Who? Some Hollywood Tourists that don’t know who you are, or care to remember your name tomorrow ??
Before the Yuckdemic came along, there were a select few local bands that weren't even the proper Genre, getting booked for every bigger show that came along. Not because of fandom or talent. But because Mommy & Daddy Bought them into the show. Gimme a break, Every city has Hundreds of bands working hard to be original and to get heard.
Punk Globe: Which musicians have you learned from?
The Quits: As a vocalist: I’d say Paul DiAnno. Original singer for Iron Maiden. That guy had it all Vocally. From Soft and sweet , to Rough and Aggressive.
As a Writer for a Punk Band : I like Colin “Jock” Blyth of GBH.
Get in with just a couple of short lines, Then Throw em a catchy and cool repetitive chorus. It seems to work.
Punk Globe: What advice would you give a new band starting out?
The Quits: Just have fun. If you are honestly having fun, it will come through in your music and on stage. If your focus is on Dollar signs and Stardom, You Are A FOOL !
This is the entertainment industry and we are ACTORS! Show up to the stage prepared to do a SHOW for a PAYING audience. They can sit at home in their Shorts, Sports jerseys and flip Flops and listen to your music, Don't insult them by showing up to do a show like that. Do you want to be Memorable or Dismissible ?
This isn't the 70’s . No one is coming to your show to ogle over how amazing your guitarist is .. They came to be entertained.. To the fullest extent.
Punk Globe: Would you like to give any shout-outs?
The Quits: Well yeah. But Where do I start?
THE BAND REPENT. EMILE’S CORNER & MUSICIANS HANG OUT.BRYAN STICKY TIPS.
INNOCENT SINNERS RECORDS. C.R.23 BOMBSHELTER
BUT MOST OF ALL !!!! The Fans . Without you, none of this is possible …
WE SALUTE YOU ! QUITS ARMY FOREVER !
Punk Globe: Anything new coming up/any upcoming shows?
The Quits:
APRIL 15 2022 : MOTOGALORE CUSTOM CHOPPERS@ PARADISE ISLAND.SHERIDAN OREGON
THE MENTORS/THE QUITS/INNOCENTS TORN/DEFAMATION LEAGUE
JUNE 3-4 2022: JENAPALOOZA ( INVITE ONLY)
KIOWA COLORADO
THE QUITS/THE BAND REPENT/JUKEBOX HARDKNOCKS/AMERICA'S MOST HAUNTED/QUEEN CITY SINNERS/THE DEAD END/P.I.D.
JUNE 4 2022 : THE VENUE DENVER COLORADO THE QUITS/PRANKSTERS/VELKA KERVA/ MORE TBA
JUNE 5 2022 : C.R.23 BOMBSHELTER BLENDE COLORADO THE QUITS/THE BAND REPENT/P.I.D./LOST CAUSE
Punk Globe: Thanks for chatting with us. and Thanks to all the readers.
The Quits: From all of us here at THE QUITS and from our fans THE QUITS ARMY, we thank and love you all. We hope all of you have enjoyed taking a look into our diminished brains .
GO CRAZY !!!
